Claude* "Claudie" Gentz

1876 - 1916  (~ 39 years)

• Name	Claude* "Claudie" Gentz
  Birth	Dec 1876	Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Census	12 Jun 1880	Sabine Pass (District 42), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	12 Jun 1880 District 42, Sabine Pass, Texas 47 F. P. Hemmenway 26 engineer TX -- PA Mary Hemmenway 25 wife TX LA LA Arthur Hemmenway 4 son TX Emily Hemmenway 1 dau TX Missouri Hays 15 sis-in-law single TX LA TX Mary Gallier 83 1797 G-mother widowed LA SC MS 49 Garner, J.H. 66 Matilda 63 S.A. 30 Bradley 19 Rachel 14 goddaughter TX (--) TX Othneil 4 godson TX (--) TX 50 McCall, A.E. 40 Jacob 27 foreman Frank 18 foreman John 14 Robert 13 Mary 10 Claudie 8 Gibson J.E. 20 female single general housework 51 Wm Allen 78 1802 farmer Germany Germany Ann (prev Mrs. Gibson) 40 1840 Texas Louisiana Louisiana Emma 11 1869 Texas Bettie 8 1872 Texas Nettie 2 1878 Texas 52 Gantz, Charles C. 40 1840 farmer Germany Germany Germany Matilda 30 1850 TX Louisiana Louisiana C 12 1868 TX Mary 11 1869 TX Lena 9 1871 TX Edna 6 1874 TX Claudie 3 1877 TX Hayes, James 50 father-in-law 1820 LA 53 Johnson Uriah 34 LA LA LA L 33 LA LA MS Rachel 13 Lizzie 12 Seth 10 55 McCall John 47 farmer IL -- Germany M.A. 38 wife TX LA LA D.E. 18 son A.L. 15 dau M.K. 13 dau Eva 10 dau Andrew 1 son
  		1880 Texas, Jefferson County, Sabine Pass (District 42) Mary* Johnson Hayes Gallier, daughter Mary Hayes Hemmenway and family; son James* Hayes Jr. and his daughter Matilda* Hayes Gentz, husband Charles* Gentz, dau Claudie* Gentz and siblings; also dau Matilda Hayes Garner and family; granddaughters Anna Elizabeth and Martha Garner, wives of McCall brothers; her nephew Uriah Johnson and children; also William Allen family
  Census	21 Jun 1900	Beaumont (Ward 3), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	21 Jun 1900 3rd Ward, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Grand Avenue Gantz, W.G. Jan 1870 30 TX TX TX Bell Feb 1872 28 m 8 yrs 1892 TX TX TX 2 births 2 living, Ligh May 1894 6 Hall son Mar 1898 2 Clampett, Mary A. Aug 1863 37 roomer widowed MS KY MS Clampett, Joseph, Apr 1883 17 MS MS MS Gantz, Frank Dec 1845 54 Germany Germany Germ imm 1849 Bell Aug 1850 49 m 30 yrs 1870 TX NC TN 12 births 5 living Stanley Jan 1891 TX Earl May 1896 4 TX Courts Helmer Mar 1862 38 m 6 yrs 1894 TX TX TX Claud E. Nov 1876 23 TX Germ TX Beatrice Aug 1896 3 TX Hal Sep 1897 2 TX
  		1900 Texas, Jefferson Co, Beaumont, 3rd Ward, Census Helmer and Claudie Courts and family, Grand Avenue
  Residence	1904	350 Jackson Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Court, Edgar B., wks United Lbr & Export Co, h. James F. Court. Court, Emmett, wks United Lbr & Export Co., r. 1 blk w of same. Court, Homer, wks United Lbr & Export Co. h. James F. Court Court, H. Clifton, watchman mill, A, Kirby Lumber Co., r 747 South Grand ave, Cartwright add. 8 Court, James F., wks United Lbr & Export Co., r 1 blk w of same. 4 Court, Julia A. (wid James), h. Emmett Court Court, S. Helmer, carp r 350 Jackson ave, 5 (five children - Bea, age 8; Hal age 6; Gladys age 3; abt 2; Lillian born 22 Jan 1904)
  Census	25 Apr 1910	Beaumont (Precinct 1, Ward 3), Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Beaumont (Ward 3), Texas. Precinct No. 1 25 Apr 1910 483 Buford Street Helmer S Court 48 1862 m2 15 carpenter buildings TX TX TX Claude Court 33 m1 1877 15 7 births 6 living TX TX TX Beatrice Court 14 1896 TX Hal Court 12 1898 TX Gladys Court 9 1901 TX Lillian Court 7 1903 TX Daisy Court 4 1906 TX Clyde Court 4/12 1910 TX
  		1910 Texas, Jefferson County, Beaumont, Precinct 1, Ward 3 census 483 Buford Street Helmer and Claudie Gentz Courts, Beatrice, Hal, Gladys, Lillian, Daisy and Clyde.
  Residence	25 Apr 1910	485 Buford St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  Residence	1916	2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	D.C.
  Death	5 Nov 1916	2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Beaumont Daily Journal Monday, 6 November 1916 Mrs. S. H. Courts, Dead Mrs. S. H. Courts, 39 years old, died about 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon at her home, 2060 Cable Street. She had been sick for several weeks. Funeral services were conducted at the residence at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon by Rev. Frank Clark. Internment followed at Smith cemetery, near McFadden station, south of the city. Broussard, Little & Co. had charge of the burial. The pallbers were Jeff Pyron, Will Barrow, John Webb, Victor Holtz, Harry Richardson and F. L. Wallace. Mrs. Courts is survived by her husband, two sons, Hal and Clyde Courts, and five daughters, Mrs. Wallace Choates and Misses Gladys, Beatrice, Lillian and Daisy Courts. Notes: This obituary, typical for Beaumont newspapers, is frought with errors. I have taken one liberty with the article; it is not a direct quote. The obituary is actually written for "Mrs. F. H. Courks"; I have corrected the name. Also note the article mentions Mrs. Wallace Choates (Beatrice) and then lists her again separately as single. ________ Death Certificate: (Registrar's No. 415) stamped 25815 Mrs. Claude Courts, 2060 Cable, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Length of Residence: 1 yr. In the State 39 yrs. Personal: Female, White, married Occupation: Housewife Date of Birth Dec 15 1876 Age: 39 yrs 11 mos. Birthplace: Jefferson Co, Texas Name of Father: C. C. Gants, birthplace unknown Maiden name of Mother: Tildy Hayes, Jefferson Co, Texas Informant: S.H. Courts, Beaumont, Texas Medical: Date of Death: Nov 5, 1916 "I hereby certify that I attended the deceaed from 11/3/1916 to 11/5/1916, that I last saw her alive on 11/5/1916 and that death occurred on the date stated at 6:00 p.m." The cause of death was: Acute (illegible) "Vorphitis" Duration: 3 days; Contributory: 1 da Signed: J.B. Swaryn, M.D. 11/8/16, Beaumont. Place of Burial: Smith Cemetery 11/6/1916, Broussard, Little & Co, Beaumont ____
  		Gentz, Claudee death certificate
  Burial	6 Nov 1916	McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	Claudie, along with many other family members, waw buried in in McFaddin Cemetery, which was between Nederland and Beaumont. When DuPont built their plant, the cemetery was discovered and after court hearings, it was decided to excavate the cemetery and move the interred. The remains of about 30 or so were gathered and placed into four concrete boxes, seven or eight in each box. See media attached for pictures and documentation.
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead Grave 1 COURTS, Edna Bordeman - m James Bradley Courts (s/o Elias (Matt) Courts (s/o James & Julia) BORDEMAN, E. Mrs. (unknown - no male Bordeman found with spouse E.) BORDEMAN, (child) (unknown) COURTS, Edna Bordeman - dup of Edna Bordeman Courts COURTS, Tilda (Matilda Grace Gibson m James Franklin Courts) she died 1925) COURTS, Homer (s/of James Franklin & Matilda Grace - died 1918) COURTS, Caudine (Claudie) - died 1916 COURTS, Estie Baby (Claudie's baby) COURTS, Carmel - unknown COURTS, Buff - unknown
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead McFaddin Cemetery was located on property south of Beaumont, in Port Neches, Central Gardens at a location within the grounds of where DuPont is now. The cemetery was discovered in the Fifties, and due to the impending construction of the plant. (See attached newspaper coverage). There were about 30 people buried there whose remains were subsequently placed in four separate concrete boxes and relocated to Forest Lawn Cemetery where they were laid once again to rest in the Garden of Peace section. The headstones for the four graves are all identical, reading simply "TF Smith Homstead Tract Cemetery." The detailed list of occupants only exist on an index card in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park records (see copy attached). All of these people were either residents or descendants of the Sparks Settlement, also called Aurora, (what later became Port Arthur. The families were predominantly the Sparks, Courts and Gentz families and other family names who married into these families. Sparks Settlement was abandoned in late 1800s due to storms and disease; even the houses were moved. Most of them started another community in the Port Neches, Central Gardens area where they started a new cemetery - i.e. what was called the McFaddin Cemetery. Sparks Cemetery was also abandoned. The occupants of that cemetery, those who died while the community was active, were never moved; only recognized by a historical marker placed in a boulevard on DeQueen at Lakeshore (see photo). There is some false information on the Internet that the remains in Sparks Cemetery were removed to Forest Lawn. But what I have been able to discover is that is not the case. It is the later cemetery, McFaddin Cemetery, that was removed. There is also some belief that the cemetery was used even into the 1920s for burial needs; but that also seems to be mistaken information. The were fine and strong and brave pioneers who I am so proud to call my ancestors. They helped build our community here, and somehow, I hope to bring to mind the signifcance of those four plain little headstones marked simply "TF Smith Homestead Tract Cemetery."
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead
  		McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Garden of Peace Section
  		McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Garden of Peace Section
  Other-Begin	30 Sep 1952	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	court case: Smith graves
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead 1952 Article Beaumont Enterprise; "Early Burials Found on Neches"; "One of Area Private Cemeteries Uncovered on DuPont Tract"
  		Court Cause No. 16187: "W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al, vs. Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al" 30 Sep 1952 named deceased persons to-wit: Caroline Sparks, Edward Sparks, John L. Sparks, William Sparks, Joseph Sparks, Susan Sparks Crawford, Phillip Crawford, James C. Sparks, Lura Sparks Spriggs, James M. Court, Julia A. Court, James F. Court, Lillian Court Smith, Irvin Smith, Francis Court Sparks, Viola Court Sparks, Madison Court, Sarah A. Court, Edna Court, Beulah Court, a Mrs. E. Bordeman and child... 45.7 acres on T.F. Smith homestead tract; included in league bought by J.S. Johnson in 1924, who later conveyed the property to E.I. DuPont in 1952, at which time private cemetery was discovered. Court proceedings to have the remains relocated. The following family members not named in the suit but were included in cemetery records: in Grave 1 were: Tilda Courts, Homer Courts, Caudine (Claudie) Courts, Estie baby Courts, Carmel Courts, (unknown), Buff Courts, (unknown), James C Sparks Sr, Fred Frugia (unknown), Genevia Frugia), Florence Frugia (unknown), Brad Courts Sr.
  Other-Begin	10 Aug 1961	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
  	court case: Smith graves
  	Court Cause No. 16107 W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al vs Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al Court Cause No. 18399 W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al vs Robert S. Frugia, et al Court Cause No. 20324 W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr. et al vs. Coy V. Courts, et al (Sr.) On this 10th day of August 1961, came on to be heard the application of the plaintiffs in the above entitled and numbered cause for an order of the court showing that the plaintiffs have complied with the judgments previously entered in said cause and further showing that the plaintiffs or their successors in interest are entitled to the free and unrestricted use of the land hereinafter described, as set forth in plaintiff's petition in the above entitled and numbered causes... (pgs 10-13 of attached pdf)
  		McFaddin Cemetery - TF Smith Homestead Forest Lawn Index Card on occupants of graves.
  Notes	By 1880, Charles and Matilda were living next door to Anna McCall, who was by then a widow and her youngest child was Claudie McCall. That caught my eye because my grandmother, Lillian Courts Jones' mother was Claudie Gentz. On further scrutiny, I see that Claudie McCall was born 1872, and I also saw that her father died that same year - that's sad. In the meantime, in 1872 when she was born and had lost her father, my Matilda and Charles' youngest child at that time was Lena, 2 yrs old. They had another girl in '74, and then in '76 is when my Claudie Gentz, my g-grandma, was born. I'm thoroughly convinced that my Claudie Gentz was named after little Claudie McCall, now 4 yrs old!! I was really excited to find where my grandmother's name came from. Some records have her as "Claude" which I knew she went by Claudie. But anyway -- that's where her name came from! I also found Anna McCall in 1900. By then she declared 7 births and 5 living. All 5 are still home. Missing is little Claudie McCall. Since we have no 1890 census, we don't know when she died - unless there's some other record I'm not aware . But now I wonder if perhaps the child died around the time that my Claudie was born to further enhance the honor of having a baby named for her. Claudie died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage in 1916- leaving 8 children. My grandmother, Lillian Courts, was only 12, but she talked often to me about how pretty her mama was, dark curly hair and tall. My g-mother was 4'10! so "tall" is relative) and Helmer Courts, Claudie's widower, never remarried to raise all those kids.
  Person ID	I1319	Roots
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2011

