Margaret Schmidt was * born on Sunday, 06 April 1862.^1,2 On Tuesday, 30 January 1894, Margaret, age 31, oo married Michael August Meunier, age 27, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Nenno. Margaret + died, at the age of 70 years, on Monday, 18 April 1932.^1,2 She is ± buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Allenton, Wisconsin.³

     Mary Lee Schmidt, daughter of Leander John Schmidt and Melanie Marie Wolf, was * born on Saturday, 31 August 1946 at 07:10 in the evening at St. Joseph Hospital, West Bend, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.¹ On Saturday, 10 May 1969, Mary Lee, age 22, oo married Jerome Allen Vetting, age 25, at Holy Angles Catholic Church, West Bend, Washington County, USA.² Mary + died, at the age of 38 years, in September 1984.³

     Agnes Catherine Schmitt, daughter of Jacob Schmitt and Mary Jansen, was * born on Sunday, 18 July 1915.¹ Agnes + died, at the age of 67 years, in September 1982.¹

     Alfred Damian Schmitt, son of Jacob Schmitt and Mary Jansen, was * born on Sunday, 18 December 1904. Alfred + died, at the age of 76 years, on Friday, 17 July 1981.

     Jacob Schmitt was * born on Saturday, 17 November 1866 in Theresa, Dodge County, Wisconsin, USA. On Tuesday, 21 June 1898, Jacob, age 31, oo married Mary Jansen, age 26, at St. Peter Catholic Church, Beaver Dam, Dodge County. Jacob + died, at the age of 84 years, on Wednesday, 30 May 1951 at St. Joseph Hospital, Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin. He is ± buried in St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, Beaver Dam.

     William Schmitt, son of Jacob Schmitt and Mary Jansen, was * born on Monday, 09 September 1901 in Town of Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin, USA. William + died, at the age of 67 years, on Friday, 28 February 1969 at St. Joseph Hospital, Beaver Dam. He is ± buried in St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin, USA.

     Maria Catharina Schmitz was * born say 1695. Say 1715, Maria Catharina oo married Pauli Schulteis in Rheinbach, Rheinland, Germanic Lands.¹

     Louisa Schoenhoefer was * born on Monday, 28 March 1842 Wörishofen, Bavaria.¹ In 1890, Louisa oo married John Meunier.¹ [Louisa had three grown children and was a childhood friend of John] Louisa + died, at the age of 70 years, on Wednesday, 11 September 1912 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA.² She is ± buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA.³ The location is Block 9, Row 9.

     Catharine Schottler, daughter of Wilhelm Hilari Schottler and Anna Elizabeth Flatin, was * born in 1751 in Stetten, Pfalz, Bavaria, Germanic Lands.¹ On Sunday, 09 November 1783, Catharine oo married George Gerhard in Stetten, Pfalz, Bavaria, Germanic Lands.¹

     Wilhelm Hilari Schottler was * born say 1720. On Monday, 10 May 1751, Wilhelm Hilari oo married Marie Elisabeth Flatin in Stetten, Pfalz, Bavaria, Germanic Lands.¹

     Maria Margaretha Schuerger was * born on Thursday, 19 December 1748 Brettheim, Würtemberg, Germanic Lands.¹ On Tuesday, 06 May 1783, Maria Margaretha, age 34, oo married Johann Georg Sakreuter, age 33, at Brettheim, Würtemberg, Germanic Lands.² Maria + died, at the age of 79 years, on Saturday, 06 September 1828 at Brettheim, Würtemberg, Germanic Lands.³

     Allen Frank Schulteis, son of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was born on Thursday, 02 June 1910 at home in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^2,1,3,4 On Wednesday, 30 August 1939, Allen Frank, age 29, married (oo) Cornelia Johanna Baertlein, age 28, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Goldendale, Washington County.^5,1,6 Allen + died, at the age of 83 years, on Wednesday, 05 January 1994 at Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls.^7,3,4 He is ± buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Germantown.^4,8 The burial location is in Section 4, Row 2 next to his wife Cornelia.

     Clothilda Gladys Schulteis, daughter of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was born on Sunday, 03 June 1906 at home in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^2,3,4 Gladys + died, at the age of 11 years, on Friday, 17 May 1918 at Richfield, Wisconsin.^5,6,4 Gladys was buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Goldenthal.^4,6 The burial location is Section 3, Row 3, Plot 14-C3. She was the first family member to be buried in the family plot and was positioned in the northwest corner.

