This week the theme for 52 Ancestors is “Easy.” Finally, here is a chance to tell a story that isn’t about the challenges of research. I picked someone that I find likeable and that is because my dad always made him seem likeable. Henry Schatz was my father’s maternal grandfather, so I already knew a lot about him before I ever began researching. Henry was born 21 September 1869, and I was able to locate him with his parents and siblings in the June 1870 census, where he was accurately recorded as being 8/12ths of a year. His parents were John Schatz and Friedrike Schwenn Schatz, and I have already written about them at length.
Henry grew up on this father’s dairy farm in Sedamsville and in 1880 the address was given as Mt. Peter Road. I have searched and never found a Mt. Peter Road; the 1880 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory gives John Schatz’ address as Delhi Pike. In 1882, John Schatz is not listed, possibly because of the recession that is recorded in history as having started in March. In 1883, John has transitioned from dairyman to teamster. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, a teamster was “a person who drives a team of horses, (especially in hauling freight)…Transferred to motor truck drivers by 1907.”
Three of John’s sons became drivers, including Henry. From this experience, Henry eventually to started his own business as a moving man. In the 1910 census, he is still listed as a teamster, but now he is designated as an “employer.” Between 1905 and 1906, Henry changed his listing in the Williams’ Cincinnati Directory from “teamster” to “furniture cars.“ This may be about the time he purchased a motorized truck. I have this wonderful family photo with their moving truck painted with the name of the company “Schatz Auto Transfer and Moving Co., 645 Delhi.”
My father remembers Henry as being a large man – not fat, but fit.
Henry Schatz married Augusta “Gustie” Miller on 8 July 1891 at Martini German Evangelical Church. Gustie was only 15 at the time.
They had a baby son in December, but, sadly, I believe this was a stillbirth, since the baby was unnamed. In 1893, their daughter Frieda was born. Frieda was named for Henry’s mother Friedricke. Then, five years later, my grandmother Katherine came along. She was probably named for Gustie’s mother, Katherine Wippel Miller, although she also bore the Christian name of Gustie’s sister, Katherine Miller Patterson. Henry left no sons to carry on the family business. I think this was a fun family as evidenced by this photo that may have been taken for a holiday like the Fourth of July. Clearly, there was music at this gathering. I can only identify a few people in the photo. In the right corner may be a rare photo of Andrew Miller, Gustie’s father. Seated on the hood of the truck is Henry, and Gustie is in the front to the left of her father. I love the festive feel of this photo, but regret that I don’t know who the other people are.
Henry Schatz was still an employer in the moving business in the 1920 census. When the census was enumerated in 1930, his status had changed. He is now a worker/helper for a moving truck. Had his fortunes changed because of the depression, or at age 60, did he just decide it was time to cut back on his labors? At any rate, Henry and Gustie owned their home on Enright Avenue in Cincinnati and their daughter, Katherine, her husband, and children were living with them. This was my dad’s family and this is why he knew Henry Schatz so well. He grew up living with his grandparents in the same house. His dad, John Biermann, was a banker and paid them rent.
There are a few photos taken in Florida that suggest the Shatzes had some leisure time. Gustie and Henry visited her brother, Philipp Miller, there. The child in the photo is unknown.
Gustie died in 1936. Just three years later, on 20 November 1939, Henry was struck by a motor vehicle and died of a fractured skull. One of the last photos of him was taken with this catch of fish, clearly beaming at his success.
