Buried: 21 Apr 1942, St. George Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA 67
A Birth record for Ludwig has finally been found and contrary to family stories, he was not born in Metzenseifen, but rather the neighboring town of Mníšek nad Hnilcom. It is not known if Ludwig had any association with Metzenseifen prior to his emigration.
Ludwig supposedly emigrated around 188147 and settled in Pittsburgh, PA. A Ludwig Wittkowski arrived on 21 Nov 1881 aboard the SS Mosel sailing from Bremen to New York. He was listed as 18 years of age and from Hungary. 8 This may or may not be the correct Ludwig.
Next to Cleveland, OH with the factory of Theodore Kundtz, the Pittsburgh area was the second most frequent destination for the Metzenseifen people due to the large number of steel mills and mines in the vicinity. Ludwig was employed in one of the local steel mills. 6
Ludwig married on 25 Apr 1886 1 and he and his wife Pauline settled in the Beltzhoover section of Pittsburgh in the area around St. Michael and St. George churches. 7 This area was home to many people from Metzenseifen. In 1894 Ludwig became a naturalized citizen. 3
He appeared in the 1900 census on 7 Jun 1900 in Wheeling, Ohio, West Virginia. 4
He appeared in the 1910 census on 30 Apr 1910 in Pittsburgh, PA. 9
On November 25, 1910, he filed for a change of name and petitioned the Court on December 10. Nearly a year later, on November 25, 1911, Ludwig Witkofsky legally became Louis Alfred Weet. 3
He appeared in the 1920 census on 5 Jan 1920 in Pittsburgh, PA. 10
He appeared in the 1930 census on 3 Apr 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA. 11
Ludovicus married Paulina STARK, daughter of Vendelin STARK and Thecla EIBEN, on 25 Apr 1886 in St. Michael, Pittsburgh, PA.1 (Paulina STARK was born on 28 May 1866 in Ober-Metzenseifen, Austria-Hungary 13, baptized on 29 May 1866 in Ober-Metzenseifen, Austria-Hungary 13, died on 28 Apr 1931 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA 6 and was buried on 30 Apr 1931 in St. George Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA 67.)
Sources
1
Rev. Bernard Kohl, Marriage Record of Ludwig Witkofky and Pauline Stark, (Pittsburgh, PA, 25 Apr 1886).
2Christening Records, 1736-1893, (Mníšek nad Hnilcom, Slovakia (LDS Film 1739649)).
3
Clerk of the Orphan's Court, Application for Marriage License for Ludig Witkofsky and Pauline Stark, (Pittsburgh, PA, 21 Apr 1886).
4
Court of Common Pleas, Re Change of Name of Louis Witkofsky, (Pittsburgh, PA, 25 Nov 1911).
5
West Virginia, Ohio County, 1900 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, (Washington, D.C., National Archives and Records Administration), ED 118, Sheet 11, Line 8.
6
St. George Cemetery, Cemetery Records, (Pittsburgh, PA, 2 Aug 1999).
7
Thomas Hoey, Oral Interview of Sr. Beatrice Orient, (Pittsburgh, PA), May 1999.
8
New York., Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897., (Micropublication M237. Rolls # 95-580. National Archives, Washington, D.C.)
9
Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, 1910 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, (Washington, D.C., National Archives and Records Administration), ED 524, Sheet 19, Line 27.
10
Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, 1920 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, (Washington, D.C., National Archives and Records Administration), ED 890, Sheet 3, Line 14.
11
Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, 1930 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, (Washington, D.C., National Archives and Records Administration), ED 2-328, Sheet 3, Line 8.
12
Sr. Beatrice Orient, The Weet Family Tree (unpublished), (Pittsburgh, PA, Aug 1992).
13
St. Mary Magdalene Parish Register, Christening Records, 1807-1886, (Ober Metzenseifen, Slovakia (LDS Film 2010722)).
