Tombstone Tuesday - Adelbert Boegel

Full view of the Kleinmann/Boegel marker in Holy Cross

I previously shared the funeral card I had for Adelbert Boegel and now thanks to a FindAGrave contributor I can share his tombstone!

So since I don't have much on Adelbert aside from his funeral card and what was in an old handwritten family tree I was given, I decided to do some research for this post...Adelbert can be found with his parents, Raymond and Katherine in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census. He was single in all of those records and with spelling variations on his name (1920 - Edeberd, 1930 - Adelbert, 1940 - Adalbert). According to both the SSDI and the Wisconsin Death Index he died in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin although Holy Cross is in Milwaukee. I can find him in multiple U.S. City Directory listing, but only the one in 1953 list his spouse. She is another Catherine! Most have him listed as living in Fond du Lac and then later in Richfield.

Close-up of the names on the Kleinmann/Boegel marker

Catherine isn't on his tombstone though, but a Kenneth G. who died in 1980 is as is a Janet who died in 1948. Janet only has "1948" on the tombstone. That this is the year she died is my assumption because if it was for someone that was born in 1948 and hadn't passed yet there would be space for an update in the future and there isn't. So who are Janet and Kenneth G? My guess is that they are his and Catherine's children. Why do they share a tombstone with the Kleinmanns? Perhaps Catherine's maiden name was Kleinmann. The other side of the tombstone (which is not shown)  has Roland (1899-1960), Barbara (1902-1994), and Kenneth (1924-1935). Perhaps Adelbert and Catherine named their son after a brother of hers that died young? I don't know for sure, but I have Adelbert's obituary on my research calendar and I hope to be able to pull his obituary the next time I get back to Wisconsin.

Close-up names on the Kleinmann marker (reverse of Kleinmann/Boegel)

Kenneth is the son of Roland and Barbara as I can see by looking in the 1930 US Census and there was another son, Gerald/Gerold. Catherine wasn't born yet. In the 1940 Census I can see that Kenneth is no longer listed, which I would expect, but Catherine isn't there. Gerald is though so it's the same couple. Where is Catherine? Is my assumption that Roland and Barbara being her parents wrong? Is one of them her brother or sister and Kenneth was a nephew that they named a child after? I can't confirm or disprove that yet. I can easily find Roland in the 1900 through 1920 census with his parents, but there's no Catherine in there. Perhaps Barbara was her sister.

Now let's get crazier. I can't find anything for the death of Adelbert's wife, Catherine Boegel nee WhoKnowsWhat. In a public family tree I see that Adelbert is married to a Barbara that died in 1994...but that would be the Barbara on the tombstone...who I found in the census married to Roland! My head hurts. According to this public tree Barbara and Roland were married and then Barbara married Adelbert after he died. So this would be second marriages for the both of them.

I'd like to take this time to point out that you should not just take information from someone else's tree and treat it as true. I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again because it's that important...Public Family Trees are a great way to guide you down the right path, but you need to then follow up with your own research because they're also a great way to be guided down the wrong path! I put Barbara on my research calendar to pull an obituary for as well. I still need to figure out what happened to Catherine, Janet, and Kenneth G! Barbara is mentioned in the obituary for Adelbert's brother, Raymond, as his wife. It may be quite difficult to find any information on Catherine if she isn't in Adelbert's obituary.

As I continue on (and just to be more confusing) Kenneth G. wasn't the son of Adelbert and Catherine. I couldn't find a Kenneth G Boegel in the SSDI with the year range of 1961-1980, but I did find a Kenneth G. Kleinmann born on 06JUL1961 and died on 31OCT1980. Time to pull another obituary because I need to see more about this Kenneth. He may not even be the child of Barbara and Roland. He was born after Roland's death and too long after his death for it to be Roland's...not to mention Barbara was a little too old to be having children at 60-something. Perhaps it was a grandchild. Who knows. I certainly don't.

So one little post about sharing a Boegel tombstone opened up a lot more questions than I ever expected to get. It seems that Adelbert is the only Boegel really on that tombstone. Stay tuned until I can get those obituaries pulled!

(A very big thank you to FindAGrave contributor Phillip #46971271 for permission to share the photos he took of the Kleinmann/Boegel tombstone in Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum. They may be "just a rock with letters on them," but they mean so much. Thank you!)

Sunday's Obituary - Mrs. Catherine Melzer

Fond du Lac Daily Reporter,
06MAY1926, pg3

"Widow Expires Within Three Weeks of Mate

Mrs. Catherine Melzer, Age 83, Dies From Pneumonia at St. Kilian Home.

Wayne County Pioneer

Three weeks after the death of her husband, Mrs. Catherine Melzer of St. Kilian, age 83, expired at 1 a.m. today at the home of her son, Frank, in St. Kilian following five days illness from pneumonia.

The deceased was born Jan. 6, 1843, in Austria and was married there in 1867 to the late Joseph Melzer. Coming to America shortly after their marriage they settled in the Town of Wayne.

Besides her son, Mrs. Melzer leaves four daughters, Mrs. Margaret Wahlen and Mrs. Barbara Kohler of St. Kilian and Mrs. Kate De Voe and Mrs. Julia Schmidt of Milwaukee. 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday from St. Kilian Catholic church. The Rev. John Reichel will officiate. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery."


"MELZER - The funeral of Mrs. Catherine Melzer of St. Kilian, who died Thursday was held at 9 a.m. today from St. Kilian Catholic church. The Rev. John Reichel officiated. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery."

I've blogged about my Katherine Boegel nee Melzer before and pointed out that this isn't her. Her name was Boegel when she passed. I've questioned who this Katherine Melzer was and posted her funeral card before too. I've wanted to find out more and even came up with some research plans to do it, but it never seemed to happen. The best intentions in the world derailed by too much on my plate. I finally sat down with a cup of tea and my computer and decided that I'm going to dedicate some time to this Katherine and my Melzer line. I'm awaiting responses to emails and have slapped some stuff down in my research calendar for this summer. I've gotta keep plugging away until something gives!

Fond du Lac Daily Reporter, 08MAY1926, pg12

According to the St. Kilian Catholic Church listing I found on the Campbellsport.gov website I see that my Katherine Boegel nee Melzer is buried in the same cemetery as this Joseph and Katherine Melzer (nee WhoKnowsWho since they didn't mention it in her obit...nice!). With seven Melzers buried in the same cemetery as my Katherine there has to be a connection. I'm going to do a little digging through my files and spend some serious blog time sharing what I've got on this line. If I can't get through it on my own I'm hoping a Melzer sees the blog and can offer me a sledgehammer to break through this brick wall!

Tombstone Tuesday - Frank and Alice Cayemberg

The tombstone of Frank and Alice Cayemberg in Fort Howard Memorial Park, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Frank Cayemberg is my husband's great uncle. He was born on May 14th 1889 in Lincoln, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin to Eli and Florence Cayemberg nee Villers. He was one of 14 children. On February 7th 1910 he married Caroline Nowak. Together they had two children, John and Angeline. John lived only three days. His sister Angeline lived to the age of 94 years. Caroline Nowak passed away on May 21st 1930.

On June 4th 1940 he married Alice Hendricks and together they had five children. Frank passed away on April 13th 1974. Alice passed away on July 15th 2012. They are buried in Fort Howard Memorial Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin.


(Original photo was taken by FindAGrave member Danielle Green #48004852) who has graciously given me permission to post it on this blog.  Thank you, Danielle!)

Sunday's Obituary - Mabel Dart nee Rogers

Fred and Mabel Dart -
Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum

Green Bay Press Gazette,
04FEB1991, Pg B2

"Mrs. Fred (Mabel) Dart

Mrs. Fred (Mabel) Dart, 88, Tonet, died Sunday morning, February 3, 1991 at a Green Bay nursing home after a long illness. She was born July 27, 1902 in Catawba, Wis., to the late Desire and Josephine (Bertrand) Rogers. Her family moved to the Tonet area where she later made her home with foster parents, George and Mary Adams.

Mabel Married Fred Dart on Sept. 5, 1922 at St. Martins Church, Tonet. They farmed the Dart Homestead until retirement. She was a member of the St. Ann Society of St. Martin Church.

Survivors include her husband, Fred; one daughter, Rita Delveaux, Green Bay; one son and daughter-in-law, Irvin and Betty Dart, Luxembourg; six grandchildren, Dale and Pat Dart; Kenneth and Kathy Dart; Carol and Roger Wielgus; Elaine Marin; Mary Ann and Paul Huguet; Ronald and Jeane Delveaux; 14 great-grandchildren, Keith, Kim, Kyle, Christopher, Michael, Joanne and Julie Dart; Jodi and Joe Marin; Jeff and Craig Huguet; Tamara, Jared and Cody Delveaux; and one step-brother, Clarence Rogers.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Louie Rogers; five sisters, Lucy Williams, Margaret Wilson, Libbie Malcore, Irene Jonet and Effie Rogers; one step-sister, Stella Rogers; and two step-brothers, Roy and Elmer Rogers.

Friends may call at McMahon Funeral Home, Luxemburg, from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and prior to the funeral on Wednesday. St. Ann Society Rosary 7 p.m. Tuesday. Wake service 8 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Martin Church, Tonet, with the Rev. Richard Kleiber officiating. Entombment in Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum."

Mabel Dart nee Rogers was the wife of my husband's 2nd cousin once removed, Fred Dart. Fred was the son of Charles Dart and grandson of Eugene and Josephine Dart nee Hermans.

Freaky Friday - Two Claim Dead Woman as Wife

Kewaskum Statesman,
Sat. 04JAN1908, pg1

Oh how we women love to be fought over, preferably before we die. Truly an odd story. It was another I came across during my research and photocopied because it looked interesting. After reading it through I wish I had gone to the next issue to see what the police discovered!

"Two Claim Dead Woman as Wife

Janesville witness declares on stand his real name is Lanuette.

Another says he's husband

Prisoner at Fond du Lac Tells Remarkable Story That Tallies with That Related at Inquest.

The police are sorely puzzled.

Janesville, Wis., Jan. 2. - (Special.) - Frederick Clayton, husband of the Chicago clairvoyant whose body was found in this city recently, declared today that his real name was Lanauette and that he and his dead wife, Madeline Odell, were married in St. Joseph, Mich., on September 17 last and not in February as he had previously stated to the police and also testified on the stand.

The police here today received the startling information from Fond du Lac that a man had given himself up to the sheriff there declaring he was F. G. Lanauette and that he married the Odell woman in St. Joseph, Mich., in September. He says that they parted, and that he went into the copper country. The Fond du Lac report tallies almost identically with that told by Lanauette on the stand here and the officers are sorely puzzled and are unable to explain the remarkable coincidence. The Lanauette here will be questioned late this afternoon and it is expected that before night the mystery will be cleared up. The authorities do not seem to doubt the story told by the witness but in no way can they account for the report from Fond du Lac."

Sunday's Obituary - Another Newspaper, Another Obituary

Kewaskum Statesman,
Fri. 02AUG1963, pg1

I shared an obituary for George Herman previously. It was from a newspaper in West Bend, Wisconsin. I had also pulled one from a Kewaskum newspaper. It has much of the same information with a few alterations. Certainly worth sharing.

George Herman (also spelled "Hermann") is my husband's 2nd great uncle.

"George A. Herman, Sr.

George A. Herman, Sr., 74, of the town of Wayne, Allentown rural route, president of the Theresa Mutual Insurance Co., died unexpectedly early Monday morning, July 29, of a heart attack at his home.

A resident of the town of Wayne for 42 years, he was born on Sept. 21, 1888, in the town of Theresa, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Herman. His marriage to the former Alvina Hahn took place in the town of Theresa on Jan. 5, 1911. She preceded him in death on Feb. 18, 1951.

Mr. Herman was the father of four children, one of whom, a daughter Vinelda (Mrs. Alex Krell) predeceased in 1958. Surviving are one daughter Louise (Mrs. Ervin Butzlaff) of R. 2 Kewaskum; tow sons, George Herman, Jr. and Lyle Herman, both of Allentown rural route; one daughter-in-law, two sons-in-law, 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Zimdahl, of Allentown.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at St. Lucas Lutheran church, Kewaskum., the Rev. Donald Bitter officiating. Burial took place in Union cemetery, Theresa. Prior to the services friends called at Miller's Funeral home from 2 p.m. Wednesday until 10:30 a.m. Thursday and at the church from 12 noon until the time of services."

Freaky Friday - Dead Mother Lives

Kewaskum Statesman, 01FEB1908, pg1

I can't imagine the story behind this article. OK...I can imagine, but it's all so extraordinary and the article certainly doesn't give a lot of details. At least there's a happy reunion at the end of it all, but what circumstances could have caused this separation of 30 years?

It sounds like quite an interesting story is behind this little blurb in a 1908 newspaper.

"Supposed Dead Mother Lives

Fleischer Family Reunited After Thirty Years Plan Celebration

Manitowoc, Wis., Jan. 30. - (Special.) - To hear from the mother whom he had believed dead for thirty years ad (sic) to be reunited with his parent and a brother is the happiness that has come to Daniel Fletcher of this city. Fletcher has just received a letter from a brother at Cornish, N. Y., and in it is conveyed the intelligence that the mother, long thought dead, is alive and residing with his brother. Fletcher has been trying for years to locate his brother and succeeded through an uncle at St. Paul, who chanced to learn the whereabouts of the missing man. A reunion of the family is now being planned in this city."