Second Generation

3. Wilhelmine Emilie Ernestine "Tina" ACHTENBERG (*) was born on 15 October 1852 in Gromaden, Kreis Wirsitz, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{1,10,25,32,36,37,38,39,40} (Her birthdate is listed as 4 Oct 1852 on the FamilySearch.org website, and her birthplace is listed as Siernik, Kreis Schubin, Posen Province. Other sources list her birthplace as Gromaden, Kreis Wirsitz.)

(In the 1860 and 1880 Census', her name was listed as "Tina." In the History of Monroe County biography of her son-in-law, Friedrich August "Henry" Noth, her given name was listed as "Arnstena.")

Kreis Schubin (1815-1919) was a county in the northern administrative region of Bromberg in the Prussian province of Posen. The territory was created as part of the Grand Duchy of Posen (1815-1848, in personal union with Prussia) and later was part of the Prussian Province of Posen (1848-1919). On January 18, 1871, Kreis Schubin, along with all of Prussia, became part of Germany. The county's territory was reduced significantly in 1887 when the southern half of Kreis Schubin was used to create the new Kreis Znin. She was christened on 17 October 1852 in Exin, Kreis Schubin, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).⁵ She emigrated on 24 June 1873 from Preussen (Prussia).^{5,6,14,24,25,30,34} (The 1900 Census listed her year of emigration as 1873, and the 1920 and 1930 as 1872. She did not emigrate in 1877 with her parents and two youngest siblings and is not listed on the immigration passenger manifests for any other year on Ancestry.com.)
Tina appeared in the census in 1875 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴¹ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ She appeared in the census in 1885 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² Tina appeared in the census in 1895 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ She appeared in the census in 1905 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴² Tina appeared in the census in 1910 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ She appeared in the census in 1920 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ She was a widow, living by herself. Tina appeared in the census in 1930 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ She was listed a second time in the 1930 Census; in this record she was listed as living with her daughter Lydia and her family.
She appeared in the census in 1940 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴³ She was living with her daughter Matie and her family. According to the Census, she had attended school thru the 8th grade. She died on 21 March 1945 at the age of 92 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{25,37,38,39,44} Obituary Notes: "Wilhelmina Ernestine Achtenberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Achtenberg, was born on Oct. 15, 1852 in Gromaden, Province of Posen, Germany. In 1873, at the age of 21 years, she came to the United States where some of her relatives had gone before her. In June of that year she arrived in the town of Ridgeville, where she was united in marriage with August Kewit the following year, June 25, 1874.

Six children were born to this union, one of whom, Luella, died in 1900 at the age of nine years. In 1924 she and her husband were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. She was preceded in death by her husband, one daughter, two brothers and one sister.

After the death of her husband she made her home with her five children, who did everything possible to make her remaining years happy ones. She was blessed with good health and took an active interest in her church.

Mrs. Kewit suffered a fall from her bed several weeks ago which hastened her death, which occurred on Wednesday, March 21, 1945, at the age of 92 years, 5 months and 7 days.

She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Fred Noth, Mrs. August Noth, Mrs. George Vincenz, and Mrs. August Pergande; one son, Paul; a sister, Mrs. Herman Neitzel; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ed Achtenberg; 26 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon, March 23, at 1 o'clock at the Ridgeville Lutheran Church, the Rev. C. E. Berg officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery."

Gary Griggs remembers Ernestine, his maternal great-grandmother, sleeping and spending her latter days on the day bed in the living room at the home of her daughter, Lydia, at 702 Kilbourn Avenue in Tomah. He was only 4 years old at the time. It was just prior to her death, while she was recuperating from her fall from her bed. She slept on the day bed because she was not able to climb the stairs to the upstairs bedrooms. Tina was buried on 23 March 1945 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^25,37,39 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.
She has Ancestral File Number LRXL-528.

Wilhelmine Emilie Ernestine "Tina" ACHTENBERG (*) and August Johann JASKIEWICZ (*) were married on 25 June 1874 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^{25,26,27,31,36,45,46,47} at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. A witness at their wedding was Wilhelm Achtenberg, a brother of Ernestine. For a time, the couple lived in Minneapolis, MN.

(The FamilySearch.com website lists their wedding date as 20 June 1874. That is an error.) August Johann JASKIEWICZ (*), son of Gottfried JASKIEWICZ and Anna Justine FRIESKE, was born on 10 April 1853 in Jankendorf, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{1,25,27,37,45,46,48,49,50} Family records indicate that he was born in "Deutschland Jookendorf." It is believed to have been "Jankendorf," formerly part of the Kingdom of Preussen (Prussia) in the German Republic, and now part of Poland. The city is located about 110 miles south of the Baltic Sea.

Jankendorf and Budsin were different villages in the county (Kreis) of Kolmar (today, Chodziez). The police station of both villages was in Budsin (today, Budzyn). Jankendorf is located 33 miles due north of the city of Poznan. He was baptized on 24 April 1853 in Jankendorf, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^10,51 as August Johann Jaskewitz. The spelling "Jaskewitz" is also listed in his daughter Lydia's baptism certificate, although the spelling "Yeskewitz" is used in the Monroe County Heritage Book and in the family history developed by Gladys Kewit in 1985. In the 1880 Census, he was listed as August Kewit. He emigrated on 26 June 1855 from Preussen (Prussia).^{6,14,24,25,30,52,53} at age 2 from the port of Bremen with his parents and siblings on the sailing ship that Ancestry.com lists as the "D Havahgan" and that CastleGarden.org lists as "D.h. Waetjen." (The 1900 Census listed his year of emigration as 1855, the 1910 Census listed 1856, and the 1920 Census listed 1857.)

The 1920 Census indicated that he became a naturalized citizen in 1906. August appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³² He was listed as "A." and his age was listed as 8. He was Lutheran about 1863 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^{8,10,44,54,55,56} He was listed as member number 65 of the first 100 members in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church records. His name is listed as "August Jaskewitz" and he later served as treasurer of the church. He and his family are listed in the church Communion Register in the early 1890's. He was also listed on the Memberbership Roster in 1900.

It is not known for sure when he changed his surname, but in the 1880 Census he is listed as "August Kewit." So he probably made the change in the mid-1870's. A financial indebtedness note dated June 19, 1917 for $1,750 from his daughter Lydia and her husband August Pergande, listed his and his wife's names as "August Kewit and Ernstene Kewit." He was confirmed on 14 April 1867 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁷ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. August appeared in the census in 1870 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁹ He was living with his parents. Between 1874 and 1937 he was a storeowner and farmer in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ Tomah Journal Newspaper Article, Thursday, April 3, 1969, entitled "Historical Ridge Landmark is Razed": "The old Ridgeville Store, once a stage coach inn for travelers along the line between New Lisbon and the Twin Cities is being razed. The store, built in the early-1850's ... was constructed by Sebastian Baltz from brick manufactured at the site. The land was acquired by Baltz through a government land grant, as were many neighboring farms homesteaded by immigrants from Germany.

The Ridgeville Store became a popular stop for travelers, and the nearby Kerrigan house ... was used for overnight guests. A blacksmith shop built across the road ... served the stage coach horses and provided a place where travelers could stable their horses. The house contained eight upstairs bedrooms.

August Kewit, who purchased the store from Baltz (in 1874), was the father of Mrs. August (Amelia) Noth, grandmother of Mrs. Zillmer, who with her husband, Wayne, are the present owners. It was later run for many years by Kewit's son, Paul, who operated the store and tavern and had a dance floor, a popular fun spot for area residents. Old-time fiddlers and other musicians provided music for dancing before the advent of modern transportation. Kewit operated the establishment until 1937...." He appeared in the census in 1875 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴¹ His household consisted of 1 male and 2 females. He was listed as "A. Kewitz." August appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ His household consisted of August "Kewit," his wife "Tina," and their children Bertha, Amelia and Paul. He appeared in the census in 1885 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² His household consisted of 2 men and 5 women, with 5 having been born in the United States and 2 in Germany. He was listed as "Aug. Kewit." He appeared in the census in 1895 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^13,57 His household consisted of 2 males and 6 females; their given names were not listed, but they were August, his wife and their six children. His farm was in Section 12. He was listed as "August Kewitt." August appeared in the census in 1900 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^14,58 Household 115/118. Their household included a boarder, Clara "Shadeler" (probably "Schedler").

The following articles appeared in the Ridgeville news column in the Tomah Journal, November 15, 1901: "A social was given at August Kevit's last Sunday evening and those present enjoyed a good time."

"Noth brothers and Kevit just finished shredding corn for Mr. Fernando Wendland Tuesday." He appeared in the census in 1905 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴² His occupation was "Farmer." He was naturalized on 26 September 1906 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.⁵⁹ August appeared in the census in 1910 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁰ His household consisted of August, Ernestina and their daughter Lydia. He appeared in the census in 1920 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴ He died on 5 August 1928 at the age of 75 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^25,37,49,52 Obituary Notes: "August Kewit was born April 10, 1853 in Germany. In 1855 he came with his parents to Lebanon, Dodge County, Wisconsin. Later, the family moved to Ridgeville, Monroe County, where he spent the remainder of his life.

On June 25, 1874 he was married to Ernestine Achtenberg, who survives him. Six children were born, five of whom remain to mourn a kind father; namely, Mrs. Fred Noth, Mrs. August Noth, Paul Kewit, Mrs. George Vincenz, and Mrs. August Pergande. One daughter, Luella preceded her father at the age of nine years. One brother, Herman Kewit, and 26 grandchildren also survive.

At an early age Mr. Kewit became affiliated with the St. John's Lutheran church at Ridgeville, in whose interest he was an earnest worker throughout his life. For eighteen years, he was treasurer of his congregation.

During his younger years, he was active in public affairs of the community and again held an office of trust.

After a long period of illness, Mr. Kewit passed away on Sunday afternoon, August 4, 1928, and was laid to rest on Wednesday, August 8, 1928 in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery at Ridgeville. Services were conducted by Rev. Berg."

(The church record of his death lists his place of death as "Tomah.") August was buried on 8 August 1928 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^25,37,49 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Wilhelmine Emilie Ernestine "Tina" ACHTENBERG (*) and August Johann JASKIEWICZ (*) had the following children:

+15	i.	Emma "Bertha" KEWIT.
+16	ii.	Amelia Louise "Millie" KEWIT.
+17	iii.	Paul Friedrich Wilhelm KEWIT.
+18	iv.	Meta Blondine "Matie" KEWIT.
+19	v.	Auguste Lydia "Liddie" KEWIT (*).
20	vi.	Luella "Ella" KEWIT was born on 11 May 1890 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.1,45,60 She was baptized on 6 June 1890 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.61 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She appeared in the census in 1895 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.13 Ella died on 21 September 1899 at the age of 9 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.15,37,52,60,62 Obituary Notes: "Died on Thursday, Sept. 21, Ella Kevit, daughter of August Kevit. She was sick with diabetes for about six months. The funeral was held in the Lutheran church last Saturday, conducted by Rev. Albreight." She was buried on 23 September 1899 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.16,37,60,62 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.