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Please make sure to check the "Missing Information" report for the descendants of Herman Wilpolt, to see if There are any dates, locations, or other information you may be able to add. Thank you. 

Herman Albert Wilpolt was born Oct 20, 1826 near Legden, Germany, in an area just outside the village known as Wehr.

In the St. Brigida Catholic Church Baptismal record shown here, he was the 59^th child born in the area that year. He was baptized as Hermann Albert on the 20^th of October; his Godparents are listed as Albert Havelkamp of Osterwick and Anna Maria Elpers Sundorf. She would be his fathers’ eldest sister, Herman’s Aunt; the relationship of Albert Havelkamp is unknown.

Anna Maria Gertrude Hemsing was born October 31, 1843 in Osterwick, Germany. Osterwick is just a few miles east of Legden. Gertrude was baptized on November 1, her godparents are listed as Anna Gertrude Hemsing and Bernard Heinrich Hibert. She was the fourth child of eight, of Johann Gerhard Hemsing (1811-1872) and Anna Catharina Margaretha Vinkelau (1814-1855.) Her mother died in childbirth when Gertrude was only 12, and her father soon remarried Johanna Gesing. Johanna would have 5 more children between 1855 and 1867. At least 5 of Gertrude’s siblings would die in infancy and of the remaining 8, I have not found any records of them who immigrated to the United States.

Herman immigrated to the United States with a few other Legden area residents on the steamship Hansa, arriving in New York on March 25, 1862. Anna Gertrude Hemsing was traveling with him.

He is listed on line 20 of the passenger manifest as H.A. Wiepolt age 35. Line 21 lists Anna Hemsing age 19. 

He would have purchased a ticket, like the one shown here.

I am not sure whether Herman and Gertrude married after they arrived in the United States or shortly before they left Germany. (Which may have been the case, but her name was listed as Hemsing as that was the name she used when preparing to leave the country) But, chances are that they did marry here in the US, as the church records in Germany are fairly complete, and does not show a marriage record for them. His cousin Johann Bernard Herman Leus, had emigrated two years earlier, and most likely had written letters to his relatives in Germany of the wonders of the new State of Wisconsin.

Bernard Leus left Legden in May of 1860, traveling with Maria C. Roters, age 27, and they were passengers on the ship Helene, which departed from Bremerhaven to New York, arriving on July 30, 1860. Bernard and Maria Catherine would be married in Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin on October 16, 1860, most likely on their way to St. Mary’s Ridge where they would settle and raise their family. Many of the residents of Monroe County today are descendants of this pioneering couple.

Bernard's sister Maria Christina Leus age 21 was listed on line 25 on the passenger manifest of the Hansa, traveling in 1862 with Herman Wilpolt. She would also settle at St. Mary's Ridge where a year later in June 1863, she would marry Herman Wacker.

Within one year, Herman Wilpolt was settled in Wisconsin, near a tiny community known as St. Mary’s Ridge, not far from Jefferson in Monroe County. (Clear across the state from the Kaukauna area)  He filed a Homestead Act application for 160 acres on Feb 3, 1863. The property was free and the taxes cost $12.00. The Homestead Act was a law passed in 1862 by the U.S Congress. The law said that anyone that was over age 21, and was at the head of the family could have 160 acres of land if they improved it in five years, or they could buy it for a small amount of money.

Herman Wilpolt’s Land Record. It reads, (Handwritten sections shown in Italic);

Homestead Certificate No. 598

Application 443 

The United States of America,

To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:

Whereas, these has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a certificate of the register of the land office at La Crosse Wisconsin, whereby it appears that pursuant to the Act of Congress approved 20^th May, 1862 “To secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the public domain” and the acts supplemental thereto, the claim of Hermann Wilpolt has been established and duly consummated in conformity to law for the south-west quarter of the Southwest quarter of section twenty four, the north half of the north west quarter and the south west quarter of the north west quarter at section twenty five in township fifteen north of range three west in the district of lands subject to sale at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, containing one hundred and sixty acres.  According to the Official Plat of the survey of the said land returned to the General Land Office by the surveyor General. 

Now know ye, that there is therefore granted by the United States unto the said Hermann Wilpolt the tract of land above described to have and to hold the said tract of Land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said Hermann Wilpolt and to his heirs and assigns forever. 

In testimony whereof, I Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the second of May, in the year of out Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and the independence of the United States the ninety fourth. 

By the President: US Grant (signature)

By Charles White (signature) , Secy

Wm Granger (signature), Recorder of the General Land Office.

President Ulysses S. Grant’s signature

Herman became a citizen of the United States on March 23, 1869. Then he completed his land acquisition on June 22, 1869.

An interesting note on his land was made on the final paperwork. It mentions he settled on this land on March 20, 1863, and has since “built a house thereon, a log house, 18x 24 feet, a shingle roof, two floors, one outside door and two windows and is a good suitable house to live in….and has ploughed, fenced and cultivated 11 acres of said land and has made the following improvements; has built a stable and a shed on said land and fenced in about 14 acres on the same.”

One can only imagine how small and confining this house must have been during some of the harsh Wisconsin winters when filled with two adults and 7 or 8 children.

Herman had 2 brothers and 3 sisters. 

He also had a half-sister Maria Clara Wilpholt, she married Bernard Joseph Enning in 1848.

His brother Johan Heinrich married Anna Catharina Stodtmann (or Stoetmann) in 1857,

Antonius Aloysius died at 2 months,

Maria Francisca married Johann Mess in 1853,

Maria Anna Dina married Bernard Herman Bullerman in 1866, and

Anna Maria Antonetta married Bernard Boier in 1865. 

I have not found any records yet of any of them coming to the United States.

Herman’s father was Johann Gerhard Hermannus ELPERT. Apparently Johann’s father died when he was only 11 years old and he possibly was cared for by his godparents who had the last name of WILPHOLT (often spelled as WELPHOLT or WILPOLL or WILPOLT). Apparently the spelling of Wilpolt stuck with Herman as that is the way it was written on his Baptism church record. His name on the passenger list of the SS Hansa was misspelled as Wiepolt. This, another situation of how people spelled phonetically in those days, writing down what they “heard” not necessarily the correct spelling.

Now the reader may ask, “If his father’s surname was Elpert, why was Herman’s surname Wilpolt?”  In the Legden church records the spelling of the name varies from Wilpolt or Wilpholt to Welpholt and just about every other misspelling variation possible.

The custom in much of Germany was to "name" a farm, usually with the surname of its founder. But in northwest Germany this custom went much further. The farm name remained the same regardless of changes in ownership/occupancy. Now for the local custom: Not only did the farm retain its original name regardless of subsequent owners, but the latter came to be known by the "farm name."

Herman’s father Johan Gerhard Herman Elpert (born 1798) was named after his fathers older brother and godfather Johan Gerhard Elpert (born Jan 5, 1755) who had married Maria Wilpholt on Jan 7, 1788 and must have inherited or purchased her family farm, taking on the farm name Wilpholt. Johann Elpert Wilpholt natus Elpert died in 1816 and must have passed the farm onto his nephew Johan Gerhard Herman Elpert (born 1798)  Although the church record of his first marriage in 1817 listed his name as Elpert, when his first daughter was born the next year in 1818 he was listed as Wilpholt natus (born) Elpert. His first wife died within a month of the birth. His second marriage in May, 1819 he was also listed as Wilpholt natus Elpert. All of his children carried the Wilpholt or Wilpolt name.

Somewhat confusingly, when Hermans elder brother, Johann Heinrich Wilpholt was married in 1857, the church register shows him as " Johann Heinrich Wilpholt of Wehr age 37 yrs 5 mos. son of Johann Ger Wilpholt ". Eventually all references to Elpert had been dropped and the name Wilpholt was used by all members of the family.

