Individual Details
Paul George Morfogen
(18 Apr 1893 - 20 Sep 1955)
Paul Morfogen was born April 18, 1893 in Anavryti, Greece. At age 12, he left Greece for America with his older sister, Athanasia. His first job was as a waiter in a Sand Street Brooklyn restaurant; he worked nights in a Manhattan night club that was frequented by gamblers. One night he found $600 hidden under a table which no one claimed, and he used his claim as his first stake to go into business for himself. He invested that money in Pappas Restaurant on 14th Street and 8th Avenue. That launched his successful career as a restauranteur at Pappas Restaurant, and later at Chelsea Restaurant at 23rd and 8th Avenue in Manhattan. He took a fling at the tobacco business making cigars and was much more successful in real estate in the lower Village, Manhattan and Staten Island. He served his new country during World War I from 1917-1918 in the U.S. Army 302nd Machine Gun Battalion of the 77th Division. He fought in France and was gassed which caused him health problems throughout his life. His hobbies were his family and business, reading, cooking, good clothes, fan of the New York baseball Giants and the New York theater. He was one of 12 children (Athanasia, Nicholas, Sam, James, Christina, Pauline, Anna, Stavroula, Peter, Theodore and Constantine) and he had three children (George, Vivian and Zachary). He died peacefully at his Boonton Township home, where he lived from 1941, on September 20, 1955. His life is celebrated on the occasion of his 100th birthday with the dedication of The Morfogen Collection at the Rockaway Valley School, Boonton Township, April 17, 1993.
Catherine Pappas Kostakos remembers Anna and her children, but does not remember Lena.
Tombstone: Mt. Olivet, buried directly behind tombstone of Papagianakos, Christos, Lucretia (see photo, Jan. 2007) where son, George Morfogen, is buried.
Per Ann Morfogen (granddaughter, Nov. 6, 2013): My grandfather Morfogen and my grandfather Pappas were partners in the restaurant on 14th Street. And they had a big fight and they split up.
Events
Families
| Spouse | Lena Fortney (1894 - 1922) |
| Child | George Paul Morfogen (1922 - 1997) |
| Spouse | Anna Z. Landis (1903 - 1999) |
| Child | Vivian P. Morfogen (1926 - 2024) |
| Child | Zachary Paul Morfogen (1928 - 2014) |
| Father | Georgios Nikolaos Morfogenis (1869 - ) |
| Mother | Vasilo A. Alatsas (1870 - ) |
| Sibling | Athanasia Morfogen (1889 - 1955) |
| Sibling | Nicholas George Morfogen (1892 - 1963) |
| Sibling | Sam George Morfogen (1895 - 1979) |
Notes
Birth
Town Register, Anavriti, Vryseon, Laconia, Greece(digitized July 2014, trip to Greek Archives in Sparta; copy in Greek Archives file)
husband: Georgios, father: Nikolaos; mother: Athanasia, born 1869 in Anavriti
wife: Vasiliki, father: Apostolos Alatsas; born 1870 in Anavriti
children (all born in Anavriti):
Nikolaos,born 1892
Apostolos,born 1893
Stylianos,born 1895
wife: Eleni, daughter of Ioannis Sakka, born 1875 in Anavriti
children (all born in Anavriti):
Christina, born 1897
Dimitrios, born 1899
Poletimi, born 1903
Anna, born 1908
Panagiotis, born 1910
Theodore, born 1913
Stavroula, born 1915
Konstandinos, born 1917
Military
World War I from 1917-1918 in the U.S. Army 302nd Machine Gun Battalion of the 77th Division. He fought in France and was gassed which caused him health problems throughout his life.Naturalization-Declaration
Certificate Number: 157683Declaration of Intention
State of New York, County of New York
In the Supreme Court of the State of New York
I, Apostolos Morfogenis, age 24, occupation: restauranteur, do declare on oath that my personal description is: color: white; complexion: dark, height: 5 feet; weight: 158 pounds; color of hair: brown; color of eyes: brown; other visible distinctive marks: none.
I was born in Sparta, Greece on 18 day of April, 1893. I now reside at 254 West 14th Street. I emigrated to the U.S. from Liverpool, England on the vessel Coronia; my last foreign residence was Sparta, Greece; I am not married.
...renounce allegiance to Constantine, King of the Hellenes...
I arrived at the port of New York in the state of New York on the 20th day of May 1907....
Signed, Apostolos Morfogenis, 10 May 1917
Supreme Court
Citing this Record
"New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPR1-S4TQ : 5 November 2019), Apostolos Morfogenis, 1917; citing Naturalization, New York, United States, citing multiple County Clerk offices of New York; FHL microfilm 005411725.
