Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-04-17
IN MEMORIAM.

Alice Britner Datz, died March Is,
1919. al her home in Williamsburg, Pa
She was a member of the class of 1919
of the Williamsburg High School, ana
her death shocked and grieved the
entire student body and faculty. BE
cause Of her faithfulness as student,
her ever-evident cheerfulness and her
Loyalty to class and school, she found
a place in the hearts of all who knew
her They miss her and grieve for her
In the years to come they will think OF
her tenderly and lovingly"
The following is the autobiography
of Miss Datz, published in the current
number of the Williamsburg High
School Review:
Ninety-fve years ago, a baby boy
Bingen-on the Rhine. That baby was
my paternal grandfather, John George
Datz. He lived in Germany until h.
was twenty-four years old, serving four
of those years with the Uhlans of the
German army. He then, after travel
ing sixty-two days on the water, came
to America. In 1926 my paternal
grandmother, Rose Greninger by name,
was born in Vilingen, near the Black
Forest of Germany. She came 10
America when she Was sixteen years
old. Grandfather met her two years
after he came TO New York, and they
were married and later came to Pitts
burgh, travelling by rail to Harrisburg
and then by canal to Pittsburg. He
was a cooper by trade, and worked at
this trade most of his life. Father
was born in 1868 near Greensburg,
Pennsylvania. He lived in Green's
burg, working at carriage-making, until
he was twenty-three years old.
My maternal grandfather, Gregory
Britner, was born at Falling Waters,
West Virginia, in 1888. He met my
grandmother, Mary Frieze, who was
born in Shepherdstown, West Virginia,
in 1888. They were married and liveu
in Shepherdstown, where my mother
was born in 1872. Mother and father
were married in 1898. After moving
from place to place, they finally settled
down in Williamsburg, where was born
on the seventeenth OF March, 1900.
Ny birthplace was little four-room-
ed house at the corner of Hay Street
and Penn Avenue. Since we removed
from there, that house has been torn
down, and the Williamsburg Post Office
built there. suppose was as green"
in the ways of the world, as the
shamrock" that characterizes my
birthplace, but from all reports, must
have been a good baby. One weak
ness, which has chung through life,
was my fondneSs for sugar and sweet
things. was never satisfied until my
Grandmother had filled with sugar a
small green box, which kept express
ly for that purpose.
When | could just walk, our family
removed TO house on Rebecca
Avenue, where there was a large back
yard. Father raised tomatoes there,
and often mistook the green tomatoes
| for balls, which | was very fond OF.
| The hardest work Father said he ever
did was to take my picture. ! must
have been afraid of the camera and
my mind had to be occupied with some
thing else before he could take it,
After living in this house for seven
years, we took our family goods into
| the house next door. The third Christ
mas after we moved there was pres
ented with a baby brother. My but
was proud, and Christmas presents had
no attraction for me.
My grammar school days were hap
py ones, spent in the Williamsburg
Schools, but the happiest days have
been those which | spent in High
School. Nothing very eventful has
happened during the past three years,
but some Seniors say that was lost
in the High School Building when !
| was a Freshman. think that is only
a tradition, for | can't remember any
thing of it, and you know Seniors will
have their fun. The only thing that
married by happiness was my Oldest
brothers. enlisting in the army How,
ever, he has been to France and has
returned safe and sound and am glad
now that he has had the experience. |
| am a Senior now, and almost ready
| for life in the business world. hav,
| taken the Commercial Course in the
High School to fit me for work, which
may take up as soon as | leave
school. ! like StenograpRy, and M
| chief aim now is to become good,
competent stenographer. feel it my
duty to repay my parents at least a
| small portion of the blessings they have
given me.