Michael Gruber and Frances Ruhland
Michael "Mike" Gruber
Michael Gruber was born on April 26, 1849, in Prosdorf, Kreis Cham, Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. He was baptized in the parish of Waldmuenchen, the son of Johann Georg Gruber and Katharina Riederer. He emigrated from Germany in 1871 (no ship list was found) at age 22. A family story says he needed to quickly leave Germany due to having killed a man with his fists in Waldmünchen. It turned out the man had not died, but in the meantime, Michael had taken no chances and escaped to America. He died on January 30, 1931, at the home of his daughter Margaret Brechtl in Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin, and was buried on February 2, 1931, in St. Luke's new cemetery in Plain, Wisconsin.
Franziska "Frances" Ruhland
Franziska was born on October 24, 1848, in Untergrafenried, Kreis Cham, Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. She was baptized in the parish of Ast, Kreis Cham, Bavaria, the illegitimate daughter of Barbara Ruhland and Franz Xaver Zilker (who were not married). She emigrated from Germany about 1868 to 1870 (no ship list was found) at age 20-22. She died on April 9, 1925, of pneumonia and "LaGrippe" at her home in Spring Green, Sauk County, Wisconsin. She was buried on April 13, 1925, at the old St. Luke Cemetery in Plain (south of the village). On February 17, 1931, Frances' body was disinterred from the old cemetery and taken to the new St. Luke cemetery in Plain so that she could be buried with her husband who was buried on February 2, 1931.
Michael Gruber and Frances Ruhland were married on August 20, 1872, at St. Ann Catholic Church, Buffalo, Erie County, New York.
Marriage of Michael Gruber and Francisca RuhlandAugust 20, 1872St. Ann Catholic Church, Buffalo, Erie County, New York40Michael GruberetFrancisca RuhlandDie 20. Augusti matrimonio post tresproclamationeo juncti sunt MichaelGruber fil. leg. Georgii et Annae MariaeGruber ex Bavaria et FranciscaRuhland fil. illeg. Barbarae Ruhland exBavaria. Testes fuere Joannes Ruhlandet Franciscus Bierl.Al. Suter S J.Translation:20 August (1872) matrimony after threeproclamations are married MichaelGruber legitimate child of Georg and Anna MariaGruber from Bavaria and FranciscaRuhland illegitimate child of Barbara Ruhland fromBavaria. Witnesses were John Ruhlandand Francis Bierl.Al. Suter S J (Society of Jesus; Jesuit) (Priest)Marriage certificate sent in 1996 from St. Ann's Parish House, 491 Emslie St., Buffalo, NY 14212
Children
Their first child, Anna Maria, was baptized at St. Ann Catholic Church in Buffalo, NY, on June 22, 1873; Anna died on March 21, 1874, and was buried in Buffalo. Their remaining 10 children were born in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
- Anna Maria Gruber, was baptized in Buffalo, NY, on June 22, 1873; she died on March 21, 1874, and was buried in Buffalo.
- Gustina Gruber (married Simon B. Nachreiner)
- Frances Gruber (married John J. Haas)
- Anna Justina Gruber (married Joseph Blau, a recent widow)
- Rose Gruber (married Joseph Alt)
- Caroline Gruber (married John Blau)
- Joseph Gruber (married Emma Alt)
- Theresia Gruber (married Alois Michael "Shorty" Pletzer)
- Michael John Gruber (married Mary A. Pletzer)
- Mary Margaret Gruber (married John B. Brechtl)
- Anton John Gruber (married Clara B. Soeldner)
Gruber farm in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin
In 1874, Michael and Frances moved from Buffalo to Sauk County, Wisconsin. The first evidence of their living in Wisconsin was the June 1875 Wisconsin State Census which showed they lived in Franklin Township in Sauk County. Page 63 of the census lists "Michael Grura" with 1 male and 2 females. There is no evidence that they lived in the Waupun, Wisconsin, area (see endnote).
The 1877 plat map shows "M. Grouber" in Franklin Township in Section 1. Adjoining the property in Section 2 of Bear Creek Township was "J. Gruves." M Grouber may have been Michael Gruber. Perhaps J Gruves was Michael's brother Johann Baptist Gruber (1844-1917) who married Justina Liegel in 1872 and lived in Bear Creek Township. Spelling on maps were often incorrect.
