Welcome to the Hartwig Branch of Our Family. Verna's Mom was Margaret Hartwig.
Margaret's Dad was Fred Hartwig, born in Peoria, IL. His parents were born near Aurich, Germany and came to America in the early 1850's and were married near Peoria, IL.
Margaret's Mom was Elise Gronewold. She was born in Neu Sandhorst, Germany - just outside Aurich in an area known as Ostfriesland. She was married in Germany to Marcus Nitz and had three children there. Marcus died in January 1895, and by July 1895 she and the three children were on the ship Willehad bound for Ellis Island and America. Her three brothers and one sister had already immigrated to America. By December 1896 she had married Fred Hartwig.