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Note: From the Emigration Records from the German Eifel Region, 1834-1911; ---- with major emphasis on those emigrants whose final destinations were Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan---; Compiled and Authored by Dr. Hanns Egon Freund; published by the McHenry County, Illinois Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 184, Crystal Lake, Illinois; 1991: Name: Jacob Knechtges Eifel place of origin: Mittelbaar Year of birth: 1839 Year of Immigration: 1852 Destination: Wisconsin Notes: Son of Anton Knechtges (born 1799) ============= From 1860 Federal Census of the Town of Calumet, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, household 43, page 9/ 307, taken June 8, 1860, post office- Marytown; from ancestry.com, image 9 of 38. Jacob is listed in the household of his parents: Jacob Knechtges; age- 22, born- Prussia =============== Bruce Dunn found 2 records of land grants that seem to pertain to Jacob, in the index of the Register of Deeds, at the Court House in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The first was dated August 31, 1866. The record was is Wills and Deeds Book #44, page 168. It involves a Philip and Mary Rohrig selling to Jacob, 10 acres of land in the town of Marshfield for $1000. The location is described as the South West quarter of the South West quarter of Section 1, Township 16, Range 19. This would have been a couple of months before Jacob married Margaret Steffes. The second record doesn't include any specific information, but seems to have been after the above record, because it is in a later deed book. It involves a Mary G. Latzer selling a piece of property to Jacob Knechtges. The record is in Wills and Deeds Book #47, page 137 or 187. ============== From the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Saint Mary- Marytown; N10232 Highway 149, New Holstein, WI 53061. Found by Rev Joseph H. Coeber and given to me by Bruce Dunn: ***** Marriage Records; October 9, 1866- Jacob Knechtges to Margaretha Steffes ============= From the 1870 Federal Census of the Town of Brotherton, Calumet County, Wisconsin, post office- New Holstein, taken July 7, 1870, page 16, household 109; from ancestry.com, image 16 of 42: Knechtges, Jacob; age- 32, male, occupation- farmer, real estate, $1,800, personal property- $200, born- Prussia, parents of foreign birth ------- Margretha; age- 22, female, occupation- keeping house, born- Wisconsin, parents of foreign birth ------ Peter; age- 2, male, at home, born- Wisconsin, father of foreign birth ------ Anna; age- 6/12, female, at home, born- Wisconsin, father of foreign birth ============ From the book "Glimpses... Steffes' Past and Present, 1655-1995," put together by Carol M. Froode and Andrew M. Chiello: "GLIMPSES..." "...During the 1870's a dreadful epidemic, "Black Diphtheria", spread across the eastern section of Wisconsin. The effects were devastating. Mathias Steffes, his wife Anna M. Andix and young family migrated to Alberta Province, Canada during this period. It is not known if the plague was an influence in their decision but it is also noted that several families from St. Joe, Wisconsin moved, at about the same time, to Regina, Saskatchewan (the Steffens and a small group of Feldners). Proof of their migration lies in the burial records in Regina, which state that some of the deceased had requested burial in St. Joe, Wisconsin. Other families also left Wisconsin during this era. In 1874 Jacob and Margaretha (Steffes) Knechtges left to seek their fortune among the iron mines in Houghton Co., Upper Michigan. They helped settle and are buried in a town which has a name familiar to Wisconsinites: Calumet, Michigan. Jacob's first cousin Peter Knechtges, his wife Anna M. (Lefeber), and many other families from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin joined Jacob in setting up residence in Upper Michigan. ..." ============ From the 1880 Federal Census of Houghton County, Michigan, Calumet 2nd Precinct, page 26 B, (no date written, probably June or July of 1880), ancestry.com, Houghton County, district #10, image 26 of 82: Knechtges, Jacob; male age- 35, head of household, married, occupation- Fireman, born- Prussia, parents born- Prussia ----- Maggie; female, age- 32, wife, married, occupation- keeping house, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ----- Peter; male, age- 12, son, single, occupation- at home, in school, born- Wisconsin, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Emily; female, age-11, daughter, single, occupation- at home, in school, born- Wisconsin, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Kate; female, age- 9, daughter, single, in school, born- Wisconsin, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Theodore; male, age- 7, son, single, in school, born- Wisconsin, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Effie; female, age- 5, daughter, single, born- Michigan, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Mary; female, age- 4, daughter, single, born- Michigan, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Johnny; male, age- 2, son, single, born- Michigan, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin ----- Antoine; male, age- 6 months, single, born- Michigan, father born- Prussia, mother born- Wisconsin (Antoine is listed on the bottom of the previous page, and his line is almost unreadable. -RW) ============= John Knechtges found a file card which seems to be from the Calumet and Hecla company, and seems to be some kind of work record for Jacob. The entered information is a group of brief, hand written notes, and none of them seem to be particularly complete, comprehensive, or legible. It seems to document his ankle injury and a few other things. This is apparently the mining company which Jacob began working at, shorty after arriving in Calumet. The card apparently was filled out in 1896, or about 5 years after Jacob stopped working there. Besides showing some of his work record, it shows that a number of other relatives were also working for the company, and it also confirms the address of the family house as 228 Osceola Street in Laurium. The notes, transcribed as best I can are: "Knechtges, Jacob" House Number: 228 Osceola St., Laurium" "Injured foot '91 Feb. 19 & has not been able to work since. Last appearance on Pay Roll Aug. 91. Began 1874. Fired.(?) 10 yrs machine shop. 2 1/2 Running Engine. 4 1/2 years. (N. W. ' 96)" "1891 drew aid from 19 Feb to 19 Oct ?? Expired." Married (checked); Number of children "8" Names of relatives working for Calumet and Hecla: "Bro= Peter #5667 Sons= #929 Theodore & John #2631a- son m. + 3 children (Petra) driver fo Wills' Store- nephew #1041b Joseph J." Signature: Jacob Knechtges Information from: "Mr Pritt & ??? of his sons" ============== From the 1895-96 Polk's Directory, Laurium section, Houghton's Historical Society, Lake Linden, Michigan; sent to me by Gloria Waggener: Knechtges, Jacob; Teamster, res 327 Tamarack ============== From the Polk's Directory 1898 of Laurium, from the Houghton County Historical Museum Library, given to me by Bruce Dunn: ****** Knechtges, Jacob, res 228 Osceola (This was apparently made just before Jacob died. -RW) ============== From the Copper Country News, Calumet, Michigan; Tuesday, June 21, 1898, p.5: Pioneer Passes Away Jacob Knechtges Expires Quietly at His Late Home Early resident of Laurium Funeral arrangements not yet announced pending word from distant relatives Mr. Jacob Knechtges, one of the oldest residents of Laurium, died this morning after a very short illness. Mr. Knechtges was born in Wittlebaar (Mittelbaar) Germany on March 23, 1838, coming to this country in 1852 and settled down in Brothertown, Wis. until 1872 when he came to Calumet, where he has resided ever since. Upon Mr. Knechtges' arrival in Calumet at once working for the Calumet and Hecla and continued doing so up to eight years ago when he suffering from the effects of a sprained ankle and which impaired him so much that he decided to have the foot amputated, which was done in January. After the operation Mr. Knechtges was able to do light work about the house getting along with the aid of crutches. About two weeks ago the deceased felt a pain through the body, but was able to go around the house until yesterday the pain grew worse and he was obliged to go to bed. He rested quietly during the day and last evening death was never thought of, about 7 o'clock this morning a decided change for the worse took place and at 8:15 a.m.. he passed quietly away surrounded by his family. Mr. Knechtges and family have been residing in Laurium for the last 17 years, being the fifth family to locate there. The deceased leaves a wife and ten grown up children to mourn his death, those names are as follows: Mrs. Frank Brown (Braun), Emma, Tillie, Effie, Mary, Rose, while the sons are Peter, Theodore, John and Jacob. He also leaves two brothers, Peter of this city, and John of Ashland. The funeral arrangements have not been made as telegrams have been sent to his son Peter who is in the west, and daughter Effie who is in Fond du Lac, Wis. and as soon as they are heard from the funeral arrangements will be announced. ============= From the Copper Country News, Calumet, Michigan; a news item under Laurium, dated Wednesday, June 22, 1898, page 5: Miss Effie Knechtges arrived home from Fond du Lac to attend the funeral of her father. A strange coincidence happened about the time she was informed of her father's death. Miss Knechtges was out buying mourning goods to attend the funeral of her mother's brother (Joseph Steffes), and left at once for home, not knowing until her arrival here of her father's death, and at the same time she was home before the letter arrived announcing the death of her uncle, and of course had to break the sad news to her mother. The two men, that is Mr. Knechtges, of Laurium, and his brother-in-law at Fond du Lac, died about the same time Monday morning. ============= From the Copper Country News, Calumet, Michigan; two news items dated Saturday, June 25, 1898, page 4: The funeral of the late Jacob Knechtges, of Laurium, will be held tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon, the interment being at the Hecla Cemetery. Mr. Peter Knechtges arrived home from Butte this afternoon to attend the funeral of his father. ============ Jacob's death certificate was posted on-line by the State of Michigan: Michigan Department of State Certificate and Record of Death Place of death: 228 Hecla, Laurium, Houghton County, Michigan Full name: Jacob Knechtes Date of death: June 21, 1898 Sex: male Color: white Marital status: married Age at 1st marriage: 28 Parent of 12 children; 10 living Age: 60 years, 3 months Place of birth: Germany Occupation: engineer Name of father: Anton Knechtges Birthplace of father: Germany Maiden name of mother: Christina Jünger Birthplace of mother: Germany Date of burial: June 26, 1898 Location of burial: Hecla Cemetery Reporter: John R. Ryan (undertaker) Cause of death: hepatic tuberculosis/ angina pectoris? ============= From his death certificate, we know that Jacob was originally buried in the Hecla Cemetery in Laurium, in June of 1898. When his wife Margaret died in May of 1913, she was buried in the Lakeview Cemetery, just outside of Calumet. She is buried in the family plot there in Section F, Lot 49. According to the records of the Lakeview Cemetery, in November of 1914, the remains of a Knechtges, no first name or names given, was moved from the Hecla Cemetery to the Knechtges family plot in the Lakeview Cemetery. Also according to the cemetery records, Jacob's remains were moved from the Hecla Cemetery to the family plot in the Lakeview Cemetery in November of 1927. Later, their daughter Emma was also buried there after her death in 1938. There is just one large headstone for the family plot, with the name Knechtges on it. I believe that possibly one or both of the two children who died young, Antoine and Helen, are buried in the plot also. -RW ============= John Knechtges sent me another interesting document. It is an Abstract of Conveyances for a particular piece of property, namely Lot 8, in Block 3 of the Village of Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan. This was apparently the property at 228 Osceola Street in what became Laurium, and on which the family house was built for Jacob and family. The document contains all transactions involving this piece of property, from it's inception in about 1877, until 1966. The property was originally owned and registered in 1878, by the Laurium Mining Company. On December 18, 1882 (recorded January 26, 1883) the property is purchased by Jacob Knechtges for $125. On January 11, 1888 (recorded January 15, 1888) he took out a mortgage on the property. Presumably he built the house at that time. The mortgage was apparently paid off in 1900, which would have been about 2 years after Jacob was deceased. The estate was discharge to the heirs in September of 1911. These were basically his children: " Peter Knechtges, Emma Knechtges, Kate Broun, Theodore Knechtges, Effie De Rosia, Mary LaBarge, John Knechtges, Jacob Knechtges, Otillia Perron, and Rose Knechtges." It appears that all of these heirs and their spouses turned over their claim to the property to Jacob's wife and their mother Margaret Knechtges. Margaret died on May 7, 1913. After her death, all of the heirs then transferred their claim to the property to their sister Emma Knechtges. Both of the transactions, from the heirs to Margaret and the heirs to Emma, were recorded on the anniversary of Margaret's death, May 7, 1914. Emma apparently lived there until her death on August 24, 1938. On September 15, 1938, her will was discharged and she left the property to her sister, Effie DeRosia. It appears that Effie turned around and sold the property on September 20, 1938 (recorded September 23, 1938) to an Alex Greenshields for $275.- Rick Waggener (In the notes of Jacob's wife Margaret, there is a probate file from Margaret's death, which contains further information about all of the property owned by Jacob and Margaret, including this lot.- RW)
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