My Great Grandfather.
The Stephanz family is my most exciting discovery yet. They have been what genealogists refer to as a ‘brick wall.’ Breaking through brick walls is very satisfying! Their Kansas story fascinated me, showcasing how they persevered through a language barrier and maintained their traditions in a foreign land. But I digress.
I’ll start with Mathias Paul Stephanz, Jr. Mat was born on 13 JUL 1894 in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. His parents were Mathias Stephanz, Sr. and Mary Swegel. No, wait, that is incorrect. He was born to Matijas Štefanc and Marija Švegelj, but that is yet another story.
Mathias, Jr. was born on a Friday over 120 years ago. My second cousin, Susan, told me that her father mentioned he was somewhat fair-haired when he was young, with blue eyes, and that he was a great father. She said he always spoke about how great his wife, Clara, was, constantly driving them all over or sailing with them across the country and the world, and how she was always packing up everything they owned whenever they moved. Her dad also mentioned that it only took one look from Mat to make all the kids behave. Susan added that Mat preferred Milwaukee over Kansas City because of the fun times they had at the lake, parties, and being with family, especially during the summers.
Mat was baptized in 1894 at St. Joseph’s Parish in Kansas City. He had one younger brother and two younger sisters.
They lived on Sandusky Ave./411 N. 4th Street (in the rear of the house) on what is known as Strawberry Hill. The addresses confused me until I realized that 4th Street curved into Sandusky, and they lived right on the border of those two roads. So, some census takers show Sandusky, and some show 4th St. 
The house is still there. But a highway was built right through Strawberry Hill in 1957, forcing neighbors to move from their homes. See my blog about Strawberry Hill and the people who lived there.
Mathias lived in Kansas City until he was 24 years old in 1919. On July 9, 1916, he wrote a letter to his sister, Mary. The postmark on the letter indicates that it was sent from Detroit, Michigan. I can only assume he was visiting there. In his letter, he refers to his adventures in Toledo. The letter starts with what must be her nickname (written as he wrote with punctuation and spelling).
Dear Squib,
I got your letter all ok. I spent the 4th in Toledo and went to Toledo Beach sure had a good time. I am going to tell you something that I don’t want the old folks to know. I think I’ll marry in Toledo. I’ve got the girl at last I believe and I found her myself too. Her name is Bessie Jacobs. Tell you how I met her Elizabeth’s old friend Frances (can’t read last name) has been trying to land me “ha ha” the old fossil she got me to come over and meet her cousin from Detroit and this little girl happened to be there too and she didn’t introduce us but I made up my mind that I didn’t need any and the funny part of it Bessie told me later that she had her mind made up to know me too but Frances kept on her tail so much that I couldn’t talk to her alone until the next day. She is a telephone operator and I’ve got the job taking her home when I am there now there’s another fellow but his name will be mud before I’m done. Sis, you can talk about fast work, but listen to this I met about 2 o’clock Monday and Wed night about 12 I proposed (she would not give me a final answer yet) She didn’t know me well enough yet but I think my chances are good. I wish you or Leah could come here on a visit and meet her I wonder if she is a big as Joe’s girl she weighs 103 pounds and reaches about to my arm pit and she wears glasses but she can look nicer in them than any girl I ever saw she 19 years old and she can cook and do housework too she’s not a fancy cook but she can put up a meal so I should worry. I’ll think I’ll move to Toledo and go living Alice’s husband is trying to land me a job there and I can be making 100 (word looks like “bones”) in a short time and I know I’ll like it better he’s got 2 uncles that are engineers too so it will all be in the family and I can save more money there too. What’s the matter with the King (Joe’s nickname maybe?) I thought he was going to be a candy maker he better try something where he can learn to be something so he won’t be a common laborer when he is my age I wish you all would move to Toledo you could all get jobs here easy enough and we could all have a dandy time better than in KC I believe. Well sis I guess I told you all I could so I will close now hoping to hear from you soon and tell all my friends hello for me Leah and Joe too (Leah must have been Joe’s sister, Lizzie- maybe a nickname) Tell that King to get a job dam quick and tell the Belgian hello too I almost forgot her.
With Love, Mat
P. S. I repeat I would like picture of the bunch as soon as possible.
This letter is interesting as there are a lot of Stephanz in my research showing up in Toledo. There is even a Mathias, except the age doesn’t pan out. Are there relatives in Ohio we didn’t know about? Are they the ones Mat is referring to in the letter? Is this why he is in Toledo at this time? There is a William R., a Francis J., and a Mathias.
In 2022, I found my answers. Found In A Letter answers these questions.
Can you identify the error in the previous record? Augusta was Clara’s mother, but it should indicate Mary as Mat’s mother. Also, Mathias’ name is listed with “neo-Conversus” underneath it. I’m not sure why it indicates him as a convert, as he was baptized in St. Joseph’s Parish in Kansas City.
The directory shows Mat living in Kansas City with his parents in 1916. I wonder what happened between his visit to Toledo in 1916 and his marriage to Clara in 1920 in Wisconsin. How did he meet Clara? Nine months after their marriage, Marguerite, my grandmother, was born in Illinois. I think around 1920, he joined the Navy, but I’m still trying to obtain the records. The department won’t send them to me because I’m not the next of kin. I haven’t appealed this decision yet.
He spent most of the next 47 years in the United States Navy. He was transferred to various locations: Wisconsin in 1920, Illinois in 1921, Pensacola, Florida in 1922, Norfolk, VA in 1926, the Canal Zone in Panama in 1932, Hawaii in 1935, back to Norfolk in 1939, Jacksonville, Florida in 1941, Oregon in 1944, and his last enlistment was in Jacksonville, Florida in 1950, where he retired as the Aviation Chief and made his home there.
However, he didn’t retire but instead became the Finance Officer at American Legion Lake Shore Post 137. Mat and Clara had three daughters and two sons.
Present Ranking F-4-D F.R. -31 Mar 1941- (Men transferred to Fleet Reserve upon completion of 20 years who were serving in the regular Navy on July 1, 1925, or who reenlisted under continuous service immediately thereafter.) ACMM (PA) (Aviation Chief MACHINISTS’S MA)
Jeanne, ARW, Mathias, Ruby 1963
Although Mat passed away at the VA hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama, his body was transported back to Jacksonville, FL to be buried in Riverside Memorial Park that October.
What a life Mat led! Still, he died too young, at the age of 73. I wish I could have known him in person. I can only imagine the stories he could have shared with me as a kid growing up in Kansas, as a young adult with a young family, and during his very successful Navy career. Oh, the places and things he must have seen.
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