Milwaukee's German Newspapers Index - honoring the 99%
A Democratic-Socialist's generous gift to the community + an effort to integrate Milwaukee's sanctimonious Lutherans among the German Jews, Catholics, etc. ... because somebody sure as hell had to do it.
Monday, October 14, 2024
Mysterious bones found in 2024 explained by the "Milwaukee Herold" in April 1887 ...
The site was used for more than twenty years as a burial ground, and funerals were held there in 1863. Twenty-five years ago, it was covered with gravestones and monuments.
Although a sanctified place, it was always neglected, as most of the bodies entrusted to the earth were those of "paupers"* and dying homeless, upon whom the tears of a loving mother had earlier fallen." [*The cemetery served the 2 orphanages across the street.]
Niemand zum Leid, Gerechtigkeit für Alle. (© The Inter-Racial Council)
This issue was the same for the USA in November 2016, 2020, and in 2024 as US Secular Democracy hangs in the balance.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Literally uncovering Milwaukee's lost German-American history ...
... a family's marker from 1877, buried under cemetery grass for ... who knows? how many years. This summer I saw a small bit of text showing in a dip of the lawn, then dug it up with it's base.
My active interest in lost markers began with the re-uncovering of Christoph Gomber's 1866 stone, first found in 2011 but overgrown by grass again since then. I've set that stone upright. While looking for Christoph, I found his wife's buried cast-iron cross from 1860.
I have not found any indication of their son-in-law, Hermann Joseph Gassen (my relative), in this family plot. I believe the plot was purchased at the time of his death in 1857; his wife named as owner.
It's the lost graves of 2 Civil War veterans in my family tree that fuels my determination to uncover more stones. Parish burial register entries are the only remaining record.
Coincidentally, Peter Joseph Esser (1826-1873), my 2nd-great-grand-uncle (by marriage), was the first employee of this cemetery. His sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, & in-laws (even his widow's 2nd husband) followed him as cemetery employees.
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Happy Labor Day 2024
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Milwaukee's English or German language clippings? it's your choice.
The German language death notice is not only more comprehensive, but progressive too. It sets the scene for us: during her long illness she was provided with the Last Rights. It includes Mrs. Zach's maiden name (Golner); provides her daughters' given names separately from their husbands' names; names her daughter-in-law; and even references Mrs. Zach's siblings. It's a research and German-American cultural gem!
This is the family's paid death notice for Mrs. Zach; there was no separate obituary article written by the newspaper.
This difference between competing papers isn't always the case but it needs be understood by the family researcher looking through Milwaukee's German, English, or Polish language newspapers.
Monday, July 1, 2024
Honoring forgotten Civil War veteran Adam Goelz ...
Monday, May 27, 2024
Family memorials to WWI soldier Private Eugene Griepentrog, 1918-1930
The local German-American papers published articles and photos in 1918, but the Griepentrog family published a memorial on the anniversary of Eugene's death in 1919 and 1920. When his remains were brought back to Milwaukee for reburial in 1921 his parents published death notices and a public thanks, and then a memorial for him every year after that until 1930.