THE SCHWERTFEGER / SCHWERT FAMILY:

Family and Descendants of
Maria Katherine (née Schwertfeger) Patzke
= Mary Katherine (née Schwert) Patz
(1867 - 1940)

Spouse: Johann Martin Patzke
= John Martin Patz
(1863 - 1933)


Johann Martin and Maria (née Schwertfeger) Patzke / Patz, wedding photos, January 7, 1890.
(Click to enlarge, 16K)


Maria Schwertfeger was born on October 5, 1867 in Groß-Golmkau, West Prussia. The village is today Gołębiewo, Poland. The baptismal ledger of the Catholic church at nearby Gardschau shows that she was baptized as "Maria Francisca" on October 6, 1867, with August Dębski and Henriette Dębska being witnesses.

On March 30, 1887, Maria departed the port of Hamburg, Germany, on the passenger ship Polynesia for New York City. The passenger list (obtained from LDS Microfilm #473087) shows that Maria was accompanied by her parents, Carl and Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger. Also on board were three of Mary's siblings: Friedrich Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and Rosalia Schwertfeger. This record is also affirmed in "Germans in America." The six joined the rest of Mary's siblings already residing in Buffalo, New York. The family's original surname was shortened to "Schwert" upon their emigration to the United States, and "Maria" became "Mary."

On January 7, 1890, Mary married Johann Martin Patzke at St. Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, in Buffalo. Johann was born on November 11, 1863 in Rottmannsdorf, West Prussia --- near Praust and just south of Danzig. He was a son of Johann and Anna Josephine (née Ossowska) Patzke. The baptismal ledger of Sankt Albrecht (just north of Praust) indicates the Johann was baptized on November 22, 1863.

On April 11, 1888, Johann (along with his parents) boarded the steamship Taormina in Hamburg. The ship arrived in New York City on April 28th. From there, the family likely traveled directly to Buffalo where Johann’s older sister (Mathilde Valentine) and her husband Joseph Buchna had been established since the early 1880s. After his arrival in Buffalo, Johann anglicized his name to "John Martin Patz." According to the Buffalo City Directory, in 1890 John resided at 250 High Street (vacant lot in this photo) -- apparently next door to August and Frances (née Schwertfeger/Schwert) Schlia/Schlee, who resided at 248 High Street (white building of the same photo).

The1900 Census also indicates that, to that date, three of the seven children of Mary and John were deceased. This confirms other written records within the family, with the death of a son named "John," and the deaths (for which we have records) of August Jacob Patz (1891) and Anna Susan Patz (1896).

The 1920 U.S. Census gives the following information on the family:

  • Patz, John age 56; here 1887; he and parents b. Prussia, Germany.
  • Patz, Mary 52 ; here 1887; she and parents b. Prussia, Germany.
  • Patz, Mary 25; b. New York; parents b. Prussia, Germany.
  • Patz, Catherine 22; b. New York; parents b. Prussia, Germany.
  • Patz, Bernard 15; b. New York; parents b. Prussia, Germany.
  • Patz, John 21; b. New York; parents b. Prussia, Germany.
  • Patz, Clara 22; daughter - in - law.

    John Martin Patzke / Patz (1938)
    (Click to enlarge, 17K)
    They lived initially at 152 Orange Street in Buffalo, NY. In 1905, the family resided at 228 Dodge Street in Buffalo; this was also the address given on the 1906 death certificate for Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Mary's mother. In later years, the Patz family resided at 267 Colorado Street in Buffalo. Making backyard homemade beer was part of the Patz pastime. John was a marble mason and, in later years, a watchman in a coal yard. At the coal yard, a large piece of coal dropped onto his left foot. John never took care of it. He died on February 25, 1933, at the age of 69 of gangrene in his left leg.

    Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patzke / Patz. 228 Esser Avenue, Buffalo.
    Date unknown.
    (Click to enlarge, 24K)

    Mary then lived with Katherine (her daughter) and George Erbele at 228 Esser Avenue. Katherine and George would take her out for visits with the rest of the family . . but when Mary was ready to leave, she would quietly put on her coat (always black) and go sit in the back seat of the car with the door left open.

    Mary died on July 9, 1940, at the age of 72 of a coronary embolism and arterio sclerosis. Both Mary and John are interred in Lot 25, Section 10, (N42°55.548’, W078°47.297’), United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.

    Text written by Bernard William Patz, grandson of Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz.