This custom prevailed especially in northwestern Germany where "farm names are stronger than the family names with which one is born. . . . names which go with possession are stronger and firmer than the names of the families which assumed ownership of the estate. In terms of social history: ownership comes before blood." [1] The same source continues: "The procedure is then as follows: the family has an established name. Individual male members of the family who come into possession of a farm, either through inheritance, marriage, or purchase, take on its name as their family name. This is registered in the church books on the occasion of the baptism of the first child, and sometimes even upon the entry of the marriage. The two names then stand side by side connected by a "born" [geboren], "called" [genannt], "also known as" [Lat: condictus], or "or" [Lat: vel] and [Lat: natus] or [Lat: nat.]

So, going back two generations, here is a brief outline of Herman Wilpolt’s ancestors and their descendants.

(A more complete listing can be found on this website at the descendants of Johann Eissing/ Elpert / Wilpolt.)

Ok, back to Herman and Gertrude and their life farming in Wisconsin. Between 1863 and 1872 they had eight children. Ludwig Louis, Hubert, Barnard, Anna, Herman, Miriam Gertrude, Margaretha Antoinette and Henry. Herman passed away February 16, 1873. From what or how is not known, but it is very possible he died of diphtheria, as there was a small outbreak around that time and within the next five weeks, five of his children would also die. According to the church records at St. Mary’s Ridge, they were all buried at the church cemetery, but no tombstones can be found there today.

 

In late 2006, a Memorial was created on the church grounds, in memory of the many pioneers who first settled in the area of St. Mary's Ridge, and whose grave markers or tombstones no longer exist. Herman Wilpolt is listed on the Pioneers Stone;

The children were remembered as well;

It is a beautiful and fitting memorial to the Pioneers of the St. Mary's Ridge area of Wisconsin, and a wonderful site where one can reflect and remember;

 

 

Gertrude then remarried fairly quickly (May 1873) to Anton Micke. Where they met is a mystery still, as I cannot find Anton on any records in Monroe Co except those dealing with Herman’s death. Anton and Gertrude sold the homestead to pay off his debts and moved the family to the Kaukauna area in 1873 or 1874. In the 1875 Census, they are living in Buchanan (a small section south of the Fox River, which was later incorporated into the city of Kaukauna). They had 4 children living with them, the three surviving Wilpolt boys from Herman and Gertrude’s marriage and their first son Anton Micke Jr.  Anton and Gertrude would have a total of 8 children, all of whom are Half Great Grand Uncles and Aunts to this writer. There is a chapter on the Micke family elsewhere in this book.

Louis Wilpolt was the first child of Herman Wilpolt and Gertrude Hemsing, born in mid 1863, probably on the Homestead they had settled on in March of 1863 at St. Mary’s Ridge in Monroe County Wisconsin. A search for his baptismal records has not found anything, as the first few pages of the baptismal records for St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic Church are torn out and missing from their record books. And there are variations on his name, several records listing him as Ludwig Louis, and in 1956, his son Henry (Hank) Wilpolt listing him as Louis Henry Wilpolt.

Not much is known about the first years of his life, but he probably helped his father in daily chores, clearing rocks and tree stumps from the land. Between 1863 and 1869, his father cleared and fenced 14 acres of trees to create farmland. In early 1873 his father died and his mother Gertrude remarried Anton Micke. By 1875 they had moved to Buchanan and area south of the Fox River that would later become part of Kaukauna. Louis is listed in the 1880 Census, aged 15, living with Anton and Gertrude, along with his brothers Barney and Henry and his half brothers Anton Micke Jr., Herman Micke, William Micke and his half sister Mary Micke. The Census taker did not write in the last names of Louis, Barney and Henry as Wilpolt, leaving it blank to appear as their last name would be Micke.  

The only known picture of him is the one above, in family group picture that was probably taken in 1898, which would have been Anton Micke and Gertrude’s 25^th wedding anniversary year. Louis Wilpolt is in the back row, farthest on the right.

On June 10th 1886, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Hollandtown, Wisconsin, Louis married a local Irish lass named Sarah Powers. Sarah was born on March 3^rd 1857 and was baptized at St. Francis Catholic Church in Hollandtown on March 15^th 1857. But, because there was no resident priest at St. Francis at that time, the baptism was performed by the visiting priest residing at St. John’s Church in nearby Little Chute and recorded in their church records. Note the end of the baptismal record pictured here after the godparent’s names "/St. Francis", meaning this event took place at St. Francis.

