1. Frederick1 BERLIN (891); b. 7 Sep 1820 at Prussia;1
Frederick Berlin (891) married Dora Eruestiur (892) before 1849 at Prussia;2
Note by this researcher -- [The following story was related to me about my Great Grandparents Berlin by my mother, Frances L. Berlin Hagen. According to her knowledge the reason that her grandparents left Germany are as follows: (This story was also told to me by all of the siblings of my mother that I interviewed.) Frederick and Dora Berlin lived in Berlin, Germany. ( The year was 1852 and Berlin was a part of Prussia, which later became Germany.) Their name was not Berlin in those days. (I have heard three different names from different people. Those names were Dietrick, Kunterd and Stutts.) Frederick and Dora ran a gasthaus (eating place and saloon). One night a man came in and attempted to rob them. Dora was just coming down stairs and saw him. She ran upstairs, got a gun and shot him. (I don't know whether he was just wounded or killed) Because of the turmoil in Prussia at that time Frederick and Dora were afraid of what would happen to them so they came to America. (Why were they afraid? Did they report the robbery and the shooting? Maybe it was illegal to own a weapon?) They sailed to America with their two children, Louise and Herman.]
Note by this researcher -- (Past history about Prussia lends some circumstantial evidence to this story. During the European Revolutions of 1848 there was great turmoil in many of the countries. One account that I read stated, "the blood ran heavy in the streets of Berlin." These were revolutions between the rulers and people of the middle class. If Frederick and Dora were owners of a "Gasthaus", they would have been considered members of the middle class. I have not found any procedure to research the above family story.)4
Note by this researcher -- (On the Hamburg Passenger lists for 1852 I found where the ship "Java" with Capt Christianson sailed from Hamburg with New York as its destination. The "datum d. abgangs" or date of departure was 29 April, 1852. Berlin, Friedricke, is listed on the passenger list. Only the head of family is noted on the passenger roster. It indicates that Berlin, Friedricke is a laborer and was born in Schonstadt, Mecklinberg. The problem is that researchers in Germany have assured me that there never has been a town named Schonstadt in the Mecklinberg province. If the story related in the above memo is true, then can we assume that Frederick and his family changed their name to Berlin before they left Prussia and also gave a fictitious town of birth. The only thing wrong is that the obituary of Herman Berlin states that he was born June 19, 1852 and that he was 6 weeks old when his parents brought him to America. Therefore, Herman would not have been a part of the family if they sailed in April, 1852. However, the age of Herman on the census for 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 vary so perhaps he was born in 1851, as is indicated on the census for 1900. It is doubtful that further research can really confirm whether the passengers on this ship was the Frederick Berlin family that we know as ancestors but we shall attempt to find the answers.)5
Frederick Berlin (891) and Dora Eruestiur (892) appeared on the census of 1860 at Stillwater, Washington, MN. It indicates that Frederick Berlin and his family are living in Stillwater, Washington Co., MN. He is 40 years of age with the occupation of laborer. The value of his real estate is $300 and value of personal estate is $50. He was born in Prussia.1
Frederick Berlin (891) and Dora Eruestiur (892) appeared on the census of 1870 at Bridge Creek, Eau Claire, WI; Frederick Berlin, his wife and son Herman are now living in Bridge Creek Township, Eau Claire Co., WI. (The name on the census form is listed as Bearlin.) Frederick is 50 and his occupation is farmer. The value of his real estate is $600 and his personal estate is $150. He was born in Prussia.6
Frederick Berlin (891) and Dora Eruestiur (892) appeared on the census of 1880 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI. A portion of Bridge Creek Township and Lincoln Township were combined to form Ludington Township in 1874. The family is still together. Frederick is age 60 and the only thing new on this census is that he states his parents were born in Prussia.7
Frederick Berlin (891) appeared on the census of 1900 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI. The 1900 Federal Census gives a great deal more information than was compiled on earlier census. Frederick Berlin gives his name as "Fred Berlin". His wife, Dora, has died and he is listed as widowed. He still calls himself "head" of the household but he is living with his son, Herman, who has taken over the farm. Frederick states that the month of his birth was Sept. and year of birth, 1820. He is 79 years of age. He gives his place of birth as Germany and the birthplace of his parents as Germany. He states that his year of immigration was 1848, with the number of years in the U.S. as 52. His occupation is farmer and that he has been naturalized. His farm is owned by him but it is mortgaged.
Note by this researcher -- (The above date of immigration (1848) is probably a mistake. Herman Berlin, son of Frederick, states on the same census that he immigrated to the U.S. in 1852 and was supposedly about 6 weeks old when the Frederick Berlin family came to America. I am in the process of trying to locate the naturalization papers of Frederick, Dora and Herman Berlin.)
Frederick Berlin (891) died 12 Nov 1909 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI, at age 89;
Obituary of Frederick Berlin
"Frederick Berlin, aged 89 years, 2 months and 5 days, died at the home of his
son, Herman Berlin, Nov. 12, 1909, of old age, He was born in Berlin, Germany in
1820. At the age of 35 years he came to this country residing in New York for a
few years. Then he moved to Virginia for 10 years and then he went to Stillwater
(MN) for a short stay. From there he came to Ludington where he lived
until his death. He was the father of two children, Louisa died at the age of 14
years at Stillwater. Since his wife's death ten years ago he made his home with
his only son, Herman Berlin. His last illness was of short duration. He leaves
to mourn his departure, one son and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Nov. 14 in the White schoolhouse, Ludington.
Rev. W.R. Barbour of the Baptist church of Augusta officiating. After a short
scripture reading and prayer at the home of his son, Herman Berlin, the friends
and relatives of the deceased proceeded to the schoolhouse where the services
were held. Interment was in the Ludington Cemetery"
Note by this researcher -- (A part of this obituary is probably in error. If Frederick came to the U.S. in 1852 then he must have been 32 when he came. Since he appears on the 1860 Federal Census in Minnesota he could not have lived in Virginia for 10 years.)3
Frederick Berlin (891) was buried at Ludington Cemetery.8
Louisa Berlin (893) appeared on the census of 1860 at Stillwater, Washington, MN; In the 1860 census the name listed for Louisa is Louise. She is 11 years old and was born in Prussia.1 In the family stories told to me by my mother and in talking with Kathy Berlin it was always stated that Louisa was the youngest of the two children born to Frederick and Dora Berlin and also that she was born in America. The 1860 census shows that Louisa was 11 years at the time of the census and Herman was 10.10
3. Herman2 BERLIN (164) (Frederick1); b. 19 Jun 1852 at Berlin, Prussia, .....or was he? His obituary says he was but there are other indications that show this may not be the correct year? His obituary also states that he came to this country when he was but 6 weeks old, which means that he arrived in America in 1852. However, the 1860 census for Stillwater, Washington County, MN gives his age as 10 years. The 1870 census for Ludington, Eau Claire County, WI lists his age as 19. The 1900 census for Ludington, Eau Claire County, WI claims that Herman was born in June of 1851 and 48 years old at the date of the census. I do not believe we can be sure of Herman“s exact birth date. I shall use the date of 19 June 1852 as a non-confirmed date until further research can establish a better one;2,4
Herman Berlin (164) appeared on the census of 1860 at Stillwater, Washington, MN; he is 10 years old and was born in Prussia.1
He appeared on the census of 1870 at Bridge Creek, Eau Claire, WI; he is 19 and his occupation is " he works in a sawmill."15
He appeared on the census of 1880 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI; The census states that Herman is age 25. This is apparently in error considering the other census. His occupation is "at home". This may mean that he is working on the farm.7 Herman grew up and moved with his parents to Ludington where he worked at various jobs. In 1870 his occupation was "working in a sawmill," in 1880 "as living at home" (perhaps in between employment or working on the farm for his father). Interviews with cousins who had heard stories about him seem to show that primarily he worked in the woods as a lumberjack during the early part of his life. It is probably during this time that he met Adeline Webber. Her father also worked in the woods and it appears that he and Herman may have worked together or that Herman may have been a part of his crew.2
Herman Berlin (164) married Adeline Webber (119) 12 Oct 1881 at Seymour, Eau Claire, WI;
Marriage Certificate of Herman Berlin and Adeline Webber. Recorded in Chippewa County Courthouse, Chippewa Falls, WI No 12 - Page 63 -- #01977.
1. Full name of husband Herman Berlin
2. Name of the father of husband Fred Berlin
3. Name of the mother of husband before marriage Elizabeth Berlin
4. Occupation of husband Farmer
5. Residence of husband Ludington, Wisc.
6. Birthplace of husband Berlin, Germany
7. Full name of wife previous to marriage Addie Webber
8. Name of the father of wife Marshall "
9. Name of the mother of wife before marriage Frances "
10. Birthplace of wife Wisconsin
11. Time when the marriage was contracted October 12th
12. The place, town or township and county, where the
marriage was contracted Seymore, Eau Claire Co.
13. The color of the parties White
14. By what ceremony contracted Presbyterian
15. Name of subscribing witnesses Marshall Webber
Nellie Mackay
16. Name of person pronouncing marriage W. H. Lockwood
17. Residence of person last named Eau Claire
18. Date of registration October 12, 1881
19. Any additional circumstances;11
Herman Berlin (164) and Adeline Webber (119) appeared on the census of 1900 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI; Herman has been married for 19 years. He is listed as "head of the family". He gave his month of birth as June and the year of birth as 1851. He gives his age as 48. It is listed that he was born in Germany and that both his parents were born in Germany. He immigrated to the U. S. in 1852, has been in the U.S. for 48 years and is naturalized. He gave his occupation as farmer, claims to own his farm and that it is free of mortgage. He can speak, read and write English.8
Herman Berlin (164) appeared on the census of 1910 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI; he is 54 years of age and widowed. He owns his farm.16
Notes from Kathy Berlin, great-granddaughter of Herman and Adeline Webber/Berlin. 3/15/95
"When we were young we searched the area where Frederick and Herman built the first cabin and found some old ink bottles in the field one year and dug a little deeper and found more bottles and some really big shoes. I am sending a copy of a picture of the house Herman and Addie built (our old house). They had an apple orchard and sold apples. I have a picture of Herman in the apple orchard with his pet raccoon. I think my parents still have that raccoon (he was stuffed)."17
Herman Berlin died 8 May 1911 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI, at age 58; His obituary reads as follows:
"Obituary of Herman Berlin
Everyone was sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Herman Berlin, which occurred at
the Sacred Heart Hospital Monday, May 8, 1911. He was a man of sterling energy
and his death came as a shock to his many friends and relatives. He had been in
poor health for some time, but his family did not feel worried until he took to
his bed three weeks previous to his death. Dr. Winter of Augusta was in
attendance, doing all that could be done. Not feeling satisfied with his
condition, Doctors Lyman and Drage of Eau Claire were called. They proved the
case as Dr. Winter, a cancer of the bladder, also an attack of tuberculosis. May
4, he was taken to the hospital and two days later submitted to an operation,
after which he rallied and felt fairly well, considering his condition. On May
8, God called him to a better land and he passed peacefully away without much
suffering. He has gone to meet his beloved wife, who died eight years ago the
2nd day of September.
There are left to mourn his sad departure, six sons and two daughters. These
children have the sympathy of the entire community.
Mr. Berlin was born in Germany, June 19, 1852, coming to this country with his
parents when he was but six weeks old. He had lived in Ludington since his
marriage, Oct. 14, 1881. He was a kind neighbor and true friend.
Herman Berlin is buried in Ludington Cemetery, Ludington, Eau Claire County, WI;12
Herman Berlin (164) was buried after 8 May 1911 at Ludington Cemetery, Ludington, Eau Claire, WI.13,14
Note by this researcher -- (Cecil Herman Berlin was born April 6, 1893 in the home at Ludington, WI. He grew up on the farm in Ludington and at the age of 25 he enlisted to serve his country in WW I. According to Cecil’s enlistment record and honorable discharge papers he enlisted July 6, 1918 at Eau Claire, WI. He served as a Private in Company B, 345 Machine Gun Battalion. His serial number was 3365430. He sailed from the U. S. July 24, 1918 and fought in the Musse Argonne Offensive from Oct. 22 to Nov 11, 1918. He returned to the U. S. June 6, 1919 and was discharged as a private on June 14, 1919. His honorable discharge papers further state that he had gray eyes, brown hair, a ruddy complexion and was 5’ 8 ½ “ in height. He had a character rating of very good with no A.W.O.L.’s. After his service he decided to go West – whether to make his fortune or not is not known – but he ended up in Lewiston, Idaho.)
Cecil Herman Berlin (163) died 9 Jul 1930 at Lewiston, Idaho, at age 37.
Cecil Herman Berlin (163) was buried at Ludington Cemetery, Ludington, WI.
Obituary -- Submitted by Kathy Berlin, March, 1995
"Cecil Herman Berlin was born in Ludington, April 6, 1893, and died July 9, 1930, at Lewiston, Idaho, following an operation for acute appendicitis. He had reached the age of 37 years, 3 months and 3 days. He had always lived in Ludington until he answered his colors' call in the World war along with his brothers Fred and Archie. Cecil served his country for 18 months and served it well. He was on the front line when the Armistice was signed. After returning home from the war he went west, ten years ago, and had since resided there. He was of a most kind and loving disposition, ever thoughtful of others and always ready with a smile to greet and assist at all times. He will be sadly missed by his brothers, sisters and friends. He leaves to mour his loss, two sisters, Mrs. Frances Hagen, Tomah, Wis., and Mrs. Della Vance, Ladysmith, Wis., and four brothers, Fred of Ladysmith, Louis, Bertie and Joe of Ludington. His mother proceeded him in death in 1903 and his father in 1911, his brother Archie in 1927 and Charley in 1895. Military funeral services were held from the Joe Berlin home, Cecil's boyhood home, and from the White School house, Wednesday afternoon, July 16, with the Legion boys in charge, Rev. Blish of Stanley officiating. Burial was in the Ludington cemetery beside his father and mother. Those from away to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Vance and son and Fred Berlin, Ladysmith; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hagen and family, Tomah; Mr. and Mrs. Levi Melville, Mrs. Della Melville and Willis Melville, all of Chippewa Falls.
Note from this researcher -- (The following poem accompanied the obituary. Author of poem is unknown.)
Another dear brother has left our home circle,
Another young soul has passed away,
And in the kind, gentle spirit
Our Father is holding his sway.
We mourn for you, dear brother,
But not with outward show,
For the heart that mourns sincerely
Mourns silently and low.
No one knows the silent heartache
How we morn now day by day,
Mourn for our dear Cecil,
In his grave now laid away.
We have only your memory, dear brother,
To remember our whole lives thru,
But the sweetness will linger forever,
As we treasure the image of you.
As we saw you in your casket
You looked so young and fair,
We will always keep that memory
How you slumbered sweetly there.
You were only in the prime of manhood,
Just thrity-seven years of age,
Always upright and manly and honest in life's snowy page.
And now 'neath the pure light of heaven
He rests and his soul is at peace,
A glorious life opened before him,
When his loving heartbeats did cease.
Charley Berlin (126) died 1895 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI.
Archie Berlin (124) married Madeline Sheraton (220);
Note by this researcher: (Archie Berlin was born on the farm in Ludington on December 7, 1896. In the 1910 census for Leon township, Monroe County, WI he was 13 years old and living on his brother Louie’s farm in that location. Supposedly he was brought there by his sister, Frances when she came to keep house for her brother, Louis.
He joined the U. S. Army at the age of 20 years. His service record shows that he enlisted at Camp Douglas, WI on April 6, 1917. His service number was 2306871. He served as a Private in Company L., 128th Infantry, and went overseas to France with this unit. He was separated from the service on December 17, 1918 with an honorable discharge.
The following was told to me by my sister, Adeline Hagen Gilner. She was about 7 years old at the time that these events took place:
“Archie enlisted in the U. S. Army and fought in W. W. I. At the end of the conflict he was in the hospital as a shell shock case and when he was discharged he came and lived with mother and dad as part of his rehabilitation. At that time we lived on a farm in Random. (This is Random Township, Monroe County, WI.) Sometime during this period he married Madelaine Sheraton in Richland Center, WI. Her parents owned a large farm near Richland Center. Shortly after the marriage, Madelaine became sick with tuberculosis. Mother took care of her while Archie worked until she became too bad and she was taken to a sanitarium in Onalaska, WI. Not long afterwards she died and is buried in Richland Center with her parents. After Madelaine died, Archie went to the Chicago, IL area. I think he was a door to door salesman for a while and then he got a job on the police force in Oak Park, IL. He married a lady named Doris but I don’t know her maiden name. They came to visit us once after they were married. She was a snazzy looker and Archie had a sporty Moon car. I can remember because Archie took Dad to Sparta and nearly scared him half to death. He said Archie was taking every corner on two wheels. Note by this researcher: (Arlo Berlin also told me about Archie’s Moon car.) In 1927, we received word that Archie had shot himself while cleaning his police pistol. Aunt Dell came down to Sparta and she and Mother took the train to Oak Park and went to the funeral.”)
Cecil Berlin (son of Arlo Berlin) and his wife, Shirley, visited their daughter in Chicago in 1997. While there they investigated the police department in Oak Park, IL, and Montrose Cemetery in Chicago where Archie is buried. They also saw and took pictures of the house where Archie lived with his wife, Doris at 323 South Lombard Ave., Oak Park, IL in 1927. They furnished me with a “Statement of Military Service” for Archie, and a “Certificate of Death” issued by the State of Illinois. They gave me several pictures showing the cemetery, the plot where Archie is buried (no headstone), have a copy of the death certificate, pictures of the cemetery and the house where Archie and Doris lived. No obituary has been located.
Notes from this researcher -- (Research of the above material shows some interesting points:
· There is only a portion of Archie’s service record available. The National Personnel Records Center states that “only the part of the record furnished was available because the original record was in a location that was destroyed by fire July 12, 1973. The record furnished was a reconstructed record.
·
The Coroner’s Certificate of Death furnished by the
State of Illinois gives no indication of a gunshot wound. Section 16
states – Date of Death September 29, 1927. Section 17 states – I
hereby certify, that I took charge of the remains of the deceased herein
described, held an Inquest hereon and from the evidence obtained find
that said deceased came to his death on the date stated above and that
THE CAUSE OF DEATH * was as follows:
Cerebral Abscess.
Contributory (Secondary)
Unknown
* State the Disease Causing
Death, or in deaths from Violent Causes, state (1) Means of Injury; and
(2) whether Accidental, Suicidal, or Homicidal.)
Notes and assumptions by this researcher: (We are fairly certain that there was a gunshot wound, however, it appears that it did not cause immediate death and that Archie must have died later from Cerebral Abscess. We do not know, obviously, whether the supposed gunshot was accidental or suicidal. The fact that it is not reported on the death certificate seems to indicate that it may have been something other that accidental. This may have been caused by a flashback to problems Archie had in combat.)
· Cecil and Shirley Berlin reported that there was a baby buried in the same plot as Archie is buried and the name on the headstone is Baby Walker. The date of death of the baby is a couple of years after Archie died. It is assumed by them and me that Doris, the wife of Archie, remarried a man name Walker and their baby died in infancy. I did research on Social Security files for Illinois and located a “Doris Walker” who died in Cook County. I was not interested in carrying the research farther at this time since I was mostly interested in only family members of my mother.
Note by this researcher -- (It is quite apparent that Archie was a favorite of Frances Berlin. She took him with her when she went to work for her brother Louie on his farm in Pleasant Valley, Leon, WI. After the World War I, she nursed him back to health until he married his first wife, Madelaine. When his wife became ill he asked assistance of his sister, who gladly gave it and nursed her until she became so bad she had to be removed to a sanitarium. When he died in Chicago she traveled to where he was, to a strange place, farther away from home than she ever been in her life. I expect that no one will ever know all of the facts about the death of Archie. Especially since his two marriages produced no children.)
The two newspapers that were published in Oak Park, IL were acquired through interlibrary loan. They consisted of micro-film from the Illinois Historical Library and the information below was found. Individual opinion as to what really happened can still be used.
Both of these items were published in the newspaper for Oak Park, IL. This paper was published weekly. Only these items were found on Archie Berlin. There were no obituaries published in this paper.There was another weekly published in Oak Park during this period called "THE OAK LEAVES". I perused the film of that newspaper and found no items published that pertained to Archie.
Published in "THE OAK PARKER", Oak Park, IL
Friday, August 26,1927
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
"Archie Berlin, age 30, member of the Oak Park police force is in the West Suburban hospital with a bullet hole through his left side, after having tried to commit suicide Tuesday evening at his home, 323 South Lombard avenue.
Following the shooting Berlin said that he was shot accidentally but according to the police Berlin fired the shot into his body following an argument with his wife. The shot passed through his body entering just above the heart.
According to Berlin's associates on the police force he left the station Tuesday evening apparently in the best of spirits and they were at a loss to account for his act."
Published in "THE OAK PARKER", Oak Park, IL
Friday, September 30,1927
DEATH OF PATROLMAN
"The death of Archibald Berlin, 30 years old, Oak Park police officer, occurred Thursday at the West Suburban hospital where he has been since August.
On the morning of August 23, the police were summoned to his residence at 323 South Lombard avenue and found Officer Berlin badly wounded after the explosion of his gun. For a while it was thought that the accident was an attempt at suicide, but Officer Berlin stoutly denied this. He claimed that the gun went off accidentally while he was cleaning it and to the last this was his statement. At times it looked as if his recovery, were possible, but so serious was the wound above his heart that he succumbed a little over a month after this tragic accident.
Officer Berlin had been a patrolman of the department for several months. Over a year ago he also served in the Oak Park station for a period of a year and a half. He is survived by his wife."
4. Louis3 BERLIN (120) (Herman2, Frederick1); b. 23 Feb 1883 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI;18,19
Louis Berlin (120) married Nina Matthes (211) 29 Oct 1910 at Nina's parents home, Viola, WI;18,19
In 1997 I had an interview with Helen Berlin, daughter of Louis and Nina Berlin. She related the following which I am paraphrasing:
"On October 29, 1910, my father married Nina Matthes in her parents home in Viola, WI. She was born September 2, 1887, in Island Lake, WI. They lived in Leon until 1917, and then returned to Ludington. They brought with them four children, Vilas Mert (Tod) b. 9/1/1911 m. Sophia Yablonski 7/29/44 d. 5/17/1977 of cancer in Eau Claire, WI; Evelyn Tina b. 1912; d. sometime in her 20“s, Hazel Mae b. 11/23/1914 m. Raymond Orvold (schoolteacher) d. 2/17/1994 of liver disease in Eau Claire, WI and Virgil Edward (Stub) b, 4/12/1916 m. Julia Matthews Mar 1946 in Atlanta, GA d, 6/29/75 if leukemia in Atlanta, GA. After arriving in Ludington, three more children were born: Myron James b 4/9/20 m. Irene Hagedorn 12/5/1942 who live in Ludington, WI; Molita Sarah b. 6/16/1923 m. Henry Ruzza 3/17/1951 who live in Kansas City, MO, and Helen Louise b. 4/13/1925 m. Reuben Lee 10/19/1946 who live in Minnesota and winter in Arizona.18
Vilas Mert Berlin (213) married Sophia Yablonski (323) 29 Jul 1944;
Vilas Mert Berlin (213) died 17 May 1977 at age 65.
Virgil Edward Berlin (216) died 29 Jun 1975 at Goergia at age 59.
Molita Sarah Berlin (215) married Henry Ruzza (319) 17 Mar 1951.
Louis Berlin (120) died 24 Jul 1974 at Fall Creek Valley Nursing Home, Fall Creek, WI, at age 91;19 The following obituary was published at the death of Louie Berlin.
Obituary of Louis Berlin
"Louis Berlin, 91, died Wednesday at the Fall Creek Nursing Home. He was born Feb. 23, 1883, in the town of Ludington and married Nina Matthes, Oct. 29, 1910. The couple farmed at Sparta for a number of years and then moved to Ludington where they farmed until retirement in 1959 when they moved to Fall Creek. In 1964 they moved to Augusta. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Vilas and Myron, both of Fall Creek, Virgil, College Park, GA; three daughters; Mrs. Raymond Orvold, Eau Claire, Mrs. Henry Buzza, Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Rueben Lee, Osseo, MN.; two sisters, Mrs. Della Vance, Oregon, Mrs. Frances Hagen, Antioch, Ill; two brothers, Joe, Fall Creek, Fred, Conrath; 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ludington with Rev. Walter Steinbach officiating. Burial will be in West Lawn Cemetery in Augusta. Friends may call at the Anderson Funeral Home Friday afternoon and evening, until 11 a.m. Saturday and from noon until services at the church."
Louis Berlin (120) was buried 26 Jul 1974 at West Lawn Cemetery, Augusta, WI.19
5. Frances Louise3 BERLIN (1) (Herman2, Frederick1); b. 5 Dec 1885 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI;21 Frances Louise Berlin and Oscar Melvin Hagen were married 3 April, 1912. The remainder of their lives together will be continued in Volume III, "The Family of Oscar M. Hagen and Frances L. Berlin."22
Notes by this researcher -- (Frances Louise Berlin, my mother, was named after her maternal grandmother, Frances Darrow Webber and Louise Berlin, who was her aunt. Louise Berlin died in 1864 at the age of 15 in Stillwater, MN
When mother was born and during the first five years of her life the family lived in a log cabin that had been built by her grandfather and father when they first came to Eau Claire County, WI sometime between 1860 and 1870. The location of this house was on the farm they somehow acquired, and just south of Ludington, WI. In 1890 there were 8 people living in her grandparents log cabin. Her grandparents, parents and their four children. About 1890 her father decided that the time had come to build another house. This house was used for many years. I can remember visiting there as a young boy in the 1930“s. There is different house that stands at present on the Berlin farm. It is owned by Milton (Choppy) Berlin and his family. Choppy is a son of Albert (Joe) and Carrie Berlin.)
Mother told a story that happened after they moved into their new home. It was a family story about when she was very young. I can remember hearing it, and I can remember my sister, Adeline Hagen Gilner, telling it to me. Mother also told it to my wife, Virginia Snowberger Hagen, in 1952. The versions of these stories were somewhat different and since Adeline probably heard her version first, I will use hers. This is what mother told her: "When I was a young child, I became very sick with some kind of sickness. My dad was working in the woods and only came home on weekends, if he could get off work. My mother sent someone for the Doctor. He came, said there was nothing he could do and pronounced me dead. I was placed in a room that was built off the house. This room had no heat and I was placed there until my dad would come home. He came home that night and my mother told him what had happened. He came into the room and as he was standing there he knew that I was breathing because he could see my breath in this cold room. He picked me up and carried me into the house. My mother told me that he fed me some whiskey from a spoon and from that moment I started to get better. I guess it wasn't my time to go."
Of course, none of us thought about asking her how old she was when this happened and none of us questioned her as to whether she knew what kind of sickness.
The 1900 Federal Census, (95 % of the 1890 Census is unavailable because it was burned), for Ludington, Eau Claire, WI indicates that Frances was born in 1884, and her age at the time of the census was 15 years. The 1900 census also showed that Frances had spent 7 months in school during the past year.
Note from this researcher -- (This is in error. She was born in 1885 and would not be 15 until December of 1900. In my research there are several instances where it was found that there were errors on the census reports. This came about because of how the information was received. The census workers would take information about members of a family from whomever was available to give it. This might be the children if the parents were not home when the census taker came to call or, in some cases, even close friends or neighbors. In many cases they were dealing with people who could not read or write and who knew very little English. It is not surprising that errors showed up in the reports.)
In 1903, Adeline Webber Berlin the mother of Frances died suddenly. Frances was 17 at the time, the oldest daughter, and the second oldest in the family. She became the homemaker for the family. It must have been a very busy time for mother just after her mother died. There were ten people in the family counting herself, her father, grandfather, and seven children. The youngest child at the time of her mother's death was 4 years old.
Mother told the following story about a happening just after her mother died:
"It was shortly after the funeral. I was the oldest girl in the family and took on the responsibility of housekeeper. I was walking home from the neighbors just at dark. A white figure came out of the woods and walked ahead of me down the road. If I slowed down the figure slowed, if I went faster the figure went faster. Just before I got to the house the white figure turned off into the woods. I ran into the house to see if it was one of my brothers who was playing a trick on me but they were all there in the house. As I thought about it seemed like the figure was trying to tell me that every thing was going to be all right."
Note by this researcher -- (Mother was superstitious and believed that dreams meant something about life. She had a dream book that she consulted whenever she had a dream that bothered her.)
How long she remained as a homemaker in her father's household is unknown, but by 1910 she had moved to Pleasant Valley, Leon Township, Monroe County, WI where she was a housekeeper for her older brother, Louis Berlin. He was renting a farm in the same Pleasant Valley that we spoke of in the link, "The Ancestors of Oscar M. Hagen." It has not been determined when her brother, Louis, actually moved there but it must have been between the time period of 1903 and 1910. Archie Berlin, a younger brother of Frances and Louis, is also a member of the family living on the farm.
It was while working on this farm for her brother that mother met her future husband, Oscar Hagen. Virginia Snowberger Hagen, wife of this researcher, tells the story that my father told her in 1952:
"I took a girl to a dance in Leon, and Frankie was there. I dumped the other girl and took Frankie home that night (to her home not his), and never let her out of my sight again."23,24,25,26,27
The specific events involving the children of Frances L. Berlin and Oscar M. Hagen will be discussed in Volume III of this series, "The Family and Descendants of Oscar & Frances Berlin Hagen". This will be published at some later date.
The names of these children are:
i. Adeline Marie HAGEN b. 18 Feb 1913 m. Arnim Gilner
ii. Norma Garnet HAGEN b. 8 Jan 1915 d. 1954 m. Lester Christianson
iii. Wendell Oscar HAGEN b. 8 Nov 1916 d. 12 May 1995 m. Gwenith Betthauser
iv. Archie Francis HAGEN b. 16 Feb 1918 d. 18 Nov 1918
v. Vera Louise HAGEN b. 8 Oct 1919 d. 13 Sept 1991 m. Sheldon Ranney, Cecil Smith.
vi. Marlyn Wayne HAGEN b. 7 Mar 1922 d. 1966 m. Elsie Elizabeth Koenig
vii. Dean Calvin Hagen (this researcher) b. 24 Jan 1926 m. Geraldine Mae Pilling, Virginia Ann Snowberger
Fred Berlin (121) married Eva Greist (253) 1924.
The following information on Fred Berlin and Eva Greist was given to me by Arlo Berlin, son of Albert (Joe) Berlin.
"After leaving home Fred built a house
about 12 miles south of Ladysmith. Fred married Eva Greist and they had one
daughter, Angela. For some reason this marriage did not last very long. Eva
left with her daughter.
Sometime later a man named Wilson purchased some of Fred's land and started
a country store. Wilson had a daughter name Alta Newberry that was
handicapped. She used crutches and a wheel chair. She came and worked as a
housekeeper for Fred. She lived with him until she died. Alta and Fred are
buried side by side in the Cornell Cemetery, Cornell, WI.
Arlo did not know when or where Eva Greist died but Angela moved to the
State of Washington at some point in her life. She married a Mr. Pattison
and had three children When Fred died she returned and Arlo took her to a
hearing on the inheritance. She was the only known living member of the
family at the time. She died in 1991." This is the end of the interview that
I had with Arlo on Fred Berlin.
The following is a newspaper article written by Arnie Hoffman, Hi-Lites Editor in a column called, "From Here 'n There". (I do know what newspaper or what year this was written. I do have the newspaper article. written by Dean C. Hagen))
"CONRATH--Fred Berlin was only 23 years old 61 years ago, when he joined a posse which was to bring the end to a lumbering saga of Northern Wisconsin that had the entire state talking about it.
Putting down a paper plate with a piece of lemon-meringue pie on it, Berlin, now 83, grinned and started to retell the story for the umpteenth time of the day when John Dietz was taken into custody near Winter.
Berlin, a long-time logger now retired and living in a little old house at Rt. 1, Conrath, in Rusk County, recalled when a posse of some 70 men surrounded the Deitz cabin and shot it out with the logger who was being sought for the wounding of a man in an argument at Winter.
The date of the shootout was Oct. 8, 1910, and the story captured the headlines in the Eau Claire Leader for days to come. Stories of the events which led to the shootout and actual tales of the affair itself are varied and points of view differ sharply. However, according to Berlin, Deitz, father of six children, had shot Bert Horel, formerly of Augusta, a logger, who intervened in an argument in Ladysmith. Deitz had been feuding with officials of a lumber company over a log dam built on the Thornapple River, claiming that part of the dam was built on his property. Dietz then wanted a rate to run the logs on his property. This fight, Berlin said, went on for years with Deitz driving everyone away with a Winchester rifle. Berlin said that authorities sent deputies to arrest Deitz for not allowing the logs to go through the dam, but he chased them away.
Berlin, who was deputized in the final posse, said the last battle over Cameron Dam, which it became known in the newspaper headlines wasn't over logs, but over school matters. Deitz had gone to Winter to see about getting a school teacher to come to instruct his children. The board refused to approve the sending of a teacher to his cabin and instead proposed that the children board in Winter while attending school.
After listening to the arguments, Horel told Deitz that he thought the school board's plan was the best. This led to the fight where Horel was shot, although not killed. Following the shooting, Berlin recalls, the governor ordered the sheriff at Hayward to take Deitz into custody because of the turmoil over the past years. The sheriff failed to apprehend Deitz and then sought help from the lumber camps.
"Shucks, I was only 23 then," Berlin said, "so I volunteered to go,. They offered us $5 a day and all the whiskey we could drink."
"That was lots of money then, when you are making only $18 a month. So fifty of us volunteered," Berlin added as he displayed the rifle he took with him at the time.
Berlin said he was the youngest man in the posse and he is believed to be the only living member of the posse.
With the 50 volunteers and the sheriff's men, 73 persons surrounded the clearing where Deitz and his family had their cabin.
When the fog lifted that morning. Berlin recalled, the door opened and one of Deitz's sons, Leslie came out. The sheriff ordered him to throw up his hands, but the youth ran for the house and the sheriff ordered the posse to fire. Berlin said twenty-five guns opened up, but they missed. The sheriff then ordered the posse "to bang" it into the house. This lasted for two hours, Berlin said.
"Deitz apparently wasn't in the house but was in the barn. He spotted two men crawling toward the house and a man by the name of Oscar Harp was killed, the other man, Walter Bunk managed to get away," Berlin added.
After Deitz was fired upon in the barn, he ran for the house and made it with only a wound in the hand. In the house, Deitz' wife urged him to surrender and the youngest daughter came out with a white table cloth and Deitz surrendered.
Deitz was later tried, convicted and served 15 years of a 20 year sentence, dieing shortly after he was paroled, Berlin said.
"The Conrath resident", said Deitz, "probably could have gotten off easier but he wouldn't hire a lawyer, but pled his own case."
Fred Berlin (121) died 29 Nov 1976 at Eau Claire, WI Sacred Heart Hosp, at age 89.
Obituary -- Submitted by Kathy Berlin, March 1995
"Fred Berlin, 89, Rt. 1, Conrath, died Monday at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire. He was born in the town of Ludington, served in France and Germany during World War I, was a rural mail carrier in Ladysmith for several years and farmed at Conrath. Mr. Berlin was Conrath town clerk for 31 years. In 1924, he married Eva Greist. Survivors include a daughter, Angela Pattison, Richland, Wash.; a brother, Joe Berlin, Fall Creek; and a sister, Mrs. Frances Hagen, Antioch, Ill. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Anderson Funeral Home here, with burial in Cornell Cemtery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday afternoon and evening and Thursday until services."
