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Many thanks to Hochertz descendent Pat, for putting names to faces in photographs Thank you also to Donald for the Hochertz oral history.

To jump straight to photographs, click here: pics.

For oral history, click here: oral history.

Click here to jump to the records (census, obits, etc): paper trail

Click on image to enlarge. Once enlarged, to zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again.

c. 1887, from left: Kitty, her brother Harry, her sister Clara	clockwise: Kitty in the dandy chapeau, her sister-in-law Irene, her mother Anna, her sister Mae c. 1910	picnic outing that also included her brother Edward and his wife Irene. Click on photo to see tiny label "Kit"
Kitty Wachdorf & Tony Hochertz wed c. 1910-1911		from left: her sister Lettie, unknown man, future sister-in-law Dell Pfleger, her brother Harry (Dell's future husband) with Kitty and Tony in front
zoom on a photo, probably of coworkers. Looks like Kitty 2nd from left & Dell Pfleger Wachdorf seated in front.	interment card St. Mary Cemetery for Coletta Hochertz, three years old. Presume she was Kitty's.	women from left: her mother Anna, her sister Midge, Kitty, her niece Celia Roster. Boys are her sons Tony and Eddie
2-18-1943 Tony & Kitty in front of son Ed (on left) and nephew Harry Wachdorf	Kitty, daughter Dorothy & son-in-law Jacob Boersma 1943	Kitty & Tony flanking his sisters, daughters Magdalen, Marie, Charlotte behind, Ed back row right, w sons in law & grandchildren
Lettie, aunt Mary Falkenthal, mother Anna, Kitty, sis-in-law Irene (Ed's), niece Irene (Ed's), niece Coletta (Joe's), cousin Coletta Falkenthal Eck	1962 Kitty in light blue with her sisters plus one girl I can't i.d.	Kitty and Tony, possibly their 50th?
Kitty's mass card 1965	Kitty & Tony's stone, St Mary Cemetery, Evergreen Park IL

Oral History

Received an email in Feb. 2008 from Kitty and Tony's grandson, Donald, who said the name is from the German words for High--Hoch and Heart--Hertz, and that it is pronounced Hok'hertz (second syllable just like the name of the rental car company). He said, "This was related to me by Grandpa Tony Hochertz. He also said that one H was dropped in Hochertz when they came to America," meaning the name originally was spelled Hochhertz. He said additionally that "Grandpa Tony's sisters who were nuns...are buried in the graveyard of their convent (Hand Maidens of Jesus) in Donaldson, Indiana."

Paper Trail

Anton's second daughter, Catherine Anna "Kitty" Wachdorf, was born in Chicago 8-28-1884 (Poor Anna Klein Wachdorf, so often in the last trimester during Chicago's summers, and in the days of corsets too). In about 1911-12 Kitty married Anthony John "Tony" Hochertz. In the 1932 article on her parents' golden anniversary (full text here: articles), Kitty and Tony are listed as the hosts of the 50 person party, at their home at 5924 Parnell Ave. 

1900 census, Chicago Ward 30, District 945, 418 W. 58th St.

Anton Wachdorf, age 39, born May 1861, married 18 years, immigrated 1865, naturalized, engineer-loco

wife Annie, age 39, born May 1861, mother of 8 of whom 8 are living

daughter Clara, age 17, born June 1883, milliner

daughter Katherine, age 15, born Aug 1884 (no profession listed, nor "at school")

son Henry, age 13, born Aug 1886, at school (Harry)

son Edward, age 11, born Aug 1888, at school

son Joseph, age 8, born June 1892, at school

daughter Coletta, age 5, born May 1895

daughter "Mary," age 2, born July 1897 (Mae)

daughter Frances, 10 months, born Aug 1889

(NOTE: neighbor is John C. Miller, policeman, with sons John F. born in 1887 and Andrew born in 1894. John F. is witness on marriage certificate of Edward Wachdorf and Andrew is witness on marriage certificate of Joseph Wachdorf)

1910 census, Chicago Ward 31, District 1338, 316 W. 58th St.

Anton Wachdorf, age 45, in 1st marriage 25 yrs, column for immigration year says "?", naturalized, engineer--bridge co

wife Anna, age 45, mother of nine of whom 9 are living

daughter Catherine, age 25, packer--Stone Bros.

son Henry, age 23, chauffeur--automobile (Harry)

son Joseph G, age 17, messenger--railroad

daughter Coletta, age 14

daughter "Mary" A, age 11 (Mae)

daughter Frances B, age 9

daughter Magdalena, age 7

1918 draft registration: Anthony John Hochertz of 5924 Parnell, age 38, born Feb. 10, 1880, naturalized citizen. Tall (5'8), slender, with blue eyes and brown hair. Nearest relative: wife Catherine Anna Hochertz of 5924 Parnell. Employment is written in blurry ink, two lines in a one line space, appears to be something for Nail or Nat'l Reg Adv. Co of 5 N. Wabash.

1920 census Ward 31, District 1911, 21st Precinct, 5924 Parnell

Anthony Hochertz, age 39, born in Germany of German parents, imm 1890 (wrong), agent (illegible) gun/gum Co

wife Katherine, age 25, born in IL of German parents (wrong, mother born IL)

Son Anthony, age 7, born IL (all kids born IL)

son Edward, age 5

daughter Marie, age one year 11 months (census taken Jan. 1920)

daughter Dorothy, age 8 months

1930 census 17th Ward, block 85 District 651, 5924 Parnell (owns, value $6000, has radio)

Anthony Hochertz, age 50, married at 31, born in Germany, immigrated 1882, vender--machine gum/gun

wife Katherine, age 47, married at 27, born IL of parents born in IL (wrong, father born Germany)

son Anthony, age 17, born IL (all kids born IL), worker--odd jobs

son Edward, age 16, errand boy--grocery

daughter Marie, age 12

daughter Dorothy, age 10

daughter Madeline, age 8

daughter Charlotte, age 6

son Harry, age 4 yrs 8 months

Kitty's obituary, Chicago Tribune 3-22-1965

Hochertz, Catherine A., nee Wachdorf, beloved wife of Anthony; devoted mother of Anthony, Edward, Dorothy Boersma, Magdalen Puiszis, Charlotte Warnke, Harry and the late Marie Lindblade; grandmother of 19; five great-grandchildren; sister of Clara Roster, Edward Wachdorf, Coletta Meyers, Mae Wachdorf, Madge Wachdorf, Frances Stevens and the late Harry and Joseph Wachdorf. Funeral Wednesday 9:15 a.m. from Hornburg & Son funeral home 8400 S. Ashland ave to St. Gerald Church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment St. Mary's.

Social Security Death Index, Anthony Hochertz born 2-10-1880 died Nov. 1965.