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Individual Page


Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Eva Knechtges: Birth: 25 JAN 1867 in Marytown, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 07 AUG 1945 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan

  2. Francis Joseph Knechtges: Birth: 21 FEB 1869 in Calumet Twp., Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 29 JUL 1933 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois

  3. Joseph Knechtges: Birth: 25 MAR 1871 in Wisconsin. Death: 20 SEP 1927 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan

  4. Anton Knechtges: Birth: 25 MAR 1871 in Wisconsin. Death: BEF 1880

  5. Anna Catherine Knechtges: Birth: 28 SEP 1873 in Marytown, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 24 FEB 1949 in Lake Linden, Houghton Co., Michigan

  6. Michael Knechtges: Birth: 29 JUL 1876 in Marytown, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 17 SEP 1929 in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan


Sources
1. Title:   1900 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1900; Census Place: Calumet, Houghton, Michigan; Roll: 714; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0172; FHL microfilm: 1240714
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;
2. Title:   Michigan, Death Records, 1897-1920
Page:   The Library of Michigan; Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920; Rolls: 1-302; Archive Barcode/Item Number: 30000008533238; Roll Number: 182; Certificate Number: 34
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;
3. 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;
4. Title:   U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Author:   National Park Service
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2007;
5. Title:   1910 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1910; Census Place: Portage, Houghton, Michigan; Roll: T624_647; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1374660
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;
6. Title:   U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
Page:   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marsha
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;
7. Title:   U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;

