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- The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI) Mon 4 Sep 1922, page four:
Mathias M. Kitz, one of the pioneers of Oshkosh, passed away at 6 o'clock this morning at his home, -11 Main street, following a stroke suffered last Saturday. He was 89 years of age and had lived in this city over thirty-seven years(I think this is what is reads - is faint but should read 65 years). In fact, he came to Oshkosh when this city, was a mere village and lived to see it develop to the present proportions.
Mr. Kitz came to Oshkosh in 1857. He was born in Dueseldorf near ----, Rhine, Germany, March 28, 1833, and was one of a family of six. They came to America in 1853, making the trip in a sailing vessel, the voyage taking some 42 days. They settled first at Hoboken, N J, later moving to Toledo and finally to Oshkosh.
Mr. Kitz engaged first in the furniture business here and was the first to manufacture furniture in this city. He remained at that trade until the great fire of '73 wiped out his property and he became foreman in the sash and door department of Jones & Foster plant. He later established the cigar box factory now operated by his sons, at the corner of East Irving street and Jefferson avenue which he continued to manage until twelve years ago, when he retired because of his advanced age and left the business to his sons, George A. and Martin H. Kitz.
He was one of the members of the first volunteer fire departments Oshkosh had, known as the old Germania Company No. 2. During his residence here he twice visited Europe, going to Germany to see relatives and friends. He married in 1886, Miss Johanna Johnson at Toledo and she passed away here in 1891. In 1893 he remarried, and took as his wife Mrs. Caroline Miller, who survives him.
He also leaves two sons, George A. and M. H. Kitz, and two daughters, Mrs. Benedict (Mary) Reich, and Mrs. C. F. (Anna) Stracy, all of Oshkosh, as well as one stepson, Edward N. Miller, of this city, twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Wednesday morning from St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rev. J. A. Eelback officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery. The body has been taken to the funeral home of Fiss & Bills, where friends can view the remains up to tomorrow afternoon. They will then be taken to the home of the son George A. Kitz, 175 Church street.
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1833 - 1922 (89 years)
