The ancestors of the Houtzdale PA Courtot family were Celestin Courtot and his wife Jeanne Claude Teninge (Chenenge) of Ronchamp, Haute Saône, France. The birth record of their first son Jules lists Jeanne's surname as Cheninge, but a letter from the mayor of Ronchamp states that this is an error and her name was Teninge.

Haute Saône is near the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhone River. It is situated in the southeast of France between the provinces of Champagne and Alsace-Lorraine near the German border. Haute-Saône is called a "department", named for a river or mountain range the territory encompasses. The two major occupations of this area are iron-ore mining and agriculture.

Celestin and Jeanne had three known children, two sons and one daughter, all born in France and probably in the Ronchamp vicinity.

Mary Courtot married Constantine George in France. According to Gladys (Cook) Potts of Windber, PA, Mary and Constantine always told this story about their leaving France to come to the United States: At that time there was a war, and Constantine did not wish to be conscripted into the French army so he and Mary started out for the coast to get passage on a ship. On their way they saw some soldiers, and hid beneath a bridge until they had passed. Afterwards they made their way to the coast and came to America, settling in Windber, PA. Constantine was always called "Uncle George" by the family. Both are buried in Richland Cemetery, Johnstown, Cambria Co., PA. There were at least two known children, Alice and Clara George, and there may be others unknown at this present time.Mary (Courtot) and Constantine George are buried in Richland Cemetery, Johnstown, Cambria Co., PA.

i. ALICE³ GEORGE.

ii. CLARA GEORGE.

Joseph, the first son of Celestin and Jeanne Claude (Teninge) Courtot, was born in 1850 in France, according to their 1880 census of Vienna (near Youngstown), Trumbull Co., OH, located on the borderline of Mercer Co., PA. From the same census it can be learned that Joseph was a coal miner and his wife Delphine, born 1852 in France, was at home keeping house. In 1880 Joseph had four children, all born in France except for daughter Annie who was then eleven months old and born in OH, probably Vienna. Joseph's son Jules was born in 1872,and daughters Mary in 1874, and Margaret H. in 1876 and it therefore would appear that Joseph immigrated to the United States after 1876 and before 1879, when he was between 26 and 29 years old. Joseph had married in France when about 1871 when he was 21 years old and Delphine 19. They lived in France 8 or 9 years before leaving for America with their 3 oldest children. Nothing further is known about Joseph and his descendants.

i. JULES³ COURTOT, b. 1872, France.

ii. MARY COURTOT, b. 1874, France.

iii. MARGARET H. COURTOT, b. 1876, France.

iv. ANNIE COURTOT, b. June 1880, Ohio.

Louis Jules Alexandre Courtot, the third child of Celestine and Jeanne Courtot, was born 4 February 1858 at Ronchamp, "without resident professional help to the same" according to his birth certificate. Louis, who preferred to be known as Jules or Julius, was married to Augustine M. Perroz on 16 December 1876 at Vienna OH by the Rev. VIctor Zavosny, and witnessed by Auguste Molle. In Vienna there is the St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church, organized in 1861 and a frame church built. By the beginning of the century only six Catholic families remained in the parish, so in 1902 the church was reorganized and a brick church subsequently built on R.D. #2. Since this was the only Catholic church in Vienna, it can be assumed it was the church of the Courtots. At the time of their marriage Jules was age 18 and Augustine 17 years old, born on 12 May 1859 in France at Champagney which is a town near Ronchamp. Augustine had come to the United States in 1872 when she was 13 years old, according to her obituary.

The first child of Jules and Augustine was Constant A. Courtot, born a year later; he died at age 11 in 1882. During their lifetime, Jules and Augustine lived in Vienna and Pine Hill, OH, then in West Moshannon in Clearfield Co., PA and finally in Houtzdale in present Woodward Township.

Houtzdale was surveyed in 1869 through the efforts of George M. Brisbin. Lots were offered for sale with the expectation that railroads would open up a region then without inhabitants except for a lumber camp. It is situated on the Moshannon Branch Railroad, and is the center of the semi-bituminous coal region. The borough was named for Dr. Daniel Houtz who owned a vast number of acres and upon whose land the town was eventually situated. West Moshannon is 4 miles outside of Houtzdale on the road to Madera.

Jules' farm was located across from present Moshannon Valley Schools.

Jules and Augustine had 9 children; the last son Henry S. Courtot died in Houtzdale at age 8 in 1900. On 1 January 1926, at age 68, Jules died and was interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Brisbin, PA. Augustine lived for 11 years after his death, and she died at age 77 on 17 March 1937, at the home of her daughter Mary D. Cook in Windber PA. Two days later funeral services were held in the Holy Child Catholic Church there, with burial beside her husband in Brisbin cemetery. Besides her immediate family, Augustine left a sister, Mrs. A.C. Cook of Windber, 22 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Also Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peroze (sic) of Curtisville, PA, presumably a relative of Augustine's. Augustine's son Charles was named administrator of her estate.

