Mary Hennes and Fred Schmitz's Family

Mary Hennes, daughter of Michael, was born on August 27, 1874. She was baptized on September 6, 1874 in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Lemont, Illinois. She died on January 27, 1968 at Lemont, Illinois. In 1930, Mary owned her home on Archer Avenue, which was valued at $7,000. However, the family did not have a radio.

Mary married on March 22, 1894 to Fred Schmitz. This year is based upon the fact that the 1900 United States census return reported that Mary and Fred had been married for six years. According to the 1900 United States census return, Fred was born in October of 1871 in Germany. His occupation was reported as being that of a baker. Fred came to the United States in 1872 and was a naturalized citizen. Fred died prior to 1920 as Mary is listed as a widow in the 1920 United States census return. Mary was living with her father in 1920. The Illinois Statewide Death Index lists a Fred Schmitz who died on July 21, 1915 at the age of forty-three. A transcription of the headstones in St. Alphonsus Cemetery listed a Frederick Schmitz [October 8, 1871 – July 21, 1915] buried next to Mary Schmitz.

Marie and Fred had three children:

1. Michael Fredrick Schmitz was born on June 29, 1894. He died on November 1, 1977 at the American Nursing Center in Joliet, Illinois. He worked for forty years as an employee of the Chicago Office of the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.

   Michael’s World War I draft registration card provides the following information concerning him. He was born on the date given above, he was twenty-two at the time of the draft registration, and he was employed as a farmer by Michael Hennes. Michael is described as being tall and slender with brown eyes and dark hair.

   Michael married Matilda Gracak. She died at the age of eighty-nine on July 28, 1988 at Lemont, Illinois. Based on her age at the time of her death, Matilda was born in 1899. A transcription of the headstones in St. Alphonsus Cemetery lists a Matilda Schmitz whose lifespan was from June 1, 1889 to July 28, 1988. She is buried next to Michael Schmitz.

   Michael and Matilda had four children: Michael, Jr., Carl Roy, Alfred and Robert.

2. Florence Anna Schmitz was born on December 27, 1896. She died on January 19, 1973 at Lemont, Illinois.

   She first married Howard Ludwig . They had two children: Howard and Marion.

   Florence married a second time to Dan Roundtree.

3. Fred Schmitz was born about 1908. This year is based upon his age, twelve, as reported in the 1920 United States census return.

   Fred first married Mary Wagner. Mary was born on November 26, 1906 and died on December 23, 1994 at Lemont, DuPage, Illinois. Fred and Mary had two children: Fredrick, Jr. and Donna Mae.

   Fred married a second time to Marie [family name unknown]. Fred and Marie had two children: Peter and Carol.

4. Fred was a stock clerk in a railroad station and Mary was a saleslady in a dry goods store

Sources

1. 1900 U.S. Federal Census for South Town of Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Sheet11A, Dwelling 96?, Family ??
2. 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Ward 6 of Evanston, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 22B, Dwelling177, Family 186.
3. 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 2A, SD 7, ED 16-2146, Dwelling 30, Family 31 [McCarthy Road].
4. Obituary for:
   • Mary Schmitz, nee Hennes, which was found in the February 1, 1968 edition of the Lemonter, Lemont, Illinois.
   • Florence Roundtree, nee Schmitz, which was found in the January 24, 1973 edition of The Lemont Herald.
   • Mary C. Schmitz, nee Wagner, which was found in the December 29, 1994 edition of The Lemont Reporter.
   • Michael Schmitz, which appeared in the November 11, 1977 editions of The Lemont Metropolitan.
   • Mathilda Schmitz, which appeared in the August 4, 1988 edition of The Lemont Metropolitan
5. Copy of the Marriage License for Mary and Fred, which was obtained from the Illinois State Archives.
6. An RTF file provided by Barbara Bannon of Lemont, Illinois.
7. A written summary of the Hennes Family provided by Gwen Leno of Bismarck, North Dakota.
8. Information provided by Brian Schmitz and Pearl Schmitz in various emails recieved between February 1 and February 15, 2009.
9. World War I draft registration found at http://www.ancestry.com for:
   • Howard K Ludwig.
   • Michael Peter Schmitz.
10. Social Security Death Index.
11. Illinois State Archive’s death database found at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/archives.html.

Return to Top of page.

Return to the Related Families Index.

Return to Gruss'Um Hollow.

My thanks to Brian Schmitz for the picture of Mary and Fred's family.