Naturalization Record for Henry Peter Ratz (1867-1934) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 12)

This is the Certificate of Naturalization for my 2nd great grandfather, Heinrich (Henry) Peter Ratz (1867-1934). It was signed on Monday, February 18, 1895 by Robert H. Shields, the County Clerk in Houghton County, Michigan.

Henry Ratz NaturalizationSMALL.jpeg

Henry came to the U.S. from Germany in the late 1870s or early 1880s. For a time he lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin before making his way to Houghton, Michigan. There he married my 2nd great grandmother, Fannie Schmidt Ratz (1870-1944).

I’ve written about Henry a few times. Most notably here:

"Nothing but the choicest meats" - Henry Peter Ratz (1867-1934)

Some of the oldest historical documents I have in my personal collection pertain to Henry, his birth, and his immigration. I have written about those documents here:

Peter Heinrich Ratz (1867-1934), Kingdom of Württemberg, Renounces German Citizenship

German Birth and Baptismal Record of Peter Heinrich Ratz (1867-1935)

Here his is pictured with his family probably in the 1920s. He is in the center, wearing the bowtie and drivers cap.

Peter Ratz and Family.jpg

Thanks for taking a look at the Family History Artifact of the Day Challenge! Every day in May I will be posting a family artifact or heirloom. I hope you’ll join!

To participate or see what other’s are posting consider joining the private Friends of the Psychogenealogist Facebook Group.

See All of the Challenge Posts:



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10 Lessons From One Month of Daily Genealogy Writing
10 Lessons From One Month of Daily Genealogy Writing

In May of 2020 I challenged myself and others to write every day for a month about a family heirloom or artifact. Here are 10 lessons I learned from this genealogy writing experience.

The Future of Your Digital Family Heirlooms and Artifacts? - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 31)
The Future of Your Digital Family Heirlooms and Artifacts? - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 31)

This will be my final contribution to the May, 2020 Family Artifact Challenge! Thank you to everyone who participated, whether a lot or a little, or just followed along.

The Reverend Esper Brothers and Their Club - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 30)
The Reverend Esper Brothers and Their Club - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 30)

In a previous post I wrote about the history of The Leaning Tree Lodge and its importance to my family for several generations. Before it became The Leaning Tree, it was known as “The Esper Club”, named after three Esper brothers, all Catholic priests, two of whom were twins. This is the story of their club.

"Granny" Paints Her Great Granddaughter - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 29)
"Granny" Paints Her Great Granddaughter - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 29)

How old does an item have to be to be considered and artifact or heirloom? I would argue that is painting, done in 2011, already meets the requirement. It is a watercolor of our daughter, painted by her great “granny”, Muriel Joy Gregory Petit (1930-2014).

Charles Henry Schmidt (d. 1899), My 3rd Great Grandfather - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 28)
Charles Henry Schmidt (d. 1899), My 3rd Great Grandfather - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 28)

This is the original newspaper clipping of Charles Henry Schmidt (d. 1899), my 3rd great grandfather’s obituary. It was affixed to sturdy paper and laminated. He lived and died near Houghton Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. It appears that it was clipped from The Mining Gazette.

The Photo Album of My Great Grandmother, Ida Rhoads Sears (1900-2002) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 27)
The Photo Album of My Great Grandmother, Ida Rhoads Sears (1900-2002) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 27)

This is the gem of my family history archives. It is the photo album of my great grandmother, Ida Rhoads Sears (1900-2002). I wanted you to see the album as it is, every well loved tattered page of it. You can also view the gallery for individual images and notes.

Professor John M. Harrington (1893-1967) of Michigan Technological University - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 26)
Professor John M. Harrington (1893-1967) of Michigan Technological University - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 26)

Professor John M. Harrington (1893-1967) was my first cousin twice removed. As the obituary states, he was a well known professor at the Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan and a former head of the Department of Mathematics there. By some he was described as, “one of the greatest teachers to serve on the Michigan Tech faculty.”

My 3rd Great Grandfather Rhinard Rhoads (1833-1920) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 25)
My 3rd Great Grandfather Rhinard Rhoads (1833-1920) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 25)

My 3rd great grandfather was Rhinard Rhoads (1833-1920) of Dunlo, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. This photo of him was taken in the later years of his life. Rhinard and I share a birthday, 143 years apart. Here are some more photos of him.

Michael John Hanley Jr. (1924-2015), Letters of Recommendation (1944) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 24)
Michael John Hanley Jr. (1924-2015), Letters of Recommendation (1944) - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 24)

I always knew my grandfather, Michael John Hanley Jr. (1924-2015), to be an outstanding person. These letters of recommendation from 1944 are evidence that this was a life long quality of his.

The Leaning Tree - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 23)
The Leaning Tree - Family Artifact Challenge (Day 23)

It is impossible to overstate the multigenerational prominence The Leaning Tree Lodge has in the collective memory of my extended family. Affectionately known as “The Cabin”, it sits on the Au Sable River, east of Grayling, Michigan and has been connected to our family since the 1960s.