7. Albert Joseph3 BERLIN (122) (Herman2, Frederick1); b. 23 Jun 1888 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI;
Albert Joseph Berlin (122) married Carrie May Lowman (165) 25 Dec 1911 at Ludington, Eau Claire, WI;
The following was written by Kathy Berlin, granddaughter of Albert (Joe) and Carrie Lowman/ Berlin
"My grandfather played the fiddle and used to enter contests. He didn't have polio, he broke his foot when he took a fall. It was set but he broke it again later and they didn't have enough money to reset it. I remember as kids we'd sing "Joe -- Joe broke his toe riding on a buffalo." I think Gramma Carrie taught us that. Joe used to do some auctioneering and worked in his vegetable garden. My Gramma Carrie also liked gardening - flowers - especially gladiolas. She did a lot of crocheting and also wrote poetry. She had arthritis pretty bad ever since I can remember."
Note by this researcher -- (I remember Uncle Joe when he would come to the Monroe County fair and race in the sulky races. He had a good horse and I used to be very proud and think I was important because I had an Uncle who owned a racehorse and drove him in the races.)
Albert Joseph Berlin (122) died 14 Feb 1979 at Fall Creek Valley Nursing Home at age 90.
Obituary -- Submitted by Kathy Berlin, March, 1995
"Funeral services for Joseph Berlin, 90, formerly of Route 1, Augusta, who passed away at the Fall Creek Valley Nursing Home Wednesday morning, February 14, 1979, were held at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Route 2, Fall Creek with the Rev. Ralph Morris officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Visitation was Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday morning until 11 a.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home, Augusta, and from 12:30 until time of services at the church. Joseph Berlin, son of Herman and Adeline Webber Berlin was born in the town of Ludington June 23, 1888. He attended the White School in the town of Ludington. On December 25, 1911 he was united in marriage to Carrie May Lowman in the town of Ludington. The couple lived in the town of Ludington and he farmed all of his life and served on the White School Board for several years. Mr. Berlin entered the Fall Creek Valley Nursing Home January 1, 1974. He is survived by two sons, Milton Berlin of Rt. 1, Augusta and Arlo Berlin of Eau Claire; one sister, Mrs. Frances Hagen of Chicago; eleven grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren."
Della Berlin (123) married Lawrence Vance (855) 12 Dec 1912;
Della Berlin (123) died 4 Mar 1976 at Oregon at age 84.
Lyle Lawrence Vance (856) married Evelyn Lund 6 Apr 1940;
Lyle Lawrence Vance (856) died circa 1995 at Eau Claire, WI..
Herbert (Pete) Berlin (125) married Iona Marie Lowman (227) 19 Jun 1918;
Herbert (Pete) Berlin (125) died 13 Jan 1969 at Washington State at age 69.
Children of Herbert (Pete)3 Berlin (125) and Iona Marie Lowman (227) were as follows:
15. Hazel Mae4 BERLIN (212) (Louis3, Herman2, Frederick1); b. 23 Nov 1914;
Hazel Mae Berlin (212) married Ray Orvold (219) 8 Jun 1935;
Hazel Mae Berlin (212) died 16 Feb 1994 at age 79.
Children of Hazel Mae4 Berlin (212) and Ray Orvold (219) were as follows:
Nancy Nina Orvold (297) married an unknown person 3 Aug 1957.
Mary Lee Orvold (300) married an unknown person 24 Apr 1965.
Myron James Berlin (214) married Irene Hagedorn (303) 5 Dec 1942.
Children of Myron James4 Berlin (214) and Irene Hagedorn (303) were as follows:
Helen Louise Berlin (217) married Reuben Lee (320) 19 Oct 1946.
Children of Helen Louise4 Berlin (217) and Reuben Lee (320) were as follows:
21. Angela4 BERLIN (254) (Fred3, Herman2, Frederick1);Angela Berlin (254) died 1991.
Arlo Joseph Berlin (166) married Irma Nimsger (168) 17 Jun 1933.
Arlo Joseph Berlin married Vera Woodford.
There were no children by Arlo and Vera.
Children of Arlo Joseph4 Berlin (166) and Irma Nimsger (168) were as follows:
Everett Wayne Berlin (187) married Maybelle Liden (188) 31 Jul 1937;
Everett Wayne Berlin (187) died 22 Apr 1970 at age 51.
Wanda Berlin (228) married Anthony Leggiere (887);
Wanda Berlin (228) married Ted Rominex (877) 1938;
Wanda Berlin (228) died 23 Feb 1968 at age 45.
Roxie Lee Leggiere (888) married an unknown person;
Roxie Lee Leggiere (888) died 5 Aug 1983 at age 39.
Lori Yvonne Rominex (878) married an unknown person 1957.
54. Patricia Ann5 BERLIN (189) (Everett4, Herbert3, Herman2, Frederick1); b. 5 May 1938;
Patricia Ann Berlin (189) married Melvin Wierman (858).
Pamela Rae Wierman (859) married an unknown person;
Pamela Rae Wierman (859) died 3 Nov 1981 at age 25.
Leslie Wayne Berlin (864) married Judith Cooper (866); he and Judith Cooper (866) were divorced before 1981;
Leslie Wayne Berlin (864) married Anna Sackman (870) 17 Apr 1981.
Jill Suzanne Berlin (865) married Richard Schwab (875) 1968.