Hoping to find Ritzenthaler cousins!

by Julie
(North Riverside, IL, USA)

Some of my family & I plan to visit Alsace in June 2024, and we're hoping to see the area where my great-grandparents came from in Fortschwihr. From what I was told the Ritzenthaler Family and the Joseph Family had neighboring farms. My great grandfather, John Ritzenthaler and my great grandmother Karolina Joseph were in love in Fortschwihr. They immigrated to Chicago together with a group in 1898. I believe the group did house painting or remodeling? They married in Chicago in 1900 and had 4 children. Does anyone know either of these families? The Ritzenthaler's go back many generations in Fortschwihr and we would love to have a more personalized experience when we visit, learn more about our ancestors & maybe even meet some cousins!