Saturday, March 2, 2019

Joseph Zingsheim 1858-1918

His granddaughter told the family story that Joseph was disowned for marrying a Lutheran girl, so he changed his name and moved west. But is that really what happened?

Joseph was born 9 Dec 1858 in Addison, Washington county, Wisconsin,  seventh of the ten children of Wilhelm Zingsheim and Magdalena Limbach.

He was baptized on 19 Dec 1858 at Sts Peter and Paul Church in Addison.




The 1860 Federal Census of Addison lists Joseph as a child in his parents home.
William Zingsheim, 48, farmer, real estate value $2,000 personal value $225, born Prussia
Magdalena, 38, born Prussia; Margaret, 13; John, 11; Anna M., 9; Catharine, 7; Peter, 5; and Joseph, 1. All children born in Wisconsin.



The 1870 Federal Census finds Joseph still in Addison with his parents.
Ziensheim, William, 59, farmer, real estate value $6,000, personal value, $700, born Prussia.
Magdalena, 47, born Prussia; John, 21; Catharina, 17; Peter, 15; Joseph, 11; Bertha, 9; William, 6; Ambros, 2.



The 1875 state census of Addison only names head of household. In the Wilhelm Zingsheim home there are 5 males and 2 females.



In the 1880 Federal Census Joseph is not listed with his parents.


Joseph has moved before getting married, from Washington county Wisconsin to Mower County Minnesota - due west. Once there he meets his future wife.




Mower County Transcript 15 Jul 1885




On 23 Jul 1885 at St. John the Baptist Church in Johnsburg, Mower, Minnesota, Joseph was married to Mary Schafer, by Rev. W. Schmitz, Catholic Priest. Page 478 of the county records show Joseph's surname is still spelled with a Z.





The 1885 Minnesota state census lists Joseph Zingshymes, 27, born Wisconsin. Household contains 1 male and 1 female.



Mower County Transcript 4 Apr 1888


Map of Mower county - shows Rose Creek, Adams, and Grand Meadow.



Joseph's first child, John Walter, was born 7 Jun 1888, vol A page 219 line 361.



Joseph's father, William, died 11 Aug 1890 in Addison, Washington, Wisconsin

Daughter Caroline was born 10 Oct 1889 in Mower county - no record found

Son Joseph was born Dec 1891 in Mower county - no record found

Son William Hubert was born 24 Feb 1894 in Mower county - no record found

The 1895 state census - Adams, Mower, Minnesota
Joseph Zingsheim, 36, born Wisconsin, 17 years in Minnesota, carpenter.
Mary, 28, born Germany
John, 7, born Minnesota
Caroline, 5, born Minnesota
Joseph, 3, born Minnesota
Willie, 1, born Minnesota


Joseph's mother, Magdalena, died 30 Aug 1898 in Addison, Washington, Wisconsin

Daughter Minnie Regina was born 21 Oct 1898, Mower county births, vol. B page 20, line 18.




Son Raymond Frank was born 9 Oct 1899 in Mower county - no record found

Mower County Transcript 29 Jan 1890





The 1900 Federal Census - Adams, Mower county. Still using Zingsheim.
Joseph, born 1858, 41, married 14 years, born Wisconsin, day laborer, owns free home.
Mary, born Dec 1866, 33, 6 children born, 6 children living, born Germany
John, born Jun 1888, 11, born Minnesota, at school
Caroline, born Oct 1889, 10, born Minnesota, at school
Joseph, born Dec 1891, 8, born Minnesota, at school
Wilhelm, born Feb 1894, 6, born Minnesota
Reginia, born Oct 1896, born Minnesota
Raymond, born Oct 1899, 7/12, born Minnesota



Mower County Transcript 29 Aug 1900 lists Joseph receiving $7.50 for labor on bridges.




Joseph's brother John died 11 Mar 1901 in Washington county, Wisconsin. Unknown and how Joseph meet John's widow.

Mower County Transcript 13 Nov 1901 Joseph has purchased lot 4 of block 11 in Adams for $57.


Wife Mary died 1 Mar 1902. It is possible she died in childbirth to a daughter Marie who died the next day.

Mower County Transcript 30 Jul 1902




Mower County Transcript 4 Feb 1903




On 31 Jan 1905 in Adams, Mower, Minnesota, Joseph married Anna Katharine Schneider. Her surname is given as Zingsheim on the marriage. [Anna Katharine was the widow of Joseph's brother John who died 1901 in Wisconsin]



From the Mower County Transcript of 8 Feb 1905. This is the only newspaper entry that spelled the surname Singsheim.




Sacred Heart church



The 1905 Minnesota state census (taken 13 Jun 1905) - Adams, Mower county has the family living on Main Street. Joshep Zingsham, 46, born Wisconsin, farmer; Katrine, 55, born Germany, domestic; Johann, 17, born Minnesota, farm laborer; Karolina, 15, born Minnesota, domestic; Joseph, 13, born Minnesota, farm laborer; William, 11, born Minnesota, schollar (sic); Reginia, 8, born Minnesota; Frank R., 5, born Minnesota.


Main street - Adams, Minnesota



Mower County Transcript 22 Sep 1905





Mower County Transcript 6 Feb 1907





Mower County Transcript 17 Apr 1907 - Joseph has sold his home.


Mower County Transcript 2 Oct 1907



Mower County Transcript 25 Dec 1907 shows Joseph paying taxes in Adams





Son John enlisted in the Army on 22 Apr 1908 in Jefferson Bl., Missouri. He is described as born at Rose Creek, Minnesota, age 21 years 10 months, 5 foot 7 3/4 inches, brown eyes, light brown hair, ruddy complexion.



Mower County Transcript 13 Jan 1909 shows Joseph has moved to Grand Meadow.





The 1910 Federal Census of Grand Meadow, Mower, Minnesota lists Joe. Zingsheim, 51, married twice, married for 2 years, farmer - grain; Willie, son, 16, laborer on farm; Raymond, son, 10; Ragena, daughter, 13. [Note Joseph is married but there is no wife listed in household.]


Son John was discharged from the army on 21 Apr 1911 at San Antonio, Texas. He had served in Company K, Eng. Regiment.

Mower County Transcript 2 Aug 1911 taxes assessed. Appears Joseph did not pay $1.07 on time and now owes $2.32




Son John Singsheim married Elsie Wondrow of Winona, Minnesota on 4 Sep 1911 in DeSmet, Kingsbury county, South Dakota. The were married by W. H. Warren, mayor.


Daughter Caroline married 10 Oct 1911, Miles City, Custer, Montana to Thomas Grace. She gives her name as Carrie Margaret Singsheim.



On 1 Feb 1912 son John applied for employment with the U.S. Northern Pacific Railway Company. He gives his and his father's residence at McGrath, Minnesota.

Son Joseph married 10 Aug 1912 in Livingston, Illinois to Elizabeth Jarvis.

Son Joseph died 9 Dec 1912 in Shell Lake, Washburn, Wisconsin and is buried in Sarona Cemetery.

Daughter Regina married Charles Lambert prior to 1914 when their first child was born in Beadle, South Dakota.

Joseph died 20 Feb 1918, Duluth, St. Louis, Minnesota. The information from the state file shows his name is still spelled with a Z.


Duluth Herald - Saturday, 23 Feb 1918

"ZINGSHEIM - Joseph Zingsheim, aged 59, 1932 West Michigan Street, died Feb. 20. Interment took place today in Calvary cemetery."



Duluth News Tribune 0 Sunday, 23 Feb 1918

"ZINGSHEIM - Jospeh Zingsheim, age 59 yeras, a carpenter, died Feb. 20 at his home, 1932 West Michigan street. Leaves a widow and family. Funeral services held yesterday, with interment in Calvary cemetery."


So Joseph did move west (from Washington County Wisconsin to Mower County Minnesota is due west.)

His children did use the Singsheim spelling, although it doesn't seem that Joseph did [at least on all legal papers], and when the children started using the "S" spelling is unclear.. It is also unknown if he was ever disowned, since neither wife appears to have been Lutheran.

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