Obit: Schwantes, Ernestina (1861 - 1939)

Contact: ken@wiclarkcountyhistory.org & History Buffs

Surnames: Schwantes, Mellenthin, Stapel, Griepentrog, Nickel, Ahlgren, Nelson, Izydorek

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Wood Co., Wis.) Monday, 13 Mar. 1939

----Schwantes, Ernestina (14 Dec. 1861 - 12 Mar. 1939)

Spencer - Funeral services will be conducted at Trinity Lutheran Church here at 2 p.m. Tuesday for Mrs. Herman Schwantes, 77, who died at her home in this village at 9 a.m. Sunday. She had been ill for the past four weeks with chronic myocarditis.

Brief rites will be conducted at the home by the Rev. A. C. Stapel, prior to the church service, and burial will take place in the West Spencer cemetery. The body will be in state at the Swarthout Funeral Home.

Ernestina Mellenthin was born in Germany on Dec. 14, 1861, and came to the United States 14 years later. She was married to Herman Schwantes on Oct. 18, 1880, and they were residents of the Town of Brighton for many years before moving to Spencer 14 years ago.

Mrs. Schwantes is survived by her husband, five daughters, and one son. The children are: Mrs. Charles (Anna) Griepentrog, Spencer; Mrs. Leonard (Dorothy) Nickel, Unity; Mrs. Alex (Sophie) Ahlgren, Minneapolis; Mrs. Elmer (Elizabeth) Nelson, Chippewa Falls; Mrs. John (Margaret) Izydorek, Minneapolis, and George W. Schwantes, on the home farm.

There are also 31 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Three sons, Frank, Frederick, and John, preceded their mother in death.

Biographical Information

1900 Federal Census, Brighton township, Marathon, Wisconsin

Name: Herman Schwantes
Birth Date: Jan 1857
Birthplace: Germany
Relationship to Head-of-Household: Self
Spouse Name: Anistina Schwantes
Spouse Birth Place: Germany
Father Birthplace: Germany
Mother Name:
Mother Titles:
Mother Birthplace: Germany
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name:
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 20
Estimated Marriage Year: 1880
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year: 1873
Enumeration District: 0072
Sheet Number and Letter: 6A
Household ID: 102 
Household Members
Herman Schwantes M
Spouse Anistina Schwantes F
Child Dora Schwantes F
Child Sophia Schwantes F
Child Georgie Schwantes M
Child Elizabeth Schwantes F
Child Maggie Schwantes F

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Brighton, Marathon, Wisconsin

Name: Herman Schwantes
Age: 48y
Estimated Birth Year: Abt 1857
Birthplace: Germany
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Race: White
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Place of Birth: Parent 1: Germany
Place of Birth: Parent 2:
Family Number: 86
Page Number: 83
Household Members
Herman Schwantes M 48y
Spouse Ernestine Schwantes F 43y
Child Frank Schwantes M 22y
Child Dora Schwantes F 17y
Child Sophia Schwantes F 15y
Child George Schwantes M 13y
Child Elizabeth Schwantes F 9y
Child Margaret Schwantes F 6y
Minnie Melhutin F 79y