52 Ancestors: #10 The FOURNELLE-FRANTZ Family (1871-2005)

Week 10 (March 5-11) – Stormy Weather. This is the time of year that the northern hemisphere starts to see severe storms. (As if the blizzards in New England this winter haven’t been bad enough!) What ancestor endured a particularly severe storm? It could be something like a tornado or blizzard or it could be a “storm” of bad things.

What storms did the FOURNELLE-FRANTZ family have to weather through? Living in a European country bordering on Germany during two world wars would definitely be conducive to stormy times. Holding fast with that theme, I’m flooding this post with photos from those times before giving the facts! Enjoy!

My great-grandfather Jean Joseph FOURNELLE, Grandpapa, in 1957 at the age of 86.

Grandpapa in 1945 at the age of 74.

Grandpapa, my great-grandfather with Bomi, my grandmother.

Grandmaman, my great-grandmother, with her granddaughter Ginette.

My great-grandmother Catherine FRANTZ, Grandmaman. A portrait made in 1938 after her death in 1934.

Group photo from 1920s that was used as a model for the portrait of Grandmaman.

In the 1920s son André married Marguerite HUESMANN. Don’t they look young?

Jean Joseph FOURNELLE, 4th from right, at the train station in Echternach.

The FOURNELLE-FRANTZ family ca. 1920 in front of the high school (lycée), formerly the abbey of Echternach. From left to right: Lucie, Joseph, Marcelle (Bomi), Catherine, André

André and Lucie ca. 1906

The FOURNELLE-FRANTZ family (ca. 1906) before my grandmother was born. The children André (left) and Lucie (right) with (from left to right) their father Joseph, mother Catherine and aunt Pauline FRANTZ.

Jean Joseph FOURNELLE ca. 1900

A Little Geography Lesson

Father’s place of birth: Boulaide[Public domain via Wikimedia Commons]

Place that the family lived: Echternach [Public domain via Wikimedia Commons]

Mother’s place of birth: Mamer [Public domain via Wikimedia Commons]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commune: 0range; Canton: red+orange; District: darker grey+red+orange:

My FOURNELLE-FRANTZ couple lived in Echternach from the time they married until their deaths. The husband was born in the commune of Boulaide[1] and the wife was born in the commune of Mamer[3]. Luxembourg is divided into three districts: Boulaide is in the District of Diekirch (toe to throatline of the shoe), Echternach is in the District of Grevenmacher (collar of the shoe), and Mamer is in the District of Luxembourg (heel of the shoe). To do research in Luxembourg you need to know that most towns are known by their French, German, and Luxembourgish names. At FamilySearch when you browse the Luxembourg, Civil Registration, 1662-1941 collection you will have to know the French name of the town BUT you will find that most records are in German and the town will have the German name listed on records. The FamilySearch Wiki is very helpful when you need help with the Luxembourgish commune that a town belongs to.

Birth Records of Joseph and Catherine

1871 Birth Record No. 6 [1]

Johann Joseph FOURNELLE was born on 20 February 1871 in Syr (Sir, Surré) in the commune of Bauschleiden (Bauschelt, Boulaide) in the canton of Wiltz, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He was born at 6 o’clock in the morning to André FOURNELLE (32) and his wife Lucie SCHLOESSER (30). His father’s occupation was Grentzaufseher or border guard.[1]

1871 Birth Record No. 6 (conformed copy) [2]

Bauschleiden, as seen on the map above, is in northwestern Luxembourg, on the border with Belgium. Much damage was done in that area during World War II. When I looked into getting a copy of my great-grandfather’s birth record I was told that all records were destroyed during the Battle of the Bulge. The records in the Luxembourg, Civil Registration, 1662-1941 collection at FamilySearch are the copies that are in the archives in Luxembourg City. On 20 July 1955, it was decided to make copies of the lost records for the town hall. On 10 January 1956, the birth record of my great-grandfather was typed up and returned to Bauschleiden. I was able to get a copy of it in 2010.[2]

1875 Birth Record No. 57 [3]

Catherine FRANTZ was born on 17 November 1872 in Mamer in the canton of Capellen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. She was born at 4 o’clock in the morning to Johann FRANTZ (34) and his wife Maria MAJERUS (21). Her father was identified as “der Jungere” to distinguish him from another person of the same name in the community, most likely his cousin Johann FRANTZ b. 1836 who was 6 years older. Catherine’s father was Leinenweber or linen weaver.[3]

