**UPDATE** The Wives of Oscar Leutz

 Two updates in two days?!  My goodness I must be on a roll or something.  And oddly enough it is on the same topic as yesterday.  If you will recall I was attempting to sort out the four known wives of Oscar Leutz.  Today I confirmed Uncle Bob once again.  Oscar's marriage to Bertha Woods was in fact very short lived.  They were married December 28, 1920 and were divorced in October, 1921.  As found in the newspaper announcing the separation...

In the case of Oscar Leutz vs. Bertha A. Leutz, Judge Wierman has granted a divorce to the plaintiff on the grounds of gross neglect of duty, and the defendant divested of all property rights of plaintiff by way of dower or otherwise, and defendant has been restored to her maiden name Bertha Woods.  

 

**UPDATE** The Wives of Oscar Leutz

I have new information regarding Oscar Leutz and his four wives.  If you need a refresher, the previous update can be found here.  I have recently come across some information regarding wife #1, Myrtle Long.  In fact I have a fair bit of information thanks to a very beautifully written obituary. 

Death of Mrs. Oscar Leutz 

Mrs. Myrtle Long Leutz, second daughter of Mr and Mrs. Edwin Long, of Toledo, was born near Elmore, January 1st, 1888, was married to Oscar Leutz, Dec. 10th, 1904, and died at her home in Oak Harbor, on Oct. 12th, 1907, after an illness of only one day.  She leaves a husband, son, father, mother, two sisters and two brothers, besides a host of other relatives and friends, to mourn her untimely departure.  

Very early in life, she united with the Second Baptist church of Toledo and remained a faithful member of that organization.  She was a member of the Christian Sunday School, of Oak Harbor, also of the Ladies' Aid society of that church. 

The funeral, Tuesday, was from the Christian church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. L. Morrison.  The floral emblems were numerous and beautiful, mutely testifying of the love of the living for the dead. 

The fair young mother with her infant daughter, which died at birth, resting peacefully on her quiet breast, was indeed a touching sight, and the large concourse of sympathizing friends mingled their tears with those of the desolate husband.  Only the tender, softening hand of Time, and the hope to "Some day greet with pleasure, the dear ones waiting there," can console him. 

Extra special shout out to Uncle Bob who thought she'd died in child birth with her son, Ivan.  The dates didn't line up but I just assume Uncle Bob didn't know she'd had another baby, especially so close to the birth of her son.  The babies were about 1 year and 7 months apart.  What a tiny little fella to lose his momma.  Also, for those of you that didn't do the math, Oscar married Myrtle when she was 16 and buried her at 19.  I'm so glad to finally be able to add more information regarding this young woman to the tree and help her short life be remembered in some fashion.   

Where it fits:  Oscar Leutz is the son of Gustav and Mary (Washa) Leutz.  This makes him the brother of Leon Leutz who was the father of Mary Cary (Leutz) Rudes.    

Leutz Family

This picture was identified for me by Uncle Bob. On the far left we have Myrtle Leutz-Madison. Next one is Leon Leutz, beside him is Berlin, then Oscar, Mary Washa-Leutz and Gustav.

Timeframe: Berlin died in 1919 so obviously it was taken before then since he seems rather lively looking to me. My guess is closer to 1913.

How It Fits: Gustav is the son of Johann Frederick Luetz & Louise Frederica Zink. Mary Leutz is the daughter of John Joseph Washa & Mary Moeureau. Gustav & Mary are the parents of Oscar, Myrtle, Lorenz, Leon & Berlin. Oscar married Myrtle Long, Clara Newton, Bertha Woods and Louise Witt. He is the father of Ivan (with Myrtle) and Grace (with Louise). Myrtle married Peter Madison and is the mother of Bethel Leutz/Madison. Lorenz died in 1889 leaving no spouse or children. Leon married Merle Fritsche and he is the father of Mary Caroline, Robert Leon & A.J. Berlin married Lilly Scholt and he is the father of Beetrice & Monabell.

Todays birthdays are Sadie Stevens-Bay, Mildred Boger, William Kalk and Mary Washa-Leutz would have turned 148 today.

**UPDATE** The Wives of Oscar Leutz

UPDATE: According to the "Cemetery Inscriptions of Ottawa County, Ohio" in Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor, Ohio there are two Leutz wives buried side by side. "LEUTZ, Myrtle L. wife of O.N." was born in 1888 and died in 1907. "LEUTZ, Clara I. wife of O.N." was born in 1890 and died in 1919. When the weather gets a little better I hope to confirm that information. If nothing else that removes the myth about Myrtle dying when Ivan was born as she died in 1907 and Ivan was born in February of 1906. Oscar N. is not buried with them, he is buried with Louise in Toledo, Ohio.

"Mr. Oscar Leutz, local mail carrier, and Miss Bertha Woods, were married by Rev. Mr. Kennedy." -- Ottawa County News Democrat, Friday, December 31, 1920

According to Uncle Bob, Oscar was only married to Bertha for a very short time. He believes only a couple of days. Bertha would be wife #3. Does anybody know why they were married such a short time? Does anybody know what happened to her? Did they get a divorce or did Bertha die? What's the rest of the story Paul Harvey?

How about any of his other wives? He married Myrtle Long about 1904 and they had Ivan in 1906. I can't find any records regarding her after the birth of her son. I heard a rumor she died in childbirth or shortly there after but like I said I can find nothing.

January 25, 1909 he married Clara I. Newton. They were married for a little over ten years when the flu epidemic hit and Clara died. She was pregnant at the time of her death.

Last but certainly not least came Louise Witt. She had a daughter, Grace, with Oscar in 1924. According to Grandma Mary Cary, Grace once ran through the hospital naked because "that was just Grace". Louise died in 1972 after being a widow for several years.

Where It Fits: Oscar Leutz is the son of Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa. Myrtle Long, parents unknown, DOB unknown, date of death . . . well, you get the picture. Clara Newton was the daughter of Miles Newton & Lorania Stevens. Bertha Woods, yeah, I know as much about her as I do about Myrtle. Louise Witt is the daughter of Albert Witt & Johanna Kalk.

Oscar Leutz & Clara Newton

Uncle Bob identified this picture for me and confirmed the names there were on the back. Even though some of these pictures are labeled I like confirming the identities by some other means just to make sure. It also leaves the door open for stories. :-) This is a picture of Oscar Leutz, Clara Newton Leutz and Ivan Leutz. Clara Newton is the second wife of Oscar Leutz. [For more details check out 'The Wives of Oscar Leutz']

Timeframe: We are starting out with a very narrow timeframe on this one and seeing if we can knock it down a little. Oscar and Clara were married in 1909 (their anniversary would be tomorrow). At the time of their marriage, Ivan was already three. Clara died in the March of 1919 due to complications with pneumonia and influenza, she was pregnant at the time. Thus ended their marriage. So, this picture was taken between January 25, 1909 and March 7, 1919. Since Ivan looks much older then three I am guessing it was taken between 1914 and 1919 making him between eight and twelve. I am leaning closer to the 1914 mark as he looks rather young to be twelve.

Where It Fits: Oscar is the son of Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa. He is the brother of Myrtle, Lorenz, Leon & Berlin. This makes Oscar the uncle of Bethel Madison, Mary Cary Rudes, Robert Leutz, A.J. Leutz, Beetrice Myerholtz & Monabell Garner. Clara is the daughter of Miles Newton and Lorania Stevens. Ivan is the son of Oscar Leutz and Myrtle Long. Oscar was also the father of Grace.

Leutz Family

Today's picture was brought to you by Katie Martin. This is another one of the pictures she has shared with me over the last couple of summers and one that might be of extra special interest. This is identified as the Leutz family but who are the three children? On the left we have what appears to be the oldest child. That would make it Oscar Leutz. Next is the father, Gustav Leutz. We will come back to the wee one in the middle. Moving on we have the mother, Mary Washa. Last, but not least, is a little girl as apparent by the dress & braids. That would be Myrtle. Now, back to the baby. As you can see the hair is parted off to the left side and the dress is rather plain, this implies the infant is a boy. Makes since considering of the five children they had there was only one girl. My question is . . . which boy? The third child born to Gustav & Mary was a boy, Lorenz. He was born in December, 1887 and died in 1889. Depending on when he died he could have been as old as 2. There are four years, one month between the birth of Myrtle and the birth of Lorenz. There are two, almost three, years between Lorenz and the next born son. When Leon was born, Myrtle was almost seven. I think that little girl looks much closer to four or five then seven or eight. Therefore I believe the little tyke in the middle is Lorenz Leutz.

Timeframe: Since Lorenz was only alive between December 1887 and 1889 it would be somewhere in there.

Where It Fits: Gustav Leutz is the son of Johann Frederick Leutz & Louisa Fredericka Zink. In June, 1881 he married Mary Washa, daughter of Joseph Washa & Mary Moeureau. Together Gustav and Mary had five children; Oscar, Myrtle, Lorenz, Leon & Berlin. Oscar is the father of Ivan & Grace Leutz. Myrtle is the mother of Bethel Madison. Lorenz fathered no children. Leon is the father of Mary Caroline Rudes, Robert Leutz & A.J. Leutz. Berlin is the father of Beetrice Myerholtz & Monabell Garner.

The Wives of Oscar Leutz

"Mr. Oscar Leutz, local mail carrier, and Miss Bertha Woods, were married by Rev. Mr. Kennedy." -- Ottawa County News Democrat, Friday, December 31, 1920

According to Uncle Bob, Oscar was only married to Bertha for a very short time. He believes only a couple of days. Bertha would be wife #3. Does anybody know why they were married such a short time? Does anybody know what happened to her? Did they get a divorce or did Bertha die? What's the rest of the story Paul Harvey?

How about any of his other wives? He married Myrtle Long about 1904 and they had Ivan in 1906. I can't find any records regarding her after the birth of her son. I heard a rumor she died in childbirth or shortly there after but like I said I can find nothing.

January 25, 1909 he married Clara I. Newton. They were married for a little over ten years when the flu epidemic hit and Clara died. She was pregnant at the time of her death.

Last but certainly not least came Louise Witt. She had a daughter, Grace, with Oscar in 1924. According to Grandma Mary Cary, Grace once ran through the hospital naked because "that was just Grace". Louise died in 1972 after being a widow for several years.

Where It Fits: Oscar Leutz is the son of Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa. Myrtle Long, parents unknown, DOB unknown, date of death . . . well, you get the picture. Clara Newton was the daughter of Miles Newton & Lorania Stevens. Bertha Woods, yeah, I know as much about her as I do about Myrtle. Louise Witt is the daughter of Albert Witt & Johanna Kalk.