The Conrad Knatz Family

On November 26 1891 Conrad and Anna’s first child was born.  Her name was Anna Appolonia, as per church records, most likely after her grandmother.  Anna (Knetz) was baptized on January 24, 1892 in the Episcopal Holy Cross Mission Church, Conrad’s family church.  It may have also been Christina’s, as children often were brought up in their mother’s religion.  Anna Appolonia’s grandmother, also named Anna Appolonia, and her step grandfather Philip Greifzu, were her sponsors.   On September 30, 1895, Anna would die at the age of 3 years and 10 months.  Aunt Laura Knatz Malloy said she died of either pneumonia or diphtheria.  Anna was buried with her grandmother in the family plot, listed in the internment list from Lutheran Cemetery as Annie B Kratz on October 1st, 1895.

 

On February 1893, Charles Conrad Knatz was born.  He was baptized as Charles William on April 23, 1893 according to the record book of the Mission Church of the Holy Cross.  His baptism certificate does have his correct name.  Lizzie Friess and Charlie Knatz are his sponsors. This could be Conrad’s brother.  Charles will later marry Barbara Urig in 1917 and have three children: Charles, Aileen (my mother) and Edwin.  My grandparents Charles and Barbara’s story will be told elsewhere.  Charles died in 1969, Barbara in 1981.

 

On June 27, 1894 daughter Christina is born.  She is indexed as Gnatz on her birth certificate index.  According to this, 2 children have been born, 3 are living.  Someone cannot count.  At this time the family was living at 536 East 16th Street.  Christina will marry Robert Heron, an insurance broker, in 1927 and have no children.   They both died in 1977.

 

On June 29, 1896, daughter Lorette is born.  As per her birth certificate information, she is the third child of Conrad and Annie who live on East 16th Street.  She was baptized on July 19th at Holy Cross Mission Church.  This record says she was born June 30.  Lorette, who would be known as Laura, had her Uncle John Eberhardt and Laura Arkils as sponsors.  I believe this Laura is John’s future wife.  Lorette aka Laura would marry twice, first to George Frey, who worked in the building industry, in 1920 and after divorcing him, married Dann Malloy, a theater director, in 1934.  Laura worked for many years in the furniture department at Macy’s Department Store.  She did not have any children from either marriage. Dann died in 1945 and she died in 1999 at the age of 103 (minus 3 days).

 

On December 23, 1897, Philip Conrad joined the family.  He was baptized at Holy Cross Mission Church on March 27, 1898.  His grandmother and step grandfather Anna and Philip Greifzu, were his sponsors.  In 1932 he would marry Margaret Anna Rich, also known as Maude, in 1932.  They would also have no children.  Phil worked for an auto company and also for a paint company.  Maude died in 1971 and Phil died in 1985.

 

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