Fifth Generation

30. Martin ACHTENBERG (*) was born on 4 November 1817 in Gramsdorf, Kreis Obornik, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). The 19th century Prussian province of Posen was called Wielkopolska, literally "Greater Poland," until 1793. This region was the historical center of origin of the Polish Nation in the 10th century and has always been one of the richest and most developed provinces of Poland.

In 1793 (as a result of the Second Partition of Poland), Greater Poland was taken over by Prussia and initially renamed "Southern Prussia." After 1815 this term was no longer used and the Province of Pozen was established, using the name of its capital town, Poznan (German: Posen).

This is often misleading, because often "Posen" suggests the town, when usually the entire province is meant. After Germany lost WW I, the territory of the Province of Posen was returned to Poland, which was then restored as an independent nation. He was christened on 9 November 1817 in Gramsdorf, Kreis Obornik, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). Kreis Obornik (Polish: Powiat obornicki) was a district in Regierungsbezirk Posen in the Prussian province of Posen until 1919. Its territory presently lies in the north-western part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship. He emigrated on 9 August 1877 from Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). He and his wife and their two youngest children, Auguste and Eduard, emigrated from Bremen on the S.S. Neckar and arrived in New York on 9 August 1877. The ship's manifest listed his occupation as "Workman." Martin was Lutheran about 1878 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. He was listed in the Church Register as member number 53 of the first 100 members of the congregation of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

"On March 13 (year unknown), the congregation took title to a plot of ground comprising two acres, purchasing the same from Martin Achtenberg, for a consideration of $275.00." Between 1878 and 1895 he was a farmer in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. From an article in the Tomah Journal, dated October 16, 1897: "Mr. and Mrs. Achtenberg, who have been in Tomah the last year, have again taken up their residence in this locality, this time with their daughter, Mrs. Aug. Kevit." He appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. His household consisted of Martin, age 63, occupation farmer, and birth place of Prussia; his wife "Tina," age 54, birth place Prussia; and their son Edward, age 9, birth place Prussia. His occupation was listed as "Farmer."

His daughter, Gustie, age 14, was not listed in the household and it is not known where she was living.
Martin appeared in the census in 1885 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. His household consisted of 2 men and 1 woman--probably Martin; his wife, Anna; and their youngest son, Ed. Two were listed as having been born in the United States and 1 in Germany; that was an error, as Martin and Anna were both born in Germany. He was naturalized on 1 November 1894 in Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1895 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. Martin appeared in the census in 1900 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. He and his wife were living in the household of their daughter Amelia and her family. He died on 20 June 1905 at the age of 87 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI. He was buried on 22 June 1905 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Martin has Ancestral File Number LRXL-R9B. Gustine Auguste "Anna" KUTHLOW (*) and Martin ACHTENBERG (*) were married on 30 October 1849 in Szamocin, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). Szamoczino, in the Piast-ruled Kingdom of Poland, was first mentioned in a 1364 deed, although it surely existed earlier and was probably founded in the 12th century. It was a private village of Polish nobility, administratively located in the Kcynia County in the Kalisz Voivodeship in the Greater Poland Province of the Polish Crown.  It received town privileges from the hands of King Augustus III of Poland in 1748.

In the First partition of Poland in 1772 the town was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia, fell to the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 and was restored to Prussia in 1815, whereafter it was governed within the Kreis Kolmar in Posen, part of the Grand Duchy of Posen.

During the Industrial Revolution, the town evolved to a centre of the weaving industry. From 1871 it was part of Germany. After World War I, in 1918, Poland regained independence, and the Greater Poland Uprising broke out, which goal was to reintegrate the region with the reborn Polish state. 

31. Gustine Auguste "Anna" KUTHLOW (*) was born on 15 October 1826 in Waldberg, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). Anna's tombstone lists her name as "Gustine A." In the 1880 Census, her name was listed as "Tina." On the marriage certificate of her daughter Auguste, she was listed as "Anna Gustine, " and on the church marriage record she was listed as "Justine."

The Kreis Kolmar in Posen (1818–1877 Kreis Chodziesen) was a district in the northern government region of Bromberg in the Prussian Province of Posen, from 1818 to 1920. The district capital was Kolmar in Posen. She emigrated on 9 August 1877 from Preussen (Prussia). She appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. Anna appeared in the census in 1885 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1895 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. Anna died on 27 January 1904 at the age of 77 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She was buried on 28 January 1904 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Children were:

	i.	Emelia "Emilie" ACHTENBERG was born on 23 August 1850 in Szamocin, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). (The church record for her marriage and the church Family Register indicate that she was born in Aug 1851; the FamilySearch.com website lists her birthdate as 23 Aug 1850 and her Christening date as 1 Dec 1850.) (Her given name is listed as "Amelia" in her husband's obituary and in the 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1920 Census records.) (Some sources list her birthplace as "Borowo" and others as "Konigsreich." Szamocin was re-named Samotschin when it became part of Poland.) From Wikipedia: "In the First partition of Poland in 1772 Szamocin was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia, fell to the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 and was restored to Prussia in 1815, whereafter it was governed within the Kreis Kolmar in Posen, part of the Grand Duchy of Posen. During the Industrial Revolution, the town evolved to a centre of the weaving  industry." She was christened on 1 December 1850 in Szamocin, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). She emigrated on 4 January 1869 from Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). She arrived in New York City from Bremen on 19 April 1869 on the ship S.S. Atalanta. The ship's manifest lists no other Achtenberg's, so it is assumed that she traveled with no other family members. Her parents and two youngest siblings emigrated in 1877. Emilie appeared in the census in 1870 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. Emilie appeared in the census in 1910 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI. She died on 17 July 1923 at the age of 72 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI. due to a hemorrhage of the brain. She had previously suffered three strokes, in 1922 and 1923. Emilie was buried in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI. in the Pilgrim's Home Cemetery.
15	ii.	Wilhelmine Emilie Ernestine "Tina" ACHTENBERG (*).
	iii.	Friedrich Wilhelm "William" ACHTENBERG was born on 4 November 1855 in Gromaden, Kreis Schubin, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). (He is not listed in the emigration records with his parents in 1877. He may have emigrated by himself.) He was christened on 11 November 1855 in Exin, Kreis Schubin, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). Before June 1880 he was a farmer in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI. William appeared in the census in June 1880 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI. The 1880 Census showed Wilhelm living in an unknown household (possibly a boarding house) in the Town of Wilton with Patrick Gleason, a 44-year-old laborer who was born in Ireland. It identified him as "William," age 24, working as a farmer, and with a birth place of Poland (part of the former Kingdom of Prussia, which was part of the German Empire). (He cannot be located in Wisconsin in the 1900 Census, and it is not known where he was living.) He died on 27 January 1904 at the age of 48.
	iv.	Carl Heinrich ACHTENBERG was born on 19 April 1859 in Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). He was baptized on 26 April 1859 in Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).
	v.	August Hermann ACHTENBERG was born in 1863 in Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). He died on 22 April 1864 at the age of 1 in Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). He was buried in Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).
	vi.	Auguste Amelia "Gustie" ACHTENBERG was born on 15 March 1866 in Gromaden, Kreis Schubin, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). Her name was listed as "Augusta Aualie" on her marriage certificate. She emigrated on 8 August 1877 from Preussen (Prussia). She was confirmed on 6 April 1879 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. (She cannot be located in the 1880 Census, and it is not known where she was living.) . Gustie appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Gustie appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She died on 15 December 1950 at the age of 84 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Obituary Notes: "Augusta Achtenberg Neitzel was born in the province of Posen, Germany, on March 15, 1866. At the age of 11 she came to the United States with her parents and settled in the town of Ridgeville, Monroe County, Wisconsin. In 1880 she was united in marriage with Herman J, Neitzel. To this union two sons were born. Her husband preceded her in death March 1, 1941. After a brief illness, she passed away at her home on Friday, Dec. 15, 1950, at the age of 84 years and 9 months. She is survived by two sons, William of Alameda, Calif., and Fred of Tomah; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, nine nieces, one nephew, many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on Monday, Dec. 18 at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran church at 2 P.M., the Rev John Dahle officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery." Gustie was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery. .
	vii.	Martin Eduard "Ed" ACHTENBERG was born on 28 November 1870 in Gromaden, Kreis Schubin, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia). (His gravestone shows his name as "Edward M." while other records indicate it to be "Martin Edward.") He emigrated on 9 August 1877 from Preussen (Prussia). (The 1900 Census listed his emigration year as 1880 and indicated that he had been in America for 20 years. His ship's passenger manifest was dated 1877.) He appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. Ed was confirmed on 6 April 1884 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI. at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was at 321 Hollister Avenue (his occupation was not legible). He appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was on Jackson Street in the 3rd Ward, and his occupation appears to be "Painter, Ry Br Yards." Ed appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was at 321 Hollister Avenue and his occupation was "Machinist, Railroad Shops." He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He and his wife lived at 321 Hollister Avenue and his occupation was "Machinist, RR Shops." He appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was at 321 Hollister Avenue. Ed died on 28 November 1942 at the age of 72. He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.