Background
Contrary to many accounts, Atz was not Jewish. His maternal Grandparents were John (b 1820) and Mary (b 1820) Flaherty. They were Irish immigrants and arrived in New York in 1870.
Jake Atz"s paternal grandparents were John Gottlieb and Catherine Nollenberger Atz of Philadelphia who were immigrants from Kleinaspach, Marbach District, Wurttemberg Germany having arrived at New York on June 1, 1852 aboard the bark January Van Brakel.
They were Evangelical Lutherans. His parents were Johann Jacob Atz and Annie Theresa Flaherty.
His father was born 23 December 1846 in Allmersbach, Germany. Jake"s mother was born in Ireland.
She came to America with her family aboard the ship Belland via London, England and LeHavre, France arriving in New York 20 May 1870.
The family was recorded on that passenger list as follows: Annie Flaherty, age 15 with parents John (50), Mary (50) and siblings Ellen (18) and Mary A.(4), all natives of Ireland. His siblings were Margaret B. Atz who maryland. Thomas Holle, Mary Louisa Atz who maryland.
1st to Daniel Dougherty and 2nd to Charles J. Baur, Annie Atz and Katherine Atz who maryland.
Archibald A. Ragan. Also, contrary to many published accounts, Jake Atz did not change his name. He was born, 1 July 1879 in Washington, District of Columbia, Jacob Henry Atz and remained Jacob Henry Atz.
He married Doris Kalman, a daughter of Emilia Kalman, in New Orleans, Louisiana on 7 January 1907. He had two children, Jacob Junior. and Kalma.
This family history is based upon research of Randy F. McNew Crouse and Laura Paugh, both relatives of Jake Atz.
He is also credited as John Atz in many baseball sources.