January 11, 2011, is the 100th anniversary of Josef Gärtz, my paternal grandfather, arriving in America, losing the umlaut over the “ä” and becoming Gartz. My guess is that he didn’t record his first impressions because he was too excited [...]
Josef Gärtz, 1909 or 1910, age 20 or 21 I’d always known my grandfather was often impatient, and apparently was so as a young man. I learned from my cousin’s family (also from Neppendorf, the same Transylvanian town [...]
In 1910 Josef began a second book, this time the notebook in which I found his Military Draft notice handwritten on the first page. (See post, Drafted 100 Years Ago). After making some inquiries with Transylvanian natives, the consensus at [...]
Katarina (Schnell) Gärtz, Josef and hissister, Katarina. About 1902-03 When we asked my grandfather why he had come to America he always said, “Nothing from nothing makes nothing.” A little background may illuminate that statement. Like Lisi, he had [...]
Grosspold Family Book My grandmother kept a photo of her hometown church tucked into the hymnbook she brought with her from Romania. No wonder. That church was more than just a place of worship. It was the repository [...]