1. JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹ ZEITZ. He married MARIE CHRISTINE LUTH.

Child of Johann Zeitz and Marie Luth is:

2. JOHANN CHRISTOF MARTIN² ZEITZ (JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹) was born July 31, 1817 in Schwasdorf, Germany, and died January 19, 1858 in Schwasdorf, Germany. He married MARIA HENRICA JOHANNA FREDRICA AHL, daughter of Turgen Ahl and Sophia Lukow.

Children of Johann Zeitz and Maria Ahl are:

3. WILHELM CARL THEODORE³ ZEITZ (JOHANN CHRISTOF MARTIN², JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹) was born September 25, 1850 in Waren District, Germany, and died August 05, 1904 in Mason, Ingham County, MI, Buried in Mapleridge Cemetery. He married WILHELMINE "MINNIE" KNAUSS February 05, 1886 in Delhi Township, Ingham County, MI, daughter of Marie Knauss.

Notes
The family story was that William emigrated to the United States from Germany in his late teens by sneaking over on a cattle boat, sleeping in the manger. He may have come across on a boat with cattle and he may have slept in a manger, but he had requested permission to leave Germany and the German government granted that permission as follows:

"Wilhelm Carl Christoph Theodor Zeitz, born 25 September 1850 at Schwastorf in the district of Warren and was the son of worker Zeitz of Schwastorf who had died about 16 years before the presentation of the request for the emigration permit. August 9, 1873 a request for the granting of a permission to emigrate to America for the farm worker Wilhelm Carl Christoph Theodor Zeitz. Following the Emigration Acts of the Mechlenburg-Schwerin Ministry of the Interior, the Community Authorities of Schwastorf, the Waren district presented.

The announcment of the permission was made on 11 August 1873."

Schwastorf lies near Klein Plasten, in the vicinity of the City of Waren, on the Rivers and is in the parish of Schloen.

William purchased the farm on W. Columbia and if he did buy Minnie's indentured debt, he was not completely without funds. His route of travel once arriving in the U.S. is unknown, but he may have stopped in New York from 1873 until coming to Ingham County, Michigan. His son, Frank, thought he came to a farm near Holt, Michigan, on Hogsback Road and worked there for a time - probably Casper Lott farm (see 1884 Census information).

The 1884 census lists Wilhelm as residing with Casper and Catherine Lott family, who the 1884 census, Delhi Township, Ingham County, Michigan census lists as:

Lott, Casper 54 W M Husband Farmer

Catharine 50 W F WIfe Housewife

Frank 14 W M Son Domestic Servant

William was listed as a "servant" and farm laborer. He was single and stated he could read, but could not write. He stated he had been a resident of Michigan for 4 years.

Casper was born in Hesse, Germany; Catharine was born in Baden, Germany. Both had been residents of Michigan 29 years. Other Lotts in Delhi Township included George and Mary Lott who had resided in Michigan only one year. If Mary's mother and sister, Minnie came with George and Mary and resided with them, or near them, WIlliam may have met Minnie through the Lotts.

By 1894 Wilhelm was married to Minnie. He was listed in that census as a farmer with issue: Rosa 7, Emma 6, Charles 4, and Harry 3. He stated at that time that he was in Michigan 13 years, but in the United States 20 years. Minnie is listed as having been in Michigan 9 years. She is not listed in the 1884 census in either Delhi or Aurelius Township, Ingham County, Michigan. If she came with her mother and brother, then she was only in the U.S. 10 years. (and according to their enumeration, Michigan 10 years would be after the 1884 census - probably).

The 1894 enumeration showed Minnie could read, write and speak English. Family members would argue this, right up until Minnie's death. Her "English" was difficult, at best, to understand. Which may explain the census enumeration of the son "Charles," who should be listed as "Carl."

Marriage Record #1199 at the Ingham County Court house, Mason Michigan, listed "Wilhelm" and "Mina" as being married by August Gerlack, clergyman. Witnesses were WIlliam J. Lott and Sarah Lott. William's occupation at that time was "farmer."

There is no record in Circuit Court, Ingham County, Michigan, indicating that Wilhelm or Minnie were Naturalized - at least in Michigan.

Could not find an obituary for Wilhelm Zeitz.

