Joseph came to America sometime between 1863 and 1865. He and his wife had young children, and one died at sea during the long voyage across the Atlantic.
Only a little information exists, but he traveled to North Dakota where his daughter, Mary (Schoch), was struggling as a laundry worker. Indians in the territory, starving because there were no more buffalo, would come and rob food from the settlers. Joseph transported lumber by horse wagon, Mary said, so she could have her own house. He may have helped build the house as well, but this is not confirmed.
He lived out his life in the Calumet area, attending the German Lutheran Church (now St. Paul's) and working with the copper mines. It seems that his original wife died (date unknown), and that he remarried. The couple lived in what was known as Raymbaultown (now part of Calumet), on County Road (Hwy 41).
Joseph's second wife died in 1913 at age 67. The famous mine strikes and the Italian House stampede that killed 73 people and many children would occur in town later that year. Joseph died six years later in 1919. His daughter Mary was my great-great grandmother. She died in 1965, a year after I was born, at age 102.
Only a little information exists, but he traveled to North Dakota where his daughter, Mary (Schoch), was struggling as a laundry worker. Indians in the territory, starving because there were no more buffalo, would come and rob food from the settlers. Joseph transported lumber by horse wagon, Mary said, so she could have her own house. He may have helped build the house as well, but this is not confirmed.
He lived out his life in the Calumet area, attending the German Lutheran Church (now St. Paul's) and working with the copper mines. It seems that his original wife died (date unknown), and that he remarried. The couple lived in what was known as Raymbaultown (now part of Calumet), on County Road (Hwy 41).
Joseph's second wife died in 1913 at age 67. The famous mine strikes and the Italian House stampede that killed 73 people and many children would occur in town later that year. Joseph died six years later in 1919. His daughter Mary was my great-great grandmother. She died in 1965, a year after I was born, at age 102.
