Franz, Sauer and Rettig Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1098

Collection Organization

The collection consists of family correspondence starting with the Franz family before and during the Civil War, and then the Sauer and Rettig family correspondence which is dated until 1975. The Franz family letters consist of Henry Franz’s letters to his parents and siblings during his time in the Union army during the civil war. The original letters are all written in German, but still provide an intricate series of events during the Civil War as seen through the eyes of a young German immigrant. The correspondence of the Sauer family consists of three letters of varying years, the letter from 1975 provides Sauer family history. The Rettig family correspondence consists mainly of postcards to Raymond Rettig, but there is one letter from 1954 in which Louise Schriber provides Mrs. Ray Rettig (Emma Sauer) information of the family’s history and old photograph negatives. Other interesting information found in the Rettig family collection is different musical documents, such as piano recital programs and newspaper ads for their music store.

The rest of the collection consists of varying Literary Productions including a memoir which describes the family’s initial immigration to the United States, Legal Documents such as Henry Franz’s military pension information, Financial Documents, newspaper clippings of the Rettig family’s music store, printed materials of various old books, and photographic materials, all of which supply details of the family history and activities.

Researchers may be interested in this collection for its correspondence of Henry Franz while he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, the music information provided by the Rettig family, and the various other historic documents found throughout the collection such as war ration books and a Lane Bryant magazine from the late 1920s.

Correspondence: Letters to Franz Family, 1853-1860

 File – Box 1, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: 1853-1860

Correspondence: Letters from Henry Franz to family during Civil War, 1862

 File – Box 1, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: 1862

Correspondence: Letters from Henry Franz to family during Civil War, 1863

 File – Box 1, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: 1863

Correspondence: Letter from John Herbosheimer (first husband of Irene Franz) to Franz family, 1864

 File – Box 1, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: 1864

Correspondence: Letters from Henry Franz to family during Civil War, 1865

 File – Box 1, Folder: 5
Dates
Creation: 1865

Correspondence: Letter to a friend (Henry Franz?) from George Hoffmann, 1867

 File – Box 1, Folder: 6
Dates
Creation: 1867

Correspondence: Letter and envelope to Carl R. Sauer from Rev. Ludwig A. Moser, 1914

 File – Box 1, Folder: 7
Dates
Creation: 1914

Correspondence: Fragments of letters from Henry Franz to family during Civil War, n.d.

 File – Box 1, Folder: 8

Correspondence: Mrs. Charles Schreiber to Mr. Charles R. Sauer and wife, June 11, 1923

 File – Box 1, Folder: 9
Dates
Creation: June 11, 1923

Correspondence: Berta Ruoff and Karl Sauer to Mrs. Irene Sauer, November 22, 1949

 File – Box 1, Folder: 10
Dates
Creation: November 22, 1949

Correspondence: Kathryn Franz Cole to Emma Sauer, July 7, 1975

 File – Box 1, Folder: 11
Dates
Creation: July 7, 1975

Correspondence: Various postcards to Ray Rettig and one post card to Archie Rettig from Ray Rettig, 1910-1918

 File – Box 1, Folder: 12
Dates
Creation: 1910-1918

Correspondence: telegram to Mrs. William Campbell from Floyd, 1919

 File – Box 1, Folder: 13
Dates
Creation: 1919

Correspondence: Miss Louise Schreiber to Mrs. Ray Rettig (Emma Sauer), January 14, 1954

 File – Box 1, Folder: 14
Dates
Creation: January 14, 1954

Subject File: Emma Sauer Piano Recitals- Pupils, 1919-1920

 File – Box 1, Folder: 15
Dates
Creation: 1919-1920

Subject File: Rettig Music Honors, 2005

 File – Box 1, Folder: 16
Dates
Creation: 2005

Literary Production: George-Franz Family Reunion, August 24, 1911

 File – Box 1, Folder: 17
Dates
Creation: August 24, 1911

Literary Production: hand-written prayer in German, written on wax paper, n.d.

