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Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Stephen Knechtges: Birth: ABT 1834 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Gemany. Death: AFT 1852 in United States

  2. Peter Knechtges: Birth: 29 APR 1836 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Gemany. Death: 31 JUL 1913 in Houghton, Houghton Co., Michigan

  3. Jacob Knechtges: Birth: 23 MAR 1838 in Mittelbaar, Mayen-Koblenz Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Death: 21 JUN 1898 in Laurium, Houghton Co., Michigan

  4. Anna Maria Knechtges: Birth: 15 DEC 1841 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Gemany. Death: BET 1870 AND 1872 in United States

  5. Catherina Knechtges: Birth: 25 DEC 1842 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Death: 22 OCT 1894 in Mount Calvary, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin

  6. Mathias Knechtges: Birth: 15 NOV 1846 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Gemany. Death: BEF 1884 in United States

  7. John A. Knechtges: Birth: 1852 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Gemany. Death: AFT 1860 in United States


Sources
1. Title:   1860 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1860; Census Place: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Roll: M653_1407; Page: 307; Image: 314; Family History Library Film: 805407
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;
2. Title:   Web: Wisconsin, Find A Grave Index, 1836-2012
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;
3. Title:   U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;
4. Title:   1880 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1880; Census Place: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Roll: 1425; Family History Film: 1255425; Page: 87B; Enumeration District: 034
Author:   Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;

Notes
a. Note:   According to the records located by Karl-Josef Tonner in Germany, Anton was born on January 15, 1799 in Herresbach, Mayen-Koblenz Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He was the oldest of the three known children born to his parents, Johann Josef and Catherina (Schumacher) Knechtges. On April 22, 1830, he married Christina Jünger in Virneburg, Mayen-Koblenz Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. There were seven known children born to Anton and Christina, all in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany: Jacob (b. Mar. 23, 1838), Stephen (b. abt. 1834), Peter (b. Apr. 29, 1836), Anna Maria (b. Dec. 15, 1841), Catherina (b. Dec. 25, 1842), Mathias (b. Nov. 15, 1846) and John A. (b. 1852). According to the obituary of his son Jacob Knechtges, Anton and family moved from Wittlebaar (Mittelbaar) Mayen-Koblenz Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany to Brotherton, Wisconsin in 1852. This is on the eastern bank of Lake Winnebago. The family shows up on the 1860 census record below in the town of Calumet, in Fond du Lac County. This is just south of Brotherton. It appears that they remained in this general area. In the 1875 Wisconsin State Census he is listed by himself, but next to his son Peter, in a non-specific area of Fond du Lac County. Apparently Christinia was deceased by this time. In the 1880 Federal Census he was living next door to his brother Peter in the town of Calumet. In his will, dated 1884, Anton describes himself as being of the town of Marshfield, which is just south of Calumet. I believe he was living there with his widowed daughter Catharina Thelen. He reportedly died in Mt. Calvary in Fond du Lac County, on March 11, 1884. He is buried there in the Holy Cross Cemetery. I do not know where his wife Christina is buried. - Rick Waggener =========== From: Karl-Josef Tonner ([email protected]): Anton Knechtges born Jan 15, 1799 in Herresbach, son of Johann Josef Knechtges and Catharina Schumacher married in the civil office Virneburg on April 22, 1830 to Christina Jünger, born May 4, 1806 in Mittelbaar, dau of Peter Jünger and Anna Maria Wagner. ------------------------ Johann Peter Knechtges, born Nov 10, 1800 in Herresbach as son of Johann Josef Knechtges and Catharina Schumacher was married three times. First marriage April 7, 1826 civil office Virneburg to Anna Maria Weber, born March 25, 1787 in Döttingen, died May 21, 1831 in Nitz dau of Josef Weber and Margaretha Heimermann. Second marriage Sept. 1, 1831 civil office Kelberg to Maria Catharina Gilles born Nov 14 1806 in Boos, died Sept 16, 1832 in Nitz. Third marriage May 15, 1835 civil office Virneburg to Maria Schmitt, born Sept 28, 1809 in Nachtsheim, died Nov 9, 1852 in Nitz dau of Nikolaus Schmitt and Margarethe Knüper. -------------------------- Johann Peter and Anton Knechtges were brothers. Their father Johann Josef Knechtges was born Jan 8, 1772 in Herresbach and died Jan 6, 1846 in Herresbach. His father was Valerius Knechtges married Feb 13, 1759 in Wanderath to Anna Maria Retterath, born in Doettingen. ---------------------- Catharina Schumacher was born April 28, 1773 in Drees and died Feb 24, 1840 in Herresbach. She was daughter of Johann Peter Schumacher, married Feb 19, 1760 in Wanderath to Anna Maria Biersbach, both were born in Drees. Johann Peter Schumacher died Nov 3, 1799 and Anna Maria Biersbach Dec 8, 1799. =========== From Civil Marriage records from Virneburg, Kreis Mayen-Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany 1798-1899; from Karl-Josef Tonner; [email protected]: Husband: Anton Knechtges Born: Herresbach Wife: Christina Jünger Born: Mittelbaar Record Number: 1830020 =========== 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: Anton Knechtges Eifel place of origin: Mittelbaar Year of birth: 1799 Year of Immigration: 1852 Destination: Wisconsin Notes: Married to Christina Junger (born 1806) =========== Bruce Dunn found a property record for Anton Knechtges in the Index for the Register of Deeds, in the Court House in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The record is dated July 19, 1852. It involves 40 acres of land sold to by Phillip Kraemer and wife to Anton Knechtges for $140. The location of the property is described as in the South West quarter of the North East quarter of Section 23, Township 17, Range 19 East. This transaction would seem to have taken place shortly after Anton and his family arrived in the Fond du Lac area. It apparently is at least part of the real estate listed below in the 1860 census record. - RW =========== 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: Anton Knechtges; age- 61, male, occupation- farmer, real estate- $500, personal property- $150, born- Prussia Christina " ; age- 56, born- Prussia Peter " ; age- 24, born- Prussia Jacob " ; age- 22, born- Prussia Anna M. " ; age- 19, born- Prussia Matthais " ; age- 13, born- Prussia, attends school John " ; age- 8, born- Prussia, attends school =========== Bruce Dunn gave me a copy of a Warranty Deed dated May 14, 1870. It is an indenture, in which Anthon and Margaretha Hoffman of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, sell to Anton Knechtges of the same place, a parcel of land for $170 dollars. The land is described as: "Beginning on the post Thirteen (13) rods South from the North West Corner of the South West quarter (1/4) of the South West quarter (1/4) of Section Number Twenty Three (23) in Township Seventeen North of Range Nineteen (19) and running thence four rods South thence ten rods East thence four rods north thence ten rods West to the place of beginning, containing 1/4 acre according to the public survey of the same more or less." One of the witnesses is Peter Knechtges, who could be Anton's brother or son. This parcel apparently contained the family house, and was subsequently passed on by Anton in his will in 1884, to his grandchildren Anton, John Joseph, and Margaretha Anheuer. It was apparently in the town of Calumet, Wisconsin, which was in the North-East corner of Fond du Lac County. - RW =========== From the 1875 Wisconsin State Census of Fond du Lac County (part of), posted on-line by the LDS, image 24 of 99: Anton Knechges; 1 white male (Anton seems to be living by himself, meaning his wife Christina is apparently deceased. He is near to what seems to be the household of his son Peter.- RW) =========== Bruce gave me a copy of another deed, dated February 16, 1877. It is another indenture, in which Nicolaus and Margaretha Heirs with Mathias and Anna Maria Mullenbach, all of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, sell two parcels of land to Anton Knechtges of the same county, for $190. The biggest parcel was described as: "Commencing One rod from the South West corner of section Twenty Three in Township Seventeen North of Range Nineteen East of the North East quarter of the North East quarter of said section Twenty Three Township and Range aforesaid running thence East on the line or thereabout of said described premises Sixteen Rods thence South Twenty rods, Thence West Sixteen Rods thence South Twenty rods to the place of the beginning containing three acres of land be the same." The second parcel of land is apparently a narrow strip of about a half acre containing an access road to the property. There is also mention of some rights which were contained in an earlier agreement from December 1870, involving and agreed to by Nicholas Haus. According to the index of property records, this property was also in the town of Calumet. The record was found in the Wills and Deeds Book # 79 for Fond du Lac County, page 153. - RW =========== Bruce Dunn also found an index record in the Register of Deed, in the Court House in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. There is no date or other information listed, but it seems to be a little after the above transaction. The record is listed as being in the Wills and Deeds Book # 85, page 530. -RW =========== From the 1880 Federal Census in the town of Calumet, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, page 31B, taken June 22 and 23, 1880, household #250; ancestory.com Fond du lac County District #34, image 30 of 31: Knegtges, Anton; male, age-81, head of household, widowed, occupation- retired farmer, unable to read and write, born- Prussia, parents born- Prussia (Anton is living in a separate household, next door to the home of his brother Peter and his daughter Maria, who are in household #249. I'm not sure if Anton is living in the family house or near it. - RW) ========== Bruce Dunn gave me a copy of the will of Anton Knechtges. It is dated March 10, 1884, which was the day before Anton died. I beleive Anton was living in Marshfield with his widowed daughter, Catharina Thelen, who he named as executrux of his will. I don't know where the will can be found, but I will transcribe it to the best on my ability: I, Anton Knechtges of the town of Marshfield, in the County of Fond du Lac and State of Wisconsin, being of sound mind and memory, and mindful of the uncertainties of human life, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following: First- After the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Katherina, Widow of John Thelen, the sum of Four Hundred Dollars. Second,- I give, devise and bequeath to my Son Jacob Knechtges, the sum of One Hundred Dollars. Third- I give, devise and bequeath to my grandchildren Anton, John Joseph, and Margaretha Anheuer, (being children on Frank Joseph Anheuer and my daughter Anna Marie Anheuer, both deceased.) the sum of One Hundred Sixteen Dollars, and the following described real estate to wit: Beginning Twelve, 12, rods South from the North West corner of the South West quarter of the South West quarter of Section Number Twenty-three, 23, in Township number Seventeen, 17. North of Range number nineteen, 19, East, thence South four rods, thence East ten rods, thence North four rods, thence West ten rods, to the place of beginning containing One quarter of an acre on Land more or less, and all the buildings and improvements thereon. Fourth, In case there should not be sufficient of my property to fully comply with the first, second and third provisions of this my will as to the amounts of Cash therein reference to, then I direct that each one therein mentioned shall have whatever will be left after deducting all expenses for going through Probate therefrom proportionally. Fifth- I hereby nominate and appoint my daughter Katharina Thelen the Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, and hereby authorize and empower her to make execute and deliver all and every conveyance, obligation and instrument necessary and lawful in and about the carrying out as fulfillment of the several provisions, rights and duties named in this my Will, and I hereby revoke all former Wills or dispositions testimonies made by me. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of March, A. D. 1884. Anton Knechtges (written in a very shaky hand) {seal} The above instrument consisting of one half sheet was on the day of the date thereof signed, published, and declared by the said testator, to be his will and testament in the presence of us who have signed our names at his request as witnesses in his presence and in presence of each of us. Joseph Enders of the town of Marshfield Elizabeth Thelen " " " " M. J. Meiser " " " " (As noted above, I believe Anton was living with his widowed daughter Catharina Thelen at the time of this will, and that he likely died in her home in Marshfield. - RW) ============ Diane Johnston ([email protected]) sent me a photo of the grave headstone for Anton. He is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery, in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin. The location of the cemetery is just off Church Street and Fond du Lac Street, near the intersection of County Road W and Fond du Lac Street. Anton shares an obelisk shaped headstone with his daughter Catherina Thelen Mihm, and Catherina's first husband John Thelen. Anton's side of the headstone reads: ANTON KNECHTES Gest. im Jahr 1884 Im Alter von 88 Jahre Ruhe(t) Sanft The English translation of this is: Died In the year 1884 Aged 88 years Peace Gentle or Rest Gentle (There are several errors, including the spelling of Anton's name. Ruhet is apparently supposed to be Ruhe. Also, I am pretty sure that Anton was not 88 years old. By the records I have he was 85 years old. - RW) ============ Bruce Dunn also sent me copies of at least some of the probate papers. The will seems to have gone to probate about 10 years after the death of Anton, at the apparent request of granddaughter Margaretha Anheuer. The heirs and witnesses are all the same as mentioned in the will. The only property mentioned in the probate papers is the property, which is described as, "about 1/4 acre of land in said town of Calumet which was his homestead." This property is the same one purchased on May 14, 1870, and apparently contained the family house. It apparently passed on to the three Anheuer children, and that probably had something to do with the reason Margaretha wanted the will to be finally probated. Anton is described as having died in the town of Marshfield, in Fond du Lac County on March 11, 1884. I believe he was living there with his widowed daughter, Catharina Thelen. From the census record in 1880, he was apparently living in the home of his brother Peter. Anton's will was accepted into probate on February 26, 1894.- RW


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