Home : Photos & Stories : E-mail from Friederick Mathia to Bob Mathia
|
Contact Information for
Frederick Mathia: Frederick James Mathia, Jr. fmathia@juno.com 1153 Gault Drive Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198 (734) 487-4305 |
|
5 Mar 2000 Dear Bob, Sometime ago I received a letter from a Karen Matthia Aland regarding the Mathia Family Tree. It was quite interesting to me so I decided to check out the web site referenced in her letter. After spending some time browsing the information, reading different letters and checking out the different Mathia names, I came across your name and that you live in Wisconsin. When I was a boy, my dad would take his vacations in the Milwaukee area. He had relatives that lived there, including my grandmother's (my dad's mom) sister. As a boy, my dad lived in Milwaukee for a short time before my grandmother moved he and his sister back home to Escanaba, Michigan. Having my curiosity fully aroused, I decided to ask my dad about his family history. This is the information he provided to me, verified with his mother. My dad's father was Edward Mathia. He and my grandmother, Ruby Berthiaume, meet in the Milwaukee area. They were married around 1934. They had two children, a boy named Frederick James Mathia, Sr (this is my dad, whom I am named after), and a girl, Shirley Ann Mathia (whose married name today is Shirley Rabitory). My grandmother and grandfather were divorced when my dad was about 4 or 5. It was then that she moved back to Escanaba with my dad and his sister. My dad's father had 9 other siblings. Their names going from the oldest to the youngest, verified by my grandmother, are as follows: John Mathia - Male My dad never really knew his dad. My grandmother told me that Eddie never really wanted a son. He wanted a girl, a Shirley Temple as he put it. A few years later my aunt was born. Things were not always pleasant for my dad. Because his father did not want him, he tried to do away with him on several occasions. He wanted to get rid of him. Well, for the sake of my dad and his sister, she decided it would be better to leave Eddie than to stay and have him physically hurt my dad, maybe even end up killing him. My grandmother moved my dad and aunt back to Escanaba Michigan where they reside today. My grandmother divorced Eddie. He later remarried two more times but I don't think he had any other children. As far as the rest of the Mathia family, my grandmother stated that the parents were not talked about much. She stated that the parents died when Eddie, Bobbie, Romie, Sammy, and Al were young. Since the older children: John, Margaret, Florian and Lorraine were unable to take care of them, everybody from Edward on down ended up in a orphanage. My dad does remember " Uncle Al, Uncle Romie, Uncle Sammy, and Aunt Bobbie". Aunt Bobbie married a Martin Eberhardt and lived in Milwaukee. I remember seeing her often when we would go to Milwaukee. I do not remember meeting any of my grandfather's other brothers or sisters. My dad never kept in contact with his dad, nor did Eddie ever try to contact him. There was one occasion when he did, but my dad did not want anything to do with it. He did not really know his father, nor have any memories of him. What he did remember probably was not pleasant anyway. His father passed away in Chicago in March 1983. This I do know, because my Aunt Shirley was informed by Aunt Lorraine, with whom my grandfather lived with in the later part of his life. I took these names and referenced them in the Mathia web site. If what is reported in this tree is accurate, then we are related through Joseph Mathia. Here is how it breaks down: Joseph had 6 children, the first died at birth. The others were Johann, Anton, Theodor, Joseph Johann and Franz Mathia. Franz married and had these
children: John, Margaret, Florian, Lorraine, Edward, Bobina,
Roman, Samuel, Al, and a stillborn child. Some of these children
appear in the family tree under Franz, which leads me to believe
that this is my dad's grandfather. If you compare the names that
my grandmother gave and what is reported, there is a slight difference.
Therefore we have to rely on my grandmother's Joseph Johann married and had seven children. They were Henry William, Leonard Alfred, Lucille, Ruth, Florence, Helen, and Clarence. Your dad appears to be Leonard Albert, which his dad is a brother to Franz. Therefore, Joseph Johann would be an Uncle to Edward, and Leonard and Edward would be cousins. This then would make my dad and yourself second cousins if I have it correct. I related this information
to my dad after I had investigated the web site and learned about
you. I really believe we are related. My dad stated that if you
would like to talk to him he can be reached at: This is what I know up to this point. I have three sisters: Sherri, Kathy, and Kris. I am the only boy born to my father. There was another boy which was stillborn. His name I believe was Joseph Edward Mathia. My Aunt Shirley has 6 children. They are Kimmy, Rita, Dickie, Gary, Mike, and Danny. My grandmother did remarry after Eddie and had two more children from that marriage. This would be my Uncle Pat and Aunt Sue. Please feel free to contact my dad or myself. I check the web site as often as I can to learn more. Take care and pass on any new information you find. Maybe one day we can get together and go over this information. We could meet in Escanaba if you would like. I know my dad would be interested. Maybe we could arrange for you to meet my grandmother. She is almost 90. Sincerely, |
Bob's reply to Frederick:
|
6 Mar 2000 Good morning, cousin Frederick, I must tell you that you've "made my morning" .... what an absolutely amazing contact! If I understand 'our' relationship correctly, you & I officially are "2nd cousins, once removed". I don't know about you, but that doesn't bother me in the least! :-) Whatever the proper terminology is, it STILL makes you & I related, AND good friends! Here's how I understand it: Your grandfather EDWARD MATHIA was the son of FRANZ MATHIA & MARY MACHOL, and FRANZ was my grandfather JOSEPH MATHIA's brother! In turn, FRANZ & JOSEPH were the children of JOSEPH MATHIA & MARCIANNA SLOMIONKA. That means Joseph & Marcianna (who are MY gr-grandparents) are YOUR gr-gr-grandparents! As a result of Karen Matthia Aland's letter, I've also been in contact with a JAMES MATHIA (who lives in West Bend, Wisconsin). Jim is the son of FLORIAN MATHIA, your grandfather EDWARD's brother. Needless to say, I'm really thrilled that you got intouch with me ---- and hopefully we can share lots of information. I've read thru your e-mail several times, but I can't seem to find what your Dad's name is (unless my senior-citizen eyesight is playing games with me) :-) Could you please clarify that for me? I hope you don't mind, but I'm forwarding a copy of your e-mail (as well as this e-mail) to Kurt Matthia, Karen Matthia Aland and James Mathia, as well as my own first-cousins Jeanne Mathia (who lives in Appleton, Wisconsin) and Tom Jensen (who lives is Waukesha, Wisconsin). I'm sure all of them will be interested in reading & sharing in it. Again, Frederick, thanks so much for getting in touch. I'm really looking forward to your continued communication. Hope to hear from you soon. Have a good day........ Bob Mathia |