Generation No. 3

CHARLES CONSTANT COURTOT, the second son of Jules and Augustine Courtot, was born on 11 May 1879 at Vienna, Trumbull Co., OH, and lived in Houtzdale PA nearly all of his life. On Christmas Day in 1899, when he was twenty years old, he married in Houtzdsale, Cora Mae Crocker, age 19, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rounsley) Crocker. Eventually they purchased a home on Brisbin Street in Houtzdale (presently Moran Highway), situated on a hill which locally became known as Courtot Hill. The family attended the local Methodist Church where they had been married. Charles ands Cora reared six children; one died when an infant. After 49 years of marriage, Cora died at home on 3 May 1948 at age 68. Four years later Charles died from a respiratory ailment on 30 March 1952, age 73, in Rahway NJ at the home of his daughter Mary Welsh, 907 Trussler Place, where he had been visiting for a few months.

Charles was a retired coal mine foreman, and had been connected with that industry all of his adult life. In 1937 he was employed by the Clyde Coal Company and Hale Coal Company.

Funeral services were held in Houtzdale, and interment in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery at Brisbin beside his wife. He was survived by his children, 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and his brothers Julius, Bedford, PA; Joseph, Windber, PA; August, Tyrone PA; and sisters Mrs. Mary Cook, Windber PA; Mrs. Thomas Anthony, Akron OH; Mrs. Henry Evans, Houtzdale PA. Charles was interred in the family plot at the Brisbin Cemetery.

The homestead remains in the family, in the possession of their grandson Emil Huber, Jr.

Cora Mae Crocker, the sixth child of John and Elizabeth, was born 3 March 1880 in Frosty Valley, Columbia Co., PA. Four months later on 25 July she was baptized at the Methodist Episcopal Church. At age 19, on 25 December 1899, she married Charles Constant Courtot of Houtzdale PA, son of Jules and Augustine (Perroz) Courtot. They were married by the Rev. B.B. Hamlin of the Houtzdale Methodist Church. They reared six children; in 1904 Louise Alice died at age two.

Cora Mae died at her home on Brisbin St. in Houtzdale at 10:05 p.m. on 3 May 1948 when she was 68 years old. She had been ill since 26 April; the immediate cause of death was bilateral bronchopneumonia following a cerebral thrombosis (stroke) and palsy. She was survived by her husband Charles, children, 18 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.. Her surviving sisters were: Mrs. Mary Crago, Houtzdale; Mrs. Louise Tatters, Barnesboro; Mrs. Martha Howeson, Pittsburgh. Cora (Crocker) Courtot was a member of the First Methodist Church, having joined on 11 February 1908, nine years after her marriage. She is interred in the family plot at the Bisbin Cemetery.

SEE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN CROCKER.

i. LOUISE ALICE⁴ COURTOT, d. 1904.

ii. MARY COURTOT.

iii. PAULINE COURTOT, b. 07 May 1907¹; d. 26 September 1988¹, m. Tompkins

iv. MARTHA COURTOT, b. 19 September 1900²; d. November 1984² m. Huber

v. CHARLES COURTOT, b. 10 July 1909³; d. 31 May 1989³; m. MARIE; b. 05 July 1914⁴; d. 17 December 1994⁴.

10. vi. JOHN C. COURTOT, b. 05 June 1911; d. 01 November 1976, Rahway NJ.

11. vii. ELWOOD CROCKER COURTOT, b. 05 March 1921, Houtzdale PA; d. 20 February 1999, Roselle, Union Co., NJ.

i. DAUGHTER ?⁴ EVANS.

ii. CLYDE⁴ RANDOLPH.

iii. ROBERT RANDOLPH.

iv. GRACE RANDOLPH.

August J. Courtot and his wife Maude (Rhodes) had no surviving children. Both of their sons died: Richard at age 12, and Eugene Francis at age 15.

i. RICHARD⁴ COURTOT, d. Age 12.

ii. EUGENE FRANCIS COURTOT, d. Age 15.

i. PEARL⁴ ANTHONY.

ii. RUSSELL ANTHONY.

lChildren of JULIUS COURTOT and JENNIE LOBB are:

Burial: 06 November 1976, Harleigh Cemetery, Camden NJ

Funeral: 04 November 1976, Crabier Funeral Home, 275 W. Milton Ave, Rahway NJ

Memoral Service: 06 November 1976, First Baptist Church, Rahway NJ by Rev. Orrin T. Hardgrove

i. JOHN J.⁵ COURTOT.

Elwood Crocker Courtot actually died on 19 February 1999 at approximately 11:15 pm. Time of death was recorded by the MD from the hospice at 1:20 am, so the date of death is officially recorded as 20 February 1999.

Endnotes

1. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from M through Z, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.112.4.94940.3

2. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.110918.33

3. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.64

4. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.85

5. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.64

6. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.85

7. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.87

8. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.59

9. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.87

10. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.9643.41

11. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.50858.73