First Generation

1. Johannes Christof "John" SOMMERFELDT Sr.¹ was born on 3 May 1837 in Kreis Obornik, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10} (His surname was listed as "Sommerfeld" in the baptism record of his son Whilhelm in 1869 and of his son Johann in 1871, but as "Somerfeldt" in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church membership roster in 1900. He was the first Sommerfeldt / Summerfeldt / Sommerfield / Summerfield family member listed in census records in Monroe County. His surname was listed as "Sommerfield" in the Index to Early Deaths.)

(The church Family Register, circa 1890, contains the name of Wilhelm Sommerfeld, who became a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church on 4 Aug 1870. That may have been John's father.)

(John may also have been related to Johann Summerfeldt, whose son, August, and daughter, Alvina, also emigrated to in Monroe County. It is believed that Johann never came to America with his children.) He emigrated in 1866 from Preussen (Prussia).³ He was Lutheran on 25 April 1869 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^5,8,11 when he became a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He and his family were listed in the church Communion Records the early-1890's. He was listed on the Membership Roster in 1900. John appeared in the census in 1870 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.² His household consisted of John, Minne and their children, Gus, Augusta and William. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² (His surname was listed as "Somerfield.") He appeared in the census in 1900 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.³ He and his wife were living in the household of their son John and his family, and his occupation was listed as "Farmer." John died on 21 March 1903 at the age of 65 in Monroe County, WI.^4,6,9 (At the time of his death, he was 65 years, 10 months and 18 days old.) He was buried on 24 March 1903 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^4,9 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Johannes Christof "John" SOMMERFELDT Sr. and Wilhelmine "Minnie" STOLZ were married on 12 October 1862 in Polajewo, Kreis Obornik, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{1,2,3,7,8,13,14,15} According to the 1900 Census, they had 6 children, of whom 5 were living at the time. According to the 1910, they had 5, of whom 5 were still living. 1900 may have been in error. Wilhelmine "Minnie" STOLZ was born on 5 February 1835 in Klein Krossin, Kreis Obornik, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^2,3,4,14,16 (The church burial records spell her surname as "Stolz.")

(Her birth date was listed as June 1835 in the 1900 Census.) She emigrated in 1866 from Preussen (Prussia).^3,14 She appeared in the census in 1870 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.² Minnie appeared in the census in 1880 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² She was listed as "Willone," age 48. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.³ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ She was living in the household of her son Emil and his family. Minnie died on 4 May 1916 at the age of 81 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^4,16 She was buried on 6 May 1916 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^4,16 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Johannes Christof "John" SOMMERFELDT Sr. and Wilhelmine "Minnie" STOLZ had the following children: