Zettler, Joseph (Adam Joseph), 1861-1938

ZETTLER, HOLLANDER, MECKE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Rock Valley Bee, Oct. 14, 1938:

Former Rock Valley Man Dies

Steve Dodewaards received word Sunday while visiting in Sioux Falls of the death of Mrs. Dodewaard’s uncle, A. J. Zettler, who formerly lived in Rock Valley about seventeen years ago and conducted a business here. He kept a harness shop where the Van Surksum barber shop is now located. He died in a Dallas, Texas, hospital.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate gives his full name as Adam Joseph Zettler; residence Route #1, Gainesville, Texas; born Nov. 16, 1861 in Hamilton, Ohio; parents Adam Zettler, born in Alsace-Lorraine, and Suzanna Hollander, born in Germany; wife Genevieve Zettler; a retired farmer, last worked 1919; died in Baylor Hospital, Dallas, at 4 A.M. September 22, 1938; cause, carcinoma of prostate, duration 1 year; contributory cause, chronic nephritis, onset unknown; confirmed via autopsy.

His FindaGrave.com page shows him buried in Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas; parents Adam Zettler (1819-1892) and Susanna Elizabeth Hollander Zettler (1825-1879). Four siblings listed. Wife Genevieve Agatha Mecke Zettler (1866-1951). Four children listed: Freda Ann Zettler (1891-1964), Veronica Mary Zettler Harris (1894-1980), Laura Elizabeth Zettler Schniederjan (1900-1985), and Florence K. Zettler Wiese (1908-1996). There is a photo of his headstone, giving his name as A. Joseph Zettler.

The 1900 U.S. census for Plato Township, Sioux County, has Joseph Zettler (38), born in Ohio, a farmer; wife Jennie (33, born Feb. 1867 in Germany); daughters Frida (8, born Nov. 1891 in Tennessee), Veronie (6, born Jan 1894 in Alabama), and Jennie (4, born May 1896 in Iowa); and Frank Snell (27), a farm laborer.

The 1910 census for Rock Valley, Sioux County, has Joe Zettler (48), harness shop proprietor; wife Jennie (44), and daughters Freda (18), Veronaka (16), Jenevieve (13), Laura (9), and Florence (1), saying all were born in Iowa.

In the 1920 census the family is living in rural Cooke County, Texas, where he (as Adam J., age 58) is a farmer; wife Geneva (54); and daughters Frieda (28, born in Tennessee), Veronica (26, born in Alabama), and Florence (11, born in Iowa).

In the 1930 census he (as Joseph), retired, and Genevieve are living in the same locale with daughter Laura and son-in-law Herman Schniederjan and their infant son Theodore, Herman having taken over the farm.

An article in the Rock Valley Bee (June 22, 1917) about the marriage of their daughter Genevieve to Edward Gackey says that they had moved to Texas in winter 1916.