BIOGRAPHY: Was in the Army Air Corp in the Asian theator during WWII. Places of residence include New Holstein and Appleton, Wisconsin. In partnership with his wife, he was an owner and operator of a restaurant and Sears catalog store in Chilton, Wisconsin. Religion was Catholic.
John was born in 1889 three miles south of Casey, Walnut Township, Adair County, Iowa. Ref 348 says he was born Sep 11, 1880. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Casey, Iowa. Services in St. Johns Lutheran Church. Also see notes for his first wife, Alma Wohlfeil. After Alma's death at a young age, John married Hatti Raduenz and had a large family in Iowa.
Ref 333 says that, "Of their 5 children, only John Frederick stayed in Walnut Township, purchasing the family farm in 1924. Of the eleven children of John, only Arnold stayed in the township to farm with his wife, Winifred Morris. See 1976 Directory of more information."
I haven't checked it, but the Adair County (Iowa) History Book from 1976, lists a Ralph Lemke, son of August; as well as an Arnold Schmeling, son of John; and a Louis Lemke son of August and husband of Esther (whose father was Herman Bittner). This info comes from Lois Mensing.
Alma Henriette Wilhelmine Wohlfeil
Alma was the daughter of Sabina Magdelena (Lena) Riess's first marriage, that to John Wohlfeil. Her birth date is listed as both October 5th and December 6th of 1886. In the 1900 census, she was "in school" and her name was listed as Elma. By one report, she "moved out west, married, had two children, and died during child birth of the second child." In another report she died from the flu when her youngest was either a "baby" or was two or three years old. Her date of death are listed as 1911 and as 1913/1914, and the place as either South Dakota or Colorado. In any case, she married John F. Schmeling in 1907, and died at a young age. Alma and John had two children, Arthur and Irma. After Alma's death, John remarried and had another large family, in Iowa. In 1993, Irma was still alive, in Greenfield, Iowa, but was reportedly unwilling to talk about her family history. Their son Arthur was living in Des Moines, Iowa in 1955. Ref 348 gives Alma's marriage Feb 1907 in Whitewater Wisconsin, her death and burial Mrch 1911 in Rockham South Dakota, and her cause of death as "possible child birth complications"
. In Ref 325, Irene Zastrow says her birthdate was Dec 1, 1886, baptised Jan 20, 1887. In another place in Ref 325, Sandy Schmelling says she has Alma's baptism certificate, and that she was baptised Feb 20, 1887 -- so there you have it! Sandy says she has pages of info on Alma and her two children and grandchildren etc, which she will send. Ref 346 is a copy of the baptism certificate, and it confirms Sandy's dates, but spells her name Wollfeil. Baptism wittnesses were Wilh. Stark, Henriette Riess, and Wilhelmine Toelke.
In Reference 349, Sandy says Alma only had two children, that the reason Alma and husband John Schmeling went to Rockham South Dakota was because John's sister Hattie (Lemke), and perhaps other relatives, were there.
This is how Sandy Schmelling fits: After Alma died, her husband John Schmelling, married Hedwig Reduenz. They had Max, Arnold, Emma, Clarence, Robert, Gilbert, Johnie, Verna, and Kenneth. Arnold had a son, Bruce, who is Sandy's husband. Sandy lives in Casey Iowa, 50048. Sandy is also the source of References 346, 348, and 349. Sandy says she has a wedding picture of John and Alma, and that she sent a copy to Marv and Paula (or that she planned to that week).
His godfather was Georg Wolfgang Riess, Hohenberg, Bavaria He was apparently named after him.
My son Todd, in a visit to Anton Röll in Grafenreuth Bavaria in February of 1999, took a picture of the modern house and old barn at the address: Grafenreuth house No. 8. Anton indicated that Riess's used to live there, a fact which is confirmed by the book "Die Amerika-Auswanderer der Evang.-Luth. Kirche in Arzberg": item 369 on page 48 indicates a Johann Riess was born on Feb 1, 1833 to a Johann Martin Riess, farmer. I do not know how Johann Martin is related to us. We do know that the same book lists several of Georg Wolgang's children as being born in Grafenreuth house No. 6, which is just across the road from No. 8. In 1999, lot No. 6 was an empty lot, except for a one story shed of some type.
Arzberg church records (Source 188) list his date of birth as July 16, 1811, and this is the date I have entered. Other indications had his birth on July 12.
Also see notes for Georg Wolgang's wife.
Possible alternate spellings for the RIESS name include RIES and RIESE. Also, Riess was usually written Rieß.
May have daughter Maria Riess, b Apr 1855 d. 12 Mar 1855 d/o Wolfgang (Larry Jaeger has this church record and the death is listed before the birth). (note by BKlein)
According to Anton Roll's letter (reference 129), they apparently left Bavaria August 10, 1852.
We now have a photo of Georg Wolfgang, and one of him and his wife Anna Margaretha Jahn, and one of their sons Johann Wilhelm, and also one of their daughters, Anna Margarethe and likely her husband Rockstroh, thanks to Eva Elisabeth Justina Rockstroh Beach (a granddaughter of George Wolfgang). Photos were received in 2001 from Eva Elisabeth Justina's grandson Allan Beach of Cincinatti Ohio as transmitted through Barbara Degner Klein of Oconomowoc Wisconsin.
Allan Beach of Cincinatti, Ohio, says (via Barbara Degner Klein) in an e-mail of Oct 17, 2001 (see my Reference 305) that he has pictures of Georg Wolfgang Riess and his wife, and also picture of "Aunt Margaret Jahn" (who would likely be Georg Wolfgang's wife, although he also had a sister Catherine) and of an "Aunt Kate Riess"(who could be Georg Wolfgang's daughter Catherine) and of Georg's daughter Anna Margaretha and her husband Rockstroh, plus unmarked photos and tin types, and of an unidentified young woman and one child (both of Jefferson). Barb says she will send copies to us as soon as she gets good copies.
IMMIGRATION (note from BKlein)- Ship: Beta, from the port of Bremen to New York. Arrived 4 Oct 1852 from Bavaria Riess, Johan, 36, male, weaver from Bavaria to WI Wolf. 40, male econ from Bavaria to WI An. Mary 35, female " " " " John 18, male " " " An.Marg. 13, female " " " Cath. 11, female " " " Chat.Marg 10, female " " " John 7, male " " " Andr. 4, male " " " Wilh. 2, male " " " Fritz .06 male infant " " " Riess, Anna 19 female occupation unknown " " " The first name is apparently Wolfgang's (Georg Wolfgang) brother Johannes (born Feb 18, 1816), and the last name is apparently, Johann Michael Riess's daughter, Anna Barbara Riess (born June 25, 1833). Please refer to the IMMIGRATION notes given below. As noted in above notes, Georg Wolfgang, Johann Michael, Johannes, as well as a sister Anna Margaretha, are all believed to be siblings.
IMMIGRATION- Amerika-Auswanderer 1839-1880: Item 368. Riess, Georg Wolfgang, geboren Grafenreuth 16.7.1811, Vater: Johannes Riess, bauer, 1852 mit Ehefrau und acht Kindern nach Jefferson/Wisconsin ausgewandert (vgl. Sechsaemterland, S.1051). (note from BKlein).
Item 360, Riess, Ann Barbara, geboren in Grafenreuth am 25. Juni 1833, Vater: Johann Michael Riess, Webermeister, 1852 nach Nordamerika (vgl. Sechs"amterland, S. 1051).
Item 372. Riess, Johann aus Grafenreuth, erhielt 1873 von der Heimatgemeinde ein Zeugnis zur Auswanderung (Sechsaemterland, S. 1305 (note from BKlein) (not sure the connection of this person. It should be noted that the text of this same publication, page 104, indicates that the person in item 364, Barbara Riess, is the sister to this Johann Riess, and that they both came over as young brother and sister in 1873. comment by AAW)
Item 374. Riess, Johannes, geboren. Grafenreuth 18.2.1816, Vater: Johannes Riess, bauer, 1852 mit seiner Familie nach Nordamerika ausgewandert, starb 1898 in Jefferson/Wisconsin. (note from BKlein)
From type written paper in my files: Riess, Geo. Wolfgang & Margarethe nee Jahn; child and grandchildren, John W., Will, Andrew J., Albert, John F., Kate Riess, Margaretha (note from BKlein). (The grandchildren could refer to various children of various of George Wolfgang's children. AAW).
DEATH- St Johns Luth Church records, Jefferson, Jefferson Co, Wisconsin
GEORGE WOLFGANG RIESS, b July 1811, d 2 a.m. 17 July 1995 & buried 19 July. 84 years (note from BKlein)LOCATIONS in Bavaria: The RIESS's and JAHN's were from Grafenreuth, Kreis Wunsiedel, Bavaria. Grafenreuth is 3 km south of the village of Thiersheim (not to be confused with Thierstein). Even though closer to Thiersheim, the Grafenreuth church was (and is) associated with the church in Arzberg (5 km to the east of Grafenreuth). Every 14 days church services are held in the former school in Grafenreuth. The Grafenreuth church records are kept today at Arzberg. The village of Grafenreuth belongs to the market municipality of Thiersheim. The RAUSCH's are believed to be from Thierstein which is 4 km NNW of Thiersheim. All of these villages are about 10 km north of the city of Marktrednitz (which is about 90 km NE of Nurnberg).
She was survived by 5 sons, 2 daughters, 22 grandchildren, and 10 ggc. At the time of her death she lived at her home on the west side of town (Jefferson, Wisconsin). She is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery, Jefferson. We have a photo of her (see notes for her husband).
Jefferson Co, WI 5-24 old deaths (#34-162047) MARGARETHA RIESS 81 years, spouse George W Riess. d. 5 May 1896, City Jefferson, WI, bur Jefferson, Luth Cemetery. COD chronic inflammation bowels. b. 15 Jun 1815, Ger, d/o George Rahn (surname RAHN?) probably a typo. AKA Margaretta. BIRTH- Larry Jaeger had date of birth as 16 Jun 1815. DEATH- St Johns Luth Church records, Jefferson, Jefferson Co, Wisconsin MARGARETHA RIESS born Jahn, wife of Wolfgang. b 16 _____ 1815 Grefenreuth, Bavaria. d 5 a.m., 5 May 1896 buried 7 May. 80 years, 10 months, & 19 days. Funeral text Matt 14, 17.
According to Ref 305 (see notes for her brother Andreas Friedrich Riess), she did not marry and at least at one point lived with her brother Andreas Friedrich and his family in Houston Texas.
BIRTH- Amerika-Auswanderer 1839-1880. 358. Riess, Andreas, geboren. Grafenreuth Haus-Nr6 am 6. 10. 1847, Vater: Georg Wolfgang Riess, bauer, 1852 nach Nordamerika. RESIDENCE- 1928 & 1930 living Houston, Texas.
BIRTH- Amerika-Auswanderer 1839-1880. 378. Riess, Johann Wilhelm, geboren. Grafenreuth Haus-Nr.6am 5. 2. 1850, Vater: Georg Wolfgang Riess, bauer, 1852 nach Nordamerika. AKA Wilhelm RESIDENCE- 1928 & 1930 living Marshfield, WI. BIRTH- from Larry Jaeger is 4 Feb 1850. CONFIRMATION- Wilhelm Riess, date of birth listed as 4 Feb 1850. Have a photo of Johann Wilhelm (see notes for his dad).
Twin Birth. Name maybe Anna Marie. DEATH- St Johns Luth Ch records, Jefferson, Jefferson Co, WI; d 12 or 14 March 1859; age 4 years 11 mos and 14 day; could date listed be burial date instead; if date of 12 March used, age would be 4 years 11 months and 17 days
Twin Birth. Baptised St. Johns Lutheran church, Jefferson, Wisconsin. Ref 364 (Database of Larry Jaeger, Appleton Wisconsin, of extracts from Jefferson County Wisconsin church and other records) cites St. John Lutheran Church, Twn of Oakland, records as listing a Carl Ries born March 23, 1854 to Georg Wolfgang and Anna Margaretha.
LOCATIONS in Bavaria: The RIESS's and JAHN's were from Grafenreuth, Kreis Wunsiedel, Bavaria. Grafenreuth is 3 km south of the village of Thiersheim (not to be confused with Thierstein or Theurstein!). Even though closer to Thiersheim, the Grafenreuth church was (and is) associated with the church in Arzberg (5 km to the east of Grafenreuth). The Grafenreuth church records are kept today at Arzberg. The RAUSCH's are from Thierstein which is a couple miles NW of Thiersheim. All of these villages (Grafenreuth, Thierstein, Thiersheim, and Arzberg) are about 6 miles north of the city of Marktrednitz (which is about 60 miles NE of Nurnberg), and near the Czech border. The village of Rügersgrün, where Johann Georg's grandmother, Magdalena Lippert, was from, is 2 or 3 miles west of Thierstein.
Letters from Han-Ernst Zacharias, Thierstein, Germany, dated Nov 25, 1998, Jan 12, 1999, March 19, 1999, and March 26, 1999 gave, among other things, following information which he obtained from church records (Evan.-Luth. Pfarramt, An der Kirche 8, 95199, Thierstein, Germany): He was a citizen and peasant (agricultural citizen), age 28, the second son of Georg Rausch (agricultural citizen of Thierstein), when on Jan 25, 1830, he married Magdalena Meichner from Schirnding (7 miles from Thierstein), her age 22, eldest daughter of Nicol Meichner, half-farm owner. The above age for Johann at marriage is fairly consistent with his Nov 17, 1800 birthdate. If actually born on Nov 17, 1800, he would have been 29 years, 2 months on his marriage date.
Hans-Ernst indicates that in 1725 there was an "all destructive Great Fire" that "destroyed the entire village, even the (dilapidated) castle on top of the hill. Earlier church record "entries were washed out, later ones are all but illegible for the ink permeated the paper". Apparently only some of the later ones were illegible. Hans-Ernst also writes that while the parsonage was being remodeled in the 1970's, the church records were stored in the attic of the adjacent house, formerly the cantor's home. A fire partly destroyed the attic and four volumes of the confirmation records were missing. Years later, two of them were retrieved from the tenant's (a teacher's widow) private library. Loose leaves flying about (at the time of the fire?) and caught by passers-by were identified as belonging to the still-missing two. Apparently these missing volumes cover the years that Sabine and Elizabeth would have been confirmed (but it is not certain in my mind just which years they cover).
In looking at Heidelheim records at Schönwald, we find three children of a Johann Georg Rausch and an Ursula Margaretha: Margaretha, born Sept 7, 1826; Johann Nikol born June 10, 1822; and an Elizabeth Barbara born Aug 11, 1815. Our Johann Georg would likely have been too young to be the father of Elizabeth Barbara (we had considered that these were the children of a prior marriage of his). We record these births here anyway just to keep them from getting lost.
An e-mail from Merry Ann Roth on Feb 3, 2001 says that the ship's record is the EMIGRANT, port of departure was Bremen to New York arriving Sept 20, 1847, family number 737885, CD 273 Passenger Lists, New York, 1820-1850, Sabine age 19, Elizabeth 7, Magda 42, J.G.Rausch age 47, country of origin: Deutschland, National Archive Series No: M237, Microfilm No. 69.
From reference 128, 1850 census: John Walthers and "Sabine" Rausch were living in the town of Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, dwelling 1567, family 1582: John Walthers, 24, farmer, $500 realestate value; "Lawina", age 23; Barbary, 9 months, born Wisconsin
. Also living with the same family grouping was John. Elzop (spelling?), age 58, farmer, $200 realestate, born Germany, and John Elzop, 11, born Germany. In the 1850 Farmington Twnshp entry for dwelling 1554/1569 is listed John Ross, 51, Farming, and Elizabeth Ross, age 11, both born in Germany. Despite the distorted spelling, I believe this refers to "Sabine's" father and sister, perhaps with an Americanized spelling, perhaps just the result of a sloppy census taker. In the 1855 State of Wisconsin census was listed a John G. Rouse in Farmington Twnshp with 1 male and 1 female, both foriegn born -- again referring to "Sabine's" dad and sister. By the 1860 census, "Michael Walthers, 33, and wife "Cabena", 32 and five children were living in dwelling # 1423 and John Riese, 29 (or 24?) and Elisabeth, 20, and their child Martha, age 1 in dwelling 1424. Thus in 1860 the sisters were close to each other, but the father was with neither of them. There was in Farmington Twnshp, a Henry Rusch (sp?), 59, farmer, German born, and Mina Rusch, 63, German born, along with a Maria Sulick, 26, and Sara Sulick, 2. I suppose it is possible that the father is now going by the name Henry and had remarried, but have nothing to support this. DEATH- not recorded at Jefferson Co, WI. DEATH- St Peter's Lutheran Church records, Helenville, Jefferson Co, WI. John George Rausch, d 12 Jan 1875 and buried 14 Jan 1875; COD- altersschwache (debility of old age) b 17 Nov 1800 (Rausch researcher- Carole Bucher, 336 W Kenilworth, Villa Park, Ill 60181, phone 708-832-1859)
County court, Jefferson Co, Wisconsin 1896: In the Matter of the Estate of John Geo. Rausch, Deceased. Your petitioner, Elizabeth Riss, alleges and respectfully shows to the court: That the said John Geo. Rausch died intestate at the town of Farmington in said Jefferson County, Wisconsin, on the 12th day of January 1875; that he was an inhabitant of said Jefferson County when he died; that he left no debts that remain unpaid; that a certain mortgage in favor of said deceased from one John Riess and wife for $900.00 dated May 3rd, 1860, and recorded November 18th, 1864, in the office of the Register of Deeds of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, in Volume 29 of Mortgages on page 626 was fully paid but remains undischarged record as petitioner alleges upon information and belief, that is to say that there appears upon record a Satisfaction of said mortgage executed by one Sabina Walther, formerly Sabina Rausch, and Elizabeth Riess, formerly Elizabeth Rausch, but that there is no record showing that they had authority to discharge said mortgage of record; that your petitioner is the wife of the said John Riess who was formerly the owner of the lands encumbered by the above described mortgage and who had conveyed the same with full warranty of title and is for that reason interested in having said mortgage legally discharged of record. Your petitioner further shows that the said John Geo. Rausch left him surviving your petitioner and Sabina Walther as his only children and heirs-at-law and no widow or child of any deceased child. Wherefore your petitioner prays that she may be appointed special administratrix of the estate of the said John Geo Rausch, deceased, for the purpose of legally satisfying said mortgage of record. Dated at Jefferson, Wisconsin, this 29 day of A.D. 1896 signed by the attorney for the Petitioner. State of Wisconsin. Jefferson County. Elizabeth Riess being first duly sworn on oath says, that she is the petitioner above named; that she has heard read the foregoing petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the same is true to her own knowledge except as to the matters therein stated on information and belief and as to those matters she believes it to be true. signed by Elizabeth Riess. .
Her birth record in Schirnding church confirms her parents. I am not sure of the birthday, but it looks like July 5. We have a copy of her birth record. It likely contains additional information to that we have translated.
Schirnding is 7 miles east of Thierstein, Bavaria and just one mile shy of the Czech border.. Magdalena was the eldest daughter of her parents. Her marriage record lists her as 22 at her marriage on Jan 25, 1830.
The fact that she was the eldest daughter of her parents is also stated in the birth record of her first child, Sabina. This record also confirms her parents.
The information contained in what I have labeled Reference 292 (Deutsches Familienarchiv, Ein genealogisches Sammelwerk, Band 59, 1974, Verlag Degener & Co., pages 155-186: Das Geschlecht Meichner in Oberfranken und Hannover) temporarily raised some questions, in that it lists a Wolfgang Georg Bernhard as a child born May 17, 1831to Magdalena Meichner (July 5, 1806 - Jan 6, 1875). The problem with Wolfgang Georg Bernhard is his listed birthdate, because it is within a couple months of a well-documented child (Christine born July 20, 1831) of our ancestor, Magdalena Meichner (born July 5, 1806) and her husband Johann Georg RAUSCH. It now turns out that the author of Reference 292 has the wrong birthdate for the mother of Wolfgang Georg Bernhard. New information obtained from the Regensburg LandKirchArchiv (see Ref 403) indicates that the same parents had two daughters that were named (or went by) Magdalena: our ancestor, the oldest daughter, born July 5, 1806; and another Magdalena born on Jan 8, 1810, the third daughter of the same parents. This third daughter died Jan 5, 1875 and was buried Jan 7.
The Wolfgang Georg Bernard Meichner mentioned in the above note left many descendants in Germany, including some alive today. I also wrote to three of these (copies of letter also included in Ref 292), also to try to get the correct info on his birthdate and his mother. I wrote to Alfred Meichner, Waldershof, Germany; Franz Meichner, Waldershof; and Lothar Meichner, Pullenreuth. Alfred and Lothar are brothers, and Franz is a first cousin to Alfred and Lothar. All three are great grandchildren of Wolfgang Georg Bernhard Meichner (supposedly born May 17, 1831 the son of Magdalena Meichner). All three would be my fourth cousins.
The church records at the Evang. Luth. Church in Thierstein, Bavaria, indicate a Christine Rausch was born within wedlock at 7 am on July 20, 1831 to Johann Georg Rausch, local citizen and peasant, and to his wife Magdalena nee Meichner, and was baptized Aug 7, with Chistine, wife of the farmer Johann Weiss from Schirding as the godmother. She died September 17, 1831 at age of two months, three days old (actually she would have been three days shy of two months old). In her death notice her father was listed as an "okonomieburger" (agricultural citizen).
BURIAL- Lincoln Memorial Park (name changed) Sec 14 Block 3 Lot 38 Grave 2
Lived in Miwaukee, Wisconsin.CHURCH RECORDS- no early marriage records St Peter's Luth Church, Helenville, WI. no record of marriage found in Wis Vital Statistics records before 1907. RESIDENCE- lived Milwaukee, WI. PHOTO- group photo of siblings as adults. Milwaukee is probable place of death.
BRIEFLET- 19 Apr 1901 JEFFERSON COUNTY UNION, Jefferson, Jefferson Co, WI
HELENVILLE- Jacob Werking and wife, of Milwaukee, came to attend the funeral of Mrs Werking's father. BURIAL- Lincoln Memorial Park (name changed) Sec 14 Block 3 Lot 38 Grave 1.
CENSUS- 1880 MINNESOTA Federal, Swan River, Morrison Co. #279: Altwis, Peter, 29 farmer birth place Ohio birth place of father, France Sarah, 28 Ohio "" Ohio Henry C, 1 WI "" Ohio James B. 11/12 Apr WI "" Ohio #280: Crosland, Harvey, 17 WI "" Ohio Lilly, 12 WI "" Ohio birth place mother England #281 Altwis, Henry, 18
AKA- Henry F.. Jefferson Co, WI 2-832 marriages ALTWIES-RIESS
father listed as Peter Altwise Ohio, mother not listed. No children. MARRIAGE- date of marriage from newspaper Wed 16 Nov 1910 in home of bride. 1927 PRAIRIE FARMER DIRECTORY, Jefferson Co, WI. Altwies, Henry (Bertha Reese); 50 years in the county. Johnson Creek R1, Farmington Sec 14 75 acres. DEATH- not recorded at Jefferson Co, WI. DEATH- St Peter's Lutheran Church records, Helenville, Jefferson Co, WI Henry Lafayette, d 28 Jan 1932 and buried 31 Jan 1932; 69 years, 3 months and 10 days. Date of birth from this age, 18 Oct 1862. Town Farmington, WI, d/o Johann Gruennert & Johanne Riess; COD- Innerliche?OBIT- 30 Jan 1932 WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES, Watertown, Jefferson Co, WI
Herman Altwise, 69, Johnson Creek, died Thursday night in a Madison hospital. The body was take to Jefferson for burialOBIT- 2 Feb 1932 WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES, Watertown, Jefferson Co, WI
Henry LaFayette Altweis, a life long resident of the town of Farmington who died at a Madison hospital 28 January, was buried Sunday following services in the Helenville Lutheran Church. Mr Altweis was born 18 October 1862 in the town of Concord. His parents died when he was ten years of age. Surviving him are his his wife, the former Bertha Riess of the town of Farmington, whom he married on 17 November 1910. he is also survived by two brothers, Peter Altweis * of Waterville and one sister, Mrs Peter Olson of Racine. Mr Altweis was a farmer all his life and widely known in the community where his entire life was spent. He was possessed of a happy disposition which won an kept for him many friends. He enjoyed good health until two years ago. Last September he was forced to retire from active work and had been under the care of a physical for some time. He entered a Madison hospital on 14 January and underwent an operation on 23 January.ERROR: Peter Altwies lived in Pipersville and later Farmington, and Frank who is not listed, lived in Waterville).
Bertha was married in her home. Bertha was not mentioned in her mother's obituary. See sources for father John Riess. Jefferson Co, WI 2-832 marriages RIESS-ALTWIES. parents listed as being born Germany. married Township Jefferson, WI. Jefferson Co, WI 25-474 deaths BERTHA ALTWIES. CENSUS- 1910 WISCONSIN Federal, Farmington, Jefferson Co, WI. 127/140 4693 Riess, Bertha age 42, single. 4677 Gruennert, Lily niece, age 13.
OBIT- Apr 1951 WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES, Watertown, Jefferson Co, WI. Bertha Katherine Altwies b 17 April 1867 Town Farmington, father John Riess, married 1910, survived by Jennie Gruennert RR1 Jefferson and Henrietta Stark of Fort Atkinson, preceded in death by 4 sisters and 1 brother.
Carl married Mabel Mikulescky in 1921. Carl was a veteran of WWI and a member of St. Pauls Lutheran church and of the American Legion. He died at Veterans Hospital at Wood (Wisconsin?) and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Atkinson, where he and Mabel lived (at least in 1955). Five grandchildren survived Carl.
See notes and sources for her husband Carl H. Zechel. Name might be spelled Mikulecky.
Do not know birth date or birth order of siblings! He lived in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin in 1959.
Do not know birth date or birth order of siblings! He lived in Burlington, Wisconsin in 1959, where he was a policeman.
Do not know birth date or birth order of siblings. He was in the US Army in San Francisco, CA, in 1959.
Do not know birth date or birth order of this daughter, but she was not alive in 1959 when her father died.
Places of residence include Milwaukee (in 1955 and 1959) West Allis, Wisconsin. Not sure of his birth order relative to brother Carl.
See notes and sources for husband Lawrence Zechel.
John and his wife were married in Farmington Township, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. See Ref 393 for his obituary.
An 1870 plat map shows several Sievert farms SE of Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin: Jno. Sievert (118 acres), F. Sievert (80 acres), J. Sievert (102 acres), and H. Sievert (50 acres). Do not know if any of these belonged to this John Sievert. There is also an 87 acre farm belonging to an F. Schiefelbein.
Meta Sievert <76> says she has a cousin, Irene Sievert, who in 1989, had bone cancer. Also that she has second cousin, Ed Sievert who is married to Elva Groehler, Milton, WI. Elva is 96 in 1989.
John Gottlieb's obit in Ref 339 says he and his wife had 12 children, 5 of whom died in infancy and one at age of 12. For 23 years he lived on a farm near Aztalan (Wisconsin) and for 14 years in the town of Koshkonong. 14 years before his death he and his wife retired from farm life and came to Ft. Atkinson. He suffered a stroke and died 4 months later.
Just to keep it from getting lost, I enter an e-mail note received in Jan 2000, from "kburwitz@wolfenet.com" I asked him for clarification, but he never responded. I see no connection at current: "Just saw your message on Otto. My grandmother was Johann's sister, Wilhelmina Augusta Smith. I have been trying to track down the villages the family immigrated from. Old newspaper death notices indicate Koeslin, Pommern. However the patriarch, Frederich Herman, was said to have come from Koeln....". Also see notes for John Gottlieb's father for more e-mails that tie into this one.
See Ref 393 for her obit. See Ref 393 for obit of a Henry Stiehm, Sr., born Farmington in 1856, married 1877 Caroline Jeske of chicago, died May 25, 1934, Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, lists his 8 surviving children.
He died at age of 12 from shock after an operation at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee to remove a tumor attached to the intestines. See Ref 393 for his obituary.