November 28, 2024

November Nuptials 1888

When David and Kayla got married on November 19, 2022, I started a November Nuptials tradition with my blog writing. That first year, I wrote about Lottie and Milton Rector. Last year, I wrote about Carrie and Ed Hesse.

This year, I highlight the marriage of Clara Schneider and William Gentzkow.

Researching Gentzkow

Anyone with the surname Gentzkow is my cousin. Back in the late 1990s, I researched all the American Gentzkow family lines, looking for all relatives, not just my direct blood line.

In the little town of Minneiska, Minnesota I met Katherine (Heaser) Wischow (1910 -2007).¹ She was a life-long resident of the area. Despite her advanced years, she clearly remembered my Gentzkow family members, not just because she lived there, but because one of her maternal aunts married into the family.

Katherine Wischow and Karrie Blees
Inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Minneiska, MN, June 2000²

Katherine owned several photographs of her Gentzkow relatives. She also had this framed newspaper clipping.³

The Original Newspaper

For many years, I had an item on my to-do list:

Find the source of the wedding article.

Finally, on April 26, 2024, I made a research appointment at the University Archives and Area Research Center (UW-River Falls). In less than an hour, I found the article that matched the framed clipping.⁴

MARRIED

GENTZKOW-SCHNEIDER – at the home of the brides [sic] parents by Rev. Hackner of Fountain City Mr. William Gentzkow of Minneiska, Minn. to Miss Clara M., the elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. N. Schneider of Buffalo City, Wis., on Thursday, Nov. 29, 1888.

On thanksgiving morning Nov. 29th something happened to our old veteran Jos. N Schneider, that never happened before, he was made a Schweiger vater at 9 o’clock A.M. by the marriage of his daughter Clara to Wm. Gentzkow of Minneiska.

The ceremony was performed in the presence of closely related relatives. After the ceremony, all present formed in line and marched to church under the command of S.V. [Senior Vice] commander of Fimian Post No. 196 G. A. R. and offered thanks to the Almighty for all benefit received as commanded by our old veteran Jerry M. Rusk.

After services a grand dinner was served in Schneider’s camp. The afternoon was spent with a social gathering of near friends among whom were some of Alma’s fairest daughters. In the evening a host of young people gathered to do honor to the newly wedded couple. A pleasant time was indulged in and at midnight the guests sat down to refreshments, the best in the land which was duly dispatched. A good time was participated in by all. Play, music and song was kept up till 4 o’clock in the morning.

A good feature was that Bavarian mug of Schneider’s which hold about three quarts called a “Baierscher Schnit;” it kept the rounds by the pass words “Lets drink out of the same canteen,” also Huebsch’s best was enjoyed immensely. The happy pair were just loaded down with presents and good wishes; they will live in Minneiska. O.F.S.

What an Event!

This was an all-day party!

First, the couple was married in the morning at her parents’ home.

Next, the Senior Vice Commander of the local G. A. R. Post led the group to the church. The G. A. R. was the Grand Army of the Republic. In Alma (Buffalo County), Wisconsin, the Christopher Fimian Post organized on May 25, 1885 with 45 Civil War Union soldier-members.⁵ [Jeremiah “Jerry” M. Rusk was the current governor of Wisconsin and a Union Civil War veteran.]

After church, everyone went back to Schneider’s (camp is a term used by G. A. R. members to designate a local gathering). There, the guests celebrated, ate, danced, sang and drank … for hours.

In the final paragraph, the author mentioned, what they phonetically spelled as, Baierscher Schnit. This was likely Bayerischer Schnitt [Bavarian cut]. In modern terms, a Schnitt is a quick splash of tap beer with which to end the evening. It would seem that everyone took their last “cuts” from a communal stein.

Clara and Bill

Clara and William “Bill” Gentzkow in front of their home in Minneiska⁶

Clara and William “Bill” Gentzkow, in Minneiska⁷

Congratulations to David and Kayla on your second anniversary!

SOURCES

1
Interview with Katherine Wischow by Karrie Blees, May 8, 1996, Minneiska, Minnesota. Katherine was one of Clara (Schneider) Gentzkow’s nieces.
2
Photo of Katherine Wischow and Karrie Blees taken by Margie Roscoe Lucht, June 19, 2000 at Minneiska, MN.
3
Karrie Blees made a photographic copy of the framed newspaper clipping in June 2000. This item and other photos that previously belonged to Mrs. Katherine Wischow, were given to John W. Gentzkow, Jr. (1941-2019), a direct descendant of William and Clara.
4
“Married.” Buffalo County Journal (Alma WI). December 6, 1888, page 3, col 3.
5
“Alma Veteran, 91, Recalls March to Sea with Sherman.” The Winona (MN) Daily News, June 9, 1937, page 3. Peter Short (at time of printing) was “the last member of the Fimian Post, which at time of organizing had 45 members.”
6
Clara and William Gentzkow photograph. Original owned by Mrs. Katherine (Art) Wischow (Minneiska, Minnesota). Photographic copy made by author May 8, 1996electronically altered, April 2000.
7
Clara and William Gentzkow photograph. Original owned by Mrs. Katherine (Art) Wischow, given to Karrie Blees June 19, 2000. Digital copy made by Karrie Blees and original given to John W. Gentzkow, Jr. (1941-2019).

Author: Karrie Blees

Filed Under: Gentzkow