SCHOLZ-L Archives

From: "" <>
Subject: Re: [SCHOLZ] SCHOLZ from GERMANY
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:14:38 -0000

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Author: LORIKAYKLOOSTER
Surnames: Scholz
Classification: queries

Message Board URL:

http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.scholz/96.2.1/mb.ashx

Message Board Post:

My Great, Great Grandfather's name was Hermann Scholz. He also went by the initials "W.H. Scholz." He was born in 1850 in Schlesien, Prussia and immigrated to America about 1867-1869, at the age of approx 18, on the ship Holsatia sailing out of Hamburg, Germany. Presumably, he came to America alone. He settled in Guttenberg, Iowa where he married Julia Brigetta Gruener in 1872 and took up the occupations of Ice Merchant, General Laborer, Hotel and Livery stable operator, and then later attended the University of Iowa Law School with his son, Charles Scholz. Charles became an attorney and his father, Hermann became a Justice of the Peace and Constable of Guttenberg. He officiated at the civil marriage ceremonies of all his children. No church affiliation was ever noted, which makes me wonder if he was originally Jewish, but I have no evidence to that effect.
Many of the facts of Hermann's life in Guttenberg, Iowa I know about because I grew up in Guttenberg, Iowa and Hermann Scholz was my Grandmother's grandfather. I listened to the stories she told about her grandfather for many, many years. However, many of the facts about him prior to his immigration to America, and the details of his immigration itself, were not known until I started to research his name through Ancestry.com. Some of these facts were taken from a passport application Hermann applied for in 1892 to return to Germany/Prussia for a visit. However, when I tried to cross-check these facts, I came up with nothing. I cannot find an 18 yr old Herman Scholz coming to America on the ship Holsatia. Instead, I find a Herman Scholz coming to America on the same ship, same year, and traveling alone, but he is listed as 32 yrs old....could he have lied about his age, perhaps? I also cannot find any record of him attending the University of Iowa except that I know he was a!
Justice of the Peace and his picture is listed shown with his graduating class in the law school archives. I know he passed away in 1933, but I cannot find an obituary for him. There are other Hermann Scholzs listed in the Ancestry.com member directories, but these Hermann Scholz's lived in Wisconsin and Texas and were married to different women. I know that my GGGrandfather lived his entire life while in America in Guttenberg, Iowa, except for his few short years in Iowa City. I know he had 6 children and I have all their information. They are Emil Scholz, Emma Scholz Reinecke, Charles Scholz, Augusta Scholz Friedlein, Clara Scholz Friedlein (my Great Grandmother), and Mathilda Scholz Kidd. These would have been my Grandmother's uncles and aunts and I feel like I knew them personally after listening to her talk about them. (and my Great, Great Aunt Mathilda lived in the house across the street for 18 years of my life) But the information on my Great, Great Grandfather,!
Hermman Scholz, is a real mystery to me.

If anyone on this thread recognizes these facts, I would appreciate any kind of information you can provide. You can write to me directly at

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