Litz Family Russia to Winnipeg

 ROBERT LITZ

 Robert Litz was born in Lomza Poland (Russia at the time) on October 13/25, 1879 (date differential due to both Julian and Gregorian Calendars).  His mother was Wilhelmina Litz born around 1854, an unmarried illiterate worker. See figure 1, and following translation.  Also good to note here is there are letters that are interchangeable in Russian/Polish/German, there is no V in the Polish language,  W is pronounced V, and L with a slash through it is pronounced W, and in Russian a B is a W and a P is an R, and G and H are often interchangeable; ergo Vilgelmina is Wilhelmina.  In our family, and others from similar areas and of that earlier generation V and W are also used similarly, I.E.; Valter, Havaii, and sorry but I cannot explain Mancouwer!!

 Figure 1

The translation is a little confusing.  It says the church attendant is Mikhail Bartnik and Fedor Ludvig  is the low rank serviceman, yet the signature shows Ludvig above the word minister. If the Minister/church attendant and Sofia Ludwig are the God Parents, who is Fedor, and why is he there? 

Any previously mentioned occurrences in Robert’s life between his birth and subsequent marriage and immigration is by word of mouth and at this point in time, unverifiable.

Robert married Hulda Kroening in Zhitomir in 1903 as declared on his reapplication for Canadian Citizenship papers that were lost.  He does however on this application give his place of birth as Zhitomir, which is contrary to his 1940 registration, and birth record.  See figure 2 and 3.

Figure 2 

 Figure 3

Soon after they left Russia and made their way to Rotterdam. There they boarded a ship for Grimsby, England.  They probably travelled by train to Liverpool for their journey to Canada aboard the Ship Bavarian. Figures 4 and 5.

 I should note that a few years ago I looked at the Rotterdam passenger lists on microfiche for the year 1903 and I am sure I saw a record for a Mr and Mrs Litz and infant.  When I went to copy this entry I couldn’t find it again.  There were hundreds of pages and I went back to them numerous times but to no avail.  I may have originally misread the entry on first look, but nonetheless, without it I cannot be 100% certain. There was so much talk about a son Rudolph who died at sea that you would think it had to be true.  If in fact it is, and what I saw was really there, then his death at sea would have been after Rotterdam and before the their departure in Liverpool.

 Figure 4

 Figure 5

 After their arrival in Canada, they settled in Winnipeg and lived in Railway housing at 640 Logan Ave.  August was born here.  Figure 6 is 1906 census page.

 Figure 6

Sometime prior to 1911 they had moved to 460 Magnus Avenue.  They lived here until around June of 19l4, when they moved to Beausejour during the War years. See figure 7 and figure 8, 1911 census page lines 17-22. (Note the name discrepancy.  The Litz family is down as Leads, and the other family living in the home is marked Litz.  This could be a language issue with the enumerator. Add to this that is says the family is Catholic when they are Lutheran.

 Also note, Richard should be on this census but isn’t.  There is a Rachel and Emma.

I believe Emma is Aunt Velma, as Albert says that Emma was her name.  There is a date discrepancy, the other plausible explanation is this Emma died, and another child was renamed Emma.  Also, could Rachel be Richard, another language issue?

 Figure 7

Figure 8

In 1916 the family is in Beausejour, where they moved during the war. Their name is written at Sitz, instead of Litz. To make it even more interesting, Robert is counted twice as he is also registered as being a roomer in their home on Magnus Avenue in Winnipeg.

From 1916 census

From 1916 census

It is unknown where they lived in Beausejour.  Ron who was born in Winnipeg in April 1914 was baptized at Zion Lutheran in Beausejour in June.  Walter the next born was born in Beausejour as was Alice.  There is no baptismal record in Beausejour for either of them at Zion Lutheran Church. 

 After the war the family moved back to 460 Magnus Avenue.  Robert and Hulda remained there until their move to 990 Alverstone Avenue, after the children were grown.

Robert after he retired continued to live at 900 Alverstone, until his health started to fail.  He spent his last years at Park Manor Nursing Home where he died in 1970.  He is buried at Chapel Lawn Cemetery in Winnipeg.                                                                                      

There were over 500 articles and ads in the Winnipeg Free Press starting in the 1920’s to the 1960’s, and NO, I didn’t look at all of them, but instead tried to capture the ones that gave some substance to the history of the family and family business.

The first pictures,  directly below are from an old Company Photo Album that my dad Ron had.

Early Days R Litz and Sons

The family business began with a Wheelbarrow in 1904.  There is little advertising in the early years, but later, they became very prolific.  After WWI, advertising really began in earnest, and then continued.  The businesss continued to flourish, but at sometime during its existence, Robert took on a partner, Roman H. Smith.  This partnership ended in 1919, see Figure 9.  Was this partnership necessary because of the War?  

Figure 9

It would appear he continued to operate this business out of the residence at 460 Magnus Avenue as the ads from 1921  and 1938 below indicate. Figure 10  and 11.

Figure 10

Figure 11

The first mention that I could find of the sons in ads was in a1931 Christmas ad, figure 12.

Figure 12

Violet Berft nee Litz had this great picture of the “boys” from 1942 Figure 13.

Figure 13 

Left to right; Gordon, Albert, William, Ron, Fred, Richard, August and Robert.

There is an ad for the sale of a Saw Mill from 1934 by August Litz, its interesting that the address is 1070 Logan Ave, Figure 14.  When did this happen.

Figure 14

Starting in or around 1934 building permits were taken out on a several different residential properties. Figure 15 Selkirk Ave 1934, Figure 16 for Anderson Ave in 1936 and Figure 17  Mulvey Ave 1936.  There are probably other properties that were purchased by the company for the sons and daughters as they became adults, but this is speculation on my part.  I know my parents after they were married lived on Belmont Avenue until the house on Winnipeg Avenue was built.

 Figure 15                                 

 Figure 16

 Figure 17

 Figure 18

Figure 18 above,  February 12,1938 article shows August in a rather precarious position.  The article does not state which brother or the name of passer-by who came to his rescue. It does make me think that this was the first straw to his eventual move to California. 

Something curious happened in 1939, which maybe the Uncles can explain or know about, but this was news to me, another partner for Litz Construction or a new business altogether, see Figure 19

 Figure 19

Who is ROE, and what’s this patent stuff….Did Robert invent something and patent it? I have not found any other mentions for Litz and Roe other than this one. However, after sharing this information with family, I have received from Gene (cousin's grandson) information from the US Patent office with information on this patent...Thank you Gene for taking an interest and looking stuff up.

Figure 20

In 1947, Figure 20 shows a purchase for McPhillips Street, Figure 21 looks like they landed a big job. Christmas greetings in Figure 22

Figure 21                                                                  

  Figure 22

Figure 23 , 1947 is the building permit for property on Winnipeg Avenue. Gee I used to live there, and Gordon and family lived next door.  Is this why they needed the 10 labourers in figure 21?

Figure 23

As previously noted there were 7 sons and all involved in the family business at one time or another.  There were also 2 daughters.  Here’s a little information on the offspring.

The first child born in Canada was August in February 1904.  He was followed by Richard. later that same year. Velma, Fred, Ron, Walter, Alice, William, Albert and Gordon followed. alter was born in Beausejour, and I think Alice (Elsie) was also.These are the children that we know something about.  There is the Rachel and Emma question as seen in the 1911 census in Figure 7. 

From what I can gather from documents, Fred is Alfred and Ron was born Karl, baptised Reinhard and later changed his name legally to Ronald Reinhardt.  I think the Ronnie came from anglicizing Reinie which was short from Reinhardt.  Velma was born Emma and Gordon was born Lawrence Gordon. There may be other name changes or alterations that occurred over the years, but I am not aware of them. 

The story of Walter is a sad one.  He left home travelling to BC, and then was killed returning home. Figure 24 is the notice of his death from the Free Press and Figure 25 is the outcome of the Coroners Inquest.                                                                         

 Figure 24                                                          

 Figure 25

Figure 26  Walter’s Obituary from the Mennonitisch Rundschau Paper and translation.

June 20, 1934

Mennonitische Rundschau

Translation: 

Life story of Walter Litz

Walter Litz, son of Bro. and Sis. Robert Litz, 460 Magnus Ave., Winnipeg, left the parental home about 4 weeks ago without the knowledge of his parents to discover more of the world. The first news of his whereabouts came from Vancouver B.C. It was here that he probably spent the most time of his absence because from here he sent the most letters. He was staying with people from the Salvation Army by the name of Rain and he repeatedly told his parents in his letters not to worry about him at home, that he was doing well. On Saturday, June 9^th he left Vancouver to board a freight train for a ride home. About 200 miles east of Vancouver, close by Ashcroft, while he was sitting on top of the freight car, he hit his head on the coal Shute. He fell off the car onto the track and one of the wheels of the freight car ran over one of his legs almost completely severing it from his body. He lived and was fully conscious for a whole hour. However, he died on the way to the hospital.

  Walter was born Sept. 17^th, 1918 in Beausejour, Man. He died at 11:00am Sunday, June 10^th 1934. He was 15 years, 8 months and 23 days old. He attended Strathcona School and even made it to 7^th grade. According to the reports from his teacher he was a quiet and good boy. The same was said by his parents and siblings.

  His parents remarked that lately he spoke a lot about being saved. One late evening he came to his Dad and asked him “ is it true what the Bible says that all a man has to do is believe in the Lord Jesus and he is saved”, which his father said it was. As his father asked why he wanted to know he said: “It is a good thing to know all these things.” Every once in a while you could catch him reading the Bible. His belongings that were taken from his pockets and sent to his parents also included the Gospel of John.

  Also in the letters he sent you could tell that he was also pondering this very important subject.

In a letter his parents received after his death he had included a photograph of himself with the comment that at home they didn’t have a picture of him. He ended his letter by saying: God bless you all.

We hope that the Lord has taken him in and shown him great mercy. It will be up to the Lord.

Figure 27 is a file from the Russian Auswanter Microfilm.

I have located one picture with Walter,Figure 28.  He is standing beside Ron, behind his younger brothers William, Albert and Gordon, whose attention is obviously focused on something else.  As Walter died at age 15, this picture must have been taken within a year or two of his death.

Figure 28