     David Thomas Schulteis PhD, son of Sylvester Ferdinand Schulteis and Isabelle Margaret Wolf, was * born on Tuesday, 05 October 1943 at St. Joseph Hospital, Hartford, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2 David + died, at the age of 63 years, on Sunday, 20 May 2007 in Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA.^3,2 He is ± buried in Belmont Memorial Cemetery, Fresno.

     Helen Agnes Schulteis, daughter of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was born on Tuesday, 17 February 1920 in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.¹ Helen + died, at the age of 87 years, on Tuesday, 22 January 2008 in School Sister of St. Francis Convent, Campbellsport, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, USA. She is ± buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA. The burial location is Area 3, Row 4, Plot 14-D1 next to her brother Father Jerome and east of her father.
      On Saturday, 13 June 1936, at the age of 16, Helen was received into the Order of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee and given the name Sister Mary Aloysiana. After Vatican II, Heken chose the name Sister Helen Schulteis.

     Herman Joseph Schulteis, son of Peter Joseph Schulteis and Anna Maria Elisabeth Merkel, was born on Wednesday, 22 December 1847 in Town Nine, Washington County, Wisconsin Territory.¹ On Tuesday, 30 January 1872, Herman Joseph, age 24, oo married Gertrude Margaret Doll, age 19, at St. Peter Catholic Church, Schleisingerville (Slinger), Washington County, Wisconsin.^2,3 Herman + died, at the age of 81 years, on Sunday, 07 July 1929 at the homestead in his own bed in Richfield, Washington County.^4,1 He is ± buried in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Richfield.⁴ The burial location is Area South, Row 3, Grave 30 next to his wife Gertrude.

     Reverend Jerome Engelbert Schulteis, son of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was * born on Monday, 05 July 1915 in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA, on the farm.^1,2,3,4 Jerome + died, at the age of 79 years, on Monday, 12 June 1995 at Rocky Knoll Health Care Facility, Plymouth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.^3,4 He is ± buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Germantown.^2,4,5 The burial location is Section 3, Row 4, Plot 14-D2 next to his sister Marie and east of his mother.
     Jerome was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest Sunday, 09 February 1941 at St. Francis Seminary Chapel, Saint Francis, Wisconsin, by Bishop William Griffin of Springfield, Illinois and assisted by Monsignor Albert G. Meyer and William S. Gensler.

     Joseph Herman Schulteis, son of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was born on Saturday, 10 December 1904 at home in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2,3 Joseph + died, at the age of 83 years, on Wednesday, 06 January 1988 in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois, USA.^2,3 He is ± buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin.³ The burial location is in Section 4, Row 2.

Joseph performed the original genealogical research on both the Schulteis and Wolf family lines.
      After Joe retired and for the next 15 years, he researched the Schulteis and Wolf family lineage resulting in his published works The Schulteis Family Tree and The Wolf Family Tree covering the years 1755 to 1985. He tracked down the Schulteis and Wolf family crests in Germany, uncovered the history/meaning of the Schulteis name and obtained copies of the ships manifests from the National Archives in Washington DC where the first immigrant families signed in to board the boats bringing them to the United States of America. This was an enormous undertaking requiring considerable dedication. This effort was completed before the Internet and the personal computer became a reality. He did all his research via mail or personal visits. Joe generated over 1,000 pieces of correspondence researching the Schulteis family and over 1,500 pieces of correspondence researching the Wolf family. His published work was distributed to over 85% of all living family members. The family tree book was made especially interesting by the addition of family and wedding pictures. Joe was hard working, decisive, committed, well versed on business and politics, and a good provider to his wife and children.

     Marie Cecelia Schulteis, daughter of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was born on Wednesday, 01 May 1918 at home in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2,3 Marie + died, at the age of 5 years, on Saturday, 24 November 1923 in Richfield.^4,3 Marie was buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Goldenthal.^4,3 The burial location is Section 3, Row 4, Plot 14-D3 next to her brother Jerome and east of her sister Gladys.

As remembered by Sister Helen. Marie and Helen always slept together. When Marie took sick, she was moved downstairs. It is there she died. Marie was moved to a burial box placed in the living room for family viewing. When it came evening, her mother told Helen to go to bed. As she always slept with Marie and Marie was in the living room, Helen climbed up into the burial box with Marie. This is where her parents found her sleeping.

     Oliver Peter Schulteis, son of William Schulteis and Agnes Maria Wolf, was * born on Sunday, 21 April 1912 in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^2,3,1,4,5 He was ~ baptized on Sunday, 05 May 1912 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Goldenthal, Wisconsin.¹ On Wednesday, 11 August 1937, Oliver Peter, age 25, married (oo) Anna (Ann) Margaret Siegl, age 25, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Goldendale, Wisconsin.^6,7 Oliver + died, at the age of 84 years, on Thursday, 14 November 1996 at Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County.^8,4,9,5 He is ± buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Germantown.^5,10 The burial location is Section 3, Row 6, Plot 29-B1 next to his wife Ann and east of his father-in-law Joseph Siegl. A Mass of Christian Burial was conducted by Father Bernard Sippel on Sunday evening. Pallbearers were all his grandchildren.

Oliver was a community oriented person serving it throughout his life. He paid particular attention to children and their needs from building tennis courts, ball diamonds, and organizing boy scouts to building schools and churches and serving on church, school, and community boards. He had many good friends and received many commendations. He was a giver not a taker. He loved to talk to people. In his 50s, he could tell you a little bit of history about the owner of every farm within a 10 mile radius of Germantown. His biggest complaint, "the children are our future and we should not sell them out." That is what he thought of the national debt. He will be missed by many.
     1944: Oliver was Village President in Germantown. He was a Trustee (treasurer) at St. Boniface Church, Goldendale along with George Hauser (secretary) and consultors William D. Wolf, Bernard Stuettgen, and Ambrose Wiedemeyer. Father John A. Risch was pastor. He remained a Trustee through 1948. This year he also joined the Germantown Fire Departmen. He remained an active social member of the department for 53 years; loved playing cards. In this year he was appointed a member of the Germantown Park Committee whose responsibility it was to develop a land use plan for the 25 acres of land purchased by the Fire Department from the John and Anna (Doering) Schwalback estate.

1946: Charter member of the Germantown Rotary Club. This same year he organized Germantown's Boy Scout Troupe 54. A log type one room Troupe House was constructed by the Rotary Club in Fireman's Park and located at its highest elevation point southwest of the tennis court, southeast of the winter ice skating ring, and northeast of the children's swings. It contain a wood burning stove and in winter some of the boy scouts would walk along the railroad track, which ran through the middle of the village, and pick up coal chucks dropped by the coal burning steam engines. The coal was used to heat the building. Two boys were assigned to start the fire and begin to heat the room one hour before the meeting was to start. Early scout masters were Harley Kannenberg, John Walterlin and Fred Mehre Jr.

Oliver was manager of the Germantown Land O' Lakes Baseball Team. Managing meant more that just coaching the team. It meant preparing the diamond for the game. Initially he would use his car to drag the diamond. Later Clarence Strack would come by on Saturday with the village tractor to drag the diamond. This amounted to pulling two I-beams welded together or a drag made of two by eights with chicken wire beneath in a circular fashion around the diamond. To add some weight, Oliver's two boys would sit on the drag. When the work was completed, all would be encrusted in dirt. Come Sunday it was time to lime the diamond and put out the bases. A chalk line 2" wide was placed from home plate to first base and from home plate to third base. Batters warm up boxes were positioned on either side of home base with coaching boxes placed next to first and third base just outside the foul line. In the early part of the season, the chalk line was extended all the way along the foul ball line to red flags position in home run territory in the outfield. By mid season there was enough chalk down in the outfield that little was needed to be added.

Looking at the 1947-1948 team photo, members were: back row - Johnny Smith, outfield; Rollie Geiger, shortstop; Jim Smith, catcher; Butch Walterlin, first base/pitcher; Herman Flemming, pitcher/ first base; Duke Gum, first base/pitcher; Wally Horning, outfield; Oliver Schulteis (manager)

front row - Carl Schoeni Jr. pitcher/catcher; Willie Geiger, third base/pitcher; Wally Hauser, outifeld; Donie Stevens, short stop; Willie Hoelz, second base; Ray Horning, outfield; Ruben Hoelz, outfield.

When Oliver was finished with managing, he took up umpiring. Did so for about seven years. For several of these years, he teamed up with Herman Fleming. Herman would do the bases with Oliver behind the plate. Many a player and coach found out not to argue or you soon exited the game. He knew the rule book and was seldom wrong in his decisions. A picture of the 1948 team taken in Fireman's Park was given to the Germantown Historical Society in 1998.

1947: Oliver was chairman of the First Germantown Park Committee. As was normal for the area, establishing the park was a community effort. Trees were dug up from local farmers Heltz and Hauser, and replanted in the park. Numerous beds were established. The beds were divided among the fireman. Each bed was edged, weeded, and the surface ground maintained by that fireman and his family.

1954: Oliver again picked up on needle work and for the next 40 years worked at crewel, embroidery and needle point. First it was pictures, then quilts, then thread count, and quilts again. He began showing his quilts at the Wisconsin State Fair starting in 1974 and continued to do so for some 15 years bringing home one or more blue ribbons almost every year. In total, he made some 37+ quilts. Each son and daughter has at least one. Every grandchild has one. Some he gave away which were used to raise money for community scholarship activities. One he gave to the School Sisters of St. Francis.

By far his most spectacular quilt was a U.S. Constitution Bicentennial quilt, requiring 4,500 hours to complete over a 14 month period. Each individual state square 12" by 12" required 80 long hours to finish. In thread count, it identified the state's name, motto, bird, flag, state boundary outline, flower, major crop, slogan, date it joined the union, and state capital. As it was taking so long to complete, there were times he questioned if he would ever complete it. His perseverance prevailed and the quilt was given to his wife on their 50th wedding anniversary celebrated at the St. Boniface School Hall. It was later shown at the 1986 Wisconsin State Fair receiving first place, and at the 1987 Sun Prairie quilt show, largest in the state, receiving first place and best of show. The quilt was also the accent of the "A Country Affair" show in 1988. The show was sponsored by the Menomonee Falls Community League to raise money for scholarships. His daughter Marilyn quilt-sat while it was at the show. Ann considered his cream-on-cream candlewick quilt with its delicate stitching amid lace-bordered rectangles his most elegant and her personal favorite.

June 11, 1989 the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. presented a one man quilt show exhibiting Oliver's work. A $2.00 donation was requested. All profits went to the G.C.F.S., Inc. Oliver became a celebrity known within and outside the state. Numerous articles on his needle work were printed in the Milwaukee Journal, West Bend News and local papers, The Germantown Banner Press and Villager Weekly.

Oliver completed the quilts on the presentation side. He and Ann placed the batting between the two materials and mounted the quilt onto the quilt frame. Oliver then did the quilting; the quilt stitch could be no more than 1/8 of an inch, yes, 1/8 of an inch. He always said that you judge the work not by the top or presentation side which everyone sees, but by the under side which few tend to see. The under side should be neat, organized, with no overlapping threads. He would say, good craftsmanship can be shown from either side. He was a perfectionist. Many a time when doing a project in Danish thread count, he would stop and remove several hours worth of stitches because he was off by one thread.

1957: Oliver was a member of the Germantown School Board and remained on the Board for 12 years. Not only was he concerned with the students education, he was the school's most enthusiastic sports fan not missing any event come rain or shine be that in Germantown, Madison or where ever. He was President of the Board from 1965 to 1968.

1976: Grand Marshal, Homecoming, Washington Union High School. He was so very proud that the students thought so much of him.

     Paul Josef Schultes, son of Peter Josef Schultheiss and Maria Juliane Gierlich, was ~ baptized on Friday, 07 February 1755 in Rheinbach, Rheinland, Germanic Lands.^1,2,3 On Wednesday, 10 July 1782, Paul Josef, age 27, oo married Maria Josefa Müller, age 22, in Rheinbach, Rhienland, Germanic Lands.^4,2 Paul + died, at the age of 58 years, on Monday, 16 August 1813 at house #1, Rheinbach, Rheinland, Prussia.⁵ [possibly 17 August 1812 in Flerzheim per marriage record oh his daughter Maria Josepha]

     Paul Leo Schulteis, son of Sylvester Ferdinand Schulteis and Isabelle Margaret Wolf, was * born on Friday, 11 September 1942 at St. Joseph Hospital, Hartford, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2 Paul + died, at the age of 65 years, on Monday, 18 August 2008 at Waukesha County, Wisconsin, USA.^3,2 He is ± buried in Sunnyside Cemetery, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, USA.

