WITRY Nicolas

Jean Nicolas WITRY’s father Jean WITRY was born in Attert (BE). He became a Schuhmachermeister and came to Luxembourg. In 1886 he resided in Bettembourg and married Elisabeth FEDERSPIEL, born in Mamer. The couple settled in Bettembourg.
Jean Nicolas was born in 1890 in Bettembourg. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Schuster. In 1914 he married Albertine Anna WIVENES, daughter of an entrepreneur in Kayl. The couple resided in Bettembourg.
In 1917 Nicolas WITRY was a co-founder of the company “Bettemburger Schuhfabrik Witry und Berwick”:

Zweck der Gesellschaft ist der Erwerb von Leder und dessen fabrikmäßige Verarbeitung zu Schuh waren und Lederartikel jeder Art, der Verkauf dieser Waren und außerdem alle einschlägigen Reparatur arbeiten.

In 1919 the name of the company was changed to “Société manufacture des chaussures « National » with an address in Luxembourg (Hollerich, Dernier Sol).
In 1921 the two partners created the société anonyme “FALUX fabrique luxembourgeoise de chaussures” to take over the activities of their company and to attract investors:

La société a pour objet la fabrication de chaussures de toutes espèces et toutes les opérations se rattachant à l’industrie et au commerce des chaussures de quelque façon que ce soit. Elle continuera les affaires en cours de la société en nom collectif « Witry et Berwick » sur la base de la situation active de cette société au 26 octobre dernier, le passif ayant été acquitté par les sociétaires Witry et Berwick eux-mêmes.

Nicolas WITRY had taken up residence in Luxembourg-Hollerich where a manufacturing facility had been set up.
The company, however, ran into financial difficulties, was taken over in 1928 by a new owner and finally dissolved in 1930/1931.
Nicolas WITRY and his wife Albertine Anne WIVENES separated in 1928 and were divorced in August 1829. The couple had two daughters born in 1916 and 1923.
Around 1930 Nicolas WITRY married Jeanne RAUSCH (born in 1902) and set up a shoe-shop in Luxembourg-city under the trade name “WITRY-RAUSCH”. The first shop “zur Pantoffel” was set up in Place Guillaume. Two more shops followed in rue Louvigny and rue Chimay. The WITRY-RAUSCH company became very successful and after WWII created outlets in Esch sur Alzette, Dudelange, Ettelbruck, Diekirch … Jeanne RAUSCH took an active part in the enterprise.
In 1951 Nicolas WITRY published a 140-page illustrated teaching manual on the various aspects of shoe-making (see Addendum).
Nicolas WITRY died in 1964 and Jeanne RAUSCH died in 1974. They had no children.

FamilySearch database (PZ57-CCT)