July 2015 Newsletter # 42

Hi to all, My Grandmother, Laura (Rieder) Weitzer was born in July. She was also married in July, so it seems fitting that this month's newsletter should be about her. However, in this newsletter, I'm just writing about her Rieder days before she married and moved to West Allis. Laura grew up on a farm in the early 1900's so, to help me understand what life was like back then, I interviewed the only person I know who has some experience with early 20th century farming---my sister Mary. Mary is a horticulturist who, for awhile, worked at Old World Wisconsin. If you're not familiar, Old World is an open air historical museum near the town of Eagle. Various ethnic groups are represented in a re-creation of working farms and occupations, such as the town blacksmith. Mary's jobwas to research the types of plants that would have been grown in the late 19th and early 20th century. She would study the oldest seed catalogs she could find, obtain the seeds needed, plot out the garden schemes and then plant the gardens. The plants for each garden were correct for that time period and in line with what each ethnic group would be growing. One of the first things she told me was, “ The pioneer Yankee farmers were not very good stewardsof the land. They would work their farms until the soil became depleted, then they would move on.” When they moved out, the German farmers moved in---and stayed. They were here for the long run. They literally planted their roots here in Wisconsin. The German farmers “had gained proficiency over the eons”, Mary said. “They knew what they were doing. They grew a lot of root vegetables such as potatoes and turnips, which kept well in the rootcellar. They also grew cabbage for sauerkraut. The cabbage could be packed with straw to keep them through the winter.” Cabbage was also preserved by making it into sauerkraut and then packing it into barrels for storage. Other vegetables found in German root cellars included carrots, rutabagas and onions. “The garden was the woman's domain”, Mary said. As a costumed interpreter Mary wore a floor-length dress typical of thetime period; not an easy thing to do on hot summer days. “I was miserablewearing all those clothes instead of shorts” she said, “Back then, that'swhat they knew.” In an article in the farm magazine, The Country Gentleman, (1912-1916), Nellie Kedzie Jones writes: Beware of the dangers of dog days.Overheated and overworked in haying and harvest time, many a farmer'swife collapses. Below:Vintage seed catalogs & Mary Klug at Old World Wisconsin-->

Laura Catherine Rieder

Laura Catherine Rieder

Laura Rieder The Rieder Family Laura C. Rieder

Laura was born on July 10, 1903 in Plain, WI. She was the fourth child born to Anna (Brechtl) and Ferry Rieder. She had six siblings: Clara, Albert, Herman, Frieda, John and Donnie. Two days after her birth, Laura was baptized by Fr. J. Lauer at St. Luke's Catholic Church. She wasamong the last to be baptized in the old church. The congregation had grown over the years and they needed a larger building. Just one month later St. Luke's church was torn down.

Laura's Baptismal Certificate St. Luke's 2nd Church demolished in August 1903

On September 27,1903, the cornerstone was laid for the new St. Luke's. Stone from the old church was reused as the foundation for the new one. According to The History of Plain Wisconsin: Gravel to be utilized in the primary foundation was hauled from the gravel pit of John Nachreiner'sfarm. Also from John B. Brechtl one acre of land was purchased for $425. Note: John B. Brechtl was Laura's grandfather “Baptiste”.

Meadow View School Laura Rieder St. Luke's Catholic School Laura's older cousin, Anne Rieder, (daughter of Joseph and Justina Lins Rieder) wrote: “Memories take me back to the winter of 1916 when I taught school at Meadow View School,where the Ferry Rieder children came to school in the winter only---as they went to St. Luke's in the spring and fall. Anna (Rieder) made the most delicious “Coffee Kuchen”. They were all so good to me---on the weekends I couldn't go home.” Female teachers were not allowed to marry or even date. Often, ifthey could not make the trip back home, they would stay with people inthe community. Anne would stay with her Uncle Ferry and Aunt AnnaRieder on their farm. Laura's teacher at Meadow View was Lilly Sparks of Reedsburg, WI.Lilly signed nine-year-old Laura's autograph book on Jan. 20, 1913: Silently one by one in the infinite meadows of Heaven Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget me nots of the angels. With kindest and truest regards, Lilly Sparks

The photo on the left, with Laura and her cousin Emma Lins, may bea Communion picture or it may have been a special church event such asthe one in which Laura's brother Herman took part. (lower left). St. Luke's School had four classrooms and a small chapel attached tothe building. Each room had a potbellied stove and the boys took turnskeeping the wood boxes filled. The children brought their lunch in asorghum or tobacco pail and pumped water at the well to get a drink. In the classroom, Laura and her classmates all had: a bottle of blueink, a steel pen and pen holder, a 5-cent tablet, a composition book, anda couple of lead pencils. They studied geography, penmanship, civicsand the constitution, German grammar and script, math and Catechism. Laura probably graduated from the eighth grade in 1917. We get aglimpse of that day from The History of Plain, Wisconsin: For many years, graduation from the eighth grade was an occasionmarked by joyous festivity, with the program of commencementexercises held annually at Reuschlein's hall. All the hitching posts intown were taken, as friends and relatives gathered from far and wide.The Plain Brass Band would be there, adding to the enjoyment of theeveryone.”

Photo above is Reuschlein Bros. Store circa 1910's Photo on the right is the Plain Brass Band Laura, her sister Clara and their relative HildegardeThering pose for a picture on the the Rieder's 120 acrefamily farm (below). Laura lived there from 1903 to 1926.Hildegarde was a great granddaughter of JohannEvangelist Hutter. Laura and Clara were greatgranddaughters of Johann Baptist Hutter, (the men werebrothers). Hildegarde was also Laura's classmate and the

author of A Historyof Plain, Wisconsin.

Growing up,Laura and hersiblings would havehad plenty of farm chores to keep them busy. Farmers lived a precarious lifestyle since their income depended on the crops which were dependent on the weather. Gardens provided food for the family and sometimes extra income as vegetables could be sold to the general store for cash or bartered for something else like sugar or coffee. Or they could trade with the neighbors. Laura probably worked in the garden as a young child. Surrounding the garden would be a rudimentary fence to keep out, not only rabbits, raccoons and woodchucks but also their own farm animals. According to my sister, Mary, a scarecrow might be used but children were probably the best deterrent. “ Kids would clap their hands, make noise or even use a slingshot,” she said. “They would use soapy water on plants as an insecticide or they could use loose leaf tobacco soaked in water. Wood ash sprinkled on plants was also used as an insecticide and nutrient.”

Donald and Laura Rieder --->

In The History of Plain, Wisconsin: After a rain, when the ground was soft, weeds had to bepulled. In summer, potato bugs had to be gathered with a stickand pail, then killed in kerosene.

Electricity and running water reached the rural areas longafter it was available in the cities. The technology was there butfinancially it just wasn't cost effective to put up the poles andwires. Water for the garden had to be pumped from the well. “They probably didn't water the plants much.” Mary said.When they did they would use a pail and a hand ladle.” Mary also talked about the types of fertilizers they use inthe fields and may have used in their gardens as well. Thoseincluded not only cow manure but also chicken, sheep or anyother farm animals droppings. She also mentioned somethingcalled “night soil”--the stuff collected in chamber potsovernight. Of course the garden was only one of the chores LauraRieder would have on the farm. She would also be helping hermother with traditional “woman's work”: cooking, cleaning,sewing, laundry and taking care of younger siblings. Sheprobably also collected eggs, fed the chickens and pigs, and plucked chicken feathers. But school and farm work were not the only things happening in Laura's life. In 1915, the silent film stars shined from the screen as the evening stars shined from above, at the corner lot near the Plon Meat Market. Benches were set up for the patrons to watch these outdoor movies. A popular event. Church picnics always brought out a crowd, one of the most successful was held on August 11, 1915. Over 2,000 people attended the event held in Laura's cousin, Frank Brechtl's grove, just across the street from her Grandpa Brechtl. Chicken dinners and other meals were served at lunch and again atthe supper hour. Japanese lanterns hung in the trees. There was music and dancing all day and evening.

Below; A view of the dirt road of Main Street looking east as Laura would have seen it. On the left: Ruhlands saw mill, Lute Ring's blacksmith shop, and the Cramer Bros. Store

From A History of Plain, Wisconsin; Besides the church picnics, there were programs at the schools. Oratorical contests were held withinterludes of musical exercises. The Lyceum with its debates attracted large crowds. A new departure in sewing circles was instituted by the Sisters. The older schoolgirls would gatherat the Sister house on Saturday afternoons where they took up sewing, crocheting, knitting, drawn work, feather stitch, fancy work, tatting and rug making.

On the left: Laura's paternal grandparents, George and Margaret (Daschner) Rieder. George had died Dec. 4, 1901 two years before Laura was born. Margaret lived to June 26, 1913 and for awhile she lived with her son Ferry on the farm.

On the right: Laura's maternalgrandparents, Baptiste and Anna(Hutter) Brechtl. Baptiste sold aportion of their property to St.Luke's for the site of the newchurch built in 1903, whereLaura received her first HolyCommunion. Her Grandpa,Baptiste, took on the job of janitor

there in his later years. In 1918 the cyclone destroyed that church.Grandpa Baptiste's health began to fail after that.

<---The third St. Luke's Church In 1920, Grace Schwartz married Herman Brechtl (Anna & Baptiste's youngest child). Anna and Baptiste were there (#'s 22 and 23) Their 17 year old granddaughter Laura was there also (#8) Two years later, Anna and Baptiste would celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. But Baptiste only lived a few months longer. Laura was 20 years old when her Grandpa died. Her Grandma lived many more years.

Wedding of Herman and Grace Brechtl on September 21, 1920