The Rest of the Story

My husband's great-grandfather was August Grabowski (1863-1943). While searching newspapers at Newspaper Archive several years ago I found the following.

The Post Standard, April 26, 1905, (pg not recorded)

Charged with Stealing Ducks

Accused of stealing eight ducks, valued at $1 each, August Grabosky of No. 118 Park street alley was this morning arrested by sergeants Silas Bergen and Herman Eabold. Mary Smith of Sixth North street was the complainant.

Stealing ducks - really!? Not the type of news story I was hoping for! As I continued to work on my husband's tree I learned that there were three men in Syracuse, NY in 1905 that this article could have referred to, including my husband's great-grandfather. As I gathered more records I was able to determine through census records and other newspaper articles that the August Grabowsky named in the above clip was someone that probably is connected to my husband's family but as yet I have been unable to determine just how.

Even not knowing how the other August Grabowsky fits into the tree I was happy to find the following article from a different paper at Old Fulton History.

The Syracuse Journal, Wednesday, April 26, 1905, page 2

8 FAT DUCKS

Mr. Smith Didn't Want Them Around So He Sold Them Unknown to His Wife and Trouble Follows

Mrs. Mary Smith of Sixth North-st. was the owner of eight fat ducks. Her husband had frequently complained about the ducks, advising her to sell them. She refused to do so. A few days ago she discovered that the ducks had disappeared. Lated [sic] she learned that the fowls were in the possession of August Grabosky [sic] of 118 Park-st., a driver on one of the dog catcher wagons of the S.P.C.A.

Mrs. Smith swore out a warrant for Grabowsky, charging him with petit larceny. Grabowsky was arrested early Wednesday morning by Sergeant Silas Bergon and Herman Eabold. In Police court he denied that he had stolen the ducks. It devoloped [sic] that Mrs. Smith's husband had sold the ducks to Grabowsky, whereupon the Justice discharged him.

So it always pays to dig a little deeper!

August M Grabowsky of 118 Park Street Alley was born 8 Aug 1874 in Germany, the son of Julius F Grabowsky and Elizabeth Smith. This family of Grabowsky's seemed to consistently spell their name either Grabowsky or Grabosky.

Annie C Hotz - Timeline

This is the fifth and final installment in a series detailing my research of Annie Katy Hotz (Shimitz) Holmes and her family. I hope that by presenting the information I've found in this format that my cousins may be able to learn more about Annie and her ancestors. I have included me suggestions for further research.

1846, October - Mother, Barbara Vrchoticky born Bohemia

c.1848 - Father, James Hotz/Kotz/Krotz born Bohemia

1870 - Parents census records

Clear Creek, Johnson, Iowa, USA, page 13, family 89. Barbara WHITE, age 24 b. Bohemia. With parents Frank & Catherine WHITE.

"The nucleus of the Union township colony was formed by Peter Kodl (Cole) and Frank Vrchoticky (usually known as Bily or White), and soon after Thomas Neuzil, Hibl, Hrade, and others from Iowa City and Newport township followed." SOURCE: THE BOHEMIANS IN JOHNSON COUNTY By B. Simek (pronounced Shimek) http://www.elyiowa.com/history/bohemians_in_johnson_co_shimek.pdf

English River, Washington, Iowa, page 30, family 212. James Krotz, age 22 b. Bohemia. In home of Frank & Annie Krotz.

1874 - February 4. Parents marriage.

James Hotz and Barbara WHITE. Johnson County, Iowa, USA. FamilySearch.org. Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992. Index.

Since this is an index record the original should be found and evaluated.

c.1876 - Sister, Mary Hotz born.

1879 - August 4, Annie C Hotz born.

On the 1895 census Annie's place of birth was listed as Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa however at the time of the 1880 census the family was living in Lime Creek, Washington County, Iowa. Births were not registered until 1880.

Catholic church records may exist in both places and should be checked for Annie's baptism record. Sisters Mary and Rosa may also have baptism records.

1880 - Census - Lime Creek, Washington, Iowa, page 6C.

James Kotz, age 32 b. Czechoslovakia
Barbara Kotz, age 29 b. Czechoslovakia
Mary Kotz, age 4 b. Iowa
Annie C Kotz, age 1 b. Iowa (indexed as KATZ at FamilySearch)

1880 - August 17. Death of father.

James Kotz, age 36 born Bohemia, died Lime Creek, Washington County, Iowa. Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990 at FamilySearch.org.