There was most likely a transposition of the names of her mother and godmother on her baptismal record, as it listed her parents as Richard Powers and Katherine Kowen, and her godparents as Patrick Powers and Margaretha Noon. Margaretha Noon was her birth mother. Patrick Powers would have been Sarah’s Uncle.

Sarah had lived with her parents in Buchanan until sometime before 1880, at which time, she is found in Appleton, living at the home of Fayette Treat on Morrison St, where she was listed as 22 years of age and working as a servant. Louis and Sarah most likely were acquainted with each other as both families were members of St. Francis Church in Holland town. Louis growing up on his step father Anton Micke’s farm which was located just south of what is now County Road CE and east of what is now Loderbauer Road in the township of Buchanan.

To view a 1890 Plat Map click here

For more information on the history of Buchanan, see the section in this document about the Powers family, as they were the first of my family to settle in that area.

Louis and Sarah set up home in Buchanan and are found in the 1895 Census as a household of 4 males and 3 females, 6 born in the United States and 1 born in Ireland. This household would have been Louis and Sarah, their children Henry, Albert, Ann and John, and Sarah’s widowed mother Margaret (Noon) Powers. In the Kaukauna Sun dated 10/25/1895 is noted “R.P. Powers of your city spent Sunday with his mother who is sick at the home of her daughter Mrs. L. Wilpolt.”

The Kaukauna Sun also mentioned Mrs. Sarah Wilpolt as having mail waiting for her at the South Kaukauna Post office several times in 1891 and 1892. I wonder who she was getting letters from? Possibly they were from Louis, who may have been off working as a lumberman, which many men did during the winter. Or they could have been from Sarah’s sister, Minnie Powers who had married a Mr. Patterson and moved to Canada

Between their marriage in 1886 and Louis’s untimely death in 1900, they had 10 children according to the 1900 Census, 6 of whom were still living.

Three of the deceased children have been accounted for, Richardus born in March 1893 and died in September 1893, and William and Patrick, twins who were born in March 1899 in Kaukauna. William died in February 1900 in Elmhurst, Langlade County at aged 11 months. Patrick must have died sometime before the 1900 Census as he does not appear living with them. In October of 1899 Louis purchased an 80 acre tract of land near Rolling in Langlade County and moved the family there. Six months later in the Kaukauna Times dated April 6, 1900, it was reported that “Louis Wilpolt a former resident of the city of Kaukauna died of appendicitis last week Tuesday at Elmhurst. Remains were brought to Kaukauna for internment on Tuesday.”

Sarah must have immediately returned to Buchanan as she is found there in the June 1900 Census living as the head of the household, her widowed mother again living with them. Next door was the family of Andrew O’Connell, whose son Andrew Jr. was just two months younger than Sarah’s youngest son Richard. Twenty one years later Andrew O’Connell Jr. would be the best man at Richard Wilpolt’s wedding solidifying a friendship that lasted their entire lives.

In the 1908 Appleton/Kaukauna City Directory Sarah is listed as living on the W. end of 6^th St. In the 1910 Appleton/Kaukauna City Directory, they are listed living on 8^th St. The Census that year lists only three children living with her; Henry age 22, John age 16 and Richard age 12 Albert’s whereabouts are unknown, but Louis is found in Roscoe, South Dakota living with his Half Uncle Theodore Micke and Aunt Jennie (Verbaten) Micke and his grandmother Gertrude (Hemsing/Wilpolt) Micke.

The picture below shows the children of Louis and Sarah, most likely taken during the war as some of the boys are in uniform, and probably for some sort of family gathering like possibly Sarah’s 60^th birthday in 1917.

Bernard Wilpolt was born on February 15, 1864 at St. Mary’s Ridge in Monroe County Wisconsin. He moved to Kaukauna with his mother and step-father after his father’s death, and lived with them in Buchanan until his marriage in 1890 to Albardeen Vandenberg. He is listed living with them in the 1880 Census at age 14. Seven years later in 1887, he is listed in the "census" of St. Francis Catholic church as Mr. Barnard Wilpold (sic) and Henry Wilpold (sic).

 

Barney married Albardeen Vandenberg at St. Francis Church in Holland town on June 3, 1890.

 

 

Albardeen Vandenberg was born May 11, 1863 in Buchanan, Wisconsin the eldest daughter of Henry Vandenberg of Cuijk, Netherlands and Deleana VanderHeiden of Uden, Netherlands. The Vandenberg family would certainly become close in several ways. Albardeen’s brother Peter Vandenberg would marry Ida Frank, who remarried after his death to a Micke, related to Barney’s half-brothers. Also, Albardeen’s youngest brother John J. Vandenberg would marry Catherine “Elsie” Powers, a cousin to Sarah Powers, who married Barney’s older brother Louis Wilpolt.

It is possible that one of the unknown men in this picture is Bernard Wilpolt.

(Thanks to Roger Crotteau for this picture.)

Barney worked as a well-driller for several years with J.J. Faust. In 1898, he sold his interest to Haas & Merbach as reported in the Kaukauna Sun dated 9/2/1898.

The Faust family and the Wilpolt families would remain close, as Barney’s daughter Leona would marry J.J. Faust’s son Michael in 1922.

In the Kaukauna Sun dated 9/26/1902 in an article about "a day in the country" it was reported “Barney Wilpole (sic), who lives on the cross road, has decided to call his place “The Pine Grove Farm” there being a profusion of pine trees about the premises. Mr. Wilpole is clearing up the farm and says that he is going to cut out the raspberry patch. That will be sad news to many of our city people who go out there each year after the berries.”

Barney Wilpolt farmed on 80 acres of land that used to be owned by his

father-in-law,

Henry Vandenberg.

 

Military Road cuts through the property.

 

 

 

 

Barney and Albardeen had six children;

2.1    Harry Wilpolt

2.2    Mary Wilpolt

2.3    Irene Wilpolt

2.4    Alban Wilpolt

2.5    Norbert Wilpolt

2.6    Leona Wilpolt

 

After he got out of the well drilling business Barney and Albardeen took up farming……….

 

Albardeen (Vandenberg) Wilpolt died on June 11, 1930 from complications from a fall several weeks earlier. Her funeral took place at St. Francis Catholic Church in Holland town, and she was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Kaukauna.

Bernard Wilpolt retired from farming in 1931 and moved onto Desnoyer St. in Kaukauna, just two blocks from his nephew, Richard Wilpolt and his family. He lived there until his death on February 11, 1948. He is buried with his wife at Holy Cross Cemetery.

 

2.1. Harry Wilpolt, born November 12, 1893 in Kaukauna.

He would marry Ramona Panter on February 11, 1929. She was born November 16, 1906 daughter of Alfred Panter and Caroline Bunde of Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Harry and Ramona had two children, Joan Wilpolt and Jean Wilpolt.

Harry was a Fireman for the Chicago and North Western Railroad and then after moving to Wisconsin Rapids he entered the restaurant business operating “Wilpolt’s Restaurant.”

 

Harry Wilpolt died December 28, 1950 and Ramona (Panter) Wilpolt died September 13, 1976.

 

2.1.1 Joan Wilpolt was born in Wisconsin Rapids and married Robert Gross in 1951, having one son, Kurt. Joan later divorced and remarried Donald Allen in 1982.

2.1.2 Jean Wilpolt was born in 1935 in Wisconsin Rapids and married David Appel in 1954. They have 4 children; Michael, Steven, Daniel and Kevin.

 

Jean (Wilpolt) Appel passed away in January of 2001.

FAMILY PICTURES??

2.2. Mary Wilpolt, born February 5, 1897 in Kaukauna.

The St. Francis Catholic Church records show she received her First Communion on May 30, 1909. In the 1920 Census, she is listed as a boarder in the home of John & Margaret Berres in Kenosha. They are the parents of her soon to be husband, Leo Berres. Mary is listed in the census as working at the Hosiery factory.  