The Marriage of Joseph and Catherine

On the 9th of July 1900 at 10 o’clock in the morning Joseph age, 29 and Catherine age 27 were married in Mamer. Joseph was a Rosenzüchter, rose culturist, and Catherine did not have an occupation. The parents of the bride and groom were present and consenting to the marriage. On the 24th of June, the marriage banns were read in the churches of Mamer and Echternach. Two of the witnesses, Johann MULLER and Johann JANS, were from Echternach, one from Mamer, and the last, a cousin of the bride, was from Bartringen.[4]

1900 Signature of the groom [4]

1900 Signature of the bride [4]

 

 

 

Less than three months later on Sunday 23 September, the annual fruit exposition took place in Echternach. It was fairly well attended as the Obstbauverein, fruit growing club, planned it to coincide with the Kirmes, an annual fair, in Echternach. It also helped that they did not charge fees for stalls or for visitors. Joseph FOURNELLE took 2nd place in the category apples, pears, and other fruits for table use and processing.[5]

The Children of Joseph and Catherine

Odilia Luzia was born on 30 March 1902 at 9 in the evening in Echternach at the home of her parents in the Luxemburger street. Her father Johann Joseph was 31 years old and a Rosenzüchter. Her mother Catharina (German and French spelling were often interchanged) was 29 years old. Johann (Jean) JANS, 29, and Jacob MULLER, 26, Schuhmacher or shoemaker, both witnesses at the marriage of the parents of the child, were witnesses for the birth record.[6]

1902 Signature of the father [6]

On 15 September 1904 Andreas FOURNELLE was born at 4 in the morning. His father reported the birth the same day at 11 o’clock in the morning. Joseph, Rosenzüchter, was 33 and Catherine was 31. Andreas, later seen as André, was born at home in the Luxemburger street. Johann JANS, 33, Schankwirt or barkeeper, and Jacob MULLER, 28, Schuhmacher or shoemaker, were once again witnesses on the birth record.[7]

1904 Signature of the father [7]

Maria Marcelle, my Bomi, 21 March 1909 at 7 o’clock in the morning at the house called Mühlenacht in the Luxemburger street. Joseph (38) reported the birth the same morning at 11 o’clock. He was still working as a Rosenzüchter. The child’s mother Catherine was 36. The witnesses were Peter STEINMETZ and Mathias PRIM.[8]

1909 Signature of the father [8]

I love how my great-grandfather’s signature changed over the years. By 1935 the flourish in his signature had once again disappeared.[9]

1935 Signature of the father of the bride [9]

The Homes of the Fournelle Family

The home that the FOURNELLE family lived in during these early years in the Luxemburger Strasse was known as Mühlenacht or Millenoacht (in Echternacher Luxembourgish). I don’t know if Joseph’s parents owned the home. His parents lived in Mühlenacht with Joseph and his family until their deaths in 1908 and 1911.[10],[11]

In 1914 Joseph was still seen running the nursery when cholera was raging and his produce was inspected and said to be safe for consummation.[12] My grandmother told me that she was very young when the family moved to house number 26 in the André Duchscher street and that it was just before World War I (1914-1918). It was also about this time that Joseph began working for the railroad.

1957 – The house(s) belonging to Joseph FOURNELLE. Two buildings were combined to make the home. The doorway of the house on the right (middle) was closed up after the war.

1963 – The house owned by Joseph was passed on to his daughter Marcelle.

2015 – After the death of my grandmother in 2005 the house was sold. The house no longer looks like the home we visited as children.

Joseph and Catherine’s Children Marry

Lucie married Virgile WENDLING before 1921. My mother does not know how it came to be that Lucie met Virgile who lived in Strasbourg, France. I believe that like many young people Lucie went to France to work. No record of marriage was found in Echternach. She had a daughter Yvonne, son René (died in 1944 in Serbia), and daughter Ginette. Since Lucie was working full time in Strasbourg her youngest daughter lived in Echternach with her grandparents and her aunt Marcelle, my Bomi, until she was old enough to go to school. Lucie suffered in later years from diabetes, had to have a leg amputated in the early 1970s and died 9 Apr 1977 in Strasbourg.[13]

Joseph and Catherine’s only son André married Marguerite HUESSMANN in the 1920s. I have not looked for the marriage record in Echternach or Hollerich were the bride’s parents lived. They were married after 1921, the FamilySearch cut-off year for most civil records for Luxembourg. In their wedding portrait (seen above) they appear to be quite young. They did not have children.

Joseph’s wife Catherine only saw her two older children marry. She died on 16 March 1934 in Echternach.[14]

1934 Death Notice of Catherine FRANTZ, wife of Joseph FOURNELLE [14]

Following the mother’s death, the youngest daughter Marcelle married Johann WILDINGER on 26 July 1935.[9] Their story continues in The Plumber/Tinsmith and the Seamstress.

