Eva Hetzl

Eva was born 25 Jul 1825 at Holzweis#1-now Spielberg#19 in the village of Schäferei, Waldmunchen, Cham, Bavaria to Georg Hetzl and Margaretha Liegl. Her grandfather and great-grandparents came from a town just to the north of Schäferei, called Treffelstein. Father Georg, Grandfather Michael, Great-Grandfather Andreas, and Great-great grandfather Thoma Hetzl (spelled Hözl in the mid-eighteenth century records) were all WEAVERS. George, born in Statsreid, spun his trade in the nearby village of Egslee. Thoma and Andreas lived in another nearby village, (to the northwest of Waldmunchen), Treffelstein. Eva’s dad, Georg was specifically a LINEN WEAVER. Not certain if the male lineage all followed suit on this. And I don’t know about you, but I’m curious as to when, where and how the Hetzls became weavers. How many more generations back?

Interestingly — at least to me– Eva’s mother, Margaretha Liegl, was a TAILOR (or tailor’s daughter), We can imagine how her parents met. Eva’s grandfather, Michael Hetzl married Elizabeth Liegl (still pondering Elizabeth’s relationship, if any, to Margaretha). Elizabeth is listed as a TAILOR’S DAUGHTER. Hmmmm. One who makes the cloth marries one who sews the cloth. Convenient!  At any rate, I think Margarethe’s g-g-g-granddaughter, Marie Kieber-Emmons and g-g-g-g-granddaughter Rebecca Grady inherited the sewing genes!

Eva was the third child born to Georg and Margaretha, though the son Joseph and daughter Franciszka did not survive infancy, nor did two later brothers. Only a brother, Joachim b. 1829 survived and married Barbara Bucherl. Eva became auntie to their nine children.

Eva emigrated with her husband, John, and eldest daughter, 2 year old, Ana, in 1854 on a ship called the Agnes. There were many folks from the nearby villages on that particular voyage. She was 28 years old. The Agnes departed from Bremen and arrived at the port of Castle Garden, New York on 23 May 1854.

As soon as they arrived in Buffalo, Eva and John married in St. Mary’s Catholic church. The date was on 29 May 1854, Why might Eva and John waited until they arrived in America to get married? The answer is probably related to the Hetzl’s occupation as weavers. The weavers were generally the poorest of the folks in the village because they didn’t own any land. In Germany, one had to show that (he) could provide for his family. Many folks waited a couple of years before they received the sacrament of matrimony because of this. … or they emigrated to the land of opportunity!

Eva and John had five children. Her first baby, Theresa, died within one year of birth, in 1849. Great-Gramma, Ana b. 1851 married Georg Ruhland. The second Theresa, born 1854, died at 28 years of age in 1882. Son Andrew, b. 1859, died in 1925. He never married.  A baby sis, Victoria, called “Bella” was born in 1861. Bella married Henry Charles Pohlmann.

The 1860 census show the young family living in Buffalo’s 6th ward. John,40, was a laborer. Eva, 35, already had Ana, 9,who was attending school,  Teresa, 4, and Andrew, 1.

The 1870 census shows John (named Peter on this record, for some reason) 50, a laborer, Eva 45, Keeping House,Theresa, 14, Andrew, 11,and Victoria, 9. Ana was no longer living with her parents since she’d married George  the  previous year. They owned a home worth $600.00 and had another $100.00 in assets. They could all read and write.

By the time of the 1880 census, Andrew, 29, is no longer living at home. The Ruhlands are living in Buffalo’s District 134. John, 59, has retired and is a wood peddlar, Eva is 55 and still Keeping House, Theresa, 24, is working in a rag shop, and Victoria 18, is also working in a rag shop.

In 1882, Eva and John’s son, Andrew was 23 years old, got into a bit o’ trouble. On 13 Dec., he was convicted of Grand Larceny and received a 3 year sentence. On the 18 Dec.1882  he was received in prison, the Erie County Penitentiary. His good behavior in prison earned him commutation of 8 months off his time. On 17 April 1885, Andrew, 26 years old, was discharged.

The 1892 NY census shows John, 72, Eva, 68, and Andrew 33, a laborer. Evidently John had really retired at this point. Immediately after the Ruhlands on the census, is daughter Bella’s family, the Pohlmann’s.  They all lived in Buffalo’s Ward 9, District 3.

On 3 Aug 1896, Eva’s husband, John, died. As Eva would be seventeen years later, John is buried in the United German and French Cemetery in Cheektowaga NY.

The 1898 Buffalo Directory shows Eva  working (as were daughters Dora and Anna – our great gramma!) as a shoe opr. (operator?) and living at 120 Guilford Street. Theresa was also there, but working as a laundress. John and George (Anna’s husband and our great grandfather) were also still living in the Guilford house.

The 1900 census shows Eva,75,  living in Buffalo’s 11th Ward, District 0088 with her son Andrew, 40, a laborer, at 43 King Street. Note: Andrew remained single throughout his life. Eva had given birth to 6 children, 3 of whom were still alive (Andrew, Ana and Bella). Eva, who had emigrated in 1854, had been in the US for 46 years at this point. The home they live in is rented. This census claims that Eva cannot read, write, nor speak English. Andrew can do all 3. The earlier census probably did not ask in what language Eva could read and write.

The 1902, 1903, Buffalo directory lists, Eva, widow, living with her single son, Andrew at 43 King St. Today,it appears as an empty lot,  across the street from East Buffalo Organics, a microgreens farm.

The 1904 Buffalo directory shows Eva living back in the 120 Guilford house and working as a clerk. Henry Ruhland and Frances Ruhland are also working as clerks and living in the house (was this Henry Pohlman, daughter Dora’s husband?) .George Ruhland, a laborerer resided in the Guilford house as well.

The 1911 Buffalo directory lists, Eva, again living with her single son, Andrew at 43 King St.In 1911, Frank X s also living in the King Street house.

Eva died of artheriosclerosis and nephritis on 5 May 1913 in Buffalo NY.

She’s buried in the Pine Hill Roman Catholic Cemetery in Buffalo.

We’d LOVE a photo of Eva. If anyone has one, please scan it or make a copy for us.