She would marry Leo Berres on June 15, 1920 at St. Francis in Holland town. Her brother Alban Wilpolt and Leo's sister Cecelia Berres are listed as witnesses in the church records, and are pictured here with them.

Leo was born October 24, 1897, in Kenosha, the son of John Berres and Margaret Soholey of Kenosha, WI.

Leo was a toolmaker at American Brass Company.

Leo and Mary lived in Kenosha and had five children; Imelda, Lorraine and Lois (twins), Eugene and Gerald.

 

2.2.1 Imelda Berres

2.2.2 Lorraine Berres

2.2.3 Lois Berres

2.2.4 Eugene Berres

2.2.5 Gerald Berres

Mary (Wilpolt) Berres died April 23, 1973 and Leo Berres died January 2, 1986.

2.3.     Irene Wilpolt born October 1, 1898 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.

She would marry Edward Flynn August 19, 1919 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Hollandtown. He was born September 19, 1894 to John and Kathleen Flynn of Hollandtown, WI. Edward was listed as a farmer in the 1920 census. In 1925 they moved to Kenosha. Then in 1930 he was a Millwright at the Brass Factory, where he worked for over 40 years. Edward and Irene had three children; Rita, Leola and Richard.

2.3.1     Rita Flynn was born in Kaukauna. She married Robert W. Holm in 1943 in Kenosha. They have seven children; Robert, Carol, Roger, Patricia, Kenneth, Donald and Rita.

2.3.1.1     Robert Holm was born in Kenosha. He married Janey Tilton in Great Falls, Montana. They have two children;

 

2.3.1.1.1     Craig Holm was born in Bozeman, Montana and is married to Deanna Robinson and they have two children Rick and Joseph.

2.3.1.1.2     Keirsten Holm was born in ??

 

Robert L. Holm died on October 1, 1998.

 

2.3.1.2    Carol Holm was born in Kenosha. She married Bruce Ladewig on July 25, 1965 in Kenosha. They have three children; Leslie, Jeffrey and Renee.

2.3.1.2.1     Leslie Ladewig was born in June 1967 in Kenosha and died in May of May 1968 in Kenosha.

 

2.3.1.2.2    Jeffrey Ladewig was born in Kenosha and is married to Oksan Bayulgen.

 

2.3.1.2.3    Renee Ladewig was born in Kenosha and is married to Shane Lathrop.

 

2.3.1.3    Roger W Holm was born in Kenosha. On January 2, 1971 he married Linda Becker. They have three children; Ryan, Troy and Kory.

 

2.3.1.3.1    Ryan Holm was born in Kenosha and is married to Christine Ruta, they have one daughter Kaelyn.

 

2.3.1.3.2    Troy Holm was born in Kenosha and is married to Barbara Blinton, they have one daughter Hailey.

 

2.3.1.3.3    Kory Holm was born in Kenosha and is married to Kari Drysdale.

 

2.3.1.4    Patricia Holm was born in Kenosha. On August 24, 1968 she married Jeff Sweet.  They have four children; Jeffrey, Chad, Jason and Jeff.

 

2.3.1.4.1    Jeffrey Sweet was born in August 1971 and died in October 1971 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

 

2.3.1.4.2    Chad Sweet was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is married to Denele DeCius and they have three children; Kadin, Zachary and Magan.

 

2.3.1.4.3    Jason Sweet was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

 

2.3.1.4.4    Jeff Sweet was born in Yackima, Washington.

 

2.3.1.5    Kenneth D Holm was born in Kenosha. He is married to Alice ? and they have one son; Kenneth Dale Holm Jr.

 

2.3.1.6    Donald E Holm was born in Kenosha. He married Candice ? and they have two children; Stephanie and Heather.

 

2.3.1.6.1    Stephanie Holm was born in ? and is married to Robert Olsen.

 

2.3.1.6.2    Heather Holm was born in ? and is married to Russell Barlow.

 

2.3.1.7    Rita D Holm was born in Kenosha.

 

Robert W. Holm a former machinist at Macwhyte Wire Rope Co. for 44 years, died on November 15, 1985 in Kenosha.

