Third Generation

3. Emma Louisa Maria MARTIN was born on 11 October 1870 in Satzen, Brandenburg Province, Preussen (Prussia).^8,11,12,13 (The marriage record for her marriage to Julius Schamens appears to list her birth place as "Zattern Prov. Brandenburg, Prussia." The name "Zattern" is not clear.) She was confirmed on 25 March 1888 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She died on 24 September 1892 at the age of 21 in Wells Township, Monroe County, WI.^8,12 She died while giving birth to a stillborn child. Emma was buried on 26 September 1892 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI.^8,12 in the St. Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Emma Louisa Maria MARTIN and Julius Theodor Franz SCHAMENS Jr. were married on 12 November 1890 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI.^8,13,14 at St. Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Julius Theodor Franz SCHAMENS Jr., son of Julius Johann Carl SCHAMENS and Johanna Caroline SCHROEDER, was born on 5 November 1860 in Friedberg nach Lansberg, Hermsdorf, Brandenburg Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{2,4,8,13,15,16,17} His original family surname may have been "Schemenski."

The wedding record of his marriage to Emma Marten lists his birth place as "Hermsdorf Prov. Brandenburg, Prussia." It is now located in Poland and is named "Strzelce Krajenskie by Gorzow," on the Warta River.

(The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 until 1918, and after 1871 it was the leading kingdom of the German Empire. After World War I, Prussia was dismantled and separated among Poland, Russia, Germany and other European countries.

Brandenburg is bordered by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the north, Poland in the east, the Freistaat Sachsen in the south, Saxony-Anhalt in the west, and Lower Saxony in the northwest.
The Oder river forms a part of the eastern border, the Elbe river a portion of the western border. The main rivers in the state itself are the Spree and the Havel.) He emigrated in 1882 from Preussen (Prussia).^2,3,18 His emigration year was listed as 1886 in the 1900 Census, and as 1882 in the 1920.

"Both Julius Theodor (age 22) and Adolph Ferdinand (age 18) Schamens were unhappy and discontented 'serf' workers in the Brandenburg Province of Germany. Apparently a Jewish overseer (who worked for the land-owner) had beaten a young, pregnant, 'serf' woman to death in a field.

About the same time Julius and Adolph received money from their father, Julius Johann, and half-brother, Charles Schwandt, and booked passage on a ship to the United States. After receiving confirmation/date of their sailing, they (Julius and Adolph) allegedly castrated the Jewish overseer and hung him from a tree (unsure of whether he lived or died), leaving Germany before the authorities could catch them.

Julius Theodor and Adoph were without funds when they arrived in the United States in October 1882, and were so hungry when they arrived in the Leon, WI area that they had to steal apples (Bill Williams' place) as they walked to the Schwandt farm in Pleasant Valley, near St Joseph's Ridge." (Sources: Erma (Schamens) Matson, daughter of Julius Theodor Schamens, and granddaughter of Julius Johann Schamens, and Everett Lueck, grandson of Julius Theodor by daughter, Anna (Schamens) Lueck.)

. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.² Julius appeared in the census in 1905 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹ He appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴ He appeared in the census in 1920 in Leon Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,20 His household was next to that of his brother, Adolphe, and his occupation was listed as "Farming, General." Julius appeared in the census in 1930 in Leon Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵ His household consisted of Julius, age 70; his wife, Amelia, age 58; and their children, Rudolph and Erma. His occupation was listed as "Farmer, General Farm." His farm was a few households away from that of his brother Adolphe and his family. He died on 23 December 1940 at the age of 80 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI.^8,21 He died of a heart attack.

Notes from discussions of Ken Schamens with Norman and Erma (Schamens) Matson on July 7, 1991: "Julius was a quiet farmer, but very stern and strict. When he talked, you listened. His hobbies were fishing and hunting. He was a practical joker.

He was always cutting wood, and had more wood on hand than you could possibly use during the winter. Since there was not enough income for the family on the farm (only August, Rudolph and Erma were at home), August decided to move from the farm. This disappointed Julius. However, August and Rudolph had worked it out---Rudolph would stay and work the farm. Franz already owned a farm. Shortly thereafter, Rudolph died from a ruptured appendix.

There were 'strong' feelings between Franz and August, because Franz thought August should not have left the farm.

After Rudolph's death, Carl and Hulda Hoehn (son-in law and daughter) moved on the farm to help. Since Carl was an experienced farmer, Carl and Julius agreed on a contract: Carl would get half of everything, including cows and equipment. But Julius and Carl had difficulty getting along. Carl would get upset because Julius wanted to 'cut wood' all day while Carl worked long hard days, and the wood was not needed. Carl left the farm in 1935 with his half of the equipment and animals. Franz became very upset with Carl and Hulda.

The whole family became upset with Franz because of what happened to their mother, Emelie. Just before the farm sold, Julius and Emelie had an automobile accident (supposedly with a motorcycle) and Emelie was hurt. The police told Franz about the accident, but Franz did not take Emelie to the doctor, nor did he tell anyone in the family about the accident.
Later, Erma and August were working at the farm and couldn't find their mother. Norman (Erma's husband) finally found Emelie in the hay mound. She was suffering from severe kidney pain (from the accident) and threatened to jump. At the time they did not know about the accident or kidney damage. They took her to Fred and Anna Lueck's home (Anna was Emelie's daughter), where she died shortly thereafter on January 5, 1939.

After his wife's death and after the farm was sold, Julius went to live with Fred and Anna Lueck. Julius didn't have much money and borrowed $1,000 from Fred Lueck, but was unable to pay the money fack. Because of the money issues, Julius moved to his son Franz's farm. Fred needed the money and threatened a law suit. Encouraged by Franz, Julius refused to pay. Fred filed the law suit and won.

Franz became angry with the whole family. Shortly, thereafter, Julius became ill. Only Erma was allowed to visit her dad on Franz's farm. However, Hulda was able to see her dad before his death because she obtained a court order."

Notes from Ken Schamens: "I remember going to the farm with my father (August) and mother (Edna). We were asked to stay in the car, while my dad went to the door. Shortly, dad ran back to the car, and we could see Franz with a shotgun yelling at us while we drove off.

During WW II, Theodore came to my dad's barber shop in a military uniform. I was shining shoes at the barber shop. I remember the excitement. Apparently, Theodore ('Ted') left home at an early age and no one heard from him until this time. Franz had brought him to the barber shop from his farm, but he refused to talk to my dad.

There were many gatherings of other family members before Ted had to leave for the war in Europe. During the war, Ted sent me pictures of the Allied bombing raids on the Pulaski oil fields. After the war, Ted came to Tomah, and, there was a large family reunion at Flora Dell (a small cottage and pond area between Tomah and Fort McCoy on Hwy 21). I remember Ted smoking and drinking to excess. Also, there were a number of 'terse' conversations concerning his dating one of the 'distant' cousins, and allegations of improprieties. The result: Ted left the area. No one heard from him for several years, until my dad received an urgent call from him (from California). He needed money immediately. I remember my dad checking Ted's story with the Red Cross, and, I do not believe the 'story' checked out. So, no money was sent. That was the last communication we received concerning Ted.

My dad, August, tried to make peace with his brother Franz. Prior to my dad's death, I helped him write a letter asking his brother, Franz, to forgive him for unresolved issues of the past. My dad said: 'I'm dying of cancer, and don't have long to live. I will meet you anytime or place. Please come or call before I die so that we can talk as Christians in the forgiving love of Christ.' Franz never came or called.

His wife, Jesse, told my mother- in-law, Sadie Erickson, those were the saddest days of her life--to see Franz never respond. He didn't want to talk about it before or after my dad's death, nor at the time of his own death.

My dad seemed to think that the name 'Schamens may originally have been 'Schemensky' or 'Schemenski.' I have found no information to substantiate that. St John's Lutheran Church records, Ridgeville, WI, spelled it as 'Schamans' in one place and 'Schemens' in another. It is possible that a name change could have occurred--many people changed the spellings of their names after they came to the US from Germany."

. He was buried in Leon Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸ in the Leon Cemetery.

Emma Louisa Maria MARTIN and Julius Theodor Franz SCHAMENS Jr. had the following children: