The VOLTZ Family from 1832
Notes in Italics added by webmaster.
Frederic Wilhelm
Voltz was born on 3 December 1832 in Demmin Germany. Demmin is a small town in
former Prussian Pomerania Province in N. Germany after 1845 in Mecklenburg 20
miles SW of Greifswald. At the present time, the names of his parents and
siblings are unknown. His arrival in America is also unknown. First knowledge
of him in America is in 1859. He is residing with wife, Wilhelmina Schmuhl in
Ashland PA, Schuylkill County. Several of their children were born in PA,
probably the Ashland area. The family appears on the 1860 census - name being
spelled Frederic Woltz (could be the handwriting, which makes the "V" appear as
a "W"). He is 28 years of age. His occupation is listed as shoemaker. It also
shows the value of real estate as $800, value of personal estate as $75. Wife
Wilhelmina is 23, son Robert age 1. The other children born in PA were Rudolph,
Richard and Mathilde. Ludwig (Lewis-Louis), George M., Amelia and Adelaide were
born in Indiana. The family moved to the Michigan City IN area in about 1866.
Frederic had many occupations, shoemaker, farmer, saloonkeeper and day laborer.
Wife Wilhelmina was born in Demmin, Prussia (Germany) about 1836 and came to
America as a young woman and then married Frederic. Frederic died 4 April 1903,
of chronic diarrhea (according to death certificate) in LaPorte at the home of
his daughter "Ida" Adelaide Smalley. He was 70 years old. Wilhelmina died 12
October 1892 in Michigan City of consumption at the age of 56. Both are buried
in Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City.
First-born son, Robert, was born 5 April 1859 in Ashland PA. He married
Christina "Tina" Walters about 1882-3. They resided in Springfield Township,
seven miles from the city for approximately a year prior to his wife's death.
It is said that Robert was employed for several years by the Michigan Central
Railroad as a trainman. To them were born five daughters, one died in
infancy, Dorothea (1885 - 1972), Ella (1892 - 1966), Clara
(1890) and Flora (1888). Robert's wife, Christina "Tina" died 1
September 1894.Christina and an infant daughter, who died in 1887 are buried
in Greenwood Cemetery, this county.
Dorothea married George Werthmann
in IA and had 10 children, Frank, Richard, Joseph, Dorothy, Marie, Leona, Paul,
Anthony, Teresa and Margaret.
Ella married Clarence Peachy and resided in
Kendallville, IN. They had five children names unknown. Found later -
children were: Maxwell, Maxine, Willis, Francis L. and Cyril. Ref: 1930
Census.
Ella lived from 1892 to 1966 and Clarence Peachy born 1890
and died 1975.
Clara married Met (Merritt) Sweet. They had
three children: Merritt Jr., Claribel R. and Robert J.
Sweet.
Flora married Edward H Fuller. Flora had three
children, Ruth, Walter and Rollo. They lived in Davenport, Scott Co.,
Iowa.
Robert remarried a lady named Mary (nee Kadow - do John
& Mary Kadow). She appears on the 1870 Sprinfield , LaPorte Co., IN census
but the name is mispelled as Cado. I believe her first marriage was to
Charles Smith. They were wed 15 Jan 1876 when Mary would have been about 16 yrs
of age. Mary and Charles appear on the 1880 Springfield Twp, LaPorte Co., IN
and show a two year old daughter, named Mary with them. We are not sure if it
was death or divorce that ended her first marriage. I have not been able
to locate when and where Mary and Robert Voltz were married.
Robert and
Mary took eldest 2 daughters Doro and Flora and left Michigan City for the Rock
Island ILand then Davenport IA area, in about 1894. This was probably because
they could do chores. He remained there until he left his second wife and
wasn't heard from after that. An indication of when he left might be found
in the records of Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa. Robert appears on the census with
his family in June 15, 1900 and by December 11, 1900, Mary has asked for and
been granted $4.00 in relief from the county. An error also appears on the 1900
census stating they have been married for 16 years.
In an obituary for
Robert's sister, Amelia, who died, in 1901, it stated that he was in Alaska.
This has not yet been established as fact.
The other two daughters Ella
and Clara were dropped off at an La Porte County orphanage (Julia E Work
Training School) on Dec 11, 1894. Clara was taken in by Jacob T (1842-1915)
and Rachel L. (Byler) Miller (1855-1931) as a foster daughter on January 26,
1895. They moved at one point from Noble twp. Elkhart Co., IN to Clearspring
Co., Lagrange Co., Indiana. The children were reunited in later life.
Ella Voltz was adopted by Sarah Eash and taken from the La Porte Co.,
orphanage January 16, 1895. Sarah Eash and Rachel Miller were sisters and after
the aboptions, first cousins too. Confusing, right?
LaGrange Co., IN.
The Gospel Herald - Volume XVII, Number 5 - May 1, 1924 - pages 94,
95
Eash. - Sarah A., daughter of Jonathan and Catherine Byler, was born near
Topeka, Ind., May 20, 1861. She spent her entire life in this community, with
the exception of a few years when she lived in Shipshewana and Nappanee. On
Jan. 8, 1891, she was married to Jacob N. Eash. To this union were born two
children, both of whom died in infancy. The husband passing away at about the
same time, left her very lonely and sorrowful, and to partly assuage her grief
and loneliness she adopted a daughter, Ella Voltz, and to her she was a
loving mother. Early in her life she became a Christian, affiliating with the
Maple Grove Mennonite Church, of which she was a faithful member until her
death. She was of a family of eight, leaving two sisters and two brothers still
living, namely: Mrs. Rachael Miller, Mrs. Jonathan Kurtz, S. P. Byler and John
Byler. She also leaves her foster daughter, Mrs. Ella Peachy, and three
grandchildren. Her age, 62 y. 10 m. 28 d. Funeral at Maple Grove Church,
conducted by Bro. D. D. Miller.
Son Rudolph was born 19 March 1861 in Ashland PA. He married Bertha Schultz on 7 September 1882. Bertha was born in Mecklenberg, Germany on 25 Aug 1865. She was the daughter of Frederick Schultz and Wilhelmina Miller. While married to Rudolph they had six children, four of which survived. They were Frederick Wilhelm, who died at age 2 days; George, Minnie, Lillian, an infant girl unnamed and Elizabeth "Bess". George married Lillian Lambka; they had three children, Albert R., William E. (whom I know) and Genevieve. Daughter Lillian married Herman Westphal. They had five children, Josephine, Ruth, Kenneth, Lillian and Herman. Daughter Minnie married Calvin Fleming. They had one son, Douglas. Elizabeth "Bess" married Arthur Mathias and had two children, Dorothy and Arthur. Rudolph was yardmaster in Chicago for the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. He was run over accidentally by a freight car that was kicked by Engine #54 and died on 12 May 1892. His funeral was held in Michigan City. It was said to have been the largest the city had ever seen at that time. The account of his death can be read in the Evening Dispatch Newspaper dated Friday, 12 May 1892. Another article appeared in the paper on 16 May 1892. (Copy on microfilm at the Michigan City Public Library). Bertha remarried on 10 November 1893 to a Charles J. Kroll. They were divorced prior to her death on 10 December 1895 in Michigan City. She died of tuberculosis at 30 years of age. No children were born to Charles and Bertha. She is buried next to husband Rudolph in Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City.
Richard was born 16 October 1863 in Ashland, PA. He married Ida Mikow/Mickow on 1 January 1885. They had four children, Ada, Helen, Edward and Harry. At one time, the family resided at 501 E. 9th St. in Michigan City. They remained in the Michigan City area for many years. About 1918-1919 they moved to Grand Rapids Michigan. They remained there until Richard's death in 1936.
Mathilde, or Tillie as she was called, was the fourth child of Frederic and Wilhelmina, born on 6 March 1866. She was baptized on 12 February 1867, at St. John's United Church of Christ in Michigan City. Mathilda Voltz, sister of Robert and my grandfather Ludwig (Lewis). She died at the Northern Indiana Hospital for the insane (aka Logansport State Hospital "Longcliff") on 3 October 1895. She was buried the same day in the Longcliff Cemetery (Cass County). I'm hoping to obtain a death certificate to find out the cause of death. He name is spelled Matilda Volt on the WPA Indiana state death listing.
Ludwig Freidrich Carl (Lewis/Louis)(my grandfather) was born 6 April 1868 in Michigan City, IN. Christened 26 April 1868 at St. John's United Church of Christ. He was confirmed on 18 March 1883 also at St. John's. He married Cassie (Katherine) West, on 24 December 1891 at St. John's Church in Michigan City. Cassie is the daughter of John D. West and Katherine Chrowl/Crowl. They had four children, Mabel, Harold, Foushee (Fred, my father) and Alma Katherine. Harold, Alma and Foushee were in vaudeville from about 1918-1922. They performed in Northern Indiana, Michigan and the Chicago land area. It was also said that Lewis played clarinet with John Phillip Sousa during the 1893 Columbian Exposition, which was held in Chicago. The Exposition ran from May-October of 1893. The exact time frame that Sousa appeared there with his band is unknown. Documentation of his playing with Sousa is difficult to obtain. Several collectors of Sousa memorabilia were contacted to see if they had rosters from the Exposition. Unfortunately, they did not. It is said that when Sousa died, the family destroyed a lot of his files. Lewis played with the Ames Union Band of Michigan City. An Undated photograph is on display at the Lighthouse Museum showing L. Voltz in the front row. This family traveled around a lot having lived in Grand Rapids where Mabel and Harold were born, Lexington Kentucky, where Foushee was born, Michigan City and finally settled in Chicago where Alma was born. Lewis was said to have been a musician until he lost a finger in a machine shop accident. Lewis died 30 April 1933 in Chicago. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery in Elmhurst, IL. Daughter Mabel married Oscar Buehlman. They had three children, Ronald, Barbara and Patricia. They had seven grandchildren. Harold married Frances Star and went on to become a professional musician, playing guitar. He played with Les Paul, the WLS Ranch Hands and was acquainted with many famous musicians in the business. Harold and Frances did not have any children. Fred (as Foushee was known in later years) married Eleanor Stibor. They had one daughter, Virginia and three grandchildren. Fred taught piano for several years before his marriage to Eleanor. He also owned an elevator manufacturing business for about 20 years in Chicago. It was known as ABC Elevator Mfg. Co. Alma who had several marriages had one son, Louis. Alma died young, at age 39. She is buried with her parents in Arlington Cemetery. Lewis' wife Cassie was born 9 August 1873 in Elkhart, IN. She died 24 October 1958 in Chicago, IL. She is buried with her husband in Arlington Cemetery.
George Maxmillon was born 13 October 1875 in Michigan City. He married a lady named Mabel Agnes Rose on 1 June 1891. They had two sons, Gilbert Alden born in Michigan City on 22 Nov 1894, and Raymond Lee born 9 June 1899 in Owosso, MI. The family settled in the Grand Rapids MI area about 1900. George and son, Raymond, were in the furniture manufacturing business. They also made other small items of wood, i.e. salad bowls, jewelry boxes etc. George died 14 April 1951. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids. The 1893-94 Michigan City directory shows George as a machinist boarding at 226 W. 8th. Son Raymond married Faith Reathsnyder. They had two daughters, Sally Ann and Betty Jane. Sally married James K. Jakeway and Joel LaLonde. Betty married Richard G. Philipps. Sally had several children. Betty and Richard have two children, a son Rick and daughter Lynn Dee. Raymond died 20 October 1954 in Grand Rapids. Raymond 's wife, Faith, passed away 10 February 1955. Brother Gilbert married Rowena and they had two daughters Yvonne and Susanne. Gilbert died 20 June 1962 in Grand Rapids MI. His wife Rowena died 28 February 1965.
Amelia was born in 1871 in Michigan City. She married Karl Nallenweg on 17 September 1890. They had three children, Walter, Emily and Loretta. Walter married a lady named Margaret. Emily married Hugo Hilberg and they had two sons, Karl and Albert. Loretta married Gerald Olvaney and had five children, Geraldine, Catherine, Jack, Patrick and Roland. Amelia died young on 26 September 1901 of consumption (TB). She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City IN.
Adelaide, also known as Ida/Ada, was born 23 August 1877 in Michigan City IN. She married William F. Westphal on 23 February 1893. Nothing is known about this marriage or why it dissolved either by death or divorce. She later married Eugene Smalley on 17 August 1901. The marriage took place on a Saturday evening at the Methodist parsonage in LaPorte. Rev. DeLong performed the ceremony. They resided in the LaPorte area. This is where Frederic died, at the home of this daughter. Again nothing more is known about this family.
Additional information: The old Voltz Saloon was said to have been located at 8th & Wabash St. Fred Voltz lived at 204 1/2 Franklin St. Wife Wilhelmina was said to have been a devout member of St. John's United Church of Christ. An ad appeared in the Michigan City Weekly News 1 July 1891 stating that Fred Voltz wished to sell his Saloon business and retire. He offers a bargain to the lucky purchaser. Photographs of Robert Voltz and wife Christina Walters with firstborn daughter Dorothea, Lewis and Cassie West, theatrical photos of the Voltz Trio and photos of individual members of the Trio, Louis, George and Mabel Voltz, William Voltz with son Ken, and cousin, Virginia are available. Would like to obtain copies of any photos of Frederic and Wilhelmina, Rudolph, Richard, and Amelia. Photocopies would be fine.
At the present time, I am trying to learn more about the Voltz family of the 1860's and their life in PA. A marriage date for Frederic and Wilhelmina is needed. Dates of immigration, parent's names and any siblings of either are also needed. If anyone can help me with any of the missing information, it would be very much appreciated. Also any information about their life in Michigan City would be appreciated.
Original article written and donated by: Virginia (Ginny) Voltz Del Marto 2083 High Mesa Drive Henderson, Nevada 89012-2584 - see our Hall of Fame page for most current email address.