Franz Christoph Schretzmann

Occupation listed on 1896 census: Tailor

From the research of Charles Schretzmann found at: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/c/h/Charles-F-Schretzm...

"Franz was born at about 8PM on the 3rd of July 1855; Baptized on the 4th at 2PM. Godfather was Franz Christoph Henn, master locksmith. Baptism was witnessed by Matthaus Schretzmann and ... Gartner [#33 for 1855, p396].

"Marriage Certificate from Our Lady of Sorrows RC Church on Pitt Street in Manhattan indicates that Franz was 24 and Anna was 20. Anna's parents are listed as John Gresser and Philippina Binges (sic). Witnesses were Otto Carl Fleischer and Joseph May. Franz' parents are shown as Franz Aloysius and Pauline Halbauer. (NYC Archives staff could not locate the marriage certificate in their files. - CFS)

1880 Census (Manhattan, Election Ward 17, ED 265, p 26, li 35, Natl Archives tape 879) shows Franz (25) and Anna (22) living at 546 Fifth Street, Manhattan. Franz is a tailor; Anna is a tailoress. Franz was born in Baden, Anna in NY.

"Per City Directories, Franz and Anna remained at the Fifth Street address until about 1885, when they moved to 87 Pitt Street (Anna's mother, Philippina, lived at 63 Pitt Street). In about 1887, they moved to Brooklyn - first to 38 Hamburg, and then to 12 Morgan Avenue. Franz remained at the Morgan Avenue address until about 1898, when he moved three times in about three years - 346 Stanhope, 225 Bushwick Avenue, and 233 Montrose Avenue. Franz' brother, Josef, also resided at 12 Morgan Avenue from about 1893 to 1895.

"Franz first wife, Anna Gresser, died in 1894.

"Per Bklyn Marriage Certificate (#3395 on file at NYC Municipal Archives), Franz Schretzmann and Josephina Menges (nee Baier) were married on July 28, 1895 at Our Lady of Sorrows RC Church, 83 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn; witnesses were Martin Lenk/Leuk (possibly Martin Buk/Buch who was the husband of Josephina's older sister, Elizabeth Baier - CFS) and Josef Schretzmann. The certificate indicates that Franz was born in Hardheim and resided at 12 Morgan; his parents were Franz Aloys Schretzmann and Pauline Halbauer. Josephina was 29, and resided at 113 Powers St. Her parents were Frank August Baier and Elisabetha Staud. She signed the certificate as Josephine Menges.

"1900 Census [Jun 2, 1900](ED 249, Sheet 4, Line 100, FHC #1241054) shows Franz and Josephine living at 225 Bushwick Avenue, Kings County NY. Lists nine children, including two named Lizzie. Says Franz emigrated in 1873. Josephine is 33. Franz, a tailor, has been married 21 years, (ie. married Anna Gresser in 1878-9), and Josephine has been married for five years, ie. 1895-6; Josephine had 5 children, all living as of the census.

"1920 Census [Jan 6, 1920](ED 1396, Sheet 6, Line 86, FHC #1821179) shows Franz and Josephine living at 168 Norwood Avenue, Kings County NY; Franz emigrated in 1873 (age 18), became naturalized in 1880; gives occupation as a laborer with an agate manufacturer; also lists Whilemine (29), an operator in a tailor shop, Mae (21), a waitress in a Tea Room, and Frank (19), a laborer for a printer. Josephine is 54.

"My dad and my aunt Kathleen both remember Josephine. She and Franz lived on the ground floor of a 3 story home at 168 Norwood Avenue, Brooklyn. Franz' daughter, Martha and her husband, Chris Scheuering, lived on the top floor, and Elizabeth and Peter Schmid lived on the 2nd floor. Josephine kept the home spotless. Kathleen says she used to wash the stairs every day. According to my dad, people said she "swept the sun off the sidewalk." - CFS

"Harriet Stokes remembers her mom, Mary Schretzmann, speaking of growing up on Ashford Street in Brooklyn. Franz had his tailor shop behind the house. Josephine would use the intervening closeline to "deliver" Franz his lunch each day.

"Death Certificate (#13156, Bklyn, 1930) indicates that Franz died at home (168 Norwood Ave) at 9:30PM on Jun 17, 1930, age 74. The certifying physician indicates that he began treating Franz on Jan 1, 1930 and that the cause of death was cancer of the bladder.

"Franz (age 74) was interred in St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, NY, on June 20, 1930 per letter from Catholic Cemeteries dated Feb 24, 1997 (Section 1, Range J, Graves 84/86). The Tombstone gives his date of birth as Jul 3, 1855 and death on Jun 17 1930."