Bio: Schlegel Sisters (84 Year Old Triplets - 1959)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schlegel, Sichler, Sholes, Gillis, Dwyer

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) May 28, 1959

Schlegel Sisters (84 Year Old Triplets - 22 May 1959)

84-Year-Old Triplets hold Birthday Observance Here –

The Schlegel sisters of Jackson County celebrated their 84^th birthday anniversary at Memorial Hospital Friday.  Mary, now Mrs. George Sichler of Alma Center, has been a patient at Memorial Hospital since May 13.

For more than 30 years these triplets had managed to get together on their birthday, and on Friday they got together in Room 101 at Memorial Hospital to celebrate.  Mary was joined by Mrs. Helen Sholes of Alma Center and Miss Julia Schlegel of Black River Falls. There were a few years when Mrs. Sholes lived in North Dakota, that they could not be together but they have not missed in the past 30 years.

In addition to the triplets, a younger sister, Miss Barbara Schlegel of Black River Falls, joined the party.  A brother, Wenzel, 82, lives at Irving.  Mrs. Leo Gillis and Mrs. Vincent Dwyer of Alma Center, daughters of Mrs. Mary Sichler, accompanied by Mrs. Helen Sholes, drove to Black River Falls and had dinner with Miss Julia and Miss Barbara Schlegel Friday.  Then the entire party drove to Neillsville, where they enjoyed two hours together. 

The Schlegel sisters were born May 22, 1875, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schlegel at the Schlegel farm in the Town of Irving, Jackson County.  Hospitals were unknown to rural people in those days and the mother was up doing the housework and caring for the children on the second day.

Mrs. Dwyer said that the babies were consuming crackers and milk after the first few days and mother and triplets got along fine and enjoyed good health.  The three girls were graduated from Sunny Vale School in Irving and then entered Black River Falls High School.

Since the death of Mr. Sichler, the sister Mrs. Helen Sholes has been living with Mrs. Sichler at the Sichler farm, located three miles northwest of Alma Center.  Mrs. Sichler fell and broke her hip 12 years ago.  Since that time she has had to favor herself and recently because of an infection she entered Memorial Hospital.  When the sisters realized that Mary would not be able to come to them, they made plans to get together here.