More about the Ruskauff family
Anton Mohelnitzky & Mary Ruskauff (and Mary's 2nd husband George Milfred)
Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky Milfred
Anton Mohelnitzky (1848-1893) and wife Mary Christine Ruskauff (1854-1936). Married on February 6, 1872, at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church in Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin.
Mary Christine Ruskauff Mohelnitzky Milfred was born June 28, 1854, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to German immigrants, Johann Conrad Ruskauff and Anna Elisabeth Freker. Johann Ruskauff and Anna Freker emigrated from the county of Osnabrück in Niedersachsen, Germany, sometime before their November 17, 1846 marriage in Pittsburgh.
In 1865 at age 11, Mary Ruskauff, her parents and her 8 siblings left Pennsylvania and moved to Richland County, Wisconsin, settling on a farm in Westford Township. Two more children were born to Johann and Anna (Freker) Ruskauff in Richland County.
At age 17, Mary was married to her first husband, Anton Mohelnitzky, on February 6, 1872, at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church in Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin.
Anton Mohelnitzky was an emigrant from Bohemia (possibly from Seltschan, Bohemia which is now known, in 2007, as Sedlicanech/Sedlcany, Czech Republic) and was placed in St. Aemilian's Orphan Asylum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in March 1858. He left the orphanage in May 1859. His sisters, Julia and Mary Mohelnitzky were also placed in orphanages at the same time, but at St. Rose Orphan Asylum in Milwaukee. Anton became a harness maker and worked in Chicago a short time near the time of his marriage to Mary.
On January 4, 1874, Mary's father, Johann Ruskauff died in a tragic accident while holding a team of frightened horses. He was about to begin unloading railroad ties when the team of horses became frightened by a passing train. "To prevent the horses from running off, he stepped in front and took the horses by the bits; they dashed forward about 20 feet, throwing Mr. Roscoff with such force on the frozen ground as to break in his skull and otherwise injure him. He was taken up by those present, and supposed to be dead, but came to partial consciousness, in which state he was taken to his home by his friends, and died on Sunday evening." [Reedsburg Free Press (Reedsburg, Wisconsin)]
Mary and Anton became the parents of nine children: John Mohelnitzky, George Mohelnitzky (died at age 7 in 1885), Julia Mohelnitzky Braun, Theresa Mohelnitzky Williams, Frank Mohelnitzky Mohr, Frances Mohelnitzky Kussman, Abalonia Mohelnitzky (died in infancy in 1887), and Henrietta Mohelnitzky Duren. The family lived in Westford Township, LaValle and New Lisbon for a time, while Anton pursued his occupation as harness maker.
The family then moved to Milwaukee and lived at 457 17th Street and then 1404 Cherry Street. Anton became ill and died of pneumonia at age 45 on December 22, 1893. Anton was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee. Mary and her 7 children, ranging in age from 19 to 5, remained in Milwaukee, and from the years 1894 to 1901, they lived in various homes: 722 Galena, 540 10th Street, 648 10th Street, and 550 10th Street.
In 1900, Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky's widowed mother, Anna E. Freker Ruskauff (age 72), was a border in the Peter & Hanna Milfred household in Westford Township, Richland County, Wisconsin. Peter's parents, George Milfred (age 72) and Margret (Martin) Milfred (age 75) also lived in the household. George and Margret had another son named George Milfred (a widower with several young children, the youngest being 8 years old). Perhaps Anna Freker Ruskauff told her widowed daughter, Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky, that George Milfred would be a good catch and needed a mother figure for his children. In any event, George Milfred and Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky joined together in marriage in 1903. Unfortunately, Mary's mother did not live to see the wedding since she died on January 15, 1902.
Marriage of Anton Mohelnitzky and Mary Ruskauff, February 6, 1872
44.Registration of Marriages.No. 612.Date of Registration: Mar. 11, 1872.Color: "Full name of the husband, and that of the wife previous to her marriage: Mohelnesky Anthony, Buskauf Mary.Occupation of said husband: Harness Maker.Residence of husband: Chicago.Birthplace of husband: Austria.The place, town or township and county where the marriage was contracted: Cazenovia.The time when the marriage was contracted: Feb. 6, 1872.By what ceremony contracted: Religious.Name of person pronouncing marriage: W. Barnard.Residence of person last named: Cazenovia.Names of subscribing witnesses: Mohelnitzky A.; Schulty MaryDate of certificate: Feb. 17, 1872.Name of the father and mother of husband: Buskauf John Konrad; Frecker Ann Mary.Name of the father and mother of wife: Mohelnitzky A.; Schulty Mary.[The names of parents of the bride and groom are reversed; the names of the witnesses are also assumed to be incorrect and appear to be the names of the groom who were said to have died in the 1850s. The correct names of the parents were: Antonin Mohelnicky and Mary Sulc/Schulz; Johann Conrad Ruskauff and Anna Elisabeth Freker.]Record sent by mail on February 28, 1996 to Dean Blau from St. Joseph Congregation, 12130 West Center St., Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222, from Marianne Dreikosen, Parish Secretary. Also sent was the death record of Anton Mohelnitzky (1893).Another version:
Marriage Certificate: Vol. B, page 44, No. 612:
Date of registration: March 11, 1872
Full name of husband and that of the wife previous to marriage:
Mohelnisky, Anthony & Ruskauf, Mary
Occupation of said husband: harness maker
Residence of husband: Chicago
Birthplace of husband: Austria
The place, town, township or county where the marriage was contracted: Cazenovia
The time when the marriage was contracted: Feb. 6, 1872
By what ceremony contracted: Religious
Name of person pronouncing marriage: W. Bernard
Residence of person last named: Cazenovia
Name of subscribing witnesses: Mohelnitsky A & Schulty Mary
Date of Certificate: Feb. 17, 1872
Name of the father and mother of husband: Ruskauf John K & Frecker Ann Mary
Name of father and mother of wife: Mohelnitsky A & Schulty Mary
[The names of parents of the bride and groom are reversed; the names of the witnesses are also assumed to be incorrect and appear to be the names of the groom who were said to have died in the 1850s. The correct names of the parents were: Antonin Mohelnicky and Mary Sulc/Schulz; Johann Conrad Ruskauff and Anna Elisabeth Freker.]
Familien-Chronik
Anton Mohelnitzky undMaria Ruskauff geheiratetden 6ten Februar 1872.Conrad Sebastian geboren 12 Sept [illegible - 1874][ditto marks for "geboren"]Johan Anton 3 Feb. 1876Georg Heinrich 8 Dec. 1877Julia Maria 26 Aug 1879[illegible - Theresa] E. 10 Feb. 1881Frank Florence 15 Oct. 1882Francis Chri[Christina?] 3 Jan. 188[illegible - 1885]Abalonia 8 May 1887Mary Eda 22[illegible 29?] May 1888Mary Mohelni[page torn] [born?] 1854 [Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky][Note: the dates are written in this Bible using the English style "Dec"/"May"/"Oct" - the German language changed the spelling to "Dez"/"Mai"/"Okt" about early 1900.][geheiratet=married. geboren=born]Cazenovia, Wisconsin
Anton Mohelnitzky and Mary Ruskauff lived in Cazenovia, Sauk/Richland Counties, Wisconsin, when they were first married. Anton had a harness shop there.
Anton and Mary were married on February 6, 1872 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin.
Anton and Mary (Ruskauff) Mohelnitzky home in Cazenovia
The first two photos below were taken on February 23, 1975; the bottom two photos were taken July 19, 1992 (after remodeling).
Anton and Mary's children
Click here to see a Family Group Sheet
A request was made to the Catholic church in LaValle for baptismal information, but there was no reply. No registrations for Mohelnitzky births were found in the Juneau County Courthouse in Mauston, Wisconsin.
A baptism record for Henrietta Mohelnitzky was found at St. Paul Catholic Church, New Lisbon, Juneau County, Wisconsin; the date of baptism was June 16, 1888.
The last name is spelled wrong and should be "Mohelnitzky." The census shows the family of Anton "Tony" Mohelnitzky and his wife, Mary (Ruskauff) Mohelnitzky
1880 Census, June 28, Village of Cazenovia, Town of Westford, Richland County, Wisconsin. Dwelling house number 180, persons numbered 25-30 Mohinsky, Tony [Anton Mohelnitzky], white, male, age 31, married, Harness Maker, place of birth Austria, place of birth of the father Austria, place of birth of the mother Austria;Mary [Ruskauff], white, female, age 26, Wife, married, Keeping house, place of birth Penn, place of birth of father Prusia, place of birth of mother Prusia;Conrad, white, male, age 6, single, attended school within the Census year, place of birth Wis, place of birth of father Austria, place of birth of mother Prusia;John, white, male, age 5, single, attended school within the Census year, place of birth Wis, place of birth of father Austria, place of birth of mother Prusia;George, white, male, age 2, place of birth Wis, place of birth of father Austria, place of birth of mother Prusia;Julia, white, female, age 10/12, If born within the Census year give the month - Aug; place of birth Wis, place of birth of father Austria, place of birth of mother Prusia.Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Cazenovia, Richland, Wisconsin; Roll: T9_1445; Family History Film: 1255445; Page: 199.3000; Enumeration District: 243.
Hold Family Gathering. Memories of by-gone days were renewed at a pleasant family gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Milfred at Cazenovia, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ruskauff of Riverside, California, on Wednesday, June 10. Seventeen years have elapsed since the latter's last visit to Cazenovia. Other guests present were: Mrs. Anna P. Duren, Anthony R. Duren and daughter, Bertha, and son, Henry, and family, of Lone Rock; the William Moyes family, Hillpoint; Jos. R. Duren, Madison; Anthony Milfred, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brown, Ironton; Rev. T. Froling, Rev. M. Weishar, Ironton; Rev. J. M. Raker, Wilton; Mr. and Mrs. T. Bauer and daughters, Helen and Marie; Miss Froling, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Duren and daughter, Sophia, of Reedsburg; Mr. and Mrs. James Cunnigham and Mr. and Mrs. James Whalen of Melanthon Creek.Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ruskauff, the guests of honor, have left for Lima, Ohio, to visit relatives and friends at Mrs. Ruskauff's former home. From there they will go to Pittsburg, Penn., to visit Mr. Ruskauff's relatives before they return to California.
[Source: Reedsburg Times (Reedsburg, Wisconsin), June 19, 1925, page 4, column 4]
Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky and second husband George Milfred
Mary Ruskauff tombstone (click to go to Findagrave.com)
Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky Milfred - Obituary
Mrs. George Milfred. Mrs. George Milfred passed away March 14th 1936. Death followed a prolonged sickness. Funeral services were held Tuesday, at St. Anthony's Church and interment took place at St. Anthony's Cemetery. Surviving are the husband, and six children of a former marriage; John Mohelnitzky of Wausau; Mrs. Frank Braun of Ironton; Mrs. Henry Williams, Madison; Mr. Frank Mohr of Milwaukee; Mrs. Arthur Kussman, Los Angeles, Cal.; and Mrs. Frank Duren of Cazenovia, as well as twenty-six grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Peter Duren, Sr., Milwaukee; and three brothers, Frank, Herman, and George Ruskauff, of Los Angeles, Cal. Pittsburg, Penn., and Madison, Wis., respectively. Those from out of town who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. George Ruskauff and children, Irene and John; and Mrs. Henry Williams, all of Madison.
[Source: March 20, 1936, page 1, column 5, Cazenovia Reporter (Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin)]
Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky Milfred - Death Record
State of Wisconsin, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Original Certificate of Death.Registered No. 23Personal and Statistical Particulars1. Place of Death: County: Richland; Township or Village: Cazenovia2. Full name: Mary Christine Milfred2a. Residence: Cazenovia3. Sex: F4. Color or race: White5. Single, married, widowed or divorced: Married5a. If married, widowed, or divorced, Husband or (or) Wife of: George Milfred6. Date of birth (month, day and year): 18547. Age: 81 years, 8 months, 15 days8. Trade, profession, or particular kind of work done, as spinner, sawyer, bookkeeper, etc.: Housewife9. Industry: [blank]10. Date deceased last worked at this occupation: [blank]11. Total time spent in this occupation: [blank]12. Birthplace (city or town): Pittsburg; (State or country): Penn.13. Father Name: Conrad Ruskauff14. Father Birthplace (city or town) (State or country): Germany15. Mother Name: Anne Frecker16. Mother Birthplace (city or town) (State or country): Germany17. Informant (address): Geo Milfred, Cazenovia, Wis.18. Burial, cremation, or removal: Place Cazenovia; Date Mar 17, 193619. Undertaker (address): J O Nelson, Cazenovia, Wis20. Filed: Mar 19, 1936; Registrar: Chas Kiehl[?]Medical Certificate of Death21. Date of death (month, day, and year): March 14, 1936 [Feb. was crossed off]22. I hereby certify, that I attended deceased from July 10, 1935 to Feb. 14, 1936. I last saw her alive on March 13, 1936 [month smudged] death is said to have occurred on the date stated above, at 6:00 AM.The principal cause of death and related causes of importance in order of onset were as follows:Acute delitalim (heart)Contributory causes of importance not related to principal cause: arterio sclerosis & chronic interatitial nephritis.23. If death was due to external causes (violence) fill in also the of following: [blank]24. Was disease or injury in any way related to occupation of deceased?: [blank](Signed): Dr J E Hanko, M.D.(Address): Cazenovia, Wis.[Copied from Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Wisconsin, Madison, Dane County, $7.00]St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church. Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin
Station of the Cross IV: In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Milfred.
Stained-glass window to the left of the Station #IV: In Memory of Mr. Mrs. Geo. Milfred.
"Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Milfred" is presumed to be Mary Ruskauff Mohelnitzky and/or Anna Marie Braun and George Milfred
Pictures from 1992
Sometime between 1992 and 2007, the plaques underneath the Stations of the Cross were removed and nailed to a Memorials board which hangs in the entrance area of the church.
Pictures from 2007.