William John Ulrich (1893 - 1979)

Born 11 Jan 1893 in Fowler, Clinton, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Son of John Peter Ulrich and Elizabeth (Bauer) Ulrich

Husband of Hazel Agnes (Joens) Ulrich — married 6 Nov 1924 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Dec 1979 at age 86 in St. Claire Shores, Macomb, Michigan, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jana Ulrich [send private message]

Biography

William was born in 1893, the son of John P and Elizabeth (Bauer) Ulrich^[1][2]. He served in the Army Medical Corps at Fort Custer, Michigan from 25 Jun 1918 to 12 Apr 1919^[3] having been promoted to Sergeant 10 Feb 1919^[4]. He married Hazel Agnes Joens in 1924^[5] and they had five children, four of whom grew to adulthood. He died in 1979^[6] and is buried in Holy Sepulchre cemetery in Sourthfield, Michigan with his wife and some of of his children^[7]

His obituary^[8]:

William Ulrich socialized with rich and powerful automotive executives throughout his life, but he always had time for his favorite charities, and helped raise money for the Goodfellow Fund, and for the widows and children of Detroit police officers.

Mr. Ulrich, 86, died Friday at Georgian East nursing home in St Clair Shores.

He moved to Detroit in 1913 at age 20 from Fowler, a farming community north of Lansing, and became a manager for CF Smith & Co, one of the country's first supermarket chains.

After serving in the army in World War I, he returned to Detroit and became a manufacturing representative and eventually vice-president of the Carborundom Co., which supplied sandpaper and grinding wheels to the auto companies.

He later formed his own supply company, the Wm. J. Ulrich Co., and also became a director of the Detroit Gasket Co., After he retired from the companies at age 75, he became a marketing representative for a Swedish ball bearing company.

Mr. Ulrich moved to Grosse Pointe Farms 15 years ago from northwest Detroit where he helped form the Jesu parish. Mr. Ulrich also helped found the Archdiocesan Development Fund in Detroit, and was a past director and trustee of the Boys Club of Metropolitan Detroit. He was also a past director and member of both the Detroit Athletic Club and the Recess Club in the Fisher Bldg.

Mr. Ulrich is survived by his daughters, Mrs. Frank Couzens and Mrs. Donald (Mary) (sic, should be Marg) Maxwell; a son, Robert; 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Records, Wayne County record 279793
2. ↑ 1900 census
3. ↑ BIRLS Veterans Death Benefits
4. ↑ Army General Orders, 10 Feb 1919
5. ↑ Michigan Marriage Records, Wayne County, record 279793
6. ↑ Michigan Death Index
7. ↑ Find-a-Grave memorial #210089126.
8. ↑ Detroit Free Press, 9 Dec 1979, p 1

• United States Federal Census:
  • 1900, Fowler, Clinton, Michigan. Sheet 6, Dwelling 112.
  • 1910, Dallas, Clinton, Michigan. Dwelling 266.
  • 1920, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Ward 8, Dwelling 28.
  • 1930, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Ward 2, Block 142, Dwelling 1.
  • 1940, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Ward 2, Sheet 1B, Dwelling 11.
• Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan:
  • Mother's obituary: 20 Oct 1949, p 38.
  • Sister, Anna Ulrich's obituary: 18 Nov 1969
  • Wife's obituary: 24 Nov 1972, pp 20, 55.
  • Son William's death notice: 18 Apr 1974, p 15
  • Obituary: 9 Dec 1979, pp 1, 17.
• Army General Orders, Form 152, Promotion Orders.
• Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 180; Film Description: 1924 Wayne-1925 Calhoun. Record 279793.
• Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records. Michigan Death Index. Lansing, MI, USA.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 November 2020), memorial page for William John Ulrich (11 Jan 1893–7 Dec 1979), Find a Grave Memorial no. 210089126, citing Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Oakland County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by Jana Ulrich (contributor 48082455).

DNA

Match between descendants of William and his brother Herman:

Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between James J Ulrich, grandson of William Ulrich and his 2C1R, mb, great grandchild of Herman Ulrich. Their MRCAs are their great / 2nd great grandparents John Ulrich and Elizabeth Bauer. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 3rd - 4th cousin based on sharing 129 cm over 6 segments.