Wilhelm Guritz 1825-1900

In the family history research along the Guritz family line from my mother (Hermene Louise Guritz Indig), there looms the patriarch Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm (William) Guritz, the immigrant from Germany, from whom so many family members trace their lineage to. After all, he had a total of 18 children, from two wives. His 8th child from his first wife was Herman Guritz Sr., my great-grandfather. I have his pocket watch, which is a prized possession of mine. Herman Sr. had 8 children; the 5th was my grandfather, Herman Ernest Wilhelm Guritz, Jr. My middle name is Ernest, named after him. My grandfather Herman was born in 1898, so likely his own grandfather Wilhelm knew him as a baby, before Wilhelm passed away in 1900.

Wilhelm Guritz, date unknown (likely between 1860-1890)

Recently discovered data from ancestry.com reports that his parents were Heinrich Wilhelm Guritz, Sr. (birth unknown, death after 1834), and Caroline Sophia Wendt (born about 1795 in Germany, died 11 March 1879 in Beecher, IL). Below is text assembled from my mother's research, and distributed to many family members...

The earliest ancestors that we can trace are Wilhelm and Caroline Herre (Herran*) Guritz. They emigrated from Hessian, Germany to the United States in the early 1850's. Census records indicate that their first child was born in Illinois in approximately 1853. Wilhelm worked in a mill in Chicago for a number of years before moving to Washington Township, Will County, Illinois where he was engaged in farming. Wilhelm and his wife Caroline had ten children: William, Heinrich, August, Friedericka, Amelia (Mollie), Fred, Christian, Herman, Caroline (Carrie), and Peter. William, Henry, August, Friedericka, and Amelia stayed in the Beecher, Illinois area, whereas Fred, Christian, Herman, and Caroline moved to Jackson County, Minnesota. Peter died at the age of four months on February 14, 1870. The mother, Caroline, died on November 2, 1870 at the age of forty years. She was buried November 5, 1870 at St. John's Evangelical Church, in the Beecher, Illinois area. She probably died from complication of childbirth, when Peter was born. Peter is also buried in that cemetery. In the church records, the death of a Caroline Sophie Guritz, age 84, is noted on March 11, 1879, with burial at St. John's cemetery on March 13, 1879. She was probably the mother of Wilhelm and August Guritz. 

 

The Guritz family had settled in Washington Township, Will County, Illinois near Beecher. Beecher is a small rural town outside of Chicago, Illinois; their property was on the Illinois-Indiana border. Wilhelm Guritz also owned property in Lake County, Indiana. Beecher was a stop-over for many people traveling westward. Roads could only be traversed during the dry weather as the land in that area was one big peat marsh. There are many burial records of people who became ill by drinking the water in the area. 

 

After the death of his wife, Caroline, Wilhelm married a widow, Mary Schaper Miller on April 4, 1871 at St. John's Evangelical Church. Mary was born at Gross Nenndorf, Germany on November 16, 1839. She came to the United States in 1857, and worked near Monee, Illinois. She was married two years later to Simon Miller and they had one child. Her husband died suddenly. Family oral history states he was killed accidentally by a hayfork. Shortly after her husband died, her child also died. Wilhelm and Mary had eight children: Mary, Sophie, Louisa, John, Emma, Louis, Bertha, and George. Wilhelm died on February 16, 1900. 

Mary Guritz (formerly Schaper), date unknown, perhaps 1870s after marriage to Wilhelm

Here is text from a record of obituary of Wilhelm (aka William)...

William Guritz, Sr., one of Will County, Illinois well-to-do farmers, died at his home near Creamberg, Ill., Friday, February 16, 1900, after a brief illness at the advanced age of 75 years, 4 months and 19 days. He was a kind and loving husband and father, who did all in his power for his loved ones’ comfort and welfare. He was married twice, his former wife and two children going on before him. He was the father of eighteen children; ten boys and eight girls. To mourn his loss he leaves a wife and sixteen children and many grandchildren and other relatives to mourn his sudden departure. His funeral took place at the German Lutheran church near Beecher, Ill., on Tuesday, February 20, where Rev. J. Kock spoke comforting words to a large number of the deceased loved ones, relatives, friends and neighbors, who had gathered together to show their last tribute of respect to one who had won and maintained the respect of all. His remains were laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery, there to remain until the morn of the great Resurrection. 

Our father he has left us 

Will walk with us no more 

Gone to meet some loved ones 

On that bright and shining shore 

Rest, dear father rest 

From pains and sickness. 

You fought life's battles bravely 

and victory now you've won 

We will miss you, sadly miss you 

Morning, noon and night, 

It's hard to say God will be done 

And yet we know it's right.

Here is text from a record of obituary of Mary...

The departed, Mrs. W. Guritz, nee Engel, Marie Sophie Schaper, was born at Gross Nenndorf, Germany, on Nov. 16, 1839 [other sources say 1838]. She received her schooling and religious training at the place of her birth, being confirmed on April 23, 1854. In 1857, she ventured the trip across and came to this country, where shortly afterwards she found employment near Monee. Two years later, she entered into holy wedlock with Simon Miller, which happy union was blessed with one child. Happy in her young motherhood, she was plunged into grief and despair by the sudden death of her husband. Somewhat recovered from this shock, she was again deeply touched by the passing of her only child. A few years later, proving herself and faith, she was married to Mr. Wm. Guritz, a father of nine children, 6 boys and 3 girls. Of these only the following 3 daughters are living; Rika, Mrs. Fred Wehrmann, Sr., of Beecher; Mollie, Mrs. Peter Lorenz, of Frankfort; Carrie, Mrs. Ernest Bergemier of New Ulm, Minn. Being all a true mother could and should be to these children of her chosen husband, she also became the mother of the following children: John and Louis, Beecher; George (deceased, 6 years ago); Mary, Mrs. Fred Foy, Fort Ripley, Minn.; Sophie, Mrs. Frank Rudolph, Belshaw, Ind.; Emma, Mrs. Henry Haseman, deceased( unintentionally, not mentioned on day of funeral); and Bertha, Mrs. Wm. Wilkening, Beecher. Always proving herself a true, loving helpmate and mother, faithfully and loyally sharing the tasks, joys and sorrows with her husband in rearing this large family. She was once more cut to the very deep of her existence by the death of her second husband in the year 1900. Trying to readjust herself after the death of her husband, she dwelled for three years just south of the home farm, located on the stateline, a little southeast of Beecher after which for two years she lived with her son, Louis, but finally, together with her daughter, Bertha, she made her home here in Beecher. For twenty years this home proved a haven of rest and peace to her. With the marriage of her daughter, Bertha, however she found it not pleasant to live alone and gratefully accepted the invitation to live the rest of her life with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs. Wm. Wilkining. It was in this home, from which she made occasional visits to her children, especially to her son, John, that she received such loving care and attention as she well merited. Always robust and rather well in spite of her advanced age, no alarm at first was felt when on Sunday morning she fell ill with a stomach and bowel trouble, so common at this time, but in spite of medical attention and skill and loving care, she failed to rally and was relieved of all pain and suffering on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 11 p.m., at the ripe age of 92 years, 9 months and 21 days. She leaves to mourn her departure the children already mentioned, twenty-one grandchildren, five great grand-children and a large host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from the home of Wm. Wilkening and continued at St. Luke's church, where Rev. G. Horst spoke in both German and English languages, touching feelingly upon the many sterling qualities of the departed. The Ladies' Aid, of which she was a member in good standing for many years, rendered two appropriate songs. The many beautiful floral pieces spoke of the high esteem in which the aged mother and grandmother was held by all who loved her. Burial took place at St. John's cemetery, each of Beecher. In the passing of this aged pilgrim, a true loving wife and mother, to whom home and children meant living, a faithful, loyal Christian, and true child of God, who found in her religion joy, comfort and strength, has gone to her reward.

Mary Guritz, date unknown, likely 1920s (colorized photo)

Our Indig/Rich family gratitude to benefactor Morris Bloch

My dad’s mother Ruth came to the United States with her sisters thanks to the generosity of a man from the same hometown. An oral history that came from talks with Ruth states “a man named Block from Dukla gathered all the families that wanted to emigrate and financed the cost to come to the U.S.” I recently discovered details about this man, Morris Bloch. A large part of my family owes a debt to him, since we wouldn’t exist if those 3 sisters hadn’t emigrated to the U.S., where they met their husbands and had children and further descendants, of which I am one. I’ll piece together some more of that story here.

 Ruth Rich [Ehreich] 1920s in New York

Ruth is from the town of Dukla in the southern part of Poland, which was part of Galicia (an Imperial Province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) when she was born in 1905. Her father Morris Ezra Ehreich married Helen Rose Ehrenreich (yes, very similar names); after having 3 girls: Bertha, Lillie, and Ruth; Helen Rose died at age 26. 

      
above: Morris Ezra Ehreich and Helen Rose Ehrenreich

Morris later remarried Eva (known as Chuva) and had more children. In 1913, he travelled to the United States, where he planned to get established and send for his family join him for a new life there. The outbreak of World War I prevented that. The children were split up to other households during this time, until they were reunited after the war. Quoting from the oral history: “A man named Block [actually Bloch] from Dukla gathered all the families that wanted to emigrate and financed the cost to come to the U.S. The [3] girls first journeyed to Vienna and stayed in a hotel because of a transportation strike, then to Switzerland where they took showers for the first time, and then to Paris, France.  In Paris they stayed with wealthy families and were well treated. They left Southhampton, England for the U.S. on the ship SS Philadelphia. At the time Ruth was 15, Lilly 18, and Bertha 20 years of age. They arrived at Ellis Island on May 10, 1920.”