Since he is listed in the death index the original record should be located. The index also says he was buried in Richmond so cemetery records could be checked. A search should be made for a probate file. Additionally, I would do further research on the parents of James, shown on the 1870 census, and try and locate probate files for them which may list the children of James as heirs.

c.1881 - Sister, Rosa Hotz born Richmond, Washington, Iowa.

I did not find a record for her in the index however a search of the birth records should be made.

1884 - Frank Shimets marries Barbara Choe, 15 Jan 1884.

Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, index only.

The original of this record really needs to be examined!

1885 - Iowa State Census, Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 15, family 79:

Franklin Simitz, age 35
Barbra Simitz, age 38
Mary Simitz, age 4
Mary Hotz, age 9
Anna Hotz, age 6
Rosa Hotz, age 4

c.1888 - Half-brother, Frank J. Shimitz born Washington County, Iowa.

There should be a record of this birth and it should be examined to see if it gives any clues that might apply to Annie.

1895 - Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, Ward 3

Barbra Shimitz, age 49 born Bohemia
Annia Shimitz, age 16 born Iowa City, Iowa
Rosa Shimitz, age 14 born Iowa City, Iowa
Frank Shimitz, age 7 born Iowa City, Iowa

1900 - Census record for Annie needs to be found.

By 1900 Annie's mother, Barbara, was a widow, living with her youngest child, Frank. She stated that she had had four children and all were still living.

The census record for all three of the Hotz daughters should be located. Chances are that eldest daughter, Mary Hotz, was married by this time and the record should also be located.

1903 - January 18 Annie Hotz married Emery Holmes, St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

The marriage license and church record have both been located.

1903 - April 14 Birth of son, Leonard Joseph Holmes

Family members have said he was born in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Census records do indicate that he was born in Illinois.
I did not find his record in the Cook County birth index. I did not find a baptism record for him in the St. Rose of Lima records. His birth record and/or baptism records should be located.

1905 - Iowa State census

Sometime between 1903 and 1906 Annie and Emery returned to Iowa. A search of the 1905 census may help determine when.

1906 - December 11 Birth of son, Lloyd Edward Holmes, Pleasant Valley, Johnson, Iowa

Louyd Edward Holmes, child of Emory O Holmes and Anna Della Hotz. Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950 at FamilySearch, index only.

Original record should be checked to verify Anna's name. Other records have her middle initial as C. and family indicates she used the middle name Katy.

Beyond this I would gather every census record.

My cousin tells me that Annie and Emery divorced and that Annie remarried. Both the divorce record and her second marriage record may include her maiden name.

I am told that Annie's death record does not list her parents names but it should still be included as part of a complete record of Annie.

More Records for Annie

This is the fourth in a series detailing my research of Annie Katy Hotz (Shimitz) Holmes and her family.

Three very kind people, Deborah Andrew of The Sum of All My Research, Donna Hague Wendt of Another Day With Donna ..... Genealogy - Family History Blog and a reader who wishes to remain anonymous, all went to the trouble to look up the 1880 census that was recorded in the index at FamilySearch for the James KATZ family. Thank you all! Here is a cropped image of the record.

Personally, I think it looks like KOTZ but certainly the handwritting leaves room for other interpretations.

Deborah Andrew also found a possible record for Annie in the 1900 census. Due to the immigration information included for that Annie I don't believe it is for my subject but I'm hanging onto it in my file in case it makes sense later.

The majority of my research has been conducted at FamilySearch where they have added Chicago Catholic church records. They are browse only and I missed them altogether. Annie in Austin of The Transplantable Rose was not only kind enough to point out the record set to me, she found Annie and Emery's church record and told me exactly where it was! Thanks Annie!

For Annie's marriage to Emery Holmes we now have three surname variations created from a single life event!

1. On her marriage license she was recorded as Annie HUTZ.

2. Her name on the record of her marriage at St Rose of Lima is Annie HOTZ. The marriage license number is a match. Witnesses were Robert Shrader and Celia Shrader. No parents names were given.

FamilySearch.org. Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925. St. Rose of Lima (Chicago), Marriages, 1882-1915, page 116 (image 63 of 97).

3. Also included with the St Rose of Lima records is a hand written index where her name was written ANNA HOLTZ.

FamilySearch.org. Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925. St. Rose of Lima (Chicago), Marriage index, 1882 (no page number, image 40 of 110).

So we now have Katz, Kotz, Holtz, Hotz, Hutz and Shimitz. In my next (and last post) I'll recap what I have in an easier to follow timeline format. I will be including missing items, records that need more scrutiny and other thoughts as to where my cousins can look for more answers.