Surname: Krenz, Krentz, Krintz, Krantz

The names of two Krenz ancestors are highlighted
in this detail from the Evangelical marriage banns
of Martin Krenz and Anna Mariane Strech.

My paternal grandfather was John Samuel Krentz. His great-grandfather was:

• Johann Krenz of Ostrowke, named in the marriage record of his son Martin. He was probably born before 1772. He was my third great-grandfather.
  
• Johann Martin Krenz of Podanin, born about 1792. He married Anna Marianne Streich at Podanin on 22 January 1823. To my knowledge, they did not emigrate. Martin and Anna Marianne were my great-great-grandparents.
  
• Johann Michael Krenz, born 26 October 1837 at Podanin, Posen, Prussia, and christened there on November 5. His first marriage, to Anna Louise Butow (Büto, Bueto), was recorded at Chodziez, Posen, Prussia on 21 January 1862. Together they had eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Upon arrival in the United States, this family stayed first at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, but soon settled permanently in Reynolds, White County, Indiana. Anna Louise died there 8 October 1874. Michael next married Christine Friederike Dorothea (Dora) Brandt at Reynolds on 24 April 1875. Dora had a daughter of her own (also called Dora), and together Michael and Dora had eight more children, one of whom died in infancy. Michael died 7 January 1924 at Reynolds, and was buried at the Lutheran cemetery. Michael and Dora were my great-grandparents.
  
• Johann Samuel Krenz, born 19 May 1891 in Reynolds and christened there May 31 at the German Lutheran church. He married Margreta (Gertie) Buss on 11 February 1914 at Moorhead, Minnesota. They made their home in Ransom County, North Dakota, where they had nine children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. John died 27 August 1978 and was buried in the little cemetery at Anselm.

Evangelische Kirche Kolmar (KrSt. Kolmar). Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1809-1874 (Protestant parish register transcripts of baptisms, marriages and deaths for Kolmar, Posen, Germany; now Chodzież, Poznań, Poland). Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969, 1981. FHL INTL Films 807991-807993.

Kościół rzymsko-katolicki. Parafja Chodzież (Chodzież). Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1819-1874 (Transcripts of Roman Catholic parish register of births, marriages and deaths for Kolmar, Posen, Germany; now Chodzież (Chodzież), Poznań, Poland. Salt Lake City, Utah: Mikrofilmowało The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969, 1981. FHL INTL Film 807956.