LAMANSKY FAMILY

PETER WILLIAM LAMANSKY ¹

Peter William Lamansky was born in Poland/Germany about June 1825. Peter had at least 3 sisters. Two of the first names of his sisters were Mary and Katie. Peter married an Anna Sergott in 1850 or 1851 in Eastern Europe. Anna was born in Wilesie, West Prussia, Germany July 26, 1833. I can not locate this city in old or new maps of Poland, Germany or West Prussia. Eugene Kaska, whose great grandmother (Susan Sergott) was a sister to Anna believes the current name of Wilesie, West Prussia is Wilsche, Germany which is directly south of Hamburg, east of Hanover and northwest of Wolfsburg, Germany.

Peter and Anna had a son, Nicholas, in Poland in 1852. When Nicholas was six months old (about May of 1853), the three migrated to the United States. The reason for this migration is unclear, however during this time period Prussia was in a period of turmoil. Fredrich Wilem IV who ruled at the time was thought to be mad (eventually he did go insane) and there were large riots in Berlin in March 1848. Family lore has it that Peter left Poland (or West Prussia) to escape having to finish his service in the military. Harry Lamansky (grandson to Peter) said that Peter was a captain in the Polish Army and that he and his family left for the United States during a furlough. Peter believed he would be shot if he was caught trying to escape to the United States, but he also believed he would die in the Army. Another family member, Adelaide Lamansky Sussman (youngest daughter of Peter Lamansky Jr.) states that her father, Peter Lamansky Jr. related a story to her about a watch. “Peter Sr. lived in a part of Poland that was taken over by Russia. Peter Sr. was in the Russian army as a Sharp Shooter. There was a shooting contest and Peter won the competition and was awarded a very nice watch. This watch was handed down to Peter Jr, then to Peter Jr’s son Eugene. Eugene Lamansky Sr. then passed the watch down to Eugene Lamansky Jr.. Eugene Lamansky Jr then passed the watch down to Marty Lamansky, son of Eugene Jr.. One of the officers Peter worked under took a liking to him and encouraged him to bring his family to America and helped him with the trip.”

Additional family lore has that Peter and his family ran a winery and brewery in Poland before he migrated to the United States.

According to the obituary of Anna Sergott ( April 18,1894) the Lamansky family landed in New York and remained there for a short time. From New York they ventured to Pennsylvania where they took up residence for a period for about 4 years. In 1856, with six other families, the Lamansky’s made their way by wagon train to Jefferson County, Iowa. It appears that one of the six families that accompanied the Lamansky family was the Nicholas Stanislaus Kaska family. Nicholas Kaska was born in Poland and his wife was Susan Sergott, a sister to Anna Sergott. At the time of the arrival of the Lamansky family in Iowa, they numbered 4, with Anna having had a second son, John Henry in Pennsylvania.

In an 1856 Iowa State census of Jefferson county there were 3 families that lived next door to one another that all had immigrated from Prussia. They were:

House 151 John Lissy in Iowa 1 year

House 152 Stanlaus Casky ( Kaska) in Iowa 1 year

House 153 Peter Lamansky in Iowa 1 year

Peter Lamansky’s 1^st residence was just across the road from the present Polishville Cemetery and Community Center. Later, in 1869, Peter bought a farm from George Whisler, who had bought it from his father Abraham Whisler. It is interesting to note that the present owner of this farm is Joseph Lamansky, who is the great, great, great, grandson of Abraham Whisler and the great, great grandson of Peter Lamansky. The farm is located just off of Germanville road. The farm history is summarized as:

Abraham Whistler sold the farm to George Whisler

George Whisler sold the farm to Peter Lamansky

Peter Lamansky sold the farm to his son, John Lamansky

John Lamansky sold the farm to his son, (Le)Roy J Lamansky

(Le)Roy J Lamansky sold the farm to his nephew Harry Roy Lamansky

Harry Roy sold the farm to his son, Joseph Lamansky.

Peter Lamansky and Nicholas Kaska contributed money in 1866 to buy land for the 1^st church in the Germanville area of Jefferson County. This contribution helped create the St Peter’s and Paul’s Catholic Church. Later another church was started in the late 1870’s called St. Mary’s. This was erected in Polishville. Finally in 1902 St Joseph’s Church was started in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa.

Anna and Peter had seven children, six boys and one girl. The names of the children and their spouses are as follows:

Nicholas Thomas Lamansky - Emma Barbara Knerr

John Henry Lamansky - Mary Buck

Theodore Lewis Lamansky - Katherine Margaret Sinn

Mary A Lamansky - James Cowen

Frank G Lamansky

Henry L Lamansky

Peter William Lamansky - Magdalena Rosina Mannhardt

Anna Sergott died April 18,1894. Following the death of his wife, Peter Lamansky’s health began to fail and he spent his final days with his children. The 1900 Federal Census shows Peter living with his son Peter (Jr.) and wife, Lena in Walnut Township in Jefferson County, Iowa. On October 31, 1906, Peter Lamansky died. His funeral mass was held at St Peter and Paul Church. At the time of Peter’s death in 1906, five of the 7 children were still alive.

Henry Lamansky died in 1891 and was buried in St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery. Henry’s mother, Anna, was buried next to him. Frank, who had been in business in Council Bluffs, died in 1902. It appears that Anna Sergott Lamansky, Henry and Frank Lamansky were all originally buried at St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery. Their remains are now at St Joseph’s Cemetery in unmarked graves with their husband/father. The graves are between the burials of a Father Schoepler and Marie and Clarence Kessell.

Mary Lamansky Cowen Lamansky was residing in Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1906. The other 4 sons of Peter and Anna Lamansky were residing in Jefferson County at the time of Peter’s death.

EMMA KNERR LAMANSKY, NICK LAMANSKY

Nicholas Thomas Lamansky ² (Peter ¹)

Nicholas was born in Poland. There is no record of Nick becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, however his wife, Emma Knerr was born in the United States. Nicholas spent most of his life farming in the Fairfield, Iowa area. The 1880,1900, and 1910 Federal Census’ list Nicholas Lamansky and his family living in different townships. The townships Nick and his family lived in were Lockridge, Fairfield and Buchanan townships. In 1912 he moved to Rock Island with his wife. Nicholas died in 1928 at the home of his daughter, Gertrude Lamansky Young. Nicholas and Emma’s children were:

Anna Lamansky December 1877 – September 22, 1920

Henry Lamansky March 25,1880 – July 16,1948

Dora Lamansky February 23, 1882 – January 21, 1895

Margaret Lamansky January 29, 1884 - January 2, 1957

Bertha Lamansky October 2, 1886 – July 21, 1945

Nellie Lamansky October 2, 1886 – January 4, 1953

Emma Lamansky February 14, 1889 – November 3, 1973

Raymond Lamansky June 1, 1892 – November 17, 1973

Gertrude Lamansky February 20, 1897 – December 4, 1980

Nine children in all. Dora died young at the age of 12 years old. Anna Lamansky also died at an early age, being only 43 years old at her death.

DAUGHTERS OF NICK AND EMMA LAMANSKY

EMMA, ANNA, NELLIE, MAGGIE, BERTHA, GERTIE

SONS OF NICK AND EMMA LAMANSKY

HENRY AND RAY

· Anna Lamansky³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

married a Wesley Walgren and they appeared to have had only one son, Earl. Anna died at an early age of cancer and is buried in New Sweden Cemetery in Lockridge, Iowa where her husbands parents are buried. Lockridge is about equal distant from Fairfield and Germanville Iowa with Fairfield being directly West of Lockridge and Germanville being directly north by about 10 miles. Earl Walgren married Gladys Trubert and they had two sons.

· Henry Lamansky ³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

first married a Lettie Thompson from Creston, Iowa. Henry worked as a salesman for various organizations. I have a picture of Henry in a horse and buggy with the name “Home T Company” on it. The wagon is painted with the words “ The largest Tea and Coffee store in the Middle West”. Perhaps Henry met Lettie as a salesman. In 1936 Henry worked as a salesman for Becker Roofing in Davenport, Iowa. Henry and Lettie had one child, Madelin G Lamansky. I’m unsure what the middle initial stands for, perhaps it might be Gertrude. I suspect Henry was away much of the time (as a salesman) during his marriage with Lettie. When Madelin came of age she married a Ruehl Lee in Chicago.

In the 1930 Federal Census of Chicago, Henry, Lettie and Ruehl and Madelin were living next door to one another. Madelin died young at the age of 39 years old. She took her own life with an overdose of barbiturates. In the death certificate it states “overdose of barbiturates …due to ill health”.

In 1946, after Madelin had died, Henry divorced Lettie for desertion. Henry then married a Sophia Zopf Krumbholtz. Sophia had been married to a Max Krumbholtz who had died in 1933. Henry died in Davenport in July 16, 1948 from complications of cancer of the pancreas. Henry in buried in Davenport Memorial Gardens with Sophia Zopf Krumbholtz and Max Krumbholtz.

Lettie Thompson Lamansky died in 1951 in Rock Island. Her remains are

located at the Fairmount Cemetery Mauseleum with her daughter Madelin

Lamansky Lee.

· Dora Lamansky ³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

died at a young age from complications of measles. She is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield Iowa next to her parents, Nick and Emma Lamansky.

· Margaret Lamansky ³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

married a James Arthur Woods in 1907. Margaret and her husband moved to Rock Island in the early 1900’s. Margaret had two children Charles and Marilyn. James Woods was a barber by trade. He died in 1938. One of his pallbearers was a John Basala. This same John Basala cut my hair when I was a teenager in the barber shop at the side of Lee’s Liquor Store. According to a city directory, Margaret and her daughter Marilyn lived with Gertrude and Herbert Young in 1941. The address for Margaret (wid Arth) is listed as 1549 25^th RI. Margaret later lived with her sister Emma. In 1957 Margaret died. She is buried with her husband in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Rock Island. Charles Woods worked for Servus Rubber Company and he married twice. First to a Hazel Bedwell, then to a Enice Tuttle.