  
  

  Father	Charles* Christopher Gentz, Sr (immigrant),   b. 19 Mar 1840, Dewichow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Prussia d. 25 Oct 1904, Port Neches, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 64 years)
  Mother	Matilda* Hayes,   b. 17 Dec 1849, Taylor Bayou Settlement, Labelle, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 17 Sep 1930, Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	18 Sep 1865	Jefferson Co, Texas   [2]
  	Name: Charles Gentz Marriage Date: 18 Sep 1865 Spouse: Matilda Hayes Marriage County: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: Texas Marriages, 1814-1909 license recorded 11th Sep by H.E. Simpson, county clerk.
  		Charles Gentz and Matilda Hayes Marriage Certificate 18 Sep 1865, Jefferson Co, Texas
  Documents		Gentz, Charles and Matilda Hayes marriage license 11 Sep 1865 recorded by H.E. Simpson, County Clerk provided to me by Jaye Hendon, 10/13/2015
  Family ID	F258	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Samuel* Helmer Courts,   b. 15 Mar 1862, Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 27 Dec 1954, Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 92 years)
  Marriage	13 Jun 1894	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas   [2]
  	Name: Clara Gentz Gender: Female Marriage Date: 13 Jun 1894 Spouse: Helmer Court Marriage City: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900
  		Samuel Helmer Courts & Claude Gentz Marriage Certificate 13 Jun 1894, Beaumont, Texas
  Notes
  Children	1. Alma Beatrice Courts,   b. 20 Aug 1896, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 18 Mar 1990, Tyler Co Hospital, Woodville, Tyler Co, Texas (Age 93 years) + 2. Hal Ogden Courts, Sr,   b. 23 Sep 1898, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 15 Aug 1993, Vidor, Orange Co, Texas (Age 94 years)   3. Effie Courts,   b. Between 1900 and 1903, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Bef 1910, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 10 years) + 4. Gladys Courts,   b. 3 May 1901, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 10 Jul 1989, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 88 years) + 5. Lillian* Frances Courts,   b. 22 Jan 1904, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 7 Dec 1977, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 73 years) + 6. Daisy C Courts,   b. 9 Aug 1906, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 12 Apr 1998, Houston, Harris Co, Texas (Age 91 years) + 7. Clyde Claude "Sonny" Courts,   b. 1909, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 21 Oct 1968, Nederland, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 59 years)   8. (infant) Estie Courts,   b. 29 Jul 1913, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 07 Aug 1913, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 0 years) + 9. Margaret Claudie (Marguerite) Courts,   b. Bef 5 Nov 1916, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 2 Sep 1998, Colmesneil, Tyler Co, Texas (Age > 81 years)
  Family ID	F235	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Apr 2011

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - Dec 1876 - Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas Marriage - 13 Jun 1894 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Residence - 1904 - 350 Jackson Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Census - 25 Apr 1910 - Beaumont (Precinct 1, Ward 3), Jefferson Co, Texas Residence - D.C. - 1916 - 2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Death - 5 Nov 1916 - 2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Burial - 6 Nov 1916 - McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Other-Begin - court case: Smith graves - 30 Sep 1952 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Other-Begin - court case: Smith graves - 10 Aug 1961 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Albums

  Living (At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.)

  
  

• Sources

  [S149] 1880 Jefferson Co, Texas, Census. [S371] Marriage license.