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His Family Coming to America & Wisconsin [ Top ]
Luehr Family
Emigrating: click to open the L file to see the record of
J. Luehr, Margaretha and
young son Johannes leaving Holstein in 1858
Luhr Family Arrived in 1858: transcribed
immigration records for the ship Main that arrived May 26, 1858, at Castle Garden, New York,
shows
· John Nicholas Luhr, 28, shown as S. n. Luhr, actually J.
N. Luhr
· his wife Anna Margaretha, 32, shown as
Marg. Luhr
· their son John Luhr, 3, and
· John N. Luhr's older brother Peter Luhr, 30.
| John
Nicholas Lühr with his birth place in Schleswig- Holstein and his parents,
his wife Anna Margaretha Groth and her birth place in Schleswig-Holstein, and their four
sons, with links to more details including John's brother Peter, at Rootsweb.com. Anna
Margretha Groth Luehr was born in 1824 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany,
married John N. Luehr in 1854, and came to New Holstein, Wisconsin, in 1858, her September
28, 1910, obituary recounts. They had four sons, John, in business; William, an educator;
Edward, a doctor; and Arthur, a real estate and insurance agent. |
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Germans
in
Wisconsin
(Ethnic
Series)
.
|
Dithmarschen
on Schleswig-Holstein 's west coast was the family's ancestral home, the Luehrs from
Hassenbüttel near Wesselburen about
11 km west of Heide and Anna Groth originally from Hollingstedt to the northeast of Heide.
See maps.
Johan
and Magretha Luehr in 1880 Census with their three younger sons: William and
Edward working in the brickyard and Arthur attending school. Household also included three
young men from Prussia who worked in the brickyard and a young female servant. Family
surname mistranscribed as Luchr. Wilhelm shown as Johan's brother in error.
| Founding of New
Holstein: first settlers from Germany arrive in 1848, with some mention of
founding citizens and early businesses. New
Holstein at 75: 1923 article praises New Holstein's agriculture, business
savvy and the educated people from Schlewig-Holstein in northern Germany who founded it.
A
Bit of Germany in Early Wisconsin: 1927 article recalls settling of New
Holstein by a group of Germans who
sailed for America on the Brerens in April 1848. Their trip via New York, the Great Lakes and Sheboygan is told. |
|
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Wisconsin
German
Land and Life
Includes Calumet, Washington and Sheboygan counties
|
Education & Marriage [ Top ]
| Education: WIlliam
H. Luehr's biography in Educational History of Wisconsin narrates his education
in New Holstein and Chilton schools, at Oshkosh Normal and the University of Wisconsin. Literary
Society: W. H. Luehr was a member of The Trochos literary society as a
University of Wisconsin freshman and of the Athena
literary society during his junior year at Madison.
English
Course: William H. Luehr of New Holstein, a UW junior in the English
Course, and also in 1888-1889.
Elected
an Editor: on May 12, 1888, W. Luehr was elected one of the general editors
of the Aegis Association, the student-owned newspaper at the UW, founded in 1886.
Bildungsverein:
W. H. Luehr was censor and historian of this UW learning society that provided
opportunities to use the German studied in class in conversation, debate and drama, and
was a member
as a senior.
In 1886-1887, he boarded at 236
W. Gilman and in 1888-1889 at 311
Park, in Madison. |
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Madison: The Illustrated
Sesquicentennial History, Volume 1, 1856-1931
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The
German
Americans
.
|
William H. Luehr at
UW: During 1888-1889, he was one of three students from Calumet County
reported as studying at the UW at Madison. He earned his degree in 1889, having
majored in English.
A
Student in 1890-1891: W. H. Luehr listed among UW students, now apparently a
graduate student.
William
H. Luehr married Clara
Hachez on August 28, 1890, as shown in the Wisconsin Vital Records database.
Clara was the granddaughter of Ferdinand Hachez Sr. and daughter of Ferdinand Hachez Jr.
who married Elise Boie, daughter of Nicholas
Boie and Cecilia Tonner Boie.
Career in Education & Journalism [ Top ]
| Witter
House group photo includes W. H. Luehr among the young,
unmarried professional men who lived in Grand Rapids, a twin city with Centralia, the
cities on the Wisconsin River later merged as Wisconsin Rapids. The caption says he was superintendent of schools, and that he was
in the back row, fourth from left. Name misspelled Lehr. Sept.
19, 1889: the Wood County Reporter gave the editor's view of
W. H. Luehr of Calumet County, the new Howe High School
principal, as sociable and well qualified for his role, with 40 pupils in his charge. The
full text, formerly visible, was part of the Antiquarian Corner published in 1931. |
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The Wisconsin
River: An Odyssey
through Time
and Space
|
Education
Certificate: Wm. H. Luehr 's 1889 degree in English from the University of
Wisconsin was countersigned by the state superintendent
Grand
Rapids Principal: Wm. H. Luehr is included on a list of principals of free
high schools in Wisconsin, 1888-1890, with degrees, student enrollments and salaries
listed, and same for 1890-1892.
He was also in the state Blue Book for 1891,
1893
and 1897,
the latter for Brillion.
1892
Summer School: Wm. H. Luehr had 58 educators in a four-week summer school in
Grand Rapids, tuition $1.00 per week
Publisher &
Editor: this history of Centralia and Grand Rapids area newspapers says
the Luehr and Brundage publishing firm was started in 1890 by W. H. Luehr and E. B.
Brundage. Photos
of several editors.
Lucille
Marguerite Luehr: William and Clara's oldest child, their daughter
Lucille, was born October 24, 1891, in Wood
County. The county is shown in this 1895 map
with the twin cities of Centralia and Grand Rapids visible.
1892 Centralia Directory shows W. H. Luehr as publisher and
editor with Brundage of the Centralia Enterprise and Tribune, a weekly Democratic
newspaper located near Centralia's City Hall. See Page 8 of the pdf document for the
newspaper listing, Page 15 for the Luehr and Brundage listing, Page 25 for its listing
under Newspapers, and Page 28 for the newspaper's advertisement.
Catalog
of Wisconsin Newspapers lists W. H. Luehr, co-publisher and editor, Centralia
Enterprise and Tribune, April 1892 - December 1895.
Entertaining
Teachers: in March 1893, Mr. and Mrs W. H. Luehr entertained the Howe
High School teachers. The full newspaper text was formerly visible.
Printing
Jobs: in 1893-1894, Luehr and Brundage had the lowest bid for printing 20,000
cranberry recipe books for the Wisconsin growers, an example of their job shop printing.
The state purchased
services too.
February
1896: William, Clara and Lucille Luehr left Grand Rapids for Madison
where he took a post graduate course of study at the University of Wisconsin. Text
formerly visible. He took courses in American history and economics, his biographical
sketch says, from noted professors:
· Frederick Jackson Turner,
known for his theories on the influence of the American frontier on the nation's history
and character, and
· Richard
T. Ely, controversial labor movements scholar and an
American Economic Association co-founder, who came to UW in 1892
to direct its School of Economics, Political Science and History
Brillion:
In the 1896-1898 period, likely 1896-1897, Wm. H. Luehr was principal at Brillion High
School, with a three-year course. Brillion is
in Calumet
County, about 16 miles from New Holstein, his birthplace.
Manitowoc Years [ Top ]
UW
Grads - Principals: William H. Luehr among six members of his 1889
class who were principals or assistants in Wisconsin high schools in 1901.
Manitowoc
South: W. H. Luehr was principal of Manitowoc's South Side High School, with
a four-year course, 1900-1902. In 1904-1905,
he had four male teachers, 85 students; during 1905-1906,
99 students.
Summer
Teachers' Institute: During 1899-1900, Wm. H. Luehr and Karl Mathie
held a session in Marathon County while during 1900-1902, he and colleagues held an institute
in Manitowoc. He later did institutes in Fond
du Lac, Portage
and other counties.
Conference
Speaker: W. H. Luehr spoke at the 1900 Northeastern and Northwestern Teachers
Associations joint meeting in Wausau, just one example of his active involvement in his
profession.
1905 Wedding Anniversary:
the Manitowoc Nordwesten reported that Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Luhr [William and Clara]
celebrated their crystal or 15th wedding anniversary on August 31 with friends [pdf].
Sisters-in-Law:
Clara (Hachez) Luehr and Louise (Holdenreid) Luehr, wives of William Henry Luehr and
Edward Luehr, with photos, marriage records
1905 Teachers Convention: W. H. Luehr,
a Manitowoc principal, attended the Northeastern High School Teachers Assn. convention in
October 1905, Stevens Point. [Formerly visible.] By 1905 he was a member of the Wisconsin
Teachers Association.
1906
UW Class Note: Wm. H. Luehr, Class of '89, listed as principal, Manitowoc
High School.
1906
Teacher's Institute: W. H. Luehr was one of three instructors for the annual
Portage County teachers' institute in Amherst. News sources show he did these institutes
during many summers. Previously online.
1908
Alumni Committee: W. H. Luehr chaired the alumni visiting committee for
the U. of Wisconsin Department of Mathematics.
1909 Family Visit:
the Manitowoc Nordwesten reported that Mr. and Mrs. Hachez of New Holstein visited their
daughter, Mrs. W. H. Luhr.
1909-1910
Manitowoc Directory listed William H. Luehr, principal, high school,
residence 710 Marshall. Also listed at that address was daughter Lucille Luehr, student,
and his mother Margaret Luehr (widow John).
In 1909 he was principal
of Manitowoc South High School, as recorded in Patterson's College and School Directory.
page 673.
1909
UW Alumni Teachers Banquet saw W. H. Luehr, Class of 1889, among
attendees at the Milwaukee event, held in conjunction with the state teachers'
convention. He also attended the 1907
event.
W.
H. Luehr, "a very able instructor," was principal, First Ward High
School, Manitowoc, from 1897 until school
consolidation in 1910.
Sheboygan Falls & New Holstein Years [ Top ]
| Sheboygan
in Sheboygan County was the arrival port on Lake Michigan for German settlers on their way
west to land in Calumet County, where they founded New Holstein. Both Calumet and
Sheboygan counties had many German immigrants. Sheboygan
Falls Principal: the Wisconsin Alumni Magazine notes William
Henry Luehr's appointment in 1910-1911 as the principal in Sheboygan Falls, the town
located just west of Sheboygan. Both towns were bustling industrial towns. |
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Sheboygan
Falls (Images of America)
|
Biography in 1912: while
serving as principal of schools at Sheboygan Falls, WIlliam H. Luehr's biography was
published in Educational History of Wisconsin. His own education in New Holstein
and Chilton schools, at Oshkosh Normal and the University of Wisconsin are covered as are
his career in education and newspaper publishing, and his family.
New Holstein Public
School:
1911 postcard shows the all-grades through high
school, built in 1905. Native son W. H. Luehr was the superintendent and principal there
for several years, starting in 1913.
Prof. and Mrs. Luehr of New Holstein visited
daughter Lucille (Mrs. Howard D. Conger) in Sheboygan Falls in late October 1913. He was
then principal at New Holstein, serving 1913-1916. [Link no longer available]
William's interest in politics remained high, as seen in his
membership in the American
Political Science Association while he was principal at New Holstein. He is
on page 18, List of Members, May 1916.
Later Years [
Top ]
1921
UW Alumni Directory: he was listed as William Henry Luehr, B. L. '89,
teacher, Manitowoc, and listed with his 1889
class among those who earned a B. L. or Bachelor of Letters or Literature
degree.
Manitowoc Kiwanis
Founder: in 1922, he was a founding member of the first Kiwanis Club there,
and was a member in 1926-1930 as well
Civil
Service Commission: William Henry Luehr's appointment as chief examiner
of Wisconsin's Civil Service Commission is noted in the February 1923 edition of the Wisconsin
Alumni Magazine.
UW
Class Reunion in 1924: W. H. Luehr was listed in the register for the Class
of 1889.
1925
UW Alumni Committee: W. H. Luehr, 1889 UW graduate, joined a committee
to set up a permanent U. W. Club in Manitowoc, the May 1925 edition of the Wisconsin
Alumni Magazine reported.
Edward
Luehr Honored: William's younger brother Edward, a doctor in Chicago, was
listed in Who's Who in American Medicine for 1925.
1926
Address: W. H. Luehr moved to 1033 South 11th, Manitowoc, the January
1926 edition of the, Wisconsin Alumni Magazine said.
In 1927, son Robert
W. Luehr married Rosalie
Marie Stark, a younger daughter of Fred
and Augusta Stark who married in 1880 in Michigan and came to South Milwaukee
about 1903. They had 12 children. On September 9, 1828, Robert W. Luehr Jr. was born.
Obituary
in the Wisconsin Alumni Magazine, reporting William Henry Luehr's death on Dec.
20, 1930, with notes of his career as an educator, income tax assessor and Wisconsin Civil
Service Commission member.
Kiel
Record obituary, covering his New Holstein boyhood, education, his
career in education and government service, organization memberships, and wife Clara,
children and grandchildren. Also on his FindaGrave
memorial.
W. H. Luehr's older brother John
C. Luehr died in Milwaukee on March 30, 1931, while younger brother Edward
Luehr died in Chicago on January 31, 1937, and youngest brother Arthur
Luehr died in St. Louis in August
1942.
Edward's son Elmer Luehr
was born August 29, 1895, and married Helen Marie Mitchell on June 18, 1925. Author
of "The New German Republic," he died November 19, 1973, West Palm Beach,
Florida.
Descendants [
Top ]
| Lucille Marguerite Luehr:
On September 12, 1912, in Sheboygan
County, William and Clara's daugher Lucille married Howard Dale
Conger, a native of Sheboygan Falls.
Howard was the son of Robert Owen Conger and Eda Dell Morey.
[See more Conger
genealogy and Morey
genealogy]. They had two children, a son Robert William Conger [1914-1977]; a living
daughter born in 1921; four grandchildren; and two known great-grandchildren.
Robert
W. Luehr: son of William and Clara Luehr, was born in Manitowoc on August 24, 1899
Robert
W. Luehr Jr.: grandson of William Henry Luehr, son of Robert William
Luehr, he graduated in pharmacy from UW in the 1950s, shown here as a senior in the 1956 Badger
yearbook. |
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Coming
to
America:
The Germans
Learn more about
New Holstein,
Wisconsin
|
Genealogy & History Resources [ Top ]
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