Maria Katharina Rusch
- Birth: January 31, 1831 / Dornbirn, Austria
- Death: June 2, 1878 / Dornbirn, Austria
- Age: 47
- Married: Josef Anton Zoppel / Johann Hofle
- Children: 10
- Profession: Unknown
According to the Dornbirn city archives, Maria Katharina
Rusch was the first of four children born to Anton and Agatha Rusch of
Dornbirn, Austria. During Maria Katharina’s life, she had 10 children between
three men. Her first child, was Josef Anton Rusch, and he was born out of
wedlock. According to the city archives, Josef was born in 1858, two years
before Maria Katharina wed. As such, since there was no father’s name to take,
Anton kept the last name Rusch. This is how we believe our Rusch family name
was carried on at this particular time. We
also believe he was named after Maria Katharina’s father, keeping the name of
Anton.
In 1860, two years after Josef was born, Maria Katharina married Josef Anton Zoppel and mothered four Zoppel children with him. It should be noted that both names “Josef” and “Anton” seem to be incredibly popular names for men at that time and in the area. Maria Katharina’s father, husband and son were all named Josef Anton. The Zoppel couple also ended up naming their last child Josef as well (most likely after the husband).
In 1869, Maria Katharina married Johann Hofle and mothered four Hofle children with him. We do not know why she remarried, but it could have been due to divorce or maybe her husband Josef Anton Zoppel passed away. There is no known information about this change. The first Hofle child is born in 1868 (just two years after her last Zoppel child is born). We do not know however, if this child is biologically Maria Katharina’s—since the child was born before her marriage to Johann. However, Johann and Maria Katharina go on to have three more children for a total of four Hofle children. In 1878, at age 47, Maria Katharina passes away, just six years after her last child is born. The cause of death is unknown, but at her age, she was probably somewhat near the average life expectancy during this time.
In 1860, two years after Josef was born, Maria Katharina married Josef Anton Zoppel and mothered four Zoppel children with him. It should be noted that both names “Josef” and “Anton” seem to be incredibly popular names for men at that time and in the area. Maria Katharina’s father, husband and son were all named Josef Anton. The Zoppel couple also ended up naming their last child Josef as well (most likely after the husband).
In 1869, Maria Katharina married Johann Hofle and mothered four Hofle children with him. We do not know why she remarried, but it could have been due to divorce or maybe her husband Josef Anton Zoppel passed away. There is no known information about this change. The first Hofle child is born in 1868 (just two years after her last Zoppel child is born). We do not know however, if this child is biologically Maria Katharina’s—since the child was born before her marriage to Johann. However, Johann and Maria Katharina go on to have three more children for a total of four Hofle children. In 1878, at age 47, Maria Katharina passes away, just six years after her last child is born. The cause of death is unknown, but at her age, she was probably somewhat near the average life expectancy during this time.