• Bertha Lamansky ³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

was born a twin on October 2, 1886. Her twin sister is Nellie Lamansky. Bertha married a James Kennedy in 1905 in Jefferson County. They had eight children. Three of their children died at a young age. Virgil, Erma, Marjorie, William, and Dorothy became adults. Bertha and James are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield Iowa with their young children. Virgil Kennedy died in 1994, and his sister Marjorie died in 1986. Erma Kennedy married a Clarence Moeller in 1936. Erma and Clarence had two sons. William Kennedy married an Ilene Mirr in 1947. William died in 1969 and is buried in Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas.

· Nellie Lamansky³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

married a John Fred Bowermaster. This couple stayed in the Fairfield, Iowa area. Fred was the Superintendent of Mails at Fairfield when he retired in 1948. The couple had three children, Evelyn, Rosalie, and Robert. This couple is buried in Fairfield, Iowa at Evergreen Cemetery.

· Emma Lamansky³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

lived with her husband, Orville Wood, in Rock Island, Illinois. Orville was in charge of shipping at Hartz an Bahnsen Drug Company which later became McKesson Robbins. One of Orville Woods sisters married I.N. Brotman. Emma and Orville had one son, Glenn. Glenn Wood died in 1990. Orville Wood died in 1961 and Emma Lamansky Wood died in 1973. They are buried in Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery.

· Ray Lamansky³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

married three times. First he married a Frances Bingaman in Davenport at Sacred Heart Cathedral on October 20,1919. Herbert and Gertrude Lamansky Young served as witnesses of the ceremony. Francis died in 1935 in Des Moines, Iowa and is buried at Chapel Hill Gardens. Ray then married Grace Fay Pickens. Grace had four children from a previous marriage to a James Pickens who died in a coal mine accident in Missouri. Grace’s children took the Lamansky name. Ray then married a Roxie (Lilly) McIntyre in 1952. Lilly was previously married and had six children. Her maiden name was Downey. Lilly died on June 29, 1973 in Muscatine, Iowa. Ray worked in a variety of jobs. In 1937 he was a mechanic at Dave’s Olds. In 1957, Ray worked as a janitor for the Davenport Bank. On November 17, 1973 Raymond Lamansky died.

GERTRUDE LAMANSKY YOUNG

· Gertrude Lamansky³ (Nicholas ², Peter ¹)

was born the youngest daughter of Nicholas and Emma Lamansky on February 20, 1897. She married a Herbert Young on December 31, 1918 in Rock Island, Illinois. The couple had one son, Maurice Eugene Young, born in 1923. Gertrude worked in the printing area of West Gum Company in the early 1900’s and later in the printing department at Royal Neighbor’s of America. Herbert Young worked as a coremaker at International Harvestor. Herbert died at an early age in 1945. Eugene Young married a Bernice Dohrn in 1974. They had three children. Bernice Dohrn Young died in 1971 and Eugene died in 1974. They are buried at Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. Gertrude Young died on December 4,1980 and is buried with her husband Herbert at Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island.

JOHN LAMANSKY, MARY BUCK LAMANSKY

JOHN HENRY LAMANSKY ² (Peter ¹)

Was born the second son of Peter and Anna Lamansky in October 2, 1853 in Pennsylvania. He suffered bouts of depression and spent some time in a sanitarium. He married a Mary Buck on December 10,1877 in Union County, Iowa. Mary was the daughter of a minor Sac Fox Indian Chief. Mary kept order in the house and was a strict disciplinarian. They had nine children:

Frank Lamansky August 8, 1879 – April 3,1947

Lizzie B Lamansky February 12,1881 - ?

Martha Lamansky January 9, 1883 - ?

William Lamansky December 15, 1884 –November 12, 1969

Anna Lamansky September 1,1886 – 1936

Harry Lamansky November 11,1888 – August 15, 1968

Carrie Grace Lamansky October 7,1890 – April 30, 1975

Ethel Lamansky July 24, 1896 – April 22, 1985

Leroy Lamansky July 7, 1901 – December 26, 1972

John Lamansky died in Ottumwa, Iowa on December 4, 1925 following surgery. An unusual service occurred at the funeral for John Lamansky. There first was a Catholic Mass followed by a service performed by a Quaker minister. Mary Buck Lamansky also died in Ottumwa. The couple is buried at St Joseph’s Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa.

JOHN LAMANSKY FAMILY

WILLIAM, FRANK, HARRY

LIZZIE, MARTHA, ANNA, GRACE, ETHEL

ROY, JOHN, MARY

· FRANK LAMANSKY ³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

was 26 years old when he married a 15 year old girl in Letts, Iowa. On April 15, 1906 Frank married Hazel Vivian Olin. The couple had nine children. Two of the children were named after Woodrow Wilson and the President’s second wife Edith Galt; namely Kenneth Woodrow Lamansky and Edythe Harriett Lamansky. Frank took care of the family farm while his father, John was ill. Later, Frank worked for the railroad. In a 1930 Federal Census we find Frank living in Dekalb County, Buchanan Township, Missouri with a listed occupation as a railroad agent. Frank died in 1947 in Cedar Rapids and Hazel Vivian died in 1953. The couple is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Solon, Iowa.

