Johann Friedrich Carl and Hanna Marie Breese Fischer

(my great-grand parents ... my mother's grandparents)

It probably was with great trepidation that 27 year old Johann Friedrich Carl and  23 year old Hanna Marie Breese Fischer made their final decision to leave the security of the baron's estate and their families to embark for the new world.  Military and religious pressures had built up immensely in Germany.  Life was difficult for the Fischers and the work hard, for they were simple peasants who labored in the fields.  They lived in the village of Pommern which is on the northern border of what was Russian rule after the war I and II.  Every day a wagon from the baron's estate came to the village and got them. The thirteen children of Johann's' father (Johann F. Fischer-born 1831-married to Augusta Zander-born 1839) worked on this estate. (Augusta and Johann were married in 1845.)    

Times in Germany in the 1800' were uneasy. The Kaiser was forcing the men to go into military training which was hard and very cruel.  Though there had been German Jews from the 4th century, starting in the 1870s, anti-Semites viewed Jews as part of a Semitic race that could never be properly assimilated into German society.  Life was difficult for anyone Jewish.  Johann was believed to be a German Jew, but my mother related that when she asked about it one time, she was hushed and told "we don't talk about that".     

Carl and Hanna had eight children of whom my grandmother, Marie, was the second oldest.

Shown here are her parents and two younger brothers.

Carl's sister who had married into a wealthy family, made the decision easier as she gave them enough money for their passage to the United States.  So, with their small daughter, Anna, and Hanna pregnant with their second child, they left their homeland and families and sailed for America.  After arriving in New York in September of 1883, they took a train to Fennimore, Wisconsin where they stayed briefly with Hanna's brother, John Breese, and his family.  Fennimore would be their home.  Now, they would be known as Carl and Maria.  Shortly after arriving, Carl got a job as a section hand on the Narrow Gage railroad, and they moved into their own home near John Breese.  Language was a barrier as they spoke only German.  My grandmother, Maria Johanna Frederica Fischer, was born three months later, on December 5,1883.  

I think this is the "family farm" mentioned.  Pictured are sons, Fritz, Frank, Emil, and Charley

For ten years, Carl worked in a grain warehouse.  He did learn English.  And they did prosper.  My grandmother, Maria, was ten years old when Carl and Hanna purchased "Sunny Side" farm.  They lived there until 1902 when he sold Sunny Side and purchased a farm southwest of Fennimore.  This farm would remain in the family until the summer of 1963.  Carl and Hanna had eight children: Anna Fischer Riddiough, Maria Johanna Frederica Fischer Riddiough, Charles Fischer (he had a twin who died), Emma Fischer Masso, Edith Fischer (Edith died at the age of 51 of a stroke and was buried in Fennimore), Frank Fischer, Emil Fischer and Franz (Fritz) Fischer.  

My Grandmother, Mary, is on the right.    

First row: Charles-1889-1972, Anna-1881-1966, Carl 1856-1945, Maria 1860-1946, Mary 1883-1969, back row: Frank 1893-1973, Emma 1886-1973, Emil 1896-1986, Edith 1890-1942, J Frederick 1899-1949

Great-grandfather Carl (also referred to as Charles) Fischer was born March 14, 1856, at Popenhagen, Richenburg, Germany.  Great-grandmother Marie (Hanna) Breese was Born August 28, 1860, at Neumuehl (Penmuehl), Franzlourg (by Franzburg), Germany.  They were married May 14, 1880, in Franzburg, Germany.  They lived two years in Neumuehl before immigrating to America.  Carl and Hanna celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary May 1930 with all of their children present with the exception of Fred.  Hanna was sixty-nine and Carl was seventy-four.  Great-grandfather Carl died January 4, 1945.   He was 88 years of age.  Great-grandmother Hanna died January 26, 1946, at the age of 84.  They both are buried in the Prairie Cemetery, Fennimore, Wisconsin

This picture was taken outside of their home in Fennimore.  It was painted brown.  Carl is 71 and Hannah is 67.  They celebrated their 50 years of marriage three years later in 1930.

My Mother wrote her memories of her grandparents: 

"The Fischers, my mother's people, were quiet German folk, very reserved, quiet, and genteel folk.  I, Gladys, liked to go and stay with them.  They were so kind and special.  Grandma Fischer or Grandpa Fischer would get on edge at each other, but in a quiet way.  But, oh my, how the German would fly.  I spent many memory filled and happy hours as their oldest granddaughter visiter.   Grandpa Fischer was to have been of German-Jew descent, but it was always hushed up because of World War I and other problems.

                   *Johann F. Fischer (1831) and Augusta Zander Fischer (1839)

                    **Carl Breese (1835 Pommern, Germany)-Hannah Maria Wetterman         (8/28/1860,Neumuhl, Franzburg, Germany)

*Carl and **Hannah Breese Fischer > Marie Fischer Riddiough > Gladys Riddiough Strahl >>> Fern  Strahl Brye Ryan Tomazewski, Nancy Strahl Donnell Guenther, and Everette Strahl, Jr. >>>> Brent Brye, Randi Brye Hoffman, Lewis Brye, William Brye, Randolph Donnell, Samuel Donnell, Scott Donnell, Nancy Donnell Capo, Aaron Strahl, Farah Strahl Krueger and Shelby Strahl Hutchinson