Person:Jacob Betz (1)

What we Know

• He was b 08 February 1812 in Feilbingert, Rheinpfalz, Germany.
• No marriage record in Feilbingert
• He was witness to an 1845 marriage of an Anna Maria Betz (likely his sister) to Georg? Heinrich Diller at St. Paul/St. Marks church in Buffalo, NY.
• From 1840-1849, he was listed in the Buffalo city directories 1840-1849. During the second half of this period, Jacob's living at 35 Carroll (which is downtown). He made/sold leather gloves.
• About 1849, Jacob and Katharina moved to Milwaukee, WI where we find them in the 1850 census (ward 3, Milwaukee City, Milw. Co., WI, p. 310)
• In the 1860 census, he is in Chicago, IL, with a new wife, Anna Maria GRUSS, some of his children by Katharina, and some new children by his second wife.
• He first shows up in the 1861/1862 Chicago City Directory.
• In 1870, he's still in Chicago, and none of his children by Katharina are with him; he has some additional children through his second wife.
• He commit suicide in 1873, apparently confronted with a terminal illness.

Inquest on Jacob Betz held at 591 Carroll Ave April 30th 1873. Verdict of jury that the said Jacob Betz now lying dead at 591 Carroll Avenue in the City of Chicago County of Cook and State of Illinois came to his death April 30th 1873 from hanging by the neck and we the jury from the evidence find that said death was suicidal while laboring under a fit of mental depression."

• There is no will on record for Jacob.
• His wife Annie first shows up in the city directories in 1874, the year after his death.
• He had six children by his first wife, then another eight children through his second wife.

What is Likely

• He may be the Jacob Betz on an 1835 passenger list.
• He is likely the Jacob Betz, who along with a wife Katharina Hauk, is baptizing children starting in 1844 at St. Pauls/St. Marks in Buffalo, NY. Oldest child b. abt. 1842, so therefore likely married, probably in Buffalo, around 1841. There was at least one established HAUCK family in Erie County by the 1830s.
• While both he and Katharina are recorded as parents on the baptism their 14-year-old son at St. Paul/Marks in Buffalo in 1862, it's not likely that they were present. Katharina was likely deceased by this time, and Jacob was married to his second wife, Anna Maria Gruss and living in Chicago. Believe this baptism to have occurred on a visit to family.
• Through 1860 census, Mary (Anna Maria) is clearly a second wife, as the first two children are too old to be hers. She could technically be the mother of Susanna, but more likely is only the mother of Carolina in this census. That would place a death of Katharina Hauk Betz somewhere abt or after 1854.

Brick Walls

• How confirm that he is the Jacob Betz on the 1835 passenger list?
• Where find his marriage (not in St. Paul/Marks and not in St. Johns. There was a First Presbyterian church which appears to have served Germans before St. Johns was established; records not yet found (if they even exist).
• How confirm that Katharina Hauck is part of the early Hauck family in Erie Co.?

1. ↑ Evangelische Kirsche Feil (Feilbingert). Feilbingert Kirchenbuch, 1681-1876. (LDS)
   Vol. 4, Baptisms Year 1812.

   Son of Heinrich Betz & Christina Dressel: Jacob

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 1870 United States Federal Census.
3. ↑ Certificate of Birth - Jacob Betz.

   L'an mil huit cent douze, le onze de mois de Mars a neuf heure du Matin... est comparu Henri Betz, potier de terre, age de vingt septe ans aus demeurant a Bingert leguel nous a presente un enfant du sexe masculine, ne le dix du mois de mars a deux heure d'apre midi de lui declarant et de Christine nee Dressel [san prefere?] son epouse, et auquel il a declare vouloir donner le prenom de Jacques. Lesdites declaration et prseentation faites en presence de Jacque Betz, cultivatuer age de saixante deux ans demeurant a Bingert et de Jacque Winter?, potier de terre age de trente ans demeurant egalement a Bingert.

4. ↑ Chicago Tribune
   May 1, 1873 page 3.

   A German named Jacob Betz commit suicide yesterday...

5. ↑ Chicago Tribune
   May 1, 1873 page 3.

   AN OLD MAN HANGS HIMSELF
   A German named Jacob Betz committed suicide yesterday morning by hanging himself in a barn in the rear of no. 591 Washington avenue. He was discovered by some children; about 9 o'clock, suspended by a rope, which was attached to one of the beams. When cut down, a few minutes afterwards, his body was still warm, but the heart had ceased to beat. He arose early and went in the direction of the barn. For some years he has been an invalid, and for the past week has manifested much despondency because of his condition. It is supposed that this incited him to commit the act. He was 61 years old, and leaves a wife and six children. The Coroner held an inquest yesterday, at which a verdict of death by suicide was rendered.

6. ↑ Evangelische Kirsche Feil (Feilbingert). Feilbingert Kirchenbuch, 1681-1876. (LDS).

   Grandfather is listed as Jacob Betz, Farmer, b. abt. 1750

7. ↑ Evangelische Kirsche Feil (Feilbingert). Feilbingert Kirchenbuch, 1681-1876. (LDS)
   Vol. 5, Confirmations, Year 1826.
8. ↑ Buffalo City Directory
   1839-1842.

   [Researched by G. Richard Fraas on behalf of Jillaine Smith]

9. ↑ Buffalo City Directory
   1844-1849 (with some missing years).

   [researched by G. Richard Fraas on behalf of Jillaine Smith]

10. ↑ Buffalo City Directory
    1847-1849.

    [researched by G. Richard Fraas on behalf of Jillaine Smith]

11. ↑ 1850 U.S. Census - WI
    Ward 3, Milwaukee City, Milw. Co., p. 310.
12. ↑ ^12.0 12.1 1850 U.S. Census - WI.
13. ↑ Margaret Johnson
    Email of 13 Jan 2002.
14. ↑ ^14.0 14.1 1860 U.S. Census - IL
    Cook County, Chicago, 6th ward, p. 675.
15. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census - IL
    Cook Co., Chicago, 14th ward, p. 520b.
16. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census - Illinois
    14th ward.
17. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census - IL
    Cook County, Chicago, 14th ward, p. 520b.