Forebearers of Katherine Josephine Gerwitz (nee Zahm)

I don’t know when the Zahms immigrated to America.  They came from the Alsace Lorraine region during a French Reign.  That fluctuated.

They settled in the Buffalo area when it was known as the Village of Buffalo.  The Village of Buffalo was incorporated as the City of Buffalo on April 20, 1832.

In 1850, the Zahms helped build St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at Broadway and Pine St. in Buffalo.  In July of 1932, the Zahms celebrated their centennial along with the City of Buffalo.  Over one hundred years in the City of Buffalo.

Our paternal great-grandfather was Pierre Joseph Zahm who was married to Maria Marguerite Boll, our paternal great-grandmother.  They were both born in the Buffalo area.  I have no dates of birth or deaths.

One of their sons was our grandfather Mathias Zahm, who was born August 11, 1854 in Buffalo NY.  He died August 9, 1931 in Buffalo NY.  He was married to Catherine Heinenburger, born February 13, 1857 in Buffalo NY.  She died May 15, 1911 in Buffalo NY.  She was the daughter of Mathias Heizenburger, our maternal great-grandfather born December 21, 1818 in Buffalo NY. And Mary (surname unknown) Heinzenburger, our maternal great-grandmother born October 1836 in Buffalo NY.  He died May 31, 1895 age 76.  She died June 10, 1904 Age 68.  Both are buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery at Pine Hill, Cheektowaga, NY.  Lot #129 Sec QQ.

Mathias and Catherine had two daughters:

Katherine Josephine Zahm Gerwitz, born April 14, 1878 in Buffalo NY.  She died February 26, 1955 – age 76.  She had seven children.  (see separate pages)

Lucy Mary Zahm, born September 30, 1881.  She remained single. She died September 25, 1964 – age 83, almost 84.  The year 1958 was inscribed in error on the gravestone.

Mathias and his wife, Catherine and his daughter, Lucy are buried in the U.G. & F.R.C. Cemetery in Pine Hill, Cheektowaga, NY Lot #55 Section 11.  For 58 years, Mathias worked at the Buffalo Scale Co.  That’s a long time.