Fourth Generation

48. Wilhelm Friedrich "William" ZELLMER was born on 27 February 1842 in Jankendorf, Kreis Kolmar, Posen Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{1,13,20,21,23,28,60} The church marriage records list his birth place as "Jankendorf, Posen, Konigsreich, Prussia." The Marriage Registration Record lists it as "Genkandorf Staat, Bremen, Germany.

(His birth date is listed as 27 Feb 1844 in the church records of his marriage. Dean Zellmer's research lists his birth year as 1842; Bill Sheer's lists it as 1844. Because of the birth of a younger sister in 1844, it is believed to have been 1842.) He appeared in the census in 1870 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁵ He was living with his mother. He was Lutheran on 13 November 1870 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^61,62 He was listed in the Church Register as member number 30 of the first 100 members of the congregation of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He and his family were listed in the church Communion Records in the early-1890's. William appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹ His occupation was "Farmer." He died on 3 January 1896 at the age of 53 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,20,60,63 He was buried on 7 January 1896 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^13,24,60 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Wilhelm Friedrich "William" ZELLMER and Maria Johanna Dorothea "Mary" BARTHELS were married on 21 October 1870 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^{1,13,21,49,61,63,64,65} at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

According to the 1900 Census, they had 4 children, of whom 2 were still living. Maria Johanna Dorothea "Mary" BARTHELS, daughter of Johann Otto BARTHELS and Anna Sophia KIEKSCHNER, was born on 1 March 1853 in Herzfeld, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Province, Preussen (Prussia).^{1,19,20,21,66,67,68} (Her surname was spelled "Bartels" in her church Confirmation Record.) She emigrated about 1856 from Preussen (Prussia).^49,69 She appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁶ Mary was confirmed on 20 October 1867 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²¹ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She appeared in the census in 1870 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁵ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹ Mary appeared in the census in 1900 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁹ She was a widow and was living alone. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁰ She was living with her daughter Justine and her family. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ She was living with her daughter "Theresa" and her family. Mary died on 4 December 1920 at the age of 67 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,20,67,69

Obituary Notes: "Mrs. William Zellmer of Ridgeville passed away Saturday night at St. Mary's Hospital, this city. Death was due to strangulated hernia.

The remains were returned to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mrs. Henry Brahmer, with whom she has resided since the death of her husband. She is also survived by another daughter, Mrs. C. S. Smith, of this city.

Deceased, aged 67 years, 9 months and 4 days at the time of her death, was born in Germany--her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Bartels coming to America when she was but three years old, settling in Ridgeville, where she always since resided.

Funeral services will be held from the Ridgeville Lutheran Church tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock, conducted by Rev. Voges, and interment made beside her husband in the Ridgeville cemetery."

.. She was buried on 8 December 1920 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^67,69 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Wilhelm Friedrich "William" ZELLMER and Maria Johanna Dorothea "Mary" BARTHELS had the following children: