Weyres, Valentine

The Weyres Family lived on Corbett Road, Town of Somers

1880 U.S. Federal Census
Valentine Weyres, born about 1847 in Prussia, age 33
Mary Weyres, born about 1859 in Wisconsin, age 23

Valentine and Mary Weyres
Valentine (Valentinus) Weyres (Weires) was born March 6, 1846 in Feuerscheid, Bitburg Prum, Eifel Region, Rheineland-Palatinate, Germany.  He was the son of Thomae Weires and Annae Margarethae Thiltges or Thieltges.  Valentine married Miss Mary Niederprim, daughter of Wilhelmus Niederprim and Magdalena Thiessen-Niederprim September 8, 1879 in Waukegan, Illinois.  Read more about the Niederprim family.

Valentine Weyres arrived in the U.S. on October 1871 - Detroit.
(Source:  Naturalization Records, Kenosha County)

Children of Valentine and Mary

Mathias (Matt) Weyres, born July 1, 1880 in Racine.  Died March 18, 1918 in Racine.




(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

"Mathias Weyres, a progressive farmer, died last night at the age of 37 years.  He was born in Kenosha County and lived in Mount Pleasant and Somers for the last 20 years, where he was quite well known and had many friends.  He is survived by three sisters - Mrs. Joseph Lotz and Mrs. Peter Mandernach of Mount Pleasant, and Mrs. Gus O' Day of St. Paul; and three brothers, William Weyres of Washington, now in the airplane service, Thomas Weyres, with the U.S. forces in France, and Joseph Weyres of Mount Pleasant.  The remains will be taken from Beffel's funeral parlors this evening to the home of his sister, Mrs. Joseph Lotz, and the funeral services will be conducted Saturday morning from St. George's Church in Kenosha."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times March 21, 1918)


Mary (Mamie) Elizabeth Weyres, born October 2, 1881 in Racine.  Mary married Joseph Lotz at St. George Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin on May 2, 1900.  Mary Weyres Lotz died September 28, 1941 in Racine, Wis.

Children of Joseph and Mary Weyres Lotz
Edmund John Lotz, born about 1901 in Mt. Pleasant, Racine County
Lawrence Valentine Lotz, born about 1903 in Mt. Pleasant, Racine County
Bernard Frank Lotz, born about 1904 in Mt. Pleasant, Racine County
Rose Lotz, born about 1908/09 in Mt. Pleasant, Racine County
Robert William Lotz, born about 1912 in Somers, Kenosha County
Mary Elizabeth Lotz, born about 1914 in Somers, Kenosha County
Aloysius Joseph (also known as Louis J. on census) Lotz, born about 1921 in Somers, Kenosha County

The Joseph and Mary (also known as Mamie) Weyres Lotz family
(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

Angelina (Annie) Weyres, born October 31, 1883 in Racine.  Angelina married Fordyce Cyrus Miles in 1940 in Iowa.  Angelina Weyres Miles died November 10, 1976 in Duluth, Saint Louis, Minnesota.

(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

Helena (Lena) Weyres, born March 8, 1889 in Racine.  Lena married Peter Mandernach on November 11, 1908 in Racine, Wis.  Lena Weyres Mandernach died August  9, 1968 in Kenosha.

William Weyres, born October 4, 1891 in Racine.  William married Lillian M. Schrader on August 21, 1919 in Racine.  William Weyres died Feb. 9, 1976 in Racine.

Thomas Weyres, born October 24, 1895 in Racine.  Thomas married Ida Marie Behrens on October 11, 1921 in Racine.  Thomas Weyres died May 7, 1935 in Racine.

Margaret Weyres, born January 1894 in Racine.  Margaret died August 3, 1894 in Racine.

Joseph Theodore Weyres, born October 3, 1902 in Town of Somers, Kenosha County.  Joseph married Gertrude Catherine Mueller (also known as Miller) on May 5, 1927 in Racine.  Joseph Weyres died December 10, 1983.   Gertrude Mueller Weyres was born July 31, 1903 and died March 19, 1967.
(Information Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

Joseph Weyres and Gertrude Mueller Weyres
(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)



Joseph Weyres and Gertrude Mueller Weyres Wedding
Maid of Honor is Fran Blackburn (Seitz) and Best Man is Bernard Lotz
(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)
 

Joseph Weyres ObituaryJoseph T. Weyres, 81, 2521 14th Place, died Saturday (Dec. 10, 1983) morning at his home.  The son of Valentine and Mary (Niederprim) Weyres, he was born Oct. 3, 1902 in the Town of Somers.  He attended Kenosha County schools and moved to Koshkonong, Mo., in 1975.  He moved back to Kenosha in October of this year.  On May 5, 1927 he married Gertrudge Mueller in Racine.  She died in 1967.  He installed awnings for Godske Awning Co., Racine, for more than 35 years and retired in 1975.  While living in Kenosha he was a member of St. George Catholic Church.  He also was active as a baseball and softball umpire in Kenosha for many years.  Surviving are a son, James Weyres, of Koshkonong; two daughters, Mrs. Richard (Rosemary) Thompson, Somers, and Mrs. Harland (Beverly) Reidenbach, Kenosha; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Thomas and Mathias; and three sisters, Mamie Lotz, Lena Mandernach and Annie Miles.





Joseph Weyres driving The Godske Co. truck, May 19, 1941.
(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)
 

A Story About Joseph Weyres, Godske, Air City Airport in Sturtevant, Sylvania Airport in Sturtevant, Wisconsin

James B. Weyres (1933-2011) was the son of Joe and Gertrude (Mueller) Weyres.  James was a professor at the State University of Arkansas.  He had a pilot's license and regularly flew from Little Rock to Kenosha to visit family.  Joe also flew with James but it is not know if he was a licensed pilot.  Prior to retirement, Joe Weyres worked for the Godske Awning Co., operated by Carlyle Godske, who also managed the Air City Airport in Sturtevant, Wisconsin located along Durand Avenue, east of Eight Avenue (now 90th Street).  A large cement block hanger building (used as a warehouse by Auer Steel) remains at the time of writing this article.  The grass runway that roughly paralleled Durand Avenue (Highway 11) has been built over by commercial developments including Farm & Fleet and the Kilarney Apartments.  In 1943 and 1944, a POW (Prisoner of War) camp was located at northwest (kitty corner) from the airfield.  A Phillips gas station was located on that corner, prior to the POW camp.  The station was operated by Les Feuerer whose son, Les, Jr. married Rita Miller, a niece of Gertrude Miller Weyres.

During the decade preceding WW2, Air City was a busy place on weekends, during the summer, and fall.  Air shows, parachute jumping, stunt flying (barnstorming) as it was called, and appropriate too since there were two large barns, Pierce and Mikleson farms, on two boundaries of the runway.  I remember stopping off at the airport when walking home from catechism class at St. Sebastian's on Saturday afternoons with sisters Fran and Marie.

The airport was financed by a Dr. Ross who envisioned a great future for Air City.  The Air Port Inn Tavern, and the hanger in which versions of the Canadian Canack aircraft were built, are about all that remain of Air City Airport.

Two miles west of Air City on Durand Avenue, another airfield attracted barnstormers from about 1928 to about 1938.  Carlyle Godske was instrumental in creating this airfield.  Mr. Godske employed Ed Hedeen to manage the facility which was located on farmland owned by Peter Braun, brother of John (Johannes) Braun, my grandfather. (Just south is the east/west road called Braun Road in Racine County).  Peter had followed John from the Verscheit area of Germany, settled in the Sturtevant area and raised a large family, most of whom migrated to the Milwaukee area in the 30's.  The house and farm buildings remain, having been purchased by the Creuzinger Farms of Sturtevant.  The airfield utilization was short lived and is thought to have been abandoned in the mid-30's.  No structures remain.

About a mile northwest of this site there is the Sylvania Airport, a small privately owned airfield started by the Koser family, that hosts private airplane owners and has limited events such as skydiving, made safer by the development of "steerable" parachutes.

Less that two miles to the south was the University of Lawsonomy airstrip, located between Braun Road and "KR" Kenosha-Racine County Line Road and east of I-94.  It has returned to agricultural use.  Information can be found in the "Grass Roots History of Racine County."

Carlyle Godske was instrumental in obtaining the A.J. Horlick property on the northwester side of Racine for use as the Racine Airport, once known as Horlick-Racine Airport.  It is now known as Racine's Batten Field.

There were a number of privately owned landing strips located around the county such as the one at the former Fancher's Nursery on Highway 20 and H.  The need for support facilities at a central facility led to the demise of the dream of "an airplane in every driveway."
(Source:  Compiled by Hubert H. Braun, September 2013 and copy courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

Niederprim

William Niederprim and Magdalena Niederprim
St. George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin
(Source:  Photo Courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto)

1887 Partial Map of Somers  Township
W. Neiderprim parcel, Section 19

William Niederprim Obituary
(Source:  Kenosha Evening News, March 30, 1903)

Magdalena Neiderprim Obituary
(Source:  Chicago Daily Tribune, July 25, 1880)

Niederprim
Wilhelm Niederprim (sometimes spelled Neiderprim or Niederprum) was born in Germany on April 18, 1818. Magdalena Theisen (or Thiesen) was born in Germany on September 8, 1816. Wilhelm and Magdalena were married in Germany and had the following children:

· Johannes Bruno – christened December 6, 1850 in Fliessem, Rheinland, Germany; died in Germany
· Catharina – christened July 14, 1852 in Fleissem, Rheinland, Germany
· Petrus – christened October 5, 1853 in Fliessem, Rheinland, Germany

Wilhelm’s brother Michael Niederprim and his family came to America in 1856 and settled first in Chemung County, New York, then in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Wilhelm Niederprim family followed and came to America on the British Bark Alberti, landing in New York on June 3, 1857, from Antwerp, Belgium. Their son Petrus died on the ship on the way to America. Their daughter Catharina died shortly after their arrival.

The Niederprim family traveled on the same ship as the Mandernach and Thom families, who also settled in Somers Township. It is uncertain whether the Mandernach’s and the Niederprim’s knew each other prior to boarding the ship. Many years later, in 1908, Mathias Mandernach’s son Peter would marry Wilhelm Niederprim’s granddaughter Lena.

The Wilhelm and Magdalena Niederprim family settled on the north side of Kenosha in Section 19 of Somers Township. Wilhelm farmed and became one of the pioneer settlers of the area. The family belonged to St. George’s Catholic Church. Wilhelm and Magdalena had two children born in Wisconsin:

· Mary – born June 21, 1858 in Kenosha; married Valentine Weyres on September 8, 1879 in Waukegan, Illinois; died December 31, 1911 in Kenosha County.
· Michael – born August 11, 1861 in Kenosha; married Anna Julia Leik on October 21, 1884 in Kenosha, Wisconsin; died February 18, 1919 in Kenosha

Magdalena Niederprim died July 24, 1880, in Kensoha County, having been assaulted and murdered by a tramp. Wilhelm Niederprim died March 29, 1903 in Kenosha County. Both are buried in St. George’s Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin.
(Source of this Niederprim story:  Kim Heinen Bitto, January 2012)

Additional information about Niederprim
Wilhelm (William) Niederprim was buried April 1, 1903 in St. George Cemetery in Kenosha.
Mary Niederprim is buried in St. George Cemetery in Kenosha.

Mandernach



Mathias Mandernach
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Elizabeth Kramer Mandernach
(Source: Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Children of Mathias and Elizabeth Mandernach
Front row:  Peter, Edward, Nicholas
Back Row:  Louise, Appolonia (known as "Abbie"), Mary, Katherine, Elizabeth, Anna, Emma
The two women on the ends (Louise and Emma) are dressed in white because they are not yet married.  Louise was married in January 1916 so this photo would have been taken sometime shortly before that.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved)

Elizabeth Mandernach and Children
The Mathias Mandernach Family
Front Row: Portrait of father Mathias, Elizabeth (daughter), Appolonia (also known as "Abbie"), Louise, Emma (on floor), Elizabeth (mother), Anna
Back Row: Mary, Edward, Peter, Katherine, Nicholas
This photo was taken shortly after Mathias died.  Elizabeth (mother) wanted him to be in this family portrait, so they included the framed photo of Mathias.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Wedding Photo of Lena Weyres and Peter Mandernach
(Source: Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Mandernach Farm
Location:  County Line Road, Somers Township
Sitting:  Elizabeth (mother), Appolonia (also known as "Abbie")
Standing:  Emma, Peter, Louise, and Nicholas with bicycle
(Source: Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved)

Mandernach Homestead Farm
Location:  County Line Road, Somers Township
This house is still standing (2012) on KR between Wood Road and Green Bay Road.  it is very hard to see from the road now with all of the brush that has grown in front of it.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved)

Partial 1887 Map of Somers Township
M. Mandernach Farm

Mathias Mandernach

Written by Kim Heinen Bitto.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.

Four Mandernach siblings (Elizabeth, Mathias, Christian, and Ferdinand) traveled together to America as young adults.  On the ship with them was Elizabeth Mandernach’s husband, Andreas “Andrew” Thomm, along with a few of his Thomm relatives.  They traveled from Antwerp, Belgium on the British Bark Alberti, landing in New York on June 3, 1857.  The ship was a 608 ton vessel and carried 269 passengers on this voyage.  All passengers traveled “between decks” with the exception of the Mandernach’s, the Thomm’s, and two other individuals (ten people altogether), who traveled in the “cabin.”  The passengers all appear to have been laborers from Germany. 

The Mandernach and Thomm families settled in Southeastern Wisconsin, becoming members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Racine.  (The exception is Ferdinand Mandernach, who cannot be located after arriving in America.)  In 1867, Christian Mandernach married and relocated his family to Chicago, Illinois.  The Thomm family changed their name’s spelling to Thom. 

Mathias Mandernach lived with the Thom family (his sister) on their property Thistle Farm on Wood Road from 1857 to 1875, at which time he purchased 2.25 acres on Corbett Road.  In 1877 he sold that property and moved back in with the Thom family.  He subsequently purchased ten acres on County Line Road(Somers Township), eventually adding on property for a total of 31 5/8 acres. 

Mathias filed his Declaration of Intent to Naturalize in Kenosha County Circuit Court on November 6, 1860.

On February 14, 1874, Mathias Mandernach married Elizabeth Kramer (also spelled Cramer, Craemer, or Kraemer) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Racine.  They required a special dispensation from the Catholic Church, as Elizabeth was of the Lutheran religion.  Elizabeth Kramer was born in Germany (possibly the town of Niedertiefenbach) and was the daughter of Philip Kramer and Catharine Rush.  Elizabeth came to American approximately 1873.  At the time of their marriage, Mathias was approximately 41 years old, while Elizabeth was approximately 16 years old.  Mathias and Elizabeth had ten children:

Katherine “Kate” – born approximately 1872 in Germany; came to America approximately 1873; married Peter Olson on February 1, 1896; two children – Herbert and Jeannette; died 1935; it is unclear if Kate is actually the daughter of Mathias or if she was born to Elizabeth prior to her marriage to Mathias (or could possibly be a sister or other relative of Elizabeth)

Mary Anne – born May 16, 1875 in Kenosha County; married Philip Peter Pfeiffer on February 12, 1895; five children – Elizabeth, Helen, Anthony, Loretta, and Philip; died December 25, 1948 in Racine

Elizabeth “Libby” – born September 6, 1876 in Kenosha County; married George Schliesmann on May 12, 1896; eight children – John, Mathew, Gertrude, Anna, Veronica, Fred, Marie, and George; died December 30, 1915 in Racine

Anna Katherine – born September 7, 1878 in Kenosha County; married Amiel Julius “Emil” Johnson on August 5, 1903; nine children – Louise, Nicholas, Frederick, Erma, Myrtle, Margaret, Clarence, Ruth, and Irving Julius; died May 18, 1962 in Michigan

(Andrew) Edward “Big Ed” – born April 28, 1880 in Kenosha County; married Amanda Larsen on October 7, 1902; five children – Hazel, Edward Nicholas, Matthias Frederick, George, and Daniel; died July 4, 1940 in Racine

 Peter John – born August 21, 1882 in Kenosha County; married Helena Magdalena “Lena” Weyres November 11, 1908 at Holy Name Catholic Church, Racine; six children – Ethel, Arthur, Gilbert, Kenneth, Russell, and Valerie; died October 28, 1975 in Kenosha

Nicholas Edward – born July 21, 1884 in Kenosha County; married Valborg “Vol” Larsen July 21, 1907; ten children – Evelyn, Mary, Alice, Nicholas, Louis, Anthony, Olive, Grace, Lorraine, and Dorothy; died April 8, 1957 in Racine

Appolonia “Abbie” – born April 17, 1886 in Kenosha County; married Fred Schroeder on May 24, 1905; two children – Lillian and Florence; died April 29, 1916

 Louise M. – born November 4, 1888 in Kenosha County; married Frank Miller on January 10, 1916; eleven children – Bernard, Lucille, Norman, Delores, Geraldine, Gladys, Frank, Richard, John, Joyce, and Jean; died May 23, 1981

Emma G. – born March 17, 1891 in Kenosha County; married George Cabels about 1911; divorced; died October 26, 1969 in Racine

Note that Edward and Nicholas married Larsen sisters. 

Mathias Mandernach died on December 3, 1893, at the age of 61.  At that time, nine of their ten children were still minors, leaving Elizabeth Kramer Mandernach to raise their family alone.  She continued to work the family farm, traveling into Racine to peddle her produce.  She eventually sold the family farm to her son Peter Mandernach (circa 1908) and moved the remainder of the family still living at home at that time into a large house on what is now South Memorial Drive in Racine.  Elizabeth Kramer Mandernach died August 19, 1921 at the age of 64 from complications of diabetes.  Mathias and Elizabeth are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery on Kinzie Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin.

Mathias and Elizabeth’s son, Peter Mandernach, continued to operate the family farm until he eventually sold it in the early 1940’s.  Peter Mandernach married Helena (Lena or Magdalena) Weyres on November 11, 1908 at Holy Name Catholic Church, Racine, Wisconsin.  Lena was born March 8, 1889 to Valentine and Mary (Niederprim) Weyres in Racine, Wisconsin.  She was the fourth of eight Weyres children.  Peter had originally wanted to marry Lena’s older sister, Angelina “Annie” Weyres, but she instead married Daniel August “Gus” O’Day.  Peter and Lena Mandernach had six children:

Ethel Elizabeth – born August 4, 1909 in Kenosha County; married William Joseph Heinen on September 16, 1930; two children – Thomas William and Mary (who died in infancy); died April 21, 2000 in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Arthur Walter – born January 31, 1912 in Kenosha County; married Gertrude Schoepke; divorced; two children – Ralph and Gordon; died June 8, 1994 in Crivitz, Wisconsin

Gilbert E. – born June 27, 1914 in Kenosha County; married Mary Elizabeth Heinen in November, 1937; divorced; four children – Robert, Lawrence, Cynthia and David; died August 14, 1988, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Kenneth J. – born October 30, 1921 in Kenosha County; married first to Elaine Schied; divorced; one child Constance Lee relinquished to ex-wife; married second to Ann Roges; died February 5, 2003 in New Port Richey, Florida

Russell N. – born September 10, 1924 in Kenosha County; died September 20, 2000, in Cottonwood, California

Valerie Rose – born June 25, 1929 in Kenosha or Racine County; married Harold “Pete” Meyer; five children – Linda, Nancy, Lola, Steven, and Tammy; died March 1, 2010 in New Port Richey, Florida

Lena Weyres Mandernach died on August 9, 1968 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, from complications of diabetes.  Peter Mandernach died on October 23, 1975 in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the age of 93.  Both are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery on Kinzie Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin. 

Wood Road School

Wood Road School
Before 1900
Town of Somers, Kenosha, Wisconsin
(Photo courtesy of Jim Smith)

Wood Road School, about 1910
Left to Right: Unknown Helding, Loretta Swartz, Unknown Helding, Ray Feest, Everett Learned, Walter Moran
Ms. Riley-Teacher, Roy Swartz, Oswald Feest, and Frank Birch
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz.)

Wood Road School, estimate date 1928
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz.)
Click on photo for larger view.

Wood Road School, Somers Township
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson and names courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith)

Teacher: Miss McCurly

Back Row: Jack Rider, George Godlewski, Norman Thompson, William Fenner, Gordon Peterson, Marion Jacobsen, Dorothy Gardinier, Florence Rider, Lorna Smith, Jean Thompson

2nd Row: Merlyn Smith, Frank Witscheber, Emory Scheckler, Bud Thomas, Delores Barrows, Anita Witscheber, Mary Jane Peterson, Hazel Scheckler, Julia Kremis

3rd Row: Charles Huck, Sam Jacobsen, Joe Kremis, Charles Thompson, Esther Scheckler, Violet Empke, Lucille Thompson, Anne Kastelic

4th Row: Harry Kastelic, Walter Keiffer, Clem Godlewski, Russell Mandernack, Kenneth Mandernack, Otto Keiffer, Minnie Birch, Mary Ellen Thompson, Sheila Ann Smith, Angeline Birch

School District No. 9 - Wood Road School

"The earliest record available in the history of School District No. 9 is that of July 1856, when The Town Superintendent of Schools in the Town of Somers having formed on the 12th day of July 1856 in said Town, called School District No.9.

October 17, 1856, legal notice having been given the inhabitants of School District No. 9, met at the house of Philander T. Briggs to elect School Officers for the ensuing year - John Gibson, Clerk;  William R. Stetson, Director;  Philander T. Briggs, Treasurer.

Voted to raise Two Hundred dollars ($200) in addition to be amount to be drawn from the Three Districts from which were set of for the purpose of building a school house and maintaining a school for the ensuing year.

December 1856, John Gibson removed and Wm. Swartz appointed Clerk in his place.

March 1857, contract to let Wm. Shott build school house by the Clerk and Director for Three Hundred Dollars.

June 14th, Board met and accepted schoolhouse.

September 28, 1857 School District No. 9 annual meeting called by Director.  The Treasurer made his report:

Moneys received during the year from Town Treasurer $200.00

Town Superintendent $69.76

Cash paid out on order to Wm. Shott $200.00

Chair $1.25

Pail, Broom and cup $0.75

Teacher wages 16 weeks $48.00

To my Suesefeer (?) $16.01

Cleaning lot $3.75

Balance $269.76

Officers elected for the ensuring year.  Wm. Swartz-Director, C.G. Stetson-Treasurer, Philander T. Briggs-Clerk.  Voted to get 6 cords of good oak wood, sawed, split, and piled up - - bid of Wm. Swartz at Three Dollars per cord.

Monday, September 27, 1858.  Cash paid out as follows:

To Wm. Slocum for Deed $1.50

To Bain and Brothers for stove and bell $16.06

To Wm. Swartz for wood $18.00

To Shott for balance on building schoolhouse $100.00

For Black Board $4.00

For Lumber and Glass, etc. $2.95

Charges on Dictionary $0.50

Miss F. Farnum for teaching $88.00

For Library Books $8.31

For 2 blank books and register $1.25

For moving desks $1.00

To Miss T.M. Briggs for teaching $52.00

For schoolhouse lot $20.00

District voted to appropriate $15.00 for back house, $5.00 for library.  To get 4 cords of dry oak wood, sawed, split and piled up for $3.00 per cord.

September 24, 1866.  Voted to raise $50 tax for school.  Voted to get 3 cords of wood.  Wm. Schwartz to furnish it at $7.00 a cord.  $10 tax for library.  Voted to have 4 months school.  May and June the first term - September and October, 2nd term.

The first building was sold in 1877 and a new building followed.  This was sold in 1927.  In 1926 a new red brick modern building was built on the first original site.

Among those early teachers were Julia Hawley, Bertie Fitch, Helena Ozanne, Carrie Burgess, Jessie Petrie, Delia Cutting, Ambrosia Cronk, Lottie Raymonds, Herbert Cooley, Jennie Hastings, Minnie Crow, Addie Strong, Charles Flett, who later studied medicine and located in South Dakota.

Board Members - William Stetson, who came from New York in 1835, served as school clerk for twenty-five consecutive years.  William and Jacob Swartz also served many years on the school board.

Among the early students were Lloyd Briggs, who for years was Professor at the Oshkosh State Normal; James Briggs, also a teacher and Supt. of Schools in Kenosha County."

(Source: My Memoirs, by Minnie A.G. Ozanne. Copyright 1948--Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)

More About Wood Road School

The first Wood Road School building was sold in 1877 and is still being used on the Joseph Huck farm.  A second building constructed in that year was sold to George P. Thomas in 1927, after a new red brick building was constructed in 1926 on the site purchased for the original school building. 

(Source:  Kenosha News June 15, 1935 Centennial Edition) 

The First Wood Road School
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

Partial 1887 Map of Somers Township
See Section 12.  School District #9 was the Wood Road School
Located on the Peter Lichter parcel.

Wood Road School Reunion
Kenosha News article, date unknown

Photo taken of the Wood Road School reunion at the airplane hanger of Charles Thompson on Highway 50
(Source:  Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Front Row Kneeling Left to Right:  Vicki Kremis Klapproth, Man ?, Mary Ellen Thompson Werner, Harry Kastelic
Middle Left to Right:  Ann Kastelic, Lady?, Esther Scheckler, Charles Thompson, Joe Kremis, Sam Jacobsen, Charles Huck
Back Left to Right: Julie Kremis Covelli, Hazel Scheckler, Rita Neumiller, Lady?, Lady?, Marion Jacobsen, Lady?, Man?, Lady?, Man?

(If anyone can identify those people in question, please email Jackie at somershistory@wi.rr.com. 

Students and Teachers who attended the Wood Road reunion.
This was the sign-in registration list of the day.  The date was 1978.  It was found in the scrapbook of Vicki Kremis Klapproth.
(Source:  List courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

Lulu Schmidter, Burlington, Wisconsin (teacher 1936-1937
Mabel McKee (teacher 1936-1937)
John and Jean Thomas Murphy, Kansasville, Wisconsin
Vicki Kremis Klapproth and Sherwood Klapproth, Somers Township
Charles Thompson
Lucile Thompson Conde, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Top and Mamie Gardinier, Kenosha
Lucille Swartz, Kenosha
Susan Swartz Summers, Kenosha
Marge and Harry Kastelic, Kenosha
Lorna Miller, Kenosha
Ione Smith Kreamer and Ken Kreamer, Kenosha
Rich and Barb Free, Kenosha
Anne Kastelic, Kenosha
Caroline Bose King, Kenosha
Loretta Bose Ross, Chicago
Jack Rider, Racine
Mrs. Louise Rider, Racine
William and Lura Rider, Racine
Debres Barrows Safransky, Kenosha
Mary Ellen Thompson Werner, Kenosha
Ruth Thompson Smith and Paul Smith, Kenosha
Nancy Thompson, Bristol
Bob and Elaine Thomas, Kenosha
Vincent "Binnie" Thomas
Allie Smith, Kenosha
Ella and Wally Sadowski, Sturtevant
Mary Jane Acklam and George Petersen, Racine
John Conde, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mary Ann Verheyen - Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Baldwin, Racine
Harriet Thompson and Julius Camponeschi, Hammond, Indiana
Myrtle Emmertsen Jacobson, Kenosha, teacher 1946-1947
Leone Bose Aarts, Kenosha
Cyrstal and Henry Sablinsky, Yorkville
Martha Swartz, Kenosha
Jack Swartz, Kenosha
Mabel Thompson, McSkimming, Mrs. Thompsons' mother
Barry Mattausch, Bremerton, Washington
Julie and Bob Lewandowski Pringle, Kenosha, teacher 1951-1953
Don and Helen Upson, Janesville, Wisconsin, teacher 1934-1936
Ray and Helen Kremis Dorf, Racine
Julie Kremis Covelli, Racine
Gary Thompson
Joe and Sally Wise, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Tom Conde
Paul and Mildred Swartz, Burlington
Dorothy Gardinier Hanks, Kenosha
Mary Godlewski Wojtak, Kenosha
Sam and Mary Jacobsen, Madison, Wisconsin
Marion Jacobsen Savich, Bonita, California
Gerty Kremis Hapanowicz and Richard, Kenosha
Marcia Thompson
Glenn Ours, Trevor
David Ours, Trevor
Hazel Scheckler Gitzlaff, Kenosha
Kathy Ours Bundever, Kenosha
Esther Scheckler Kaisir, Kenosha
Joe and Betty Lou Kremis, Sturtevant
LeRoy Leach, Kenosha
Don Scheckler, Racine
Kenny Holmes, Kenosha
Harry E. and Elsie Blinten, Sturtevant
Herb Gross, Kenosha
Alice Scheckler Meyer, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Dolores and Roy Safransky
Norman and Helen Thompson, Burchwood, Wisconsin
Gene Thompson and son, Ron, Burlington, Wisconsin
Klem Godlewski, Waukegan, Illinois
Tom Ricchio, Kenosha
Charles Huck, Somers Township
Frank and Anita Witscheber Storal, Kenosha
Kathy Larsen Roberts, Burlington, Wisconsin
Lois Meumiller, Kenosha
Albert and Violet Bose
Walter and Lil Andersen, Racine
Joe Weyres, Kenosha
Richard and Rosemary Thompson
Diane Thompson