     Pauli Schulteis, son of Theodor Schulteis and Katharina Kryfelt, was ~ baptized on Sunday, 29 April 1691 in St. Peter Catholic Church, Kolen, Germanic Lands.^1,2,3 Say 1715, Pauli oo married Maria Catharina Schmitz in Rheinbach, Rheinland, Germanic Lands.² Pauli oo married Remundae Gansen.² Pauli + died, at the age of 67 years, on Sunday, 21 January 1759.⁴

     Peter Josef Schultheiss, son of Pauli Schulteis and Remundae Gansen, was * born on Sunday, 19 March 1724 in Rheinbach, Rheinland, Germanic Lands.^1,2 Say 1754, Peter Josef oo married Maria Juliane Gierlich at St. Nickolaus Catholic Church, Rheinbach. Peter + died, at the age of 78 years, on Wednesday, 02 June 1802 in Rheinbach.

     Peter Josef Schulteis, son of Paul Josef Schultes and Maria Josefa Müller, was * born on Wednesday, 21 February 1787 in Rheinbach, Rheinland, Germanic Lands.¹ [also identified as 20 February 1787] He was ~ baptized on Thursday, 22 February 1787 in Rheinbach.^1,2,3 On Wednesday, 19 May 1813, Peter Josef, age 26, oo married Anna Maria Wichterich, age 21, at St. Margaretha Catholic Church, Rheinbach.^4,2,3 Peter + died, at the age of 39 years, on Saturday, 10 June 1826 in Rheinbach.² [Professor Schulteis identified death on 09 June 1826]

     Peter Joseph Schulteis, son of Peter Josef Schulteis and Anna Maria Wichterich, was * born on Wednesday, 06 June 1821 in Rheinbach, Rheinland, Prussia.^1,2 He was ~ baptized on Thursday, 07 June 1821 in Rheinbach.^1,3 On Tuesday, 05 August 1845, Peter Joseph, age 24, oo married Anna Maria Elisabeth Merkel, age 25, at St. Peter German Catholic Congregation Church, later known as the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory.^4,5 Peter + died, at the age of 60 years, on Friday, 04 November 1881 in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.⁶ He was buried in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Richfield. The burial location is Area South, Row 2, Grave 21 next to his wife Anna Maria.
     Peter emigrated at age 22 from Rheinbach, Rheinland, Prussia, departing on Wednesday, 13 September 1843. The National Archive Trust Fund records in Washington D.C. show that Peter Joseph Schulteis left Rheinbach, Rheinland, Prussia for Antwerp, Belgium in 1843.

Overland travel in the German rugged landscape, mud, and unpredictable weather made it difficult traveling in the 1800's. It was very hard to assure arrival to get to the port on time for passage aboard a vessel. Many families found it faster and more comfortable taking one of the hundreds of the Rhine river boats to near the mouth of the Rhine and then a short trip to Antwerp. A Rhine river boat was usually meant for transportation of commercial materials but for a small fee would accommodate private passengers. Antwerp was also a much less "formal" port than the German ones and it was easier to book passage and leave.

In July/August Peter boarded the Emma, of the boat class "bark" or "Barque" and generally referred to as the "Bark Emma". It was a 342 ton Belgian boat under the command of Captain Charles Sheridan. This wind powered three masts vessel had the front two masts (fore and main) square rigged and the back mast (mizzenmist) rigged fore-and-aft. The vessel arrived 30-40 days later at New York Harbor. There were 131 passengers on board and Peter Joseph was listed as the 28th person on the ship's record. It further showed that Peter was 22 years of age and that his occupation was that of a smit.

At this time in history, immigrants to Wisconsin generally took a boat from New York City up the Hudson River to Albany. There they boarded a train to Buffalo and sailed on a Great Lakes steam boat to Milwaukee. In Milwaukee there was no wharf so passengers unload their baggage into small boats which took them to shore. The last 20 or so miles of the journey was spent walking from Milwaukee through the forested land to their final destination. In Peter Joseph's case, his final destination was Richfield.

Family hearsay has a third brother, although not identified, also coming to the United States and residing out west, possibly in Nebraska. There is no documentation confirming this speculation.

The following memoir was originally published by the Concordia Historical Society and republished in 1985 by the Fayette County, Illinois Genealogical Society. It may provide some insight into what Peter Joseph might have encountered in his journey to Wisconsin.

Written by J. Fred Fellwock, b 1831, Nahausen, Brandenburg, d 1919, Evansville, Indiana.