In August 1905, Michael Gruber purchased a farm from E. B. Evans in Big Hollow in Bear Creek Township. Michael's family lived in a log house in the woods (behind the present buildings pictured here). Michael and Frances' daughter Rose Gruber married Joseph Alt in 1902. After this, Rose and Joseph Alt and family lived at this farm. A date of 1913 on the house is likely when it was built. This farm is located west of Plain, in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. From Plain, drive west on Highway B, then turn right on Highway G. Drive 2.2 miles to the homestead site of Michael Gruber and his wife, Frances Ruhland.
The current address is S10104 CTH G (Bear Creek Township)
GPS info: N:48:43:16.681 / W:090:06.067
Photos taken in July 2007 by bcb
Michael Gruber
Unidentified people are standing on the porch. This is a brick house built in 1913 where the Grubers lived, as previously mentioned, at S10104 CTH G (Bear Creek Township, west of Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin).
Frances Ruhland Gruber obituary - April 23, 1925
Frances Ruhland was born October 24, 1848 at Untergrafenried, Germany. At the age of 20 years, in 1868 she came to America. In 1872, she married Mike Gruber and they lived on a farm near Plain a number of years. Later they moved to a farm in Big Hollow and in 1916 came to Spring Green to reside. To them were born 10 children; Mrs. John Blau, Mrs. Joseph Alt, Mrs. John Brechtl, Mrs. Simon Nachreiner of Plain, Mrs. J. J. Haas, Mrs. Alois Pletzer, Mike Gruber, Tony Gruber and Joseph Gruber of Spring Green (Mrs. Joseph Blau was not mentioned). Besides these children, Mrs. Gruber is survived by her husband; 57 grandchildren and 10 great-children. Mrs. Gruber died at her home in Spring Green April 9, 1925 after a brief illness. Funeral services were held at St. John's church April 13, conducted by Rev. Fr. Weikmann who was assisted by Rev. Fr. Surges of Plain, Stropher of Adams and Pickle of Prairie du Chien. Interment was made at Plain. (Weekly Home News (Spring Green, Wisconsin), April 23, 1925, page 1, column 4)
Michael Gruber death record - January 30, 1931
State of Wisconsin, Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics. Original Certificate of Death. Registered No. 1.
[date stamp on top] Feb 9, 1931
1. Place of death: Sauk County, Village Plain.
Length of residence in city or town where death occurred: 5 yrs.
How long in U. S., if of foreign birth?: 55 yrs.
2. Full name: Michael Gruber.
Did deceased serve in the military or naval forces of the United States?: No.
3. Sex: Male.
4. Color or Race: White.
5. Single, married, widowed or divorced: Widowed.
5a. If married, widowed, or divorced, Husband of Thresia Gruber [*should be Frances Ruhland Gruber]
6. Date of birth: [not filled in]
7. Age: 81 years 9 months 7 days.
8. Trade... Farmer.
12. Birthplace: Germany.
13. Father name: Baptist Gruber
14. Father birthplace: Germany.
15. Mother maiden name: not known
16. Mother birthplace: Germany.
17. Informant: Joseph Gruber, address Spring Green, Wis.
18. Burial, cremation, or removal: Place: St. Luke's Plain. Date: Feb. 2, 1931.
19. Undertaker: Joseph Lins, Spring Green, Wis.
20. Filed: 1/31 1931; Sub-registrar: Anton Schlosser
21. Date of death: Jan. 30, 1931
22. I hereby certify, that I attended deceased from Jan [June?] 1, 1930 to Jan. 28, 1930 [should be 1931]. I last saw him alive on Jan. 28, 1930, death is said to have occurred on the date stated above, at 4 am. The principal cause of death and related causes of importance in order of onset were as follows: Carcenoma stomach. Contributory. Date of onset: May 1, 1930. Contributory causes: none. Name of operation: none. What test confirmed diagnosis: none. Was there an autopsy? no.
24. Was disease or injury in any way related to occupation of deceased? no.
Signed: P H Fowler, M.D., address: Plain, Wis.
Uncertified death record from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Wisconsin, Madison, Dane County.
*The copy on file at the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo, Wisconsin, is worded differently and lists the wife's name as Frances. According to other records, the father's name was Georg Gruber, not Baptist Gruber.
Michael Gruber obituary - February 12, 1931
Michael Gruber, Sr. was born in Waldmuenchen, Bavaria, Germany April 26, 1849 and departed this life Friday January 30, 1931 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Brechtl, aged 81 years, 9 months and 11 days. The funeral services were conducted at St. Luke's chapel, Plain by the Rev. Frs. Beschta, Surges and Zaun, interment being made in St. Luke's new cemetery. The decedent came from Waldmuenchen to Buffalo, New York in 1871 and in 1972 was united in marriage to Miss Frances Ruhland. To this union, eleven children were born; three sons, Joseph, Michael, Jr. and Anthony; and eight daughters, Mrs. John Brechtl, Mrs. Alois Pletzer, Mrs. John Blau, Mrs. Jos. Alt, Mrs. Jos. Blau, Sr., Mrs. John Haas, Mrs. Simon Nachreiner and Mary Ann who died at the age of nine months. Mr. Gruber also leaves to mourn 64 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. In the year 1874 Mr. Gruber moved from Buffalo, New York to Wisconsin and as one of the early settlers, worked hard at clearing land and building a home for his family. His first location was on the farm now owned by Jos. Alt where he resided 28 years. From there he moved to Plain to recuperate his health. Then he went to Big Hollow on the farm of Michael Jr. and in 1913 bought the farm now owned by his son Tony. In 1916, he moved to Spring Green where he resided until the death of his wife in 1925. When he went to Plain and spent his declining years with Mrs. John Blau and Mrs. Brechtl. (Weekly Home News (Spring Green, Wisconsin), February 12, 1931, page 1, column 4)
Endnote
In 2014, Mary Anne Brechtl Hutter Liegel, age 91, wrote a story of her memories. However, there were some errors. Here is a paragraph about Michael Gruber and Frances Ruhland:
"Mary Anne's Grandpa Michael Gruber and Grandma Frances (Ruhland) Gruber (Margaret's parents) were married in 1798. Grandpa Gruber came from Germany and started out in the Waupun area. They moved down to the Plain area because they heard that Juice Voelkel had a lot of land to sell. This included all the land that is currently the St. Luke School, Church, Priest house and playground and over to the land where the cyclone took out that Church and Rectory. Frances was 9 years old when she came over from Germany. Mary Anne's Great grandmother was a Rieder. . . . My Mother's name was Margaret Mary Gruber born March 19, 1891. . . She was the youngest of 10 children."
Corrections:
A marriage record for Michael and Frances was dated August 20, 1872 at St. Ann Catholic Church, Buffalo, Erie County, New York. They were not married in 1798.
There is no evidence that Michael and Frances lived in the Waupun area. If they did, it was anytime between March 21, 1874 and June 1, 1875.
Jodakus "Jost" Voelkel donated land for the first Catholic Church in Plain (Source: obituary of Lorna Elizabeth Needham Weitzel in June 2010). Jost was born in 1814. He lived in Burlington, Racine County after 1852. By 1860, he and his wife Mary Reuschlein lived in Franklin Township in Sauk County, WI; Jost died in 1883, buried in the old St. Luke cemetery. The land he would have donated was for the St. Luke Catholic church that was located on the south end of Plain - not where the present 1940 church is located. The first church was built in 1861; the second church was built in 1885. The 1877 plat map of Franklin Township shows "J. Voelkel" property in Section 8; in the same area are icons of a church and two other buildings with arrows pointing to the right. Nearby in Section 7 was St. Luke's old cemetery. There is an "M. Grouber" in Franklin Township in Section 1.
In August 1905, Michael Gruber purchased a farm from E. B. Evans in Big Hollow in Bear Creek Township.
Michael and Frances' farm was not located near St. Luke's church property. They settled in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin (see photos on the left).
Frances Ruhland was age 20-22 when she emigrated. There is no evidence that France's mother Barbara Ruhland went to America.
Mother of Michael Gruber was Katharina Riederer, not Rieder.
Margaret Mary Gruber was not the youngest of 10 children, a younger brother was Anton Gruber.