Michael Pfeiffer was born and baptized on March 23, 1833 in Treffelstein, Kreis Cham,
Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany, the son of Johann Georg Pfeiffer and Anna
Maria Grauvogl. Baptism record found and transcribed by Georg Blau of Höchstädt-Donau, Germany in 1996, from Bischöfliches Zentralarchiv in Regensburg, Germany:
Margaretha Vogl was born December 28, 1828 in Irlach, Kreis Cham, Bavaria, the daughter of Andreas Vogl and Barbara Stangl. A picture of Margaretha has not been found. Baptism record found and transcribed by Georg Blau of Höchstädt-Donau, Germany in 1996, from Bischöfliches Zentralarchiv in Regensburg, Germany: 28. Dezember 1828 (Tiefenbach) Band V seite 212 fiche 99 Marriage Michael Pfeiffer, age 32, was married to Margaretha Vogl, age 36, on October 1, 1865 at Irlach, Kreis Cham, Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. The Catholic church in Irlach is named St. Joseph. Marriage record found and transcribed by Georg Blau of Höchstädt-Donau, Germany in 1996, from Bischöfliches Zentralarchiv in Regensburg, Germany: 1. Oktober 1865 (Tiefenbach), Band VII seite 641 fiche 178 Children Michael and Margaretha had 6 children: 1) Infant son 2) Catharine Pfeiffer (born July 9, 1866 in Irlach; married to Andrew Ringelstetter) 3) Theresia Pfeiffer (born April 24, 1868 in Irlach; died June 23, 1868) 4) Theresia Pfieffer (born September 8, 1870 in Irlach; married to Michael Hetzel) 5) Barbara Pfeiffer (born August 23, 1873 in Irlach; married to Georg Hetzel) 6) Margaret Pfeiffer (born August 23, 1873 in Irlach; married to Michael Ringelstetter) Catherine Pfeiffer baptism | Memories of the Pfeiffer family As told by Michael Pfeiffer's daughter, Margaret Pfeiffer Ringelstetter, to her son Leo Ringelstetter (regarding the Pfeiffer family): They left Germany May 24, 1885 to immigrate to United States. Arrived June 9, 1885 to Spring Green. Two days by train to Bremen; nine days to New York. Steamer Fulda. 1600 Marks. By train to Spring Green. Thomas Schwartz took them in on farm in Wilson Creek. Michael was a farmer, musician and weaver. He worked on railroad construction first in Bavaria. Bought Mike Rieder farm 3 months later, took possession Aug. 1885 for $2400. Farm in Upper Wilson Creek, Town of Spring Green, Wisconsin. Sold to son-in-law Mike Ringelstetter for $8000 about 1915. Margaret [Pfeiffer] married Michael Ringelstetter, May 7, 1903 at Plain. [Michael Ringelstetter] bought Henry Frank farm next to Pfeiffer homestead $5500 Oct. 1903. Bought [Pfeiffer] homestead about 1915. Sold both to Herman J. Ringelstetter, April 1919. As told by Anne Kraemer Frank (age 97) on April 28, 1996: Anne remembered Michael Pfeiffer very well and recalled that Michael took his two big white horses to town to get a keg of beer. Michael buried the beer keg in the ground to keep the beer cool. Michael was a saxaphone player. Anne's brother wanted to buy the saxaphone, but Michael did not sell it. As told by Gisela Frank Kraemer (Mrs. Edward Kraemer) (age 102) on June 19, 1996: Gisela Frank was born in Upper Wilson Creek. The Frank home is across the hill from the Herman Ringelstetter - Mike Pfeiffer farm. The Frank home is located on Wilson Creek Rd. A lady named Pfeiffer died in a log house. When Mrs. Pfeiffer died, the wake was at the Pfeiffer log house. From the house they went by horse and buggy up to Plain to church with the funeral procession. There was no hearse in those days. They used a milk wagon. When asked if Gisela knew Mike Pfeiffer, she said she not recognize the name Mike. She just knew him as Pfeiffer. They called people by their last name. Mr. Pfeiffer was in the army in Germany; he liked music. Joseph Nachreiner had an accordion. Mr. Pfeiffer played Joseph's accordion. The Pfeiffers walked to church at Plain. They walked over the hill by Laubmeiers, it must've been a mile. Then from there they went up where Haas' live. As told by Anton Blau (age 73) of Plain, Wisconsin on November 6, 1977: "Well anyhow, this Mike Pfeiffer, he was Mike Ringelstetter's dad [correction: father-in-law], and he stayed with Mike on the farm. And as I remember, I was just a kid, the story goes: He couldn't understand English and the salesman said to Mike, "Hello, Mr. Pfeiffer." Mr. Pfeiffer said in German, "Ya da meestdee bean y'all da va" [spelled how Anton said it]. That meant: He was the barn cleaner all the time. [Anton chuckles] One didn't know what the other one said. I jist can barely remember him. If it wouldn't be for that story, I probably wouldn't." 1893 Sauk County, Wisconsin, plat map Spring Green Township, Section 27: M. Pfifer, 120 acres 1895 Wisconsin State Census Spring Green township, Sauk County, Wisconsin Michael Pfiefer 1 male 3 females 4 born in Germany Stained-glass window In 1900, Michael and Margaretha Pfeiffer donated a stained glass window for the newly-built St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church located on North Washington Street in Spring Green. The names "Michael & Margaretha Pfeifer" were inscribed on the window. The location of the window was in the southwest corner of the building. When entering through the main entrance doors, it was the first window on the right, on the long side of the building. On March 2, 1988, a fire destroyed the church, including the Pfeiffer window. 1900 U.S. Federal Census Spring Green Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin Lines 16-18 16) Michael Phife [Pfeiffer], head, white, male, age 67, born March 1833, married 35 years, born Germany, occupation farmer, immigration year 1885, living in United States 15 years, Naturalized. 17) Margaret Phife [Pfeiffer], wife, white, female, age 71, born Dec. 1828, married 35 years, 4 children born, 4 children living, born Germany, immigration year 1885, living in United States 15 years. 18) Margaret Phife [Pfeiffer], daughter, white, female, age 28, single, born Aug. 1871, born Germany, immigration year 1885, living in United States 15 years. Death of Margaretha Vogl Pfeiffer Margaretha died at age 72 on October 28, 1901 in Wilson Creek, Spring Green Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. An obituary was not found. Death record, St. Luke's Catholic Church, Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin, 1897 to 1938, page 8. Day Book from Lins & Hood of Spring Green, Wisconsin, (February 14, 1901 thru April 21, 1902). Oct. 28, 1901, page 310: Mike Piefer More information is below. 1905 Wisconsin State Census Town of Spring Green, Sauk County Sheet No. 6 Enumeration date: June 1, 1905 Line 36-39 Note: Lines 27-35, Family #107, is the Andrew and Catherine [Pfeiffer] Ringelstetter family. Catherine is the daughter of Michael Pfeiffer. Lines 36-39, Family #108, is Michael Pfeiffer and his daughter's family: Michael Ringelstetter and Margaret Pfeiffer.Lines 40-44, Family #109 is the George and Barbara [Pfeiffer] Hetzel family. Barbara is the daughter of Michael Pfeiffer. 1906 Sauk County, Wisconsin, plat map Spring Green Township, Section 27: M. Pfeiffer, 140 acres. Geo. Hetzel, 160 acres. Section 34: A. Ringelstetter, 120 acres. The Pfeiffer log house as it looked in the fall of 1968, Section 27, Spring Green Township: The log house on Butternut Road caved in some time after 1968. Boards from the house were retrieved by family members as a remembrance of the Pfeiffer home. 1910 U.S. Federal Census Spring Green, Sauk County, Wisconsin Lines 3-8, Family #50. 3) Mike Ringstetter [Ringelstetter], head 4) Margret [Pfeiffer Ringelstetter], wife 5) Rose [Ringelstetter], daughter 6) Clemence [Clement Ringelstetter], son 7) Anton [?], son 8) Mike Fifer [Michael Pfeiffer), father-in-law, male, white, age 76, widowed, born Germany, parents born Germany, immigration year 1885, naturlized or alien: Pa; speaks German, occupation none, can read and write. Lines 18-25, Family #53, is the George and Barbara (Pfeiffer) Hetzel family: Lewis (Louis), Rosa (Rose), Leo, Agnes, Mary, Wolfgang Witman (nephew). Death of Michael Pfeiffer From 1903 to 1925, Michael lived in Sauk County, Wisconsin with his daughters Margaret Pfeiffer Ringelstetter and Barbara Pfeiffer Hetzel. He died at age 92 at the home his daughter Barbara in Spring Green Township in Sauk County on April 30, 1925. An obituary for Michael Pfeiffer was not found in area German and English newspapers. Michael and his wife Margaretha were buried in St. Luke Catholic Cemeteries, Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Margaretha was buried in the old cemetery, while Michael was buried in the new cemetery. Tombstone inscriptions: Hier ruht in Frieden (here rests in peace) Margaretha (Margaretha) Gattin von (wife of) Michael (Michael) Pfeiffer (Pfeiffer) Gest. (died) (Gest. = Gestorben) Oct. 28, 1901 (October 28, 1901) Alter 73 Jhr (age 73 years) (Jhr = Jahr) 10 Mo. (10 months) (Mo. = Monate) Michael Pfeiffer 1833-1925 Photos of the tombstones can be found at the Findagrave website: Michael Pfeiffer death record, Baraboo, Sauk County Courthouse, Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, Vol. 16, page 64: Place of death: County of Sauk, township of Spring Green Full Name Michael Pfifer Sex: Male Color: White Marital status: Widowed Date of death: April 30, 1925 Date of birth: March 17, 1833 Age: 92 years, 1 month, 10 days Occupation: Retired Farmer Birthplace: Germany Father: Geo. Pfifer Birthplace of father: Germany Maiden name of mother: Mary Grauvogel Birthplace of mother: Germany Informant: Geo. Hetzel, Spring Green, Wis. I hereby certify that I attended deceased from 4/ 24/1925 to 4/30/1925; that I last saw him alive on 4/30/1925, and that death occurred on the date stated above at 5 a.m. The cause of death was as follows; Mitial Insufficiency with chronic nepheitis. Duration: 3 years Signed: C. M. Wahl, M.D. Spring Green, Wis on 4/30/1925 Place of burial: Plain, Wis Date of burial: May 2, 1925 Undertaker: Jos. M. Nachreiner, Plain, Wis Joseph M. Nachreiner, Funeral and Burial records of Joseph M. Nachreiner (Plain, Wisconsin, 1903-1930), book 1, page 250, Michael Pfeiffer funeral record: Name of Deceased: Mickel Pfifer Charge to: Geo Hetzel Date of Funeral: May 2 - 1925 Place of Death: Spring Green town Funeral Services at: Church Time of Funeral Services: 10 AM Clergyman: Rev Geo Surges Certifying Physician: M. Bosard His Residence: Spring Green Date of Death: April 30 Occupation of the Deceased: Farmer Single or Married; Widow Relition: Catolic Aged: 92 years, 1 months, 10 days Size and Style of Casket or Coffin: Black half Chouch Number of Handles: 6 Interment at: New St Luke Cemetery Price of Casket or Coffin: $125.00 Burial Robe: $7.50 Embalming Body (with Frigid Fluid) $15.00 Hearse: $20.00 Michael Pfeiffer's Last Will was found in Sauk County, Wisconsin. His last name is spelled Pfifer. |
