Here I am again…another week and not enough information to put together on a new ancestor. So I am dipping into The Smart Aleck by Vivetta Aleck Jorgensen Emmer and Eileen Aleck Albert (1986).
Laurentius (Lorenz) Aleck (1785-1842)
Zaver’s father, Lorenz, was the second child of Michael Aleck and Franziska Steiger, born on 10 August 1785 in Riegel, Baden, Germany. When he was fourteen his mother died and his father soon remarried his stepmother, Rosa Hoog.
Lorenz married Agatha Schill on 9 April 1818 in Riegel, Baden, Germany. She was the daughter of Sebastian Schill and Anna Marie Wehrle.
By profession, he was a “drechsler,” a turner and machinist – one who works with wood on a lathe. He made spinning wheels and did ironwork. A fine ivory metric measure that he made has been passed down through the family and Vivetta Emmer now has it.
Lorenz and Agatha resided in Riegel all their lives. They were the parents of eight children, four sons, and four daughters. Xaver and Karl were twins. Karl lived only three weeks. Marie Ann (Nani), Therese, and Crezentia never married – they lived in the family home in Riegel. Marie Ann and Therese worked for their cousin, Joseph Aleck, at the Aleck Guest House, which was next door to their home. Crezentia was a nun and a teacher. Her efforts on behalf of the poor began before 1865 when she was keeping three orphan boys in her home. Upon her death she willed her property to each of brothers and sisters or their heirs and the remainder was to be used to establish an institute for the poor. This “Kinderheim” is located in Riegel across the street from the Aleck home. Of course, it has been added on to many times and is now a large school for around sixty-six disturbed boys. The State sends many here and pays their bills but for those who can afford to pay, it is 100 dm per day. It is a wonderful school. Each child is given one hour every day with an adult who gives the boy his undivided attention – for one hour a day the boy has an adult for his personal friend, be it the gardener, art teacher, or the superintendent.
Lorenz and Agatha were of the Catholic faith and reared their children likewise. In letters from Agatha to Xaver, she expresses her deep religious convictions.
Children of Lorenz and Agatha were:
A10: Marie Ann (Nani) born 12 January 1819, died 16 November 1874 in Riegel, Baden, Germany. Unmarried.
+A11: Joseph born 18 February 1821.
+A12: Franz George born 20 March 1823.
A13: Therese born 21 October 1824, died 8 October 1874 in Riegel, Baden, Germany. Unmarried.
+A14: Franziska born 24 January 1826.
+A15: Xaver (twin) born 13 March 1828.
A16: Karl (twin) born 13 March 1828, died 6 April 1828.
A17: Crezentia born 16 September 1831, died 20 November 1892 in Riegel, Baden, Germany. She was a Nun.
Our Many Pasts 