Doernenburg Family History

Compiled by Marsha (Cowen) Hosfeld

 

Maria "Mary Ann" Doernenburg was born 10 February 1865 in Germany (Prussia), the first child of Friedrich "Fred" and Wilhelmine "Minna" Doernenburg.  Her father left for the United States shortly after her birth, and she and her mother followed him three years later.  Although Minna’s obituary says that they lived in Sheboygan County and then Superior, Wisconsin, before moving to Abbotsford, the 1870 Census shows Mary and her parents living in Webster Township, Houghton County, in the upper peninsula of Michigan.  Two of Mary’s sisters were born in Michigan: Ottelia "Tillie" in September 1870 and Petronella "Nellie" in May 1878.  Two more children were born to the couple in Wisconsin: Edith in February 1882 and Frederick, Jr. in June 1884.  Mary’s son Theodore, my grandfather, was born in January 1885, and so was only six months younger than his Uncle Fred.

 

Mary was married to Frank Edward Cowen on 20 January 1882 at the home of the groom’s sister, Mrs. Sarah Stannard, in Holton Township, Marathon Co., Wisconsin.  The couple had a home in Abbotsford and later moved to a farm just east of town.  Their children were: Theodore "Ted" (1885-1980, married Mary Elizabeth "Elsie" Schwermer); Frederick "Fred" (1887-1975, married Vera McGill); Archibald "Archie" (1894-1971, married Hazel Bliss); and Minnie (1898-1963, married Dewey F. Kunde).  Mary developed puerperal septicemia (blood poisoning) after Minnie’s birth, and died less than two weeks later, 9 March 1898.  My grandfather remembers being called home from school to say goodbye to his mother.  He was 13, and she asked him to look after his brother Fred who was 11, and he promised her he would.

 

The Cowen and Doernenburg farms were along what is now Spruce St./SR-29 east of the Clark County line; this road divides Twp 29-Holton and Twp 28-Hull in Marathon County.  The Cowen farm was on the north side of the road and the Doernenburg farm was on the south side.

 

Her parents and siblings:

 

Fred Doernenburg, Sr. (8 January 1834 - 25 April 1922) was born Johann Friedrich in Laupendahl, Germany, to Heinrich Doernenburg & Anna Regina Trappenberg (his death Certificate names them Henry Doernenburg & Doernut Runn).  His occupation is listed as Joiner (1865 ship passenger list), Laborer (1870), Railroad Car Smith (1900), Farmer (1905), and Retired Farmer (1920).  He also owned several pieces of property in Abbotsford and the surrounding area.  His first farmland was purchased from the Wisconsin Central Railroad, 6 November 1878.  It was just over 48 acres in Marathon County, NW ¼ NE ¼ Sec 5 Twp 28 N Range 2 E (later maps show W ½ NE ¼).  This property adjoined the Homestead property purchased by the Cowen family, which is, no doubt, how Mary and her future husband, Frank Cowen, met.  Fred also purchased lots in the village of Abbotsford: Block "I" lots 1 & 2 (in 1884), and Block "J" lots 10, 11 & 12 (in 1891).  Mary Cowen purchased lot 15 in Block "A" (in 1884).  These were all located along Second Street, north and south of Birch Street.  Fred died in Abbotsford in 1922 and was buried in Colby Cemetery.  There is a large DOERNENBURG headstone, but no smaller markers showing names and dates.  In addition to Fred, Sr. and Minna, other family members may also have been buried there.

 

Minna Doernenburg (31 May 1845 - 18 November 1909) was born Wilhelmine in Mintard, Rheinland, Prussia, Germany (her obit says Kreis Düsseldorf).  Her death certificate gives her father’s name as "Jno" from Prussia, and lists her mother’s place of birth as Esen, Germany.  I recently found a source indicating her parents were Johann Wilhelm Doernenburg, born 1809 in Laupendahl, Germany, and Anna Maria Catharina Kremer, born 1815 in Rellinghausen, Germany.  Minna was a midwife for many years, and the mother of five children.  Another daughter may have died in infancy.

 

    (1) Mary (1865-1898) was the oldest. 

 

    (2) Ottelia "Tillie" (1870-1912) married Anton Petska.  They had no children, but she cared for her niece, Minnie Cowen.  Tillie died of TB at age 41.  Her obit says she was buried in Colby Cemetery, but I found no headstone.  She and her husband, who died 3 years earlier, may have been buried in the Doernenburg plot. 

