Nice find Lochlan. That was my next question with a followup of just who were these "friends"?

1st I have it backwards and William was the son of Moritz Flohr and I think he was a tailor, or was in that line of business. I'm not sure of Moritz's departure from Alsace-Lorraine, but there was a substantial migration of Germans into Watertown and Wisconsin in the late part of the 19th Century(where is Baumgarten when we need a German Wisconsin history lesson?) It may be that he didn't like the situation of the Franco-Prussian conflict or being folded under the German Imperial umbrella. True, if earlier he would have been a French citizen. Glad to see at least someone if fact checking.

Getting back to F. Huels, it would seem that he took over the business of August Herfurth, who retired in 1879?, and they seem to have the same business address? I wonder if he married August Herfurth's daughter?

Nice bit of info you unearthed there, PeteM.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse