From interview with Carl, 2005:

The name on his birth certificate reads Carl Amiel Otto Rover Stenzel. He was born May 24, 1905. His parents, Anna Montgomery Stenzel (an English lady) and Otto Stenzel lived at 20 South Warnock Street, a poor section of Philadelphia. He was the second of three boys. The oldest brother was Bill, the youngest Otto. When Carl was 7 or 8, his mother left their father. It was rumored she had an affair with a streetcar conductor. Their father handed the boys over to his parents, German immigrants Otilia (Ottelie) and Augustus Stenzel. It is said August Stenzel's father, Augustus II, was a violinist with the Berlin Symphonic Orchestra.

August was a shoemaker. The boys' grandparents had trouble handling the three "hellions, and they were often caught breaking into abandoned warehouses. At one point in time, Carl was shipped off to a farm in New Jersey to work for a family in Cape May, New Jersey: Mr and Mrs.Tutor. She was a retired teacher, they had no children.

Carl says, "She was the world's worst cook. Once she made a rump roast and burned it black. When no one would eat it, they threw it to the dog, who instead of eating it, walked away." After a while Carl called his father and asked to go back to his grandparents.

Otto Stenzel finally decided to adopt out the boys out and arranged to have their photos put in the North American, then the Philadelphia paper. Carl remembers that when the photographer came to take their pictures they were so happy, "we kids danced for joy."

The advertisement came to the attention of the Voss family of Renova, PA. They decided to adopt Bill, the oldest. Their neighbors, Laura Munson and Eugene Kramer Bauer were also childless and asked Mr. Voss if there were any more. When they saw the advertisement, they decided to adopt Bill's two brothers. Carl was 11 years old when the Bauers came by train to Philadelphia to bring him home. They came back later and got Otto. The boys were later legally adopted at a Lockhaven courthouse.

Carl S Bauer