The Beginning
by M.M. Montz
Scanned using OCR
TO BEGIN A STORY WHICH INTERWEAVES THROUGH THREE CENTURIES
is no easy task. Going back and sifting through countless documents, books, census records, and word of
mouth accounts, and then coming up with as factual of an account possible that can be stated within reason
is no easy matter and involves many decisions. Thus, an early account of why and how the settlers ventured
to the shores of the Mississippi River from Europe can only by explained by sifting fact from fiction.
IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT HISTORY AND ITS CIRCUMSTANCES BROUGHT the first settlers and the progenitor of the Montz
families of Louisiana to America from Europe. It is also a part of history why the name, "Montz" was
changed, derived from many spellings, originally came from the original name, "Manz."
FOR HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE CONDITIONS IN EUROPE DURING THE seventeenth century, it is more likely that the first
settlers to Louisiana would have been fewer in number, and possibly the "Manz" generations may have stayed in
Europe.
THE REFORMATION (Began Oct.,1519):
THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE HISTORY OF A THEORIZED ACCOUNT OF WHY the spread of Europeans to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana
occurred can begin with the Reformation. The Reformation was a movement by several European states to sever
relations with the Roman Catholic Church because of the newly arising Protestant and other religious beliefs
from such organizations as the Calvinists, Lutherans, Anabaptists, Socinians, and Uniates. In the region of
southern Germany and Eastern France, the majority of religions as indicated appeared to be the Anabaptists
and Calvinists.1
IR.R. Palmer, Atlas of World History, New York, New York, 1965, page 68