 

 

2.3.2    Leola Flynn was born in Kaukauna. She married Robert Sharfinski in 1948 in Kenosha. They have four children; Karen, Robert, Donna and Debra.

2.3.2.1    Karen Sharfinski

 

2.3.2.2    Robert Sharfinski

 

2.3.2.3    Donna Sharfinski

 

2.3.2.4    Debra Sharfinski

 

 

2.3.3    Richard Flynn was born in Kenosha. He married Bonnie Mills in 1960 in Inglewood, California. They have three children; Denise, Keith and Peggy.

Bonnie (Mills) Flynn passed away on Oct. 16, 1983 in Kenosha. Richard remarried Joyce Brever.

 

2.3.3.1    Denise Flynn was born in Kenosha and is married to Jeff Brunner. They have four children; Nichelle, Shaun, Kelsey and Shannon who was born in May 1985 and died in September 1985.

 

2.3.3.2    Keith Flynn was born in Kenosha and is married to Loretta Matthys and they have two children; Sher and Devyn.

 

2.3.3.3    Peggy Flynn was born in Kenosha.

 

Edward Flynn who worked as a Millwright at Anaconda American Brass Co. for 40 years, died June 25, 1978 in Kenosha. Irene (Wilpolt) Flynn died March 10, 1995 also in Kenosha.

4. Alban Wilpolt born May 25, 1900, not much is known about Alban. He supposedly married a woman named Zira, but no records can be found. Alban was a Private in the Calvary in WWI in the Wisconsin Company 12. He moved to Kenosha around 1921 and in his later years operated the Wilpolt Bamboo Room. He was murdered outside his tavern on December 19, 1970 in what remains today as one of only a few unsolved murders in Kenosha.

For more about Alban Wilpolt and newspaper stories about his murder, click here.

2.5.     Norbert Wilpolt born on March 25, 1902 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. He would marry Louise Zens on August 22, 1930. She was born on September 12, 1902 daughter of Michael Zens and Helen Wade of Kenosha, WI. Norbert and Louise did not have children. Norbert operated the Kenosha Anheuser-Busch Beer Distributorship from 1933-1951, and from 1951-1958 helped his brother Alban with the Wilpolt Bamboo Room.

 

 

Norbert Wilpolt died of a heart attack at his home on August 18^th 1958.

Louise (Zens) Wilpolt died December 26, 1989.

2.6.     Leona Wilpolt born on October 14, 1905 who would marry Michael Faust on June 4, 1922. He was born October 10, 1902 the son of Joseph J. “JJ” Faust and Johanna Hoffman of Kaukauna, WI. Michael and Leona had seven children; Michaelene, Roberta, Harold, Helen, Joann, Leo and Neil.

 

 

 

 

Michael Faust died September 28, 1956 and Leona (Wilpolt) Faust died October 3, 1990. 

Henry Wilpolt was born on July 28, 1872 in St. Mary’s Ridge, Monroe, WI. He was the last child to be born to Herman and Gertrude Wilpolt, as his father Herman died less than a year later.

In the 1880 Census he is listed living with his mother and step-father in Kaukauna aged 8. By the 1895 Census he was living by himself in Kaukauna.

On July 27, 1897 he married Anna Katherine Geldernich in Freedom, WI. She was born on August 5, 1879 in Freedom, the daughter of William Geldernich and Magdelena Zimmerman of Freedom. She was known as “Katie” and her name can be found spelled both as Katherine and as Catherine.

In the 1900 Census Henry and Katherine are living as boarders in the home of Luther Lindauer on Croakes Ave in Kaukauna. Henry listed his occupation as “Teamster –Coal & Wood”. By 1910 they had moved to Menasha, living on Main St and working as a Millwright. In 1920 they were still on Main St, his occupation listed as a repairman at the Pail Factory.

Henry and Katherine had 1 child who died in infancy. As reported in the Kaukauna Sun Newspaper dated 10/6/1899, “Mr. & Mrs. Henry Wilpolt, who formerly resided here, lost their 6 month old son by death last week. The little one was buried at West Holland Friday.” St. Francis Catholic Church was often referred to as West Holland, while St. Patricks's Church and Askeaton were referred to as East Holland.

