Third Generation

14. Edward F. "Eddie" MAY (^) was born on 29 August 1893 in Addison Township, Washington County, WI.^13,17,21 From an article written by his daughter Thelma in the Monroe County Heritage Book: "He came to the Monroe County area in about 1910. Being an orphan at a very young age, and with the knowledge that he had some relatives in this area, he left Allenton, Wis., at the age of 16 to begin a life in Tomah. His aunt was Mrs. Ferdinand Krenn (nee Barbara May).

He spent the first few years in this area working for various farmers, two of whom were George Falkner and Joe Rehberg. He also worked for some time in Heilman's Bakery, then owned by his cousin's husband, Andrew Heilman (the husband of Mary Krenn). After several years he was employed by the Railroad Shops and worked there the rest of his life.

While working at the bakery, he met his future wife, Emma Sonnenberg, the daughter of Fred and Albertina Sonnenberg (nee Gruhlke). They were soon married and the parents of four children.

Eddie was an honest, hard-working man, a loving father, and a quiet and serious person who only spoke when he had something worthwhile to say, but still with that pleasant smile for everyone he met."

He may have used the surname "Durfren" or Dufrun" when he first moved to Tomah. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Hartford Township, Washington County, WI.^4,32 He was listed as "Eddie," a "Boarder" in the household of John and Thurga (?) Folz. He was listed as age 7, born August 1892. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.²² He was working as a "Hired Man" in the household of Adolph Schultz, and his occupation was "Farm Laborer, Working Out." Eddie appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² He and his family were living with his wife's parents at 601 Jackson Street. His occupation was "Blacksmith, Railroad Shops." He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ His household was at 310 Nott Street (listed as Moore Street in the Census) and his occupation was "Blacksmith, Railroad Shops." He appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³ His household was at 310 Nott Street and his occupation was "Blacksmith, Steam Railroad." Eddie died in August 1946 at the age of 53 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁷ He had suffered a stroke in 1944. He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Edward F. "Eddie" MAY (^) and Emma Hulda SONNENBERG (^) were married on 4 August 1915.^{11,17,21,35,36} Eddie was a Catholic prior to the marriage, but then became a Lutheran. Emma Hulda SONNENBERG (^), daughter of Friedrich Herman SONNENBERG and Albertina GRUHLKE, was born on 3 June 1897 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^35,36,37 She appeared in the census in 1900 in Wellington Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁸ She appeared in the census in 1905 in Wellington Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁹ Emma appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.²² She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ Emma appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³ She appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁰ She died in June 1959 at the age of 62 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^17,35 Emma was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Edward F. "Eddie" MAY (^) and Emma Hulda SONNENBERG (^) had the following children: