Merle, Florence, Caroline and Who?

I took this picture to Uncle Bob and between the two of us we think we know who three of the five women are. According to Uncle Bob the woman on the left side of the image, first in the row of four, is Florence Hopfinger-Thierwechter. The woman on the complete right of the image is Merle Fritsche-Leutz. Assuming the woman on the porch is the same as this woman her name is Caroline Hopfinger-Fritsche.

Timeframe: Assuming that the oldest woman is in fact Caroline, this picture must have been taken before December, 1910. Looking at the girls dresses you will notice the skirts are smooth at the hips, their belts are moderately wide and the hair is puffed out at the sides dating this image to 1904-1907. Keeping that in mind can anybody ID the other women?

Where It Fits: Caroline Hopfinger-Fritsche is the daughter of Charles Hopfinger and Friedericka Richardson. Caroline is the mother of Merle Fritsche-Leutz. Caroline is the aunt of Florence Hopfinger-Thierwechter. Florence is the daughter of August Charles Hopfinger, a son of Charles Hopfinger & Friedericka Richardson.

Todays birthdays are Carl Leutz, Edward Reif, Justin Rofker and Justina Rofker-Lafer.

Mother and Baby

Today we have a picture that was not only among the pictures found at Grandma Mary Cary's house but Uncle Bob also had a copy. This is a picture of Grandma Mary Cary with her mother, Merle Fritsche.

Timeframe: Grandma looks to be about a year or so about 1918 or thereabouts.

Where It Fits: Mary Caroline Leutz was the wife of Merrill Rudes and the mother of Diane, Merrill, Terrence & De Ila. Mary Cary is the daughter of Leon Leutz & Merle Fritche. Merle is the daughter of Robert John Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger.

Today In History: Today is the birthday of Milford Floro & Marion Morse.

Robert & Sophia Fritsche

This is another picture that Uncle Bob was kind enough to identify for me. This couple is Robert John Fritsche and his second wife, Sophia Lipstraw. According to Uncle Bob there was a little jealousy between Sohpia and Merle. According to Sophia, Robert spent much to much time doting on his daughter and not nearly enough time doting on her. They divorced. Robert got the house and while Sophia was packing she took all the light bulbs. I am not sure that was entirely called for but not knowing the situation I at least tip my hat to her for coming up with something so original. I bet his expression was priceless when he discovered that one!

Timeframe: Robert & Sophia were married in June of 1916. They are still living together in the 1920 census and Sophia is listed as a widow in the 1930's census so I am unsure on how official the divorce was. Sophia is living with her father and listed as a widow and the date of the census is April 14th, three days after Robert's death. Anywho, that means this picture was taken between June, 1916 and April, 1930. Sorry but I can't be any more specific than that.

Where It Fits: Sophia Lipstraw is the daughter of Louie & Minnie Lipstraw. As far as I know she only married Robert and she had no children.

Robert John or John Robert Fritsche is the son of Christian Fritsche & Dorothea Langschwager. Robert, with his first wife Caroline, is the father of Merle Fritsche and a child that died in infancy. Merle married Leon Leutz making Robert/John the grandfather of Mary Cary, Robert & A.J.

**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.

**UPDATE** Fredrick & Frederica Leutz

UPDATE #2:  John was nice enough to clarify Hartford, Ohio.  Hartford was established April 6, 1835 and on MArch 27, 1863 it changed it's name to Oak Harbor.  To further complicate the matter their post office was known as Ottawa from 1839-1862.

In regards to Jacob Hoover it appears my source is incomplete.  It seems he was active from 1881-1897 at which time he sold his business to George Smith.  Thank you kindly John! 

UPDATE: I found some information regarding their oldest child, at least the oldest one I know of now. Carl Friedrich was born on April 27, 1856 in Hartford, Ottawa County, Ohio. He was baptized July 6th at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Danbury Township, Ottawa County, Ohio and died October 31, 1856 at 6 months, 4 days. It says he was buried in Hartford, Ohio. :-D Who can tell me where Hartford is?


This picture is brought to you by Uncle Bob. It was taken by Jacob Hoover of Oak Harbor, Ohio. If I look him up in 'Ohio Photographers: 1839-1900' it says:

Hoover, Jacob
Oak Harbor, 1881-1882

That would put Johann Fredrick Leutz at 54 or 55 and Louisa Frederica Zink at 55 or 56. Very possible if you ask me.

Timeframe: 1881 & 1882, somewhere in that general area.

Where It Fits: Johann & Louisa are the parents of Carl, Gustav, Charles, Louisa & Clara. They are the grandparents of Oscar, Myrtle, Lorenz, Leon, Berlin, Clara, Edward, Emery, William, Edith, Esther and Fred Leutz & Omah, Homer, William, Ada, Luella, Maud and Clara Bisch.

Gustav & Mary Leutz

I received a copy of this picture from both Katie Martin & Uncle Bob Leutz. This is a copy of the one Uncle Bob loaned me. This is Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa Leutz.

Timeframe: Since you can not see much detail in either of their clothing and judging by their ages I assume this picture was taken in the 1930's.

Where It Fits: Gustav is the son of Johann Frederick Leutz & Louisa Fredericka Zink. Mary is the daughter of Joseph Washa & Mary Moeureau. Together Gustav and Mary are the parents of Oscar, Myrtle Madison, Lorenz, Leon and Berlin.

In History: Today Gustav would have turned 152.

Thierwechter's and Leutz

This picture was identified for me by Uncle Bob. From left to right we have Mary Caroline Leutz, she is wearing the black shoes and striped socks. Behind Mary Cary, with her legs crossed and her hands folded on her knees is Mary Thierwechter. Directly on Mary's left is Jean Thierwechter and the girl in the very front with her legs all askew is Lois Thierwechter.

Timeframe: Mary Cary was born in November, 1917. Mary was born in January, 1917. Jean is a year older than the Mary's and Lois is about four years younger than the Mary's. That puts this picture taken in the 1920's since Lois was born around 1921. I would guess around 1927 or 1928. Judging by the length of the bob's it was late 1920's or early 1930's since it looks like Jean is letting her bob grow a little longer than was popular in the early/mid 1920's.

Where It Fits: August & Caroline Hopfinger were brother and sister. August married Marie Godemann and they had two children, one of which was Florence. Florence married George Thierwechter and they are the parents of Jean, Mary & Lois. Caroline Hopfinger married Robert Fritsche and they are the parents of Merle Fritsche. Merle is the mother of Mary Cary Leutz-Rudes, the girl on the very far left. That would make the girls second cousins and Florence & Merle cousins.

In History: Today Jean turns 94.

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.

Mr & Mrs Leutz

This was a picture I had run into a couple times and Uncle Bob was nice enough to identify it for me. This is Leon Leutz & Merle Fritsche.

Timeframe: October, 1913 as this looks like a wedding picture to me. They were married October 22, 1913.

Where It Fits: Leon is the son of Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa. Merle is the daughter of Robert John Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger. Leon & Merle had three children: Mary Caroline, Robert & A.J.

Beetrice and Monabell

This is another picture on loan out from Uncle Bob. In this picture are Beetrice & Monabell Leutz. Today Monabell would have been 92. Thank you for sharing Uncle Bob!

Timeframe: Good question. Since they look to be in their twenties or so that would make the picture taken in the late 1930's or 1940's.

Where It Fits: They are the daughters of Berlin Leutz and Lilly Scholt. They are the granddaughters of Fred Scholt & Mary Woodrich and Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa.

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.

George Thierwechter & Florence Hopfinger

On this, what would have been their 91st wedding anniversary, we have a picture of Florence Hopfinger & George Thierwechter. Uncle Bob was kind enough to identify this image when I visited his house. For those of you that don't know, George Thierwechter was the author of several local history books including "A History of the Oak Harbor Public School and the Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District". Uncle Bob was nice enough to supply a copy of the above book and it, as well as other books written by Mr. Thierwechter, have been a great help in adding names to my photographs.

Timeframe: Good question. I am not sure how to narrow down this image. They were married in December of 1914 and by the looks of the clothing the picture was taken much later then 1914. Maybe in the 1920's which would place Florence in her 30's.

Where It Fits: Florence Hopfinger is the daughter of August Charles Hopfinger & Marie Godemann. August is the son of Charles Hopfinger & Friederika Richardson. August is the older brother of Caroline Hopfinger Fritsche.

Frederick & Frederica Leutz

This picture is brought to you by Uncle Bob. It was taken by Jacob Hoover of Oak Harbor, Ohio. If I look him up in 'Ohio Photographers: 1839-1900' it says:

Hoover, Jacob
Oak Harbor, 1881-1882

That would put Johann Fredrick Leutz at 54 or 55 and Louisa Frederica Zink at 55 or 56. Very possible if you ask me.

Timeframe: 1881 & 1882, somewhere in that general area.

Where It Fits: Johann & Louisa are the parents of Gustav, Charles, Louisa & Clara. They are the grandparents of Oscar, Myrtle, Lorenz, Leon, Berlin, Clara, Edward, Emery, William, Edith, Esther and Fred Leutz & Omah, Homer, William, Ada, Luella, Maud and Clara Bisch.

Berlin Leutz & Family

Today we have a picture of Berlin Leutz, his wife Lilly and their oldest daughter Beetrice. I do not know the name of the bear. This picture was taken at Smith Studio in Oak Harbor and identified twice. Somebody had labeled the back of my photograph but Uncle Bob also loaned me a copy when he supplied me with his old photographs, for all of which he gave me names. Today would have been Berlin's 116th birthday.

Timeframe: Beetrice was born in June, 1912. It was taken before January, 1918 because Monabell isn't in the picture. Judging by the dress Lilly is wearing it was taken after 1914. Since Beetrice looks older than 2 that isn't too hard to reason. I am guessing that Beetrice is three or four so about 1916 would be reasonable.

Where it Fits: Berlin Leutz is the son of Gustav Leutz & Mary Washa. He is the brother of Leon Leutz. Berlin is the father of Beetrice & Monabell. Berlin married Lilly, the daughter of Fred Scholt & Mary Woodrich in Michigan in October, 1911.

Cousins

This picture is labeled "cousins" on the back. Left to right we have Beetrice, A.J., Robert, Mary Caroline, and Monabell Leutz.

I have no cute stories about this picture specifically but I would like to point out that Uncle Bob has a big boy haircut. As we were going through the pictures he spotted one of himself that reminded him of a childhood stunt. It seems he went to the barber to get his hair cut and told the barber that his mother said he could get a big boy hair cut. The barber doubted this but when Uncle Bob told him to call his mother and ask if he didn't believe him the barber yielded and gave Uncle Bob the requested cut. Uncle Bob neglected one minor detail. At some point he was going to have to go home and his mother was going to notice. It seems he walked around for quite a while before getting the nerve to go home.

Timeframe: According to the writing on the front of the picture it was taken in 1926.

Where It Fits: Mary Caroline, Robert & A.J. are the children of Leon Leutz & Merle Fritsche. Beetrice & Monabell are the children of Berlin Leutz & Lilly S. Scholt. They were indeed cousins as Leon & Berlin are brothers.

Bethel Madison

Here is another picture I took to Uncle Bob for identification. Without hesitation he proclaimed her to be Bethel Madison. He then told me to look in 'A History of The Oak Harbor Public School and the Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District' by George Thierwechter. He had recently given my father a copy and I was slowly working my way through but he mentioned a picture so when I got home I started looking in earnest.

Sure enough he was right. (Not that I doubted him.) On page 175 you will find a picture of the Oak Harbor High School Graduates - Class of 1920. There, sitting in the "bottom row", almost front and center is Bethel Madison. For those of you who don't have the book the rest of the people in the picture are as follows:

Bottom Row: Frederick Heller, Margaret Boylan, Francis Claser, Bethel Madison, Helene Schimansky, Martha Schuster, Esther Schutte, Orlena Miller, Walter Kern

Second Row: Marie Schuster, Gertrude Peters, Ruth Linder, William Roose, Walter Meyer, Lester Peters, Arthur Atwater, Agnes Mulligan

Third Row: Pearl Price, Raymond Steinmiller, Vernon Getterman, Milton Atwater, Herbert Fitch, William Mylander, Orland Humphrey, Franklin Yingling, Nellie Bearss

Top Row: Pauline Rice, Helen Nehls, Alice Blatt, Frances Auxter, Adelyn Neipp, Martha Peters, Dorothy Nehls, Minnie Goodsite, Florence Ludwig, Freda Hoedt & Grace Glecker.

Timeframe: Since the two images are very similar and one is the class of 1920 I am guessing both images hail from 1920 or there abouts.

Where It Fits: Bethel Madison is the daughter of Myrtle Leutz. She was later adopted by Peter Madison. George Thierwechter is the husband of Florence Hopfinger. Florence is the daughter of August Hopfinger. August Hopfinger is the brother of Caroline (Hopfinger) Fritsche.

Military Men

This is another picture I took when dad and I went to visit Uncle Bob. According to Uncle Bob this is the C. Company, 467th Chemical Mortar Battalion. Uncle Bob started rattling off names so fast this whippersnapper could barely keep up and I had to ask him to repeat a name or two. Please pardon any misspellings but starting on the left, front row we have Allen Dykeman, Joe Cleary, Raleigh Qualman, Paul Lockwood, Merrill B. Rudes, Carl Alamo, Robert Leutz, Bill Richie and Kurt Brough. In the second row, fourth from the left stands Roy Cooley. Do any of the other faces look familiar?

Timeframe: World War II

How It Fits: Merrill B. Rudes is the son of Merrill Rudes & Della Meyer. Robert Leutz is the son of Leon Leutz & Merle Rose Fritsche.

Grandpa & Mom

This is one of the pictures that really makes me enjoy name hunting. Dad and I took a bunch of pictures over to Uncle Bob's a week or so ago. As we were looking through the stack of pictures I brought a big smile crept across Uncle Bob's face. I instantly knew I was in for a story. It seems this is a picture of his mother, Merle. The gentleman in the picture is none other than Merle's father, Robert. According to Bob, Merle loved this picture and it was always on display somewhere in her home. Shortly after Merle's death Bob went looking for it and it was nowhere to be found. He has wondered what happened to it ever since. He requested a copy and I will have it ready the next time I see him. I hope I get the same smile when he sees it again.


Timeframe: Judging by the lack of wedding rings on Merle & Robert neither were married at the time. Robert was married from 1889 to 1910 and again after June of 1916. Merle married Leon in 1913. I therefore assume this was taken between 1910 & 1913. That would make the age of Merle between 16 & 18 and Robert between 48 & 50.

Where It Fits: Merle is the only child of Robert Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger that survived to adulthood. Merle married Leon Leutz and is the mother of Mary Cary, Robert and A.J.