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Note: When Franz Joseph Lutz came to America about 1830 he had with him an impressive parchment document written in German or Latin which designated his grandfather Daniel Lindemer to some official position. The document was given to Franz Joseph Lutz's oldest son John and was seen by family members as framed and hanging in the dining room of John and Rose Lutz's farmhouse. Unfortunately, the document was lost over a hundred years ago and no accurate description has remained. The meaning of this document was a family mystery every since. Franz Joseph Lutz's oldest grandson Joseph Henry Lutz (b. 1865) had seen the document and said it concerned the position of Hunter or Forester and the designated person was a Lindemer. To verify and explain this document a German researcher, Dr. Bernd G�lzer was employed in 1990 to identify the document. Dr. G�lzer found a remarkable court record dated 17 June 1803 in which a Daniel Lindemer, 60 years old, and the retired Hunter and Forester for Kindsbach Forest testified about the forestry practice in the Kindsbach area. Daniel Lindemer said he was born in Bann, a village close to Kindsbach. His daughter was Maria Anne Lindemer the wife of Franz Balthasar Lutz and the mother of Franz Joseph Lutz. Dr. G�lzer found a similar official document as Hunter - Forester in the Hunters Museum in Munich, Bavaria. The description of this document is consistent with the document of the Lutz family story. It seems that the Hunter-Forester appointments in Germany were kept within families. Daniel Lindemer had no living sons. Franz Joseph Lutz was his oldest grandson so he was given the document which he further gave to his oldest son John Lutz. This accounts for the document being in the John Lutz farmhouse in Bethel Township. In Daniel Lindemer's testimony he talks of the privileges in the old times which were changed by the French army of occupation during Napoleon's rule. These changes were disadvantageous for the Hunter-Foresters and likely this loss of the family perks entered into the decision of Franz Joseph and his brothers to go to America. Also of interest, Daniel Lindemer said he was appointed a Hunter-Forester of the Kindsbach Forest and rose to become the official with "governmental authority", ie the Forester in charge of the Kindsbach Forest and additionally he said he was the senior judge for disputes in the surrounding forests. The court record notes that Daniel Lindemer signed his name himself, and so was literate. Of interest too, Daniel Lindemer was appointed by Count Von Sickingen. This noble family apparently is no longer prominent but was in the past. Ritter Franz Von Sickingen was the leader of the Knights Revolt in 1522-1523 when they attempted to reform the feudal system. The revolt was crushed and Franz Von Sickingen was killed in his castle in Landstuhl in May 1523. He was buried in St. Andreas Church yard in Landstuhl. (Source: Paul A. Lutz) Franz Joseph Lutz was not big in size but had lots of spirit. One amusing family story tells of an incident when he got in a fight in the martket place with a man that he believed had cheated him. On going to court Franz Joseph was fined five dollars. When he heard this he put down ten dollars and said "Here, let me hit him again!" (Source: Paul A. Lutz) From the Chronicle written by Joseph A. Lutz - "...... settling in the United States, making his home in Chartiers Valley, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He became a gardener, his first land near McKees Rocks, his industry and frugal habits enabling him to save a large share of the generous profits he reaped. After his marriage he moved to a farm he had bought in Scott township, Allegheny county, likewise holding title to considerable other property in the county, and was universally known as a successful and prosperous gardner. Both he and his wife Margaret (Hartz) Lutz, a native of Germany, were members of the Roman Catholic Church. Children of Joseph and Margaret (Hartz) Lutz: 1. Mary, deceased, was thrice married, her second husband Henry Rockenhauser, her third John Shoen; at the time of her death she lived in Bethel township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. 2. John, a farmer of Bethel township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, died in 1899, the victim of a paralytic stroke. 3. Frances, married Charles Meisey, a farmer and oil operator, lives near Noblestown, Pennsylvania. 4. Margaret, married August Haller, died in 1903, for many years proprietor of the Pittsburgh Salt Works, who died after his retirement from business. 5. Josephine, married Ferdinand Dove, a farmer of Baldwin township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and has a large family. 6. Joseph A., of whom further. 7. Martha, married William Lindemeyer, and lives with him on a farm inherited from her father. 8. Matilda, married John Stolze, deceased; was a farmer; lives near Library, Pennsylvania. 9. Daniel, died aged about sixteen years." Not all of the above is accurate, as has been proven by other documentation. Once in America Franz Joseph apparently identified himself as Joseph F. Lutz, since all of the many records do so. He and his wife were in Pittsburgh in 1836, in Illinois in February 1838 when their first child, Mary Ann, was born, and back in the Borough of Lawrenceville (near McKees Rocks), Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where they are located in the 1840 census. Franz Joseph referred to his wife Margaret Hartz as "the French woman" or "the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." (Source: Lutz family member) On September 7, 1847 Joseph F. Lutz bought a 66 acre farm in Upper St. Clair Township from Albert Tibbit (Source: Deed book Vol. 77 page 511). This part of Upper St. Clair Township later became Scott Township. On June 20, 1867 he bought an additional 102 acre farm in Snowden Township from D. C. Hultz and wife (Source: Deed book Vol. 217, page 527). This part of Snowden Township later became Bethel Township. From Pittsburgh Gazette under deaths January 22, 1885 - LUTZ - On Tuesday, January 20, at 8 a.m., at his residence, Scott Township, JOSEPH LUTZ, age 73 years and 10 days. Funeral today at 10 a.m. Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend. Will obtained from the Office of Registrar of Wills, County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: (Source: Will book Vol. 28 pg. 349) WILL OF FRANZ JOSEPH LUTZ ********************************** Know all men by these presents that I, Joseph Lutz of Scott Township Allegheny County Pennsylvania, do hereby make publish and declare this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void any and all wills by me at any time heretofore made. First = I direct that my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as it conveniently can be done. Second = I direct that my body be decently buried in St. Michael�s Catholic Cemetery according to the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church. Third = I devise and bequeath to my wife Margaretta Lutz, for and during her natural life, all my estate, real, personal and mixed of whatsoever kind and wherever situated, except the coal underlying my real estate. Fourth = At and after the death of my wife aforesaid, I devise and bequeath to Joseph Lutz my son, to Philomena wife of Augustin (sic) Haller, to Josaphine (sic), wife of Ferd. Daub, my daughters and to my adopted son Frank Lutz all that certain farm situated in Scott Township, Allegheny County Pa., containing sixty six acres and described in deed recorded deed book Vol. 77 page 511 to be divided equally between them save and excepting the coal underlying the same, to have and to hold the same to the said Joseph Lutz, Philomena Haller and Josaphine (sic) Daub and their heirs and assigns forever and to the said Frank Lutz for and during his natural life, with remainder to his children if any, living at his death but if there be no such children living then the remainder to my own issue their heirs and assigns forever. Fifth = At and after the death of my wife aforesaid I devise and bequeath, to my son John Lutz and my daughters, Mary wife of Henry Rayenhauser, Franciska wife of Charles Mise (sic), Martha wife of Lindermann and Matilda wife of John Stoltz, all that farm situated in Snowden Township containing one hundred and two acres and described in deed recorded in deed book Volume 217 page 527, saving and excepting the coal underlying the same. Said Mary to get twenty one acres including the house, barn that she now occupies and John to get twenty one acres including the house, barn that he now occupies and said Martha, Matilda and Franciska to get each twenty acres to have and to hold the same. To the said John, Mary and Franciska and their heirs and assigns forever and to said Martha and Matilda for their and each of their sole and separate use, and their heirs and assigns forever. Sixth = I direct my executors hereinafter named to sell all the coal underlying the above tracts of land and authorize them to sell at either public or private sale and execute and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers deeds for the same and direct that the proceeds thereof, equally among all my children including my adopted son Frank Lutz to be divided. Seventh = I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my son Joseph Lutz and my son-in-law Augustin (sic) Haller executors of this my will, and I hereby authorize and direct said Augustin (sic) Haller, who understands my wishes therein, to make partition of the surface of the farms above devised, to and among the parties entitled thereto under this will by metes and bounds, so that each may hold the same in severally. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th day of January 1884. Signed sealed published and declared as and for his last will and testament by the above named testator in presence of us, who at his request and in his presence and in presence of each other have hereunto signed our names as witnesses to the due execution of said will the day and year last aforesaid. Sworn Feb. 24th 1885 CODICIL ********* I Joseph Lutz do hereby make and declare the following to be a Codicil to my last will and testament dated January 19th AD 1884. The farm devised in 4th item of said will to my son Joseph Lutz, my daughter Philamena (sic), wife of Augustus (sic) Haller, Josephine, wife of Frederick Daub, and Frank Lutz my adopted son. I direct to be divided after the death of my wife Margaretta Lutz as follows viz: Sixteen and one half acres thereof laying and adjoining on township road and lands of M. J. Goldthorp being the near part of said farm, I devise to my son Joseph Lutz, his heirs and assigns forever. Sixteen and one half acres thereof immediately adjoining and north of the above premises given to my son Joseph, and fronting on township road and extending back to lands of said M. J. Goldthorp, I devise to my daughter Josephine, wife of Frederick Daub her heirs and assigns forever. Sixteen and one half acres thereof fronting on the Washington Pike adjoining lands of M. J. Goldthorp and the part above devised to my daughter Josephine, wife of Frederick Daub and including the house and barn and outbuildings where I now live, to my adopted son Frank Lutz for and during his natural life, with remainder to his children if any living at his death, but if there be no such children living: then to my own issue, their heirs and assigns forever. The balance of said farm viz: Sixteen and one half acres fronting on Washington Pike and adjoining lands of John Kroell and Jos. Swallow and land hereinbefore devised to Josephine wife of Frederick Daub, and my adopted son Frank Lutz: I give and devise to my daughter Philamena: wife of Augustus Haller, her heirs and assigns forever: and I hereby ratify & confirm my said will in all other respects: - Witness my hand and seal this 28th day of August AD 1884. Signed Sealed published and declared by Joseph Lutz as and for a Codicil to his last will and testament in our presence and we at his request subscribe our names as witnesses in his presence and in presence of each other. Sworn and admitted to Probate Feb. 24 - 1885 An Article of Agreement was made November 6, 1890, recorded January 6, 1891, between Margaret Lutz and the other heirs whereby she agreed that the partition of the two farms should then be made, agreed to accept in lieu of all her rights under the will the sum of $230.00 per annum for and during her natural life and quit-claimed her rights under the will. The heirs agreed to pay $230.00 per annum in semiannual payments as proportionately set forth (Source: Will book Vol. 724 pp 216-219). On June 14, 1893, recorded June 21, 1893, the heirs, Joseph A. Lutz, Philomena Haller, Josephine Daube and Frank Lutz, sold the coal rights of the Scott Township farm to Wm. A. Black for $16,5981.25 (Source: Will book Vol. 830 pp 405-408). On January 1, 1894, recorded December 19, 1894, Joseph A. Lutz and his wife Sarah E. Lutz, joined by Margaret Lutz to release her dower, sold their 16 1/2 acres of the Scott Township farm to Morris Schwerer for $1500.00, excepting the coal rights (Source: Will book Vol. 875 p. 187).
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