Favorite Genealogy Find: Ancestor Killed in Wisconsin

January 16, 2022January 18, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

Of all my great genealogy finds, I think this one was my favorite. The family story was that some ancestor was killed by Indians in Wisconsin. That did not turn out to be true, but an ancestor was killed in Wisconsin by his neighbor. I first published this story in 2015 and here it is again today.

On a June day in 1907 John Desens was working on his farm in Clark County, Wisconsin near the town of Greenwood, when he noticed that something had eaten his grain. He did not own any cattle and the only cattle nearby belonged to his neighbor Fred Zell. John was walking his horses out to the pasture, when he saw his neighbor, Fred, on the road. John called to Fred and said, “Your cattle have been eating my grain.” Fred asked him, “How can you say my stock is eating your grain?” John replied, “Come and see for yourself, you can see the grain is eaten off.” Fred yelled to John, “You son of a bitch. You come on the road and I will fix you!” John said, “No, I don’t want to fight, I am an old man, and all I ask of you is to keep your stock out of my grain.” John heard the gate open, and the next thing he knew Fred had him by the throat, choking him, and pushed him up against the fence post. John took out his knife and tried to cut himself loose. He cut where ever he could. John fell and Fred fell on top of him. John didn’t want to get his eyes cut so he managed to roll over. John woke up lying in the field and an officer was talking to him. John said to the officer, “Leave me lie here a little longer and I will die. I do not want to go to jail.” The office told him that he wasn’t going to take him to jail, but to a doctor. When the officer found John, he had been cut and bleeding. John stated that his side hurt and asked for some water. The officer got him some water and noticed that John was covered with dried blood and flies. The officer also saw that there was blood oozing from John’s leg and at first thought that John had been shot. He ripped the pant leg and saw that he had a gash on his leg. The officer and some other men got a wagon, filled it with hay, got some blankets from John’s house, and took him into town to the doctor. Later that day the officer got a call to take John to the local hotel. He had taken Fred Zell there earlier that day. There was only one room available so he put John in the same room as Fred. This was in place of a hospital as there was no hospital in the town. Two days later John went by the officer’s house and said he was going to walk home. The next day Saturday the officer and district attorney went out to John’s house. They showed him a knife they had gotten from Mrs. Zell and asked him if that was his knife. John said that it was like his except that he had a piece of wood in it so that he could open it easier and this one had the tip of the blade broke off and a small piece of the blade was bent over. A week later on July 6, 1907 John succumbed to the stab wounds in his chest and died alone in his house.[1]

Fred Zell was seriously injured and it took him months to recover. His hand was almost severed from his arm. Fred did recover, but didn’t regain full use of his hand. Fred died in 1932. A newspaper account said that Fred Zell was resting his arm on the gate talking to John about the cattle when all of a sudden John started cutting Fred’s hand. [2]

When I first ran across this story, I had two newspaper accounts and a mention of it in a book.[3] [4] [5] I didn’t know if John Desens was my great-great grandfather or not. His wife had the same name as my great-great grandmother (already deceased at this time) and his one son (also already deceased at this time) had the same name as a sibling of my great grandfather.[6] I sent for John’s death certificate hoping that the informant would be some relative that I knew, but it did not list an informant.[7] Then last summer I made a trip to Clark County Wisconsin. I asked to see the probate file, but it was no longer kept there. It was now in the state archives. I then asked to see the criminal file for Fred Zell because the paper said most likely he would be charged with John Desens death.[8] I had to pay $5.00 and they would search for it at a later date and send it to me. Then I asked to see land records which I was able to see. The Land records gave a legal description and I was able to locate the farm on a current day map, but it didn’t give me any clues to if this was my ancestor or not. A few weeks later I received the criminal file. There appears to be pages missing, but there are 21 pages of testimony from the officer who found John Desens lying in his yard that day in June. So I only have John’s story through the officer. [9]

