Martin Lustig, Jr.

Martin Lustig was born in Riedseltz, in the Province of Alsace. He migrated to the USA on the 'Sewall", a ship which sailed from Havre, France to New York and arrived on 4 May, 1854. Two of his younger brothers followed several years later. In 1860, he was a hired farm hand working for his first cousin once removed, Sebastian Lux, in Richton Park, Rich, Cook, Illinois, USA . Ten years later he was working a farm nearby. He married Katherine Roos in Cincinnati in 1865. Katherine was the daughter of Agatha Lux Roos, the Sister of Sebastian Lux. She was living in Cheviot, Green, Hamilton, Ohio, USA, at the time of her marriage.

Their marriage is recorded in the sacristy Book of Our Lady of Victory in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were the eighth couple married at the Church in 1865. The record reads:

8. Martinum Lustig et Catherinam Roose Die 26ta Septembris in matrimonium conjunsci, Testibus Laurentio Scheuvan et Catherine Leuk. Kuks Teston

8. Martin Lustig and Catherine Roos - On the 26th of September were joined in Matrimony. The in the presence of the witnesses Laurence Scheuvan and Catherine Leuk. Pastor Kuks. The entry was dated 1865.

After their marriage, they returned to Illinois. While living in Richton, Martin's first child was born. In 1870, he moved to Island Grove, Grove, Jasper, Illinois, USA, where he purchased a farm.

The Centennial Year Book of St Joseph Catholic Church, Island Grove, published in 1974, said there were twelve Catholic families in the Island Grove area at the end of 1870. The Martin Lustig family was one of the twelve. Martin was listed as the President of the Church building society formed on March 19, 1885.

Martin Lustig can be found in the census of 1860, 1870 and 1880. While in Richton Park, he belonged to St Ann Church. The Church stood on Sauk Trail in what is now Park Forest, Illinois, USA. The Church was razed in the 1980's.

His Uncle, Moritz, was also a member of St Ann's Church. The St Ann Church Cemetery, where Moritz is buried, was still located next to Rich East High School on Sauk Trail in Park Forest, Illinois, USA, in the year 2000. Moritz Lustig migrated prior to 1854 since his son Franz was born in Illinois. The correct spelling of his name is Maurice.