 

    (3) Petronella "Nellie" (1878-?) married Alonzo L. Brooks of Chicago, 2 April 1894, in Abbotsford.  The couple had a son, Arnold.  The marriage ended before the 1900 Census, but I do not know if it was through death or divorce.  In December 1904, Nellie became the third wife of Victor M. Spurney, a widower with three children.  It may not have been an official adoption, but Arnold Brooks began to use Spurney as his last name.  The family lived in Milwaukee, and I have no information on Nellie after the 1930 Census.  Arnold married Edith Ballard and settled in Clinton, Iowa, where he died in 1971. 

 

    (4) Edith (1882-1965) cared for her father after her mother’s death.  Shortly after he died, she married widower John B. Thompson and joined him in running the Thompson Hotel in Abbotsford.  Her step-daughters were Irene Marie Thompson (married Albert Henry Nelson, 26 March 1918) and Adeline V. Thompson (married Alvin Pierce Anderson).  John died in 1936, and in 1940 Edith married widower Frederick L. Earl, father of four grown children.  The youngest, Edna Earl, married Louis Cattanach, Jr., in Owen, Wisconsin, 2 August 1941.  Edith passed away in 1965 and was buried in Abbotsford Cemetery next to John Thompson.

 

    (5) Frederick, Jr. (1884-1934) married Sarah Schmidt (Smith), daughter of August F. and Bertha Kolberg Schmidt, in August 1906.  Sarah died at age 18, five days after giving birth to a son, Fred, in May 1907.  In September 1908, Fred Jr. married Louise "Lizzie" Hagen in Dorchester, Wisconsin.  The couple had three sons: Lloyd (1910-1985), Donald (1912-1926), and Kenneth (1918-1941).  They separated before the 1930 Census.  Fred, Jr. died in Antigo, Wisconsin, and was buried in Dorchester Cemetery beside his wife Sarah and their son Fred (1907-1921).  Louisa and her son Donald are buried near the Hagen Family plot in the same cemetery.  In Antigo, the Sparks-Doernenburg American Legion Post No. 3 was named to honor Kenneth Doernenburg, who died on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor.

 

 

Doernenburg Family Timeline

 

 

1834 January

Friedrich "Fred" Johann Doernenburg born in Laupendahl, Germany son of Heinrich & Anna Regina (Trappenberg) Doernenburg

1845 May

Wilhelmine "Minna" Doernenburg born in Mintard, Germany, daughter of Johann Wilhelm & Anna Maria Catharina (Kremer) Doernenburg

1864 October

Fred & Minna Doernenburg marry in Kettwig, Germany

1865

Maria "Mary Ann" Doernenburg born in Germany

1865 August

Fred Doernenburg arrives in New York, bound for Wisconsin

1868 October

Minna and Mary Doernenburg arrive in New York

1870 June    

Doernenburg family in Webster Twp., Houghton Co., Michigan

1873 August

Marilla Cowen applies for Homestead of 80 acres, Holton Twp., Marathon Co., (S ½, SW ¼, Sec 32, Twp 29 N, Range 2 E)

1878 November

Fred Doernenburg buys farmland in Marathon County, Wisconsin (NW ¼ NE ¼ Sec 5, Twp 28 N, Range 2 E)

1882 January

Frank Cowen marries Mary Doernenburg in Marathon County, WI *

1883 May

Frank Cowen builds a house in Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI *

1885 January

son Theodore A. Cowen Sr. born to Frank & Mary Cowen

1887 January

son Fred Cowen born to Frank & Mary Cowen

1891 March

after FIRE Frank Cowen buys property in Marathon Co.; from Fred & Louise Walter (adjacent to J. M. Brown / Marilla Cowen property)

1892 October

Ottelia "Tillie" Doernenburg marries Anton Petska in Wood Co., WI

1894

Petronella "Nellie" Doernenburg marries Alonzo Leonard Brooks * and has a son, Arnold Brooks

1894 July

son Archibald Cowen born to Frank & Mary Cowen

1898 February

daughter Minnie Cowen born to Frank & Mary Cowen

1898 March

Mary Doernenburg Cowen dies at her home near Abbotsford *

1904 December

Petronella "Nellie" marries Victor M. Spurney in Clark County, WI *

1906 August

Fred Doernenburg, Jr. marries Sarah Schmidt in Clark County, WI *

1907 May

Sarah Schmidt Doernenburg dies after giving birth to a son, Fred *

1908 September

Fred Doernenburg Jr. marries Louise Hagen in Dorchester, WI *

1909 November

Minna Doernenburg dies at her home in Abbotsford *

1910 March

Theodore Cowen, Sr. marries Elsie Schwermer in Dorchester, WI *

1912 January

Tillie Doernenburg Petska dies in Abbotsford *

1914  

Fred Cowen marries Vera in ?

