Michael John Toennessen

Transcription

1 Michael John Toennessen

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5 Michael John Joseph Toennessen was born March 7, 1921 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michael was the first of two sons and the third of six children born to Mike & Charlotte Toennessen. As a young boy Michael was called Bud and then later Mike. He served in the US Navy for six years during World War II and on November 4, 1942, while in the Navy in Seattle, he married Adele Marie Trierweiler. After his discharge from the Navy, Mike worked as a bridge tender, then as a powerhouse operator and repairman of high voltage equipment for both Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Power and Light until he retired. Mike & Adele have 3 daughters and 1 son and were foster parents to many other children for over 25 years. They are enjoying their retirement years in Bellingham Washington where they live overlooking the bay. Mike was named an honorary life member of the Whatcom Genealogical Society for all of his work with the society over the years. He loves spending time reading, working crossword puzzles and feeding treats to his many canine friends along his walking route. Michael John Toennessen March 7, 1921

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8 Michael Toennessen January 19, April 6, 1958 Michael was born January 19, Known as Mike, he worked for a short time as a pressman. About 1911 he became a U.S. Mail Carrier where he delivered mail with a horse and wagon in suburban Milwaukee. Later he had a walking route in downtown Milwaukee. He had worked for 39 years for the post office when he retired and, interestingly enough, had never learned to drive. On July 22, 1913 Mike married Charlotte 'Lottie' Nix, the daughter of Henry Nix and Mary Lutfring. Mike's hobbies included crossword puzzles, woodworking, hunting, fishing, and music. He was a self taught musician and played cornet in the Milwaukee Letter Carrier's Band, which participated in parades and other musical events. He made his own hickory skis for hunting in marshes and hand crafted his own decoys and painted them in varying species colors. He took excellent care of his tools and his guns. In 1947 Mike & 'Lottie' moved to a home on Pewaukee Lake near the former lake home of Mike's parents. There they lived in retirement. Mike died on April 6, 1958 at the age of 71. Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

9 Charlotte 'Lottie' Nix was born on September 24, 1889, the daughter of Henry Nix and Mary Lutfring. Charlotte was a beautiful young lady who was at one time a model. She used to tell a story about how she and a friend went to a fortune teller around 1912 and he told her that she would marry a man in uniform. It was WW1 time. She laughed about that prediction in later life because she did marry a man in uniform - a letter carrier. She and Mike had 6 children, four girls and 2 boys. After all of the children had grown they bought the old Wuffen puppen clubhouse on Pewaukee Lake where they lived throughout their retirement. 'Lottie' loved fishing from the end of the pier in front of their house on Pewaukee Lake and she was an excellent cook and housekeeper. She could prepare almost any kind of wild game but was an expert with fish, ducks, pheasants and grouse. It wasn't unusual for there to be as many as 20 people for dinner including friends and teachers of the children. Charlotte Nix September 24, October 22, 1979 In her later years, after Mike had died and she could no longer manage the house on Pewaukee Lake, she moved to the River Hills Nursing Home in Pewaukee where she died on October 22, 1979.

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12 John Toennessen October 13, May 6, 1934 John Toennessen was the oldest child of Eva Wegner and Michael Toennessen and spent his early years in the log cabin on the farm built by his father and his Uncle John. He was about 12 when the family moved to Milwaukee. John was a cooper for the Blatz Brewery and worked there until Since John was left handed he had special tools crafted to use in his trade, some of which still exist and are treasured by family. John married Anna Seidl in 1884 and several years later moved to Pewaukee Lake where many relatives had already settled. John suffered a serious accident at the brewery which cost him all the fingers on his left hand. While he could no longer work as a cooper he continued working at the brewery. Being an avid hunter however, the more significant impact was learning to shoot his gun with his right arm. John was a pipe smoker for most of his life and died of throat cancer on May 6, 1934 at his Pewaukee home. Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

13 Anna Seidl was born June 22, 1863 in Springenberg, Bohemia, the only daughter of Anna Pangratz and Peter Seidl. In 1880, the now 17 year old Anna was living far from home in Kaloiza, Hungary at a cloister of the Poor Sisters of Notre Dame. On August 15, 1883, Anna and her brother John, along with several friends boarded the S.S. Hammonia at Hamburg and in 13 days they reached New York City. Once there they caught a train to Milwaukee where they were reunited with their brother Joseph who had found his way to America after going AWOL from the Austrian Army in On October 14, 1884 Anna married John Toennessen in Milwaukee and together they had 7 children, 2 of which died in infancy. Anna has been described as a serious, quiet woman who was left handed and loved to garden. Anna died of pneumonia following gallbladder surgery on February 21, 1923 at the age of 59. During her final days she made each child 'promise to take care of Pa' after she was gone. Anna Seidl June 22, February 21, 1923

14 Henry Christian Nix May 7, July 20, 1898 The only child of Christian Nix and Maria Kasper, Henry was born on May 8, 1863 just 5 months after his father died of injuries sustained at the battle of Stone's River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. On November 25, 1884 Henry married Mary Lutfring in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Together they had five children. Mary, who died in 1888 when she was not quite 3 years old, Bernardina (Bennie), Charlotte (Lottie), Alma and Christian. Henry was only 35 years old when he died on July 20th, 1898 from consumption. Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

15 Mary, the only child of Bernard Lutfring and Henrica Dembeck Bernardine Impink, was born on June 2, 1863 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On November 25, 1884, Mary married Henry Christian Nix. The two of them had five children, Mary, Bernardina (Bennie), Charlotte (Lottie), Alma and Christian. Mary died on June 8, 1928 and is buried at Calvary Cemetary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mary Lutfring June 2, June 8, 1928

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18 Michael Toennessen January 31, March 13, 1889 Michael was born in the village of Odekoven, Rhineland and was 16 when his father died. He and his brother John worked as day laborers in the nearby vineyards to support their mother and 3 sisters. On May 21, 1846, Michael, John and their mother Anna, boarded the Bark Archimides at Antwerp, Belgium along with 114 passengers bound for the United States. Shortly after their arrival in New York they set sail on a steamship to Wisconsin where they settled northwest of Milwaukee in the town of Granville. Michael married Eva Wegner on August 26, 1859 and together they had a total of 11 children, the last arriving when Michael was 67. Michael was often referred to as Paht Toennes, short for Pater (Father) Toennessen and descendents recall that while he was fluent in both German & French, he spoke no English. Michael died at the age of 74 on March 13, Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

19 Eva was born in Niederndorf, Bavaria where her parents were day laborers. When Eva was 5 her father died and her mother married Georg Fink. It was shortly after Georg's death in 1857, that Eva emigrated to America with her mother, arriving in New York on July 16th. She was 19 years old when she married Michael and returned with him to his log cabin in the town of Granville, northwest of Milwaukee, to begin their family. Eva & Michael had a total of eleven children. Eva was described as a "tiny lady" and was often called Mother Toennessen because she was a willing nurse when neighbors or friends were ill. She was also remembered as a seamstress and was particularly known for her handmade quilts and the overalls she made to help support her family when she was widowed. Eva died at the age of 71 from emphysema. Decendents relate that her children were disappointed that the church bells, for which she had donated money, were not rung for her funeral. Eva Wegner April 14, February 16, 1912

20 Peter was born in Springenberg, Bohemia, the son of village farm owners. When he was 31 years old, Peter married Anna Pangratz who was 26 years old, and together they had 6 children. Two of the children died in early childhood, including a daughter named Anna Marie, who was said to have had beautiful red hair. Peter died March 20, 1894 at the age of 76 in his Springenberg house. Peter Seidl December 29, March 20, 1894 Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

21 Anna Pangratz was born October 16, 1821 in Springenberg, Bohemia, the daughter of Anna Mailand and Stephan Pangratz, a farm laborer. Anna was 26 years old at the time of her marriage to Peter Seidl. Six children were born to Peter and Anna, however, two of the children died in early childhood. One was a daughter named Anna Marie, who was said to have had beautiful red hair. Anna died in her Springenberg house on September 24, Anna Pangratz October 16, September 24, 1892

22 Christian Nix August 2, January 5, 1863 Christian was born August 2, 1836 in Eberbach in the State of Baden, Germany. In 1851, at the age of 14, Christian sailed to America with his parents, Catherine & Johann, in steerage aboard the ship Hendrick Hudson. In June 1861, at the age of 25, Christian married Maria Kasper in Milwaukee and in July 1861 joined Company F of the 6th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteers as a third sergeant. In July 1862 he was appointed Second Lieutenant of the 24th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteers. On December 31, 1863, at the Battle of Stone's River in Murfreesborough Tennessee, Christian was shot while repelling an attack of rebel forces and died of his wounds on January 5th or 6th. He was buried there with full military honors and his grave remains today at the National Cemetary. He never saw his son, Henry, who was born that May. Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

23 Maria Kasper was born March 13, 1840 in Crenznach, Prussia. She married Christian Nix on June 4, 1861 in Milwaukee when she was 21 years old. Shortly after her marriage, Christian joined Captain Lindmann's Company F of the 6th Regiment of the Wisconsin volunteers and went off to war. On January 14, 1863, Maria received a letter from Captain Philbrook notifying her of Christian's death during the Battle of Stone's River at Murfreesborough, Tennessee. At the time she received this letter Maria was already 5 months pregnant. Their son, Henry was born that May. On the 23rd of February 1874, Maria Kasper Nix was awarded a pension of $15 a month for herself and $2 a month for Henry until he became 16. Maria Kasper March 13, March 15, 1888

24 Bernard Lutfring, the son of Jacob Lutfring and Anna Marie Schmeink, was born on November 3, 1825 in Bocholt, Westfalia, Germany. On June 26, 1853 Bernard married Henrica Dembeck Bernardine Impink at St Peters Church in Reading, Pennsylvania. They eventually settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where their only child, Mary was born. Bernard Lutfring November 3, December 13, 1896 Bernard died on December 13, 1896 and is buried in Calvary Cemetary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Red Trim/Bind will not be seen

25 Henrica Dembeck Bernardine Impink, the daughter of Johannes Jacobus Impink and Johanna Gertrud Epping, was born January 13, 1825 in Bocholt, Westfalia, Prussia, Germany. On June 26, 1853 Bernardine married Bernard Lutfring at St Peters Church in Reading, Pennsylvania. They eventually settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where their only child, Mary was born. Bernardine died on March 23, 1901 and is buried at Calvary Cemetary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bernardine Impink January 13, March 23, 1901

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29 John Toennessen Oct 13, May 6, 1934 Michael Toennessen Feb 2, Mar 13, 1889 Red Trim/Bind will not be seen Michael John Toennessen Mar 7, 1921 Michael Toennessen Jan 19, Apr 6, 1958 Charlotte Nix Sept 24, Oct 22, 1979 Anna Seidl June 22, Feb 21, 1923 Henry C. Nix May 7, Jul 20, 1898 Mary Lutfring Jun 2, Jun 8, 1928 Eva Wegner Apr 4, Feb 16, 1912 Peter Seidl Dec 29, Mar 20, 1894 Anna Pangratz Oct 16, Sept 24, 1892 Christian Nix Aug 2, Jan 5, 1863 Maria Kasper Mar 13, Mar 15, 1888 Bernard Lutfring Nov 3, Dec 13, 1896 Bernardine Impink Jan 13, Mar 23, 1901

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