Milwaukee's English or German language clippings? it's your choice.

Mrs. Catherine Dorothy Zach's death notice found in the Milwaukee Journal has been digitized into TOTAL illegibility, but legible on library microfilm. The notice provides information about the arrangements, but only makes limited mention of the family: her daughters are identified by their husbands' names.

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.

Mysterious bones found in 2024 explained by the "Milwaukee Herold" in April 1887 ...

"Where the Prospect and Maryland Avenues meet in Ward 1, a new school building under the direction of Contractor Danischefski is being built. It is not a flat surface, but a large, grassy place in which an infinite number of depressions can be seen; namely graves, which were once raised above the surface, but now have sunk down.
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.]

Joseph Schlitz' farewell: a poignant moment in the brewer's story.

Farewell. A heartfelt farewell to my friends and acquaintances whom I did not have the opportunity to see before my trip to Germany.
Jos. Schlitz

When Joseph Schlitz notified the community that he was traveling to Germany in spring 1875, he didn't know it would be his last trip. These public announcements were an occasional practice in Milwaukee's German papers, and indexed in this project.

His Lebewohl (literally, Live Well!) is one of the more poignant items I've indexed; even more so than the tributes that followed from his, and other Milwaukeeans', tragic loss during their return voyage, 7 May 1875.

Engagements announced in the German papers! ... including this rare event ...

 

Clarice Fah Toy is engaged.

Will marry Thon Chung, a colleague of her wealthy father.

A Chinese wedding, a rare event for Milwaukee, will soon take place when Clarice Fah Toy, the pretty young daughter of Charley Toy, will tie the knot with a rich Chinese man, Thon Chung. The groom also has a restaurant in Milwaukee. [Sept. 1907]

Chain & caravan migration stories are a part of Milwaukee's Germanic history ... just as they are today for other groups.

Mr. Peter Schmidt, together with his sister, Mrs. Dorothea Meuser, picked up his 86-year-old father from Germany, and went fishing here last night in his father's company. Twelve more members of the family from Germany will be arriving here in the next few days.