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Many thanks to Hochertz descendent Pat for identifying people in the photos and those on the page for Kitty's children. Thank you also to Donald for Hochertz oral history

To jump straight to the photographs, click here: pics.

For oral history, click here: oral history

For the census and immigration and other evidence, click here: paper trail

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

Tony & Kitty's wedding photo	wedding photo alternate pose	wedding photo group shot	interment card for Tony's mother, I think, St. Mary's cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL	Tony & Kitty in front of their son Eddie (on left) and nephew Harry Wachdorf 2-18-1943
from left: unknown, Tony, his son Eddie, his nephews Bunky and Harry Wachdorf 2-18-1943	Kitty & Tony flanking his his sisters, Sr. Mary Achatia & Sr. Mary Radegundis, w Magdalen, Marie, Charlotte behind them, Harry back row far right	Tony & Kitty, probably at their 50th	Charlotte, Magdalen and Tony at Kitty's funeral 1965	Kitty & Tony's gravestone, St. Mary's, Evergreen Park, IL

In the photo where Tony and Kitty flank his sisters, the nuns, the occasion is Sister Mary Achatia's Diamond Jubilee--Poor Hand Maids of Jesus Christ.

The interment card above for Johanna Hochertz has her in Lot N-29, block 27, section C. The graves for Tony and Kitty (and for the child Coletta who died at 3) are also Lot N-29, block 27, section C. One informational glitch: the cemetery gives Tony's full name as Hochertz, Henry Anthony J.

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."

Hochertz family information

 Anthony John "Tony" Hochertz, son of Johanna Hochertz, was born 2-10-1880 in Germany. On June 18, 1881 the ship the Nurnberg arrived in NY from Bremen, carrying passengers from Oldenburg including Anton Hochertz, 28, a blacksmith; Hanne Hochertz, 29, his wife; Maria Hochertz, age either 4 or 9 (not quite legible); Johann Hochertz, 6; Anton Hochertz, whose age looks like it's listed as 6, but if this is the right Hochertz family, his age would've been 16 months. Hanne could be Johanna, and Anton could be Tony, but I have no solid evidence that this is the right Hochertz family.

In 1890 Tony Hochertz was naturalized by the Supreme Court, according to information he gave in the census.

In the 1900 census Johanna Hochertz, his mother, is in Chicago, in West Town, Ward 19. She reports herself a widow, age 47, born in Germany, immigrated 1885, occupation: scrubber woman. She has no kin living with her. I have not been able to find Tony in the 1900 census.

1910 census, Chicago: Johanna Hochertz, 56, widow, with no occupation, is living at 5800 Princeton, around the corner from 58th St. and St. Martin's. Living with her is her son, "Antone," whose immigration year is listed as 1881. Occupation: driver, furniture. They have a boarder, Barney Charman. In the same census, on Laflin St. with a long list of nuns, is a Mary Hochertz, 34, born Germany, occupation: Catholic sister, teacher-Catholic school. In the 1920 census on Laflin St. she is Sister M. Achatia Hochertz, immigrated 1880.

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.