Klein


Hier Ruht
John Nic.
Klein
Geb. 2.
Juni 1820
Gest. 16
Dec. 1894

Hier Ruht
Margaret
Klein
Geb.
1823
Gest
9
Apr. 1898

Jean Nicolas and Margaretha (Mootz) Klein had at least five children.

Jean Nicolas Klein migrated to the United States in the summer of 1847, entering the country at the Port of New York in August. He traveled immediately to Port Washington, then the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin Territory, where he bought 20 acres in the Town of Belgium from Nicholas Gosche for $70 on 23 September 1847. The property is described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 29, p 146, as follows:

The North Half of the North West Quarter of the North West Quarter of Section Number Twenty Two (22) of Township Number Twelve (12) North of Range Number Twenty Two (22) East, of Washington County, Wisconsin Territory, containing Twenty acres ....

Nicholas Gosche signed with his mark and the deed was witnessed by Jacob Thomas Foster and Edson Birchard. It was not recorded however, until 1 December 1875.

Today, this 20-acre tract lies entirely within the Village of Belgium and is bounded on the north by Main street (county highway D) and on the west by county highway KW (known as the middle road). The old wooden schoolhouse, which burned down in 1990, lay immediately to the south of the property. Ozaukee County was created from Washington County on 7 March 1853.

In addition to this 20 acres, Jean Nicolas Klein purchased a 40-acre tract in Section 16 from the State of Wisconsin. The property is described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 20, p 519, Patent no. 1778, as follows:

The North West quarter of the South East quarter in Section No. Sixteen (16) in township No. twelve (12) North of Range No. twenty two (22) East, containing forty acres more or less ....

The patent deed was signed 3 January 1861 by Olen W. Randall, governor of Wisconsin and G. R. Harvey, secretary of state. It was not recorded until 30 March 1868. This was part of the so-called school land which the federal government had granted to Wisconsin in 1846 to enable the new state to raise money to build a university. The school land consisted of one square mile (Section 16) out of every township. We don't know exactly when this land was purchased by Jean Nicolas Klein but it was probably shortly after he purchased the 20 acres from Nicholas Gosche. He did not receive a deed until he had paid for the land in full.

On 8 May 1848, Jean Nicolas Klein declared his intention to become a United States citizen. See the document reproduced on the next page. This is the only copy of his signature we have.

TERRITORY OF WISCONSIN, }
WASHINGTON COUNTY, } ss

John Nicholas Klein personally appeared before the subscriber, the clerk of the District Court of the United States, for said county, being a Court of Record, and made oath that he was born in Belgium on or about the year Eighteen hundred and Nineteen

that he emigrated to the United States, and landed at the port of New York on or about the month of August in the year 1847; that it is bona-fide his intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and to renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to Leopold King of Belgium whereof he is a subject.

Subscribed and sworn to the Eighth day of May A.D. 1848.

s/ Jean Nicolas Klein

s/ Benj H. Moos, Clerk
by I.C. Loomis} Deputy Clerk

The 1850 census of the Town of Belgium was taken in September. On 23 September, Allen E. Daniels enumerated three persons in the household of J. Nicholas Klein:

J. Nicholas Klein 32 M Farmer
Mary Kleen 23 F
Cristena 1 F

His real estate was valued at $300. According to this census, he and his wife were born in Germany and their daughter Cristena was born in Wisconsin. See 1850 census of Town of Belgium, Washington County, Wisconsin, dwelling unit 1295.

Declaration

On 6 March 1854, Jean Klein and two of his neighbors in Section 16 bought and sold access roads to one another. These access roads enabled them to get from the section line road, now called county highway D, to their land-locked property. They are still visible today. Just drive west on county highway D for a half mile west of county highway KW, stop, and look north. John Klein and Lorenz Casper paid Peter Roller and his wife Elizabeth $10 for an access road described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 17, p 331, as follows:

Commencing on the West Side of the South West Quarter of the South East Quarter of Section Sixteen (16) in Town Ship Twelve (12) Range Twenty two (22) East on the South West Corner thereof, thence running East one rod, thence North Eighty rods, thence West one rod, thence South Eighty rods being half an acre, Said tract of Land is intended to be a private road for the use of the parties of the Second part but Peter Roller his heirs and assigns will and Shall have the privilege to travel use and drive on Said road, the fences must be made by the grantors.

The deed was witnessed by J. W. Lutfring and Peter Roller. It was not recorded until 18 October 1865. A road one rod wide is 16-1/2 feet wide. The same day, Peter Roller paid Jean Klein and his wife Mary $10 for an access road described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 17, p 513, as follows:

Commencing on the South Side of NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 in Section Sixteen, Town Twelve, Range twenty two East on the SE corner thereof, running thence West Seventy nine rods, thence North one rod, thence E Seventy nine rods, thence South one rod, grantors have to make line fence on the South line of the NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 in Sec 16....

The deed was witnessed by J. W. Lutfring and Hubert Zirbes. Mary Klein's mark was attested by Hubert Zirbes. This deed was not recorded until 28 February 1866. The same day Lawrence Caspers paid Jean Klein and his wife Mary $10 for an access road described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 20, p 78 as follows:

Commencing on the North West corner of the North West quarter of the south east quarter of section number sixteen (16) Town Twelve of Range No twenty two east thence running south eighty rods thence east one rod thence north eighty rods, thence west one rod to the place of beginning, being half an acre. The same land is intended to be a private road for the use of Lorenz Caspers, but John Klein & his heirs and assigns may travel, drive and ride on it....

The deed was witnessed by Hubert Zerbes. Mary Klein's mark was attested by Peter Bellets. The deed was not recorded until 22 October 1866.

The 1860 census of the Town of Belgium was taken in July. On 10 July, Herman J. Schulteis enumerated seven persons in the household of Jean Nicholas Klein:

Jean Nicholas Klein 40 M Farmer
Margaretha " 31 F
Wilhelm " 9 M
Dominique " 7 M
Margaretha " 5 F
Anna " 2 F
Maria " 3/12 F

His real estate was valued at $1,000 and his personal property at $300. According to this census, he and his wife were born in Luxembourg and their children in Wisconsin. His wife could not read or write. The three oldest children had attended school within the year. See 1860 census of Town of Belgium, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, dwelling unit 930, family 808.

According to the 1860 census of agricultural production, Jean Nicolas Klein owned 34 improved acres of land and 26 unimproved acres. The cash value of his farm was $1,000. The cash value of his farm implements and machinery was $80. On 1 June 1860, he owned two milch cows, two working oxen, two other cattle and four swine. His livestock was valued at $100. His grain production for the year ending 1 June 1860 was 30 bushels of wheat, 90 bushels of rye, 100 bushels of oats, 30 bushels of Irish potatoes, 15 bushels of barley, 40 pounds of butter and five tons of hay. The value of animals slaughtered during the year ending 1 June 1860 was $35.

On 14 March 1868, John Nicholas Klein and Margaret his wife paid Henry Michels and Anna his wife $1,000 for two parcels of land totaling 80 acres. A 60-acre parcel lay directly across the road which is now the main street of the Village of Belgium from the 20-acre parcel purchased in September 1847. The other 20 acres is not contiguous.

The property is described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 29, p 147, as follows:

The North Half of the North West Quarter of the South East quarter of Section Number fifteen in Township Number Twelve North of Range Number twenty two (22) East; and also the South Sixty acres of the West Half of the South West quarter of Section Number fifteen (15) in Township Number Twelve (12) North of Range Number twenty two East, containing in all Eighty acres, more or less, together with all the buildings thereupon.

The deed was witnessed by Peter Jones and Lorenz Schüller. It was not recorded until 1 December 1875.

See the plat maps reproduced on the next three pages. One of these maps is dated 1892, another is dated 1914 and the third is dated 1985.

In order to pay for this property, Jean Nicolas Klein and Margaret his wife sold the 40 acres and an access road in Section 16 to Catharine Glodt for $1,000 on 18 March 1868. The property is described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 24, p 98, as follows:


Map goes on this page.

Map goes on this page.

Map goes on this page.

The North West quarter of the South East quarter of Section No. Sixteen (16) in township no. twelve (12) North of range no. twenty two (22) East

And a piece of land Commencing in the West Side of the South West quarter of the South East quarter of Section Sixteen, in township no. twelve Range no. twenty two (22) East, on the south West Corner thereof, thence running East one rod, thence North eighty rods, then West one rod, thence South eighty rods, containing in all forty and one half acres more or less. Said tract of Land is intended to be a private road for the use of the parties of the Second part....

Margaret signed with her mark. The deed was witnessed by Peter Jones and Johan Decker. It was recorded 27 May 1870. This was the property which Jean Nicolas Klein had acquired by patent from the State of Wisconsin many years before.

The 1870 census of the Town of Belgium was taken on 6 June 1870 by S. E. Moore who enumerated eight persons in the household of J. N. Klein:

Klein J. N. 51 M Farmer
Margarett 45 F Keep House
William 19 M At home
Dominick 17 M At home
Margarett 15 F At home
Anna 13 F At home
Mary 10 F At home
John 9 M At home

His real estate was valued at $3,000 and his personal property at $600. According to this census, neither he, his wife, nor their three older children could read or write. The two youngest children Mary and John had attended school within the year. See 1870 Census of Wisconsin, v 1, p 9.

Although Luxembourg is given as the place of birth for both J. N. Klein and his wife in the 1870 census, Belgium is listed as John N. Klein's birthplace and Luxembourg is listed as his wife's birthplace in the 1880 census.

The 1880 census of the Town of Belgium was taken on 12-14 June 1880. Seven persons were enumerated in the household of John N. Klein:

John N. Klein 60 M Farmer
Margaret 55 F Keeping House
Mary 20 F At home
John 19 M Farming
Nicholas 17 M Farming
William 14 M At school
Margaret 11 F At school

See National Archives microcopy T132, roll 1441, p. 23.

On 10 December 1887, Dominick Mueller paid Jean Nicolas Klein and Margaretha Klein his wife the sum of $1 for an access road described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 47, p 514, as follows:

Commencing on the South East corner of the South West quarter of the North East quarter in Section No. sixteen (16) Town No. twelve (12) Range North twenty two (22) thence running West seventy nine rods (79), thence North One rod (1), thence East seventy nine rods (79) then South One rod (1) clear ground. The fences are to be made and kept in repair by Lawrence Caspers his heir or assigns forever.

This deed was witnessed by Jno P. Ney and Nick Gilson. It was recorded 28 July 1902.

On 20 September 1893, Jean Nicolas Klein and Margaretha Klein his wife sold a small piece of land to the Town of Belgium for $50. The parcel is described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 41, p 251, as follows:

A piece or parcel of land beginning at a point which is one hundred feet west of the South East Corner of the South West quarter of the South West quarter of section No Fifteen (15) Township No twelve (12) Range No twenty two (22) East running thence North forty-two feet (42 ft.) from highway thence West Thirty feet, thence South forty two feet (42 ft) thence East thirty feet to place of beginning.

John Nicolas Klein signed the deed as Jean N. Klein and his wife Margaretha signed with her mark. It was witnessed by Jno P. Ney and Jacob Streff and recorded 21 September 1893.

On 17 May 1894, Jean N. Klein and Margaretha his wife sold their 100 acre farm to their son William for $2,000 and support. The tract is described in Ozaukee County deeds, Book 41, p 561 (#52152), as follows:

The North half of the North West quarter of the South East quarter of section number fifteen (15) and the South Sixty (60) acres of the West half of the South West quarter of Section number fifteen (15) and also the North half of the North West quarter of the North West quarter of Section No twenty two (22) all in Township No twelve (12) North of Range No Twenty two (22) East and Containing in all One hundred acres of land more or less

Jean Nicolas Klein signed the deed as Jean N. Klein and his wife Margaretha signed with her mark. It was witnessed by Jno P. Ney and Nicolas Fontaine and recorded 11 June 1894. He died in December of that year and his wife Margaretha died in 1898.

The Port Washington Star did not publish an obituary of Jean Nicolas Klein. However, the Port Washington Zeitung published a brief and inaccurate note in its issue of Thursday 20 December 1894. This is a translation of the German text.

Dom. Klein, who had been a farmer for many years near Belgium Station. He died Sunday evening while sitting in his chair. The deceased was seventy years old and was considered one of the older settlers in the T. of Belgium. He leaves his wife and six children. He was buried in the Lake Church cemetery.

Jean Nicolas and Maria (Arendt) Klein had at least five children:

Christina Klein
Wilhelm Klein = Catharine Pirrung
Dominic Klein = Anna Leach
Margaretha Klein = Michael Hubing
Anna Klein = Sebastian B. Krier

Jean Nicolas and Margaretha (Mootz) Klein had at least five children:

Maria Klein = Francis Schmit
John Klein = Mary Martin
Nicholas Klein = Mary Wester
William Klein = Mary Pastoret
Anna Margaretha Klein = William Feltes

Back to the Klein family history index