Pfeiffenberger

John Phillip Pfeiffenberger was born 14 Dec 1803 in Waldrohrbach, Sudliche Weinstrasse, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany to Johann Pfeiffenberger and Margaretha Blanck. [Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #402]

He married Katharina Francisca Gotz, daughter of Phillip Jacob Anton Gotz and Katharina Francisca Lang on 27 Mar 1828 in Waldrohrbach. She was born 13 Feb 1806 in Blankenborn, Bavaria.

Marriage record [Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #575]

Waldrohrbach today has 429 inhabitants.

The couple's first child, John Jacob, was born 19 Mar 1829 in Waldrohrbach. He died 1 Jul 1831.[Baptism and death - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 images #484 and #543]

Their second child, Franceska, was born 20 Oct 1831 in Waldrohrbach.

[Baptism - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #487]

The next child, Anna Marie, was born 21 Sep 1833 and died 21 Dec 1836 in Waldrohrbach.

[Baptism and death - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #489 and #546]

John Jr. was born 23 Jul 1836 in Waldrohrbach. [Baptism - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #491]

 Katharina was born n 18 Dec 1837 in Waldrohrbach. [Baptism - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #492]

George Jacob was born 3 Feb 1840 and died two years later on 13 Feb 1842 also in Waldrohrbach. [Baptism and death - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #496 and #548]

Jacob was born 19 Oct 1842 and died 26 Jul 1845 in Waldrohrbach. [Baptism and death - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #498 and #550]

The last child born in Waldrohrbach was Phillip, born 3 May 1845. [Baptism - Waldrohrbach church records LDS film 008110734 image #500] Note that under his name on the baptism records is written America 1847.

The church book of Waldrohrbach details the family.

John, Katharina and their four surviving children immigrated to America. They left from Antwerp, Belgium and arrived in New York on 10 Aug 1847 aboard the Belgian Barque Jean Kay.

Line 40 - Johann Dferfererger, age 43, farmer

Line 41 - Cath. age 42

Line 42 - Franzisca, age 16

Line 43 - Johannis, age 10

Line 44 - Philippene, age 1 year 4 months

Line 45 - Catharina, age 7

The family settled in Addison, Washington county, Wisconsin, where son Jacob was born c1848. The family attended the St Lawrence Catholic Church which was home to many of the area's families from Bavaria.

 The 1850 Federal Census of Addison lists the family. John Pifenbergen, 48, farmer, real estate value of $1,600, born Germany; Catherine, 47, born Germany; Frances, 18, born Germany; John, 13, born Germany; Catherine, 12, born Germany, Philip, 5, born Germany, and Jacob, 2, born Wisconsin.

Daughter Franceska married John Wolf on 6 Nov 1853 in Addison.

The 1859 plat map of Addison township shows John owning 40 acres in section 17, 40 acres in section 18 and 100 acres in section 20.

On 27 Oct 1859 both daughter Katherine married Peter Jacob Schwartz and son John married Barbara Sherman as recorded at St. Lawrence's church.

The 1860 Federal Census lists the family as Peiffenberger. John is 57, a farmer, real estate value of $5,000, personal estate value of $300, born Bavaria; Catharine is 55, born Bavaria; Philip is 14, born Bavaria; Jacob is 12, born Wisconsin. Next family is John Peiffenberger, 23, a farm laborer, personal estate value of $200, born Bavaria; Barbara, 21, born Darmstatt.

In 1868 J.P. Pfeiffenberger and others wrote to the Wisconsin Senate.

Son Philip married Juliana Gass on 21 Feb 1870. [Records of St. Lawrence Church]

The 1870 Federal Census has John Pfeifenberger, 67, farmer, real estate $5,500, personal estate $1,300, born Bavaria; Catharina, 63, keeping house, born Bavaria; Philip, 24, works on farm, born Bavaria; Juliana, 21, born Wisconsin. On the same page is John, 36, farmer, real estate $4,500, personal estate $600, born Bavaria; Barbara, 33, born Darmstadt; and children Anna, 10; Catharine, 8; Mary, 7; Babara, 5; John, 3; Emilia, 2; and Andrew, 5/12. All children were born in Wisconsin.

The 1875 Wisconsin State Census has John Ph Pfeifenberger, 1 male, 1 female; Philip Pfeifenberger, 1 male, 1 female; and John Pfeifenberger, 2 males, 8 females.

Katharina died 12 May 1879 and was buried on 14 May 1879 according to the records of St. Lawrence church. She does not have a tombstone.

The 1880 Federal Census finds John, age 72, living with son Philip, 33, farmer and daughter-in-law Julia, 29, keeping house.

A new St. Lawrence Church was constructed in 1880.

John Sr. died 15 Sep 1884 in Addison township and is buried 17 Sep 1884 at St. Lawrence Cemetery, from the records of St. Lawrence Church, deaths page 255.

CHILDREN

FRANCESKA

Franceska married John Wolf and was the mother of 11 children.

Photo of Franceska with granddaughter Clara Wolf.

JOHN

John married Barbara Shermann. They were the parents of 12 children and moved to Milwaukee, where John died 23 Nov 1929.

KATHARINE

Katharine married Peter Schwartz and had 7 children, none named Katharine. Back of this photo says "Katharina and her daughter Katharine, who married Peter Schwartz." Probably photo of Katharina Goetz Pfeiffenberger and her daughter Katharine Pfeiffenberger Schwartz.

PHILIP

Photo of Philip and his wife Julia nee Gass.

The Hartford Times of Feb 1920 wrote of the couple's anniversary.

Obituary from the Hartford Times, Jul 1922.

JACOB

No record of Jacob has been found beyond the 1860 census.

Sebastiana LaTona

Sebastiana LaTona was born 14 Jan 1883 in Bagheria, Sicilia, the youngest known child of Giovanni LaTona and Domenica Bartolone.

She was married in Bagheria to Antonio Fricano.

Antonio Fricano came to America on the SS Gera, leaving from Genoa and Naples and arriving in New York on 10 Apr 1903. Antonio is listed on line 8, age 28. He is traveling with Sebastiana's brother, Salvatore LaTona, 32. Both are listed as born in Bagheria, can read and write, going to Milwaukee to join brother-in-law Salvatore Crivcelo at 309 Jackson Street.

Antonio went back to Bagheria at some point, returning to America aboard the S.S. Sicilia. He left Napoli on 4 May 1905 and arrived in New York 18 May 1905. Antonio is passenger #206 (line 18). Passenger #205 is Giovanni LaTona, brother of Antonio's wife.

Daughter Rosa was born 18 Dec 1905 in Bagheria.

1907 Milwaukee City Directory has Antonio working as a laborer, living at 146 1/2 Buffalo.

In 1908 Sebastiana and Rosa joined Antonio. They left Palermo on 23 Sep 1908 aboard the SS Re D'Italia, arriving in New York on 8 Oct 1908.

Sebastiana is passenger #75 line 16, age 24, joining husband Fricano, Antonio, 148 Buffalo St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, nearest relative in Italy is brother-in-law, Diego Fricano of Bagheria. She is described as fair with brown hair and grei [grey?] eyes. Rosa is 3, joining her father.

Sebastiana and Rosa then took a train to Chicago where Antonio meet them.

Picture of Antonio, Sebastiana and Rosa taken in Milwaukee around 1908-1909.

Daughter Dominica was born 10 Oct 1909 in Milwaukee, the first of the children to be born there.


Photo of Rosa taken around 1910.

The 1910 Federal Census finds the family living at 241 Jackson Street, Antonio is 30, born in Italy, married 5 years, came to US in 1903, works odd jobs; wife Sebastiana is 26, born in Italy, married 5 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, came to US in 1908; daughter Rosa is 4, born in Italy, daughter Dominica is 6/12, born in Wisconsin.

Antonio's petition for naturalization says he first came to the US 25 March 1903, but that passenger list has not yet been located. He applied to become a citizen on 16 Feb 1911 and took the oath on 20 Sep 1911.

Son Isidoro was born 6 Jun 1911. Sadly both baby Isidoro, aged 8 months and Dominica, aged 2 1/2 died on the same day in 1912 from either measles or scarlet fever.

Daughter Dominica [called May] was born 1 May 1913,

Ever the match maker, Sebastiana tells her friend, widow  Maria Concetta Catalano LoSchiavo, "I have a man for you" and introduces Maria to Sebastiana's older brother Francis LaTona. The couple married in 1915.

Antonio and Sebastiana have two more children, Charles on 14 Jan 1915 and Concetta on 31 Mar 1918.

On 12 Sep 1918 Antonio (Anthony) registered for the WWI draft. Residing at 203 Jefferson he states he is employed as a garbage collector for the city. He is of medium height and build, brown eyes, black hair. Gives wife's name as Bastiana.

By the 1920 Federal Census the family is living at 203 Jefferson. Family consists of Tony, head, 46, to US 1902, naturalized citizen in 1909, born Italy, wagon driver at city garbage plant; Bessie, wife, 36, to US 1908, naturalized citizen, born Italy; Rose, 15, daughter, born Italy, candy maker at candy factory; May, 6, daughter, born Wisconsin; Charles, 4 11/12, son, born Wisconsin; Congetta, 1 8/12, daughter, born Wisconsin.

The children would have attended Detroit Street School.

The family attended Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church. From 1919 to 1923, in addition to his regular job, Antonio was caretaker for the church, receiving free rent in a house located south of the church. In 1924 he was able to purchase a house at 175 Jefferson in partnership with his brother-in-law Salvatore LaTona.

The 1922 Milwaukee City Directory finds the family living at 303 Jackson, while Anton is working at the soft drinks store of his brother-in-law, Francis LaTona, at 193 Michigan.

In the 1924 directory Anton is a laborer, still living at 303 Jackson

The 1927 directory has Antonio, laborer, living back at 203 Jefferson.

Oldest daughter Rose was married to Steve Carini in 1927 and their first child, Margaret, was born in 1929, making Antonio and Sebastiana grandparents.

In 1930 the family is living at 203 Jefferson according to the Federal Census.  Tony is 55, married at 30, born in Italy, to US in 1905, naturalized citizen, collector at garbage, pays $25 per month for rent. Wife Bessie is 47, married at 22, born Italy, to US in 1909; children are Memie, 16, Charley, 15 and Concetta, 12 - all born in Wisconsin. At 205 Jefferson is daughter Rose, 24, married at 21, born Italy, her husband Steve Carini, 28, married at 25, born Wisconsin, labor at construction, pays $30 per month for rent, and their daughter Margaret, 1, born in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Journal of 20 Mar 1934

1940 Federal Census - Third Ward Milwaukee
177 Jefferson - Carini, Steve, 37, completed 8th grade, born Wisconsin, operator at plastic business; Rose, 33, wife, completed 7th grade, born Italy, naturalized citizen; children: Margaret Mary, 11, Bessie, 10, Anna Marie, 7 and Minon A., 2, all born Wisconsin. The family lived in the same house in 1935.

175 Jefferson - Fricano, Anthony, 65, completed 3rd grade, born Italy, naturalized citizen, laborer at D.P.W. [Department of Public Works]; Bessie, 58, wife, completed 3rd grade, born Italy, naturalized citizen; children Mamie, 27, completed 6th grade, born Wisconsin, office clerk at music company, Charles, 25, completed 8th grade, born Wisconsin, office clerk at stocking company; Connie, 22, completed H-2, born Wisconsin, office clerk at [unreadable]. The family lived in the same house in 1935.

Anthony died 8 Apr 1955. His obituary from the Milwaukee Journal of the same day.

Holy Card:

Sebastiana died 17 Jan 1961. From the Milwaukee Journal:

From the Milwaukee Sentinel 18 Jan 1961

From the Milwaukee Sentinel 19 Jan 1961. 

Holy Card:

Antonio and Sebastiana are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, block 31, lot 186, graves 1 and 2.


Stories:

In his book "Milwaukee's Italians: The Early Years" Mario Carini writes of the women in the Third Ward who took in boarders. "Besides taking care of my mother [Rose], two toddlers and grandfather [Antonio], my grandmother [Sebastiana] had to look after the needs of "boarders:" a brother, brother-in-law, a nephew and a first cousin."

Antonio worked at the quarries in Bagheria and for the Northwestern Railroad Company when he first came to Milwaukee according to an interview his daughter Rose Fricano Carini gave in 1991. She also told of Sebastiana doing embroidery work for Gimbels, T.A. Chapmans, and Boston Store, plus others.
Link to interview