Henry Getz

• Name: Henry Getz
• Born: December 19, 1935 Bonfeld, Wurtemberg, Germany
• Died: September 13, 1914 Monte Vista, Colorado
• Related through: Dan's grandmother Melva Castleton

Our first ancestor to come to America from the Getz family was our great grandfather, Henry (Heinrich) Getz. He was born in Bonfeld, Wurtemberg, Germany, son of Peter and Katherine Kres Getz.

In Germany, his occupation was dying materials. On November 7, 1854, he came into Peoria, Illinois on the "Rocket," a wood burning locomotive which pulled the first passenger train into Peoria, from Rock Island, Illinois. He was 19 years old and traveled to America with the George Wenger family. They were of the Apostolic Christian religion; he married their daughter, Hanna, February 9, 1858.

After coming to America, he became a farmer. When he was first married, he and his wife lived near Roanoke, Illinois for a short time, and from there they moved south of Morton, Illinois, to the farm now owned by Frank Hoffman (this book was compiled in the 1940's by Hanna M. Koch, of Tremont, Ill., she probably knew all the farms in the area) Next they lived south of Tremont, Illinois on the Benjamin Getz place. About 1879 they moved to Greenwood County, Kansas, and lived there five years, and then they came back to Tremont again and lived on the farm now owned by J. C. Schweigert. In the year 1906 he and his wife moved to Monte Vista, Colorado, and spent their remaining years there with their son, Peter.

Henry died September 13, 1914. He was buried back in Tremont, Illinois at the Mount Hope Cemetery. He was known to be an easy going, quiet, gentle, loving man.

Thanks to Grandma Melva for writing this history and sharing it with us.