Notes:

Niagara Gazette

TOWN OF TONAWANDA — Gertrude I. (Retzlaff) Schmidt, age 90, of the Town of Tonawanda, formerly of Bergholz, was called to her heavenly home on January 11, 2011 in Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Born in the Town of Wheatfield, NY, on October 11, 1920 to the late Theodore and Marie (Bremer) Retzlaff.

A lifelong member of St. James Ev. Lutheran Church in Bergholz, she was employed at Moore Business Forms in Niagara Falls, Bell Aerospace in Wheatfield, and Sugar Kake in Buffalo. Gert was predeceased by her husband, Howard L. Schmidt in 1982; a daughter, Cathy Flynn; a son, Thomas Schmidt; and two sisters, Genevive Retzlaff and Dorothy Mueller.

Survivors include her twin sons, Mark (Irene) Schmidt of Bergholz and Michael (Janeen) Schmidt of Sanborn; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the DUBOIS FUNERAL HOME, 2436 Niagara Road, (Bergholz) in Wheatfield on Saturday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Philip N. Sallach, on Sunday at 2:00 PM in St. James Ev. Lutheran Church, corner Niagara Road and Rohr Street. Interment in St. James Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Ev. Lutheran Church.

Gertrude married SCHMIDT, Howard L on 25 May 1940 in Bergholtz, Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. Howard (son of SCHMIDT, Alvin and Elizabeth M) was born on 31 Dec 1916 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY; died on 30 Aug 1982 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 5/15/1940

BEROHOLTZ, May 15-Mrs. John
Zimmerman, of Martinsville, announces
the engagement of her
daughter, Gertrude Retzlaff, to
Howard L. Schmidt, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Alvln Schmidt, of the Ward
road. The wedding will take place
May 25.

1. SCHMIDT, Mark T
2. SCHMIDT, Thomas H was born on 27 Jun 1947 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 4 Jan 2001 in Bel Air, MD.
3. SCHMIDT, Cathy Virginia was born on 29 Jun 1949 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 31 Aug 1977 in Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY.
4. SCHMIDT, Michael J

Theodore married BREMER, Maria about 1918. Maria was born on 25 Nov 1898 in Austria; died on 14 Aug 1991 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buffalo News, The (NY) - August 15, 1991
Marie Retzlaff Rensch, 92, of Wheatfield Towers, a native of Austria who came to Western New York at the age of 14, died Wednesday (Aug. 14, 1991) in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center after a long illness.
She worked in Buffalo as manager of a rooming house at 77 Linwood Ave. and later in food service for the doctors' and nurses' dining area in the former Deaconess Hospital.
She moved to Wheatfield in 1920 after her marriage to Theodore Retzlaff, who died in 1938. Her second husband, Norman Rensch, died in 1982.
Mrs. Rensch was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, 2437 Niagara Road, Bergholz, where services will be conducted at 11 A.M. Saturday. A prayer service will be held at 9 P.M. Friday in the DuBois Funeral Home, 2436 Niagara Road, Bergholz. Burial will be in St. James Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Dorothy Mueller and Gertrude Schmidt of Bergholz; five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren

Notes:

7 July 1930 Tonawanda News
August C. Retzlaff, 73 years old, died last night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Herman Frerichs, Niagara road, Bergholz. He was born in Germany and had resided in Bergholz for the past 40 years. He is survived by two sons, Theodore and Howard Retzlaff, Bergholz; three daughters, Mrs. Frerichs, Mrs. Joseph Ettl, Lakota, S. D., and Mrs. Fred
Eismann, Buffalo; 27 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, three brothers, Fred Retzlaff, Grand Haven Mich., Gustav and Edward Retzlaff Walmore, N. Y., and one sister, Mrs. Albert Wienke, Bergholz. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the late home and half an hour later at the St. Jacobs church standard time. Rev. Otto Bruss will conduct the services and burial will be in St. Jacobs cemetery.
--
NF Gazette

BERGHOLTZ, July 8.-August C. Retzlaff, 73 years old, died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Herman Frerichs. Niagaar (sic) road. He was born in Germany and had resided in Bergholtz 40 years. He is survived by two sons, Theodore and Howard Retzlaff, Bergholtz; three daughters, Mrs. Frerichs. Mrs. Joseph Ettl, Dakota, S. D., and Mrs. Fred Sismann, Buffalo; 27 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; three brothers, Fred Retzlaff, Grand Haven, Mich., Gustav and Edward Retzlaff, Walmore, and a sister, Mrs. Albert Wienke, Bergholtz. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock (standard time) at the late home, and half an hour later at St. Jacob's church. The Rev. Otto Bruss will conduct the service and burial will be in St. Joseph's (sic) cemetery.