1917 July

Archie Cowen marries Hazel in Stevens Point, WI

1918 December     

Minnie Cowen marries Dewey Kunde in Milwaukee, WI

1922 April

Fred Doernenburg, Sr. dies at his home in Abbotsford

1922

Edith Doernenburg marries John B. Thompson

1930 November

Frank Cowen dies - funeral in Abbotsford *

1934 October

Fred Doernenburg, Jr. dies in Antigo, WI - funeral in Dorchester *

1940 May

Edith Doernenburg Thompson marries Frederick L. Earl *

1965 June

Edith Doernenburg Thompson Earl dies in Abbotsford *

* links

 


 

New York Passenger Lists, 1851-1891   > 1865 > August > Albert

 

Name: Friedrich Dornenburg  

Estimated Birth Year: 1834  

Age: 31    

Gender: Male 

Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany

Destination: Wisconsin 

Arrival Date: 7 Aug 1865

Place of Origin: Preußen 

Ship Name: Albert 

Port of Arrival: New York 

Search: www.CastleGarden.org

 

Friedrich Dornenburg 

Occupation Joiner

Age 31

Sex M

Literacy U

Arrived 7 Aug 1865

Origin Prussia

Port Bremen

Last Residence U

Destination Wisconsin

Plan Unknown

Ship Albert

 

New York Passenger Lists, 1851-1891 > 1868 > October > Holsatia

 

 

Name: Mina Dornenberg

Estimated Birth Year: 1845

Age: 23    

Gender: Female 

Arrival Date: 27 Oct 1868 

Port of Departure: Hamburg, Germany

Destination: United States of America 

Place of Origin: Germany 

Ship Name: Holsatia 

Port of Arrival: New York 

 

Name: Maria Dornenberg

Estimated Birth Year: 1866

Age:  2     

Gender: Female

Arrival Date: 27 Oct 1868 

Port of Departure: Hamburg, Germany 

Destination: United States of America 

Place of Origin: Germany 

Ship Name: Holsatia 

Port of Arrival: New York 


Census

 

1870 United States Federal Census, Webster Twp, Houghton, Michigan; (NE of Gogebic Co. in the Upper Peninsula); "as of June 1, 1870"

  • Doernenburg family (arrived 1865 and 1868)

  • Name: Frederick Dornbush       Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836    Age in 1870: 34 

    Birthplace: Prussia    Race: White    Gender: Male 

Surname, First Name Age Race Gender Birthplace Occupation
Dornbush, Frederick 34 W M Prussia Laborer

Willhelmine

24 W F Prussia Keeping House

Mary

5 W F Prussia  

 

MISSING in 1870:

 

  • Cowen family - Theodore (?) & Marilla + Frank (we don’t know when Theodore died)

 

1880 United States Federal Census; Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin "as of June 1, 1880"

 

unable to find Doernenburg family, although I know they are in the Abbotsford area.

 

Surname, First Name Age Race Gender Birthplace Occupation

 

1895 WISCONSIN State Census, Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin; "as of June 20, 1895"

Fred Doernenford        

Line: 13 

Roll: v226_10      

Male=3 

Female=3 

USA=4 

German=2

Household members: Fred Sr., Minna, Edith, Fred Jr., and Anton Petska & Tillie (m. Oct 1892) ? or Alonzo Brooks & Nellie ?

 

1895 WISCONSIN State Census, Hatton [Actually HOLTON?], Marathon Co., Wisconsin; "as of June 20, 1895"

Frank Cowan               

Line: 17 

Roll: v226_14 

Male=4 

Female=1 

USA=4 

German=1

              Household members: Frank, Mary, Ted, Fred, Archie

 

1900 United States Federal Census, Mayville, Clark Co., Wis.; "as of June 1, 1900"

·         Ted (15) and Fred (13) Cowen are on their own - on the farm, or working for a neighbor, or in a hotel working for the RR.  Not found in census.  Their mother died 2 years ago.

 

Name: Frank Cowen     Age: 42    DOB: January 1858      Estimated birth year: abt 1858 

Birthplace: Wisconsin         Relationship to head-of-house: Boarder             Widower
Surname, First Name Age Birth Month Birth Year Sex Marital Status Years Been Married # of Children Born # of Children Living Relationship to head of house Birth place Occupation
Carle, George 36               head   RR Carsmith

Harriet

34               wife    

Harvey

16                    

Lula

13                    

Satie

11                    
Cowen, Frank 42 Jan. 1858 M Wd       boarder Wisconsin RR Carmsith

DUPL) Name: Frank Cowen    Age: UNKN    Estimated birth year: (BLANK) 

Birthplace: Wisconsin    Relationship to head-of-house: Boarder  (Ward Moah family)

Occupation: Day laborer            Home in 1900: Mayville, Clark, Wisconsin

 

