Wilhelmina Diefenthäler

b. 23 July 1861, d. 24 May 1929
  • Wilhelmina Diefenthäler was born on 23 July 1861 in Wisconsin.
  • She was known as Mina.
  • Anton Diefenthäler and Anna Elisabetha Gerlach, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Rhine, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and Magdalena Strub, age 68. Valentine Gerlach likely is a brother or other relative of Elisabeth Gerlach Diefenthaler.. Other members of the household included Wilhelmina Diefenthäler, George Diefenthäler, Magdalena Diefenthäler, John Diefenthäler, Margaretha Diefenthäler and Valentine Gerlach.
  • Anton Diefenthäler and Anna Elisabetha Gerlach appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Rhine, Wisconsin, living next to William Gerlach and family, and not far from George Nauth.. Other members of the household included Wilhelmina Diefenthäler, Magdalena Diefenthäler, John Diefenthäler and Margaretha Diefenthäler.
  • She married Henry Menne, son of Peter Menne, on 23 February 1886 in Rhine, Wisconsin, or 1886.
  • The following appeared in the Plymouth Post: Mr. Anton Diefenthaeler, of Town Rhine, whose death on the 18th of April we reported in our last issue, was born on Dec. 28, 1827 in Spiessheim, Hessen Darmstadt, and had reached the age of 69 years, 3 month and 20 days. He came to America in 1848. At first he lived in Germantown, Washington County for a few years, and then came to Town Rhine, where he lived with his wife, Elizabeth, nee Gerlach, whom he married on Nov. 1, 1852. The family has lived there since. His is survived by his wife and 5 children, namely; Geo. Diefenthaeler of Elkhart Lake; Mrs. Wm Streibel, Kirwin, Kansas; John on the family farm; Mrs. Heinrich Menne of Millhome; and Mrs. Conrad Bub, Town Rhine. The funeral was attended by a large number of people, and was held on the Franklin Cemetery. Mr. Wm. Greverus of New Holstein delivered the funeral sermon.
  • Henry Menne became a widower at her death.
  • She was interred at Kiel Cemetery, Kiel, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
  • Wilhelmina Diefenthäler died on 24 May 1929 at age 67.
  • The following appeared on circa 26 May 1929 in a local newspaper: Funeral services for Mrs. Henry Menne, who died at her home in this city Friday, after an illness of two weeks duration, were held Monday afternoon from the home and from the Reformed church. The Rev. Otto Saewert conducted the rites with burial in the Kiel cemetery. /P/ Mrs. Menne, nee Wilhelmina Diefenthaler, the daughter of Anton and Elizabeth Diefenthaler, was born in the town of Rhine July 23, 1861. She spent her early years here and at Millhome and on February 23, 1886 was united in marriage to Henry Menne, also of Town Rhine. The couple continued making their home in Rhine until thirty years ago when they moved to this city.Besides her husband she is survived by two children, Miss Mathilda Menne and John Menne, both of this city, and one sister, Mrs. Lena Striebel, also of Kiel. /P/ The following from out-oftown attended the funeral: Mesdames Ed. LaBudde, Jack Strosto, Alvin Kelbe, Morris Bub, Alfred Quade and son Lawrence, and John Belter, all of Milwaukee; Mrs. Mary Duerrwaechter and son John of Germantown; Mrs. Mary Diefenthaler and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Schmahl, Mrs. Theodore Hungsberg, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hub, and Mr. and Mrs. John Leonard of Town Rhine; Conrad Bub and daughter Emma, Mrs. Mary Kaiser, Mrs. Martin Bethke, Mrs. Mary Nauth, Mr. and Mrs. John Menne, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Menne,William Loos, Fred Diefenthaler, all of Elkhart Lake; Mrs. D. Kattreh, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Waterman, and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Raeder of Pymouth; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Goetsch and Miss Dora Mueller, and Mrs. Ernst Raeder of Greenbush; and Mrs. Philip Kaiser, Mrs. Lawrence Hennings, Mrs. Ed. Luehrs, Mrs. Henry Aggen, and Mrs. Milton Matthaeus of New Holstein.
  • The following appeared in a local newspaper: Henry Menne, aged 83, passed away at 7:45 a.m. this Wednesday morning at his home after an illness of several months duration. /P/ Mr. Menne was born in the town of Rhine on January 24, 1861, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Menne. He was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Diefenthaler of the town of Rhine on February 23, 1886. The first few years after their marriage they lived at Millhome. For the past 45 years they have resided in this city, where he followed his trade as carpenter, and also was employed at the Kiel table factory for many years. Mrs. Menne passed away on May 24, 1929. /P/ Survivors are a daughter, Mathilda at home, and a son, John of this city; one brother, Joseph, and two sisters, Mrs. Katherine Daleiden and Mrs. Charles Guetzloe, all of this city. Two brothers and a sister preceded him in death. /P/ Funeral services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at two o'clock at the Meiselwitz Funeral Home, with interment to be made in the Kiel cemetery in the family lot.
  • A biographical sketch of Anton Diefenthaler appears in Portrait and Biographical Record of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin: A worthy pioneer and old settler of Sheboygan County, came from his far-away home in Germany to make his fortune in a new and strange land. Like so many of his countrymen who have become residents of this county, he has proven a valuable citizen. He was born December 28, 1827, in Spiesheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, and was a son of Anton and Magdalena (Scheib) Diefenthaler. In the village of his nativity he received a common-school education. Mr. Diefenthaler had the misfortune to lose his father when but seven years of age. The latter was a farmer in a small way, and after his death Anton, with the assistance of his brother, supported and cared for his mother. When he was seventeen years of age, his mother was laid to rest by the side of her husband in the village cemetery, and the son was left without the guardianship of father and mother.
         A few years later Mr. Diefenthaler determined to come to the United States, and in the spring of 1848 sailed from Antwerp for New York. The journey was made on the good ship "Cornelius Grinnell," and after fifty days of storm they reached their destination. So rough had been the voyage, that when the three hundred passengers were finally landed in New York, a general thanksgiving was offered for their safety. Only a few days were spent in that city, when our hardy pioneer proceeded to Albany, from which place he took passage on a canal-boat for Buffalo, and a week later arrived in that city. From the latter city he went by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wis., where he spent only one night. The following morning the journey was resumed, he going on foot to Germantown. His mission to the latter place was to look for a brother, who had preceded him to America by several years.
         During the summer season, for the next five years, Mr. Diefenthaler worked in Milwaukee, in a brickyard, and in the winter time remained with his brother on the farm. In the fall of 1851, he again crossed the ocean, and after visiting his old home, he turned his face Westward once more. Leaving Antwerp on the 2d of April for America, this time spending thirty-six days on the ocean, he went direct to Germantown, Washington County, Wis. From that village he emigrated with an ox-team to the town of Rhine, where he bought eighty acres of land on section 11, a part of the present farm owned and occupied by him. Later, Mr. Diefenthaler purchased forty acres more on the same section, the last land being secured in 1852.
         On the 1st of November, 1852, Mr. Diefenthaler brought his bride to his home. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Gerlach, and she was born in the same place as her husband, August 24, 1827. With her assistance our subject erected their first log cabin, 18 x 24 feet in size, where they began domestic life in a style known only to the pioneers of a new country. This first house still stands as a monument to noble sacrifice, and as a lesson to the younger generations of hardships and privations of which they can know only as they are told. In 1866 Mr. Diefenthaler erected his present home. He has a good, comfortable house and all the necessary outbuildings.
         Unto Mr. and Mrs. Diefenthaler eight children were born, four sons and four daughters, five of whom are living. George, born May 12, 1854, is a resident of Elkhart; Lena, born May 12, 1857, became the wife of William Streibel, of Kirwin, Kan; John, born March 9, 1859, is at home; Mena, born July 23, 1861, wedded Henry Menne, and resides in Millhome, Manitowoc County; and Margaret, born December 13, 1864, married Conrad Bub, a farmer of section 22.
         In his political relations, Mr. Diefenthaler is independent, preferring to support the man rather than the party. He has served in various official capacities; has been Town Treasurer for three terms; Town Clerk one term; Supervisor one term; and Assessor for two terms. Mr. Diefenthaler came to this country a poor man, but by energy and industry has accumulated a good property. He is a man who commands the respect and admiration of all with whom he comes in contact. He is a very popular man in his community, as his many years of official service would indicate. He and his wife are numbered among the worthy citizens of their town.
  • Last Edited: 26 Mar 2010

Family: Henry Menne b. 24 January 1861