52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 8 "Migration"

MIGRATION OF MY SECOND GREAT GRANDFATHER, JOHANN JACOB FEUCHT:

I will be incorporating in 16 of my posts this year, a feature on each of  my 16 great grandparents.  Today, on the topic of migration, I am featuring my paternal second great grandfather, Johann Jacob Feucht.

Johann Jacob Feucht, my father's great-grandfather, was the earliest of my ancestors to migrate to the US, arriving in 1857.  Throughout all of the records on him in the US, he was known simply as "Jacob" Feucht.

Jacob Feucht was born on August 12, 1826 in Tamm, Ludwigsburg, Württemberg, Germany.  He was the 5th child of Johannes Feucht (1783-1854) and Ana Barbara Meile (1789-1865).  I have been fortunate to have gained access to the actual vital records for my Feucht ancestors, however, they are not of a high enough clarity to be clearly visible on Facebook.

Map of Tamm, Ludwigsburg, Württemberg, Germany:

According to the Württemberg, Germany Emigration Index, Johann Jacob Feucht emigrated to the US as follows:

District:  Ludwigsburg

Name:  Johann Jakob Feucht

Birth Date: 12 Aug 1826

Birth Place:  Tamm

Application Date:  1857

Destination:  America

Number:  837991

Jacob settled in Detroit, Michigan and on February 20, 1859 he married Magdalena Helena Bauer (1840-1885) who was from Schwarzenbach by Nürnberg, Bavaria, Germany.

In the case of Jacob and Helena Feucht, I have uncovered their marriage record in three different places in the US.  I have the marriage record from the City of Detroit, one from the State of Michigan and another (with the most vivid details) from Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit where they were married.  All of the records agree on the facts involved but an added bonus was that on the Trinity Lutheran Church record, the places of birth of Jacob and Helena were listed with precise detail down to the villages of birth.  This was an exceptional bonus allowing me to quickly write to the two villages - Tamm in Ludwigsburg, Württemberg and Schwarzenbach by Nürnberg, Bavaria from which I received documents of their births.

Jacob and Helena Feucht were blessed with 10 children as follows:

Johann Georg (1860-1860)

Anna Margarethe Elizabeth (1861-1937)

Kunigunde Margarethe Rosa (1864-1908)

Johann Conrad (1866- ?)

Karoline Margarethe Mary (1868-1869)

Christine Katharine Juliane (1870-1907)

Margarethe (1872-1936)

Helene (1875-1957)

Johann Georg (1877-1933)

Charles Henry (1881-1945)

There is a possibility that Jacob served in the Civil War based on war memorabilia and Grand Army of the Republic memorabilia that I was given by my grandfather who was a grandson of Jacob Feucht.  Upon research, some records were found of a Jacob Feucht having served in the Civil War in the years from 1861-1863 but there wasn't enough information to definitively state that this was MY Jacob Feucht.  Looking at the birth years of his children there was a 3 year gap between daughter Elizabeth (1861-1937) and daughter Kunigunde (1864-1908).  Their other 8 children seemed to appear every 2 years without fail.  This will require further research to confirm.

On census records and city directory entries, Jacob was listed alternatively as a beltmaker or a tailor.  

Jacob's wife, Helena, died on September 22, 1885 leaving him with 8 children.  Jacob died on November 25, 1892 and both are buried in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery on Mt. Elliott Avenue in Detroit in Lot 4C.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of Jacob or Helena but in 1993 I visited Germany and was able to travel to 16 of the villages of my ancestors where I was able to take photos of the villages and in some places visit the various churches.

Photos of Tamm, Germany:

With the advent of DNA research, I was pleased to receive notification from Ancestry.com of a DNA match for my brother with a person in Germany.  Upon further research and correspondence I was fortunate to connect with a wonderful and sharing gentleman with shared ancestry with my Feucht family.  Through him I was able to obtain vital records going back several generations from my Jacob Feucht as follows:

My second great-grandfather, Johann Jacob Feucht (1826-1892), son of:

Johannes Feucht (1783-1854) and Ana Barbara Meile (1789-1865).  Johannes Feucht was the son of: 

Matthaeus Feucht (1732-1791) and Christine Ade (1748-1805).  Matthaeus Feucht was the son of:

Matthaeus Feucht (1701-?) and Anna Maria Kraus (1700-?) who were my fifth great grandparents.

I am pleased with the progress I have made on tracing this line of my family.  

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 7 "Letters and Diaries"

AUGUST GOTTLIEB KOLBERG'S 10TH BIRTHDAY

I have created the following post using notes and recollections that my maternal grandmother, Ella Kolberg Kijak, shared with me regarding HER father, August Gottlieb Kolberg's, 10th birthday.  

On November 24, 1919, during a celebration of August's 65th birthday, he related the details of his 10th birthday celebration as follows:

"I was born on November 24, 1854 in Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern.  I was the third son of my parents.  In our family, a boy's 10th birthday was a special occasion and the year I was turning 10 my birthday in November was on my mind constantly.

Thursday, November 24, 1864 began early.   I awoke even before it was light outside and could hear Mama and Papa working in the house.  Today would be my special birthday and many aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors would be coming by.  Papa and Mama had a strict rule in our family that each child must attend school for four years; that was very important to them as they were not able to have any schooling.  So far my two older brothers, Albert and Fritz, had studied for four years in school and then when they were 10 they were allowed to stop school and begin working on the farm with Papa.  I was looking forward to this as well.  I must admit that school was not my favorite thing to do; I would have rather been outside in the fields or playing with my brothers but Papa and Mama were very strict about the school rule.  Today I would be allowed to stop school and begin to work on the farm as well.

Papa called to us boys to get up while it was still dark.  Fritz and I got up immediately.  Our oldest brother, Albert, had died last year at age 12 and that had been a very sad time for all of us, especially Mama and Papa.  Today our younger brothers, Heinrich and Johann, were lazier and had to be prompted to get up.  They were only 7 and 5 at the time.  Baby Hermann would be 2 tomorrow and he was still sleeping.  Mama also had the new baby, Gustav, who was only 5 weeks old.  There had also been another brother,  Franz, but he had died last year when he was only 2.  Mama had been so hoping that this latest baby would be a little girl but now we were a family of Mama, Papa and 6 sons.

That  morning Mama had our breakfast ready for us and told us to hurry and eat because aunts would be arriving soon to help with the birthday celebrations.  Because Mama had baby Gustav to tend to some of the aunts would be helping with the food for the birthday so that Mama could rest.  Mama would do this for the aunts in return as well.  Having a large family was important Mama would say because everyone would help everyone else.

We had barely finished our breakfast and the light was just beginning when we could hear a wagon outside.  It was Oma Kautz coming to help with the birthday.  Oma was Mama's mother and all us boys loved Oma Kautz because she always brought us special breads and cakes that she had made.  Oma was the only grandparent I had anymore.  I had not known Opa Kautz because he had died long before I was born.  When he died, Oma married Mr. Krause so that she would have help on the farm.  Mr. Krause was very stern and never smiled so we boys stayed away from him.

Oma came in the house and told me "Happy Birthday, August" and showed me the basket she was bringing that held some special cakes with sugar on top.  She went over to Mama and inquired how baby Gustav was doing.  Mama said he was sleeping fine but not eating well and she was worried.  We did not know it then but in a few months baby Gustav would die.

After breakfast all us boys were sent outside to give Mama and Oma room to work on the birthday.  Soon the aunts arrived carrying baskets of food as well.  Mama was going to make my favorite Pommern potatoes and the aunts had been helping her the last few days by boiling and cooling pounds of potatoes.  Now they were bringing them to the house so Mama could prepare them.  The potatoes took a long time to make but it helped Mama that the aunts had boiled them ahead of time.  Mama then sliced them and put them in the pan on the fire with lots of lard.  The potatoes sizzled and fried for quite some time while Mama kept slicing more potatoes.  We would need a lot for all the family that were coming.  What made these potatoes special was that after they were almost done frying Mama would crack eggs into the potatoes and fry them together; the eggs would work into the potatoes and Mama would get them very crispy.  I always wanted the potatoes around the edge of the pan because they were the best.  Many times we had only these Pommern potatoes for dinner because they were so good.  Mama had promised me she would make them herself for my birthday because her potatoes were much better than those made by the aunts though we could not tell them that.

Aunt Carolina and Uncle Johann arrived soon with some of the cousins.  Aunt Carolina was one of Papa's sisters.  They brought more food and chicken as well for the meal.  Mama was happy to see them because Aunt Carolina was a hard worker.  Soon Uncle August and Aunt Friederike arrived.  Uncle August was Papa's brother and he was my godfather which was something he reminded me of all the time.  I liked Uncle August because he would take my older brothers out behind the barn and let them smoke some tobacco and he had been promising this to me all year.  Aunt Friederike came bearing her usual gift for all the cousins which were hand knit socks.  She took great pride in using heavy yarn so that the socks would be warm and she would always say the same thing "if your feet are warm you won't get sick".  We boys thought her socks were picky and uncomfortable but Mama always frowned at us and we quickly thanked Aunt Friederike.  Later Mama would tell us that we needed to be grateful because we had many feet in the house to put socks on and it helped Mama when an aunt would give us new socks.

By midday we had many guests - aunts, uncles, cousins and even some neighbors all coming for my 10th birthday.  Uncle Gottlieb and Aunt Karolina brought a smoked ham from the hogs on their farm and Papa praised the ham. Uncle Gottlieb was Papa's brother as well.  They had children the same ages as us boys and even had an August born the same year as me.  Sometimes it became very confusing when all the cousins were together.

The day went by quickly but it was grand fun.  Uncle August tried to take me out behind the barn to show me his tobacco but Papa saw us and quickly stopped this.  Uncle August and Papa talked loudly about this for a while but in the end Uncle August shrugged and walked away.  Papa told me that there would be plenty of time for tobacco but he didn't want me to be sick today on my birthday.  I wasn't very happy but we boys knew we had to obey Papa.  That was the way it was.

By the end of the day the families were all leaving but Aunt Carolina and Oma Kautz stayed longer to help with cleaning up the house.  Mama was looking very tired and Oma was worried about her.  But Mama said to me "I think August Gottlieb that you had a grand 10th birthday and now you are a man".  Oma Kautz reminded me that Mama had worked hard on my Pommern potatoes while tending to baby Gustav and I should never forget the grand birthday I had.

And I never did!"

August Kolberg, November 24, 1919, 65 years old, Stevensville, Michigan:

(As a side note - the making of Pommern potatoes continues in our family to this day and the recipe has been passed down mother to daughter.)

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 6 "Surprise"

RED CROSS NOTICE:

In 1943, both my father, Mylen Schulte, and his older brother, Melbourne Schulte, were in two different branches of the United States Military.

My father was serving in Central America with the US Army Air Corps and my uncle was in the Pacific with the US Navy.

My father was single and he would not marry until 1946.  My uncle, however, had been married for 2 years and had left his pregnant wife at home in Detroit, Michigan where she was awaiting the birth of their first child.

On December 11, 1943, my aunt, Virginia Reske Schulte, gave birth to a baby boy and named him after his father, Melbourne Schulte, Jr.  As was common in the military, when the father was in the Armed Forces, the Red Cross sent a notice to the new father informing him of the birth of his child.

This is the notice that was sent from the Keesler Field Camp and Hospital Service Committee of the Red Cross:

However, the surprise was that the Red Cross inadvertently sent the notice to the incorrect Schulte soldier, sending it to my father in Central America.  

