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Death
By Fire
Peshtigo
October
7, 1871
Although most names
will never be known, the ones we do know deserve to be remembered.
"Good men must die,
but death cannot
kill their names." --Proverb
Please click on the small image for a full view
Names of the dead since found in documents and archives, but not affiliated with a particular place of death:
From 1895
newspaper report
A partial list of those who
perished in the
terrible fire at Peshtigo in 1871 given in a Marinette paper, suggests
that several families who at one time resided in this city (Oconto)
were
among the victims,
Charles Tousley, wife and
three children
being of that number. Mrs. Tousley was a daughter of Mrs. Marion
Fisher,
now a resident of the East ward, and beside her body was found a bible
with plush and clasps burned away, and other relics of that sad time
are
in Mrs. Fisher’s possession.
Perrane Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Victorine Burgoin and thirteen children, once residents of Depere and later of Peshtigo, WI., Mrs. P. was a sister of Mrs. Eleanore Martineau of Oconto - the later the mother of Antoine, John and P. A. Martineau.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List
of the Dead in the Sugar
Bushes.
Alschwager, Mrs. John (Minnie) and one infant child. Husband
Charles and five children saved.
Auest, Fred; wife saved.
Aldis, William, wife and two children, were
from Connecticut, visiting the family of N.
May, also burned.
Mrs. Nepthallon May, was
the sister of Mrs.
Aldis.
Aymar, Mrs. William
Boerner Casla and Caroline
Bruce, Mrs. August, and
three children
- husband and two children saved.
Bell, Mrs. (Sharlott)
William -
husband William Bell andadopted child, William Louck age 11,
saved.
Birney, Caroline; lived with Chas. Chapman and family; burned.
Bush, Charles age 36, wife Katherine 33, and six children,
James
14, John 11, George 7, Anna 6, Henry 4 and Harvey 2.
Bosworth, Olive Phillips, with two children of John
Taylor’s.(See
son John Taylor and grand daughters Sarah and Alice Taylor perished.;
John's
wife Sylvia Phillips Taylor and daughter Mary Melissa Taylor
survived.
contributed by descendant
Laura
D
Washabaugh) widow Olive Phillips
Bosworth, was living with son
Alvah Phillips family but in fear refused to leave her spot beneath a
tree
and burned to death outside. The house and family inside were spared.
contributed
by descendant: Linda
Phillips Loser
Busly, John
Bush, John age 19, died one week after fire of burns.-
lived and worked on neighboring farm of Charles Bush.
Brackett, Augusta.
Bartels, Miss Agusta; was
visiting her grandmother;
of Peshtigo. Daughter
of Capt. Fred J Bartels,
Boerner, Mary
(mother, age 39), William (age 13), Casta (age 9), Caroline (age 8),
Fred Jr. (age 3). - The
story
that has been passed down through the years - my
Great Grandmother and one of her sisters survived the Peshtigo fire by
jumping in a well. My Grandmother was Mary (aged 10) and her
sister was Minnie (aged 6). The family spells the name
Boerner. I know that Fred moved to Minnesota and
remarried. Both the girls married Wezenaar brothers and
raised their families in Marinette County. It does state
in Mary Boerner's obit that she was a survivor of the Peshtigo
Fire .I think everyone else did die within a year of the fire.
Survivors were father Fred Boerner and daughters Mary, Minnie
Becky Hammill-Berg
Bohemaster, Henry, wife and child.
Carrough Fred wife and one child, also the
father-in-law
Curtis, William, and daughter Martha burned in the well. Mrs.
Eliza Curtis, his wife, was badly crippled by fire and remains so.
Church, John (age 47), wife Lucinda (age 49) and three sons
Warren
(age 19), Theodore (age 22), and ? - Warren
Church
age cut his throat rather than be burned, but was saved from fire, then
died from self inflicted wound. Family was from New York.
Chapman, Charles, wife and son and hired man and girl.
Cook, Jacob E., wife and three children, burned
in root house.
Cramer Joseph, wife and four children
Diedrich, Joseph (alias Bailey), wife and three
children. Enlisted
in the 5th Wisconsin
infantry under
the name of Bailey, and
drew a pension for wounds until he was burned.
His wife was found dead,
standing upright,
leaning against the roots of a large tree.
Doyle, Patrick, wife and seven children, known
to have been upon their farm at the time
of the fire. Nothing has
been heard or seen
of their remains since. Mrs. Doyle was a
daughter of John
Derryman, of Mill Point,
Michigan. Three of the children by her first husband, Ferguson.
Davis, Norman, wife and
three children. This
family were burned in a well. James Hays,
a hired man and a hired
girl, name not known,
also burned.
Drees (also Dress), Elizabeth - (wife
of Joseph
Drees who survived -
Toni
Ristau)
Drees, John - (age about 4
years, son of Elizabeth
and Joseph -
Toni
Ristau)
Duckett, Benjamin, wife and one child.
Dunlap, Wm. And adopted child
Eamer, Mrs. Mary Ann Burton and daughter Mandy. Husband William, two sons, James and Philip, survived ( Survivor descendants: Lily Worrall & Gail Hewlett )
Fagan, Mrs. Martin, and two children; husband
saved.
Finch, Eben - Believed to
have perished while
visiting in the Peshtigo area. Age 74 years (Contributed by : Lynn
Davies)
Fletcher, Mary and Halsey, children of Lucius.
Glass, Flora, Belle and William, children of James.
Gregor, John, and wife.
Halswafer, Mrs. Died Oct. 30 from burns and acute
bronchitis, also
her son Charles who died 4 days after the fire.
Hayes, Israel; wife saved.
Helms, Charles, wife and son. Mr.
Helms traveled
a long distance in the fire. The calves
of his legs burned loose;
dragging on the
ground, held by cords. Was taken to the
hospital at Marinette, but
soon died.
Helm, John (died three days after fire of burns), wife and
child.
Highmore, Mrs. Hiram and 6 children.
Hill, L. H., and wife - Wife
was Abrigail
(nee Jackson) Cass - Hill, mother of survivor Asa Cass. L. H. Hill was
step-father of Asa Cass. Researched and contributed by:Linda
Phillips Loser
Hoyt, Charles E., wife and one child.
Hoyt, Enoch, wife and one child. One saved. Three
other sons were badly burned. One
in trying to save the life
of his mother,
Mrs. Maria Hoyt, who begged to be left to her
fate, which he refused to
do, and is badly
crippled by the fire in consequence.
Hayes, Henry Sr., wife and one son.
Hayes, Rebecca, wife of Henry Hayes Jr., and one child.
Jackson, Harry, child of E. A. Jackson.
Jackson, John, left with the child named above.
Jackson, Asa, reported burned, remains not identified.
King, John, wife Sarah and four children, George,
June, Barbara,
John Jr.. A daughter and son away
from home were
saved James and Ann.
King, Robert, wife Mary and three children, Charles, Shantell,
Marvens.
A
daughter, Delia, absent from home, saved.
Kiefer, Peter, wife and two children; one saved.
Kappus (Koppus), Catharine, wife of Chris., and two children; husband
and three children saved.(My
great-grandfather Christian Koppus died months later from causes
directly
related to the fire.
Fran
Koppus )
Kappas, Christian ( husband
of Catharine. My
great-grandfather Christian
Koppus died months later from causes directly related to the fire.Fran
Koppus )
Kelly, Terence, and one child Terresa, age 2 years; wife
and three
children saved.
Karrow, Michael, and wife; two
children saved.
Loucks, Lindsey, and wife.
Mac
Loyal, John.
Lafay, Joseph and wife.
Law, James.
Leach, Ann, wife of Peter
Leach.
Leach, Lot wife and infant.
Lembk (Lamp, Lamk, Lemke), Mrs. Charles - wife and five
children
died on a wagon, fleeing for
safety, when one of
his horses falling, he got out to help him up, and finally succeeding
in
doing so, and upon returning to the wagon found his family all dead. He
finally reached a small brook near by, in which he lay until morning,
when
returning, he found the remains of his family and wagon entirely
consumed.Charles
(survived)
Leasure, Julia age 33 (Lasure, Mrs. Joseph Jr.), and three
children; husband
saved.
Leasure, John age 11
Leasure, Florence age 9
Leasure, Edwin age 5
Mac, Rose and her children, Amos, Henry,
and Minni Lou
May, Nepthallon, wife and child.
McMaan, Mrs. Silas
(Maria) - age 34
years, husband Silas survived
McPearson L.H.
McPearson Sally
Moore, Mrs. Hiram, and five children. Mr.
Moore could not induce them to leave the
house after it was
enveloped in flames, and
barely escaped himself.
Myers, George, age 31, born in Baden wife and four children
died town of Peshtigo.
Myers, Anna age 26 born in Baden
Myers, Joseph age 5 born in Wisconsin
Myers, Anna age 3 born
in Wisconsin
Myers, Mary age 2 born in Wisconsin
Myers, Infant born
in Wisconsin
Newton, Ralph and Lizzie, children of Samuel and
Helen Newton.
Newberry, Henry Sr.; age
71, wife Nancy age
64 saved. She was away
from village of Peshtigo,
visiting her daughter in Menominee, MI. Henry had come toWisconsin 15
years
before the fire. Out of a family of seventeen, twelve
perished in
the fire. Bonnie
Thayer -
Newberry family descendant, great granddaughter of William P. Newberry.
Newberry, Charles O. (age 30), and two children; son Franklin
(age
6), daughter Jessie (age 5)
Wife Joyce saved.;
son of Henry Newberry Sr.
Newberry, Edward S (age 22)., wife Sulah (age 25) and infant
child.
son
of Henry Newberry Sr.
Newberry, Walter, wife and three children. son
of Henry Newberry Sr.
Olson, Mrs. Nelson and two children, husband and two
saved.
Ouset, Fred, wife and lady friend
Papp, William, Jr.
Pratt, A. A., wife and two children; two saved.
Pentree (Penree),
Charles, Sr., wife and three children; two
saved.
Pentree (Penree), Mrs. William and two children; husband
saved.
Pentree (Penree), George
Pentree (Penree), Alfred
Pentree (Penree), Joseph
Prestine, Mrs. Joaquin; husband
badly crippled.
(same as Mrs. Joseph
Prestine)
Prestine, Mrs. Joseph (Fredrica), her daughter with husband
and five children,
and another daughter and husband with three children
Phillips, Cornelia E., Daughter of R.E.P.; died from effects
of
the fire.contributed by descendant: Linda
Phillips Loser
Perault (Perrane),
Nelson, wife and
eight children and a Frenchman with them could not be ascertained.
(wife was VictoriaBurgoin also Burgoyne, children included adopted son
Levi Haynes Perrane b: 1856 in Wisconsin, Edward Perrane b: 1860 in
Wisconsin,
Amelia Perrane b: 1864 in Wisconsin, Henry Perrane b: 1866 in
Wisconsin,
Adelia Perrane b: 1867 in Wisconsin, Lorraine Perrane b: 1868 in
Wisconsin,
Marie Perrane b. 1870 Wisconsin, Newborn Twins - names
unknown found
in mother's arms, and Angelique Girard Burgoyne age 61,
widowed mother
of Victoria with whom she made her home.)
Race, Martin, age 56 farmer wife and two children all
town of Peshtigo Three children survived.
Race, Almira
age 44,
Race, Charles age 14
Race, Ida, age 9
Reinhart, Mrs.
Seymour, Fred, son
of Isaac J. and Charlotte;
reported in Peshtigo list.
Soper, William.
Sheponto, Peter.
Smith, John Fritz, wife (both
age 24)
and two children. - Wife
Victoria; daughter
Katherine age 1; infant ? Lived in town of Peshtigo.
Spear, Samuel H. age 36 born in New York, died with wife and two
children.
Spear, Malina age 27
Spear, Frank age 5
Spear, George
age 2
Segar, Lyman, wife and child.
Strinz Charles
Tousley, Mr. C. R.; Mr
Tousley cut the throats
of his two children and his own; all found dead.
Taylor, John and two children; wife and one child saved.(
lost in the fire were husband John Taylor and daughters Sarah and Alice
Taylor; wife Sylvia Phillips Taylor and daughter Mary Melissa Taylor
survived.
Mother of John, Olive Bosworth also perished. contributed by
descendant
Laura
D
Washabaugh)
Utter, Mrs. John, and two children; husband saved. ( lost were wife Ada Elmira Phillips Utter, son John Utter Jr. and daughter Eliza Ann Utter. Ada was the daughter of Austin and Martha Phillips Linda Phillips Loser)
Vanderhoven, John.
Warneck, John.
Wenzel, John, Sr., and wife.
Westfall, Mr. (died 2 days after fire) wife and son
Wienhart, Philip, wife and five children; four
saved.
List of dead in Peshtigo (note: an estimated 800 lives were lost among the residents of Peshitgo Village alone, most unrecognizable)
Alvord, John wife and one child.
Alwine/Elwert Johann (nee Goeth) - d. 8
Oct 1871 Peshtigo Fire victim ALWINE geb
GOETH
Beebe, J. E. (James, son of William and
Frances) and wife Elizabeth,
infant
son Charles survived.
Beebe, William and wife Frances and son Alvin also
son James and his wife Elizabeth, see above.
Bruette, Mrs. Anton {Harriet
Emily (White)
LeBlanc} . Husband
Antoine (Bruette) Brouillette
was owner of the hotel in Peshtigo, ran to the river and survived. Mrs.
Bruette perished in the fire during her trip home from dinner at their
son Antoine Thomas Bruette's home. (Contributed by family descendant: Patrick
)
Bruette, Mrs. Charles, and one child. Names
were wife Margrette, age 24, and infant child, a few months. Daughter
Carrie,
age 5 and husband Charles survived. Charles was the son of Peshtigo
residents
Charles and Amelia Bruette.
Barton, Roger, died from
effects of the fire
at Peshtigo harbor.
Cramer, Mrs. Michael (Diana Carnel), and two sons,
Levi and Sidney
- husband Michael Cramer
and son William A.
survived. Descendant:Pam
Taylor
Cramer, Diana and two sons Joshua Jr, and Lewis;
husband Joshua Sr., and daughters Anna, Elina and Mary Cramer survived.
Clement, Joseph G., just married; wife saved.
Curtis, William and adopted daughter Mattie. Eliza
Curtis' husband also English, died in the Fire, having hanged himself
in
the well with their adopted daughter, Mattie. Eliza survived though
permanently
crippled and later married fellow survivor Michael Cramer. Descendant:
Pam
Taylor
England, Mary Ann (Mrs. William) age 48, and two children Edwin age 4 and Martha 18 months, fled to the village and were burned; husband and eight children remained in the sugar bush and were saved.
Jacobs, Frank, infant son of T. Jacobs, was taken to
the river by
his aunt, Charlotte
Seymour; both drowned.
Kerr, James.
Kenan, James.
Kuncner, Ernest, found in river.
Lawrence, Charles, age37, farmer, born in
Mechlenberg, wife and four childern; fled from
lower sugar
bush to village, and
were
all burned near the river.