· LIZZIE B LAMANSKY ³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

married a Charles Murray. In 1925 the couple was living in Tacoma, Washington. They had a daughter Etha Murray who married a Bruno Westman.

· MARTHA LAMANSKY ³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

married a Charles Larson. The couple lived in Sioux City, Iowa in the 1920’s.

· WILLIAM CLEVELAND LAMANSKY ³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

was born on December 15, 1884 in Jefferson County, Iowa. William married an

Eva Bonnett on January 26, 1910 in Fairfield, Iowa. Eva’s ancestors can be traced

back to a Jean Bonnette who was born in France in 1630. William and Eva had four children: Maugerite, Edna Mae, Ernest, and Ruth. Maugerite married a Robert Taeger.

Edna Mae married Don Crone. Edna Mae and Don daughter’s name in Pauline. Pauline married a Mr. Rein. Edna Crone died May 11,1994 and is buried at Elm Grove Cemetery.

Ruth Lamansky married a Melo Hudacheck. Ruth and Melo had two children:

Betty and Jim Hudacheck.

· ANNA LAMANSKY ³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

married Sylvester Koster. The names of their two children are Marie and Howard Koster.

Anna Lamansky Koster died in 1936 in Amberg, Wisconsin.

· HARRY LAMANSKY ³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

graduated from the Pleasant Plain Academy and worked in country stores the first two years after completing his education. On Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Harry worked on a huckster wagon and sold goods from the wagon and bought eggs and cream from the country residents. The other days of the week, Harry worked inside the country store. His first year he worked in Germanville and his second year he worked in Merrimac. Harry then moved to Texas and worked their for a few years in Texas. In 1910, Harry came back to Jefferson County, Iowa and helped build the current house standing on the Whisler-Lamansky homestead site. Thereafter, the principle occupation of Harry was that of a house carpenter. He built several houses in Jefferson County. Harry married twice. His first wife was his 2^rd cousin, Gertrude Agnes Kaska. They had three children: Joseph, Mary and Francis. Gertrude died in a house fire in 1920. The three children survived the fire. The fire occurred while Gertrude and her sister were fixing Sunday breakfast in the cook stove. It appears there may have been a mix up between the fuel used for the cook stove which caused an explosion and took the life of Gertrude. Later “Harry” Lamansky married a Helen Lahr. By Helen there were seven children born: Helen, Harry, Charles, Rosa, Florence, Martha and Josephine.

· CARRIE GRACE LAMANSKY³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

married a Henry William Mineart January 8, 1910 in Jefferson County.Henry was the son of Christian Mineart and Christina Pohren Mineart. Henry and Grace were blessed with twelve children: Christine, Sylvester, Raymond, John, Leroy, Margaret, Evelyn, William, Harold, Charles, David, and Curtis. John Mineart died at the age of 9 years from tetanus. Henry and Grace are both buried at St Joseph’s Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain.

· ETHEL LAMANSKY³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

never married. She was a nurse in the army and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel by retirement. This was the highest rank a woman could achieve in the army at that time. When she retired, she worked for the American Red Cross. Ethel died in Los Angeles, California on April 23, 1985.

· LEROY JOHN LAMANSKY³ (John Henry ², Peter ¹)

was the youngest son of John Henry Lamansky. He was born on July 7, 1901 in Walnut Township in Jefferson County, Iowa. On June 1, 1927 Leroy married Kasylda Peck. The couple had the following seven children. Pearl, Rosalie, James, Esther, Maryann, Donald and Susan Kay Lamansky. Pearl Lamansky married a Roger Arnold. Rosalie married a Keith Farrier. James married Sandra Phelps. Esther married Norman Edwards. Maryann married George Davison. Donald Lamansky married a Jeanette Mae Dickinson.

Leroy bought the family farm from his father. This farm was purchased by Peter Lamansky in 1866. Before Peter owned the farm, George Whisler and his father Abraham Whisler owned the farm. Abraham Whisler was the maternal grand-father of Mary Buck Lamansky.

THEODORE LAMANSKY, KATHERINE SINN LAMANSKY

THEODORE LEWIS LAMANSKY ² (Peter ¹)

was born in Jefferson County, Iowa on May 10,1856. T.L. Lamansky married Katherine Margaret Sinn December 31, 1885. The couple had two children, Otto and Mabel. Theodore farmed in the Brighton/ Washington County area for a number of years. He died in 1932. Katherine died on May 9,1945 in her daughter’s home. Theodore and Katherine are buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Brighton, Iowa.

· OTTO LAMANSKY ³ (Theodore Lewis ², Peter ¹)

was born on May 19,1890. He served in WWI as an engineer. On July 31,1918 he went overseas and was in the Puvenelle Sector, west of the Moselle River for 1 month. He was discharged March 29, 1919. On July 22, 1919, Otto married Elizabeth Kientz. They had one son, William Harold Lamansky. Otto worked as a postmaster for Brighton, Iowa for a number of years. He died in 1955 and his wife Elizabeth died in 1957. They are both buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Brighton, Iowa.

• MABEL GERTRUDE LAMANSKY ³ (Theodore Lewis ², Peter ¹)

married Walter Leroy Shuppy on Januray 27, 1915 in Fairfield, Iowa. Their children are Leonard, Ruth and Richard. Leonard married Frances Kurtz. Ruth married William Loeffler. Richard married a girl named Shuana.

Mabel and Walter Shuppy are buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.

JAMES COWEN, MARY LAMANSKY COWEN, EMMA KNERR LAMANSKY

NICK LAMANSKY, LENA MANNHARDT LAMANSKY, PETER LAMANSKY JR.

MARY A LAMANSKY ² (Peter ¹)

married James E Cowen in about 1900. James was appears to have been married before he met Mary Lamansky to a Laura B ?. James Cowen’s wife died on August 19, 1894 and is buried at McFarland Cemetery in Washington Township, Iowa. From the Federal Census of 1900, two of the names of James’ children were Stella and Esther. James and Mary had no children together. In 1900 the couple lived in Keokuk County Iowa in What Cheer. Mary took care of her brother, Frank when he died in 1902. In 1906 the Cowen’s lived in Oskaloosa, Iowa. By 1920 James and Mary Cowen had moved to Arapahoe County in Colorado near Denver. According to the 1920 Federal Census James Cowen was working as a check clerk at the railroad. Another Federal Census in 1930 lists James and Mary Cowen living with Peter Lamansky Jr’s family. James Cowen is listed as being 80 years old and Mary Lamansky Cowen as 71 years old. James lists no profession, but Mary is listed as working in a laundry. Adelaide Sussman believes that the couple may have ran a bakery later in life. Mary Lamansky died on December 11,1937. I do not know where Mary is buried.

FRANK G LAMANSKY ² (Peter ¹)

worked as a store clerk for over 10 years in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He also worked as a floor walker in Chicago. In 1902 Frank’s health failed and he gave up his job in Chicago and went to live with his sister, Mary in What Cheer, Iowa. Six weeks after moving, Frank died of consumption. He died on October 2, 1902 and is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Pleasant Plain, Iowa.

HENRY L LAMANSKY ² (Peter ¹)

was only 25 years old when he died. For about 8 months Henry suffered respiratory problems that the doctors called the grip. According to Henry’s obituary, the young lad went to the mountains to try to help his ailment, but to no avail. Henry died February 23, 1891 in Jefferson County, Iowa. Frank died before either of his parents and appears to have first been buried at St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery. At a later date, Henry’s body was moved to St Joseph’s Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa were his remains now rest.

PETER LAMANSKY JR.

PETER WILLIAM LAMANSKY ² (Peter ¹)

Was born the seventh child of Peter and Anna Lamansky. Peter Jr. and his family moved to Denver in 1906 because Peter Jr. suffered with asthma or hayfever. In the 1900’s it was believed that a mountain environment was good for respiratory problems. Peter found a job unloading freight for the Burlington Northern Railroad. His wife was Magdalena “Lena” Rosina Mannhardt. The five children of this couple were: Florence, Eugene, Coletta, Esther, and Adelaide. Lena died on February 29,1932 in Denver Colorado from cancer. Peter Lamansky died on March 28,1934 in a work related accident at the railroad. The couple is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

· FLORENCE LAMANSKY ³ (Peter Jr. ², Peter ¹)

was born January 20,1899 in Walnut Township, Jefferson County, Iowa. She

worked as a comptometer operator for 16 years. She died in February of 1967.

· EUGENE LAMANSKY ³ (Peter Jr. ², Peter ¹)

married Carmel Amelia Guerrieri on June 9, 1926 in Denver, Colorado. Eugene

worked in the office of the Burlington Northern Railroad. The couple had five children: Virginia, Eugene Jr., Margaret, Peter, and Richard. Eugene died in 1976 and his wife, Carmel died in 1988 in Denver.

• COLETTA LAMANSKY ³ (Peter Jr. ², Peter ¹)

was born February 2, 1902 in Walnut Township, Jefferson County, Iowa. She

married John Rusche November 20, 1929. John was bporn in 1897 in Austria. He

was the oldest of 10 children. John served in WWI in Europe (German Army). He

came to the United States March 1923 to La Crosse, Wisconsin with no know-

ledge of the English language. He moved to Denver in 1924. John was a

machinist with the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Catholic Register.

Coletta was a bookkeeper for the Knight Campbell Music Company. Coletta and

John had two children: Elaine Marie Rusche and Arthur Henry Rusche. John Rusche died January 26, 1985 in Denver and Coletta died Febraury 16,1998. John and Coletta are buried at Mt Olivet Cemetery

• ESTHER LAMANSKY ³ (Peter Jr. ², Peter ¹)

married George Parmalee Babcock. Douglas and Claire are their children. George

died October 23,1958 in Denver and Esther died November 16,1998 in Thornton,

Colorado. The couple is buried at Mt. Oliver Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

• ADELAIDE LAMANSKY ³ (Peter Jr. ², Peter ¹)

was the youngest child of Peter Lamansky Jr. She was born September 3, 1916 in Denver, Colorado.

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THE KNERR FAMILY

The Knerr’s have a long family history. Theodur Knerr born 1618 is the oldest known male Knerr. It is believed that Christina Stuber was his mother. She was born in 1595. On December 1, 1814 Johann Adama Knerr married Louisa Knerr. One of their sons, Heinrich, was the father of Emma Knerr. Emma later married Nicholas in Fairfield Iowa. The Knerr’s have settled in Pennsylvannia, Ohio, and Iowa. Iowa seemed to have been a area this family found very attractive. Johann Adam and Louisa Knerr are both buried in Jefferson County Iowa so it appears they immigrated to the United States between 1827 and 1840. They may have migrated at the same time as their son, Heinrich. Emma Knerr was born a citizen of the United States in 1857. Emma had 6 sisters and one brother. Emma’s only brother, Fredrick, died when he was 7 years old. The children of Heinrich and Eva Badge Knerr are as follows:

Mary Knerr January 18, 1840 – August 10,1901

Louisa Knerr about 1842 –after December 1921

Margaret Knerr April 21, 1844 – October 15, 1914

Carolina Knerr August 1845 – February 21, 1940

Fredrick Knerr March 7,1849 – March 5, 1856

Matilda Knerr November 1851 – February 17,1936

Anna Knerr October 26,1854- July10,1930

Emma Knerr April 30, 1857 – May 23, 1935

Mary Knerr Sinn married a John George Sinn March 29,1859 in Jefferson County, Iowa. The couple had 10 children. They were Louisa, Margaret, Henry, John, Jacob, Rosalla, Anna, Gilbert, Augusta, and Bert. Mary and her husband remained in Jefferson County Iowa for their entire lives and are buried in the same cemetery as Mary Knerr Sinn’s parents at Union Free Cemetery.

ROTH FAMILY PHOTO FROM SILVER CREEK, NEBRASKA

VIRGINIA, MONROE, HENRY, STELLA, ARTHUR

ADAM, LOUISA, ALVIN

Louisa Knerr Roth and her husband Adam Roth moved from Jefferson County Iowa to Red Oak Iowa in 1869. From there the family moved to Nebraska in 1880. In the 1880 Federal Census, the Roth family is in Osceola, Polk County Nebraska. The 1885 Nebraska State Census lists the Roth family in Midway Borough, Osceola Village, Polk County, Nebraska. In the 1900 Federal Census we find Adam and Louisa with two of their children (Stella and Arthur) in Merrick County, Silver Creek, Nebraska. Adam is a farmer who owns a farm, free of mortgage. Also in the 1900 Federal Census of Merrick County we find Alvin who rents a house and works as a butcher.(In an 1890 business directory Alvin owned a saloon). Monroe Roth is listed as a grocery merchant, his brother Arthur appears to be working for him as a grocery clerk. A 1921 plat book of Silver Creek shows tax lot G owned by M.A. Roth. (a large block big enough for a grocery store).

Virginia “Jennie” Roth married a Frank O Bond and remained in Silver Creek. Virginia’s husband was a mason and the couple had seven children. On November 4, 1945, Virginia passed away at the home of her daughter, Lucille Bond Youngstrom.

Stella Roth is listed as marrying a J. Ewin Alpaugh on November 4, 1903. In the 1920 Federal Census John E Alpaugh and family is found in Lenawee County, Hudson, Michigan. John and his wife are living with their daughter Helen Leola Alpaugh, and John’s mother Mary. Stella died in Los Angeles, California in 1951.

In the 1920 Federal census Louisa is living with her son, Arthur, in Silver Creek, Nebraska. Louisa’s died in Silver Creek in 1925 and is buried at the Silver Creek Cemetery with her husband. Virginia Roth Bond, Monroe and Alvin are all buried in Silver Creek Cemetery. Arthur later moved to Los Angeles, California and appears in the 1930 census with his wife, Eileen and two children Arleen and Ross. In 1930 Arthur was working as a salesman.

Margaret Knerr married a John Baldosier in 1863 in Jefferson County, Iowa. Margaret and John had 13 children as follows: Eliza, Emma, John, Matilda, George, Simon, Townsley, David, Elizabeth, James, Ollie, Rollie, and Louisa. By 1900 only 6 of these children were still living. Margaret died October 15,1914 and her husband died a little over a year later. The couple is buried at Union Free Cemetery in Jefferson County, Iowa.

CAROLINA KNERR SCHMADAKA

Carolina Knerr married a Henry Schmadaka. The couple had seven children.