Morris Bloch

So on to Morris Bloch. Thanks to some online references, I have connected with a descendent of the Bloch family, Jimmy Tarlau, who is the source of much of this information. Morris Bloch was born in Dukla in 1855 and moved to the US in 1881, where he became a successful businessman. His brother Josef Bloch left Dukla shortly after his bar mitzvah and eventually moved to Vienna where he became a famous rabbi and member of parliament.  

In 1920 Morris Bloch returned to Dukla, brought money and clothes back to his family and friends who had suffered a lot during the World War. He reportedly funded at least 50 what were identified as “war orphans” for their journey to New York. The sisters Bertha, Lillie, and Ruth apparently were in this group - while it's true that they were in impoverished circumstances in Dukla, they were not orphans since had their father in America, and their stepmother in Dukla.

Another fascinating source of information is the Facebook group Jews from Dukla and their descendants. Found in this group:

1920 announcement placed simultaneously in Polish and U.S. papers by the Dukla jewish community regarding the charitable activities in Dukla of Morris Bloch (who I believe you have identified in an earlier post as a great granduncle).  According to Google Translate, the Polish announcement reads:

“Krakow, February 28, 1920. (Thanks). The Jewish Religious Community in Dukla would like to thank Mr. Morris BLOCH from America in the name of the entire Jewish population for his activities for the benefit of the emaciated and hungry local population. Mr. Bloch, born in Dukla, tried not only to help his unhappy brothers here by alleviating poverty, but wherever he went in Galicia. In the same way, Mr. Bloch deserved the cordial "Jiszar Koach" of all Galician Jewry. For the Jewish Presidium. Communes of Dukla; ISRAEL B. UNGER”

Ruth Ehreich and her sisters took on the surname “Rich” in the U.S. Within a year after arrival in New York City, when attending a social dance organized by fellow "lantsman" (other NY Jews from Dukla), Ruth met Joe Indig. They were both teenagers, and became devoted to each other, leading to their marriage in 1930. From that union came two children: Hannah, and my father Maurice. If Ruth had not made it to New York City and not met Joe, I wouldn’t be here to write this story! Few Jews in Dukla survived the later holocaust, making Morris Bloch’s gift even greater.

Joseph & Ruth Indig wedding, June 15, 1930

Steve Indig, Joe & Ruth Indig, Bob Indig, 1973 in Fremont, California

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!..

THE SEQUEL (addendum 8 January, 2022): In December 2021 and January 2022, I had some contact with descendants of the Bloch family, primarily to confirm or clarify any details regarding Morris Bloch. Jimmy Tarlau referred me to another descendant, Marc Spiegel, who has a tremendous interest in family history and is the source of even more details. Jimmy is a descendant of the famous Rabbi Josef Bloch, while Marc is descendant of Chana Bloch, both siblings of Morris Bloch. Sharing the same ship journey with the Ehreich (soon to be “Rich”) sisters to the U.S. on the SS Philadelphia were members of the Bloch family, all sponsored by Morris. Thanks to Marc, I now also have the ship’s manifest and another document, clearly showing the sisters.

 

Shown here are full pages from the SS Philadelphia manifest, and close-up views. 

close-up:

An additional document shows they were detained. Their recorded first names can be read  more clearly here. "Beile" for Bertha, "Lea" for Lillie, and "Rinske" for Ruth who was also called Rifke.

I have researched and learned that “LPC” means aliens likely to become public charges, causing officials to think the immigrant would not be able to earn their own living. According to one source, immigrants most likely to be classified LPC were pregnant women, women with children, and women traveling alone. Until a spouse or other male family member could vouch for them, these women and children often remained in detention. “UN 16” or UNDER 16 refers to children under 16 years of age, unaccompanied by or not coming to one or both parents.

 

My grandmother Ruth (Rifke, or identified on document as “Rinske”) was 15, so this makes sense. From my family oral history… "While on Ellis Island they were visited by Sam Ehrenreich, Ruth’s mother’s brother.  Her father had to come from Chicago to get the girls released.” …and indeed the manifest shows “Friend S. Ehrenreich” as who they would be going to.

 

I’m still amazed at how these details fit together, according to these newly discovered documents, and happy to share this with relatives and anyone else interested. And thanks again to Jimmy Tarlau and Marc Spiegel.