on 3 december 1872 in mülheim an der ruhr he married hedwig pelzer (1854–1940), daughter of johann-heinrich pelzer and wife hedwig troost. they divorced in 1885. the four children during the marriage were fritz, august, heinrich and hedwig. to avoid the possibility that his divorce would lead to a partitioning of his industrial empire, thyssen transferred the property to his children, but retained the management rights for himself during his lifetime.