Digital Folder Number: 005411725
Image Number: 00298
NaturalizationPetition
Petition for Naturalization No. 100618Supreme Court of New York at New York
Apostles Morfagenis
1. Residence: 254 W. 14th St., NY
2. Occupation: restaurant helper
3. Born: April 18, 1893 in Anvrte, Greece
4. Emigrated to US from Preys Greece 15 April 1907, arrived port of New York on 15 May 1907
5. Declared intention [not filled out]
6. I am not married
7. Renounce allegiance to Alexander, King of the Hellenes
8. Able to speak English
9. Resided continuously in US for 5 years from 15 May 1907
10. Have not previously made petition for citizenship
Signed: Apostolas Morfogenis
Witnesses: John Roznas, cigar maker, 4251-89 Ave, NY
Alexander G. Xynos, merchant, 257 W 34th St, NY
Signed on 18 February 1920
Oath of Allegiance signed 18 February 1920
Signed: Paul Morfogen
Order of Court Admitting Petitioner, signed 18 February 1920
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WBYW-F9N2
Marriage
New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937Name: Paul Morfogen
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 26 Sep 1921
Marriage Place: Manhattan, New York, USA
Spouse: Lena Fortney
Certificate Number: 35029
Source Information
Ancestry.com. New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives
***
Name: Paul Morfogen
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 26 Sep 1921
Event Place: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
Event Place (Original): Manhattan, New York, New York
Gender: Male
Age: 28
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1893
Birthplace: Greece
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Vassilo Alatza
Spouse's Name: Lena Fortney
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 26
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Race: White
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1895
Spouse's Birthplace: N Y C
Spouse's Father's Name: Michele
Spouse's Mother's Name: Giovanni Leonardi
Reference ID: CN 35029
GS Film Number: 1653316
Citing this Record
"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24WJ-P5G : 10 February 2018), Giovanni Leonardi in entry for Paul Morfogen and Lena Fortney, 26 Sep 1921; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,653,316.
***
Paul Molfogen
in the New York City, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995
Name: Paul Molfogen
Gender: Male
Marriage License Date: 26 Sep 1921
Marriage License Place: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Spouse: Lena Fortney
License Number: 30925
Source Citation
New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 13
Source Information
Ancestry.com. New York City, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
Source Citation
New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan;Volume Number: 13
Description
Year Range: 1921
Source Information
Ancestry.com. New York City, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
***
New York, New York City Marriages, 1866-1949
City of New York, Department of Health
Certificate and Record of Marriage, Certificate No. 35029
GROOM: Paul Morfogen
Residence: 312 W. 15 St.
Age: 28
Color: White
Single
Occupation: Restauranteur
Birthplace: Greece
Father's Name: George
Mother's Maiden Name: Vassilo Alatza
First marriage
BRIDE:
Lena Fortney
Residence: 215 W. 10 Street
Age: 26
Color: White
Single
Birthplace: NY City
Father's name: Michele
Mother's Maiden Name: Giovanni Leonardi
First marriage
Married in the Municipal Building in Manhattan on September 26, 1921.
Signed by the Groom, bride and witnesses George D. COrdes and Emmy Cordes
Source:
New York, New York City Marriages, 1866-1949
MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20807/new-york-new-york-city-marriages-1866-1949
Record:
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-2711212/paul-morfogen-and-lena-fortney-in-new-york-new-york-city-marriages
Paul Morfogen & Lena Fortney
Census
1930 US Census, Bronx, New York, District 107; E.D. 3-10795 Woodycrest Avenue
Morfogan, Paul, head, rents home, male, white, age 37, married, age at 1st marriage: 28; can read and write; born in Greece; p arents born in Greece; immigrated 1907; naturalized, restaurant.
Morfogen, Anna, wife, female, white, age 24, married, age at 1st marriage: 20; can read and write, born in Greece; parents born in Greece; immigrated 1914; alien speaks English
Morfogen, Vivian, daughter, female, white, age 3,, born New York, parents born in Greece
Morfogen, Zacharius, son, male, white, age 1-1/12; born in New York, parents born in Greece
Source CitationYear: 1930; Census Place: Bronx, Bronx, New York; Roll: 1465; Page: 16B;Enumeration District: 0107; Image: 1077.0; FHL microfilm: 2341200DescriptionEnumeration District : 107; Description: BRONX BOROUGH, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 2 (PART), BOUNDED BY (N) W. 165TH; (E) JEROME AVE.; (S) ANDERSON AVE., W. 162D, W. 164TH; (W) ODGEN AVE.Source InformationAncestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
Census
1940 US Census, Manhattan, New York, New YorkE.D. No. 31-2064
Enumerated April 10, 1940
590 Washington Avenue
Morfogen, Paul; head, male, white, age 47, married, did not attend school; finished 8th grade; born in Greece; naturalized; lived in same place in 1935; worked 48 hrs previous week; manager, restaurant.
Morfogen, Anna; wife, female, white, age 36, married, did not attend school; finished 8th grade; born in Greece; naturalized; lived in same place in 1935
Morfogen, George, son, male, white, age 16, single, attended school; finished 3 yrs high school; born in New Jersey; in 1935 lived in Boonton, NJ
Morfogen, Vivian, daughter, female, white, age 13, single, attended school, finished 8th grade, born in New York, lived in same place in 1935
Morfogen, Zachary, son, male, white, age 11, single, attended school, finished 8th grade, born in New York, lived in same place in 1935
Source CitationYear: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: T627_2675;Page: 63A; Enumeration District: 31-2064DescriptionEnumeration District : 31-2064; Description: NEW YORK CITY, MANHATTAN BOROUGH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 23 (TRACT 273 - PART), APARTMENTS AT 24 BENNETT AV, APARTMENTS AT 44 BENNETT AV, APARTMENTS AT 56 BENNETT AV, APARTMENTS AT 731 W 183RD, APARTMENTS AT 2-16 MAGAW PL, APARTMENTS AT 506 FORT WASHINGTON AV, APARTMENTS AT 530 FORT WASHINGTON AV, APARTMENTS AT 590 FORT WASHINGTON AVSource InformationAncestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls
Military Draft Registration
United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942Name Paul Morfogen
Sex Male
Birth Date 18 Apr 1893, age 49, born in Sparta, Greece
Residence Place New York City, New York, New York
Person who will always know your address: Anna Morfogen, 254 W. 14th Street, New York City
Employer Pappas Restaurant, 254 W. 14th Street, NY, NY
Race: White; Height: 5'5-1/2"; Weight: 160 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion
Event Type Draft Registration
Event Date 1942
Event Place New York City, New York, New York, United States
Event Place (Original) New York City, New York, New York, United States
Affiliate Publication Title World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of New York, Borough of Manhattan
"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTQ7-H47 : Sat Feb 24 01:19:22 UTC 2024), Entry for Paul Morfogen, 1942.
Town Register
Town Register (Dimotologion) of Anavryti, Lakonia, GreeceGeneral State Archives of Greece, Archives of Lakonia, Sparta Office
Digital image taken by Carol Kostakos Petranek in July 2014
Family Number 211
Date of Registration: September 1, 1955
Morfogeni, Georgios; father: Nikolaos, mother: Athanasia, born: 1869 in Anavryti; permanent residence: New York; occupation: illegible; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community by birth; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 419/1869; removed from record 1955 due to death
Morfogeni, Vasiliki; father: Apost[olos] Alatsas; born 1870 in Anavryti; permanent residence: New York; occupation: housework; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: wife
Morfogeni, Nikolaos; father: Georgios; born 1892 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: worker; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1128-1892
Morfogeni, Apostolos; father: Georgios; born 1893 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: worker; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1177-1895
Morfogeni, Stylianos; father: Georgios; born 1895 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: worker; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1244-1895
2nd wife:
Morfogeni, Eleni; father: Efthymios Sakka; born 1875 in Anavryti; permanent residence: Sparta; occupation: housework; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: wife
Morfogeni, Christina; father: Georgios; born 1897 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: housework; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: daughter
Morfogeni, Dimitrios; father: Georgios; born 1899 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: worker; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1358-1899
Morfogeni, Politimi; father: Georgios; born 1903 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: housework; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: daughter
Morfogeni, Anna; father: Georgios; born 1908 in Anavryti; permanent residence: Anavryti; occupation: housework; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: daughter
Morfogeni, Panagiotis; born 1910 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: worker; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1695-1910
Morfogeni, Theodoros; born 1913 in Anavryti; permanent residence: America; occupation: worker; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1762-1913
Morfogeni, Stavroula; born 1915 in Anavryti; permanent residence: Anavryti; occupation: housework; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: daughter
Morfogeni, Konstantinos; born 1917 in Anavryti; permanent residence: Sparta; occupation: illegible; religion: Christian Orthodox; Greek citizenship by birth; citizen of this community: son; registered in the Male Register (Mitroon Arrenon) of Anavryti 1854-1917
Burial
FindAGravePaul George Morfogen
Birth 18 Apr 1893
Sparta, Regional unit of Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece
Death 20 Sep 1955 (aged 62)
Boonton, Morris County, New Jersey, USA
Burial
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Maspeth, Queens County, New York, USA
Show MapGPS-Latitude: 40.722727, Longitude: -73.897993
Plot X-Edgewood 6764
Memorial ID 275460669
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/275460669/paul-george-morfogen
Death
New Jersey Death Index, 1920-1929, 1949-2017Morfogen, Paul
State File #38567; Place of Death: 14045; Place of Residence: 14045; date of death: 09-55.
Source: MyHeritage, accessed May 7, 2020
Alt name
Name of Apostolos is used in Paul's Declaration of Intention.New York, New York City Marriages, 1866-1949
MyHeritage: Paul & Lena FortneyEndnotes
1. Paul Morfogen Biography, April 1993, written by Zachary Morfogen..
2. Town Register-Greece (Dimotologion Koinotikos).
3. "Paul Morfogen." Myheritage https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-2711212-S/paul-morfogen-and-lena-fortney-in-new-york-new-york-city-marriages?s=210681471&indId=individual-210681471-10000465. Accessed 10 May. 2024..
4. Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002), Year: 1930; Census Place: Bronx, Bronx, New York; Roll: 1465; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 2341200.
5. World War I Draft Registration Card..
6. "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WBYW-F9N2 : Sun Mar 10 07:47:46 UTC 2024), Entry for Apostles Morfagenis, 1920..
7. "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WBYW-F9N2 : Sun Mar 10 07:47:46 UTC 2024), Entry for Apostles Morfagenis, 1920..
8. Family Member.
9. "New York City, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995 for Paul Molfogen." New York City, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995 for Paul Molfogen. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.
10. "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24WJ-P52 : 10 February 2018), Paul Morfogen and Lena Fortney, 26 Sep 1921; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,653,316..
11. New York, New York City Marriages, 1866-1949 MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd. https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20807/new-york-new-york-city-marriages-1866-1949 Record: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-2711212/paul-morfogen-and-lena-fortney-in-new-york-new-york-city-marriages Paul Morfogen & Lena Fortney.
12. "Paul Morfogen." Myheritage https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-2711212-S/paul-morfogen-and-lena-fortney-in-new-york-new-york-city-marriages?s=210681471&indId=individual-210681471-10000465. Accessed 10 May. 2024..
13. "Paul Morfogen." Myheritage https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-2711212-S/paul-morfogen-and-lena-fortney-in-new-york-new-york-city-marriages?s=210681471&indId=individual-210681471-10000465. Accessed 10 May. 2024..
14. Family Member.
15. 1930 Federal Census, http://interactive.ancestry.com/6224/4661135_01089/31525315?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1930usfedcen%26h%3d31525315%26indiv%3dtry%26o_vc%3dRecord%253aOtherRecord%26tid%3d35043080%26tpid%3d18738991432%26rhSource%3d2442&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord.
16. Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002), Year: 1930; Census Place: Bronx, Bronx, New York; Roll: 1465; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 2341200.
17. Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: T627_2675; Page: 63A; Enumeration District: 31-2064.
18. 1940 US Census, http://interactive.ancestry.com/2442/m-t0627-02675-00066/11368318?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1940usfedcen%26h%3d11368318%26ti%3d0%26indiv%3dtry%26gss%3dpt%26ssrc%3dgr_t35043080_p18738991432_ktidz0q3d35043080z0q26pidz0q3d18738991432z0q26hidz0q3d3594477317z0q26dbidz0q3d2442z0q26rpidz0q3d11368318z0q26ssrcz0q3dgrz0q26pgz0q3d32799z0q252c32842z0q26pgplz0q3dtidz0q257cpidz0q257chidz0q257cdbidz0q257crpidz0q257cssrcz0q26pgpsz0q3d18738991432_h3594477317&ssrc=gr_t35043080_p18738991432_ktidz0q3d35043080z0q26pidz0q3d18738991432z0q26hidz0q3d3594477317z0q26dbidz0q3d2442z0q26rpidz0q3d11368318z0q26ssrcz0q3dgrz0q26pgz0q3d32799z0q252c32842z0q26pgplz0q3dtidz0q257cpidz0q257chidz0q257cdbidz0q257crpidz0q257cssrcz0q26pgpsz0q3d18738991432_h3594477317&backlabel=ReturnRecord.
19. Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: T627_2675; Page: 63A; Enumeration District: 31-2064.
20. "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTQ7-H47 : Sat Feb 24 01:19:22 UTC 2024), Entry for Paul Morfogen, 1942..
21. General State Archives of Greece, Sparta Office; Sparta, Lakonia, Greece.
22. General State Archives of Greece, Sparta Office; Sparta, Lakonia, Greece.
23. "Paul George Morfogen (1893." 1955) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/275460669/paul-george-morfogen. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024..
24. Paul Morfogen Biography, April 1993, written by Zachary Morfogen..
25. "Paul Morfogen - New Jersey Death Index, 1920-1929, 1949." 2017 https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10747-3193591-/paul-morfogen-in-new-jersey-death-index?s=210681471&indId=individual-210681471-10001672. Accessed 7 May. 2020..
26. "Paul George Morfogen (1893." 1955) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/275460669/paul-george-morfogen. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024..

