Family of

Mathias and Anna Schritz

1847-1941 1868-1954

Mathias (Math or Mat) Schritz, born October 27, 1847 in Gostingen, Luxembourg - immigrated 3/1880 to USA; died February 03, 1941 in Skeels Cross Roads (St. Anthony), Mercer Cty, OH; married Anna Everling February 12, 1886 in Ft. Recovery, OH.

Notes for Mathias (Math or Mat) Schritz:

Mathias Schritz was raised on a farm, was educated in Luxembourg, and became a manufacturer of wine. His father had a large vineyard in Luxembourg.

Mathias Schritz at age 32 came to the U.S. on March 8, 1880 from Flaxweiler, Luxembourg on the SS Zeeland, arriving at the Port of New York. He lived at 1880 Posthalter Skeels Road, located in Mercer County, Ohio, for some time working on a farm. He listed with his sister (Marie or Margaret.) His brother ran a restaurant. In January 1881 he returned to Luxembourg, returning to the U.S. in July. He farmed the next 3 years, after which he worked in a store until 1886, when he returned to the farm and farmed for one year. He went back to Luxembourg after his father died in 1887. He stayed 2 months but decided to return to USA. He started working for a farmer. His wife is 20 years younger than him - was a housekeeper.

In 1888 he went to Fort Recovery, OH. He was an agent for a brewery for 2 years. In 1890 he established himself in the grocery and saloon business at Skeels Cross Roads, in which he was very successful. In 1892 he was appointed Postmaster under President Harrison Administration and still retains that position and is a good citizen. His friends have elected him to different local offices, which he has filled to the acceptance of all interest. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. Both are well educated, intelligent, sociable, and genial people, well know and highly esteemed for many miles around. The fact of Mathias was appointed Postmaster under a Republican administration is indicative of his popularity among the people of the vicinity in which he now resides.

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Listed in 12th Census of Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio in 1900 as Head, White, Male, Born Oct. 1847, 32 yrs old, married for 11 years, born in Luxembourg. His parents born in Luxembourg.

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Ann Wagner Remembers:

My parents, Peter (Cecelia Schritz) Reinhart would try to visit Grandma and Grandpa every week. There were always some men from the area sitting on the bench along the wall in the store talking about what occurred during the week. There was no daily paper. One time I saw Fox & Hess truck from Coldwater, Ohio deliver 25 & 50 lb bags of flour to the store. Crackers came in a barrel and were weighed out to the customer. Peanut butter was scooped out and placed in a cardboard tub. The shelves in Grandpa's store were along the north and east side of this room and full of groceries. There was a counter in front of the shelves. Groceries were also stored under the counter. On top of the counter was a large wooden box about 10 in. high. It had a glass covered top, candy and gum was secured. During Lent Grandpa received shipments of herring in 2-gallon kegs from the North Atlantic. They were so goo. They also had the dried Herring which the men would eat in the store with their wine.

Grandpa would give Bob, Vic and I candy and gum during Lent. We each had an empty Rolled Oats box. Whatever he gave us, we'd take home and drop it in our box. When Holy Saturday came and the church bells range at noon, Lent was over. Gee! Did the candy task good, even tho Mom was frying potatoes and meat for dinner, candy was better. Then that night the Easter bunny came and we received more goodies.

Grandpa had a potbellied stove and burned coal. Salesmen would stop by, Grandma would prepare them something to eat. A room off to the south is where they sat on a stool by the counter and waited for their meal. This room also provided wine to be sold in bottles and by glass, while the men sat at the tables and played cards, they loved to socialize.

We kids sat on a chair in the kitchen and listened to Mom and her mother talk German - then laugh because we would not understand it. We'd wait for Dad and Grandpa to lock up the store for the night and come to the house and maybe he would get the wine out. Grandpa had his wine 4 times a day. He'd take a glass and pour 3/4 inch of wine, pour enough water to make in 1 1/4 inch and drink this with his meal and at bedtime. I guess this is why he lived almost 94 years.

Grandpa and Grandma owned 5 acres, 3 of which in grapes. He had all kinds, nice big bunches of concord. He was an expert in this occupation. They owned one cow and one horse. I remember how the hose was hitched up to a sleigh with barrels on and went down the narrow rows of grapes. Cecelia used to stay home from school when they were ripe and pick, throw the grapes into the barrels, and haul them to the building, dumped in to grinding, and the juice would run into a trough to the cellar where the vats were waiting to hold the liquors in the process of manufacturing. Some wine made a certain way for St. Charles Seminary was used for Mass.

Grandma was a good housekeeper. The bedroom downstairs was for guests. A large pitcher and wash basin sat on the table near the bed. Fr. John or Fr. Philip would stop in for the night. The Living room had neat things hanging on the wall, some which came from Luxembourg. Her library table was spotless, a bottle sat on it with a wick in the lid handing out a little to make the room smell good. No one was allowed in that room! She cooked on a kerosene stove in the summer kitchen when the weather was warm. That kept the house clean. The table was long and was also used to past wall paper.

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Info from a person who lived near Matt Schritz:

There was a set of buildings one the NW side of the Cross Road. John and Mary Ann Everling had some land. He was a blacksmith with a shop and livery stable where farmers would bring their horses to be shoed. He ran a grocery store and the Post Office was held there. Everlings were busy people.