The above notice has been saved in my family all these years with my father keeping this card which has caused much laughter in the family.  I don't know how long it took for the correct new papa, Melbourne Schulte, to receive notice of the birth of his son but eventually he was notified. 

Melbourne and Virginia Schulte with baby Melbourne, Jr. in Detroit, Michigan, 1944:

Today that little baby is 81 years old and he was blessed to have had his parents in his life well into their 90's.  

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 5 "Memories"

MEMORIES:

Today, January 29, 2025, is the 29th anniversary of my father's death.  Looking back it certainly doesn't seem like it has been that long but time does move quickly.

Mylen Elmer Schulte was born March 29, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan to Elmer Meyer Schulte and Ella Anna Helene Wellhausen.  He was their second child and second son.

Mylen Schulte in 1923:

He was baptized on April 15, 1923 at First English Lutheran Church in Detroit and confirmed on April 5, 1936, also at First English Lutheran Church, by Rev. Walter O. Hauck.

Here are random photos from over the years:

Mylen (center), older brother, Melbourne, and younger sister, Marilyn, in 1936:

Confirmation photo of Mylen.  He is on the bottom row, far right.  He looks rather unhappy or bored.  I like to think he wanted to get home and listen to the Detroit Tigers on the radio!

Mylen Schulte at confirmation on April 5, 1936:

Melbourne and Mylen Schulte, ushers at the Rialto Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, 1939:

Melbourne Schulte, US Navy and Mylen Schulte, US Army Air Corps, 1942:

My parents, Mylen Schulte and Eloris Kijak, marriage, June 15, 1946:

Mylen Schulte, champion bowler, back row, center, 1965:

Mylen Schulte, career barber, 1969:

Mylen Schulte with mother, son and granddaughter (4 generations), 1983:

Mylen Schulte, church photo, 1994:

Though it has been 29 years now since he passed away, I have many memories of my 47 years with my father that will never leave me.

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 4 "Overlooked"

 OVERLOOKED:

Great-grandpa - where were you born?  

Despite over 40 years of genealogical research, I have been unable to find proof of the birthplace of my paternal great-grandfather, Rudolph Myer Schulte.  I have researched and discovered more documents and information on him than most of my other ancestors but none of the records confirm his birthplace.  This is definitely a mystery.

This is what I have been able to confirm:

Rudolph Myer Schulte was born on October 24, 1869 in Germany.  His father was Joseph Meyer Schulte, who was born in Beckum, Westfalen, Preußen, Germany in 1843 and his mother was Alvina (Alwina) Tobien (Tobian) who was born in 1848 in Pommern, Preußen, Germany.

On April 10, 1872, Joseph, Alvina and Rudolph immigrated from Hamburg, Germany to America, settling in Detroit, Michigan.  The Hamburg passenger list indicated that their place of residence at the time of departure was Goldikow, Pommern.  Recent in-depth research has shown that there is not, nor has there ever been, a village named Goldikow in Pommern.  With assistance from a cousin in Poland, whose help has been fantastic, it is believed the name of the village was actually Zoldekow which now, in Polish, is Sulikowo.  This has proven to be undoubtedly accurate with recent research I have been undertaking on the Tobien family (which will be discussed in another blog post).

At the time of arrival in America, Alvina gave birth to their second child, a daughter Elizabeth on June 28,1872.  A third child, Ida, was born on November 23, 1874.

Here is a photo of the Joseph and Alvina Schulte family in approximately 1875-1876 in Detroit:

Joseph and Alvina Schulte with Rudolph standing, Ida sitting on mother's lap and Elizabeth standing by father:

The 1880 United States census for Detroit, Michigan showed the Joseph Schulte family with Rudolph listed as having been born in "Germany" as was also listed for his parents.  This gave me no new information.

On October 7,1891 Rudolph married Julie Feucht.  Again the marriage record(s) indicated Rudolph was born in Germany.

In 1892 Rudolph joined the Detroit Fire Department, a career that would see him joining the US Navy to serve in the Spanish American War in 1898, where he served on the USS Yosemite.

Rudolph Schulte as a Detroit City Fireman:

Rudolph in the US Navy during the Spanish American War (he is with his younger brother, Theodore, in this photo):

I decided to contact the National Archives in hope of obtaining Rudolph's Spanish American War military records.  Some months later a thick package arrived in the mail for me.  In his own handwriting Rudolph had written "I was born in Germany and came to America with my parents when I was 2 years old".  

Why, oh why, couldn't he have been more specific as to where he was born - did he even know?  He was only 2 when he immigrated with  his parents and did they ever discuss where in Germany he had been born?  It was impossible to know.  Another roadblock!

The 1900 US census for Detroit, Michigan was even more confusing as it showed Rudolph being born in Michigan which, of course, was incorrect.  Did the census taker get this information from his wife, Julie?  She certainly knew her husband was born in Germany.  It would be impossible to know.  Another roadblock!

The 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US censuses for Detroit, Michigan all showed Rudolph Schulte as having been born in "Germany".

On January 14, 1907, Rudolph's wife, Julie, passed away.  Just 5 weeks later, Rudolph married her sister, Elizabeth Feucht, who had been widowed twice previously and had 4 children.  Again, their marriage record indicated Rudolph had been born in "Germany".

Elizabeth passed away on February 17,1937, and on March 5,1938, Rudolph married for the 3rd time to Mary Bender.  Their marriage certificate didn't shed any new light on Rudolph's birth place.

Marriage record of Rudolph Schulte and Mary Bender:

Rudolph passed away on April 1,1940 in Detroit, Michigan and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit in the Bender Family Plot - the cemetery plot of his 3rd wife's family.  His death certificate had a bit more information regarding his place of birth listing Westphalia, Germany and his obituary stated the same.  Beckum, Westphalia, Germany was the birthplace of Rudolph's parents, grandparents, great grandparents and several earlier generations all leading to my belief that Rudolph himself had been born there.

Rudolph Schulte's death certificate and obituary:

With all my research, and the amount of documentation I had, I still had no idea and no positive proof of where my great-grandfather had been born.  I was very close to my grandfather, Rudolph's only child, and yet my grandfather told me he only knew his father had been from Germany.  Obviously families never discussed these things.  My grandfather shared with me all the military medals of his father and all the photos that my grandparents had.  In with the photos were a few of Rudolph in the Masonic fraternal organization clothing.

Rudolph Schulte as a member of the Masonic fraternal organization:

 Armed with this information I wrote to the headquarters of the Masons in Detroit.  After many back and forth letters (this was before computers), I received copies of Rudolph's application and other paperwork from his time as a member of the Masons.  In that application was, in Rudolph's own handwriting, his place of birth as Beckum, Westphalia, Germany!

At last I had confirmation that Rudolph was indeed born in the place of his Schulte ancestors.  I was ecstatic...

Until I began searching for absolute proof of this,  hopefully, with documentation from Beckum.

That has not happened despite many years of research.  While the Catholic church records of Saint Stephan Katholische Kirche are microfilmed by the LDS and Family Search, and while myself and another Schulte cousin, have thoroughly gone through the records, giving us information on our Schulte line back to the 1600's, no record of the birth of Rudolph Schulte has been found nor a marriage record of his parents.

I even hired a professional German researcher in 2021 who visited the church and viewed the vital records for Beckum and other nearby villages that were all part of the Saint Stephan Catholic Church parish.  The professional genealogist informed me there was no record of either Rudolph's birth or the marriage of his parents.  Using the assumption that Rudolph's mother could have been Evangelical (Lutheran), as the family became when they arrived in America, the professional genealogist checked the Evangelical records as well and nothing was found.

