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Johann Peter Pohl, Cemetery Walk 2019

10/28/2020

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By now you know that we were unable to hold a 2020 Cemetery Walk due to Covid-19, but perhaps that makes it a perfect time to share our old stories. We have a few from our 2018 and 2019 walks that we haven't shared here yet, so we'll cover them over the next few months. We'll get started with "John Peter Pohl." 

Johann (John) Peter Pohl was featured in 2019 and was portrayed by Luke Pohl, great-great grandson. 

Johann and his brother, Nicholas both came to Westphalia from Antweiler, Germany and they can credit Johann Fuchs, the 'Father of Immigration' to their arrival here.

Click the button below to find out more about John, his family and life in Westphalia, Michigan.
Johann Pohl's Story
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WWII Veteran & Postmaster

10/10/2019

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Bob told us he only had 10 minutes to share his life's story, and wow, did he pick some good stories to share!

Bob was the first son of Herman and Caroline (Platte) Trierweiler; he was born in 1923. He graduated from Westphalia High School in 1941 and then went to work at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI. And then the war started...

Bob served in the European War Zone with the 3816 Quartermaster Gasoline Supply Company. You'll have to read his story below to find out more about his time at war. 

So, look back at our 2018 Cemetery Walk with Bob's talk. He went from Ford Motor Company to WWII to Postmaster of Westphalia. 

Read his story by clicking the button below. 
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This picture is from page 310 of the "Brown Book." Bob is in the upper left corner, his daughter Cindy is seated in chairs second from the right, and his brother Don is in the upper right corner. 
Below, Bob's son Dan portrays his father.
​A mock section of the old post office mailboxes is to his right. 
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Bob's Story
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From Wisconsin to Michigan: Leo Bauer's Story

8/5/2019

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Leo Bauer, portrayed by Trey Bauer (son of Chris and Stan Bauer).
Leo Bauer, portrayed by Trey Bauer (son of Chris and Stan Bauer).

​Leo Aldalbert Bauer. Born and raised in German community in Wisconsin, but prompted to Michigan to help with his brother, Alfred's, creamery business. 

By 1914, with business waning, Alfred and Leo began Bauer Brothers, Contractors and Builders of Circular Cement Silos. This is probably how you know (or have heard of) Leo Bauer. 

The first silo built by the Bauer brothers was for Ferdinand Martin on Hanses Road in 1914 and the last was built for Leon Spitzley in 1975.

Read his FULL story by clicking the button below. 
Leo's Story
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Our Cemetery Walk Recap Begins...Now

7/15/2019

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(jump directly to the transcript)

Do you know what it means when someone calls Lena? No, they're not looking for someone. As Elizabeth (Miller) Hengesbach put it in her story, "Every time someone plays their cards alone and makes it, they get Lena." 

Elizabeth told us many stories about her card playing group, TOB; we think that most everyone wanted to join that group after hearing her stories! She doesn't stop there, of course. She has great stories about her life, her family, baking and much more.
                                                                   Click the button below to read the transcript.

From the Cemetery Walk 2018 brochure: Elizabeth was born April 11, 1901 on Price Road, 3/4 mile east of Westphalia. Her parents were John Miller and Mary Weiland. She had two brothers: Ted and Isidor (Pro), and a sister, Julina who died when she was a year old. She married Julius Hengebach in 1924. Their children are Ruth, Sister of Christian Charity, Louis Jr. (married Evelyn Platte), Robert (married Harriet Thelen) and Ted (married Rose Marie Seitz). 

Her granddaughter, Heidi (Hengesbach) Killion, presented her story. 

OUR 2019 WALK DETAILS

September 22, at 2 PM

Louis Bertram: owner of an early drug store in Westphalia

Leo Gross: founder of Gross Machine Shop

Johann Pohl: first person buried in the 4th (and current) cemetery in 1872

Izzy Schmitt: long time St. Mary Parish maintenance person

​Carolyn Wirth: volunteer extraordinaire
Elizabeth's Story
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The Bohr Story

9/16/2018

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This is our last recap of past Cemetery Walks (if we've been accurate in our records). While many of us current citizens think first of the Bohr house that sat by the old junk yard and has been since torn down, there is more history to their story. It took three of them to really tell their story right: Joseph, William (Tinner) and Katherine. The Bohrs arrived in the US in September 1842; they too were encouraged by the letters of Johann Fuchs, Nick Pohl and Johann Lehmann. From a millinery store to building the old church, the Bohrs have a rich history in our town.

You'll find more of their story by clicking on the button below (we apologize for the poor quality of the text). 
The Bohr Story
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A Little Reminder about Our Walk

9/2/2018

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​WHEN: September 16 @ 2 PM

WHERE: St. Mary Cemetery, Price Road (west of Westphalia, east of Jones Road)

WHAT?
A cemetery walk runs like a circuit route or a clock. Each grave site is a stop on the circuit. At the site, a person (often a relative) will be dressed in period clothing and tell the story of the deceased. Typically props are also included in each presentation.

To begin, everyone splits into groups at one of the selected grave sites. After the stories are over at each grave, a docent leads each group to the next grave. The presenters tell their story repeatedly as the groups rotate on the circuit. This way everyone has an opportunity to hear each story and everyone is "done" at the same time.

WHAT ELSE?
  • This is a FREE event; although, we will accept donations from those who wish to do so.
  • We have light refreshments available at the conclusion.
  • We also have golf carts available to help those from grave to grave if needed.

HOW LONG:
With five speakers speaking for approximately 10 minutes each (along with socializing and brief instructions), this event typically lasts around 1 1/2 - 2 hours. 

We are featuring:
- Ron Spitzley
- Leo Bauer
- Bob Trierweiler 
- Elizabeth Hengesbach
- Maria Catherine and Adam (Vidua) Fedewa
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Father of Emigration: Johann Fuchs

5/26/2018

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"An industrious hand is riches in America."
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​Johann's letters back to family in the Eifel region of Germany, in the Rhineland, urged others to join him and his family here in the United States. He didn't sugar coat the hardships that would lie ahead in their journey, but he gave them hope for a better life here. He also gave practical advice about what to bring and what to leave.

His letters were passed around and passed around...eventually over 300 people came to the US and can be credited to Johann.  

As to why he left and urged others to leave? In our Cemetery Walk stories we hear a lot about Prussian laws, but Johann's story gets into specific detail about how this region was pulled between France and Prussia and the impact it had on farmers, especially those who had sons.

Read more of his story by clicking on the button.  
  • Bring - - knives, forks, shoes and boots (these items were more expensive in the US)
  • Leave - - clothing, axes and hatchets (the latter of which were made more durably in the US) 
Johann's Story
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