Charles Walter Kaufman: German Immigrant

1829-1875

      Karl Walter Kaufman was born October 22, 1829, in Prussia, possibly in Berlin. At this time, his parents and siblings have not been identified. He was likely part Jewish. In about May 1849, he came to the U. S., evidently to avoid military service. Initially, he came to New York. When he arrived, he changed his name from Karl to Charles. Gramie's notes say Charles took out naturalization papers on March 26, 1853, but I have not been able to find the documents to back this up. To become a citizen, one had to reside in the U. S. for 5 years and give 3 years notice of intention to apply for citizenship. We do know that he was a citizen by at least 1870.

      When he arrived in Wisconsin, he initially lived in Delafield. By early 1852, he bought 40 acres of land in Merton, about 10 miles away. Two years later, he bought 40 additional acres of land immediately adjacent to Daniel Marsh, his future father-in-law.  According to great-aunt Winifred, Charles built a flour mill in Merton and left a beautiful 2-story home there.

      On February 23, 1855, Charles Walter Kaufman married Martha Washington Marsh. They had 8 children together, all born in Merton, Wisconsin. Their children are: Charles William Walter (1855), Mary Emily Sophia (1857), Caroline Amelia (1860), Samuel Sanford (1862), Violette Melissa (1865), Josephine Adela (1869), Eddie (1872) and Mattie Ann (1874). Eddie died before he was a year old and was their only child not to reach adulthood.

      In 1860, Charles was farming in Merton. His real estate was worth $500 and his personal estate worth $200, so he did not own much land! In 1862, he sold the 60 acres for $1200, making a tidy profit.  By 1870, his real estate was worth $3800 and personal estate was worth $740.  In 1873, he bought 117 acres of land, just south of Lake Keesus, north of Merton. 

      Charles died on June 11, 1875, in Merton, Wisconsin, age 45, of injuries. But he lived long enough to make his will about two weeks before his death. He left his entire estate to his wife for her support and the support of his 7 children, aged 5 months to 19 years. When his wife died, all of his real and personal property was to be divided evenly among his 7 children. Charles named Martha as his executrix, but she declined, so another party was named administrator and inventoried the estate. The inventory mentioned his 117 acres, livestock (yoke of oxen, many sheep, 1 cow and steer, 1 pair of horses and harness), farming implements (one double wagon, 1 bob sleigh, 1 reaper, 1 seeder) and products sold (wool, wheat, oats, hay).

      Charles Kaufman is buried in the Lisbon-Merton Union cemetery, near Hartland, Wisconsin, next to his son Eddie, who had died about 2 years before. Hazel Meissner, Mom's second cousin, was the sexton for that cemetery when Mom and Dad and I went to visit. 

   

      Of Mom's 14 closest direct ancestors, Charles Walter Kaufman is the only one for whom we do not have a photograph. This may be attributed to his relatively early death, but it also seems that he may have wanted to fly below the radar! Charles left Germany shortly after the 1848 outbreak of revolution. Prussia was then ruled by King Frederick William IV who was anti-liberal and 190 Berliners died in the street fighting that ensued. 

Written by Dorothy Crooks, his great-great-granddaughter.