10. | WITTKOPF, Johann Christian Frederick was born on 3 Dec 1845 in Prussia; died on 20 Apr 1926 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY. Notes:
North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 12/29/1979
THIS BIT of family history from
Mary K. Sciandra of Buffalo:
"I don't know why my greatgrandfather
decided to leave
Bergholtz, Brandenburg, Prussia, in
1873, but he knew he was going
- to a new life.
"My grandmother, Maria Wittkopf,
was only three. Sister Augusta was
six and baby brother Albert six
months. Six more children were born
to Christian and Wilhelmina, all bona
fide Americans.
"The German immigrant adapted
generally well to the American ways
and usually by the next generation the
mother tongue was almost lost.
"The people were religious, most
being Lutherans. St. Johns, St.
Peters, St. Marks and St. Matthews
Church registrars are full of German
names. Each written in German, ir.
the old German script, each a history
of a family, the good and the sad.
"My great-grandfather had a farm
on Nash Road. It was while living
here that my grandmother, now
called Mary, met my grandfather,
August Harms. He was about 23 and
came from Gruenhof, Mecklenburg.
"My grandparents lived in
Wheatfield for a number of years.
About 1900, they and their children
and my great-grandfather (who was
now a widower) built a house on East
Robinson Street in North Tonawanda.
It was in this house that the first
generation to the new land, my greatgrandfather,
died, and also where in
1910 my dad, Theodore, was born. My
dad's brother, Benjamin, still lives in
this house.
"My dad lived all his young years in
North Tonawanda. He and mom lived
there for several years after their
marriage and although I was born in
Williamsville, my earliest memories
are of North Tonawanda.
"Dad was a volunteer fireman at
the Sweeney Hose. We spent many
summer days at the fireman's picnics.
Dad would parade with the
firemen. I can still smell the chowder
and remember how good the creme
soda tasted. Mom would take the
younger three of her six children to
the park which was across from the
hose company at this time, so that we
could play in the swings.
"Dad passed away in 1978. My
mom, wanting to show him a last sign
of her love, had him brought back
'home' to North Tonawanda. He is
buried in White Chapel Cemetery,
resting now not far from where his life
began, a place he loved, North
Tonawanda, Niagara County, U.S.A."
ALSO
Evening News of the Tonawandas
Wednesday, April 21, 1926
Christ Witkopf, age 80 years, died last evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. August Harms, 728 East Robinson street. Mr. Witkopf was an invalid for the past sixteen years. Surviving are three sons, William of North Tonawanda and Christ Witkopf, Jr. and Edward Witkopf of Niagara Falls and two daughters, Mrs. Harms and Mrs. Ferdinand Grosskopf of North Tonawanda. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the late residence. Interment will be in St. John's cemetery, St. Johnsburg, Rev. Walter Thiemecke officiating.
Johann married SCHLUSSER, Wilhelmine on 25 Feb 1869 in Prussia. Wilhelmine was born in Jul 1841 in France; died on 21 Jun 1910 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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