Third Generation

5. Albertine Justine Louise "Lizzie" BACKHAUS was born on 25 December 1867 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{4,10,11,14,26,32,33,34} Her given name was listed as "Albertine Justine Louise" on her baptism record, as "Louise Auguste Albertine" in her confirmation record, and as "Albertine Justine L." on her Marriage Registration Record. Her obituary listed it as "Louise Auguste Albertine." She was listed as "Elisabeth" in the 1880 Census, and as "Louisa" in the 1910.) She was baptized on 8 March 1868 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She appeared in the census in 1870 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ Lizzie appeared in the census in 1880 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ She was confirmed on 2 April 1882 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She appeared in the census in 1895 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI. Lizzie appeared in the census in 1900 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁵ She appeared in the census in 1905 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁶ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ Lizzie appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁷ She died on 9 June 1935 at the age of 67 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³² Obituary Notes: "Louise Auguste Albertine Backhaus was born Dec. 25th, 1867, in the Town of Tomah and passed peacefully to her eternal rest on June 9, 1935, at her home in Tomah. She was a daughter of Carl and Johanne (Matzke) Backhaus, who were early settlers and she moved with them to the town of Adrian. She was baptized, instructed and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in the St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church at Ridgeville and throughout her life remained steadfast in that faith.

On March 17th, 1891, she was united in marriage with Herman Kewit. They resided on their farm in the town of Wilton until 1928, when they retired and moved to Tomah. Two children were born to this union: Alfred of Tomah and Edna (Mrs. August Schamens) of Random Lake, Wis.

Four and one-half years ago she became an invalid due to a series of paralytic strokes. Everything that could be done to improve her health or make her comfortable was done by her devoted husband, son and daughter while she still resided at home. A nurse was in constant attendance, also. Her pastor made frequent calls to offer spiritual consolation.

Funeral services were held in St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church at Tomah on Tuesday, Rev. H. Schaller officiating. Interment was made in Oak Grove Cemetery." Lizzie was buried on 12 June 1935 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^32,38,39 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Albertine Justine Louise "Lizzie" BACKHAUS and Hermann Gustav "Herman" JASKIEWICZ were married on 17 March 1891 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^{4,32,33,40,41,42,43} (Her name is listed as "Albertina J. L. Backhaus" in the Monroe County marriage records. His name is listed as "Herman G. Kewit.") Hermann Gustav "Herman" JASKIEWICZ, son of Gottfried JASKIEWICZ and Anna Justine FRIESKE, was born on 23 November 1863 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^{10,11,14,33,40,41,42,44,45} (According to records at the Monroe County Registrar, Sparta, WI, he legally changed his surname to "Kewit" on 3 December 1901. However, his wife was already listed as Louise Kewit in July 1893 when she was the baptism sponsor for a nephew, Walter Bartels.) He was baptized on 20 December 1863 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. His sponsors were Wilhelm Wagner and Anna Wilhelmine Jaskiewitz. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ Herman appeared in the census in 1875 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ He was confirmed on 25 March 1877 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ Herman appeared in the census in 1885 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁷ His household consisted of 1 male and 1 female, with one have been born in the United States and 1 in Germany. They were probably Hermann and his mother. He appeared in the census in 1895 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁸ His household consisted of 3 males and 2 females, of which 4 of the people were born in the United States and 1 in Germany (believed to have been his mother, who was still living with them in the 1900 U.S. Census).

His surname was spelled "Kewitt" and the names of the individual members of his family were not listed. Between 1899 and 1928 he was a farmer in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁹ Bureau of Land Management records show that Norman Dewey sold two parcels of farm land (to Herman Kewit's father, Gottfried) on June 15, 1855. One was a 55.7-acre piece in W1/2NW of Section 7, Township 16 North, Range 1 West in Wilton, and the second was a 40-acre piece in NESE of Section 12, Township 16 North, Range 2 West in Ridgeville. The pieces adjoined each other across the Ridgeville-Wilton town line, and were just southeast of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgeville. The section in Ridgeville adjoined a 20-acre parcel then owned by August Pergande, and now owned by Bill Waege.

Gary Griggs has copies of the Patents, signed by Gottfried Kewit, which were issued for the sale of the land. Herman appeared in the census in 1900 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁵ His household consisted of Herman, age 36; his wife, "Lizzie," age 33; their son, Alfred, age 8; and his mother, "Gustina," age 78, a "Widow." He was Lutheran in 1900 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶ and was listed on the Membership Roster of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He appeared in the census in 1905 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁶ Herman appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁴ (His surname was listed as "Kewit" and his occupation was "Farmer, General Farm." His household was on "Ridgeville Road.") He appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴ His surname was listed as "Kewit" in the 1920 Census. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁷ Herman died on 6 March 1939 at the age of 75 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,32,40,42 Obituary Notes: "Herman Gustave Kewit was born November 23, 1863 in the town of Wilton on his father's farm at Ridgeville. When he was 16 years old his father passed away, leaving him to manage the farm and care for his mother.

On March 17, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Louise Backhaus. To this union two children were born. After living on the farm most of his life, he moved his family to Tomah in 1928. Here he lived until his sudden death on March 6, 1939, while on a visit to his farm, at the age of 75 years, three months and 11 days. His wife preceded him in death about 3 1/2 years ago.

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of this city. Surviving are one son, Alfred, of Milwaukee, and one daughter, Mrs. August Schamens, one son-in-law, August Schamens, and two grandchildren, Kenneth and Maurice Schamens, of this city, and many other relatives and friends. Two brothers and one sister and two half-sisters preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held from St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Thursday, Rev. H. Schaller officiating. Burial was made in Oak Grove Cemetery."

He died of a heart attack while pushing a car out of a snow bank at the bottom of the Ridge on the way to Tomah. He was buried on 9 March 1939 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^32,38 in the Oak Grove Cemetery. (His surname is listed as "Kewit" on his gravestone.)

Albertine Justine Louise "Lizzie" BACKHAUS and Hermann Gustav "Herman" JASKIEWICZ had the following children:

11	i.	Alfred Arthur KEWIT was born on 30 September 1891 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.32,40,50,51 He was baptized on 25 October 1891 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.52 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He appeared in the census in 1895 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.48 Alfred appeared in the census in 1900 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.35 He appeared in the census in 1905 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.36 He was confirmed on 8 April 1906 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.51 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Alfred appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.34 He appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.24,37,53 He was living with his parents. (He could not be located in Wisconsin in the 1930 Census. According to his obituary, he was living in the Milwaukee area, but he was not listed there. He also cannot be located in the 1940 Census.) Between 1929 and 1948 he was a carpenter in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.32 Alfred died on 25 November 1949 at the age of 58 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.32,50 Obituary Notes: "Alfred Arthur Kewit was born September 30, 1891, in the town of Wilton on his father's farm at Ridgeville, and passed away on Friday, November 25, 1949, at 1:25 A.M. at the hospital at Sparta, Wisconsin, of leukemia. He was the oldest child of Herman and Louise Kewit, who have preceded him in death. He resided on his father's farm until his father retired in 1928 and moved to Tomah. From here he went to Waukesha and Milwaukee and was engaged in carpenter work for about 20 years, working for the Permanent Construction Company when he left in June of this year to take his annual vacation up north fishing. After coming back from his vacation he spent some time working on his farm, but his strength gradually seemed to fail him and since the latter part of September most of his time has been spent at home. He had made frequent trips to La Crosse for X-ray treatments and during the last two months had four blood transfusions. He was baptized, instructed and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in the St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church at Ridgeville and remained a member of that church and faith all his life. Since July, his fiancee, Miss Florence Wittke, of Milwaukee, has spent every weekend with him and was with him constantly about three weeks until the time of his death. Everything that could be done to improve his health and make him comfortable was done for him at the home of sister, Edna (Mrs. August Schamens). On his trips to the hospital for transfusions, he was always accompanied by his fiancee, whom he always wanted by his side. Funeral services were held on Monday, November 28, 1949 at the Ninneman Funeral Home at 1:30 and at 2 o'clock at St. John's Lutheran Church at Ridgeville, the Rev. E. A. Toepel officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery." (The 1930 Census for Milwaukee lists a Florence Wittke, age 16, the daughter of George and Mabel Wittke at 1487 2nd Street; that was probably his fiance.) He was buried on 28 November 1949 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.32,38,50 Family name originally was Jaskewitz.
+12	ii.	Edna Lula KEWIT.