Mathias came to work in the Post Office, eventually married their daughter Anna. John and Matt invested in land on the SE side of the Cross Road. Matt bought 5 acres. He built a store and was awarded the Post Office to be moved in. Mail boxes were placed outside the store where people could pick up their mail. He remodeled his house, built a large section on. In the barn he stored ice, which he cut int he Wabash River just south 1/2 mile int he winter, hauled to the barn, and covered with saw dust to preserve it. During the summer, people would buy ice and make ice-cream.

His father-in-law's land joined Matts. They (together) had 3 cows, which grazed in the pasture. A gasoline engine was used to pump water for the animals. In the summer, corn was raised and cut in the fall. A large garden was fenced off in the field. There was an old cemetery in the corner along the east road.

The first year Matt sold wine by the glass. It was legal - laws changed and a bunch of boys would buy a gallon of wine, walk across the road in Meyers yard, and drink it. When the weather was bad and the delivery trucks were late, people would come in and want to buy six loaves of bread at one time, but Matt put a limit of one loaf. One man wanted to buy a box of shoe string. Matt would not sell him all, the man got angry and refused to buy any, left, and sent his sons in later.

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From a 1940 or so newspaper article - Notes of a Chronicle Field Man

MATH SCHRITZ STOREKEEPER at Skeels Crossroad 50 years; 98 years old.

Skeels Crossroad is a town NW of Wabash, not even a wide spot on the road. The only business is a store that isn't open all the time.

However, although Skeels Crossroad may not be much of a town, its first citizen has owned the store there since 1890 and was postmaster until the office was abandoned. Math Schritz has lived there for 50 of his 93 years.

MATH READS EVERY DAY ALTHOUGH 93

Although only 7 years minus the century mark, Mathias or Mats as he is sometimes called, is able to get around, has a good appetite and reads every day. The little old man still has his sense of humor and enjoys telling funny incidents of days gone by.

However, his memory isn't as strong as it once was and he has difficulty recalling the past. As he was trying to recollect for us the year he came over from the old country, he exclaimed, "That doesn't jibe", and asked himself "What's the matter with me?".

CAME TO THIS COUNTY IN 1880

But he did remember that is was in March, 1880 that he came over from the old country for the first time. Tasting the American way of life, he went back to his native Luxembourg, stayed only two months, and returned to the USA.

Luxembourg, if you remember, is the Grand Duchy between France and Germany which was invaded by Hitler's blitzkrieg last spring.

Mrs. Anna (Everling) Schritz was also born in this little country and still has a sister there. Last they heard from her was in September 1939. She wrote that they had enough to eat if Hitler doesn't take it away.

At first Math thought that Hitler was helping Germany. But now when he hears the dictator's name mentioned, he makes a wry face.

DROVE BEER WAGON IN FT. RECOVERY

Going on 33 when he came to this country, Mathias lived with his sister for several years on the farm that is now occupied by Mike Minch, on Route 49, south of Skeels. Then he moved to Ft. Recovery where he drove a beer wagon while a brother operated a restaurant.

When he opened his business at Skeels Crossroard, he built the store which now stands there. Selling both liquor and general groceries at first, he later only offered groceries. Today his store is scantily stocked and he only opens it when someone requests that he do so.

RECEIVED MAIL ONLY TWICE A WEEK

However, he seems to be proudest of his record as postmaster. That was in the days when they only recieved mail twice a week and farmers had no need for mailboxes to be used for dairy delivery. There hasn't been a post office at Skeels for 40 years, he said.

Described by his wife as "like lightning on his feet when younger", the aged man doesn't go anywhere now. And, judging from his quick, energetic walke at 93, we imagine he was a hustler when younger.

OLDEST MEMBER OF ST. ANTHONY'S PARISH

Another distinction that Mr. Schritz has is that he's the oldest member of the St. Anthony parish. But, he does not get to church very often these days.

Asked if he wanted to become 100, Math replied he doesn't care how long he lives.

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Notes for Anna Everling:

Ann Wagner lists Anna as being born May 20, 1869 in Canton Remich, in the district of Grevenmacher, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. I used the birth/death dates from Prayer Card and other info from the Luxembourg genealogy report.

In 1881 John brought his wife Mary Ann & family to the USA from Luxembourg. He bought land at Skeels Cross roads and ran a blacksmith shop. One daughter, Anna, was 12 years old. She went to work for Michael and Mary (Schritz) Feipel. She helped care for their children: Albert nearly 2 years and Leo 8 months. Mathias Schritz helped with the farming. Eventually Mathias fell in love with Anna. They married.

Mrs. Schritz was 12 years old when she came to the USA and is now 72 (as of 1941 when her husband died). Her maiden name was Anna Everling.

Listed in 12th Census of Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio in 1900 as Wife, White, female, Born May 1869, 31 yrs old, Married for 11 years, had 4 children of which 4 are living, she and her parents were born in Luxembourg.

Ann had a sister in Luxembourg - last they heard from her was in September 1939. She wrote that they had enough to eat if Hitler doesn't take it away.