Children of Wilhelm Zeitz and Wilhelmine Knauss are:

Children of Christ Zeitz and Minnie Stemwell are:

5. ROSA⁴ ZEITZ (WILHELM CARL THEODORE³, JOHANN CHRISTOF MARTIN², JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹) was born May 14, 1887 in Holt, Ingham County, MI, and died January 05, 1970 in Buried in Markham Cemetery. She married ERNEST HART.

Children of Rosa Zeitz and Ernest Hart are:

Children of Emma Zeitz and Ernest Bartlett are:

Notes
Carl and his family resided in Onondaga, Michigan. At one point prior to Frank's death, Carl and Florence had all three of their sons in the Armed Services. Staff Sergeant Frank Zeitz was stationed in Georgia. Private William Zeitz was stationed at Camp Polk, Louisianna, and Private First Class Daniel Zeitz was in Massachusetts.

Carl's obituary notice read:

"Mr. Zeitz age 84, died Monday, June 24, 1974, at the Eaton Medical Care Facility, Charlotte. He was a lifetime area resident and a retired New York Central Railroad employee. Surviving is one son, Daniel of MA, 6 daughters; Mrs. Louise Betts, Mrs. Betty Mock, Mrs. Maudie McManus all of Eaton Rapids, Mrs. Minnie Graham of Texas, Mrs. Bessie Rey of DeWitt, Mrs. Barbara Leightner of Springport; two brothers, Frank of Stockbridge and William of Eaton Rapids; one sister, Mrs. Ida Cople of Eaton Rapids; 20 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be Thursday 1:30pm at the Skinner Chapel. Burial in Bunker Cemetery, Eaton Rapids.

Children of Henry Zeitz and Florence Weldon are:

Notes
Harry and Minnie lived in Wilson, NY, near Niagara Falls. When Frank and Genevieve were first married they spent some time with Minnie and Harry in New York. At that time Harry worked on a dairy farm where the cows had to be milked three times a day.

Children of Harrison Zeitz and Wilhelmine Thiemke are:

Notes
Frank's natural father died when Frank was still a young boy. His mother remarried and at age 14 Frank left home because he tired of the mistreatment by his step-father. Frank then went to live with Jay Ferris (father of Linwood Ferris) and was raised thenceforth as Jay's son.

At the time of his marriage to Genevieve he gave his occupsation as farmer and his place of residence as Mason. Genevieve and Frank were married by John Claflin, Minister of Gospel of Eaton Rapids. Witnesses were Floyd Ferris and Myrle Gruesbeck.

Frank served in the M. Company Demobilization Detachment, U.S. Army from September 6, 1918 until discharged December 21, 1918. He lived at 1142 Dakin Street, Lansing Michigan with Genevieve and worked as a roofer for several firms, finally retiring from the Lansing Roofing Company, owned by Ralph Maier.

On March 2, 1969 Frank and Genevieve celebrated their 50th Anniversary with family and friends at their home on Dakin Street. Shortly thereafter, they moved from the house to a mobile home situated near the farm of ther son, James, in Stockbridge, Ingham County, Michigan.

Frank suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years before his death.

Children of Frank Zeitz and Genevieve Gruesbeck are:

Notes
Ida attended the Zeitz family reunion in 1981. She resided at 520 West Street, Eaton Rapids, MI at that time.

Children of Ida Zeitz and Cecil Cole are:

Child of Frank Zeitz and Bertha Miller is:

12. ETHEL MARION⁵ HART (ROSA⁴ ZEITZ, WILHELM CARL THEODORE³, JOHANN CHRISTOF MARTIN², JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹) was born February 12, 1919 in Lansing, Ingham County, MI. She married HAROLD RAYMOND MEYERS June 24, 1939, son of Clarence Meyers and Mary Smith.

Children of Ethel Hart and Harold Meyers are:

Children of William Hart and Beatrice Overla are:

Child of Louise Zeitz and James Betts is:

Notes
Daniel and his family resided in Nahant, Massachusetts. He was a PFC in WWII and stationed in Massachusetts for a while.

Children of Carl Zeitz and Betty Mitchell are:

Children of Betty Zeitz and George Mock are:

Children of Maude Zeitz and Alden McManus are:

Children of Minnie Zeitz and William Graham are:

Children of Barbara Zeitz and Lynn Leightner are:

Notes
Chester and Charlotte resided in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1981. Much of the information on the Zeitz family was a direct contribution from Charlotte and the work she did as part of the Morman Church.

Children of Chester Zeitz and Charlotte Vernon are:

Children of Francis Zeitz and Leon Cramer are:

Notes
James attended Lansing Public Schools, graduating from Eastern Hight School in January 1943. He had prepared himself for a future of farming. His part-time jobs included driving a beer truck and working on various neighboring dairy farms. At the time he married Edith, he was working for Waldo May, who lived approximately 8 miles from Charlotte, Michigan. Soon after the couple were married, James moved his wife to the farm of Curtis Smith, just east of Eaton Rapids, where the faily lived until 1953 when they purchased a farm of their own in Stockbridge, Ingham County, Michigan.

In addition to operating his newly acquired 192 acres, James worked a 40 hour week as a roofer in lansing with his father at various roofing firms until his son married and the two began a larger, full time farm operation.

Jim and Edith were married at the Robbins Church by the Rev. Lawson. Edith's sister, Elizabeth Klink was maid of honor. Leo Baumer stood up with Jim as best man.

Children of James Zeitz and Edith Klink are:

Children of George Cole and Dorothy Young are:

Children of Mary Cole and Robert Hawkins are:

25. CONNIE SUE⁶ MEYERS (ETHEL MARION⁵ HART, ROSA⁴ ZEITZ, WILHELM CARL THEODORE³, JOHANN CHRISTOF MARTIN², JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹) was born April 10, 1945 in Lansing, Ingham County, MI. She married CLYDE ELDON OAKLEY June 10, 1961 in Holt, Ingham County, MI, son of Glenn Oakley and Myrtle Knapp.

Children of Connie Meyers and Clyde Oakley are:

Notes

Kenneth and Dean resided at 6220 Clinton Trail, Eaton Rapids, Michigan in 1981.

Children of Kenneth Betts and Dean Camplin are:

Child of Patricia Mock and John Rosado is:

Child of Bonnie Mock and LeRoy Beogle is:

Children of Marjorie McManus and Martin Ambs are:

Children of Jerry McManus and Peggy Reitsma are:

Children of Harry Zeitz and Francis Tremblay are:

Children of Deborah Zeitz and Milford Bonnett are:

Children of Nancy Zeitz and John Gutierrez are:

Children of Henry Zeitz and Kaye Randolph are:

Children of Peggy Zeitz and Gregory McCann are:

Notes
While plans were being finalized for the 1981 Zeitz family reunion, George wrote the following to be shared with those who were able to attend the reunion:

"Hello from the sunny Cribbean. My ship is presently enroute to the island of Aruba. It is just off the northern coast of Venezuela. We will also visit the islands of Martinique and Tortola. The ship is due to arrive in homeport of Norfolk 12 June 1981.

It has been a very long time since I have seen you our the family. I hope everyone is doing well.

Cora's parents are celebrating their 35th anniversary on 5 July. I will start my leave on 3 July. I could probably change my leave dates, however, Cora works and her dates are set. I really would like to attend, as it is the only way for me to visit everyone in a short time.

To bring you up to date, I have been in the Navy for 13.5 years. I married Cora a year later. We have 2 children; Angela 10 years and Gregory 6 years. I spent nearly 6 years in California, 3 years in Alpena, MI and 4 years here in Norfolk. The ship is going to Philadelphia, PA in July for a one year overhaul. I will be going to shore duty shortly after the overhaul. I will be eligible to retire in March 1988.

I won't bore you with anymore. I can only think of one item that might interest you. When I first met Cora, she lived in a small tenant farm house on Onondaga Road outside Eaton Rapids. I am told that your folks once lived there. Ironic, isn't it?"

Children of George Jr. and Cora are:

37. CONNIE LOU⁷ BETTS (KENNETH⁶, LOUISE⁵ ZEITZ, HENRY FREDERICK "CARL"⁴, WILHELM CARL THEODORE³, JOHANN CHRISTOF MARTIN², JOHANN FREIDRIC THEADOR¹) was born August 24, 1954. She married DOUGLAS GOODFELLOW July 30, 1971.

Children of Connie Betts and Douglas Goodfellow are:

Child of James Betts and Alice Gutowski is:

Children of Carla Betts and Ronald Newcomb are:

Child of Wendy Betts is: