First Generation

1. Julius Johann Carl SCHAMENS Sr. was born in July 1834 in Friedberg nach Lansberg, Hermsdorf, Brandenburg Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7} (He may have been born in Hiltesdorf, Germany. The Family Search link to RootsMagic lists his birthplace as Berkenbruck, Oder-Spree, Brandenburg, Preussen.)

(His family surname may have been "Schemenski." or "Schamanski." It was listed as "Schamans" on his Registration of Death.)

The church death records and his Registration of Death list his age at death as 69, so he probably was born in July 1834, even though his birth date was listed as July 1835 in the 1900 Census. He emigrated in 1885 from Preussen (Prussia).^1,2,6,8 (He may have emigrated in 1882.)

(Gary Griggs was unable to find any immigration record for Julius and his family on Ancestry.com.)

"Julius Johann and Caroline (Schwandt) Schamens attempted to buy a house on St. Joseph's ridge (on right side of road going toward La Crosse just before you get to St. Joseph's Catholic Church). However, they were very poor and couldn't afford to buy the house. In fact, they walked wherever they had to go." (Sources: Erma (Schamens) Matson, wife of Norman Matson and daughter of Julius Theodor Franz Schamens; and Bertha (Schwandt) Erdman, wife of Leo Erdman and daughter of Charles Schwandt.)

. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Wells Township, Monroe County, WI.¹ He and his wife were living with his/their daughter Bertha (Schamens) Baumbach and her family.

. Julius died on 12 October 1903 at the age of 69 in Wells Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,4,9 His Registration of Death lists the primary cause of his death as "Inflamation, Stomach" and the secondary cause as "Cancer, Stomach." The duration of the disease was listed as "Five Years." The certificate also indicates that he died at the residence of William Baumbach, the husband of his daughter, Bertha.

The certificate lists his marital status as "Married," but it doesn't list his wife's name.

. He was buried on 15 December 1903 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI.^4,5,10,11 His Registration of Death lists his place of burial as Norwalk, Wis. The undertaker was Fred Luedke.

A search of the cemetery fails to find his gravestone; his grave may not be marked. According to Erma (Schamens) Matson, a granddaughter, "You won't find a gravestone at St. Jacob Lutheran in Norwalk for Julius Johann Carl because there was no money to purchase one."

.

Julius Johann Carl SCHAMENS Sr. and Johanna Caroline SCHROEDER were married on 18 July 1852 in Luebben Stadt, Brandenburg Province, Preussen (Pussia).^1,3,12,13,14 at the Paul Gerhardt Kirche. (The 1900 Census indicated that they had been married for 20 years; that was an error.)

. Johanna Caroline SCHROEDER⁷ was born in November 1825 in Harmstaerb, Brandenburg Province, Preussen (Prussia).^1,2,5 (According to the 1900 Census, both parents of Carl Schwandt were born in Germany.)

The church death records indicate that, at the time of her death, she was 77 years and 11 months old. That would put her birth at Nov 1825. The 1900 Census listed it as May 1825. She emigrated in 1885 from Preussen (Prussia).¹ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Wells Township, Monroe County, WI.¹ She was listed in the 1900 Census as having been born in May 1825 in Germany, age 75, married for 20 years, and with one child that was still living. Johanna died on 16 October 1903 at the age of 77 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,5 "Caroline died of some kind of 'cancer' that affected the brain and forehead area. She also became blind. Her granddaughter, Hulda Hoehn (Julius Theodor's daughter) changed the bandages on the affected head area and said: 'I had to burn the bandages.' Apparently, they did not understand what kind of disease Caroline had---cancer was not a known malignancy." (Source: Erma Schamens Matson--daughter of Julius "Theodor") She was buried on 18 October 1903 in Norwalk, Monroe County, WI.^5,10 (A search of the cemetery records fails to find her gravestone; her grave may not be marked.)

Julius Johann Carl SCHAMENS Sr. and Johanna Caroline SCHROEDER had the following children: