Surnames: HUMKE, DECKER, KIPPENHAN, SCHWARZE, ROSSMAN, STEIGER

----Source: Kippenhan Collection - Jean Sommers, Des Moines, IA

Celebrate Golden Wedding (1929)

Monday afternoon and evening, Nov. 18, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humke celebrated their half century of married life -- all of which time has been spent in the town of Warner, where they still reside.

Henry Humke and Miss Anna Kippenhan were married at Kohlsville, Washington County, Wisconsin, Nov 18, 1979. Two days after the wedding they set out for Clark County having shipped their hosehold goods by train to Colby, where they loaded their belonging on top two wagons and proceeded west through the wilderness to the town of Warner. Mr. Humke had previously spent several years in the lumber camps in the locality, had bought three eighties of land, had cleared 5 acres of land and built a log house and barn, so he was in a measure prepared, not only to meet the difficulties but also to take advantage of the opportunities in a new country. Later Mr. and Mrs. Adam Kippenhan, Mrs. Henry Humke's parents, came up from Kohlsville and made their home for a time on one of the Henry Humke eighties, later moving further west and settling in the western part of the Town of Warner.

Mr. Humke was a man of great energy and soon become recognized in the community as a leader in buisness affairs, as well as in local political and social activities. He developed a fine farm, served the Town of Warner for 5 years as chairman, 5 years as town Treasurer, was for a long time a member of the school board and was an elder in the West Side Reformed Church.

The first years were not without difficulty and hardships. Supplies for the family had to be brought through the woods from Augusta, or got in over the trail from Neillsville. Mr. Humke often making the trip on foot and carrying home supplies on his shoulders. He also secured not a little of the food supplies from the forest, being a very successful hunter, killing in all over 100 deer.

Mrs. Humke has always been a most excelent helpmate for her husband in all of the home problems and did her full share of church and community work.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Humke, seven of whom are living; Theodore; Helen, Mrs. Paul Rossman of Pierce, Idaho; Meda, Mrs. Ferd. Decker; Ella, Mrs. Ed Schwarze, Arthur and George, all of whom with the exception of Mrs. Rossman, live in the town of Warner and Alma, Mrs. Wm. Steiger of Greenwood. Edward was killed at the age of 19 by lightning.

Mr. and Mrs. Humke have met the joys and sorrows of life with a courageous sprit and are spending the evening of life in peace and serenity. The gathering Monday was a most happy event. Rev. Franzmeier, pastor of the West Side Reformed church preached an appropriate serman; there was community singing in which all joined and a song by the children. Needless to say, there was an abundance of good things to eat and the best of good cheer prevailed. Two meals were served, 125 guests being present.

Those from a distance, in attendance were: Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Humke, Sheboygan; Dr. Ed Humke and sisters, Misses Esther and Ida Humke, Sturgeon Bay; Mr. and Mrs. Will Huber, Sheboygan; Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Arpke and daughter Marian of Franklin; Mr. and Mrs. John Kippenhan, Appleton and Miss Cilla Kippenhan, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Schweinler and Miss Esther Humke, Neillsville.