Central Park

Farmers Stage Tri-County Meet
Representatives of Wisconsin Political Parties Address Picnic Group
Approximately 300 farmers from Racine, Walworth and Kenosha attended a picnic at Central Park, Somers,  yesterday and took part in a program of games and contests.  A series of addresses were presented to the group by representatives of the major political parties of the state.
During the forenoon hours, yesterday, an extensive program of picnic games and contests was held.  The features of the afternoon picnic program were the services of speeches and a baseball game.  The evening was devoted to music and dancing in the pavilion at the park.
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 30, 1934)


Central Park May Be Closed
Town of Somers Voted Against Liquor License at Tuesday Election
Officers of the Town Say the Park Must Close
One of the Most Popular Resorts in This Section of the County
About $10,000 Improvements Have Been Made
"Central Park, one of the best known resorts in this section of the country, located on the Lakeshore Road, between Racine and Kenosha, will in all probability be closed, so far as the selling of intoxicating liquors is concerned.
The Park is located in the Town of Somers, Kenosha County.  At the election on Tuesday the question of license or no license was submitted to the voters.  No license was carried by 34 votes, which was a great surprise to those in favor of beer.
One of the officers of the town said yesterday that Central Park would be closed so far as the selling of beer was concerned, or any kind of intoxicating liquors, and perhaps it would be closed to the holding of amusements and wrestling matches on Sunday.  In view of the large majority against the sale of liquor in the Town it was determined to stop it at all hazards and it is claimed that more liquor was sold at the Park than in the whole town combined.
The buildings on the Park were built and the place opened by Peter Steinbach some years ago.  Mr. Steinbach had considerable trouble and his health failed.  For a time he was confined in a private asylum, but he recovered and is again in business.
The handsome park is now owned by Mr. Steinbach and the Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee.  It is estimated that the improvements put in cost something over $10,000.00.
A report reaches the city that Mr. Steinbach has stated that he will continue to run the Park and  dispose, of liquor as heretofore, and that if arrested the case will be fought in the courts to the bitter end.
Hundreds of people, both in Racine and Kenosha counties, will be much interested in the affair, for nearly all of the large societies generally lease the Park for mid-summer picnics and large gatherings."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date April 3, 1902)

Partial 1908 Somers Township Map
Central Park, Somers Township, Kenosha County

Batting Averages of Central Park Leagues

A number of baseball fans werre asking some of the managers of the Central Park League how the batting averages stand.  At that time not much of a record was kept, but during the last six weeks the following averages were reported.

(Note:  Somers listed only - list does not include other teams)

Irving, Somers Greys, 342

Morin, Somers Greys, 334

W. Thomas, Somers Greys, 304

Wood, Somers Greys, 300

H. Gascoyne, Somers, 204

F. Gascoyne, Somers, 224

A. Werve, Somers Greys, 278

G. Werve, Somers Greys, 211

G. Thomas, Somers Greys, 278

Rice, Somers, 182

Nelson, Somers, 178

Braid, Somers Greys, 173

Birch, Somers Greys, 161

Dorey, Somers Greys, 220

Drissel, Somers, 257

Tabbert, Somers, 247

Ford, Somers, 230

(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date August 24, 1907)

Tennessen

Partial 1877 Map of somers Township, Kenosha County
Tennesson parcels in Section 18 and Section 7
(Lake Michigan frontage)

Henry Tennessen
Henry Tennessen, who is operating a good farm on Section 18, Somers Township, has passed his entire life in Kenosha County, as his birth occurred in the Township in which he still lives on the 27th of January, 1868. Until twenty years of age he devoted his time during the winter months to attending the common schools, thus gaining a good education, and after putting aside his textbooks he assisted his father until he was twenty-five years old, when he purchased thirty-five acres from his father. He has since resided upon that place and has taken a great deal of pride in improving it and in keeping everything in good condition. He is one of the practical and up-to-date agriculturists of the county and as the years have passed his resources have steadily increased.
On the 19th of April, 1893, Mr. Tennessen was united in marriage to Miss Frances Blomer, a daughter of John Bloner, of Illinois, and they have two children: Frances, who is the wife of William Gross, and Mathias, at home.
Mr. Tennessen is a stanch supporter of Democratic principals and votes for candidates and measures of that party. For four years he served as road overseer and made an excellent record in that connection. He is a communicant of the Catholic Church and fraternally is connected with the Catholic Order of the Foresters. The prosperity which he has gained is the direct result of his enterprise and good management, as since beginning his independent career he has depended solely upon his own resources.
( Source: City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, A Record of Settlement, Vol. II, page 575, Frank H. Lyman, Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co. 1916.)


John Tennessen
John Tennessen resided in Somers Township, Kenosha County, for a number of years and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Germany on the 9th of August 1827, of the marriage of Herman and Bendena (Rademacker) Tennessen, natives of Germany, where they lived and died. He received a good common school education in the fatherland and subsequently turned his attention to farming, but when twenty-seven years of age he came to America as he had heard much concerning the splendid opportunities which this country offered to the energetic young man. He located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and operated rented land for some time, but later purchased a ten acre tract. He continued to reside here until called by death, and his well directed labors were rewarded by a good financial return, for when he died he possessed one hundred and ten acres of land.
In 1856 Mr. Tennessen was united in marriage to Alida Venneth, daughter of B.D. Rademacher. The became the parents of six children, namely: John B., who is living in Minnesota and has eleven children; H.P., who married Lena Reiter and has fifteen children; Mary, who married Peter Steinbach and has six children; William J., deceased; Andrew, married Lizzie Schmidt and has eight children; and Henry.
Mr. Tennessen cast his ballot in support of the Democratic party and took the interest of a good citizen in public affairs, although he was never an aspirant for public office. In religious faith he was Roman Catholic. He never regretted his emigration to the new world, as here he found opportunities the utilization of which enabled him to gain a competence. He was well known and had many warm personal friends.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, A Record of Settlement, Vol. II, pages 640-641, Frank H. Lyman, Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co. 1916.)

More About Tennessen
"Mrs. Peter Tennessen of Burlington and formerly of Berryville visited with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Birch during the past week."
(Source:  Racine Journal News, publication date Feb. 12, 1914)

"Fire of undetermined origin early today completely destroyed the historic residence on the Lake Shore road known as the old Tennessen place.  Practically nothing was saved from the building.  The house was doomed before the Somers Volunteer Fire Department could be summoned, but the firemen rushed to the scene to prevent the flames from spreading.  The house was believed to be between 50 and 60 years old and was an early landmark on the Lake Shore Drive.  Of frame construction, it contained five or six rooms."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date Feb. 21, 1935)

Pauline Birch (Mrs. Peter) Tennessen
"Mrs. Peter (Pauline Birch) Tennessen passed away at her home of pleura pneumonia.  She is survived by  her husband, a son Peter, Jr.; and daughter Louise, all at home, her mother Mrs. Minnie Birch, and three brothers, William, Christ and Frank.  Mrs. Tennessen was born in Somers on June 26, 1884 and was married to Peter Tennessen April 2, 1913 at St. George Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin."
(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date February 25, 1933)

Pauline Birch (Mrs. Peter) Tennessen
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved)

"William J. Tennessen, 36, County War Veteran, Birch Road, died Tuesday after a long illness. William J. Tennessen, a well known person throughout Kenosha County, died Tuesday at the Rest Haven government hospital at Waukesha, where he had been confined with a lingering illness for the past three months. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Tennessen, widely known residents of Birch Road.

The deceased was a veteran of the World War, having seen action in the Battles of the Argonne and Belleau Woods. He was also with the United States Army in the War with Mexico. Besides his widow, Mrs. Marie Meyer Tennessen, he is survived by two sons, William, Jr.; and David, and a daughter Delores. his parents and five sisters and seven brothers also survive. They are, John of South Haven, Minnesota, Peter of Burlington; Joseph, Henry, Raymond and Bernard of Kenosha, and Fred of Racine and Marie and Caroline of Milwaukee; Ann Tennessen, Mrs. Lawrence Lotz, and Mrs. Edward Rauen of Kenosha.(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date September 4, 1929)

1870 U.S. Federal Census
John Tennessen, age 44 in 1870, was born about 1826 in Prussia.  His home in 1870 was Somers Township, Kenosha County.
Residing:
Adelade Tennessen, spouse, born about 1823 in Prussia
John Tennessen, son, born about 1856 in Somers
Herman Tennessen, son, born about 1858 in Somers
Mary Tennessen, daughter, born about 1861 in Somers
William Tennessen, son, born about 1863 in Somers
Andrew Tennessen, son, born about 1865 in Somers
Henry Tennessen, son, born about 1868 in Somers