We all want to know “who we are” and “where we came from.”

An accidental start

Research on this family began while researching my own family.  Some information on the Drettlers came my way and I realized this was possibly the family of a friend.  Later, this family was definitely confirmed as the family of my friend.  From that point, a purposeful search for the Drettler family--present and past--began.

Intent of Site

• Document the history of this family’s past generations and its extended connections.
• Connect with current generations.
• Share information in order to validate documentation on all generations.

 

Research Focus

The focus of this research is the descendants of Abraham Drettler, who immigrated to New York City in January 1893.  He is the son of Isidor Dreiblatt of Vienna, Austria.  Other related families are included in this research.

Family History

Most Drettler families immigrated from Poland, Austria/Galacia, and Russia and settled in New York in 1900-1930.  Migration from New York of the children of the original immigrants was to California, Hawaii, Colorado, and Florida in the 1960s-1970s.

Dretler

Dretler is an alternate spelling with the Dretler families emigrating from the same area of Galacia/Austria and Poland as the Drettler families.  It is presumed that they are related.  Most of the Dretlers from Poland, Austria, and Russia settled in Brockton, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts and Indiana.  They are found in the 1910, 1920, 1930 federal census in these areas. 

Accuracy of Contents

Research has been primarily from public domain records, including various national and state agencies, genealogy research Web sites, and people-locator Web sites.  Details of living people are included here only if the data are available already in public domain records.  Some details are redacted at this time.

The facts are as accurate as my source information.  Sources are documented at the end of this page and more completely in the genealogy database.  Some documentation is based strictly on deductions, i.e., putting two facts together to reach a logical conclusion where no sourced fact can be found.  These deductions are indicated as “assumed” or “candidate” or “circa” in the database.

Missing pieces  

• The names of Adele (--?--) Drettler Fine’s parents and both sets of grandparents.  FOUND!
• Who is the third grandchild listed in Adele White Drettler Fine's obituary?
• Where is Jacob/Jack White in the 1920 census?
• Helen Drettler’s married name, her spouse and children, if she was married. She is the sister of Irving (Isidore) and Michael (Israel), and the daughter of Morris and Mary Drettler.
• Other children of Morris and Mary Drettler, if there were any born after 1930.
• The spelling of Mary’s surname.  In the NY Bride Index it is spelled “Aran,” but “Aaron” seems more common.    FOUND! 
• Where is Mary Aron in 1920 census?  Unable to find her in 1920 census though she reported in the 1930 census that she immigrated to the U.S. in 1910, and she was married to Morris by 1920. 
• Other siblings of Abraham and Adolf.
• What happened to Abraham's daughters, Mina and Sophie, who left the U.S. as were living in eastern Europe in 1932?   FOUND: Mina! 
• Where is William I. (Isidor Wilhelm) in 1920 and 1930?  He was still living at that time.  FOUND!
• Where is Adolf in 1920 and 1930?  No record of his death can be found.  UPDATE: He may have returned to Europe.  This requires further research.
• Other children of Max and Mollie Drettler, in addition to Harriet.
• Other children of William I. and Jean Drettler, in addition to Stephen C.
• Children of Edward and Claire Drettler.
• Dretler family connections are not documented yet.