1881 MEHLISCH

1)    Martin MEHLISCH Sr., 22, farmer of Drachhausen

 

Martin Sr. came to America by way of PEMBROKE, CANADA, where he had first immigrated to; but family lore says disappointed that he did nothing but pick up rocks there, he hired an Indian guide to bring him and another man into the USA. They went over a waterfall and the canoe capsized, drowning the guide. Martin continued; on his own.

 

Martin MEHLISCH Sr. was then mentored by Martin RIESE, of STATE CENTER, IA; his future father-in-law. Martin MEHLISCH Sr. and Marie RIESE married November 2, 1882. It is interesting to note that Martin MEHLISCH had followed the same immigration path as his wife Marie had; just 18 years later.

 

2)      Marie RIESE, was born a in DRACHHAUSEN, immigrated at age 6 to CANADA in 1863, and later on to STATE CENTER, IOWA, in 1871.

 

They had one child born in MARSHALLTOWN, before they moved near the little town of HANNA, which no longer exists, near LUVERNE, KOSSUTH COUNTY, IOWA. Here they had 6 more children. Their children and their spouses were:

 

3)      Christian MEHLISCH, Sr.,  b 1883, marries in 1904, Anna Louise, “Lizzie MARKUSCH

4)   William MEHLISCH, Sr., b 1885, married in 2^nd generation Wend Caroline MARKUSCH, 1905, b 1884 on the farm near ZEARING, IOWA

5)      Marie Caroline MEHLISCH, b 1886, marries Wend Matthew DOMANN from DRACHHAUSEN in 1908;  then in 1916, Martin John Wurster

6)      John R. MEHLISCH, b 1888, marries Olga “Augie” Hamelau

7)      Bertha MEHLISCH, b 1890, marries in 1906, Otto RICHTER, 1896 immigrant from DRACHHAUSEN

8)      Anna MEHLISCH, b 1893, marries Harry Hamelau in 1909 & Walter Vitty

9)      Martin Edward MEHLISCH, Jr., b 1896, married Muriel Mackie & Ada Marie HANNUSCH; daughter of Fred HANNUSCH and Anna KOCH

 

 

They established a nice farmstead near HANNA, IOWA and Martin was appointed county assayer (a position now known as the assessor). There was an epidemic and he had to post quarantine signs on people’s doors and see that the victims were properly buried to prevent spreading the epidemic. It is unknown what disease caused such a problem, perhaps diphtheria or flu. Through mismanagement and drinking, Martin lost that farm.

 

When the children were from 5 to 18 years of age, in about 1901; Martin MEHLISCH, Sr. and family moved back to STORY COUNTY, near ZEARING, IOWA and established a new MEHLISCH homestead.

 

Five of Martin’s seven children married into other WENDISH families. Two of the brothers Christian and William MEHLISCH married two second generation, Wendish sisters, Lizzie and Caroline MARKUSCH, born near STATE CENTER, IOWA.  The girls were the daughters of Christian MARKUSCH and Liese (Americanized to Elisabeth) KULLOWATZ.  The parents of these girls had been born in DRACHHAUSEN and immigrated with their 3 oldest children in 1881.

 

Revised October 27, 2009