Notes
a. Note:   I have managed to gather a pretty good number of records on Peter Knechtges, giving a pretty complete picture of his life. He was born to his parents Anton and Chrintina (Jünger) Knechtges in the Rhine Provinces of Germany in 1836. He came to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin with his parents in about 1850-1852. There seems to be some question of the date of his marriage to Mary LeFever. A number of records seem to show that was in 1856, but there seem to be several dates listed. Also, they are not listed as living together on the 1860 census and they didn't start a family until 10 years later. Peter enlisted in the Union Army in 1864 and served about a year until the end of the war. It appears that Peter and Mary moved to Houghton County, Michigan between 1880 and 1883, joining a number of other relatives there. Peter worked for a number of years for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, as did a number of his family members. The area was a major copper mining producer at the time. It's hard to tell what Peter was doing for the company, but he eventually became a carpenter. Peter apparently had a number of health problems, including rheumatism, which he developed during his civil war service. It appears that he stopped working around 1900. He applied for and received a pension for his war service. Peter died in Houghton in 1913. Rick Waggener ============ 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: Peter Knechtges Eifel place of origin: Mittelbaar Year of birth: 1837 Year of Immigration: 1852 Destination: Wisconsin Notes: Son of Anton Knechtges (born 1799) ============ From a Bureau of Land Management patent record, given to me by Bruce Dunn. "John Peter Knechtges" is listed as having purchased a 40 acre tract of land from the Federal Government on October 2, 1854. The tract is located in Township 16 North, Range 19 East, of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The Certificate number is 16463, and was recorded on February 27, 1861 in Menusha, Wisconsin, in Volume 21, page 387. From an index of land records, that Bruce also found in Fond du Lac County, this property was located in the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 1, Township 16 North, Range 19. I am not sure if this is Peter or his uncle Johann Peter Knechtges, but think it probably is Peter.- RW ============ From a document titled Registration of Marriages, from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and given to me by Bruce Dunn. There are a number of blanks spaces, but it lists the husband's full name as Peter Knechtges and the wife's full name as Mary Lefever. For the line "The time when the marriage was consummated," there are two dates listed. April 5/ 56 is written by the same person who filled out the other lines, but just above it in a different handwriting is written Jan. 30, 1856. The place this happened is listed as Marshfield. For the line "By what ceremony consummated," is listed "Religious." The person "pronouncing the marriage" is listed Rev. Geo Rehrl (?), who seems to be the same "person signing the certificate." The Date of Certificate is listed as Apr 5/ 56. The date of Registration is listed Feb. 28/ 66(?).- Rick Waggener ============= From 1860 Federal Census of the Town of Calumet, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, household 54, page 9/ 307, taken June 8, 1860, post office- Marytown; from ancestry.com, image 9 of 38. Peter is listed in the household of his parents: Peter Knechtges; age- 24, born- Prussia (Although Peter appears to have been married to Mary for at least 4 years at this point, she is not listed as living in the household with him. I am unable to account for this. I also found it odd that they didn't start their family until about 1866. -RW) ============= From Ancestry.com. U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: Name: Peter Knechtges Residence: Brothertown, Wisconsin Class: 1 Congressional District: 5th Age on 1 July 1863: 27 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Race: White Marital Status: Unmarried (Single) Place of Birth: Germany (This record also lists Peter as not married, which again, doesn't seem to fit with the other records. -RW) ============= From a Certificate of Service, Wisconsin Civil War Service, given to me by Bruce Dunn: Peter Knechtges: The Official Record: Entered service December 28, 1864. Into Company E, Thirteenth Wisconsin Veteran Infantry from Brothertown, Wisconsin. Drafted; Mustered out of service November 24, 1865. The complete history of the 13th, which originally organized in Janesville, Wisconsin on October 17, 1861, is included on the certificate. Peter's experience seems to have covered about the last year, with him mustering out just before the unit disbanded. The part of the history which seems to include his experience is, "...The general work of the 13th during its long term of service was the protection of lines of communication in middle Tennessee and Kentucky and Northern Alabama. This is a service which must be diligently and faithfully performed if the army at the front is to do the work assigned to it. In June 1865 the 13th was sent to New Orleans and in July of that year into Texas near the Rio Grande, where the regiment remained on duty at various posts until November 