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Many thanks to Mary's great-grandson, Richard, for some of the information on this page.

Photos:

Photo Gallery One, miscellaneous: pics

Photo Gallery Two, golden wedding anniversary: Wirtz 50th

Paper Trail

census 1880-1930, article on anniversary, obituary

Click on image to enlarge. Once enlarged, to zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again. To go to second gallery of photos of her golden anniversary party, click here: Wirtz 50th 

Mary Krump Wirtz, I think	in crowd at Bornhofen's 50th, April 1929, see below photo gallery for details	Think it's her daughter, Barbara/Sr. Mary Louise OSF
Among Pflegers and her own children, see next for labels	same as previous, labeled	Wirtz house on Shields Ave, tentative i.d. by grandson
1-6-1934 in the crowd at grandson Henry Pfleger's wedding. See next for label	same as previous, labeled	alternate shot of same group

To go to a partly labeled version of the photo of Bornhofen's anniversary party click here: Bornhofen's 50th. Because Mary & Hubert as well as three of their daughters are in the crowd (and by the Wirtz-ian headgear, perhaps more relatives of that line) I suspect there is an undiscovered connection between the Wirtz/Krump families and the Bornhoren/Utschig/Merten families. Otherwise all these Wirtzes are at a party for Mary's son-in-law's brother's in-laws. 

Paper Trail

1880 census, Chicago:

"Herbert" Wirtz, age 27, born in Prussia, works for railroad.

Wife Mary Wirtz, age 31, born in Prussia.

Daughter Gertie, age 2, born in Illinois.

Daughter Barbara, age 1, born in Illinois.

Also in the household is Hubert's brother, George Wirtz, age 22, born in Prussia, works for railroad

The centennial booklet for St. Martin Church (59th and Princeton) lists among the families "ready to help establish the parish" in 1883 Ant. Wachdorf, Hub. Wirtz and Geo. Wirtz.

1888 Chicago voter registration has both "Herbert" Wirtz and his brother "Geo" on the same page. Hubert is listed as born in Germany, immigrated 1885, living at 5405 Tracy Avenue, a resident of the precinct for 4 yrs, of the state and county for 14 years. It says the date of his papers was 1885 and he was naturalized in the criminal court of Cook County.

1900 census, Chicago, 5405 Shields Ave:

"Hobart" Wirtz," age 48, born May 184-something, which doesn't jibe with age 48, but... married 23 years, immigrated 1876 (varies from census to census), naturalized, occupation looks like it says "farming."

Wife Mary, age 51, born Feb. 1849 in Germany, immigrated 1871 (also changes), mother of 7 of whom 6 are living.

Daughter Mary, age 17, born August, 1882.

Son Charles age 13, born May 1887

Son "Toney" age 9, born August 1890.

(All kids born in IL. Presume Gert, at 22, is already married and out, but where is Annie, age 20, who doesn't marry Oscar for 2 years? Where is 19-year-old Barbara?)

1910 census, Chicago, 5405 Shields:

Hubert Wirtz, 56, immigrated 1874, married at age 27, laborer for railroad

Wife Mary, 63, immigrated 1872, married at age 30, mother of seven of whom six are living

Son Antonio, 20, installer in telephone industry

Daughter Anna M. Pfleger

Son-in-law Oscar Pfleger (book keeper)

Grandson Herbert Pfleger

Grandson John Pfleger

Grandson Henry Pfleger

Also in the house, boarder Theodore Schuler.

1920 census, Chicago, 5405 S. Shields:

Hubert Wirtz, owns free of mortgage, age 68, born Saxony, immigrated 1874, naturalized in 1885, laborer in furniture industry

Wife Mary, 72, also born in Saxony, immigrated 1872, naturalized 1885

Grandson Carl, 11

Grandson Martin, 7

Son Arthur J. Wirtz, 28, assignment clerk for telephone co. Arthur? Assume that's actually Tony (Antonio)

Same house, new head of household, renting:

Edward Enk, age 36, automobile mechanic, born in IL, father born in Hanover

Wife Mary Enk, age 38

Daughter Marie Enk, age 14

Son Charles Enk, age 12

Daughter Eleanor Enk, age 10

Son Harry Enk, age 8

Son Oscar Enk, age 6

Son Joseph Enk, age 3 years 6 months

Son Anton Enk, 2 months (all born in IL)

(assume that Carl and Martin are the sons of their son, Charles, who is living in the household of their daughter Gert with three of his five children, because his oldest was named Charles, which is Carl to a German.)

Article, Southtown Economist 7-28-1926

Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Wirtz To

Celebrate Golden Wedding

Fifty years ago August 2, St. Martin's Church, 59th st. and Princeton ave. was the scene of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Wirtz.

    Monday it will again be the scene of their wedding, this time golden, to be observed at 9 o'clock in the morning with solemn high mass, celebrated by the Rev. Frank J. Schikowski.

    Following the mass a reception will be held at the home of a daughter, Mrs. E.H. Wiedeman, 6207 (might say 6297) Mozart st. Mr. and Mrs. Wirtz have lived at 5405 Shields ave. since their marriage 50 years ago. Other children are Mrs. O.S. Pfleger, 5648 Wells st., Mrs. E.J. Enk, 5405 Shields ave., Sister M. Louise, Milwaukee: A.G. Wirtz, Midlothian, and Charles Wirtz, 1283 Early ave. There are 17 grandchildren in the family as well.

    Music and a program will entertain the 130 friends and relatives who have been invited to the reception. 

1930 census, S. Shields:

Hubert Wirtz now 79, and Mary, now 82. Also in the house (renting): "Edwin" Enk, 46, general mechanic, and wife Mary, 47,and their children: Charles Enk, 23, electrician with Edison Company; son Harry, 19, machine operator for illegible; son Oscar, 16, errand boy for packers; son Joseph, 13; son Anthony, 10. All children born in IL.

Hubert died 4-1-1937.

Obituary

8-4-1937 (Chicago Daily Tribune) Mary Eleanor Wirtz, nee Crump, beloved wife of the late Hubert, fond mother of Mrs. Gertrude Wiedemann, Sister M. Louise OSF, Mrs. Anna Pfleger, Mrs. Mary Enk, Charles J. and Anthony G. Funeral Friday from residence 5405 Shields ave. to St. Martin church. Interment St. Mary Cemetery.

Her daughter, Annie Wirtz Pfleger, was sister-in-law to Irene Pfleger Wachdorf