First Generation

1. Wenzel Heinrich "Henry" FUCHS was born on 2 April 1826 in Austria.^1,2,3,4,5 He was listed as "Winzel" in the 1860 Census, and as "Heinrich" in the church records of the marriage of his son, Franz.

His obituary stated that he was born in Austria in 1822. The 1860 Census listed his birth place as Saxony, the 1870 listed it as Austria, and the 1880 listed it as Baden.

In the 1860 Census, his age was listed as 37, indicating a birth year of about 1823; in the 1870 Census, it was listed as 49, indicating a birth year of about 1821; and in the 1880, he was listed as age 58, indicating a birth year of about 1822. Cemetery records list his birth date as 2 April 1826. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.⁵ His household consisted of "Winzel Folks," age 37, born in Saxony, occupation "Cooper;" his wife, Louisa, 41, born in Prussia; her son August Folks, 15, born in Prussia; her son William Folks, 12, born in Prussia; and her son Leopold Folks, age 2, born in Wisconsin. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.⁴ He was listed as "Henry Fox" and his occupation was "Farmer." His household consisted of Henry and Louisa; her sons, William and Leopold Wirth; and their son, Frank Fox. Henry appeared in the census in 1880 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.³ His household consisted of Henry, Louisa, their son, Franz; and her son, August Wirth. His surname was spelled "Fucks," his occupation was "Farmer," and his birthplace was listed as "Baden." He died on 5 May 1895 at the age of 69 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,6,7 (The cemetery records list his date of death as 13 May 1895.) He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Wenzel Heinrich "Henry" FUCHS and Dorothea Louisa "Louise" PERGANDE were married in 1859 in Waukesha County, WI.^6,7,8,9 Dorothea Louisa "Louise" PERGANDE^10,11, daughter of Gottlieb Gotthilf PERGANDE and Anna Maria GRIESSENTROG, was born on 30 May 1820 in Alt Damerow, Kreis Saatzig, Regierungsbezirk Stettin, Pommern (Pomerania) Province, Preussen (Prussia).^1,8,12,13 (Her name is listed as "Dorothea Louise Pergande" in the church records of her marriage.)

(Some records list her birth place as Sassenhagen, but that is believed to be incorrect. Another source lists it as Stara Dabrova, Slupsk, Pomorskie, Poland, which may be the city's current name. She was probably born in Alt Damerow with her siblings.)

(The cemetery records list her birth date as 30 May 1820. However, the cemetery records also list her as 89 years, 5 months and 9 days old when she died on 8 Oct 1909; that would calculate her date of birth to be 28 April 1820.

Her birth date may also have been 1 April 1820 because according to the Alt Damerow, Germany, record of her marriage, she was 24 years, 6 months and 6 days old when she married. The birth date from the cemetery record is used here.) She emigrated in 1857 from Preussen (Prussia).^14,15 The 1900 Census listed her emigration year as 1857 and indicated that she had been in America for 43 years. (Unable to find her family's immigration record on Ancestry.com.) She appeared in the census in 1860 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.⁵ Louise appeared in the census in 1870 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.⁴ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.³ She lived in Reels Valley, Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI after 1882.¹⁶ Louise was Lutheran in 1889 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁷ She is listed in the Communion Register of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ She was living next door to her son Frank and his family. She died on 8 October 1909 at the age of 89 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^12,16,18 Obituary Notes: "At the home of her son in this city at 4:15 A.M. on Oct 8th 1909, Mrs. Dorothea Fuchs, aged 89 years 4 months and 9 days. Dorothea Louisa Fuchs was born on May 30th, 1820, in Pomerania. The maiden name was Perganda.

In the year 1845, she was married to Mr. Wm. Wirth of the same place. They came to America in 1856 and located in the town of Brookfield, Waukesha Co., Wisconsin, where her husband died in 1858.

To them were born three sons, August, William and Leonard F. August preceded her in death 40 years. In 1860, she was married to Mr. Henry Fuchs, and to them one son was born, Frank.

In the year 1882, they came to Reel's Valley, in the town of Tomah, where she lived until two months ago, when she came to spend her last days with her son, L. F., in Tomah. Death was caused by old age.

She also leaves three sisters who survive her: Mrs. Wilde of Ridgeville, Mrs. Frank Brehmer of this city, and Mrs. Brandenberg of the village of Wilton.

The funeral services were held in the Evangelical Church on the 11th of October, 1909, at 2:00 o'clock. May she rest in peace."

Obituary Notes: "Mrs. Dorothea Fuchs, mother of Mr. Frank Fuchs of the town of Tomah and Mr. Leo Wirth of this city, died at the home of the latter last Friday night at the age of 88 years. The funeral took place at the Lutheran Reformed church in this city on Tuesday and was largely attended. The deceased was one of the old residents of Reel's Valley."

(The cemetery records list her date of death as 10 Oct 1909; that was in error.) Louise was buried on 11 October 1909 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,12,16 in the Oak Grove Cemetery. (In the birth record of her son Wilhelm her surname was initially listed as "Pergande," and then that name was crossed out and it was changed to "Periander."

Wenzel Heinrich "Henry" FUCHS and Dorothea Louisa "Louise" PERGANDE had the following children: