Oakwood Cemetery in Somers, Wisconsin: Witscheber

Christian and Louisa Witscheber
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011)

Christian Witscheber
C. Witscheber was long numbered among the representative farmers of Somers Township, having become a resident of Kenosha County in 1858. He was born in Germany in April, 1838, and was but four years of age when his father died, while his mother's death occurred at his birth. He obtained his education in the common schools of his native country and at the age of sixteen years crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He made his way at once into the interior of the country, settling first at Kewanee, Wisconsin, and afterward at Sheboygan. For four years he was employed in sawmills and in 1858 removed to Kenosha county, where he hired out to William Bose, for whom he worked for two years. He was anxious, however, to engage in business on his own account and rented land in Racine County, which he cultivated for two years. He afterward spent the winter in Kenosha and then purchased twenty-six acres of land in this county, upon which he engaged in farming for twenty years. On the expiration of that period he sold the property and bought forty acres on Section 13, Somers Township, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred January 18, 1903.
In early manhood Mr. Witscheber was married to Miss Louisa Rinehardt, a daughter of Max Rinehardt, and to them were born five children: Minnie, who became the wife of William R. Birch, a resident of Somers, by whom she has four children; Paulina, wife wife of L.J. Morehouse and the mother of one child; and Edward, Frank and Louise, all at home.
He was a devoted member of the German Lutheran Church.
His youngest son, Louis Witscheber, was born on the old homestead farm in Somers, January 20, 1871, and obtained a common school education, dividing his time during his boyhood between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground, and the work of the fields. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared, and in connection with his brothers is now cultivating the old home place. They have made all of the improvements upon this property and are now extensively engaged in raising cabbage, potatoes, beets and grain, their practical, progressive methods bringing good results.
Louis Witscheber was a Republican and belonged to the German Lutheran Church.
(Source: The City and County of Kenosha Wisconsin, Vol. II, S.J. Clark Publishing Co., 1916)

Louisa Witcheber (Mrs. Christian)
"Mrs. Louisa Witscheber departed this life on Friday, July 31, 1914, after a lingering illness of many moths. Mrs. Witscheber was born in Germany, December 15, 1841. She, with her husband, the late Christian Witscheber, came to this country over fifty years ago and settled in the Town of Somers. She was a woman of generous, unselfish, sympathetic nature and a sincere friend, untiring in her devotion to her family. To the surviving sons, Edward, Frank and Louis, and daughters, Mrs. William Birch and Mrs. Louis Morehouse, is extended the sympathy in their hour of sorrow. The funeral services will be held from the late home on Sunday afternoon with interment in the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery."

(Source: Racine Journal July 31, 1914)

About Louis Witscheber
"Louis Witscheber passed away at age 80, on June 18, 1951, in St. Catherine's Hospital after an illinois of several weeks. He was born in Somers Township on January 20, 1871. He was the son of the late Christian Witscheber. He had farmed in Somers Township his entire lifetime. Surviving are four nephews: Christ Birch, Frank Birch, Louise Morehouse, and Frank Witscheber, one niece, Miss Anita Witscheber all of Somers. Burial at Oakwood Cemetery."
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date June 18, 1951)