If you are related to Renee via her mother, Joann (Schantz) Love, this article may be of interest to you!
Scouting around the old newspaper articles I found a story about the golden anniversary celebration of Christian Schantz and Barbara Rich, my 2nd great-grandparents, married in 1853. The first thing that I see that I have in common with great-great grandmother Barbara is that we both keep a well stocked pantry!
Here is my lineage to Christian and Barbara:
Renee Love -> Joann Schantz -> Wilbur Schantz -> Peter R Schantz -> Christian and Barbara (Rich) Schantz
Washington Democrat, published in Washington, Iowa, 8 Apr 1903, page 7.
April 4 – On Thursday, April 2, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Schnatz (*) celebrated their
golden wedding. March 8, 1853, they were joined in matrimony in their home across
the water, near Basil, Switzerland, and came to Stark county, Ohio, in May of the same
year where they resided until 1857, when they came to Iowa, this county, where they
have lived ever since. Mr. Schantz started out as a poor man, but by the sturdy
stick-to-itiveness characteristic of his race, he has acquired a fine farm, with a large
residence and out buildings, as will be found anywhere. He is now 75 years old, but
we should say young, for he does not seem that old by 15 years. He still takes as
much interest in his farm as at any time of his life, although not engaged in actual farm
labor. He looks to the appearance of things on the farm, as is well known.
Mr. Schants never had any use for look boards or weeds, hating both like poison. Mrs.
Schantz is 74 years old, but also seems much younger. She still does her own
housework, and what an excellent cook she is, as anyone who has ever sat at her
table will know, and at any time she is prepared for the unexpected guest, and, like the
thrifty housewife she is, her larder is always well filled, so she is never taken by
surprise. Years ago, whenever some great social event was to take place at one of the
neighbors, a wedding or other doings where the cooking and baking had to be just so,
Mrs. Schantz was engaged to oversee it, especially the making of the cake, and the
cakes she could make were a dream.
To them were born seven children, all are living but one, and have gone to homes of
their own. They have 17 grandchildren. There were 64 guests present. All their
relatives and neighbors were invited. A fine dinner was served, the daughters coming
home and preparing it, the mother not feeling quite equal to the occasion, although she
made the bride’s cake, a huge gold cake, which we got to sample, also some of the
other. They were the kind that melt in your mouth.
Only three persons were present at the golden wedding who were present at the first a
half-century ago. They are the following, Jos. Rich, Jos. Schantz and Dan Rich, the
latter from Kansas. Everybody had a very nice time and the day couldn’t have been
any finer than it was and there were three ministers present, so what else could have
been wished? We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Schantz and hope they will live to
celebrate their diamond wedding.
First posted to Facebook 7 July 2019