Henry worked for the Menasha Wooden Ware Company for over 50 years. Now called The Menasha Company, it remains one of the largest privately held corporations in America. Take a tour of their company's history at their website. www.menasha.com

On May 30, 1911 Henry’s nephew, Henry “Hank” Wilpolt married Katie’s younger sister, Rose Theodora Geldernich.

Henry Wilpolt died March 24, 1957. Anna Katherine (Geldernich) Wilpolt died at age 100 on March 14, 1980 in Neenah, WI. They are both buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Kaukauna next to Henry’s brother Bernard Wilpolt and his wife Albardeen.

Henry was better known as Hank, most likely to differentiate him from his Uncle Henry Wilpolt.

Hank was the only one of Louis and Sarah’s children to be born in Marinette, two years later their second child Albert would be born in Buchanan. Six weeks before Hank would turn 13, his father died of appendicitis in Elmhurst in Langlade County, Wisconsin. According to the Census in June of that year, Hank was already working at the paper mills. In May 1905 he started his lifelong career with the railroads by going to work for Chicago and North Western RR Co. as a machinist’s helper. In May 1906 he went to work as a Blacksmith’s helper at CM ST. P & P railroad until June 1907. That summer he went back to work for Chicago & North Western Railroad as Locomotive Fireman & Engineer, a job which he held for 49 years until his retirement on Sept 29, 1956

Hank must have kept some kind of connection with Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Marinette, because it was noted later next to his baptismal record that he married Rose Geldernich at Kaukauna on May 30, 1911.

Hank and Dora had a rather large wedding in Wrightstown.

View the newspaper article here

Theodora Rose Geldernich was born in Freedom, WI. On August 13, 1889. She was the 9^th of 10 children of William and Magdelena (Zimmerman) Geldernich and the youngest daughter. In the typical western German pronunciation of the Geldernich surname, the ‘ch’ sounds like a ‘k’, so the name was often misspelled as Geldernick. She was baptized at St. Nicholas church in Freedom on August 15^th, her godparents being Nicholas Green and Theodora Romenesko, neither of whom was related to the family. (but many years later, her future brother-in-law Richard Wilpolt, would marry Margaret Feller, who was related to both Nicholas Green and Theodora Romenesko)

She lived with her parents in Freedom until sometime between 1906 and 1910, at which time she moved to Wrightstown to live with her older sister Mary Geldernich and worked as a milliner in a local store. In July of 1897, Dora’s older sister Katherine married Henry Wilpolt, Hank Wilpolt’s Uncle.

Hank and Dora had three children;

            1.  Ralph Wilpolt was born on March 12, 1912 in Kaukauna. He would marry Ruth Schroeter on August 18, 1941 in Kaukauna. She was born on January 29, 1919 in Manitowoc, WI. the daughter of Elmer Schroeter and Margaret Lemkehl. Ralph and Ruth have three children;

David Wilpolt was born in Manitowoc and is married to Louise Heriford.

 

James Wilpolt was born in Socoro, New Mexico. He married Sharon Smith in 1963 in Colorado. They have three children; James and his wife Dawn Pfefferle who were married in 1995; Michael Wilpolt, who was born in Boulder, Colorado and is currently a coach for a National  areanafootball team (See more about Mike here) and Jennifer Wilpolt who is unmarried with three children, Peyton, Marloe and Jayce.

 

Robert Wilpolt  was born in San Louis Potosi, Mexico. Robert married Linda Tanguay in 1972 and they have 4 children; An adopted son Thomas who is married to Debra Heriford; an adopted daughter Tracy, who is married to Charles Webber; Tasha Sunshine Wilpolt who was born in Colorado and was married in 1999 to John Bueltenback; Travis R. Wilpolt who was born in Colorado.

      Robert and Linda were divorced and he remarried Dona Lyn Darrow in Half Moon Bay, California in 1987. They shared almost 10 years together before Robert died on April 24, 1996 in Moss Beac