LEAVING THE HOMELAND

On June 11, 1846, we bade our old and remaining friends farewell, my father, mother, my five sisters, and myself. There were nearly a score of families, including our own, all from our neighborhood of Dorf Nahausen. They hired an Oder River boat, which took us to Hamburg. The railroad from Berlin to Hamburg was then under construction. Only a half mile from Nahausen was an arm of the Oder River, and here our hired boat was anchored, awaiting us.

All baggage and belongings that were to go with us had previously been put aboard the craft. About 12 o'clock noon the craft pulled out, the passengers and cargo bound to an unknown world. As anchor and ropes were drawn in, we sang several verses of spiritual songs. We kept this up for some time; also waving of hands and handkerchiefs from land and boat kept up until we, forever passed on and out of sight. Where there was joy from one end of the boat to the other, yet there rolled many a tear over the cheeks of every passenger, especially mothers and the mature. In a few hours we arrived at the junction of the main Oder River. This we followed to the Finn Canal, through the canal into the Hazel River, and finally in to the Elbe River. After three weeks we arrived in Hamburg.

Perhaps the captain was responsible for our slow headway; he was a slow individual. And in Hamburg there were more passengers than the ships could carry. Owing to this shortage in ships, the better, abler, and more well-to-do were required to accept a delay of three weeks. This included our company, all of whom were anxious to get to America.

At last we bade farewell to the Fatherland. Our voyage consumed fifty-five days, until we arrived in New York on September 19, 1846. Think of it, eight weeks, a little short of two months from Hamburg to New York. Compare this with modern traveling of our day as well as with the improvements in every other line of endeavor.

Such a long voyage on a sailship is, indeed, replete with hardships. This was our experience, and while our ship was not so crowded as some others, it was nevertheless an ordeal. The food was such as would nauseate us. Luckily my parents had taken along a goodly supply of toasted bread, bacon, ham, and other victuals, which we now for some time were enjoying as "delicatessen" as compared with the ship's fare. In the meantime leaving our ship's portions to others.

My mother and my oldest sister, Wilhelmina, never did see the ocean. From the very start both got seasick and remained so to the last day. I had a touch of it, but quickly overcame it, and thereafter felt entirely well on the remainder of the trip.

WISCONSIN BOUND

As you know, we were Wisconsin-bound. After one day's stay in New York--then already a big city--we, very slowly, by steamer, went up the Hudson River to Albany, New York and from there by railroad to Buffalo. On this trip we were several times in danger of being cremated alive. The coach -- a miserable affair--had no seats. It was a sort of "box-stall"--if you know what I mean--probably a cattle or freight car. Four families (twenty-nine persons) with all their baggage and belongings were crowded into this car. Where one stood, there he would squat; there he would remain. No elbow room, no chance for exercise. Neither was this all our plight. As stated before, we were faced with the predicament of being destroyed body and baggage, from fiery cinders of the locomotive ahead of our car. There was no glass in the door of our car; it was broken as nearly as I remember; smoke would pour in at times to suffocation; sparks at other times would make their appearance in such profusion that ignition of our belongings, such as wrapped bed clothes and other wrapped valuables, including the entire cargo, was practically unavoidable. No conductor showed up; we were isolated in Uncle Sam's great domain, wiping cinders out of our swollen and reddened eyes, while the smaller children pitifully kept up the orgy of crying.

But we soon found a weapon that would guard against these cinders; a wet cloth was hung across this door opening. But, oh! such a job! While it seemed comparatively easy to stand there doing nothing but keeping the cloth moist, my turn of sixty-minute shifts was as painful to me as was the incident of yesteryear, when I was compelled to stand up driving, taking dinner to the workmen in the hayfield. [He is referring to a spanking that he had received as a younger child.] Never in my life did I find the time to pass so slowly, doing nothing most of the time. Nevertheless it required two of us boys to guard the situation when the winds blew against us. One to hold the cloth in place while the other kept up moistening the cloth, or extinguishing the fire whenever the cloth caught fire. The job was a grimy one to us boys as well as it was funny; we were glad when it ended with our arrival in Buffalo.

Various incidents retarded our journey going west. Frequently we were side-tracked for hours and hours. At one time we broke down in a cornfield, where we were delayed for over twenty-four hours before all was well and ready to continue. Finally Buffalo was reached, and the railroad between Buffalo and Chicago not having been completed, we had to make, again, a voyage on the Lakes, directly to Milwaukee.

The trip over the Lakes was stormy, with no pleasure in it, but we finally arrived at Milwaukee in fairly good spirits, as nearly as I can remember. Now another fifty or sixty miles, and we would be at our journey's end.

End of the traveling saga, back to Peter Joseph.

Peter Joseph applied for citizenship on 18 October 1843. This was the same year the Catholic Diocese of Milwaukee was established on paper. On Wednesday, 01 March 1848 Peter Joseph and Anna Maria purchased 177 Acres of timberland for $221.95 from the Milwaukee Land Office of the United States Government ($1.25 per acre) in Township 9N, Range 19E, Section 3. At that time the land was considered part of the Wisconsin Territory. James K. Polk was president. Sixty one days later, Wisconsin became the 30th state. The land patent is filed with the Bureau Of Land Management, Eastern Region, volume WI282, page 478, certificate number 18,074.

The book Richfield Remembers The Past identified Peter purchased 160 acres on 28 July 1845 identified as NW 1/4 of Section 3.

On 1 August 1849, Peter's brother Herman Joseph purchased 40 acres of land (9N,19E,3) which Peter cosigned. On 1 January 1850 Peter purchased an additional 80 acres (9N,19E,7). On 2 August 1852, Peter Joseph purchased 40 acres (9N,19E,3) which was the same land as purchased by Herman Joseph in 1849. It would seem that Herman Joseph had second thoughts about living in Richfield and decided to settle in Port Washington where the 1860 census has him living.

It is said that Indians camped by the spring at the center of the property and also in the northwest portion of the property where St. Mary's Church is located. In total Peter Joseph purchased 297 acres of land. The plot map in 1873 show a house and barn to be located about center with the barn positioned to the north and west of the house. The 1892 plot map has the entrance to the property on the north from what is now called Pioneer Road.

As other settlers moved into the area and decided where they wanted to settle, they would give Peter the money and he would go to Milwaukee to buy the land for them, because he was familiar as to where to go and how to do it.⁷

On 2 June 1852 Peter and Anna and his brother Herman and Margaretha donated three acres of Peter Joseph's land to Bishop John Henni of the Milwaukee Catholic Diocese on which the Church of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary chapel was constructed and opened in 1854. The price paid for the property by the diocese was one dollar of "good and lawful money of the United States of America". Father I. Nicholas Pfeiffer operating from St. Boniface in Goldenthal was its first pastor. The chapel was located two miles west of the village of Richfield and four miles north of the hamlet of Hubertus. In the early years, the chapel was also referred to in some records as the "Schultheis Kirche." In 1894, what is now known as St. Mary Church was built at a cost of $2,500 and replaced the chapel.

     Sylvester Ferdinand Schulteis was * born on Wednesday, 29 March 1911 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2,3,4 On Saturday, 02 May 1936, Sylvester Ferdinand, age 25, oo married Isabelle Margaret Wolf, age 23, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Goldendale.^5,6 Sylvester + died, at the age of 52 years, on Monday, 16 March 1964 in Richfield, Wisconsin.^7,2,3,4 He is ± buried in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Goldendale.^7,3 The burial location is Area 3, Row 7, Plot 38-A1.

     Theodor Schulteis was * born say 1663 in Germanic Lands. Theodor oo married Katharina Kryfelt. Theodor + died on Monday, 01 January 1759.¹

     Wilhelmina Mary Schulteis, daughter of Herman Joseph Schulteis and Gertrude Margaret Doll, was * born on Wednesday, 22 February 1882 in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2,3,4 On Tuesday, 12 January 1904, Wilhelmina Mary, age 21, oo married Herman Joseph Wolf, age 20, at St. Boniface Catholic Church.^5,6 Wilhelmina + died, at the age of 101 years, on Sunday, 20 November 1983 at Marion Catholic Home, Milwaukee.^4,1,3 She was buried in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Richfield.⁴ The burial location is Area South, Row 3, Grave 33.

     William Schulteis, son of Herman Joseph Schulteis and Gertrude Margaret Doll, was born on Thursday, 18 April 1878 in Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA.^1,2 On Tuesday, 20 October 1903 William, age 25, oo married Agnes Maria Wolf, age 24, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Goldenthal, Washington County.^3,4 William + died, at the age of 80 years, on Tuesday, 06 May 1958 at St. Joseph Hospital, Hartford.^5,2 The burial location is Area 3, Row 3, Plot 14-C1 next to his wife Agnes.⁶