Christian Etz (Itz?)
My mother, Constance Etz Ferdon's father was Edwin H. Etz, b. 1875 in Marietta Ohio.His father was Christian H. Etz, born 1848 in Wheeling West Virginia, and mother Emma Pfeiffer.Christian H.'s father was Christian Etz, born 1805 in Prussia, and his mother was Catherine M. Haberling. They emmigrated from the village of Leun-Biskirchen in the 1830s.
There is some good evidence in our family that the last name was initially Itz, but changed to Etz when a sign-painter in West Virginia got it wrong and the Itz/Etz's didn't have it re-painted.If this is true, they either were too poor to have the sign re-painted (carved, whatever), or they were not strongly attached to their name.Many people in Germany didn't have last names during that period, but picked them up when they immigrated here.
I would greatly appreciate any information anyone has on Christian Etz (Itz?) and Catherine Haberling.All knowledge of our family ends there -- thus far.
Julie
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Re: Christian Etz (Itz?)
Kathleen Burgar 5/10/14