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All the information on this page is from a chart sent via email by the very helpful and generous  Mary Utschig Read. She labeled it, "Information gathered from several people who are related to these families: Alice Erdmann, Raymond and DeAnn Meysing, David Jann, CA, David M. Jann, Marion Melsheimer Czachor, John H. Traut, and personal research. I hope I have not left anyone out--everyone has been very helpful and happy to share with one another. This chart has been put together by Mary Utschig Read. It is not complete, but the best that could be done with the information had by January 2007. Any corrections and/or additions are welcomed and hoped for so that the family's histories can become more complete and accurate. THANK YOU again for everyone's help in gathering the information so far collected."

Anything in italics in the framed section is not certain, but is suggested by info below the framed section.

Theresa Emma Utschig Gesellchen

8-15-1865 to 12-28-1920

Siblings

 

 

 Catherine Merten Bornhofen

 Margaret Merten Eck

 Emma/Anna Merten Voell

 Maria Utschig Jann

 Veronica Juliana Bittner

 Anna Gertrude Utschig Jann

 Anthony Utschig

 Gertrude Utschig

married

to

Peter Gesellchen

 

Children

 

  Rose

  Edgar Peter

Gazella

(Lazette Charlotte Houghton, maybe same as Gazella)

 

 

 

Members of this family

may be in a crowd

which includes

several of Theresa's sisters in 1929.

To go to the labeled photo, click here:

Bornhofen's 50th

parents:

August Utschig

&

Gertrude Schmitz

(previously wife of Joseph Merten)

spouse's parents:

(probably)

Peter Gesellchen

&

Gertrude Mertes

maternal grandparents:

 

paternal grandparents:

Franz Joseph Utchig & Katharine

(of Einseidl)

 

maternal aunts & uncles:

 

paternal aunts & uncles:

1822-Henrietta (Saitz); 1823?-Maria (Urban); 1824-Johann Norbert; 1826- Juliana Rosina; 1830-Albert Utschig & Anna Klapperich; 1833-Anna (died 1833); 1834-Anna Carolina ; 1837-Karl D.G.; 1840-Karl der grosse; 1843-Alfred Tobias

 

 

1870 census for Brothertown Wisconsin, Calumet County, Post Office: New Holstein

Utschig, August, age 39, farmer, born in Bohemia

Wife Gertrude, age 38, born in Prussia

Daughter Anna Merten, age 11, born in WI

Daughter Theresa Utschig, age 5, born in WI

Daughter Maria, age 3

Daughter "Faliana"  (Juliana) age 2

Daughter, Anna, age 4 months (notation born in Feb)

 

 

The information that follows is for a Peter and Theresa Gesellchen. I have not been able to find them together in the census, so I can not be sure this is the right information.

 

1870 census, Fond Du Lac County Wisconsin, Marshfield:

Gesellchen, Peter, age 48, farmer, from Prussia

Wife Gertrude, age 40 (posts on Rootsweb indicate her maiden name most likely Mertes)

Daughter Anna, 16 (all children born Wisconsin)

Son Nicholas, 11

Daughter Paulina, looks like it says 7, but that breaks chronology. Hmm

Daughter Mary, 9

Daughter Christina, 6

Son Peter, 5

Son John, 2

Son Frank, 1

 

1880 census, Fond Du Lac, Marshfield

Gesellchen, Peter, 58, farmer from Prussia

Wife Gertrude, 49

Son Nicholas, 20, farmer (all offspring born Wisconsin)

Daughter Mary, 19, servant

Daughter Christina, 16, at home

Son Peter, 14, at home

Son John, 12, at school

Son Frank, 10, at school

 

Then I lose them. They seem to have headed west. Looks like Frank is in North Dakota in 1920, and Nic in Montana in 1910, Washington in 1920. As for Peter, I find no direct references to him until 1930, but in between there are sideways signs of his existence indicating a time in Minnesota c. 1895 for birth of daughter Lazette, and then on to Idaho. Here's the trail:

 

There's a grave in St. Mary's Cemetery in Genessee Idaho for a Peter Gesellchen who may be Theresa's father-in-law (some on Rootsweb seem to think it is). The tombstone says, "Hier ruht is Gott Peter Gesellchen,, geb zer Meering Deutschland, Feb. 1822, gestorben in Genessee, Idaho am 8 Febr. 1901."

 

Idaho marriages, Lawpai, Nez Perce County, marriage book Vol. 5, p. 393 has Rose Gesellchen marrying on 7-6-1915, but her spouse's name somehow came to be transcribed in full as simply, "Le." Hmm.

 

Idaho marriages, Nez Perce County, in parish residence, Lazette Charlotte Gesellchen married 12-20-1916 to Ray Edward Houghton (Vol. 5, p.579). I tracked Lazette Houghton. In 1920 she and Ray/Roy are in Lincoln County Washington, West Davenport, he's a druggist. She lists that was born in 1895 in Minnesota of parents born in Wisconsin. They have a son, Kenneth. In 1930 they're still in Washington, Whatcom County, Bellingham, and he's still a druggist. Kenneth is 12, and was born in Idaho.

 

1918 Draft registration for Edgar Peter Gesellchen, 226 3rd St., Lewiston Idaho, Nez Perce County, age 19, born 6-7-1899, student at Lewiston High School, tall, medium build, gray eyes, brown hair, next of kin is mother, Theresa Gesellchen of Spaulding Idaho.

 

Idaho death index: Theresa Emma Gesellchen 8-15-1865 to 12-28-1920, died in Lewiston, Nez Perce County

 

1930 census, Nez Perce County Idaho, Spaulding District 45

Peter Gesellchen, age 64, widower, born in Wisconsin of parents born in Germany, farmer

 

California death index has Theresa's son, Edgar Peter Gesellchen, born 6-7-1899 in Idaho, died 1-1-1978 in Monterey, California

 

Connection: Theresa's half-sister, Catherine Merten (Bornhofen),

was the mother of Gert Bornhofen (Pfleger)

who was sister-in-law of Irene Pfleger Wachdorf

(who had photos of at least three of Theresa's sisters)