In the Small World department..

Here we are on a family history blog, mostly talking about things that happened YEARS ago, right?  But then, because my 11 year old grandson plays  basketball, my son, terribly shy Hesch-gene person that he is, starts talking to the guy sitting next to him: Mike, the dad of another player. They compare notes on where their families come from, as you do, and Mike mentions Pierz.  Well!  
Turns out Mike's mom was a Grittner--we're related thru the Nabers on mom's side as well as the Sands on dad's side, not to mention family stories featuring Grittners (from the Pierz Journal).  

Mike's grandma Elaine was a Block, daughter of Herman and Angie Block. (That's my Josh on the left, and Mike on the right, above). Elaine's in her 90s, and lives in the Villa.  Doesn't he look familiar?  😊 This tickles me!

Which Hesch?

Here's one of the instances where our German families' repeated use of the same names drives me nuts. I clipped this item awhile ago, but just this morning started to understand. Sorta.
I think great uncle Math Hesch wrote it, because he thoroughly knew the relationships, and at the same time would have enjoyed the chance that it would confuse readers 95 years later ☺.

"A. A. Hesch bought the old Mike Sand farm, and John Hesch bought the farm from Anton Hesch.  Mr. and Mrs. Hy Block, who live on the Sand place now, will move to Genola where Mr. Block bought the Peter Beka blacksmith shop and also the John Kobilka house which they will occupy in about two months."

Now, "A.A.Hesch" was Math's brother Anton, which people knew.  A.A.'s wife was Lizzy Sand, daughter of Mike Sand, so buying the place was natural, right? The next sentence was meant to obfuscate, tho: "John Hesch bought the farm from Anton Hesch", meaning the Agram farm. This John was a cousin, not their brother*...and this Anton was their uncle (see header ☺).  BUT, uncle Anton had died in 1911.  Why was it mentioned, I wonder?  I doubt that A.A. ever owned the Agram farm, tho it's possible.  (We assumed Cousin John bought that farm from his own dad, Mathias).  So the clipping is actually still a mystery!

Hy (Henry) Block was married to Lena Sand.  They'd moved the the Sand place after their wedding in 1914. 
*Their brother John was an invalid who owned a house and store in Buckman.

A new "eight women" picture connection

 

When we finally figured out when this picture was probably taken, and why, we posted about it.  I was, of course, most interested in the five Sand women (Grandma, her sisters and mom) and the woman on the bottom right (most likely Charlie Sand's wife, here on a visit from Wenatchee,Washington).  We still don't know the woman with the pitcher, or the kneeling woman on the left, but we figured they were the cooks and servers for one of the three Hesch weddings that took place in 1920.

Then, when Chris sent the picture of Lena Dengel Mueller, I was thrilled, cuz now she fits, too ☺ See?
Added April, 2015:  Lena Sand Block's great grandaughter says the kneeling woman is most likely LENA--of course!  So I've changed the photo to include that ID.  Now, all we need is the name of the nectar-pourer ☺. Thanks, Jenny!

Look closely--mother Louisa is holding Angie's hand, and has her arm around Lena; Jenny mentioned that it might be little Hildegard, 

just out of the picture next to her mom on the left.

That'd be cool ☺

Chips off the ol' Block...

.....possibly the oldest, most obvious bad joke they endured ☺.

The Block family was a mainstay of Morrison county history.  Everyone knew a Block, married one, wished they had, or knew someone who did.  

This is a good illustration of how obituaries (and Find a Grave.com) can clear up genealogical questions:

From February, 1960:

The Gerhard Block Family c 1920

Solemn Funeral Services For Gerhard H. Block

Solemn funeral rites were held at St. Joseph's Church, Pierz, Tuesday morning at 10 for Gerhard H. Block, 94 years, 26 days, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Martin Stalpes, Saturday morning at 9. Celebrant of the Solemn Requiem Mass was Rev. Robet Voigt with Rev. Robert Schulzetenberg assisting as deacon and Rev. Richard Leisen, the subdeacon. Interment was in the Pierz cemetery.

Pallbearers were Donald Zenner, Roman Block, William and Joe Block and Donald Newman.

Honorary pallbearers were Jake Girtz, John Gau, John Weber, Leo Langer, John Schraut, and Herman Poser.

Mr. Block was born in Englern, Germany January 10, 1866 and arrived in the Pierz vicinity when 19 years old. He married Mary Leeb at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz, January 10, 1893, who preceded him in death. His death was due to advanced age. He was a member of St. Joseph's Society.

Surviving are the following children: George, Royalton; Ernest and Walter, St. Paul; John, Little Falls, Otto, Pierz; Mrs. John Zenner, Buckman; Mrs. Martin Stalpes, Pierz; Mamie, Perham, Minn.; and Julia, St. Paul.

There are twenty grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren.
Family links: 
 Spouse:
  Mary Leeb Block (1871 - 1950)
 
 Children:
  George John Block (1894 - 1990)
  Mayme Laura Block (1895 - 1990)
  Ludmilla Block Zenner (1897 - 1978)
  Elizabeth J Block Stalpes (1898 - 1983)
  Walter Gerhard Block (1902 - 1997)
  John Block (1904 - 2001)
  Julianne Block (1906 - 1994)
  Otto P Block (1908 - 1975)

In that 1920 photo above, I think the oldest kid, George, is in the back row, 3rd from the left.  Here he is again, this time as the dad.  He married Mary ("Girlie") Hesch, daughter of John and Ket Hesch.  This photo was probably taken on George and Girlie's 50th wedding anniversary, in 1975.  The highlight takes you to a profile done of them when they retired to the Pierz Villa.  Pretty cool, huh?

George John Block, age 96, a resident of St. Mary's Villa and formerly of the Buckman area died December 6, 1990 at St. Mary's Villa in Pierz.

Funeral services were held December 7 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Buckman with the Rev. Sylvester Maus officiating. Burial was in the St. Joseph's Cemetery in Pierz.

George J. Block was born June 10, 1894 in Pierz, MN, to the late Gerhart and Mary (Leeb) Block. As a young man he grew up in the Buckman area. On October 13, 1925 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Hesch at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Buckman. AFter their marriage the couple farmed in the Buckman area until retiring in 1969 when they moved to Little Falls where they were residents of the Pine Grove Manor. In 1987 the couple moved to St. Mary's Villa in Pierz, where he resided until his death. He was a member of the WWI Barracks of Little Falls and the St. Michael's Society of Buckman.

He is survived by four sons, Joseph of Pierz, Kenneth of Royalton, William "Bill" of Little Falls and Gene of Swanville; four daughters, Mrs. Donald (Doreen) Newman and Mrs. Raymond (Helen) Guck of Randall, Mrs. Kenneth (Florence) Starr of Royalton and Mrs. Richard (Mary) Peterson of Maple Lake, MN; brothers, John of Little Falls and Walter of St. Paul and one sister, Julia Block of Little Falls; 38 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary on December 26, 1989, brothers: Otto and Ernest and sisters: Mayme Block, Elizabeth Stalpes and Millie Zenner.

Casketbearers were Scott Klein, Bob Newman, Ray Guck, Dan, Paul and Glen Block.

Magdalena Sand & Henry Block

I posted this first pic before, partly cuz I knew and remember grandma's sister Lena and partly cuz I actually had more than one photo of her.  Now, we've discovered two more pics from the "Pictorial Atlas of Morrison County, Minnesota" ☺.  (And yes, this IS my idea of fun!)

Henry Block and Magdalena Sand Wedding  

Added much later, after Minnesota Reflections started publishing the Pierz Journals online:  

COOL, huh?

Funny, I recognize Lena and even Henry, but have no idea who Jeffrey Fischer was!

Ahh, as Larry pointed out in the comments, little Jeffrey Fischer was a great grandson.  Of course!

THANKS, L! ☺

Grandma Lizzy's niece

I found this obit in today's online version of the Morrison County Record:

Hildegard J. Hoheisel, 96

Hildegard J. Hoheisel, a resident of Pierz, formerly of Lastrup, passed away Jan 15, 2012, at the Pierz Villa in Pierz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Jan. 20, at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Lastrup with the Rev. David Maciej and the Rev. Bernard Kahlhamer officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Hildegard was born May 20, 1915, in Buckman Township, Morrison County, to the late Henry and Magdalena ‘Sand’ Block. The family lived in Buckman Township for a few years and then moved to Granite Township near Lastrup where Hildegard attended District #38 country school. Following her schooling, she worked in Little Falls as a house keeper and nanny. Hildegard was united in marriage to Christ Hoheisel May 9, 1933, at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Lastrup. The couple dairy farmed for over 60 years in the Lastrup area until the death of her husband, Christ, in 1995. She worked as a nurse’s aide at the Pierz Villa during the1960s. Hildegard continued to live on the family farm until moving to the Pierz Villa in 2008. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, quilting and crocheting pot holders. She was a great cook. Sweet bread and her delicious cinnamon rolls were family favorites, along with her pickles. She also enjoyed playing cards and bingo. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with all her family. Hildegard was a member of St. John’s Nepomuk Catholic Church in Lastrup, parish Christian Mothers and served on the District #62 School Board for many years.

Hildegard J. Hoheisel is survived by her son, Robert ‘Bob’ ‘Kay’ Hoheisel of Lastrup; daughter, Joanne ‘Jim’ Fischer of Lastrup; daughter-in-law, Katherine ‘Katie’ Hoheisel of Hillman; sister, Loretta ‘Betty’ Krych of Harding; sisters-in-law, Margaret ‘Peggy’ Block of Pierz and Donna Block of Little Falls; 24 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Hildegard was preceded in death by her husband, Christ, March 27, 1995; parents, Henry and Magdalena Block; sons, Wilfred and Gerald Hoheisel; five brothers; three sisters; and two great-grandchildren, Brittany Tretter and Matthew McNamara.

Honorary casketbearers will be the 16 granddaughters. Casketbearers will be the eight grandsons.

 Elizabeth Sand's younger sister Lena was her bridesmaid when she married Anton Hesch in 1910.  Later, Lena married Henry Block, and this woman, Hildegard, was one of her daughters.  

Just think: Hildegard was born the same year as mom, 1915.

A Family Gathering

On Saturday, I went to Buckman for a surprise 80th birthday party for Girlie's son Joe. 

Skip this part if you already know it ☺:
PAUL HESCH (1846-1900) had 13 kids, one of whom was
JOHN HESCH (1878-1926), who had five kids, one of whom was
Mary GIRLIE BLOCK (1903-1989), who had eight kids, one of whom was
Harvey JOE, who was born in 1931...ok?


I was invited not because Joe and I are close (we only met last fall when I asked him if he was a Popp) but because I'm the genealogy nut in the family now.  THAT pleases me like crazy, partly because I DO know who married Frances Braun and where they lived (fer instance), and partly because of the wonderful stories people tell me about the family's past, like this:


Chatting with Joe's sister Doreen, she recalled how harvesting was done round robin, where a group of neighbors threshed at one farm after another till all their fields were done.  She remembered the crew in 1937 included "Mickel" (my dad!).  She said it had to be '37 cuz she was about 11 that year.  She was really impressed and horrified by a bet he won:  In the field, someone found a nest of newborn field mice, and dared dad to eat them....and....ack!...he did.  He was 24, really cute and full of the devil.  
How else would we have this precious story if I didn't go to birthday parties??
BTW, yes, I googled "baby field mice" but those photos are WAY too real for this post, trust me.

Magdalena Sand 1894-1987

Grandma Lizzy (Sand) Hesch had a little sister named Magdalena, but everyone knew her as Lena.  She was the youngest girl, second youngest kid, and the last one left after Frank died in 1979.
I remember going with Aunt Fronie to visit her at her house in Pierz, south on the street behind the church.  We talked canning, and sauerkraut, and she named all the people in the family picture I brought along (the 1896 picture of the whole Mike Sand Family) while I wrote them down. I remember her talk was liberally sprinkled with German words, and I hadta keep asking 'What?'  She did it purposely and got a big kick out of it, too.
I remember her being feisty and fun...and not inclined to put up with "dumb stuff".  She had a quick mind and wit.  I only wish I'd taken the time to know her better.

George and Girlie Block @ the Villa

What would we do without SUE??

A 20's wedding

My, my, my...Nelson Photo Studio went through some changes! Now, the picture is embossed
rather than imprinted with their name...lol

These are John and Ket's daughters, Mary and Agnes, on the occasion of Mary's wedding to George Block. This is the Mary who was known as "Girlie", probably even as a child...evidently, parents didn't check around to see how many other kids were being named Mary at the same time...lol (There were four between 1886 and 1927, PLUS grandma Mary...)

What pretty dresses--looks like satin, and a fur or maribou hem for Agnes--COOL. This coulda been the girliest day in Girlie's life...lol (I just realized I've been waiting to use that pun ALL my life!)