- Dora Lena married a Franklin Peter Thompson April 6, 1887. In the 1920 and 1930 Federal Census it appears that Dora was institutionalized. In 1920 Dora is at the Mount Pleasant State Hospital and Frank is home in Walnut township with his children. In 1930 Dora is at The Jefferson County Home.

- Tille Schmadaka never married. She died in 1943 and is buried with her parents in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa.

- Anna married a George Kientz.

- Emma Ollie Schmadaka married a Charles Henry Mannhardt. The couple had one child, Osie Mannhardt. Emma died in 1962 and her husband Charles Henry died in 1981. Before his death, Charles Henry Mannhardt (at 108 years old) was the oldest man in the state of Iowa. This family is buried at Evergreen Cemtery in Fairfield, Iowa.

- Diela Schmadaka was born in 1878 and died March 17,1879. She is buried at Union Free Cemetery in Jefferson County.

- Lulu Schmadaka married a Richard Siefken

- Mabel Schmadaka married a Harry Earl Bennett. This couple like most of the Schmadaka clan is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

MATILDA KNERR WENDLING

Matilda Knerr Wendling moved to Nebraska with her husband, Frederick in 1880 and resided near Stromsburg for several years. The 1880 Federal Census shows Matilda and her family in Hackberry, Polk County, Nebraska. Then in the 1900 Federal Census in Dawson County Nebraska (Willow Island), Matilda and her family are found. In 1920 Matilda is living in Gothenburg, Nebraska with her youngest daughter, Emma. Matilda died on February 17,1936 in Bridgeport, Nebraska. At the time of Matilda’s death, she was living with Emma Wendling Mahan in Bridgeport.

The children of Matilda and Frederick Wendling are:

- Allie (Alantha) Wendling. Allie married a Ewing S Brownfield. Ewing Brownfield was married 5 times in his life. Allie was Ewing’s 3^rd wife. On September 21, 1905, Allie died. She is buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery, just North of Cozad, Nebraska with at least 2 of Ewing Brownfield’s other wives.

- George H Wendling married a Bertha Byrle French. They had 3 children: Eva, Bessie and Fred A Wendling. George and Fred are buried at Miller Cemetery in Tyron, Nebraska.

- Anna Wendling married a Samuel Gayman. The family resided in Morrill, Nebraska and can be found in the 1910,1920, and 1930 Federal Census of Sioux County, Roosevelt Township. Morrill, Nebraska is very close to the Wyoming boarder. Anna and Samuel had 5 children: Burl, Pearl Lena, Daily, Stella, and Glenn. Burl married Pauline Koch in 1924. Burl and Pauline had six children: Frederick, Margaret, Eva, Frieda, Samuel and Glen. Burl and Pauline are buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Goshen County, Wyoming. Burl’s brother, Glenn, 1^st married an Agnes Donnely, then later married a sister of Pauline Koch, Lydia Koch on October 9, 1937. Daily Gayman married a Elizabeth Glee in 1917. The couple had 5 children: Kenneth, Ervin, Merle, Charles, and Earl. Daily died October 17, 1986 in Torrington, Wyoming and is buried in Forrest Lawn Cemetery, Morrill, Nebraska.

- Harry A Wendling married a Nellie McCance. In a 1930 Federal Census I can find Harry and his son Vernon listed as living in Lemley, McPherson County, Nebraska; there is no trace of Nellie.

- Vestie F Wendling married a Gertrude M Higgins November 28,1911 in Cozad, Nebraska. In 1920 Vestie had moved his family to Powell, Wyoming. Vestie and Gertrude had three sons: Melvin, Harold, and Donald. In 1933 Gertrude died of cancer and Vestie took his own life a few months later. Melvin, the eldest, looked after his two younger brothers. Melvin married a Helen Doblinsky in Chicago. Melvin died in 1986.

- Emma E Wendling married an Arthur Leroy Mahan in 1920 in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Arthur was a druggist. The couple had two children William and Wayne. Before Emma’s and Arthur’s marriage, Emma was working as a clerk in a candy kitchen. The couple later moved to Bridgeport, Nebraska and Emma’s mother lived with them until she died in 1936.

(It is interesting to note the relationships between the Brownfield and the Gayman families in Nebraska. As noted above Ewing Brownfield married Allie Wendling. From a previous marriage, Ewing had a son Osmond, who married an Elizabeth Gayman. Also Ewing had a daughter, Gertrude who married a Budd Gayman. A sister to Allie Wendling married a Samuel Gayman. Elizabeth, Budd and Samuel Gayman were siblings.)

Anna Knerr Zahn and her husband moved to Pierce, Nebraska in 1882. The family is found in Nebraska in the 1885 Nebraska State census and in the 1900 Federal Census. In 1920, Anna Zahn at age 65 is living alone. Anna died July 10,1930 and is buried with her husband, Henry in Prospect View Cemetery, Pierce, Nebraska. The children of this couple is:

- Lena Zahn was born in September 1878 in Iowa. She married a Herman H Peters and they had two girls, Irma and Ora. Lena died very young on October 13,1900.

- Henry Zahn was born June 4,1879 and died on July 9, 1972 in Orange County, California.

- Emma Zahn married a Maurice Gorman. This family lived in North Platte, Nebraska. Maurice worked as a traveling salesman. In 1928 he worked for the Richmond Candy company and had a small grocery store in North Platte, Nebraska. It appears Emma and her husband had 6 children: Leo, Harold, Ruth, Lynn, Anthony, and Alvin. Leo married a Madelyn Zwicki and they had the following children: Thomas, Theodore, Marilyn, and Coleen. Lynn, son of Emma, was a pharmacist and graduated from Creighton University. He is buried at Ft McPherson National Cemetery, Lincoln County, Nebraska.

- Minnie Zahn married a George Earl Dean in 1909. George was a sheriff. The couple had 9 children: Wanda, Cary, Earl, Anna, Katherine, Warren, Anita, Phyllis, and Ila. In 1927 Minnie died suddenly and George had to raise the children. At the time of her death, the youngest of the children was only a few months old.

- Katie Zahn married a Joseph E Witten. Joseph was a newspaper man, who later became a banker. Katie and Joseph were living in South Dakota during the 1920 and 1930 Federal Census. Doris E Witten and Ruth Witten are the children of Katie and Joseph.

- Oscar Zahn married a Hilda Lehfeldt in about 1917. In 1920 Oscar was living in Montana with his inlaws and in 1930 Oscar, Hilda and their daughter Nadine are living in Golden Valley County, Montana.

- Harry Kneer Zahn married a Mattie Race. They had one child a Mearle G Zahn. Harry died in 1957 in Los Angeles and is buried in Inglewood, California.

EMMA KNERR LAMANSKY, CHARLES WOODS, NICK LAMANSKY

Emma Knerr Lamansky married a Nicholas Lamansky May 29, 1877 in Fairfield, Iowa. They had nine children. Emma died May 23, 1935 in Rock Island at the home of her daughter, Margaret Lamansky Woods. Emma’ wake was at Gertrude Lamansky Young’s house. Emma is buried with her husband and daughter, Dora at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa. The children of Emma and Nick are:

- Anna Lamansky married a Wesley Walgren. They had one son Earl Walgren. Anna died of cancer at an early age in 1920. She is buried with her husband and in-laws at New Sweden Cemetery in Lockridge, Iowa.

- Henry Lamansky married twice. His first wife was Lettie Thompson. They had one daughter Madelin who married a Ruehl Lee. The second wife of Henry was Sophia Zopf

- Dora Lamansky died at the age of 12 from complications from measles.

- Margaret Agnes Lamansky was born January 29,1884. She married James Arthur Woods and had two children; Marilyn and Charles “Chick” Woods. Margaret died in 1957 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois.

- Bertha Lamansky was born October 2, 1886 with her twin Nellie. Bertha married William James Kennedy in 1905 and had eight children. They were: Eugene, Kenneth, Marie, Virgil, Erma, Marjorie, Dorothy, and William. Bertha and her husband are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa.

- Nellie Lamansky was born October 2,1886. She married John Fred Bowermaster. The couple had three children whose names are Evelyn, Rosalie, and Robert. Nellie is buried with her husband at Evergreen Cemtery.

- Emma Lamansky married Orville Wood. They had one son Glenn.

- Raymond Lamansky was married three times. He first married Rachel Frances Bingaman who died when she was 48 years old. Ray then married Grace Fay Allen who had one child with Ray a daughter, Carol Jean Lamansky. The third wife of Ray was Lilly Roxanne Downey. Ray died in 1973 and is buried in Chapel Hill Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa with his first wife.

- Gertrude Lamansky married a Herbert Young in 1918 in Rock Island, Illinois. They had one son Maurice Eugene Young. Gertrude died in 1980 and is buried with her husband in Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois.

THE KNERR SISTERS IN NEBRASKA

LOUISA KNERR ROTH FAMILY (pictured in yellow color)

- family moved to Nebraska in 1880.

•  Nebraska State Census 1885 found in Midway Borough, Osceola, Polk County (41)

•  Federal Census 1900 Silver Creek, Merrick County (46)

MATILDA KNERR WENDLING FAMILY (pictured in blue color)

-family moved to Nebraska in 1880

•  Lived in Stromsburg, Nebraska   in 1880 (41)

•  Emma Wendling born in 1889 in   Deuel County (78)

•  Moved to Dawson County in 1891 (18)

•  Federal Census 1900 in Willow Island, Dawson County (18)

•  George Wendling buried in Tyron, McPherson County (90)

•  Matilda Wendling died in 1936 in Bridgeport, Morrill County (64)

ANNA KNERR ZAHN FAMILY (pictured in green color)

- family moved to Nebraska before 1885

•  Nebraska State Census 1885 found in Pierce County (40)

•  Anna Zahn died and buried in 1930 in Pierce, Pierce County, Nebraska (40)

FOUR KNERR SISTERS

MATILDA, EMMA, CAROLINA, UNKNOWN SISTER

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