After the death of his wife, Joseph lived the rest of his life with his youngest daughter Marcelle who stayed in her parental home after her marriage. Lucie was living in Strasbourg with her family but often visited her father and siblings in Echternach. Before World War II Joseph was known for riding his bike from Echternach to Strasbourg to visit  Lucie and her family. Today this would be a 2 1/2 hours drive by car, how long did it take him to ride the 260 km or 162 miles?

World War II

On 10 May 1940 German troops marched into and occupied Luxembourg. On 6 October 1944, the Germans occupying Echternach announced that all the people of Echternach must leave the town at 11:00 in the morning. Everyone was to take the same route towards Osweiler where they were met by American soldiers waiting to move into Echternach. The people of Echternach continued their journey on foot pulling wagons with their belongings or in wagons pulled by horses to Bech. My mother was traveling with her mother Marcelle WILDINGER-FOURNELLE and her grandfather Joseph FOURNELLE. Grandpapa had his German Shepherd with him as well as his bike with a shopping bag filled with their papers. Gunfire scared the dog as they were walking up a hill and he ran off. Grandpapa dropped his bike and the bag full of papers and ran after the dog. Mom remembers the papers fluttering around but her grandfather was more concerning with the dog. They remained in Bech a week or two. From there, families moved on to places where they had relatives or friends in other parts of Luxembourg. Mom, her mother, and Grandpapa were in Helmdange for a short period of time before they joined a family who had relatives in the Lorentzweiler area. They stayed in Lorentzweiler until May of 1945 when they returned to a town that lay in ruins.[15]

1945 side street that ran along the left side of the Fournelle home in Echternach. The writing on the wall was the advertisement for the workshop of my grandfather Nik. WILDINGER (d. 1941). The woman on the left in front is my grandmother Marcelle FOURNELLE.

Necrologie from the Escher Tageblatt dated 4 Dec 1946 [17]

Moni André, as Joseph’s only son was known to his nieces, was a dog trainer and the president of the Hondsportverein Dideleng (dog sports club of Dudelange).[16] I remember stories of his wearing a bite suit to train the dog to attack and also that he trained dogs for the blind. This was his hobby. He worked as a technician for ARBED (Aciéries Réunies de Burbach-Eich-Dudelange) a major steel and iron producing company created in 1911.[17]

André died of a short and painful disease on 3 December 1946 in Dudelange. He was buried in the cemetery in Hollerich.[17] This makes me wonder if he and Mathilde, as his wife was known by the family, may have had babies buried in that cemetery. Or he was very close to his in-laws and was buried in the HUESSMANN plot. His widow Mathilde outlived him by 25 years and died on 4 April 1971 in Luxembourg-Hamm.[18]

1958 Death Notice of Joseph FOURNELLE, widower of Catherine FRANTZ [20]

Fournelle Jean Joseph
N 16          Dcs          Feuille 5
L’an mil neuf cent cinquante-huit, le douze du mois de mars huit heures trente minutes par devant Nous Joseph Relles, bourgmestre, officier de l’état civil de la commune d’Echternach canton d’Echternach, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, a comparu Marie Marcelle Fournelle veuve de Wildinger Nicolas agée de quarante-huit ans, couturière domiciliée à Echternach; fille du défunt.
Laquelle Nous a déclaré que Jean Joseph Fournelle âgé de quatre-vingt-sept ans, employé de chemin de fer en retraite né à Surré commune de Boulaide, domicilié à Echternach; fils des défunts épouse André Fournelle et Lucie Schlechter; veuf de Catherine Frantz; les trois décédés à Echternach; est décécé le onze mars à seize heures quarante-cinq à Echternach à la maison Nr. 26 rue André Duchscher.
Le présent acte a été signé avec Nous par le comparant, après que lecture lui en a été faite.
Marcelle Fournelle             J. Relles

My great-grandfather Johann Joseph FOURNELLE died on 11 March 1958 in Echternach.[19],[20] I was two months old, lived on the other side of the Atlantic, and didn’t get to meet him.

Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Boulaide > Naissances 1838-1890 Mariages 1798-1823, 1798-1835 > image 459 of 1498. 1871 Birth Record No. 6; (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12330-116084-50?cc=1709358&wc=M9QN-T56:1193074600 : accessed 23 Mar 2010).
[2] 1871 Birth Record No. 6, conformed photocopy obtained 5 August 2010 from the Administration Communale de Boulaide. This is a substitute, produced on 10 January 1956 from the copy held in the archives in Luxembourg, to replace record destroyed during World War II.
[3] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 746 of 1504. 1871 Birth Record No. 57. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-52481-73?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 23 March 2010).
[4] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Naissances, mariages 1895-1923 > image 547 of 819. 1900 Marriage Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32045-16170-78?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LQS:415858536 : accessed 6 March 2015).
[5] Luxemburger Wort, digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg, http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Verlage der St-Paulus-Druckerei, Luxembourg), Thursday, September 27, 1900, page 2, column 4. (http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIRECTLINK&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=1031961&search_terms=obst#panel:pp|issue:1031961|article:DTL71|query:obst : accessed 29 January 2013).
[6] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Naissances 1895-1902 > image 179 of 202. 1902 Birth Record No. 13. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32027-19546-87?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J47:129623201,129766201 : accessed 29 December 2014).
[7] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Naissances 1903-1923 Mariages 1895-1905 > image 44 of 604. 1904 Birth Record No. 71; online https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32040-10861-46?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2V1:n702239153 : accessed 14 Jan 2013.
[8] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Naissances 1903-1923 Mariages 1895-1905 > image 176 of 604. 1909 Birth Record No. 41. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32040-10270-1?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2V1 : accessed 15 January 2015).
[9] (1) 1935 Marriage Record No. 13, photocopy of original page in the marriage book at the records office at the city hall in Echternach obtained 21 Jun 1996.
(2) Commune d’Echternach Nr. 13/1935, Wildinger-Fournelle Family Book. This is an official document given to the bride and groom at the time of their civil marriage. It is used to record births, christenings, and deaths of children as well as the death of one or the other spouse. Scanned copy of the original, in possession of their daughter.
[10] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Mariages 1906-1923 Décès 1895-1912 > image 584 of 675. 1908 Death Record 68; online https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32043-12126-76?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2VR:n1397300048 : accessed 11 Jan 2013.
[11] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Mariages 1906-1923 Décès 1895-1912 > image 644 of 675. 1911 Death Record No. 54. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32043-11951-69?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-2VR : accessed 12 March 2015)
[12] Luxemburger Wort, digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg, http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Verlage der St-Paulus-Druckerei, Luxembourg), Friday 10 April 1914, page 3, column 1.  http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIRECTLINK&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=1114386&search_terms=fournelle#panel:pp|issue:1114386|article:DTL108|query:fournelle : accessed 25 January 2013
[13] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Echternach > Naissances 1895-1902 > image 179 of 202. 1902 Birth Record No. 13, includes annotation with date and place of death. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32027-19546-87?cc=1709358&wc=9RTY-J47:129623201,129766201 : accessed 29 December 2014).
[14] Lettre de faire-part, Mme. Joseph Fournelle, née Catherine Frantz, 16 March 1934
[15] Narrative written in 1996 from information received during a conversation with my mother.
[16] Escher Tageblatt, digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg, http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Verlag Editpress S.A., Esch-sur-Alzette), Wednesday, December 4, 1946, page 6, column 2. Announcement of death of Monsieur André Fournelle, President of the Hondssportverein Dideleng; online http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIRECTLINK&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=120714&search_terms=#panel:pp|issue:120714|page:6 : accessed 6 March 2015.
[17] Escher Tageblatt, digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg, http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu (Verlag Editpress S.A., Esch-sur-Alzette), Wednesday, December 4, 1946, page 6, column 2. Avis Mortuaire – Monsieur André Fournelle; online http://www.eluxemburgensia.lu/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIRECTLINK&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=120714&search_terms=#panel:pp|issue:120714|page:6 : accessed 15 Jan 2013.
[18] Luxemburger Wort, newspaper clipping from 5 April 1971
[19] 1958 Death Record No. 16, photocopy of original from records office at the city hall in Echternach obtained 21 Jun 1996
[20] Lettre de faire-part, Monsieur Joseph Fournelle, veuve de Catherine Frantz, 11 March 1958

Genealogy Sketch

Name: Johann Joseph (Jean Joseph) FOURNELLE
Parents: André FOURNELLE and Odile Lucie SCHLOESSER
Spouse: Catherine FRANTZ
Parents of spouse: Johann FRANTZ and Maria MAJERUS
Children: Lucie, André, Marcelle
Whereabouts: Echternach, Grand Duché de Luxembourg
Relationship to Cathy Meder-Dempsey: great-grandfather

1. Joseph Johann FOURNELLE
2. Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE
3. Living WILDINGER (my Mom)
4. Cathy Meder-Dempsey

© 2015 Cathy Meder-Dempsey

This is my weekly entry for Amy Johnson Crow’s challenge:
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2015 Edition. It was so successful in 2014 that genealogists wanted to continue or join in on the fun in 2015. Be sure to check out the other great posts by visiting Amy’s blog No Story Too Small where she’ll be posting the weekly recap on Thursdays and allowing all participants to leave a link to their post(s) in the comments.