Time
for the Althaus Family
The
matriarch of the Fritz Wanzenried branch of the family tree was Lina Althuas
(1893-1981).
If there was a picture in an encyclopedia next to the expression “They broke the mold after she was born,” Lina’s picture would be it.
She and Fritz were married for fifty years before he died in 1964. She cared for her older daughter, Mathilde, an epileptic prone to grand mal seizures, until well into her 70’s when she was physically unable to continue.
Throughout her life, she made an indelible mark on everyone she touched.
If there was a picture in an encyclopedia next to the expression “They broke the mold after she was born,” Lina’s picture would be it.
She and Fritz were married for fifty years before he died in 1964. She cared for her older daughter, Mathilde, an epileptic prone to grand mal seizures, until well into her 70’s when she was physically unable to continue.
Throughout her life, she made an indelible mark on everyone she touched.
___
Lina was born in Basel, Biersfelden, Switzerland on October 6, 1893 to Gottfried Luduig
(1850-1937) and Maria Rosina (nee Schmutz) Althaus (1863-1919).
Her father was married twice. He and his first wife, Marie Riedesel (1848- ), had ten children:
Her father was married twice. He and his first wife, Marie Riedesel (1848- ), had ten children:
1.
Maria
(1873- ). Married Frank Leutwyler (1871- )
2.
Georg
(1875-1875)
3.
Louise
(1876- )
4.
Georg
Christian (1878-1879)
5.
Wilhemine
(1880-1880)
6.
Georg
Luduig (1881- ) married Wilhemine bald (1884- )
7.
Carl
(1884-1906)
8.
George
Heinrich (1887- )
9.
Christian
(1888- )
10.
Gottfried
(1890-1977). Did not marry.
There
are no records regarding Marie’s death, but it is probable that, given the
number of children she birthed in such a short period of time (10 in 17 years)
and the number of her children who died at such a young age, she must have died
shortly after giving birth to her final child in 1890.
Lina’s father remarried and with his second wife, Maria, had three more children:
Lina’s father remarried and with his second wife, Maria, had three more children:
1.
Lina
(1893-1881)
2.
Hans
(1903-1998). Married Ella Kristocrat (1908-2008).
3.
Rosalie
(1905-1992). Married Hans Burkard (1898-1980) and had two children: Frank
(1928- ) and Martha (1933- ).
Gottfried’s Nickname
|
The
only person who called Gottfried by his given name was his sister, Lina.
The
name we grew up knowing him by was “Gotty,” although it was never reduced to
writing. It’s spelling, therefore, is uncertain. Let’s stick with Gotty
Generally,
the only time his first name was used at all was in arguments over money. No,
not disagreements over how much one owed the other. It was always over how
much the other person did not owe.
The
family transformed turning down money from one another into an art form.
|
At
least four of Gottfried Althaus’ children emigrated to the US: Gottfried and his half-brother Hans in 1920, Lina in 1914, and
Rosalia in 1927. There were very strong bonds between the first three. For a
variety of reasons, Rosalia, who lived in Pasadena, was largely an outcast.
When Fritz and Lina Wanzenried returned to Los Angeles after marrying in 1914, the lived in and around El Monte for several years. Fred and Mathilde were both born in Los Angles; their younger sister, Rosemary, was not.
At the time the US Census was taken in 1920, the same year Gotty and Hans arrived in the US, they had moved to Yucaipa, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Fritz’s occupation was listed in that Census as fruit farm manager.
When Fritz and Lina Wanzenried returned to Los Angeles after marrying in 1914, the lived in and around El Monte for several years. Fred and Mathilde were both born in Los Angles; their younger sister, Rosemary, was not.
At the time the US Census was taken in 1920, the same year Gotty and Hans arrived in the US, they had moved to Yucaipa, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Fritz’s occupation was listed in that Census as fruit farm manager.
Gotty and Hans settled in Yucaipa after arriving, and most probably lived with the Wanzenrieds.
The two would live together for quite some time. Both the 1930 and 1940 US Census
shows them living in Yucaipa. By 1930, Fritz had moved his family to
Riverside where he was a dairy farmer.
The Santa Ana River, which runs through Riverside, was prone to overflow its banks flooded. A severe flood in March 1938 submerged the area, including Fritz and Lina’s dairy farm located at 10008 Magnolia Avenue. They lost everything.
Prior to the damaging flood, the family had planned to relocate. There had been flooding before. In the 1940 US Census, the Wanzenried family resides in the Beaumont enumeration district just east of Calimesa, California living in a new home their son, our Father, built for them. Not surprisingly, the home was built on a hill to safeguard against the possibility of flooding in the future.
The white-stucco, red-tile roof home is still standing.
The Santa Ana River, which runs through Riverside, was prone to overflow its banks flooded. A severe flood in March 1938 submerged the area, including Fritz and Lina’s dairy farm located at 10008 Magnolia Avenue. They lost everything.
Prior to the damaging flood, the family had planned to relocate. There had been flooding before. In the 1940 US Census, the Wanzenried family resides in the Beaumont enumeration district just east of Calimesa, California living in a new home their son, our Father, built for them. Not surprisingly, the home was built on a hill to safeguard against the possibility of flooding in the future.
The white-stucco, red-tile roof home is still standing.
(Look
of a red dot in the middle of an open area to the east (right) of Calimesa
Boulevard. You may have to magnify the screen.)
In
1953, Hans married Ella Kristocrat (1908-2008).
Next: Memories of US city boy living like a European
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