Ida Leitzke
1871-1955
Born: Bonduel, Wisconsin, USA
<p>By Arealia (Aurelia) Lemmerhirt dated approximately 1965.</p> <p>"Grandma Wenterwest (the Leitzke side) I can go back a little farther. Grandpa Throde was a frenchman and his wife was polish(first names unknown at present) First knowlege I have of them is he was an officer in some war which lasted 7 years. His wife and 5 children, Mary (grandma Leitzke), Francis Duzinski of Beaver Dam), Theodore(Beaver Dam) Ed (souixFalls SD) Joe (St Peters, Minn) did not hear from him for years andhe was presumed dead. (Evidentually communication s were not too good in those days) Well after that war he arrived home who when his wife saw him went into hystarics and the children didn't know him, however he took his savings and family and embarked for america locating in Beaver Dam. By that time cash was running low ????? sold the buttons from his army uniform which were solid gold for $25.00 each. I never knew what his rank was but he must have been "top Brass" with buttons like that. Well it gave them a start in this countrybut I don't know what line of work or business if any, he was in.Grandma (Mary Throde went to work in Juneau as a domestic. There she met Godfried (Fred) Leitzke who worked in Hustisford. He walked every week to see his girl till they were married. Several years went by and then grandpa bought some woodland clearing it and built at first a 1 room log house. They later built a house on to it and the log house was their kitchen. (how I loved it there)well they had 12 children 4 died in infancyand are burried on the old church yard east of Bonduel. The old homestead is located there too about a mile further east. Their life in those early days was typical of the old pioneer days we read about. Grain was cut with a scythe tied into bundles by the childrenand put into shocks by Grandma. Milk was churned into butter and soldtogether with eggs, maple syrup and other produce to buy staples such as coffee sugar etc. The children drank roasted barley coffee. Meat was preserved by salting and smokingas were some vegetables. Fruits were dried or dehydrated. Soap was madeof all waste fats after butchering Even lye was made from wood ashes. They raised sheepfor food and wool which was sheared, washed, carded, spun and finally knitinto socks and clothing. Grandpa used to knit too as there were 8 children and then there were geese and ducks Feathers were made in to feather beds on top of straw ticks. Mama had but one dress which she would wash and ironon Saturday to be worn to church on Sunday. When she was 10 grandpa hired her out to a neighbor for 50 cents a week. Her duties were milk 3 cows morning+ evening, help with the housework and tend 3 kids. Needless to say grandpa collected her pay. One pair of shoes per year worn only on Sunday. For weekday home made slippers and barefoot in summer. Incidently the shoes were bought for the eldest child. When outgrown would hand them down to the next line etc.</p> <p> This is about all I can remember except I asked Aunt Esther Peterson (mentions her and Oscar in another portion of same letter) last week when she was here and she said great grandfather Throde was a construction contractor of large buildings such as churches, Hotels etc that were built of stone and brick. He also was a steeple jackand was in partnership with his wife's brother Aleck Kavrunski. He was a dear as I remember him.</p> <p>Mama (Ida Leitzke) was born in Montpelier, Wis. Oct 1 1877 Died Oct 4 1955. Graqndma Leitzke (her mother) died4th of march 1916 age 60. That is all the birth records I have.</p> <p>t</p>