Surnames: Firnstahl, Schwartz, Leichtnam, Niekreus, Wilkinson, Cline, Chapman, Arnus, Weix, Lamont, Will, Orth, Meyer

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 03/01/1956

Firnstahl, Michael (27 Sept. 1865 - 25 Feb. 1956)

Michael Firnstahl, a former resident of Colby, died of a heart attack in Mishawawka, Ind., Saturday, Feb. 25, at the age of 90 years. Funeral services were held in St. Mary’s Catholic church in Colby Wednesday morning, Rev. Vincent Schwartz officiating, and internment was made in the parish cemetery. Pall bearers were Andrew Arnus, John Weix, Angus Lamont, Franz Will, Conrad Orth, Wm. Meyer.

Mr. Firnstahl was born in Austria on September 27, 1865, thus reaching the age of 90 years, five months and 24 days. He came to Colby 82 years ago and lived here for 47 years. He married Catherine Leichtnam in Colby, Wisconsin on April 16, 1891. He was a building constructor and plasterer and built most of the church and schools in Colby and close vicinity.

Surviving are four daughters and one son - Sylvia Niekreus of Skokie, Ill., Mrs. Herman Wilkinson of Evanston, Ill., Malena Cline of Mishawawka, Ind., Matilda Chapman of Niles, Mich., Urban Firnstahl of San Francisco, Calif. Also 12 grand children and 18 great grand children.

Preceding him in death were his wife who died January 4, 1955, one son, Raymond, who died in World War I, and another son, Edmund, who passed away on February 11, 1954.

Family Notes

Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 07/16/1903

Firnstahl, Matilda (Birth - 13 July 1903)

Dr. D. R. Freeman reports the following early Monday morning arrivals:

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Alb. Schrieb, in the town of Colby, a daughter.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. M. Firnstahl, in this city, twin girls. If you meet Mike just step aside, he walks high, wide and handsome and needs the whole sidewalk.

Wisconsin Marriage Records

Michael Firnstahl
groom's birthplace: Zanek, Austria
bride's name: Catherine Lichtman
bride's birthplace: Manitowoc Co., Wis
marriage date: 16 Apr 1891
marriage place: Colby, Clark, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Michael Firnstahl
groom's mother's name: Catharine Wenas
bride's father's name: Martin Lichtman
bride's mother's name: Caroline Strasburg
groom's race: White
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race: White

Wisconsin Birth Records

Firnstahl (Matilda)
gender: Female
birth date: 13 Jul 1903
birthplace: City of Colby, Clark Co, Wisconsin
race: White
father's name: Michael Firnstahl
father's birthplace: Austria
mother's name: Katherine Lightman
mother's birthplace: St Nozanty, Wis

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Colby city, Clark, Wisconsin, pg. 43, family 97, line 14

Mathelda Firnstahl
age: 2y
estimated birth year: Abt 1903
birthplace: Wisconsin
relationship to head of household: Daughter
race: White
gender: Female
marital status: Single
place of birth: parent 1: Germany
place of birth: parent 2: Wisconsin

Household Members
head Michael Firnstahl M 39y (1866) Germany
wife Katherine Firnstahl F 37y Wisconsin
son Edwin Firnstahl M 13y Wisconsin
son Raymond Firnstahl M 11y Wisconsin
daughter Sylvia Firnstahl F 10y Wisconsin
son Urban Firnstahl M 7y Wisconsin
daughter Heromine Firnstahl F 5y Wisconsin
daughter Magaline Firnstahl F 2y Wisconsin
daughter Mathelda Firnstahl F 2y Wisconsin

1920 Federal Census, Clark Co., Wisconsin

Micheal Firnstahl
estimated birth year: 1866
age: 54
birthplace: Vienna Austria
relationship to head of household: Self
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Married
father's birthplace: Vienna Austria
mother's birthplace: Vienna Austria

Household Members
self Micheal Firnstahl M 54y Vienna Austria
wife Catherine E Firnstahl F 52y Wisconsin
daughter Hermina C Firnstahl F 19y Wisconsin
daughter Magdolin M Firnstahl F 16y Wisconsin
daughter Matilda B Firnstahl F 16y Wisconsin

1930 Federal Census, Evanston, Cook, Illinois, enumeration district number: 2114, family 408, line 28

Michael Firnstahl, white, married male
father's birthplace: Austria
mother's birthplace: Austria

Household Members
head Michael Firnstahl M 64 Austria
wife Catherine E Firnstahl F 62 Wisconsin
daughter Matilda V Firnstahl F 26 Wisconsin
daughter Madalen M Cline F 26 Wisconsin
son-in-law Ruswell F Cline M 27 Iowa
lodger Sherman Nischan M 26 Kentucky
lodger Edna Nischan F 24 Kentucky
lodger Rita D Nischan F 4 Kentucky
grandson William F Cline M 1 Illinois