Now in 2025, I am back to square 1.  While my Schulte ancestors - from my 2nd great grandfather, Joseph Schulte, back to the 1600's were all members of the Catholic Church in Beckum, Westphalia, it is still a mystery where Rudolph was born and where his parents were married.

I love a good mystery but 40 plus years of research has frustrated me.  I'm not giving up; there is always something new to investigate and I am turning my research to Rudolph's mother, Alvina Tobien, to see if that will open up some avenues.

Despite the topic of this post being "overlooked", I feel that I have not overlooked any available records or information that has been available to me - up to this point!

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 3 "Nicknames"

WHAT NAME DO YOU USE:

In my genealogical research I have often found interesting naming patterns in specific families.  While it was common to name children after a grandparent or a sponsor, in one of my lines I found patterns that could not be linked to a specific reason.

I did learn after much research, that in the 19th century, German children were often given multiple first names, including biblical names, names of saints and old family names.  Common names for boys were Johann, Friedrich, Wilhelm, while common girls names were Anna, Maria, Elisabeth.  Typically only one of the names was used throughout the person's life.

In my paternal Feucht family this was certainly true and many times the chosen name was substituted for another of the two or three names making research very difficult.

My 2nd great grandparents, Johann Jacob Feucht and Magdalena Helena Bauer, were both born in Germany.  Johann Feucht was born in Tamm, Ludwigsburg, Württemberg, Germany and Magdalena was born in Schwarzenbach by Nürnberg, Bavaria, Germany.

They both immigrated to Detroit, Michigan at separate times, and married in Detroit on February 20,1859 at Trinity Lutheran Church. 

Ten children were born to them as follows:

 Johann Georg Feucht - born February 25,1860 and died July 25,1860.

Anna Margarethe Elizabeth Feucht - born July 12, 1861 and died February 17,1937.  She was known as Elizabeth or Liz throughout her life

Anna Margarethe Elizabeth Feucht:

Kunigunde Margarethe Rosa Feucht - born January 12,1864 and died November 11,1908.  She was known alternately as Rosa, Rose and even Kunigunde on various documents throughout her life.

Kunigunde Margarethe Rosa Feucht:

Johann Conrad Feucht - born June 29,1866 and died after November 1908. Documents over the years have noted him listed as Johann, John and Conrad.  He disappeared from records after November, 1908 and he is still a brick wall for me.

Karoline Margarethe Mary Feucht - born August 2, 1868 and died May 7,1869.  Documents in her brief life have shown her listed as Karoline and Mary.

Christine Katharine Juliane Feucht - born February 16,1870 and died January 14,1907.  This was my great-grandmother and throughout her 37 year life she was known as Julia, Julie, Juliane and Julia Anna.

Christine Katharine Juliane Feucht:

Margarethe Feucht - born July 4,1872 and died January 1,1936.  The multiple naming pattern seemed to stop with her though she was known alternately through her life as Margaret, Maggie, Meg.

Margarethe Feucht:

Helene Feucht - born March 6,1875 and died June 3, 1957. She was mainly known as Lena or Helene throughout her life.  She lived the longest of the Feucht siblings.  She was also the only one of the daughters that was actually named after her parent.

Helene Feucht:

Johann Georg Feucht - Another child given the same name as their firstborn son.  This son was born October 20,1877 and died January 7,1933.  Documents over his lifetime indicated he was using the name George.

Charles Henry Feucht - The last of the children of Jacob and Helena Feucht.  He was born January 15, 1881 and he died October 6,1945.  He used the name Charles throughout his life.  He was only 4 when his mother died and 11 when his father died.

There were 4 sons with 3 of them given the first name of their father - Johann and 1 daughter named after her mother.

Every one of the 10 children had multiple baptismal sponsors but none could be connected to any known relatives - aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc even after I was able to trace both the Feucht line back many generations in Tamm, Württemberg, Germany and trace the Bauer line back 15 generations! in villages surrounding Nürnberg, Bavaria, Germany.

