Oakwood Cemetery in Somers, Wisconsin

Welcome to the second of my Somers, Wisconsin Pioneer History blogs. Oakwood Cemetery is the Somers, Wisconsin cemetery but not all pioneer families are buried here. I created this Oakwood Cemetery blog primarily to assist those of you who are researching and writing your family history. If you do not find your family in this blog, search on my pioneer site and don't forget to look at the Unknown People posting. People are adding their family information often so check back again!

Showing posts with label Witscheber. Show all posts

October 23, 2011

Birch, William R.

William R. Birch
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011)

Wm. Birch
(Source: Photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

William R. Birch
Somers Township, age 80, passed away this morning at St. Catherine's Hospital, Kenosha, following a long illness. Mr. Birch was born in Somers, March 17, 1888, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William R. Birch. During World War I he had served in the U.S. Army. For many years he had farmed in Somers Township. Two brothers, Chris and Frank Birch, survive.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at the Hansen Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Somers. (Source: Racine Journal Times, publication May 13, 1948)

Military Documentation (Thank you to Dominic Cariello)
The 12 AM TN 12 DIV is the unit that PVT Birch served with. It is the 12th Ammunition Train of the 12th Field Artillery Brigade of the 12th Division. This unit was never deployed. PVT Birch was drafted and served……..but never went over to fight.

The unit information is as follows:

Twelfth, 12th Division Nickname: Plymouth Division
23rd, 24th, Infantry (Inf.)
12th Artillery (Art.)
34th, 36th Machine Gun (M. G.)
212th Engineers (Eng.)

Generals Commanding: Major - General Henry P. McCain (Aug. 20, 1918 - Jan. 31, 1919, from formation to disbandment)
Other Commanders: 23rd Infantry Brigade Commander: Brigadier - General John N. Hodges; 24th Infantry Brigade Commander: Brigadier - General John E. Woodward; 12th Field Artillery Brigade Commander: Brigadier - General G. R. Allen.
Sources:
Roster, Plymouth (12th) Division, Camp Devens, Massachusetts, November 30, 1918
Robinson, W.J.: Forging the Sword, The Story of Camp Devens, The Rumford Press, 1920, pp 115 - 159
Steve Zolla provides the above information on the 12th Division.

Not deployed. War ended.

Shoulder/Sleeve Insignia
12th Ammunition Train

Shoulder/Sleeve Insignia:

12th Field Artillery Brigade
34th Field Artillery
35th Field Artillery
36th Field Artillery
12th Trench Mortar Battery
12th Ammunition Train

More About William Birch, Jr.
William Birch, Jr., one of the best known men of the Town of Somers and formerly actively connected with the management of the Kenosha Pure Milk Company, appeared in the municipal court late Monday afternoon and entered a plea of guilty to charges of forgery. He is a member of one of the old Somers families. In court, Birch told a story of hard luck. More than three months ago, when he was in financial straits, he went to the Merchants and Savings Bank and secured a loan of $250. He signed the note as principal with the name of Edward Witscheber of Somers, his uncle, as surety. When Birch could not pay the loan, it was discovered that Witscheber had never given his consent to the making of the note and in fact, knew nothing about the loan. Birch hoped he would be able to repay the loan. Birch's father, who is one of the most prominent farmers of the town of Somers, was in court and declared his willingness to aid his son out of the financial difficulty and he made a strong plea for his release on parole. Birch is now employed by one of the Kenosha Milk companies and he has given assurance that he will make good all losses in the case."
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date Dec. 13, 1916)

Frank Birch, son of William R. Birch

Frank E. Birch, 73, 2108 Birch Road, died at Necedah, Wisconsin, Sunday morning, following a sudden illness while duck hunting. October 23, 1971.

Born September 30, 1898, in Somers Township, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William R. Birch. He married Miss Palmyra Degeyter, December 4, 1919.

Mr. Birch was a farmer on the Birch homestead all his life. He is survived by his wife, a daughter Angeline. Preceded in death by brothers William and Chris and two sisters Louise and Mrs. Pauline Tennessen.

October 13, 2011

Birch, William and Minnie Witscheber

William and Minnie Birch
Oakewood Cemetery
(Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011)

Wedding Certificate for Wilhelm Birch and Wilhelmine Witscheber
June 10, 1888
Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin
(Source: Original Certificate courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

William R. Birch
"William R. Birch died at his home on Saturday morning July 17, 1920 following an illness of several months. The funeral services will be held from his late home. Burial at Oakwood Cemetery."
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date July 22, 1920).

More About William R. Birch
William R. Birch, who is successfully engaged in farming on Section 18, Somers Township, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, and his natal day was the 28th day of July 1858.
His parents, Edward and Jane Birch, were both born in England, whence they removed to Canada. In 1863 they came to the United States and located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, where the father purchased one hundred and ninety acres of land. From that time until his (father) demise, which occurred in 1892, he devoted his time and attention to the operation of his farm and gained a gratifying measure of success in that connection. His political belief was that of the Republican Party and for four terms held the office of Road Overseer. In religious faith he was a Baptist. His wife, Jane Birch, died in 1894, and both are buried in Kenosha.
William R. Birch attended the common schools until he was eighteen years of age, thus acquiring a good education, and after putting aside his textbooks he worked with his father for six years. He was then for six months a hired hand in the employ of Ben Newman and at the end of that time purchased forty acres of fertile land on Section 18, Somers Township, where he has since made his home. The place is well improved and everything is kept in an excellent condition. He is both practical and progressive in his work and as the years have passed his resources have steadily increased.
Mr. Birch was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Minnie Witscheber, and they have five children: Paulina, a resident of Burlington, Wisconsin, and the wife of Peter Tennessen, by whom she has one child; Louisa, who is deceased and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery; William, Jr., a dairyman of Kenosha; and Christy and Frank, both at home.
Mr. Birch supports the Republican Party where national issues are involved but otherwise votes for the best man irrespective of his political allegiance.
(Source: The City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1916)

More About Edward Birch
Edward Birch was born in England in 1822. He arrived in America in 1844, stopped in Canada West for a short time and in 1867 he came to Kenosha County. He located a farm in Somers Township and has followed farming up to the present time. He is a member of the M.E. Church.
Edward Birch has held the office of Road Commissioner four or five years. He married in Canada in 1855, Miss Jane Thompson, a native of England. Edward and Jane had eleven children. He is the owner of 162-1/2 acres of land in Somers Township, Section 16.
(Source: The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago, Western Historical Company, 1879)

More About Christopher Birch Wedding to Kugler
"The marriage of Miss Ottilliege Kugler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kugler, to Mr. Christopher Birch, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Birch, was celebrated at the German Lutheran Church, Kenosha, on Thanksgiving Day at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Rev C. Buenger officiating in the presence of immediate friends and relatives conducted the service. The bride wore a white crepe de chine dress and bridal veil. She carried white bridal roses, and was attended by Miss Amollion Holmes. William Birch, Jr., brother of the groom was best man. The bridesmaid wore pink crepe de chine and carried pink roses. A reception was held at the home of the bride's parents following the ceremony. The happy couple have gone to housekeeping on a farm in Somers and have the best wishes of a host of friends."
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date December 6, 1916).

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)