Nicholas Martz: A Brewmaster of Baltimore

Who is this?  Nicholas Martz is my 3rd great-grandfather.  He was the father of William John Martz, who was the father of Nicholas Dietrich Martz, who was the father of William Robert Martz.

Early Life

Nicholas Martz was born in June of 1844 in Bavaria.  He immigrated to the United States around 1859, when he was 15 years old.  He settled in New York for a while, where he married Sophia Kebler and began a family.  The couple had at least the following children while living in New York:

Louise Martz (b. August 3, 1870 in Manhattan, New York)
Frederick John Martz (b. July 8, 1872 in Manhattan, New York)
William John Martz (b. January 1, 1876 in New York)

While Nicholas Martz was present in the United States during the Civil War (1861-1865), I have not found any evidence that he actually fought in the war.

New York and Baltimore

Nicholas Martz has proven difficult to track.  I have been unable to locate the Martz family in either the 1870 or the 1880 US Federal Census.  However, I have been able to use other sources to track the family.

In 1871, Nicholas Martz, brewer, 103 E. 50th Street, is found in the New York City Directory.  As he was living in New York, he would have heard all about Susan B. Anthony's arrest for daring to vote in the Presidential Election on November 18, 1872 in New York.  She was, of course, arrested because she was a woman and not allowed to vote.

On September 23, 1875, Nicholas Martz was naturalized by the Superior Court of the City of New York when he was 31 years old, and had been in the country for about 16 years.  Click on the image below to view the naturalization record, which includes the signature of Nicholas Martz.

So, we know that Nicholas Martz was living in New York City until at least September of 1875.

Nicholas moved from New York City to Baltimore, Maryland sometime between 1875 and 1877.  He can be found in Woods' Baltimore City Directory of 1877.  His occupation is "brew master" and he is residing at "Lancaster and Clinton".

Nicholas and his family moved to Baltimore just in time for the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.  While the strike began in Martinsburg, West Virginia, it soon spread to Cumberland, Maryland.  The strike stopped freight and passenger cars, which at the time, had a major impact on commerce.

The railroad workers had suffered 10% wage cuts and poor working conditions for years.  An economic depression also affected the attitudes of the workers.

Maryland's Governor instructed the National Guard to stop the strike.  However, Baltimore citizens attacked them as they marched towards Baltimore & Ohio's Camden Station.  This caused a battle in the streets of Baltimore, resulting in 10 dead and 25 wounded Baltimore locals.

"Sixth Regiment Fighting its way through Baltimore," an engraving on front cover of "Harper's Weekly, Journal of Civilization," Vol XXL, No. 1076, New York, Saturday, August 11, 1877.

Despite the unrest, Nicholas Martz and his family remained in Baltimore.  He can be found with the same occupation and at the same location in the 1882, 1883, and 1884 Woods' Baltimore City Directories.  Nicholas worked as a Brewer or Brewmaster for most of his life.

On July 26, 1899, Nicholas' life was cut short when he was only 55.  He died suddenly of "apoplexy" (a stroke) at his home.

The Amazing Ship Jumping Johann Deatrich Addicks

Who is this? Johann Deatrich Addicks is my 3rd great-grandfather.  He was the father of Johannah Frederka Caroline Addicks, who was the mother of Nicholas Dietrich Martz, who was the father of William Robert Martz.

Early Life in Germany

Johann Deatrich Addicks was born May 31, 1840 in Germany (at the time, this area was known as Prussia).  By October of 1862, Johann Addicks was a sailor.  He is on the list of crew for the Johanne Marie, sailing from Bremen to New York.  His permanent residence is listed of Brake, Germany.

Adventure in Baltimore

On July 3, 1869, Johann found himself at the port of Baltimore.  However, this voyage was different from the rest.  On this day, he decided to desert his ship and stay in Baltimore.  Not exactly a legal thing to do.  If he had been discovered, he would have faced punishment.

Below is an image from Bremen, German Desertions of Sailors, 1855-1874, from Ancestry.com.  This is the record of Johann Diedrich Addicks' desertion.  Even though the record is handwritten in German, it clearly says, "Addicks Diedrich... Brake" at the top and "1869 in Baltimore" at the bottom.

Why would he have deserted his post after so many years as a sailor?  Had he come to love the United States as he sailed into the ports in New York and Baltimore?  Were the conditions on this particular ship so horrible that he felt he had no other option but to abandon it?

We will probably never know what his reasons were.  We do know that shortly after this, he married Catherine Brunkyn on February 6, 1870, only 7 months after his desertion.  It would be romantic if he had deserted his ship because he had fallen in love with a local Baltimore girl, but there is no way of knowing how the two met, or when.

Life in Baltimore

Here is an image from the 1870 US Federal Census.  Didrich Addicks is listed with his wife, Catherine.  They are living in Baltimore, where he works as a laborer.

The family appears again in the 1880 US Federal Census.  At this time, he is going by "John" instead of "Johann".  He is now cashing in on his previous sailing experience by working as a sail maker.  He and Catherine have had 3 children by this time; Johannah, Dora, and John.

Johann and Catherine Addicks had 7 children (according to the 1900 census, where Catherine is found).  However, only 3 of these children were still living in 1900.  The children of Johann and Catherine Addicks were:

Unknown Addicks (died before 1900)
James C. Addicks (died before 1900)
Johannah Frederka Caroline Addicks (1876 - 1938) married William John Martz
Dora Addicks (1878 - ?) married Frederick J. Martz (yes, these men were brothers)
John Addicks (1880 - 1881)
Jacob Christian Addicks (1883-1951) married Anna M. Beyer
Louisa Addicks (1892 - 1892)

Death of Johann Dietrich Addicks

Johann Dietrich Addicks died on December 28, 1898, in Baltimore, Maryland.  Below is the death notice from the Baltimore Sun.

 At the time of his death, Johann Dietrich Addicks was the night foreman in Canton.  The following article appeared in the Baltimore Sun on December 31, 1898.  He must have been a well liked and much respected man.