Fred Zell’s story is missing. Although, the paper had Zell’s story about how John went after him first.[10] In the end the court did not charge Fred Zell with John Desens death because lack of evidence as to who started the fight.[11] I have some questions and they were not answered in the court documents to my satisfaction. John was 74[12] years old and Fred was 46.[13] It seems to me that Fred would have the advantage being younger and most likely be stronger than John. If John cut first almost severing Fred’s hand, how could Fred have stabbed John? Did Fred have a knife on him to stab John, or did he get John’s knife away from him and use it on John? How did Fred get back to his farm or get help? Why was John left to die? It sounds like he was left lying there in the field for a long time because of the dry blood and flies on him. He was in and out of consciousness. Paper also said Fred Zell was the worse of the two,[14] yet he lived for 25 more years.[15] I think if the investigation was done today that they would be more thorough.

I sent to the state archives for John’s probate file and right on the first page is the evidence that John is my great-great grandfather. It lists my great grandfather Carl Desens at 111 Washington Street, Forest Park, IL as his son.[16] An interesting side note about the probate file. Fred Zell was suing John’s estate for $5000.[17] All of John’s 80 acres were only worth $1200.[18] He did not have much else and had some debts that needed to be paid out of the estate.[19] Fred Zell received $1.00.[20] I find this story very sad. Although I never knew my 2^nd great grandfather, I felt sad that he was left in the field to die. I felt anger at the neighbor for his part in this and the fact that he was younger and probably stronger, and frustration at district attorney for not investigating it better. There are so many unanswered questions.

I visited John’s grave when I was up there last summer, however at the time, I was not sure if he was my ancestor or not. I also did not have all the details of the crime. I would like to go back and visit his grave again and take some flowers. I want him to know that someone cares. That I care!

Week 2 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Favorite Find.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst.

[2] Neillsville times(Neillsville, Clark County, Wis) July 11, 1907.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Marshfield Times ( Marshfield, Wood County, Wis) July 17,1907

[5] Hub of Clark County (1853 – 1934)

[6] United Church of Christ East Cemetery Index(formerly the German Immanuel Evangelical & Reformed Church) Warner Township, Clark County, WI, Compiled by Stan and Janet Schwarze.

[7] Death Record of John Desens, Pre -1907 Wisconsin Death Record County Clark, Volume # 01 Page # 438. Filed at the State Historical Archives of Wisconsin, Miroforms room, 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

[8] Marshfield Times ( Marshfield, Wood County, Wis) July 17,1907

[9] Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst.

[10] Neillsville times(Neillsville, Clark County, Wis) July 11, 1907

[11] Criminal file for Fred Zell, Clerk of the Court, 517 Court Street, Room 405, Neillsville, Wisconsin 54456. Sent by Elizabeth Frost, Deputy Clerk to Abigail Grunst

[12] Death Record of John Desens, Pre -1907 Wisconsin Death Record County Clark, Volume # 01 Page # 438. Filed at the State Historical Archives of Wisconsin, Miroforms room, 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

[13] Obituary of Frederick W. Zell. Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark County Wisconsin) August 25, 1932.

[14] Marshfield Times ( Marshfield, Wood County, Wis) July 17,1907

[15] Obituary of Frederick W. Zell. Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark County Wisconsin) August 25, 1932.

[16] Probate file for John Desens filed in the McIntyre Library at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 103 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid.

Father’s Day: A Tribute to My Dad

June 15, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

My Dad and me

My Dad, George Philip Manfroid, Jr. was born to George Manfroid and Helen Desens on 26 October 1919 in Forest Park, Illinois. Dad grew up in Forest Park and Elmhurst, Illinois. He went to York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. He had a brother, Donald, 14 years younger than him. He grew up during the depression and that made a great impression on him. I remember the stories that my dad told me about the depression. When I hear about the recent recession compared to the great depression on TV, I cringe because the recent recession is nothing like what my father described to me. His father lost his business, then they lost their house, and they ate bananas for Sunday dinner. There were no safety nets like there are today for the unemployed. Because this made such an impact on my Father he decided that his children would not go without. He went without lunch for weeks and saved his lunch money to buy me a doll for Christmas. He made me a doll house with a hand saw (he didn’t have power tools at the time). He gave me everything he possibly could. Not only did he give me material things, he gave me his time, attention, advice, and love. He gave me history lessons at the dinner table. He loved history, and I learned about history and current events through dinner time discussions. He had a great sense of humor. Whenever my brother or I asked if he would buy us the latest toy or gadget, he would say, “Yes on the 42^nd of July.” Just in case they ever changed the calendar the 42^nd had to land on the second Tuesday of the week. In other words we were never going to get it. He loved gardening and painting the house. He was always painting inside or outside. He loved his baseball and the Cubs. He was always there for me whenever I needed him. If I just need to talk or if I needed a shoulder to cry on, he was there. I loved him very much and I have no doubt about his love for me.

Dad walking me down the aisle

When I got married, he walked me down the aisle and gave me away. He told my husband on our wedding day that if he (my husband) ever did anything to hurt me, he would have to answer to him (my father). After we were married for several years, my father told some friends of ours that when their daughters grew up he hoped they found someone like my husband. I picked a good man because I had a good father.

My Dad worked hard and sometimes worked two jobs to make ends meet. When I was born my dad was a bus driver. He drove a bus for a suburban bus company, Leyden Motor Coach. At first he worked nights and holidays, but as he gained seniority, he was able to work mostly days and had the major holidays off. Sometimes he would take a charter on his day off. He especially liked the ones to the ball games. He would get off work from the bus company about 2:30pm, and go to his second job driving a mini bus for a nursery school, Jack and Jill, in Villa Park, Illinois. He was with the bus company for 17 years when the company closed down. My Dad then got a job with Burney Brothers Bakery driving a delivery truck. He delivered to Jewel grocery stores in Chicago. He also took overtime delivering wedding cakes on Saturdays. After 17 years with Burney Brothers, they closed down too. At 59 years old my father was without a job, no pension, and not old enough for Social Security. He found a job doing maintenance work at the Wheaton Park District. He worked there for the next five years.

We lived in an Apartment until 1953 when my parents bought their first house in Lombard (Villa Park was across the street). We lived in that house until 1963 when they bought another house in Villa Park. In 1968 they moved to a smaller house in Carol Stream, Illinois due to my father’s health issues. My father lived in the Carol Stream home until his death.

In 1967, my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer. He was given radiation treatments for six weeks. The tumor was in his voice box, and he couldn’t talk very well. The radiation shrank the tumor so he did get his voice back. They wanted to remove the voice box to get rid of the cancer altogether, but my father said he would rather die than to be without his voice. He lived 17 more years without a recurrence. In late February or early March of 1984, we noticed my dad had slowed down. He said he wasn’t feeling good, and my mother finally convinced him to see a doctor. He went to the doctor and was sent him for some tests. He was diagnosed with lung cancer. A few days later my dad was admitted to the hospital. I went to see him and he had to cough a lot. It was deep cough and it seemed that when he coughed he could not get his breath. It was hard to watch. My last visit with my father, I noticed he kept staring at me. I thought to myself that he is studying me in case this is the last time he sees me. When it was time to go, I said “Good-bye I hope you get better soon.” He said, “Me too.” We were holding hands and he did not want to let go and neither did I. I planned to go back every day, but the next day I came down with a terrible cold that settled in my chest. I did not go to visit him because I was afraid of giving him my cold. I thought the last thing he needs is a cold. The next day my mom called me to say that the doctor called her and told her to get to the hospital he was dying. I couldn’t go because I had two small children at home. My mother and brother were there with him at the end. My mom said he kept pulling the tubes out of his arms. So I think he was ready to die.

My dad passed away from Cancer on March 15, 1984 at 64 years, 4 months, and 18 days. I wish I was there with my Dad at the end; however it is a comfort to know that my mother and brother were there for him. He is loved and dearly missed by his children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Happy Father’s Day to a great Dad! If I could tell him one thing it would be this, “Dad, the Cubs finally did it and won the World Series in 2016!”

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week Father’s Day

Father’s Day: A Tribute to My Dad

June 16, 2018June 23, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

My Dad and me

Dad walking me down the aisle

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week Father’s Day

Cousin Killed in Storm

April 22, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

A third cousin of mine, Terry Niko, was killed in a storm that hit Des Plaines, Illinois in July 1972. The newspaper report says the storm had tornado like winds, and heavy rain. There were funnel-like clouds that streak across the sky in a south easterly direction. Roofs were blown off, a building was leveled to the ground, extensive damages and broken windows to buildings. Many trees were down throughout the area. Homes were damaged due to the high winds, flying debris, and tree branches. It looks like Terry was the only one to lose his life in this terrible storm.

Terry niko (2)

It’s a little hard to read so I will transcribe the part about my third cousin Terry Niko.

“Police said Terry Niko 23 of 7500 Elmhurst Road, Bensenville died at Holy Family Hospital 40 minutes after he was crushed in his car by a falling tree limb in the 700 block of Graceland Ave.

According to reports Niko, alone in his car at the time was driving southbound on Graceland Ave when the large limb fell on the roof of his car about 100 feet south of Prairie Ave. It reportedly took 8 policemen to lift the heavy limb off the car.”[1]

Unfortunately, I did not know Terry, and I didn’t know of his existence until recently. You may wonder how I found a cousin that I did not know existed.

One of the things I like to do is reverse genealogy. You might ask, “What is reverse genealogy?” I start from the past and move to the present. I start with what I know. For example, I have already traced backward from myself to great-grandfather, Carl Desens, and to the 2^nd great-grandfather, John Desens. I know my 2^nd great-grandfather, John Desens, had three children that lived, married, and had children. Who were they and who are their children and grandchildren and so on? By doing this I hope to find living second and third cousins. I always hope to find someone who will share my interest in searching our common ancestor or may have been told family stories that I haven’t heard yet.

Here is an example of reverse genealogy. I start with John Desens family listed here.

johann desens

Carl is my great-grandfather, and I have searched all of his eight children. Now I would like to search for Hanna’s children. So I search various sources such as census, vital records, and newspapers. After I did that, here is what I found about Hanna Desens family.

Hanna desens

I researched each of Hanna’s children. Here is the family of her third child Martha:

Martha R

Then I researched each of Martha’s children. Here is the family of Martha’s third child Irene.

Martha Rosenwinkel

Now I researched each of Irene’s children. When I got to last one, Terry Niko, I noticed that he was only 23 when he died, and I wondered why he died so young. A search in the newspaper archive answered my question. That is how I came to find Terry and his sad story. May Terry rest in peace, and God Bless his family.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week is Storms.

[1] Arlington Heights, Illinois, Daily Herald Suburban Chicago, Monday, July 17, 1972, Section 1 Pg. 3.

Love from France

February 13, 2018February 14, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

This weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks topic is Valentines.

Below is a card sent to my Grandmother, Helen Desens, by my Grandfather, George Manfroid, from France during WWI. He went there in 1918 and came home in January 1919 so I assume the card was sent sometime in 1918. I don’t think it was sent for Valentines Day. They got married shortly after he came home in 1919. I love this card. It is so pretty and delicate.

Valentine one

This is the front and the flap opens and there is a clover inside and a small card. I don’t know if the clover was originally a four-leaf clover because it is crumbling.

Valentine two

Here it is with the flap open and you can see the clover and the small card.

Valentine three

This is the small card.

Valentine four

As you can see the card is a post card. He must have mailed it in an envelope because there is no writing on the card. It seems too delicate to send as post card.

He also sent another one that says “Souvenir de France”.

Souvenir de France