Kenosha News article for Wood Road School reunion

(Source:  News clipping and names courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto)

(Source:  Kenosha News.  No date on clipped article)

Kramer, Jacob

The Jacob Kramer Family
Jacob, Sr., Mrs (Minnie Bose Kramer), Clarence, Arthur, Albert, Ella, Jacob, Jr. (Jake), and Fred.
Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer
Click on photo for larger view.

The Jacob J. Kramer farmhouse in Berryville
Photo Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer

Jacob J. Kramer Biographical Sketch



Jacob J. Kramer was born September 6, 1860 in Hessen, Nasau, Germany.  At the age of 23, he sailed on the ship "Fulda" from Bremen, Germany on March 15, 1883, arriving in America at the Port of New York.  Mr. Kramer's sister, living in Racine, arrived in America several years before Jacob arrived.  She married a Mandernack and lived by the Halter farm.

Jacob J. Kramer married Miss Minnie Bose in 1887.  She was the daughter of Frederick and Sophia Bose, Somers pioneers who settled in the Berryville area.  Frederick Bose, born in Germany about 1835, was the son of Conrad and Mary Bose, who left their native land of Germany and immigrated to America with their children, Charlotte, Eliza, Frederick, Henry, Ed, and Charles.  The Bose family sailed on the ship "Emma" leaving the Port of Bremen, arriving at the Port of New York.  Conrad Bose was one of the first pioneer families in the Berryville section of Somers Township.

Frederick Bose purchased 39 acres (shown on map below as "F.  Bose" located on County Line Road and Lathrop Avenue) in Somers Township and with his wife Sophia built a house and raised their family.  When Jacob J. Kramer and Minnie Bose were married, they lived with Minnie's parents and eventually the Kramers purchased the parcel from Minnie's parents.  Jacob and Minnie raised their children and lived their entire lives on this farm.

1887 partial plat Map of Somers Somers, Berryville
Frederick Bose parcel located center top of map
Corner of Lathrop Avenue and Racine/Kenosha County Line Road

Jacob, Sr. and Minnie Bose
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

Kramer hay wagon
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

Kramer hand plowing
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

Kramer hay wagon in from of barn
(Source:  Photogeraph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

The Kramer farmhouse kitchen
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

Kramer Chopping Wood
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

Ms. Kramer picking raspberries
Notice the arms are protected from being scratched by the berry thorns.
The wooden berry carrier was very common and can still be found in our old barns.
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

The Kramer Farm
Butchered Hogs
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)

Kramer chopping wood with ax
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer)