First, a little info about Wenzel. Born in northern Bohemia in 1824, he homesteaded in North Prairie, Mn in 1877, where he died in 1878. Wenzel had married twice, the second time to a widow with kids, and they had 3 more children together.
One connection-- Wenzel's son Joseph married Mary Klein. Their son Jake Popp was Eugene's dad, and their daughter Anna was...see below..
(Eugene and Regina Popp had kids who were about our ages, and we visited them often, growing up).
Another connection--Paul Hesch's oldest daughter, Rose, married Louie Gottwalt, and TWO of their daughters married Popps (Mary Gottwalt married Jake Popp, and Rose Gottwalt married Leo Popp...a two-way link).
More connections: Uncle Eddie's mom was Anna, daughter of Joseph Popp and Mary Klein. Eddie Janish, Idella Janish and Irene Janish all married Heschs. A three way link!
LOL...the other link, I believe, was Eugene's sister Marlys...probably my namesake, as well as his own daughter Marlys.
(A speculative connection might also be thru Mary Klein--was she an aunt to Max, who married Lucy Hesch? The Klein homeplace was right across the river from Two Rivers township, in Langola, Benton Co--Whew!)
But THIS last link is especially fun, since I just investigated the Minneapolis, St Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. The reunion was held at the Bowlus Community Center, in a re-constructed building that sits where the old train depot was--right beside the Rails to Trails Soo Line bikepath.
So how come the sign omits Genola/Pierz, Onamia, and Duluth?
Because now, it directs users of the trail, and the Soo line becomes an ATV trail beyond "Hwy 10".
Pretty cool, huh?
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