Menu
- Home
- Search▼
- List▼
- Add▼
- My Relate▼
- Admin▼
ViewsWatchersBrowse |
Heinrich Betz
b.12 Apr 1786 Feilbingert, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
d.2 Mar 1873 Buffalo, Erie County, New York
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 17 Jul 1774
(edit)
m. 17 May 1808
Facts and Events
Last date we have him in Germany is 1842 at marriage of his daughter Henrietta to Joseph Schmitt. Possible first instance of this Henry Betz in Buffalo: 11 January 1846, a Heinrich Betz is sponsor at the baptism of Heinrich Jacob Betz, son of Jacob Betz (St. Paul/St. Marks). First instance of Henry Betz in Buffalo: Index of Deeds, Erie County, NY, p. 703: "Grantor: Frederick SCHMIDT; Grantee: Henry BETZ; Liber: 83; Page: 243; Date of Instrument: Mar20 46; Date of Record: Mar 20 46; Description: 68.21-11/6." (Translation: Frederich Schmidt deeded land to Henry Betz on 20 March 1846.) Henry Betz (presumably Sr.) goes on to grant pieces of this same land to his sons, henry Betz, Jr., and Philip Betz in 1849/1850. From Potters & Potteries of New York State: 1650-1900, by Ketchum, William C. Jr., Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press 1987; pp. 427-428 (Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Ref. NK4025.N7K4 1987): "The last of the craftsmen of the 1850s is Henry Betz, who with his son, Henry Jr., established an earthenware pottery on Genesee Street which remained in family hands until well into the twentieth century. Betz first appears in 1850 working in the Township of Black Rock (which later became part of greater Buffalo). [This "first appears" must be from the 1850 census; we know better.] At this time he was already sixty-five years old. He probably owned his own kiln, as his real estate was valued at $1,000. Living with him was Henry, Jr., who was twenty-six. In 1855 Betz was listed in the directory as a potter on Genesee Street below German; two years later he and Henry Jr. were making earthenware on East Genesee near Sherman. In 1859 the son assumed management of the firm, though his father continued to work with him until 1864. The business remained in Henry Jr.'s hands until the late 1870s, when George Betz, another member of the family, took charge. But by 1882, Henry Jr. was again active, and in 1884 he seems to have resumed full control. George continued to work in the shop as a potter until 1896. [NOTE: Henry, Jr. died (commit suicide) in 1876; it was probably at this time that George stepped in; the Henry that resumed full control was actually Henry Jr's SON, b. 1849 who died in 1911.] In 1889 the concern became Henry Betz and Brothers by the addition of the younger Ferdinand and Charles [two more sons of Henry Jr.]. At this time the company expanded into the stoneware field and continued in it at least until 1893. I am not aware, however, of any stoneware piece bearing the Betz mark. In 1894 or 1895 Ferdinand dropped out, and the firm was thereafter listed as Henry Betz and Brother. The brother varied from time to time with Ferdinand replacing Charles in the early 1900s. The pottery was still active as late as 1906." Shows up in 1850 Black Rock, Erie County Census (July 13, 1850), living with wife, son and other family members, age 65. Others listed with him are: Henry Betts, M, age 26 (owner of property, valued $1,000) Jacob Betts, M, age 16 ( b ~1834) [we do not know whose son he is.] Philip Betts, M, age 10 or 13 ( b ~1837-1840) [we do not know whose son he is.] Catherine Betts, F, age 38 (b. ~1812; there was a daughter by this name born in 1809 but she married a Philipp Dorner; while it's tempting to believe this might be Henry's daughter-in-law, Kath. Hawk (married to Jacob), we have found Jacob and Katherine living in Milwaukee, WI in 1850.) Christine Betts, F, age 5?8 (Henry senior's wife; see notes for Maria Margaretha-Christina Dressel) Philip Betts, M, age 9 (b. ~1841; we do not know who he is) George Swartz, M, age 38 (do not know who this is) Henry Betts, M, age 1 (son of Henry Betz, Jr. and Catherina Dern) Catherine Betts, F, age 26 (wife of Henry Betz, Jr., born Dern) Heinrich shows up in the 1860 Buffalo Census, living with his son, Henry Betz (Jr.), at age 74. In 1870 census, Heinrich shows up living two doors down from his son, and is enumerated with Philip and Margaret Vogt. References
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