 File – Box 1, Folder: 18

Legal Document: Abstract of Title- 905 Latty St., Defiance, OH, June 10, 1969

 File – Box 1, Folder: 19
Dates
Creation: June 10, 1969

Legal Document: Abstract of Title- 1208 Emory St., Defiance, OH, April 11, 1982

 File – Box 1, Folder: 20
Dates
Creation: April 11, 1982

Legal Document: Warranty Deeds, 1974-1976

 File – Box 1, Folder: 21
Dates
Creation: 1974-1976

Legal Document: Henry Franz Pension files, 1861-1919

 File – Box 1, Folder: 22
Dates
Creation: 1861-1919

Financial Documents: Emma N. Sauer Ledgers, Piano Students, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 1

Financial Document: Louise Sauer Ledger, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 2

Financial Document: Tax receipt, Treasurer’s Office, John Franz, 1876

 File – Box 2, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: 1876

Financial Document: Postcard receipt, German Mutual Fire Insurance Association, Charles Sauer, 1920

 File – Box 2, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: 1920

Scrapbook Materials: Family Obituaries-Franz, Sauer and Rettig, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 5

Scrapbook Materials: Rettig Music News clippings, 1946, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 6
Dates
Creation: 1946, n.d.

Maps: Elk Rapids, Michigan, Tourist map, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 7

Printed Materials: Sauer family certificates, 1863-1890

 File – Box 2, Folder: 8
Dates
Creation: 1863-1890

Printed Materials: Louise Paullina Sauer- Confirmation Certificate, May 16, 1920

 File – Box 2, Folder: 9
Dates
Creation: May 16, 1920

Printed Materials: War Ration Books, Irene W. Sauer, 1943

 File – Box 2, Folder: 10
Dates
Creation: 1943

Printed Materials: Grade Report, Raymond Rettig, 1907-1908

 File – Box 2, Folder: 11
Dates
Creation: 1907-1908

Printed Materials: Miniature Calendar Cards, A.B. Chase Piano, 1898

 File – Box 2, Folder: 12
Dates
Creation: 1898

Printed Materials: Souvenir, Bortz School, District 6, Pupils, Flatrcok Township, Henry County, 1905-1906

 File – Box 2, Folder: 13
Dates
Creation: 1905-1906

Printed Materials: Souvenir, Bortz School, District 6, Pupils, 1908

 File – Box 2, Folder: 14
Dates
Creation: 1908

Printed Materials: Souvenir, Bortz School, District 6, Pupils, 1917-1918

 File – Box 2, Folder: 15
Dates
Creation: 1917-1918

Printed Materials: Postcard, School Group, Bortz School? n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 16

Printed Materials: Woolson Spice Company Card, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 17

Printed Materials: Lane Bryant-Baby’s Own Book, Fall and Winter: 1927-28, 1927-1928

 File – Box 2, Folder: 18
Dates
Creation: 1927-1928

Printed Materials: German Prayer book, 1849

 File – Box 2, Folder: 19
Dates
Creation: 1849

Printed Materials: “Radway’s Almanac”, 1894

 File – Box 2, Folder: 20
Dates
Creation: 1894

Printed Materials: “Das Pergament” by Dr. Chr. G. Barth, 1910

 File – Box 2, Folder: 21
Dates
Creation: 1910

Printed Materials: “Three Yuletide Tales” (German), n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 22

Franz Family Photograph, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 23

Karl Robert Sauer photograph, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 24

Photocopies of Rettig Family photographs, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 25

Artifact: Pure Sugar Cane Sack, n.d

 File – Box 2, Folder: 26

Family History, n.d.

 File – Box 2, Folder: 27

Printed Materials: Rettig family certificates, 1894-1909

 File – Box 3, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: 1894-1909

Family certificates, mainly marriages, 1867-1920

 File – Folder Oversize 1
Dates
Creation: 1867-1920