JOSEPHUS BAUMAN Name: Bauman, Josephus D. 1/24/1877 B.: 9/15/1867 Reg. D.: 6/19/1877 sex: m/w Age at death: B.P.: Cato D.P.: Cem: Cath. Gryd. at Cato Ch.: Inf. & Address: G. Noever, Cath. Prst. Mtwc. Rpds. Spouse: F.: Ferdinand Bauman M.: Maria Bredl Cause of Death: caught a cold Add Info.: cert. dt. 1/4/1877 Pg.# 223
MARIA BAUMANN From Der Nord Westen, 07 Aug. 1902: Death last Fri. in Branch of 62-yr. old Mrs. Matthias Baumann, after a long illness with stomach cancer. She leaves her sorrowing husband and a son. The funeral took place Sun. in Whitelaw.
MARY BLESER From Der Nord Westen, 02 Nov. 1905: Death Fri. in Cripple Creek, Colorado, of Mrs. Arthur Bleser who was on her honeymoon. Mrs. Bleser, nee Mary Pankratz, a daughter of Michael Pankratz in Cato, married on 10 Oct. with Arthur Bleser, a son of Four Corners resident Wilhelm Bleser. The young couple promptly left on a honeymoon to the west where the young groom is employed as a mining engineer in Colorado. The honeymoon came to a sad end in Cripple Creek. The body of the young deceased will be brought here and laid to rest in Cato.
FRANK BRADEL From Der Nord Westen, 20 June 1901: Death in Whitelaw on Thurs. last week of Frank Bradl. The deceased, who was born in Germany 56 yrs. ago but had been a local resident for many years, was unmarried. The funeral was held Sun.
BARBARA BRAUN (sent in by researcher/see contributors page) Manitowoc Herald News June 4, 1926 FUNERAL OF MRS BRAUN TO BE SATURDAY Funeral Services for Mrs. Peter Braun, pioneer resident of the county who died Wednesday at the home of her son, John in the town of Franklin, will be held from St. Michael's church, Whitelaw, Saturday morningat 9:30 the Rev. Pufahl officiating. Mrs. Braun was 84 years of age and is survived by five children. Peter of Brillion, Frank, Louis and Mrs. George Brandel, Cato and John of Whitelaw. Two children, Mrs. George Wellner of Whitelaw and Anton of Brillion preceded her in death. Fifty two grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren also survive.
FRANK P. BRAUN (sent in by researcher/see contributors page) Obituary- Manitowoc Herald Times - August 7, 1948 BRAUN Frank P Braun, 78, died Friday night at the farm home in Cato, near Whitelaw, following a stroke. Funeral rites will be held at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Braun home and at 9:30 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Whitelaw, the Rev. John Husslein officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. He was born in Liberty in 1870 and later the family located in Cato. In 1897, he married Miss Margaret Grall. She died two years ago. Mr. Braun served as a school district director in Cato for 15 years and was a member of the Holy Name society. Survivors are six daughters, Mrs. Henry P Schuh of Cato, Mrs. Margaret Zeman of Sheboygan, Mrs. Querin Swetlik of Whitelaw, Mrs. Arthur Zimmer of Two Rivers, Mrs. Elmer Neuser of route 4, Manitowoc, Mrs. Paul Pakenham of Chicago; four sons, John and Joseph of Cato, Edward of route 2, Two Rivers and Frank of route 2, Manitowoc; two brothers, Louis and John of Whitelaw; sister, Mrs. George Brandl of Cato; 39 grandchildren and a great grandchild. The body will be moved to the home from the Reedsville Cooperative funeral home Sunday afternoon.
JOHN BRAUN (sent in by researcher/see contributors page) JOHN BRAUN, SR., DIES IN CHURCH - Manitowoc Herald Times - December 28, 1954 edition WHITELAW John Braun Sr., 80, of Whitelaw, lifelong resident of the county, was stricken with a heart attack Tuesday morning, in the vestibule of St. Michael Catholic Church while about to attend 8 a.m. Mass and died before he could be moved to a hospital. Braun, who in recent years resided with a son, Peter, on a farm on the outskirts of the village, had assisted in the morning chores and after breakfast left for church. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at the Reedsville Funeral Home and at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Michael Church. The Rev. John Husslein will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. He was born in Liberty in 1874 and in 1904 married Miss Magdalena Gerl. They located on a farm in Franklin. His wife died in 1921. In 1937 he moved to Whitelaw. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and a leader in the Miraculous Medal Assoc. Surviving are six daughters, Mrs. John Winkler of Sheboygan, Mrs. John Palmer of Milwaukee, Mrs. Anton Zych of Manitowoc, Mrs. Clarence Fischer and Mrs. Frank Spacek of Rt 4 Manitowoc, and Mrs. Harold Staudinger of Rt 2, Reedsville; two sons, Peter and John Jr., of Whitelaw; 20 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Wednesday where the Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
LOUIS BRAUN (sent in by researcher/see contributors page) Obituary - Manitowoc Herald Times - April 11, 1951 edition BRAUN - Louis Braun, 28 (age should be 78) died Tuesday night on the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Schuh, town of Cato, where he made his home. Mr Braun was born in 1872 in the town of Liberty. He never married. Survivors are a sister, Mrs. George Brandl and a brother, John, both of Whitelaw. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, April 13 at the Schuh farm home and at 9:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic church, Whitelaw, Rev. John Husslein officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Schuh home from 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, until the time of services. The rosary will be recited at the Schuh home at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
BARBARA BREDL From Der Nord Westen, 22 Mar. 1900: Death in Whitelaw on Fri. of Mrs. Barbara Bredl of old age. Mrs. Bredl was born in Austria in 1808, thus reaching the age of 92 years. She came to America in 1857 with her husband who died eight years ago. The family settled near Whitelaw where she has lived until just the last few years during which she has been living with the family of her son Franz Bredl. She leaves 2 sons and 4 daughters as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even one great-great-grandchild. Her funeral was held Mon. morning at the Catholic Cemetery in Whitelaw.
LOUIS BREY From Der Nord Westen, 17 Apr. 1902: Louis Brey, a well-known resident of Branch, died of smallpox on Sun. immediately after his 30th birthday. He is the 3rd victim in our county during this year who has succumbed to the milder form of this dread disease. His body was buried Sun. night in the Whitelaw Cemetery. In addition to his widow and several children, Brey is survived by 8 sisters. (Note: According to statute, smallpox victims had to be buried at night)
ANTON EBERT From Der Nord Westen, 07 Nov. 1895: Death of 24 yr. old Anton Ebert on Fri. in Grimms Station, an unmarried man. His funeral took place Mon. morning in the Catholic Cemetery of Pine Grove.
MAGDALENA ENGELDINGER From Der Nord Westen, 21 Sept. 1885: Death of Mrs. Magdalena Engeldinger (nee Hein) in Cato on Sun., 20 Sept. She was the wife of Math. Engeldinger and mother of Mrs. Kettenhofen, locally. She was born in Bilzingen in Kreis Saarburg, Rheinpreussen on 22 Sept. 1822. Her burial took place on her birthday, 22 Sept. in the Cemetery of Pine Grove. She leaves her husband and several grown children.
CLARA FISCHER From Der Nord Westen, 03 Mar. 1904: Death in Whitelaw on Sat. of 16-yr. old Clara Fischer after a confinement of only a week with pneumonia. The funeral was held Monday.
LOUIS FISCHER From Der Nord Westen, 05 July 1894: Death Sun., in the home of his parents in Whitelaw, Town Cato, of 18 yr. old Louis Fischer from “galloping consumption”.
ANNA HASTREITER From Der Nord Westen, 14 Nov. 1901: Mrs. Frank Hastreiter died unexpectedly of a hemorrhage on Sat. The deceased was only 26 yrs. of age and leaves her deeply sorrowing husband and 2 children, one of whom is only a couple of weeks old.
DIONYSIUS HEINDL Name: Heindl, Dionysius D.: 10/8/1877 B.: Reg. D.: 10/19/1877 Sex: M/W Age at Death: 10 Yrs. B.P.: Cato, Mtw. Co. D.P.: Cem.: Cato Cath. Graveyard Ch.: Inf. & Address: G. Noever, Cath. Pr. Spouse: F.: Wolfgang Heindl M.: Barbara Braunreiter Cause of Death: Hydropsia Pg. #: 230
MICHAEL HEINDL Name: Heindl, Michael D.: 2/17/1878 B.: 3/31/1876 Reg. D.: 7/29/1878 Sex: M/W Age at Death: B.P.: Cato D.P.: Cem.: Cato Ch.: Inf. & Address: Rev. G. Noever Spouse: F.: Wolfgang Heindl M.: Barbara Braunreiter Cause of Death: Falling in fireplace Pg. #: 258
HAROLD (PAT) HUINKER Harold (Pat) Huinker, age 72, formerly of Cato, died Monday afternoon, October 14, 1991 at the Manitowoc Health Care Center. Private family funeral services will be held Wednesday at the Saur Funeral Home. Deacon William Klein will officiate with burial in St. Michael's Cemetery, Whitelaw. Mr. Huinker was born December 22, 1918 in the town of Cato, son of the late Alois and Anna Einck Huinker. He attended St. Michael's Grade School in Whitelaw. Mr. Huinker had worked for the Brillion Iron Works in Brillion. (Survivors omitted for privacy) He was preceded in death by two brothers, Herb and Raymond. (no newspaper cited, October 14, 1991)
KATHARINA KOPPEL From Der Nord Westen, 13 Dec. 1900: Death in Cato recently of 82-yr. old Mrs. Catharine Koepel(sic), one of the oldest settlers in our county, of dropsy. She is survived by one son and 2 daughters. Her funeral was Tues. in Whitelaw.
MAGDALENA KUHNEMUND From Der Nord Westen, 28 Jan. 1897: Also on Wed. Mrs. Magdalena Kinnemund died of old age debility in Town Cato at the age of 89. The burial took place Fri. at the Catholic Cemetery in Pine Grove.
ANNA LEMBERGER Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, March 7, 1944 LEMBERGER Mrs. Anton Lemberger Sr., died this morning at her home in Whitelaw from a heart ailment. She was 71 years of age. Mrs. Lemberger was born in Cato in 1873 and her maiden name was Anna Pankratz. She was married in 1890 to Mr. Lemberger who survives with eight children, 35 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. The daughters are Mrs. Frank Gresel, Medford; Mrs. Anton Braun, Whitelaw; Mrs. Frank Hill and Mrs. Joseph Reitmeyer, both of Cato; and Mrs Edward Malley, Manitowoc; three sons, Anton, Jr, Whitelaw; George, Kellnersville and Erwin, Whitelaw; one brother, Ignatz Pankratz, Antigo and three sisters, Mrs. Theresa Rank, Cato route 1; Mrs. Kate Smith, Green Bay and Mrs. Mary Otto, Minneapolis. The body will be removed from the Pfeffer funeral home Wednesday afternoon to the home of a son Erwin, who lives on the homstead on Whitelaw route 1. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, 9:30 a.m. from the home and at 10 o'clock from the St Michael's Catholic church in Whitelaw, the Rev John Husslein officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery. Mrs. Lemberger was a member of the Christian Mothers, and members will recite the rosary Thursday evening at 8 o'clock. ************ (Anna Lemberger/d. 7 Mar. 1944 from records of St. Michael's, Whitelaw)
ANTON LEMBERGER Name: Lemberger, Anton D.: 2/2/1879 B.: 2/2/1879 Reg. D.: 6/20/1879 Sex: M/W Age at Death: B.P.: Cato Mtwc. Co. D.P.: Cato Cem.: Cato, R. C. Cem. Ch.: Inf. & Address: G. Noever, Cath. Pr. Spouse: F.: Anton Lemberger M.: Mary Schreiner Cause of Death: Pg. #: v.1 p.308
ANTON LEMBERGER Obituary - Manitowoc Herald Times April 16, 1951 edition LEMBERGER Anton Lemberger Sr. m 81, retired Cato farmer, died Sunday at the home of his son Erwin, on the homestead farm in Cato. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Reedsville Funeral Home and at 10 o'clock at the St. Michael Catholic church, Whitelaw. The Rev. John Husslein will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. He was born in Cato in 1870 and in 1891 married Miss Anna Pankratz. They located on a farm in Cato. Ten years ago they retired and moved to Anton Braun of Whitelaw, Mrs. Frank Hill and Mrs. Joseph Reitmeyer of Cato and Mrs. Edwin Malley of Manitowoc; three sons, Anton Jr of Whitelaw, Erwin of Cato and George of Kellnersville; brother, Joseph of Whitelaw; three sisters, Sister Elizabeth of Seymour, Wis, Sister Christiana of Alverno and Mrs. Joseph Buchner of Manitowoc; 41 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Friends may call at the Reedsville funeral home, where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. ************** (Anton Lemberger Sr./d. 15 Apr. 1951 from records of St. Michael's, Whitelaw)
THERESA LEMBERGER Obituary Manitowoc Herald Times - September 7, 1927 edition Mrs Lemberger Passes; Leaves 62 Descendents - Well known resident of the city passes at advanced age last night. Mrs. Theresa Lemberger, 84, passed away last evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Buchner, after a lingering illness of some months. Death was brought about by infirmities incident to old age. Funeral services for Mrs. Lemberger will be held Friday morning at 8:45 from the Buchner home and at St. Michael's Church in Whitelaw, a solemn requiem high mass being celebrated. Burial will take place at Whitelaw where Mrs. Lemberger lived most of her life. Born in Germany March 1, 1843, Mrs. Lemberger who was Theresa Meyer before her marriage to Wolfgang Lemberger 60 years ago, came to this country at the age of 20 years, coming to Manitowoc County where she was wedded four years after her arrival. Mr and Mrs. Lemberger lived at Whitelaw until five years ago when they removed to this city to make their home with Joseph Buchner at 1209 South Eleventh street. Two years ago, Mr Lemberger passed away. Mrs. Lemberger leaves 61 descendants to mourn her passing. They are 37 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, five daughters and three sons. The daughters are Sisters Christina and Elizabeth of Silver Lake convent, and Sister Bartholomew of Nebraska and Mrs. Anton Paul of Sturgeon Bay and Mrs. Joseph Buchner of this city. The sons are, Wolfgang of St Peter's Minnesota, Anton and Joseph of Whitelaw. Three brothers also remain, being Martin Meyer of Whitelaw, Wolfgang Meyer of Clarks Mills and John Meyer of Germany.
WOLFGANG LEMBERGER Obituary - Manitowoc Herald Time - April 27, 1925 edition SUDDEN DEATH COMES TO W. LEMBERGER Striken as He is Retiring Death came swiftly and unexpectedly to Wolfgang Lemberger at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Joseph Buchner, 1209 South Eleventh st, as he was preparing to retire for the night. The old gentleman had been about as usual yesterday, had supper with the family and spent the evening at home. At 7:45 he prepared to retire and was disrobing when he collapsed and was dead before those in the home could realize what had happened. The funeral will be held Thursday morning with services at St. Michael's church at Whitelaw at 10 o'clock and burial will be at Whitelaw cemetery. Born in Bavaria, September 16, 1848, Mr Lemberger would have been seventy -seven at his next birthday. He came to his country at the age of seven with his parents, the family settling in the country and at the age of seventeen he was married and settled on a farm at Whitelaw. This farm he turned over to the son, twenty three years ago, and moved to this city, where for sixteen years he had a home on Manila St. Five years he returned to the old farm where he made his home with his son for two years and three years ago with Mrs Lemberger he came to the city to make his home with Mr. and Mrs. Buchner. Besides the widow Mr. Lemberger is survived by three sons and five daughters, Wolfgang, Jr, who is a travelling salesman in Minnesota, Joseph of Cato, Sister Christina at the Holy Family convent, Sisters Elizabeth and Bartelme at West Point, Nebraska; Mrs Joseph Buchner of this city and Mrs. Anton Paul of Sturgeon Bay. Mrs. Grall a sister, thirty four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren also survive him. NOTE: (Anton Lemberger is the son not mentioned)
MARGERETHA MEIDL From Der Nord Westen, 27 Apr. 1905: A 2-mo. old daughter of Michael Meidl in Whitelaw died Fri. and was buried Monday.
CATHERINE RUTH MITTNACHT (Catherine Mittnacht /d 5 Sept 1901 Record of St. Michaels Whitelaw) Her full name was Catherine Ruth Mittnacht. ********* Manitowoc Daily Herald Sept 5 1901: "Catherine, the four year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mittnacht died this morning at the Family residence. The little one was born August 1 1897 and was a bright child. Ten days ago the illness that caused death came on and grew steadily more serious. Burial will take place at Pine Grove." (information sent in by researcher/see contributors page) ********* From Der Nord Westen, 12 Sep. 1901: A 4-yr. old daughter of Peter Mittnacht here died Thurs. after an illness of 10 days. The funeral was held Sat. at the Catholic Cemetery in Pine Grove.
CHILD OF J. MITTNACHT From Der Nord Westen, 07 Jan. 1892: Death on Sat. of the 2 yr. 2 mo. old child of farmer J. Mittnacht who lives on Menasha Road. The child, who died of diphtheria, was buried Mon. in Pine Grove.
GEORG MITTNACHT From Der Nord Westen, 05 Mar. 1891: Death on Sat. of Georg Mittnacht in the home of his son in Manitowoc Rapids. He was born in Iggersheim, Oberamt Mergentheim, Württemberg, and reached the age of 68 yrs. 5 mos. The funeral was yesterday morning at the Catholic Cemetery in Pine Grove.
ANTON PANKRATZ From Der Nord Westen, 22 March 1888 Anton Pankratz of Town Kato, while working with a saw file, suffered a stroke and was dead on the spot.
CATHERINE PANKRATZ From Der Nord Westen, 18 July 1895: Death in Cato on Sun. of 28 yr. old Miss Catharine Pankratz of consumption. The funeral was Tuesday.
SCHOLASTICA PRITZL From Der Nord Westen, 06 Apr. 1905: Death Wed. last week of a small child of Leo Pritzl in Whitelaw.
EDWIN J. RADY From Der Nord Westen, 21 May 1903: Death Fri. of a small child of Emil Rady in Branch, following a short illness. The funeral was held Mon. in Whitelaw.
FRANCISCA REIMER Name: Reimer, Francisca D.: 6/8/1877 B.: 6/8/1877 Reg. D.: 6/19/1877 Sex: F/W Age at Death: 3 Hrs. B.P.: D.P.: Cato Cem.: Cath. Graveyard Cato Ch.: Inf. & Address: Spouse: F.: John Reimer M.: Francisca Muhlbauer Cause of Death: Debility Pg. #: v.1 p.224
AUGUST REIS, SR. From Der Nord Westen, 23 July 1903: Death Thurs. in Ironwood, Michigan, of 25-yr. old August Reis, a former resident of Whitelaw in this county. He leaves a widow and 3 brothers. The funeral was held Sat. in Whitelaw.
JOSEPH SAURER From Der Nord Westen, 15 Nov. 1900: Death Wed. of 78-yr. old Joseph Sauerer of old age debility. The deceased, who had been living with his son-in-law John Mittnacht in Manitowoc Rapids, is survived by one daughter. His funeral will take place tomorrow morning in Whitelaw.
JOSEPH SCHAMBUREK From Der Nord Westen, 15 May 1902: Death Sun. in Whitelaw of 56-yr. old Joseph Schamburek. The deceased, who leaves a widow and 8 children, was buried on Tuesday.
FRANCES SCHISEL (donated by descendant, Mr.& Mrs. Schisel see contributors page) Funeral services for Mrs. Joseph Schisel, who died at the home of her daughter...in the town of Norwood, Saturday morning at 9:20, May 10, 1930, were conducted Wednesday morning....A requiem mass was sung at 9:30 o'clock, Wednesday morning, May 14, and interment followed in the Catholic cemetery at Whitelaw. Mrs. Joseph Schisel, before her marriage Miss Frances Staudenburg(sic), was born in Germany. At the age of 21 years, she came to Manitowoc and was married to Joseph Schisel of Whitelaw. Mr. Schisel preceeded his wife in death just four months ago. (actual death date: May 14, 1930)
JOSEPH SCHISEL (donated by descendant, Mr.& Mrs. Schisel see contributors page) Joseph Schisel, formerly of Norwood, but who had resided at Whitelaw for the last seven years, died of pneumonia at the home of his son..... at Whitelaw on January 6. His burial took place at Whitelaw on his eighty-ninth birthday. Mr. Schisel was born in Germany on January 8, 1832 (sic). He was married to Frances Standenburg(sic) in the year of 1838 (sic). Shortly after their marriage the couple came to America where fifteen children were born to them, eight of whom survive. He leaves to mourn his loss his widow, who is eighty-four years of age, one daughter....and seven sons......(they may still be living, so I have omitted their names in this obit.) Taken from the Antigo Daily Journal, date: Monday, January 10, 1930.
ARTHUR SCHMATZ MANITOWOC MAN FOUND DEAD AT NEWPORT NEWS, VA. Message Tells of Death of Arthur Schmatz, Branch Man, Who Left Here on U.S. Boat Surveyor Messages received here last night brought news of the death of Arthur Schmatz, a Branch man at Newport News, Va., where he was serving aboard the steamer Bulgaria, recently taken over by the United States Government. The body will be shipped to this city and taken to Branch for burial next week. The message intimated that there may be a mystery in the death of Schmatz, the dispatch giving no details except that Schmatz had been found dead. Whether the man was a victim of foul play, assault or died a natural death, is not known. Recent letters received from him said that he was enjoying good health and he was not known to be afflicted with heart trouble or other ailments that might cause sudden death. Schmatz, who was 24 years of age, left here on the U.S. steamer Surveyor several weeks ago, as an oiler. He was later sent to Newport News and had been located there for some time, employed on the Bulgaria. The dead youth was a son of Frank Schmatz, a well known farmer at Branch and up to the time of his departure on the Surveyor had made his home at Branch and in this city. Messages have been dispatched to Newport to have the body sent here and the funeral will be held at Whitelaw. ************* DEATH OF BRANCH BOY AT NEWPORT DUE TO FALL INTO HATCH Arthur Schmatz, Whose Body Reached Here Last Night, Instantly Killed Aboard Steamer Bulgaria There Arthur Schmatz, the Branch boy who met death at Newport News, Va., last week (August 17, 1917) while serving on the government steamer Bulgaria, was killed instantly in a fall into an open hatch of the boat, according to a report which was received here with the body which arrived last night. Physicians believe that Schmatz had his neck broken by the fall. The body of the dead youth reached here at 8 last night and was taken to the undertaking rooms of Urbanek and Wattawa for preparation for burial and will be taken to Branch today and burial will be held at Whitelaw tomorrow. Accompanying the body was a report from officers of the boat which said that Schmatz had been killed instantly in the fall. The accident happened at 4 o’clock Friday morning and the parents of Schmatz were notified at once that the body would be shipped here. Schmatz was 24 years of age and left here several weeks ago aboard the U.S. Steamer Surveyor, later being transferred to the Bulgaria which was taken over by the government. Schmatz is survived by his parents and several brothers and sisters.
CLARENCE SCHMATZ Child Drowned Little Son of Frank Snatz (Schmatz) Falls in Water Tank The little three year old son of Frank Snatz(sic), living one mile west of this village, while playing on the water tank which is used to water stock on his father’s farm, fell headlong into the receptacle and when found, was drowned. The little fellow’s cry was heard by the parents and hired help who rushed to his assistance as soon as they could reach the spot where the fatality occurred, but all efforts of resuscitation were in vain, as life was already extinct. It was the habit of the boy to sit on the edge of the tank and sail miniature ships on the water which at most times was but one or two feet in depth. On this occasion however, the tank had been recently filled preparatory to watering the stock, and the boy as was his wont, took his accustomed place and seemed oblivious to the danger. It is not known how he was precipitated into the water but it is thought he lost his equilibrium while reaching for his playthings and fell. The child was a bright little fellow and the pride of his parents who are frantic with grief, the mother especially taking it greatly to hear, refusing to be comforted. SPECIAL TO THE HERALD – Branch, Wisconsin, July 31, 1901
EUGENE SCHMATZ Manitowoc Herald-Times, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Tuesday, July 18, 1939 Branch Youth is Third Victim of Plane Crash Eugene Schmatz, 18, Dies At Hospital Early This Morning Eugene Schmatz, 18, Branch, died at 4:25 this morning at the Holy Family hospital, the third victim of Sunday’s airplane tragedy. Edward Nelson, pilot, and Orley Schmidt, former high school athlete and student pilot, died in the crash. Emil Opichka, 18, Newton, fourth passenger in the plane, was reported to be in a “fair” condition at the hospital this morning. He is suffering a skull fracture, broken nose, fractured right ankle and other injuries. Jury Reconvenes Dr. Gerald Rau, county coroner, and District Attorney Patrick Dewane called the coroner’s jury impanelled yesterday to meet at 1:30 today at the Wattawa, Urbanek & Schiel funeral home to view Schmatz’s body. An inquest will be set after Opichka’s condition is definitely known. Dewane said today, according to the sheriff’s department, that authorities will wait until Opichka is well enough to testify. Nelson’s plane crashed on the Henry Klackner farm on the town line road just north of the municipal airport shortly before 8 o’clock Sunday evening. Eugene Robert Schmatz was born on the farm home near Branch in 1920 and after completing district school assisted his mother and brothers on the farm. He was a member of the Holy Name society. Survivors are the mother, Mrs. Anna Schmatz of Branch; five brothers, Clarence, a city fireman, Joseph of Two Rivers, Frank of Sheboygan, Roman and Harry at home; three sisters, Mrs. Edwin Tompkins and Mrs. Rudolph Gilbertson of Sheboygan, Miss Hilda, of Milwaukee. Funeral Thursday The body may be viewed at the Wattawa, Urbanek and Schlei funeral home tonight and will be moved to the Schmatz home Wednesday morning. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from St. Michael’s church in Whitelaw, the Rev. J. H. Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Holy Name society will meet at the Schmatz home Wednesday evening to recite the rosary. (contributed by researcher/see contributors page) There is more to this with the Edward Nelson obit. cem. #44 Evergreen and with Orley Schmidt obit. cem. #44 Evergreen
FRANK SPAETH From Der Nord Westen, 12 Apr. 1900: Death in Whitelaw Wed. last week of 84-yr. old Frank Speth, an old resident of that place. The funeral was held Fri.
JOHAN JACOB VOGEL From Der Nord Westen, 12 Apr. 1906: At the advanced age of 90, Mr. J. Vogel has died in Whitelaw leaving 4 children.