    • Mary (née Schwertfeger) and John Martin Patzke / Patz. Enjoying some "backyard" beer, 267 Colorado Street, Buffalo, NY (1917-1920).
    (Click on photos for enlargement, 56K)

    Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz at 267 Colorado Street, Buffalo, NY.
    (Click on photos for enlargement)

    Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz, with a diversity of family members. Bottom, left-to-right: Robert Sahr, John Oscar Patz, Bernard William Patz, Mary Barbara Patz, and Richard James Patz. Top, left-to-right: Mary Rosalie ("Mayme") (née Patz) Sahr, Otto William Sahr, Kay (née Simpson) Lander (wife of William Anthony Lander), Oscar William Lander, William Anthony Lander (brother of Lorissa [née Lander] Patz, Mary Clara (née Schimley) Lander (she and Oscar are parents of William Anthony and Lorissa [née Lander] Patz), Bernard George Patz, and Mary Katherine (née Schwert) Patz. Photo taken at 421 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY, on June 7, 1936.
    (Click on photo for enlargement, 55K)
    Bernard William Patz (on the day of his first communion) with his grandparents, Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz and Mary Clara Lander. Photo taken at 421 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY, on June 7, 1936.
    (Click on photo for enlargement, 29K)

    Front, left-to-right: Mary Rosalie ("Mayme") (née Patz) Sahr, Otto William Sahr, Cleo Elizabeth (née Olskey) Rebescher (spouse of Frederick John Rebescher), and Mary Ann Eberle. Back, left-to-right: (Unknown person), (unknown person), Frederick John Rebescher, Ruth Haggerty (school friend of Barbara Lorissa [née Lander] Patz), Oscar William Lander (father of Barbara Lorissa [née Lander] Patz), Bernard George Patz (annoying his father-in-law by holding a glass of beer over his head), Mary Clara Lander (mother of Barbara Lorissa [née Lander] Patz), Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz, and Katherine Frances (née Patz) Eberle. Photo taken at 421 Grider Street. (Year?)
    (Click on photo for enlargement, 55K)

    Parents of Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patzke / Patz:
    Descendants of Mary (née Schwertfeger) and John Martin Patzke / Patz:

    General location of the graves of Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz and John Martin Patz, Lot 25, Section 10, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. A map to the gravesite is available here.


    (Photos by Bernard Patz, 2002. Click for enlargement, 104K)

    Graves of Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz and John Martin Patz, (N42°55.548’, W078°47.297’), Lot 25, Section 10, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.


    (Photos by Bernard Patz, 2002. Click for enlargement, 85K each)

    Documents and Other Artifacts:

    • Ship Passenger List: Passenger ship Polynesia, departed Hamburg, Germany, for New York City on March 30, 1887. Passenger list ("218") includes: Carl Schwerdtfeger, Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Maria Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and Rosalia Schwertfeger. A larger, denser version of this passenger list is available here. Document is from from LDS Microfilm #473087.

    • 1890 City Directory: Buffalo, NY, City Directory listing for John Patzke (= Patz), showing his address to be at 250 High Street.

    • Family History Notes: Notes by Lorissa (née Lander) Patz on the early Patz family history. Annotation of the notes is provided by her grandson, Bernard William Patz.

    • Family History Notes: Notes by Lorissa (née Lander) Patz on the Patz family history. These notes do not list the birth of August Jacob Patz, who was likely the first child of Mary and John Martin Patz.

    • Marriage Record: Saint Boniface R.C. Church (124 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY) record of the marriage of Mary Schwert and John Martin Patzki, January 7, 1890. Witnesses were August Schimerkofski and Rose Schwert.

    • Citizenship Papers: John Martin Patz, October 26, 1894. Witnessed by Frank Schwert and August Snei (Schlee?).

    • 1900 Census Records: John and Mary Patz, with children John, Mary, Katherine, and Frank, 152 Orange Street, 16th Census Ward, Buffalo, New York.

    • 1905 Election Enumeration Records: Records for 228 Dodge Street, Buffalo, NY. The Patz family resided here, apparently with Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Mary's mother. Veronica, not listed on this census, passed away in 1906 with the death certificate giving 228 Dodge Street as her address.

    • 1910 Census Records: John and Mary Patz and family, 826 Michigan Street, Buffalo, New York.

    • Obituary: John Martin Patz, February 25, 1933.

    • Death Certificate: John Martin Patz, died February 25, 1933.

    • Funeral Mass Card: John Martin Patz, funeral on February 28, 1933.

    • Interment Record: John Martin Patz, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY, February 28, 1933.

    • Obituary: Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz, July 9, 1940.

    • Death Certificate: Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz, issued July 11, 1940.

    • Funeral Mass Card: Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz, funeral on July 12, 1940.

    • Interment Record: Mary (née Schwertfeger) Patz, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY, July 12, 1940.

    Schwertfamily.net is maintained by Donald P. Schwert, great great grandson of Carl and Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger (Schwert). We seek your assistance in helping us to develop this family history. Correspondence can be mailed to: Donald P. Schwert, 300 Broadway N #204, Fargo, ND, 58102-4720 U.S.A.


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