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Charles Levi Klisser
Charles Levi Klisser married Elizabeth Samuel on 9 April 1867 in Holland. Within a few weeks they left for England and from there sailed on 1 May, in the Coonatta, for South Australia where they arrived on 26 July 1867. The ship, captained by W. Begg, must have been a fairly comfortable home for the young couple who travelled as saloon passengers. After leaving Kangaroo Island, they and the other ten saloon passengers presented the Captain with this address which was later published in the South Australian Register.
Charles Coleman Klisser was already living in Kent Town and hawking textiles, clothes and jewellery. His wife gave birth on 27 February 1868 to a daughter they named Emma Annie. Sadly she died three weeks later on 19 March. Two years after their arrival, Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Jacob, on 25 July 1869. He lived only three hours. Twelve months after this sad occasion they had another son named Louise Michael on 21 July 1870.
As early as January 1868 C.L. Klisser advertised in the local papers.
A few months later C.L. Klisser advertised that he most respectfully thanked his numerous friends for the very liberal patronage bestowed upon him since his commencement of his business. He also assured them that no effort would be waning on his part to merit a continuance of that support. He also advertised his shop and skills in the nearby country newspapers.
During these trying times, Charles, a draper by trade, was often away from home operating his Hawking business. However on 15 January 1870 he notified his numerous friends and customers that it was his intention to relinquish this business at once.
Klisser also showed an interest in copper mining and joined numerous other hopeful prospectors and investors to strike it lucky. On 19 September 1872 he applied for mineral claims, 4400, 4401 and 4402 near Sliding Rock. All three were for eighty acre sections.
Perhaps Charles changed his mind or maybe the mining experiment did not turn out as well as he had hoped. It seems from the above advertisement that he was still in business during 1872. In 1878 he was again advertising his business and telling all his old and new customers that he had engaged the services of a first class shirtmaker.
Charles Klisser remained in Rundle Street up to 1880. From then on things went wrong somehow. On 15 July 1880 Klisser 'conveyed and assigned his estate and effects to Walter Howard, merchant, as trustee for the benefit of his creditors. On 9 September 1880 he was able to pay his creditors forty per cent of the total amount of money owed to them.
He tried hard to set up another business and find a new home for his family. He moved to the north and by the end of the year we find him living at Beltana, in the Northern Flinders Ranges, being a storekeeper during 1881 and 1882. Most likely it was not a successful enterprise as in February 1883 he was working as a tailor in 105 Rundle Street while living at Archer Street, North Adelaide. He advertised once again that he had much pleasure in informing his old customers and the general public that he had again commenced business as a tailot and outfitter. He had now also engaged the services of Herr Finke, who had recently arrived from Berlin, who had brought with him the latest improvements in tailoring, as cutter and fitter.
Two years later Klisser changed his job again and was employed as a traveller. During this time he also made regular payments to his creditors.
On 18 November 1880 he paid his creditors another twenty per cent, on 26 May 1881 a further ten per cent and during 1883 a final five percent.
On 25 January 1887, his wife Elizabeth died, aged only forty-seven. She is buried at the Jewish section of the West Terrace Cemetery. Charles Klisser now moved to Childers Street while still working as a traveller. In 1897 Charles Levi Klisser was naturalised.
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