Mary Ann Kreuz

Born: 24 June 1875
Bliesen, Rhine Province, Germany

Died: 28 September 1945
Spencer Township, Lucas County, Ohio
Mary Kreuz

Mary was the third of nine children of Peter Gillen and Mary Mossing.

At the age of nine months, she emigrated with her parents and two older siblings on the steamship Oder. It left the port of Bremen on 25 March 1876, and stopped at Southampton on 28 March. There were 50 cabin and 278 steerage passengers on the voyage across the Atlantic. There were strong westerly winds during the entire passage. The ship arrived at New York City on 8 April 1876.

The family settled in Assumption, Ohio.

Mary married Peter Kreuz, her second cousin, once removed, on 4 November 1893 at St. Mary's in Assumption. The witnesses were Jacob Feidt (a neighbor and friend) and Catherine Gillen.

Peter and Mary first lived on Bancroft Road between County Line Road and State Route 295.

Between 1894 and 1918, Peter and Mary had thirteen children:

  1. Mary Anne (27 Sep 1894 - 7 Jul 1966)
    She married Clarence Edward Fager (1884-1967)
  2. Peter Aloysius (13 Jun 1896 - 9 Apr 1971)
    He married Hazel M. Smith (1898-1990)
    Peter worked as a farmer.
  3. Theresa Catherine (5 Mar 1898 - 25 Mar 1917)
    She died at age 19 of diabetes mellitus.
  4. John Joseph Sr. (23 Aug 1899 - 1 Jul 1973)
    He married Leona Theresa Langenderfer (1903-1966)
    John worked as a farmer, and as a flower and vegetable greenhouse operator.
  5. Elizabeth Mary (Betty) (19 Dec 1900 - 5 Oct 1978)
    She married Ernest F. (Ernie) Heinzelmann (1899-1974)
  6. Leo Anthony (Lee) Sr. (13 Jun 1902 - 14 Apr 1976)
    He married Virginia M. Graber (1912-1997)
    Lee worked as a farmer.
  7. Lawrence Frank (Noe) (28 Dec 1903 - 1 Dec 1972)
    He married Leona Veronica Meiring (1909-1998)
  8. Dorothy Anna (6 Feb 1906 - 14 Jun 1987)
    She married Glenvern Ara (Glen) Roehrig (1901-1979)
  9. Frances Rose (Fanny) (8 Feb 1908 - 13 Mar 1976)
    She married Justin Leo Pinkelman (1909-1982)
  10. Clara Matilda (10 Aug 1910 - 1 Apr 1944)
    She married Ralph E. (Hap) Sanderson (1909-1984)
  11. Ursula Helena (24 Jul 1912 - 17 Mar 1998)
    She married Cletus L. (Clete) Pflum (1912-1996)
  12. Bernetta Cecelia (Dick) (23 Jul 1914 - 4 May 1996)
    She married Elmo Hiladoris Snyder (1916-1992)
    Dick worked as a sales clerk at the Lion Store in Toledo.
  13. Bernard Cletus (28 Jun 1918 - 25 Jun 1979)
    He married Ihla Elizabeth Jacob (1918-1975)
    Bernard worked as a carpenter and a farmer.

On 26 July 1904, Peter bought a farm located on the north side of Frankfort Road between Lathrop and State Route 295, and this became the family's home.

Mary's husband died when she was 44, and according to her obituary, she had to struggle to raise her large family.

She died at age 70 from a cerebral hemorrhage at her home on Frankfort Road, and was buried on 1 October 1945 in the Immaculate Conception Church cemetery in Raabs. She was survived by eleven children, 39 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.