GEORGE WELLNER (sent in by researcher/see contributors page) Manitowoc Herald Times January 19, 1956 edition WELLNER - George M. Wellner, Sr., 87, of Franklin, who spent his entire life on the homestead farm, died Wednesday night of a lingering illness. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Reedsville Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic church, Whitelaw. The Rev. John Husslein will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. He was born in Franklin Dec. 28, 1868, and May 28, 1900, married Miss Mary Braun. He operated the farm until his retirement, when it was taken over by his son, Robert. He served four years as town treasurer of Franklin and was a member of the Holy Name Society of the St. Michael congregation. Surviving are five sones, Robert on the home farm, Joseph of Rt 2 DePere, George Jr., of Rt 2 Manitowoc, John of Francis Creek and Bernard of Rt 5 Manitowoc; seven daughters, Mrs. Eric Schneider of Milwaukee, Mrs. Anthony Moes of Wausau, Neb., Mrs. Matt Pettinger of Wilmette, Ill., Mrs. Joseph Menza of Rt. 1 Whitelaw, Mrs. Joseph Chizek of Rt 5 Manitowoc, Mrs. Louis Sauer of Whitelaw and Miss Gertrude of Chicago; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Kohlbeck and Mrs. Peter Neuser of Manitowoc and Mrs. Margaret Grall of Whitelaw; 93 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Thursday where the Rosary will be recited at 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
MARY WELLNER (sent in by researcher/see contributors page) Obituary- Manitowoc Herald Times - February 18, 1925 edition MRS. WELLNER LOSES BRAVE FIGHT FOR LIFE Mrs. George Wellner, nee Mary Braun, died at the Maple Crest Sanitariaum after a brave struggle for life, last night at 8 o'clock. She was born in Liberty in 1877 and August 11 this year would have been forty-eight. On May 28 Mr. and Mrs. Wellner were to have celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Wellner is survived by her husband and twelve children, Mrs. Eric Schneider of Hilbert, and Joseph, Dorothy, Caroline, George, John, Rose, Martha, Robert, Gertrude, Agnes, and Bernard. Three brothers, Frank, Louis and John Braun of Whitelaw survive and one sister, Mrs. Anna Brandl of Cato. There are also two stepbrothers, Peter and Joseph Braun of Brillion. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 9:30 from the home at Franklin and then to St. Michael's church at Whitelaw.
MICHAEL WELLNER Manitowoc Pilot, Thursday, July 26, 1888, p. 3. TWO MEN KILLED A terrible accident occurred at the railroad crossing just east of the Branch village on Saturday night last whereby two men were killed. The evening express which leaves here at 9 P.M. was running at the rate of about 80 miles per hour; when at the crossing mentioned the passengers experienced a slight shock but nothing more than is frequently experienced when the swaying of the cars bring the flange of the wheels violently against the rails. The short "toot" of the whistle was notice that something unusual had happened and the stopping of the train before the depot was reached gave further notice that something was wrong. A number of passengers thought some signal of danger from the bridge caused the train to stop, but soon it was learned that a wagon had been struck at the crossing. About eight rods down the track from where the wagon was struck was found the body of a man with the hind wheels of the wagon across his legs, his scalp and the rear part of his skull torn off and his brains lying on the track. Even in this condition he was still breathing in short gasps. About 20 feet from him was another man, younger, unconscious but not dead. His skull was badly fractured and many of his bones broken. His muscles worked spasmodically, causing the broken bones to stick out through rents in his clothes and presenting a horrible spectacle. One of the horses was found on the side of the track with one of his legs almost completely severed. The track presented a horrible appearance with blood, brains, scalp locks and battered flesh. No one on the train could identify either man, but when the villagers assembled it was learned that the man killed was Michael Wellner and the wounded man Wolfgang Weiss, the former a resident of south Franklin, the other of Pine Grove, Cato. Wellner had come to town with a load of cordwood and Weiss, who was working at the coal dock in this city, was going home with him for a Sunday visit. The crossing mentioned is a bad one. It is quite hilly in the neighborhood and the track is in a ravine; the wagon track near the railroad is hidden from view of the engineer until he is nigh on to it. The engineer, Thomas Gray, says he did not see the team until he was within fifty feet of the track and then they were on the gallop. When rushing by he saw the team on one side of the track and thought they had got safely by. He felt no shock, but from the position of the horses thought he must have struck the rear end of the wagon and so stopped the train. Three of the bars on the left side of the pilot were broken, evidently where the hind wheels of the wagon had struck. The body of Wellner was left in charge of the Branch people, while Weiss was taken to the village of Cato where he might receive the care of a physician. John E. Hewitt took charge of the wounded man and made him as comfortable as the nature of his injuries would permit. Dr. O'Connell was summoned but the man died at 4 the next morning. Wellner was a married man about 45 years of age and had a family of eight children. Weiss was unmarried and about 22 years of age. Various theories are offered to account for the accident. Wellner always had a good team of of horses and usually drove quite hard. Farmers are apt to take fearful chances at railroad crossings, whipping their horses into a gallop when a train is approaching and crossing when the locomotive is not 100 feet away. This was probably the case in this instance. Many say the whistle was not sounded. This is mere assumption. There was not a person on board the train who knew whether it was or not, and in any event a person on the road from Manitowoc going in the direction of the crossing could not fail to see the train long before it reached the wagon road, and in the stillness of the night could not fail to hear it. Certain it is the whistle was sounded after the Green Bay road was crossed and this was pretty good notice of the approach of a train. The engineer is one of the most careful on the road and it is pretty safe to say he did not neglect his duty. A person of ordinary prudence living within a few miles of the depot would know a train was due at that time and exercise care. It is unjust to the engineer to say the whistle was not sounded unless on positive knowledge, and there are people who state they heard it. Not one passenger in a hundred can state positively whether a whistle was sounded near a crossing or not. Mr. Gray feels sufficiently bad over the accident as it is, without adding to his responsibility by assuming without any ground that he neglected his duty. Wellner was seen by people living on the road driving furiously when fully a quarter of a mile from the crossing and likely with the intention of getting to the crossing before the train, of whose approach he was cognizant. The accident is a deplorable one but it may prove a warning for reckless driving. The horse which had its leg broken was shot; the other horse escaped unhurt but was stripped completely of its harness except the collar. (sent in by researcher/see contributors page)
THERESIA WITTMANN From Der Nord Westen, 14 May 1908: Mrs. Geo. Wittmann, wife of the postmaster in Whitelaw, died there Tuesday morning after a long illness at age 44. ******* From Der Nord Westen, 21 May 1908: (From the correspondent in Francis Creek, 17 May) A large number of local residents attended the funeral of Mrs. Wittmann in Whitelaw.
BARBARA ZIPPERER (the following from a researcher) She was born July 20, 1820 in Hershaw, Bohemia. Her parents were Mathias Baumann and Barbara Baumann. She died in September 6, 1899 and is buried in Cato, WI. She came over to the U.S. with her husband Martin Zipperer. They arrived in New York on October 16, 1862. They came over on the Elise & Mathilde out of the port of Bremen. With them 8 children: Johan, Margaret, Therese, Anna, Barbara, George, Franceska, and Maria. Martin was born March 19, 1821 and died March 14, 1904. Martin and Barbara's child Barbara is my Great-Great Grandma. She was Born in April 14, 1855 in Austria. Barbara married Simon P Geiger (1847-1921) on June 30, 1873 in Clarksmills. They then moved to Brillion, WI-which would be Winnebago Co. Barbara (Geiger died October 16, 1930 and is buried in Maple Grove with the Geigers. Sources: Ship Manifest for the Elise & Mathilda Death Certificate: Barbara (Zipperer) Geiger Barbara (Baumann) Zipperer Marriage Certificate: Simon Geiger and Barbara Zipper All the above came from the State Historical Society. ------------- From Der Nord Westen, 14 Sep. 1899: Death in Manitowoc Rapids on Wed.(06 Sept.) last week of 78-yr. old Mrs. Barbara Zipperer of blood poisoning. The deceased, whose husband predeceased her, belonged among the oldest settlers of that town. The funeral took place Fri. from the Catholic Church in Whitelaw. (Note: Her husband died in 1904, apparently the newspaper made an error)
CHARLES ZIPPERER October 31, 1955 Manitowoc Times Charles Zipperer, 80, of Rt. 1, Whitelaw, died Saturday at the Holy Family Hospital after a lingering illness. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Reedsville Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Whitelaw with the Rev. John Husslein officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mr. Zipperer was born Nov. 28, 1875 in Whitelaw, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zipperer. He farmed in the Town of Cato all of his life. He was never married. Survivors include about 40 nieces and nephews. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
EDWIN ZIPPERER From Der Nord Westen, 16 Feb. 1905: A 16-mo. old son of John Zipperer in Whitelaw died last Tues. to the deep grief of his parents.
JOHANN ZIPPERER From Der Nord Westen, 03 Feb. 1898 Death in Town Cato on Sun. of 54 yr. old John Zipperer of dropsy. He leaves a widow and 5 daughters. The funeral was yesterday at the Catholic cemetery.
JOSEPH ZIPPERER From Der Nord Westen, 06 Oct. 1892: Old Joseph Zipperer of Pine Grove was killed in an accident with his horse and wagon on Friday.