Lawrence, Mary age 36, born in Mechlenberg
Lawrence,Caroline age 10 born in Wisconsin
Lawrence,Charles Jr. age 5 born in Wisconsin
Lawrence, John age 3 born in Wisconsin
Lawrence, Infant born in Wisconsin
Lemke, Frederika b: 1839 d. 8 Oct
1871 Wife of Charles Age 32 years 10 months 19 days
All victims of Peshtigo Fire
Lemke, Sophia b:
1863 d. 8 Oct 1871 Age 8 years 11 months 16 days
Lemke, Caroline b: 1864 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 7 years 5 Months 11 days
Lemke, Emma
b. 1866 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 5 years 3 months 15 days
Lemke, Nettie b. 1867 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 4 years 6 months 15 days
Lemke, Tina b. 1869 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 2 years 6 months 4 days
Marion, Elizabeth b:
1848 d: Dec 4, 1871
Marsh, Nellie, daughter of P. J. Marsh.
Marshall, Nellie age 8, daughter
of Paul and
Martha Marshall who survived
Mellen, George, Nellie and Baby: son born 1857, daughter
born 1867 and baby born 1871, Parents were James M. Mellen and wife
Anne Hopkins. "Mr. Mellen
lost two children while
en route to the flat below the dam and never could find a trace of
them."Their
infant, only weeks old, also died of exposure as the survivors
struggled on the Peshtigo River mud flats at the village of Peshtigo.
Survivors were James Sr
age 41, Anna age 39, children James Jr. age 19, William age 17, Albert
age 10 and Anna Jr. age 5.
McDonald, Mrs. Leroy, and five children.
McDonald,
Children
McDonald, Donald A. b. 1869 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 2 years
McDonald, Janet b . 1871 d. 8
Oct 1871 Age 9 months
McDonald, Mary M. b. 1869 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 2 years
McGregor,
Donald b
. 1842 d. 8 Oct 1871 Age 29 years
McGregor, Sarah b . 1845 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 26 years
McGregor, Janet b . 1856 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 15 years
McGregor, Mary b . 1848 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 23 years
McGregor, Lily b . 1869 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 2 years
McGregor, Alvey b . 1870 d. 8 Oct
1871 Age 1 year
McGregor, Daniel, wife.
McGregor, Margaret (widow, age 55 born in Ireland), 1
daughter & 2 sons
McGregor, Jennie d. 8 Oct 1871
Age 14 years
McGregor, Duncan d. 8 Oct 1871
Age 17 years
McGregor, John
d.
8 Oct 1871 Age 19 years
McGregor,
Mrs. James, and child.
McMinn, Mrs. Silas.
Monaghan, Patrick.
Newberry, Walter (teacher age
38), wife, daughter, son - village of
Pestigo
Newberry, Frances
Louisa Prestine (age 25),
Newberry,
Nellie (age 5),
Newberry, Walter (age 2)
Olestrom, Charles, wife and two children, and a lady
visiting name
unknown.
Olive, Infant - Parents Franklin and Amelia Olive, with brothers Frank age 4 and William age 2 survived but an unnamed infant died as a result of the fire. - The family ran through the flames to the mud flats along the Peshtigo River. Contributed by descendant: Carl Bennett
Olson, Hans, wife and two children.
Olson, Anson.
Penree (Penrey, Pentree), Dilly (Mrs. Charles Jr.) age 22
and two children -
Penree (Penrey, Pentree), Wilber age 18
months
Penree (Penrey, Pentree),
Infant
Penree, Charles Sr, and his
wife
(both age 71) of New York, and two other sons were
lost in the fire in Peshtigo.
Pentree (Penree, Penrey),
Mrs. William
-
and two daughters were lost in the fire.
Penree, Hannah
Penree, Alfred
Penree, George
Peths, John
Plush, Charles.
Potter, J. T. child of Mrs. Wilson, died at Marinette.
Scott, Joseph, child of, died at harbor. Joseph, wife and one child
survived.
Seymour, Miss Charlotta, drowned in river.
Slaughter, Mrs. Robert and child.
(Margaret
and daughter Maggi) Sarah
Thorson
Stitt, Caroline
(Wilson) -
age 34. mother of 7 children, she died October 8, 1871. Husband Wilson
Stitt and six
children known to have survived the fire.
Jennifer
M. Lyons
Stitt, Caroline.- age 3.
daughter
of Caroline and Wilson Stitt, unaccounted for and presumed dead, was
with her mother who perished.
Jennifer
M. Lyons
Tanner, Mrs. J. M. (John) - Sarah A. age 26 and two
children.
Thompson, William T. (age 26), and wife Cordelia (age 23). - William
was born in WI and was a store clerk.
Timmer, John, two sons and a daughter of.
Tackman, Mrs. Christina.
Westfall, Charles, wife and his father.
Winters, Neils.
Van Byninger, John.
List of the burned in Lincoln
Bodot, Mrs. Louis, was found in the woods eight days after the fire, crushed to death by a fallen tree.
Denis, Mary.
Delafosse, Matilda.
Dantoin, Mrs. Joseph, and three children; although burned to death herself, she had so well protected an infant in her arms, that it was saved, though badly burned.
Licot, Maurice, left his house with a roll of leather and a new pair of boots which he left after proceeding a short distance, and returned it is supposed to save his wife; his remains were found in the cellar; his wife saved her life by lying beside a heap of stones in the field.
Wendrick, Mrs.. John B., left her house to go to the
house of a neighbor,
Dantoin, for three of her children, which she got and left with three
of
Dantoin’s children; they were all burned to death.
List of burned in Brussels - Door County, WI
Kolbeck, George, wife and three children.
Milichewart, Joseph, wife and four children.
Mutter, Frank, wife and two children.
Pavlic, Casper, a child of.
Seveikert, Michael, wife and five children; also his wife’s father and mother, names not ascertained.
Shelber, John, wife and child.
Trydy, wife and five children; also his wife’s father and mother, and his brother-in-law, names could not be ascertained.
Weiss, Louis, wife and one child.
The following were burned at Schoefields & Co’s Mill, section 15 Brussels: Door County, WI
Crow, John (an Indian)
Doughherty, John.
Doughherty, William.
Doughherty, Sarah.
Disotelle, Mary.
Ligot, Hypolite.
McNames, John.
McWilliams, Daniel, (colored).
Wood, John.
Nasawanpee
Larch, Caspar, and two children of Peter Larch.
List of persons burned at Birch Creek, in the town of Menominee, Mich.
Ames, Mrs. Phineas, aged 42 years.
Ames, Lincoln, a child aged 7 years.
Ames, Mary, an infant child. Mr.
Ames badly
crippled in both hands and feet, with two daughters were saved.
Brokling, Peter aged 40 years.
Brokling, Kate, his wife, aged 45 years.
Brokling, Kate, his daughter, aged 15 years.
Brokling, William, a son, aged 9 years.
Brokling, Philip, a son, aged 8 years.
Brokling, Theodore, a son, aged 6 years.
Brokling, Fred. a son, aged I year.
Blanrette, William and Nellie, aged 6 and 3 years.
Hill, James, aged 42 years.
Hill William a son, aged 13 years.
Hill Mary, a daughter, aged 3 years.
Hill, John, a son, aged 6 years. Mrs.
James
Hill and a daughter about 14 were saved. Mrs.
Hill's hands were so
severely burned that
the flesh between the fingers united and
has been recently cut apart.
Kuninger, Karl, aged 38 years.
Linden, Charles, aged I8 years.
Vallier M. N. aged 63 years.
Osidiler, 0. B. aged 28 years.
Two travelers, strangers, names unknown.
Dead in Williamsonville
Coneya Child of Maxeme
Cryin Thomas
Olson Anson
O’Neil Maggie
Williamson James and wife and children
Williamson John and father Mr. Williamson
Williamson Maggie
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