Today would have been my grandfather's 121st birthday. Yep, Charlie Z. was born September 1, 1888, the youngest child of August and Augusta (no kidding) Z up in East Tawas, Michigan.
The Z's were Alsatian. Well, August's father was. August was the only of the Z children born in the United States. He was born in Lancaster, New York in 1839. August and Augusta married about 1872, probably in AuSable, Michigan. Augusta was born in Germany, somewhere.
At any rate, my grandpa would always tell us the family was French. I'm sure it was politic to do so, especially after the first World War. But really, the Z's spoke German. And somewhat they followed German naming patterns.
1. Their oldest child was Joseph - named for August's father Josef Francis Zimmeth.
2. Child number two was Frank Christian - Frank not Francis. Christian was Augusta's father.
3. Oldest daughter was Josephine - possibly named for August's sister Josephine.
4. August - obviously named for his father.
5. Mary Augusta - named for mother.
6. George - No idea. Is Jurgen compatible? Augusta's paternal grandfather was Jurgen Klevesaat.
7. Charles - NO not my grandfather. This little guy only lived about 11 month.
8. Rose - No idea if she is named for anyone family wise. This is the aunt who raised my mom.
9. Charles - lived less than a day.
10. Charles L - grandpa. Because you know, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!
Somewhere there must be another child because grandpa insisted he was the youngest of 11.
Charlie married fairly young and his first wife died young. His second wife, the mother of his children also died young. Third wife was Ruth who got married a lot. But she and grandpa were married about 35 years until his death in 1979.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! (Yeah, I am shouting, grandpa was deaf.)
The Z's were Alsatian. Well, August's father was. August was the only of the Z children born in the United States. He was born in Lancaster, New York in 1839. August and Augusta married about 1872, probably in AuSable, Michigan. Augusta was born in Germany, somewhere.
At any rate, my grandpa would always tell us the family was French. I'm sure it was politic to do so, especially after the first World War. But really, the Z's spoke German. And somewhat they followed German naming patterns.
1. Their oldest child was Joseph - named for August's father Josef Francis Zimmeth.
2. Child number two was Frank Christian - Frank not Francis. Christian was Augusta's father.
3. Oldest daughter was Josephine - possibly named for August's sister Josephine.
4. August - obviously named for his father.
5. Mary Augusta - named for mother.
6. George - No idea. Is Jurgen compatible? Augusta's paternal grandfather was Jurgen Klevesaat.
7. Charles - NO not my grandfather. This little guy only lived about 11 month.
8. Rose - No idea if she is named for anyone family wise. This is the aunt who raised my mom.
9. Charles - lived less than a day.
10. Charles L - grandpa. Because you know, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!
Somewhere there must be another child because grandpa insisted he was the youngest of 11.
Charlie married fairly young and his first wife died young. His second wife, the mother of his children also died young. Third wife was Ruth who got married a lot. But she and grandpa were married about 35 years until his death in 1979.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! (Yeah, I am shouting, grandpa was deaf.)
