The couple sitting in the above photo – left to right – are Henry Hertz and Amelia Florentine Probst Hertz, Ritchey’s great-great-grandparents (I do not know the others in the photo).  Henry was born in Hesse, Darmstadt, Germany, January 9, 1824, the son of Johann Daniel Hertz and Christine Heydt.  Daniel and Christine left Germany in 1835 with their five children, Christian, Elizabeth, Lizette, Charles and Henry.  The family started to America in a small sailing vessel.  Daniel Hertz died before reaching American shores and was buried at sea.  After Daniel’s death Christine married Dan Hartzell.  They made their home in Philadelphia.  Their children were – Emma, David, George, Sue and Carrie.

At nine years of age Henry Hertz drove a horse, pulling barges on the Delaware Canal.  After serving two years as an apprentice he learned the coach maker’s trade.  Henry married Ann Elizabeth Tilton.  They lived on Ogden Avenue and Eleventh Street.  They had four children – Albert J. (November 13, 1848 – August 26, 1933), Cordelia, Harry and Baby Ann.  Baby Ann died on a Saturday night and her mother died the next day, in 1856.  The baby was buried in her mother’s arms.  After his wife’s death Henry and his three children moved to Iowa City.  A short time later he bought a 120 acre farm near Solon, Iowa, paying $20 an acre.  He paid cash for it, from savings and a small amount brought from Germany.

Henry Hertz then married Amelia Florentine Probst, the daughter of Ludwig Probst and Mary Leser, born in Germany in 1834.  Henry and Florentine had seven children:  Mary, Lena, George Edwin, Gustav J., Jacob, William and Sarah.  Henry and Florentine both lived a good, long life, enjoying their family and small community.  Henry died April 29, 1904, and was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Solon.  Florentine passed away 16 years later, February 18, 1920, and was buried beside her husband.

Ritchey and I visited the cemetery in October 2006.  The trees were ablaze with color and the sky a vibrant blue.  Here is one of the photos we took.