August married WITTKOPF, Bertha L on 2 Apr 1879 in Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. Bertha (daughter of WITTKOPF, Johannes Wilhelm Heinrich and KOEPPEN, Wilhelmina Marie) was born in 1863 in Rothenklempenow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; died on 2 Oct 1927 in Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NF Gazette

Mrs. B. Retzloff (sic) Funeral Wednesday
NORTH TONAWANDA, Oct. 4.-Mrs. Bertha Retzloff (sic), 64 years old, who died Sunday night at her home in Bergholtz, was born in Germany. She had resided in Bergholtz for the last 60 years, having come to America when only four years old. She is survived by her husband, August; three daughters, Mrs. Henry Fredericks. Bergholtz, Mrs. Joseph Ettl, N. D., and Mrs. Fred Eisman. Bergholtz; two sons. Theodore and Howart (sic) Retzloff (sic). Bergholtz; eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren: three brothers, William and Charles Witkopf (sic), North Tonawanda, and John Witkopf (sic), Bergholtz. The fun......(illegible).

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 10/6/1927

BERGOLTZ. Oct. 6. - Mrs Bertha
Retzlaff died at her home on Niagara
street, Sunday evening, October 2nd
at the a g e of 64 years and eleven
months. Mrs. Retzlaff w a s born in
Germany, but-has resided In this vil-
lage for tho last 60 years She was
married to August Retzlaff and
she lived 2 years longer, they would
have celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary. They conducted a local
place of business on Niagara street
for over 40 years. Mrs. Retzlaff was
falling In health for some months, but
It was n o t until Thursday when her
condition became worse.
She Is survived by her husband,
August, three daughters, Mrs. Her-
man Frerichs of this village, Mrs.
Joseph Ettl. of North Dakota. and
Mrs. Fred Eisman, of Buffalo; two
sons, Theodor and Howard of this
village; eleven grandchildren and four
great grandchildren; ' three
brothers, William and Charles Witt-
kopp, North Tonawanda, and John
Wittkopp of this village. The funeral
services were held from the family
home at 2 o'clock and at 2:30 o'clock
at the St. Jacob's church, Wednesday
afternoon, the Rev. Otto Bruss of-
ciated and delivered the sermon.
Burial was in St. Jacob's cemetey.
The-flower tributes were many and
beautiful. Pall bearers were: Don
Heuer, August Sy. Elmer Wolf, John
Stoelting, Hugo DeVantier and (unknown) Walck.

Christian married LEMKE, Maria Dorothea in 1841 in Prussia. Maria was born on 29 Nov 1819 in Ognica, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland; died on 6 Nov 1905 in Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From: RANDOOW@aol.com
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:35:08 -0500
Subject: Wittkopf spelling corrections
To: 77tj81a13@cfl.rr.com; fhaseley@hotmail.com; fhaseley@surewest.net; BGenewich@aol.com; tdevantie@yahoo.dk; Etimm01@aol.com; vbjay_adelphia1@comcast.net; alanmoll@verizon.net; rhaseley@comcast.net; SIEZEM@aol.com; Betsy3317@aol.com; PaMaWinter@roadrunner.com


With much appreciated help from Elaine Timm, I think we have found correct spelling and parents of Caroline and twin sister Eulianna Wittkopf who both married Fred W Jagow.
Caroline arrived on 25 Nov 1868 on the Bark Jenny from Bremen, Germany with her parents and siblings. They came from Rothenklempenow, Pommern, Prussia.
Johann Wittkopf 1820
Wilhelmina Marie ver Koppen 1828
Ernestine 1848
*Caroline 1850
Wilhelm 1853
Augustus 1858
Gustavus 1861
Bertha/Bella 1863
Carl/Charles 1867
Carolines twin sister Eulianna 1850 remained in Prussia until 1885.
In 1870 census Caroline was married to Fred W Jagow and living with Freds father Christian who was 72.
The rest of her family was living in Bergholz with oldest sister Ernestine who married a grocer Henry Faustin ? 1840. Hard to make out last name on census. Several of the Wittkopf's made a move to Ramsey, North Dakota and in 1900 census father Johann and mother Wilhelmine, (listed 11 kids/6 living), were living next to son Wilhelm and his wife Augusta and kids and also next to son Charles/Carl and his wife Helen. They were all listed as farmers. Two of Wilhelms kids were born in New York before 1884 and the third was born in 1888 in North Dakota so they moved sometime between those years. Father Johann returned to Bergholz after his wife Wilhelmine died in ND in 1905, Johann passed in 1906 in Bergholz.
Carolines twin sister Eulianna 1850 came to US in 1885 married to a Wilhelm Wittkopf 1828, same spelling of last name, they were married in 1885 and lived in Martinsville and he was listed as a woodcarver in the 1900 census. Unknown if this Wilhelm was a relative, they had no children, he was 57 and she was 35 when they came in 1885. Wilhelm died in 1905 and is buried in St Paul's cemetery. Fred W Jagow's wife Caroline died in 1907 and married twin sister Eulianna in 1908. Eulianna died in 1919 and is buried in front of her first husband Wilhelm Wittkopf in St Pauls. Her obit lists her as Nancy Jagow wife of Fred W Jagow ( formerly wife of Wilhelm Wittkopf ) and her stone has both Nanne and Eulianna on it.
I have changed my tree to reflect this new information and spelling on the Wittkopf name and continue to look for additional information.
Randy Warblow

NOTE: 1870 Census - in Wheatfield - Witcup

Johannes married KOEPPEN, Wilhelmina Marie about 1844 in Rothenklempenow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Wilhelmina was born in 1828 in Rothenklempenow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; died in 1905 in Ramsey County, ND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]