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Individual Page


Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Anna Maria Steffes: Birth: 31 JAN 1845 in Müllenbach, Cochem-Zell Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Death: 06 MAR 1845 in Müllenbach, Cochem-Zell Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

  2. Nicholas Steffes: Birth: 07 MAR 1846 in Müllenbach, Cochem-Zell Dist., Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Death: UNKNOWN

  3. Margaret Steffes: Birth: 24 JUN 1848 in Taycheedah Twp., Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 07 MAY 1913 in Laurium, Houghton Co., Michigan

  4. Jacob Steffes: Birth: 29 NOV 1849 in Wisconsin. Death: 10 OCT 1867

  5. Anton Steffes: Birth: 04 NOV 1850 in Marshfield Twp., Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 14 JUN 1929 in Chilton, Calumet Co., Wisconsin

  6. Christian Steffes: Birth: 1852 in Wisconsin. Death: UNKNOWN

  7. Joseph Johann Steffes: Birth: 25 JAN 1855 in Calumet Twp., Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 19 JUN 1898 in Marshfield Twp., Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin

  8. John J. Steffes: Birth: 29 NOV 1859 in Calumet Twp., Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin. Death: 24 FEB 1926 in Brothertown Twp., Calumet Co., Wisconsin


Sources
1. Title:   1880 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1880; Census Place: Brothertown, Calumet, Wisconsin; Roll: 1418; Family History Film: 1255418; Page: 28D; Enumeration District: 026
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;
2. Title:   Wisconsin, Deaths, 1820-1907
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2000;
3. Title:   1860 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1860; Census Place: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Roll: M653_1407; Page: 299; Image: 306; Family History Library Film: 805407
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;
4. Title:   1870 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1870; Census Place: Brothertown, Calumet, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1704; Page: 173B; Image: 349; Family History Library Film: 553203
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;
5. Title:   U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;
6. Title:   Web: Wisconsin, Find A Grave Index, 1836-2012
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;

Notes
a. Note:   Johann and his wife Anna Maria are listed as family #5711 on page 807 in the "Family Book of the catholic parishes St. Lawrence in Masburg, with (subparishes) Bermel, Eppenberg, Hauroth and Kalenborn from 1717 until 1798 and from 1860 - 1899 and St. Hubert in Müllenbach, with (subparishes) Laubach, Leienkaul and Hochpochten from 1717 until 1899" by Ursula Buchholz, copyright 2003. This is the source of some of the information I have for them. =============== From Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2006. Original data: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls); Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36; National Archives, Washington, D.C. From the District of New York/ Port of New York, the passenger list of the ship Gladiator, which sailed from London, England, and arrived in New York on August 7, 1846. Theodore is listed with his wife Anna Maria and his oldest son Nicholas. Name: Theodor Steffes Age: 25 Sex: male Occupation: farmer Country from which originated: Germany Country to which intend to reside: United States ================ The above record confirms that in 1846, Theodore, his wife Anna Maria and their oldest son Nicholas left the Müllenbach area, traveled to London, England, then sailed to New York City, New York, then traveled to Fond du Lac,County, Wisconsin, USA. Why did they, as well as many of their relatives, leave Germany and journey almost 5,000 miles to America? Generally speaking, the reasons seem to be mostly economical, as opposed to some kind of of religious or political persecution experienced in other areas. For a number of reasons, this area was seriously depressed economically, with widespread poverty and misery. The reasons for the economic problems included the political dynamics of the time, as well as a number of years of crop failures and a serious decline in the area slate mining industry. These and other factors drove many people in the area to seek a more prosperous life elsewhere. Reportedly there were three main areas in the United States, where a significant number of the German immigrants from this area moved: McHenry County, Illinois, Clinton County, Michigan and Eastern Wisconsin, including Fond du Lac County. It appears that the initial immigrants to these areas sent letters back to friends and relatives in Germany, reporting on how favorable conditions were in these areas, compared to the dismal conditions in Germany. These letters spoke about land and opportunities in America, which were difficult to obtain in Germany, yet could be obtained in a relatively short period of time in these areas in America. It appears that that these letters triggered a wave of immigration. In short, Theodore and Anna Maria almost certainly made the long journey looking for a prosperous life that they did not feel was available for them in Müllenbach, and to join friends and family members who had made the journey before them. I know that a number of Theodore's kin arrive in New York on September 7, 1847, on the ship Vierge Marie, from Antwerp, Belgium. I don't know if this means that Theodore and Anna Marie were the first of their close family to make the trip to America, but it seems possible. Rick Waggener ================ From the 1860 Federal Census of the Town of Calumet, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, page 1/ 299, taken June 1, 1860, post office- Marytown, household 4; from ancestry.com, image 1 of 38: Theodore Steffes; age- 35, male, occupation- farmer, real estate- $500, personal property- $400, born- Prussia Anna M. " ; age- 32, female, born- Prussia Nicholas " ; age- 13, male, born- Prussia, in school Margaret " ; age- 11, female, born- Wisconsin, in school Anton " ; age- 9, male, born- Wisconsin Joseph " ; age- 7, male, born- Wisconsin Jacob " ; age- 5, male, born- Wisconsin John " ; age- 3, male, born- Wisconsin =============== 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. Theodore Steffes (62) was another who chose to relocate, moving to a farm near Jericho, in Calumet Co., Wisconsin. It is believed that when Mathias Arenz and his wife moved to the city of Fond du Lac, Mathias most likely sold the land he owned near Jericho to Theodore, his brother-in-law. Theodore's eldest son, Nicholas Steffes, married Sarah Lynch in De Pere, Wisconsin and their three children were all baptized in Jericho, Wisconsin. About 1879 Nicholas and Sarah left the Jericho area and all efforts to locate them have been thwarted, their whereabouts remaining a mystery to this day. The obituary of Nicholas' son Anton William, was located in Tigerton, Wisconsin, but gives no clue to the virtual disappearance of his father, mother and sisters. Anton's children and grandchildren are unable to provide any solution to this mystery. This is proof that "cold" records cannot unlock many of the mysteries of the past. We can make educated guesses about the lifestyles of the German immigrant, obtain proof from land and civil records, but there will always be unanswered questions. ..." ============== From the 1870 Federal Census of Brothertown, Calumet County, Wisconsin, page 16, taken July 7, 1870, post office- New Holstein, household 112: Steffes, Theodor; age- 42, male, occupation- farmer, real estate- $2000, personal property- $450, born- Prussia ------ Anna; age- 38, female, occupation- keeps house, born- Prussia ------ Anton; age- 18, male, occupation- works at home, born- Prussia ------ Johan; age- 12, male, at home, born- Prussia, in school (Theodore and Anna are near to the household of their daughter Margaret, and her husband Jacob Knechtges.- RW) ============== From the 1880 Federal Census of Brothertown, Calumet County, Wisconsin, district 26, page 20d, taken June 18, 1880, household 204; from ancestry.com, image 20 of 36: Steffes, Theodore; male, age- 58, head of household, married, occupation- farmer, born- Prussia, parents born- Prussia ------ Mary; female, age- 58, wife, married, occupation- keeping house, born- Prussia, parents born- Prussia ------ Joseph; male, age- 26, son, married during the current year, occupation- farmer, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ------ Mary; female, age- 21, daughter-in-law, married during the current year, occupation- housekeeper, born- Wisconsin, parents born- Prussia ------ Anthony; male, age- 8, grandchild, born- Wisconsin, father born- Prussia, mother born- England ============== From the obituary of Theodore and Anna Marie's son John J. Steffes, it was reported that they were living in Marytown, Fond du Lac County in 1859 when John was born, and that they moved to Brothertown, Calumet County, in 1865. In Brothertown they were living on a farm that was owned in 1926 (when John died) by a Ignatz Ditter.- RW ============= From Ancestry.com. Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original Data: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Wisconsin Vital Record Index, pre-1907. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Vital Records Division, 19xx.: Name: Theodore Steffes Death Date: 03 Mar 1889 County: Calumet Volume: 01 Page #: 0060 Reel: 009 Image: 2785 Index Volume: - ImageNum: 105117 Sequence #: 371769 Level Info: Wisconsin Vital Records Death Index. ============= From Carol M. Froode and Andrew M. Chiello: Theodore and Anna Maria Steffes are buried in the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Jericho, Calumet County, Wisconsin.


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