The Bechtloff Family

 The Bechtloffs

The records for the Bechtloffs go back several generations to Johann Bechtloff, born in 1778.  They were from the town of Burstadt in the state of Hesse. (President Donald Trump's Great Grandmother, Susanna Becthloff Trump is from the same state.)

Catherine Ofenloch

Casper Bechtloff's maternal grandmother, Catherine Ofenloch, came from a family of landed gentry. Also from Burstadt, her great grandfather, Jois Georgus Ofenloch, was born in 1679. Caspar's aunt Maria Anna married a Landgraf.

The History of the Ofenloch Family

Ovenloch 1331 Altingen, Germany 

Student Martin 1432 Frankfurt 

Berger Ruffus 1452 Erfurt 

The locality is the same as a forest part with pitch or lime kiln. The basic word is a medium-high German form, like groves, shrubs. Ovenloch. Although there are no reliable indications for the dating of the historical origin and its allocation to a certain area, a proof of the nobility is possible about the interpretation of the coat of arms. Since the beginning of the fifteenth century the connection of the coat of arms with the land possession has become more and more relaxed, since the emblem has been extended to ever-larger groups of citizens and families from the burghers, proprietors, or trade and businessmen.  http://www.heraldrysinstitute.com/

Kirche St Michael Burstadt

"Bürstadt lies in one of the most culture- and history-laden of Germany’s old domains. Conditioned by the Rhine rift’s fertile soil and wealth in wildlife and biodiversity, the Rhine’s upper bank was already settled very early on." 

This is a local menhir from the Neolithic period. As in much of Germany, there are artifacts from the La Tene culture, and Roman ruins. Wikipedia

Despite the region's general wealth of resources, the political and social upheaval sent many young Germans to the United States. Three years of military conscription was required for all young men in Germany but not required in the U.S. which must have been very enticing. In 1867, Caspar Becthloff was 14 when he arrived in New York with his sister or perhaps cousin, Christe. 

In the 1870 census of New York City, Caspar lived at 155 E 3rd St with many other young German men, right down the street from Most Holy Redeemer Church, often called the German Cathedral because it served all the German Catholic immigrants.  

In the next eight years, Casper and Catherine will move to Chicago. Catherine married Stephen Meyers and moved to Crown Point, Indiana where he was a saloonkeeper. Casper met the English lass, Minnie Pyne.

Casper's occupation was a street car conductor. He experienced the shift from horse-drawn streetcars to electric. Below is an updated model from 1915.

http://chuckmancollectionvolume14.blogspot.com/

Casper and Minnie's neighbors, a mixture of German and Irish families, were tradesmen, street car drivers, packing house workers, and machinists. While South Butterfield Street does not exist, it can be seen on this wonderful old map near South 33rd Street, west of Michigan Ave, probably where IIT stands today. 

In 1882, Casper and Minnie's first child Lizzie has passed away and George Henry Bechtloff was born. Eddy was born the next year, and Minnie in 1884. William was born seven years later in 1891 and Estella in 1896. 

In 1898, Casper has opened an insurance agency with Joseph Heun called Heun, Bechtloff & Co at 7011 S. Halsted.

The Bechtloffs lived at 7009 S. Halsted in 1900 and Casper listed his occupation as Real Estate.

This Western Underwriter, found in Google Books, shows that in 1908, George and Casper Bechtloff were agents in Continental Insurance Company in Chicago.

In 1909, young George married the dear Mary Drantz. 

George and Mary in 1935

Their daughter Mabel was born in 1910 and the young family lived in the house next door to the elder Bechtloffs on South Halsted. George's siblings: Eddie, Willie, and Stella were still living at home. Minnie had married John Jutzi and they lived a few blocks away. 

Two years after Mabel was born, George and Mary had beautiful twin girls, Louise and Lucille.

The August 1923 Englewood Economist shares the exciting news that Mrs. Minnie Bechtloff,  along with her sisters Mrs. Andrew and Mrs. Storm would be traveling to Niagara Falls and then on an extended European vacation.

And "the good looking Becthloff twins" earn a feature in the Chicago Tribune April 2, 1933

The Girls of Psi Rho

Louise married the dashing Ray Heinemann

And Lucille married the equally stouthearted and handsome 

    Gerry Hannigan

George Bechtloff, Ray Heineman, Catherine Hannigan, Francis Gavin, Mary Drantz Bechtloff Front row: Lucille Bechtloff, Francis Jr, Mabel Gavin and Louise Bechtloff

Mary Drantz Bechtloff