1900 United States Federal Census, Mayville, Clark Co., Wis.; "as of June 1, 1900"

Name: Fredrick Denenberg [Doernenburg]   Age: 66   Estimated birth year: abt 1834 

Birthplace: Germany       Relationship to head-of-house: Head         Immigration Year: 1866 

Surname, First Name Age Birth Month Birth Year Sex Marital Status Years Been Married # of Children Born # of Children Living Relationship to head of house Birth place Occupation
Denenberg, Fredrick 66 Jany. 1834 M M 35     head Germany RR Carsmith

Minnie

55 May 1845 F M 35 4 6 wife Germany  

Edith

18 Feby. 1882 F S       daughter Wisconsin  

Fredrick

14 June 1885 M S       son Wisconsin  
Brooks, Nellie 22 May 1878 F S       daughter (widow ?) Michigan  
Brooks, Arnold 6 May 1894 M S       nephew (grandson) Wisconsin  
Cowen, Archibald 5 July 1894 M S       nephew (grandson) Wisconsin  
Cowen, Minnie 2 Feby. 1898 F S       niece (granddaughter) Wisconsin  

 

1900 United States Federal Census, Milwaukee Ward 21, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 

Name: Ottelia Petska –Tilly-            Age: 29          Estimated birth year: abt 1871 

Birthplace: Michigan     Relationship to head-of-house: Wife     Spouse's name: Anton

Surname, First Name Age Birth Month Birth Year Sex Marital Status Years Been Married # of Children Born # of Children Living Relationship to head of house Birth place Occupation
Petska, Anton 31 June 1868 M M 7     head Wisconsin Bartender

Ottelia "Tilly"

29 Sept. 1864 F M 7 0 0 wife Michigan  
 

1905  WISCONSIN  State Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"   

Name: Frank Cowen                       Line: 40          Roll: CSUSAWI1905_4 

Birth Location: Illinois         Marital Status: Widowed     Gender: Male

Estimated birth year: abt 1853       Race: White              Relation: Head 

Surname, First Name

Relation

Race

Sex

Age

Martial Status

Birthplace

Occupation

Cowen, Frank head W M 52 widowed Illinois Day Laborer
 

1905  WISCONSIN  State Census, Fond du Lac, Fond du County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"   

Name: Theodore Cowen                Line: 28          Roll: CSUSAWI1905_11

Birth Location: Wisconsin              Marital Status: Single          Gender: Male

Estimated birth year: abt 1882       Race: White              Relation: Roomer 

Surname, First Name

Relation

Race

Sex

Age

Martial Status

Birthplace

Occupation

Cowen, Theodore Roomer W M 23 Single Wisconsin Ry. Bkman
 

1905  WISCONSIN  State Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"   

Name: Fred J Domenberg             -Doernenburg-     Line: 5          Roll: CSUSAWI1905_4 

Birth Location: Germany    Marital Status: Married        Gender: Male

Estimated birth year: abt 1884       Relation: Head         Spouse's name: Minnie

Surname, First Name

Relation

Race

Sex

Age

Martial Status

Birthplace

Occupation

Domenberg, Fred J. Head W M 21 71 M Germany Farmer

Minnie

wife W F 60     Housework
Cowen, Freddie grandson W M 18     Stat. Engr.
(DUPL) Cowen, Theodore grandson W M 20     Brakeman
Cowen, Archie grandson W M 11      

 

1905  WISCONSIN  State Census, Dorchester, Clark County, Wis.

Name: Fred Dorrnenburg   -Doernenburg-   Line: 46          Roll: CSUSAWI1905_4 

Birth Location: Wisconsin              Marital Status: Single          Estimated birth year: abt 1884 

Relation: Hired Man 
Surname, First Name

Relation

Race

Sex

Age

Martial Status

Birthplace

Occupation

Schmidt, August head W M 47 M   Beer Agent

Bertha

wife W F 46 M   House Keeper

Sarah

<< will marry Fred  Doernenburg, Aug. 1906

daughter W F 16 S    

Hattie

daughter W F 12 S    
Dorrnenburg, Fred <<Junior boarder W M 21 S Wisconsin Hired Man
 

1905  WISCONSIN  State Census, Holton, Marathon County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"   

Name: Ottelia Petska [Tilly]             Line: 24         Roll: CSUSAWI1905_18

Birth Location: Michigan    Marital Status: Married        Estimated birth year: abt 1871 

Relation: Wife           Spouse's name: Anton   

Surname, First Name

Relation

Race

Sex

Age

Martial Status

Birthplace

Occupation

Petska, Anton head W M 38 M Wisconsin Day Laborer

Ottelia [Tilly]

wife W F 34 M Michigan  

John

father W M 81 W Bohemia  
Cowan, Minnie M. niece W F 7 S Wisconsin  

Continued

 

 


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