Albert left in a huff in 1914 after a fight involving money, ran
away to Blackduck, Minnesota where he worked in the woods. Inebriated, his
shack burned in winter, left to find help, froze his feet and lost some toes.
Died and the powers that be shipped his body back to Manawa by train to
be buried next to his parents on the Klingbeil family cemetery in 1950.
Gustav Jule Klingbeil married Emma Braun, sired eight
children, Edward, Melvin, Oscar, George, Walter, Frieda Johnson, Dorothy Worm,
Eleanora Buth, farmed in Little Wolf. Bertha, my grandmother
married Fred Lembke in 1897, lived thither and yon, spending the last years in Big Falls after a hiatus at the Klingbeil
farm. Six children: Emma Beyersdorf, Louie, Elsie Schmidt, Alma Zillmer, Leona
Ostermann and Clarence Lembke. Ella married Ernest Johnson, farmed at
Elderon where he died of blood poisoning. Twins Richard and Annah.
Ella died in December 1965, the last leaf on the Klingbeil tree.
Minnie married Bill Becker, farmed in Dupont. near Lake Michael School. Three daughters Irene Steinbach,
Viola Schorweide, and Ruby Worm. In 1940 after Bill's death Minnie sold
the farm to Lester Bork, who built a new house for his bride. Marie the
baby married Frank Becker, resided in Sheboygan, two children Harold and Lucile
Reinbacher who just passed away at the age of 99.
It is uncountable the number of descendants that Wilhelmine and
Gottfried Klingbeil have now in 2015, all because they pulled up roots and
traveled to America in 1873 on the Good Ship Leipzig. They traveled with
Gottfried's sister Henrietta whose first husband was Kienitz. He died and
she married Carl Knopp and had many children. Members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Manawa. All walked the ten
miles for the rite of Confirmation in German.
Robert and William Klingbeil never married, bachelors,
farmed the home place and because it was the 'home' place, many relatives
came to stay or live for a few days or months or years. Rob and Bill
welcomed everyone, as shown by the photographs surviving.
Gradually winter fades, spring and summer come,
The ground will warm up, the hay will grow,
Time to prepare the hay mower,
Check the tires on the wagons
Roll the hay with a side deliver rake,
Let dry for a few days, sunshine is needed.
Harness the horses to the wagon and hay loader
Hours and hours hauling in the hay.
Among those spending summers on the farm was Harold Becker
of Sheboygan , a lad of about 14 years old, in
1929. As a Christmas gift from Santa Claus, Harold received a Box Camera.
Took many many pictures, had multiple copies made for all the relatives
and for some reason, Delores inherited all of them. At some time Harold
contacted Infantile Paralysis or Polio. He survived with the good nursing
of his Mother Marie. Went on to college and politics and was voted
Register of Deeds of Sheboygan County.
It looked like a happy time on the farm from the smiles on the
pictures. Harold reminisced that they brought the train from Sheboygan to Sugar Bush were Uncle Rob met
them with a horse and buggy, even in 1929. To spend the summer on the farm.
Making hay. Harold helped with harnessing the two teams of horses,
hooked up to the hay mower, side deliver rake and finally to the wagon and hay
loader. No pictures showing how the hay was hoisted into the barn.
Harold even took pictures of Uncle Bill hauling out manure with
the team of horses. No doubt Harold had to shovel manure on to the
spreader. Another picture shows hauling the milk cans to the Little Creek
Cheese Factory.
Each weekend relatives descended on the home farm, 20-30 people,
pictures show women in silk dresses, cotton stockings, fancy hats, high
heels. Men with fedoras, white shirts, ties, vests with a watch fob and
suits. No making hay on Sunday, it was a day for visiting and resting and
eating. A niece remarked Uncle Rob had chickens and for Sunday dinner would
wring its neck and roast with caraway seed and heavy cream taken from the
top of milk cans. All baked in a wood cookstove with no refrigeration or
microwave.
Great Uncle Bill helped with the horses and a corn binder and
threw the bundles on a flat rack wagon. Brought to the silo, and while
throwing the bundles on the chopper, his arm was entangled and he died two
weeks later on August 29, 1949. Uncle Rob continued farming
until 1954 when he sold the farm, after being in the Klingbeil name for
80 years. He lived for a time with his niece and nephew Walter and Irene
Steinbach before passing away at the Waupaca County Poor Farm Asylum in 1961.
The end of an era. Good times.
copyright Delores and Russell Miller, 2015