Despite the various names chosen for my great-grandmother and her 9 siblings, I am pleased that I have been very successful in tracing both lines of my family back in Germany and to have connected by DNA matches with 3 different "cousins" still living in various parts of Germany.

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025; Week 2 "Favorite Photo"

FAVORITE PHOTO(S) 

Over the 47 years of my genealogical research I have acquired thousands of photos of ancestors from family members who have willingly allowed me to scan and return their photos to them.  Naturally there are many that I would deem "favorites" and I have chosen two such photos to feature today.  

These two photos are from both my father's side and my mother's side, they are from different countries and different periods of time but it is amazing how the two photos tie together.

Over the last several years I have had amazing success with DNA matches via the My Heritage website.  While I use the Ancestry site exclusively for my research, I ventured into My Heritage 5 years ago hoping to make connections with European cousins.  I had been informed that more people in Germany and Poland (my areas of interest) use My Heritage so I downloaded my family tree to My Heritage hoping to have some matches.

It took over a year but then the results started coming in with amazing DNA matches that have allowed me to grow my family lines back many generations.

One such DNA match came to me a few years ago from a young gentleman in Warsaw, Poland.  This match was on the line of my 2nd great-grandmother, Balbina Korcz, who was my mother's great-grandmother.  I had very little information on my Korcz ancestors and was just fortunate to find US records originally that indicated her name.  In the decades since then I had never had any luck learning anything more about her.

With this DNA match though I found a correspondent who was willing to share his records and the information he had uncovered.  He turned out to be my 4th cousin, 2 times removed which was amazing since we actually had high numbers of shared DNA.

One of the photos he shared with me were of his 2nd great-grandparents, Melchior Korcz and Katarzyna Neumann.  Melchior was the grand-nephew of my 2nd great-grandmother, the above Balbina Korcz.

Melchior was born December 28, 1878 in Trzek, Poland and Katarzyna was born May 4,1877 in Ługowiny, Poland.  They were married approximately April 1,1901 in Poland.  Melchior passed away in 1952 in Swarzędz, Poland and Katarzyna passed away in 1955 also in Swarzędz, Poland.  Both are buried in the Cmentarz Parafialny w Swarzędz (Municipal cemetery in Swarzędz, Poland). Melchior was my 2nd cousin, 2 times removed.  Here is a photo of the two of them taken in Poland.  I would estimate this photo was taken in the later years of their marriage.  I fell in love with this photo and the way they were posed.

Melchior and Katarzyna Korcz:

While going through my multitudes of photos I came across another one that caught my eye showing another interesting way of posing a couple.  

This photo is of my great-grandfather, Rudolph Myer Schulte, and his second wife, Elizabeth Feucht.  Rudolph was my father's grandfather.  While I never knew this great-grandfather I had enormous amounts of genealogical information on him and his 3 wives that I had acquired over the years from my paternal grandparents.  Rudolph's first wife, Juliana Feucht, was my great-grandmother and she unfortunately passed away at the young age of 36.  Two months after her death, Rudolph married her sister, Elizabeth, and they combined their families.

Rudolph had been born on October 24,1869 in Germany.  US records show he was born in Beckum, Westfalen, Germany but research has not found positive evidence of that (YET)!  Elizabeth Feucht was born July 12,1861 in Detroit, Michigan.  Rudolph and Elizabeth were married February 20, 1907 in Detroit.  Rudolph passed away on April 1, 1940 in Detroit and Elizabeth passed away on February 17, 1937 also in Detroit.

This photo of Rudolph and Elizabeth was taken, I believe, at Riverview Park in Detroit, Michigan in approximately 1912.  

Rudolph and Elizabeth Schulte:

What a fun experience this must have been.

These are just 2 of my favorite ancestral photos but I feel they are well suited to this blog post.

copyright 2025, Cheryl J. Schulte