Member Biographies
Maria Koppitz
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Maria Koppitz, daughter of John Wagner.
From the First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma 1886-1986 biography of the Koppitz Family
Morris Koppitz was born July 20, 1858 and came to this country from Germany when he was twelve years old. He came by ship and worked in a bakery in New York City, eventually settling in the Great Bend, Kansas area. He worked at a mill and as a policeman during this time.
He married Mary Wagner who was born December 19, 1869 in Saginaw, Michigan. Mary’s family came from Germany and moved from Saginaw to Ellinwood, Kansas in 1878. Mary’s parents, John Wagner, Sr. and Anna Reinhold were married June 13, 1866 in Saginaw, Michigan. Anna was born in Muhya, Germany, October 1, 1846. Anna was very tiny and frail but gave birth to eighteen children, however only twelve survived. John was born in September 5, 1834 in Germany. Anna’s family owned the Reinhold Brewery in Michigan. Anna died November 27, 1935 in her daughter Mary’s home. She was a devout Christian and read her German bible everyday. She spoke very little English but always hummed spiritual hymns as she worked. She was referred to as “Grosmutter” which is German for grandmother.
Mary’s brothers and sisters were: John Jr. who married Florence Crane; Margaretha (Maggie) married William Quast; Hannah married Frank Winters; Louie married Daisy Phoenix; William married Grace Sheddy; August married Lydia Schneider; Caroline married Herman Schroeder; Charlie M. married Frances A. Eggstein; Ida K. married Loyd F. White; Chris married Lena Schroeder and Theo married Anna Giesler. Several brothers and sisters did not survive. Ida was the youngest, born October 28, 1894 in Ellinwood, Kansas.
Mary and Morris came to Oklahoma when the government opened up the Indian land called the “Cherokee Strip”. Each family came in covered wagons and was given 160 acres of land to homestead. They built their own homes and barns and worked the land. Morris was a quiet man and walked with a limp having broken his leg in his later years. He was known for his “head cheese”. He bought one of the first Buick cars in the community and ended up parking it and walking home as it would not climb the big hill north of Alva. They also had the first carbide lights in the community. On May 21, 1899, William Quast, John Wagner, Chris and Theo met above the old Alva State Bank and organized and wrote the constitution for the First Zion Lutheran Church in Alva.
A cement cistern under the house collected rain off the roof for drinking. In evenings they would play “pitch” with friends and family and listen to programs in German on the radio.
Mary and Morris had four children: John T., and Anna both born in Ellinwood, Kansas and Karl and August both born in Oklahoma.
August died at eighteen. Morris died January 20, 1941.
John T. married Beulah Ruth McMullen October 17, 1918 in Alva. They moved onto the homestead and there