The Weitzel Family, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Sandra McLellan, Jan 2007
Special thanks to Jim Perrin for donating it to the archives.

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THE WEITZEL FAMILY

BY JIM PERRIN, Local Historian


            The Weitzel family who lived in the Wadesboro area a century ago, like 
many of Ponchatoula's families moved to this area from New Orleans.  George Weitzel 
was born about 1851 in New Orleans and was one of thirteen children born to George 
Weitzel (b. ca. 1827 in Alsace, d. 20 April 1873) and Christina Trog (b. Nov. 1824 
in Alsace-Lorraine, d. 7 Feb. 1907).   

            George grew up with his large family in the Ninth Ward of the Crescent 
City.  He married about 1868 to Louisa Grotthaus, who was born 12 Sept. 1848.  
Continuing to live in the Ninth Ward, George and Louisa had five children over the 
course of the next few years.  About 1901, the family moved from New Orleans and 
settled on six acres of land at the eastern edge of Ponchatoula and south of what 
is now Highway 22, where George worked as a farmer.   

            Louisa died 1 July 1910 in Ponchatoula and was buried in Ponchatoula 
Cemetery.  George lived his last years with his daughter Adele's family at 
Wadesboro.  He died 15 June 1921 in New Orleans.  Of George and Louisa's five 
children, the names of four are known: Catherine, born May 1869, Peter Jacob, John, 
and Marie Adele. 

            Peter Jacob "Jake" Weitzel was born in August 1871 in New Orleans and 
married in June 1899 to Violet Thompson.  They had three daughters Adele, Lillian, 
and Violet.  Jake Weitzel died 28 Oct. 1905 in New Orleans.  Following Jake's death 
his widow married Jacob Nicholas Kneer and continued to live in the Ninth Ward of 
New Orleans with Mr. Kneer and her Weitzel children. 

            John Weitzel was born 12 Feb. 1874 in New Orleans but lived most of his 
adult life in the Wadesboro-Ponchatoula area.  He married 6 August 1913 to Lizzie 
Helen Pusey, daughter of Andrew J. and Sallie Pusey of Ponchatoula.  Lizzie was 
born 3 Aug. 1872, died 5 Dec. 1934 at her home in Ponchatoula, and was buried in 
Ponchatoula Cemetery.  John died in the hospital in Independence, and was buried 
beside Lizzie.  They did not have any children.

            Marie Adele Weitzel was born 15 Feb. 1877 in New Orleans.  Soon after 
moving to Ponchatoula she married Edward Hils, who was born 13 Oct. 1876 in New 
Orleans.  Adele and Edward farmed next to the Wadesboro Road.  They raised a large 
family: Louis, Lillie, Floretta, Edward, Jr. Louise, Clara, and Thelma Hils.  From 
these several children there are numerous descendants living in the Ponchatoula 
today.  Adele Weitzel Hils died 22 Feb. 1929 and Edward died 24 June 1937.  They 
were buried in the Wetmore Cemetery.

            The Weitzel family who moved to this area more than a century ago 
formed part of the community of residents of mainly Germanic heritage who settled 
near Ponchatoula and contributed to the development of this area. 

Anyone with questions, comments or suggestions for future articles, may contact 
Jim Perrin at 386-4476.