Doernenburg Family History, complied by Marsha (Cowen) Hosfeld

Doernenburg Family History

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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