24, 1865, when orders were received to proceed to Madison, Wisconsin, which was reached December 23. The 13th disbanded December 26, 1865." ============ Jean Braun and Bruce Dunn sent me the following Baptismal Records from the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, St. Mary, from Marytown, N10232 Highway 149, New Holstein, WI 53061, listing the children of Peter and Mary Knechtges: Baptisms Born Baptized Knechtges, Eva 1/25/1867 1/25/1867 Knechtges, Frantz (Frank) 2/21/1869 2/21/1869 Knechtges, Anton 3/25/1871 3/25/1871 (twin) Knechtges, Joseph 3/25/1871 3/25/1871 (twin) Knechtges, Anna Catherine 9/28/1873 9/28/1873 Knechtges, Michael 7/29/1876 7/29/1876 ============= From 1870 Federal Census in Calumet Town, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin; page 98, household #161: Knechtges, Peter; age- 34, male, occupation- Tavern Keeper, personal property- $300, born- Prussia Anna Mary; age- 30, female, wife, born- Prussia Eva; age- 3, female, daughter, born- Wisconsin Frank; age- 1, male, born- Wisconsin Mary La Ferver; age- 68, born- Prussia (Mary LaFerver is apparently the mother of Peter's wife Mary. It was noted that many of the males on this census page were also born in Prussia. -RW) ============ From the 1875 Wisconsin State Census of Fond du Lac County (part of), posted on-line by the LDS, image 24 of 99: Peter Knech ges; 3 white male, 3 white females (Peter appears to be close to the household of his widowed father. -RW) =========== From 1880 Federal Census in Calumet Town, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, taken June 16, 1880, page 83A, household #174; ancestory.com, Fond du Lac County, District #34, image 21 of 31: Knechtges, Pete; male, age- 44, head of household, married, occupation- carpenter, 5 months unemployed, current year, r/w's, born- Prussia, parents born- Prussia ----- Anna M.; female, age- 40, wife, married, occupation- keeping house, born- Prussia, parents born- Prussia ----- Eva; female, age- 13, daughter, single, r/w's, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ----- Franz J.; male, age- 11, son, single, at school, reads, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ----- John J.; male, age- 9, son, single, at school, reads, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ----- Anna C.; female, age- 6, daughter, single, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ----- Michel; male, age- 4, son, single, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia =========== From two cards found by John Knechtges, which seem to be from the Calumet and Hecla company. This was a mining company in the Calumet area, which Peter and a number of his sons and relatives worked for. The first is a kind of standardized questionnaire, asking questions about different kinds of personal information. At the top it states that it needs to be filled out and returned by December 1, 1894, meaning that it was apparently from sometime in 1894. I will try to transcribe the relevant questions and answers as best I can: 1. What is your real name in full? "Peter Knechtges" 2. What is the name on your pay book and number? "Peter Knechtges 5667" 4. Where do you work and for whom? "Refrising(?) Rock Carb.(?) Mr Warham" 5. Where do you live? "Kaimbruettown (?) House Number? "2358" 6. How old are you? "fifty Eight" 7. Are you married or single? "married" 8. If married, how many children have you? "Five" 9. How old is each of your sons? "25- 24- 18 years" 10. What relatives have you working for this company? " My brother's son (Theodore) son (Frank)" 11. When did you begin to work for this company? "On 1883" 12. If you did not write these answers, who wrote them for you? "J. R. Orthey" The second card seems to be where most of the above information was recorded, as well as subsequent information. It seems to be some kind of work record for Peter. The entered information is a group of brief, hand written notes, and none of them seem to be particularly complete, comprehensive, or even legible. Among other things, it seems to show that Peter was disabled in some way with some kind of back condition or injury. He apparently collected some sort of compensation for a while, then it either ran out or was ended. I will try to transcribe them as best I can: No. "5667" (but crossed out) Name: "Knechtges, Peter" House No. "2358 (crossed out) 1779" (Apparently Peter moved some time after 1894, but the street name is not given) "Began '83-- In '94 H. Carp (I think this is for carpenter) -- 1 Nov '95 Transifrom H Carp to R.R. @ 57.00-- A Car Carp-- '02 Oct 1st Settled" "July 31--1913 Dead in Houghton Mich" (The next line is completely illegible and the line below that seem to be some kind of numbers listed in the years 1897, 1899, 1900, and 1901) "1901 June 20 Aid expired (degeneration of spinal chord)" Date of Birth: "1836" Married (Circled with " '94;" apparently from the above card) No. of children: " 5 (also with '94) Sons born: " '69- '70- '76' 87" Names of relatives working for Calumet and Hecla "Son= #8463 Frank, Bro #2631 Jacob, Nephew= #929 Theodore, S.Law= #1423 Szatkowski, Frank, Nephew #448A John, Son #3065 Michael, Neph. #8395- Jacob, Son- #1041b Josep J." "Oct '93 Appealed to Prost Agasiz (?) for extra help, Refused on grounds that he was been garnished for 2 1/2 years & spends part of his exemption for drink every month" =========== From the 1895-96 Polk's Directory, Calumet section, Houghton's Historical Society, Lake Linden, Michigan; sent to me by Gloria Waggener: Knechtges, Peter; carp, res 2358 A =========== From the Polk's Directory 1898 of Calumet, from the Houghton County Historical Museum Library, given to me by Bruce Dunn: ****** Knechtges, Peter, carp, C&H M Co, res 2358 A ============ From the Polk's Directory 1899-1900 of Calumet, from the Houghton County Historical Museum Library, given to me by Bruce Dunn: ****** Knechtges, Peter, carp, C&H M Co, res 2358 A =========== Peter applied for and apparently received an Invalid Pension, as a result of his Civil War Service. From a Declaration of Invalid Pension, given to me by Bruce Dunn, dated October 21, 1899, in Houghton County, Michigan. Peter describes himself as 63 years old and living in the Township of Houghton. He says he enrolled on December 28, 1864, in Company "E" of the 13th Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry volunteers, as a private. He says he discharged on November 24, 1865 in San Antonio, Texas. He lists himself as 5 feet 7 inches tall, of dark complexion and dark hair. He reports that during his service "on march from Chattanooga to Nashville, on or about March and April 1865, he incurred rheumatism." He further reports he "was treated in camp hospital near Nashville for about a week." He also reports that since leaving the service he has "lived in Calumet County, Wisconsin, (at Brotherton), employed as farmer up to 1882; since 1882 in Houghton County, employment as Carpenter. He lists his current address as 2358 "A" Street, Calumet, County of Houghton, Michigan. He also indicates that he has not previously applied for a pension- RW =========== Another record, also from Bruce Dunn, seems to be a questionnaire, sent by the Department of the Interior to Peter, on May 9, 1900. It appears that they are seeking information "for future use, and it may be of great value to your family." Presumably this concerns a possible future pension for Peter's wife Mary. The questions: 1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name: Annie Mary Knechtges--nee- Lefebre 2. When, where, and by whom were you married? Jan- 24th 1856, township of Calumet, Wisconsin, Father Raoul 3. What record of marriage exists? St. Mary's Church, Calumet Township, Fondulac, Wisconsin 4. Were you previously married? No 5. Have you any children living? Is so, please state their names and dates of birth. Yes, Eva January 24th 1867 Frank- February 20th 1869 John Joseph- March 27th 1871 Annie Katherine- Sept. 27th- 1873 Michael- July 29- 1876 Date: May 16th- 1900; Signature: Peter Knechtges =========== From the Federal Census of 1900, Calumet Township, Houghton County, Michigan, Precinct No. 4, page 124, taken June 9, 1900; the address is 2358 "A" Street, the residence is listed as a rented house: Knechtges, Peter; head of household, male, born- April 1836, age- 66, married 44 years, born- Germany, parents born- Germany, immigrated in 1852, naturalized citizen, occupation- carpenter, reads/writes --- Annie; wife, female, born- December 1840, age- 59, married 44 years, mother of 7 children/ 5 still living, born- Germany, parents born- Germany, immigrated 1842, no occupation listed, reads/ writes --- Joseph; son, male, born- March 1871, age- 29, single, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Germany, occupation- lather, reads/writes --- Annie; daughter, female, born- February 1873, age- 26, widowed, no children, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Germany, no occupation listed, reads/ writes --- Michael; son, male, born- August 1876, age- 24, single, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Germany, occupation- lather, reads/writes --- Joser (?); son, male, born September 1887, age, 12, single, born- Michigan, parents born- Germany, at school, reads/writes --- Roy; son, male, born- September 1895, age, single, born- Montana, parents born- Germany --- Pastor, Charles; boarder, male, born- June 1877, age- 22, single, born- California, parents born- England, occupation- miner (copper), reads/ writes --- Corneins (?), Joseph; boarder, male, born- May 1869, single, born- Italy, parents born- Italy, immigrated 1892, not naturalized, occupation- miner (copper), reads/ writes (I am pretty sure that Joser (or Josie) is Joseph Knechtges, son of Peter's and Annie's daughter Eva. He also seems to be listed in the household of his mother and step-father in the 1900 census in Portage. I am not sure who Roy is. He may be a grandson or nephew. - RW) =========== From the Polk's Directory 1901 of Calumet, from the Houghton County Historical Museum Library, given to me by Bruce Dunn: ****** Knechtges, Peter, carp, res 1779 Cemetery Peter and family seem to have moved. ============ From the Polk's Directory 1907-08 of Houghton, from the Houghton County Historical Museum Library, given to me by Bruce Dunn: ***** Knechtges, Peter, res 68 Pewabic Peter seems to have moved again, to Houghton. His son Joseph and a John J. Knechtges are listed as living at this same address. He is not listed as a carpenter, which probably means that he was no longer working at this point. ============ From the 1910 Federal Census of Village of Houghton, Portage Township, Houghton County, Michigan, district 123, sheet 3b, taken April 16, 1910, household 64, address- 127 Quincy; from genealogy.com. Peter is listed with his wife Anna in the household of their daughter Anna and her husband Charles Thornley: Knechtges, Peter; father-in-law, male, age- 74, married (1st) 53 years, born- Germany, parents born- Germany, occupation- none, r/w's ============ Another declaration for a pension, under the Act of May 11, 1912, dated June 13, 1912, and also from Bruce Dunn. It is not clear what is this new act is about, but the declaration is signed by Peter and reiterates most of the same information from 1899. Peter is listed as a resident of Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan. He is reported to have enlisted in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 28, 1864, as a Private in Company E of the 13th Regiment. He was reportedly discharged honorably on November 24, 1865, in San Antonio, Texas. He is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair, a carpenter, and born on April 29, 1836, in Copland, Germany. He is reported to have lived in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin for 12 years, Calumet, Michigan for 18 years, and in Houghton for 10 years. -RW ============= From Polk's Directory 1912 of Houghton, from the Sutro Library, San Francisco, CA: ****** Knechtges, Peter, res 100 Portage There is no one else listed at this address, but Peter's son Frank and several of his children are listed living apparently next door at 124 Portage. Peter died the next hear in Frank's house. ============= Bruce Dunn also gave me a copy of Peter's death certificate, from the State of Michigan, which has also since been posted on-line by the State of Michigan: Name: Peter Knechtges Date of death: July 31, 1913 Place of death: Houghton County, Village of Houghton Sex: Male Race: White Marital status: Married Date of Birth: April 29, 1836 Age at death: 77 years, 3 months, 1day Occupation: Carpenter Birthplace: Germany Name of father: Antonio Knechtges Birthplace of father: Germany Maiden name of mother: Ann Christina Younger Birthplace of Mother: Germany Informant name: Frank Knechtges (Peter's son) Address: Houghton Cause of Death: Transition (?) from Rheumatic Arthritis Place of Burial: Houghton Date of Burial: August 2, 1913 Filed: August 2, 1913 ============= I was given a copy of the following newspaper story by Bruce Dunn. It came from the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton Michigan, and was dated August 1, 1913: Death of a Civil War Veteran Peter Knechtges Served in a Wisconsin Regiment in '64 and '65. Peter Knechtges a copper country pioneer and veteran of the civil war, died yesterday morning at 10 o'clock at the home of his son, Frank J. Knechtges, the contractor, 124 Portage Street. The deceased was born in the Rhine provinces of Germany, 77 years ago and came to the United States when 14 years of age. He enlisted December 28, 1864 in Company E and served to the close of the war. He was a member of the G.A.R. at Calumet. Mr. Knechtges located in the copper county at the close of the war. He is survived by a widow and by five children. Frank of Houghton, Joseph and Michael of Calumet, Mrs. Frank Schotkoski of Calumet, Mrs. Charles Thornley of Houghton. The funeral will take place from St. Ignacius church tomorrow at 9 o'clock. Interment at Forest Hill. =========== Bruce Dunn also gave me a copies of two documents, both submitted by Anna Knechtges and both dated August 22, 1913. One is titled Declaration for Widow's Pension, Act of April 19, 1908. This act seems to have granted pensions to surviving war widows and their young children. The second is titled Widow's Application for Accrued Pension. This seems to be a claim on the apparent balance of Peter's pension. Anna Knechtges seems to have applied for both of these pensions about three weeks after Peter died. Peter's date of death is listed in both documents as July 31, 1913. Much of the information about Peter's service in the Civil War is the same as the above records. Both documents do list the date of Peter's and Anna's marriage as January 26, 1856 in Marytown, Wisconsin, as opposed to the January 24, 1856 date given earlier. In the Widow's Application, there is a statement attributed to two witnesses who verified that Peter and Anna had been married, Reginald G. Baudin and Albret N. Baudin. It is stated, "They have been neighbors of the undersigned. Mr. Knechtges was paralyzed and bed ridden for years." -Rick Waggener ========== From St. Ignatius Catholic Church records of Houghton, Michigan, given to me by Bruce Dunn: ****** Burial Record 1877-1923, page 134 Peter Knechtges, died July 31, 1913, buried August 2, 1913, age 77, born Rhein Province, Germany, father: Anton Knechtges mother: Christina Junger Priest: Jos. F. Schaul (Peter is buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton and his headstone reads: Peter Knechtges Co. E. 13th Wisconsin Infantry Although from the records his wife Anna's body was clearly buried with him her grave is not marked with a headstone. Their son Frank and his wife Frances are buried in the same plot, and share a marker, and their daughter Anna Catherine is buried nearby with her husband Charles Thornley, and her son Roy Sullivan. -RW)


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