First Generation

1. Heinrich "Henry" BIRR Sr. was born on 10 February 1815 in Damann, Koelslin, Pommern (Pomerania) Province, Preussen (Prussia).¹
(The Region of Köslin was a Regierungsbezirk in the Prussian Province of Pomerania that existed from 1816 to 1945. The seat of government was located in the town of Köslin. Since World War II the area has been part of Poland, since 1999 divided between the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the Pomeranian Voivodeship.)

. He emigrated on 2 May 1868 from Preussen (Prussia).² He, age 52, emigrated from Hamburg and sailed on the ship Liebig to Quebec City with his wife, Henriette, age 40, and their children, Herman, 21; ???, 18; Bertha, 15; Henriette, 13; August, 11; Carl, 9; Ferdinand, 7; and Alvine, 4. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.³ His occupation was "Laborer."

. Heinrich appeared in the census in 1880 in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.⁴ His household was on Colledge Street and his occupation was Laborer. He died before June 1900 at the age of 85.⁵ (His wife is listed as a widow in the 1900 Census.) He was buried in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.^1,6 in the Lutheran Cemetery.

Heinrich "Henry" BIRR Sr. and Henriette SYLVESTER were married about 1846 in Preussen (Prussia).^1,5 According to the 1900 Census, they had 11 children, of whom 6 were still living at the time. Henriette SYLVESTER was born on 19 February 1823 in Kranzfelde, nach Lauenburg, Kreis Koslin, Pommern (Pomerania) Province, Preussen (Prussia).^1,5,7 She may have been the sister of Otto August Sylvester, Jr., who was born in 1822 near Kranzfelde. He married Pauline Ewald and one of their daughters was named Henriette. They also had a son named Gustav Sylvester.

. She emigrated in 1868 from Germany.^2,5 She appeared in the census in 1870 in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.³ Henriette appeared in the census in 1880 in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.⁴ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵ She was living in the household of her son Charles and his family. She died on 30 September 1907 at the age of 84 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶ Henriette was buried in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.^1,6,8 in the Lutheran Cemetery.

Heinrich "Henry" BIRR Sr. and Henriette SYLVESTER had the following children: