March 2013

Ancestral Newsletter #16

Dear Readers,

You all know that I'm the last person in the world who would ever say anything derogatory about

another human being. And, heaven knows, I'm not one to spread gossip--- but that photo of George

Weitzer, on the next page, just begs for some sort of comment.

So what's the big deal if the man likes to smoke once in awhile? There's no law against it. And

maybe he enjoys relaxing with friends and downing a few cold ones. Nothing wrong with that. And a

little gambling isn't such a bad thing---if done in moderation.

I'm certainly not going to stand in judgment of the man or start any rumors, but were you aware

that he was 35 when he married that 16 year old girl?

George D. Weitzer was the first born child of Anton and Barbara Weitzer and he will be the focus

of this newsletter. The newsletter also introduces us to the Frank Heiss family. The following mini-

genealogical chart shows the Hutter/Weitzer connection through the generations:

HUTTER WEITZER

first generation Adam (weaver)

second Johann (dies after famine)

third Johann Evangelist (comes to America) first Michael

fourth John Jr. (hoop pole & farming) second Georg

fifth Margretta (widowed with 8 children) third Anton(comes to America)

sixth Christina Bauer --------------------marries----------------- forrth George D, Weitzer

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| |

daughter Marie Weitzer son George J. Weitzer “Buddy”

marries marries

Frank Heiss Mabel Haas

! !

Children Children

1 Joseph 1 Rae Marie

2 Elizabeth

3 Patricia

4 Marie

5 Francis

Remember Aloys Hutter's “Farmers Rest” store?(newsletter #14) General stores were designed to

attract people with a down home feel. A wooden platform with a bench or two and an overhang for

shade provided a cozy, front porch atmosphere where people could sit and chat for a spell on a warm

summer day. Maybe they would gossip a bit just like I did at the beginning of this page. They may

have even talked about George Weitzer. They probably knew him. His place of business was in

eyesight of the Farmer's Rest store.

Much of the information and some of the photos in this issue, come from two main sources: 1) The

History of Plain, WI 2) The History and Genealogy of the Hutter, Engle and Born Families.

I should say one more thing before we move on; the picture of George was cropped from a photo

on a postcard. I will print the full postcard in an upcoming newsletter.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Debby Klug Deb

E-mail: debby524@netzero.com

George D. Weitzer

George D. Weitzer, the eldest son of Anton and Barbara (Brantl) Weitzer, was born in Stockarn,

Oberfaultz, Germany. Two sources give different dates of his birth. The birth date, May 25, 1874, is

from a list of family birth dates written by George's father, Anton. But, on George's gravestone, his

date of birth is Oct. 27, 1875. Unfortunately, I don't have the birth, baptismal, or marriage records to

confirm which date is correct. However, the one in the old cemetery is written in stone.

George grew up on a farm with his seven younger brothers and sisters: Andrew, Catherine, John,

Anna, Marie, Theresa, and Barbara. As the boys neared military age, their father, Anton, decided to

move the family to America, in an effort to protect his sons from conscription into the Prussian

military. George was sent on ahead to pave the way.

George D. Weitzer The Weitzer Family

George was only about seventeen when he emigrated to America. He stayed with friends in Iowa

until the rest of the family arrived, around 1894. From there, the Weitzer family moved to Wisconsin

and settled on a farm south of Plain. George and his brothers, Andrew and John were sent out to work

for others to help bring in some money for the family.

George's two youngest brothers, Alois and Anton, were born in Plain, in 1896 and 1899

respectively. They were the only ones to be born American citizens and now the family was complete.

George's mother, Barbara, did not live much longer. She was only 49 when she died on October

23, 1903. Little Anton was just four years old.

In 1904, George bought a farm and built a barn. The following article is from A History of Plain:

Christina A. Bauer was born on April 7,1893. Her parents were Margretta Hutter (b.12-12-1870)

and John H. Bauer (b.4-19-1865). Margretta had given birth to ten children; two of whom died young.

The family lived on a farm. Then, on August 3, 1908, forty-three year old John H. Bauer died leaving

Margretta a widow with eight children.

The following year, both of Margretta's two oldest children got married. In April, just three weeks

after her 16th

birthday, Christina married 35 year old George Weitzer. In October, Christina's brother,

18 year old John Jr. married 20 year old Anna Ruhland. That left Margretta with only six children to

care for as a single parent. Their ages ranged from two to twelve. Margretta never remarried.

In the earliest pioneer days, weddings took place with little, if any, fanfare. But, as the

communities grew and the economy improved, celebrations not only grew larger but were a welcomed

break from the hard work/no play mindset of that time period. “Idle hands are the devils playground.”

This excerpt from “A History of Plain” describes the “modern” wedding:

George's sister, Barbara, was the maid of honor and Christina's brother John Jr, was the best man. It

was not unusual for women to get married at a very young age during that time period. Men, on the

other hand, often married at a much older age because they needed time to establish themselves.

George already owned a farm and, just five months after he married Christina, he became an innkeeper

when he purchased a hotel in Plain.

This excerpt is from a history of Plain:

Weitzer Hotel on the left and Aloys Hutter's “Farmer's Rest” store on the right. (See newsletter #14 for

another view of these buildings.)

George and Christina lived on the farm and had two children, Marie (b.6-1-1910) and George Jr.

(10-14-1911). George Weitzer

George Weitzer's Farm Christina Weitzer

George D. Weitzer died of apoplexy (4-22-1911) and Christina became a widow at age 18. Little

Marie was only 1 year and 2 months old and George Jr. wouldn't even be born for another six months.

Four years later, on June 8, 1915, Christina married Jodokus (Jesse) Voelkel. They lived in

Madison and raised Marie, George Jr. and six more children: Beulah, Genevieve, Joseph, Margaret,

Albert, and Dorothy.

George and Christina's daughter, Marie Weitzer,

married Frank Joseph Heiss on July 7, 1929. They

had 5 children: Joseph, Elizabeth, Patricia, Marie

and Francis.

George Weitzer, Jr. married Mabel Haas on

October 26, 1936. They had one child, Rae Marie

Weitzer.

George Weitzer, Jr., known as “Buddy or

Bud” owned and operated a grocery store with his

half-brother Albert Voelkel. Located in Elkhorn,

Al and Buds Grocery Store stayed in business for

28 years