John Pfister Sr.

Lifespan: June 19, 1830 – January 2, 1908

Summary

Born June 19, 1830 in Wittenberg, Germany. Emigrated to America in 1853. Arrived in Door County, Wisconsin in the late 1850s with brother Phillip Pfister — among the very first settlers in the county. Located on lands in the northwestern part of Nasewaupee township. Phillip died in the Civil War in 1863; John stayed behind to care for both families. Moved to the northern part of Door County (Gibraltar) in 1880. Twice married, both wives preceded him in death. Eight surviving children. Died January 2, 1908 in Gibraltar, Door County, Wisconsin, age about 77.

Relationships

• Brother: Phillip Pfister — came to Door County together. Died in the Civil War, 1863 (“died in the line of duty in the south”).
• First wife: Unknown — died before second wife
• Second wife: Annie M Pfister — per 1900 census (indexed as “Annie C” but image reads “Annie M”). Born Nov 1846, Germany. Both parents German-born. Married c. 1872 (28 years married in 1900). 9 children born, 8 living. Died c. mid-1906 (“about a year and a half ago” from Jan 1908 obituary).
• Children (at least 11 known — 8 survived to 1908 obituary):
  • John Pfister Jr. (c. 1870–?) — Green Bay, WI (1908). Born Wisconsin. In 1900 census, age 30, single. Born BEFORE Annie’s marriage (~1872) — likely first wife’s child.
  • William Pfister — L’Anse, Michigan (1908). Not in 1900 household.
  • [Daughter, Nov 1872] — in 1900 census, age 27, single. Name hard to read (indexed as Mary). Born Wisconsin. Could be the “Miss Mary” of 1908 obituary, or a different daughter.
  • Margaret Pfister (Aug 16, 1876–Feb 17, 1962) — direct line. m. Emil Mielke. Listed as “Mrs. Emil Meikle, Clay Banks” in 1908 obituary. Not in 1900 household (already married by then).
  • Polena Pfister (c. Jun 1883/84–?) — in 1900 census, age 16, single. Not in 1908 obituary by first name — likely married by then (may be Mrs. Felhofer, Miller, or Lyman).
  • Frank Pfister (c. Mar 1886–?) — in 1900 census, age 14. In 1908 obituary.
  • Edward Pfister (c. Mar 1886–?) — in 1900 census, age 14. Possible twin with Frank (same birth month/year). Not in 1908 obituary — may have died before 1908.
  • Casper Pfister (c. Feb 1892–?) — in 1900 census, age 8. Mother’s birthplace listed as Wisconsin (anomaly — all others show Germany). Not in 1908 obituary. Alive in 1962 per Margaret’s obituary (Sturgeon Bay).
  • Mrs. Matt Felhofer — Sevastopol, Door Co, WI (1908 obituary). Possibly Polena.
  • Mrs. Louis Miller — Sturgeon Bay town, WI (1908 obituary)
  • Mrs. Richard Lyman — Gibraltar, Door Co, WI (1908 obituary)
• Also in 1900 household:
  • Charles Howland (c. Jul 1898, age 1) — listed as grandson or stepson? Born Wisconsin, father from Illinois, mother from Wisconsin. Possibly child of one of the married daughters.

Sources

• Obituary, Door County newspaper (January 1908) — primary source. Full text with birth details, immigration, Civil War history, settlement narrative, all children named.
• Margaret Pfister Meikle obituary (Feb 1962) — names parents as “Mr. and Mrs. John Pfister”
• Find A Grave: Memorial #53504406, Blossomberg Cemetery, Fish Creek, Door County, WI
• 1900 US Census, Gibraltar town, Door County, Wisconsin, ED 43 — primary source. Full household: John Pfister (70, Germany), Annie M (55?, Germany, 9 children/8 living), John Jr. (30, WI), [daughter] (27, WI), Polena (16, WI), Frank (14, WI), Edward (14, WI — twin?), Casper (8, WI), Charles Howland (1, WI — grandson?). Immigration 1853. Married 28 years.

Obituary (full text)

PFISTER — In the town of Gibraltar, Door county, Wis., January 2, 1908, JOHN PFISTER, Sr., aged about 77 years.

It was in the latter part of the 50s that John Pfister and his brother Phillip came to this county, and located on lands in the northwestern part of Nasewaupee, being among the very first to penetrate the wilderness, which stretched in an unbroken line in all directions. In 1863 Phillip having been summoned by an imperilled government to assist in subduing an unholy rebellion, his brother John remained behind to look after his own family and that of the absent one. The latter having died in the line of duty in the south, John remained on the place until 1880, when he moved to the northern part of the county, which has been his home ever since. He was born in Wittenberg, Germany, June 19, 1830. He came to America in 1853. He was twice married, both wives having preceded him, the last one about a year and a half ago. The surviving children are eight in number, namely: John, Green Bay; William, L’Anse, Mich.; Mesdames Matt. Felhofer, Sevastopol; Emil Meikle, Clay Banks; Louis Miller, Sturgeon Bay town; Richard Lyman, Gibraltar; Miss Mary and Frank. Owing to the failure of the letter, which was dispatched announcing his death, to reach the relatives in this vicinity, these did not know of the passing away of their father until after the funeral had occurred, but they nevertheless made the trip to the home of the deceased, reaching there two days after the obsequies. Mr. Pfister was an industrious and hard-working man, who had a great deal to contend with owing to a long illness in his family, and he has gone to his final home mourned by grateful children and other near relatives.

Research Notes

Immigration and settlement

• Born in Wittenberg, Germany — likely Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt (Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Martin Luther’s city), though there are smaller places named Wittenberg in other German states.
• Emigrated 1853 — age 23. Arrived in Door County late 1850s. 5+ years between arrival in America and settling in Door County — may have lived elsewhere first.
• Among the very first settlers in Door County — located on wilderness land in Nasewaupee before the Civil War. Pioneer family.
• Moved from Nasewaupee (southern Door County) to Gibraltar (northern Door County, near Fish Creek/Ephraim) in 1880.

Civil War connection

• Brother Phillip Pfister died in the Civil War, 1863. He was “summoned by an imperilled government to assist in subduing an unholy rebellion” — Union Army. Died “in the line of duty in the south.”
• John stayed behind to care for both families — his own and Phillip’s. This suggests Phillip had a wife and children as well.
• Phillip’s service records may be searchable in Civil War databases (Wisconsin volunteers).

Wives

• Twice married, both wives preceded him. Last wife (Annie M) died c. mid-1906.
• First wife: Unknown name. Died before Annie. John Pfister Jr. (b. c. 1870, before Annie’s marriage c. 1872) is likely the first wife’s child. First wife may have been Wisconsin-born (Casper’s mother listed as Wisconsin in 1900 census — but this could be an error).
• Second wife: Annie M Pfister — born Nov 1846, Germany. Both parents German-born. Married c. 1872 (28 years in 1900). Had 9 children, 8 living in 1900. Died c. mid-1906.
• Margaret was born 1876 in Fish Creek — but John didn’t move to the Fish Creek/Gibraltar area until 1880. Either Margaret was born in Nasewaupee (and “Fish Creek” was approximate), or the family had connections to the northern part before the permanent move.
• Margaret (b. 1876) was born ~4 years after Annie’s marriage — she is almost certainly Annie’s daughter.

Edward and Frank — possible twins

• Both listed as sons, both born March 1886, both age 14 in 1900 census. Likely twins.
• Frank survived to the 1908 obituary. Edward did not appear in the obituary — may have died between 1900 and 1908.

Family geography

• Children scattered across Wisconsin and Michigan by 1908:
  • Door County: Sevastopol, Clay Banks, Sturgeon Bay, Gibraltar
  • Green Bay (Brown County)
  • L’Anse, Michigan (Upper Peninsula — copper/lumber country)
• “Clay Banks” for Margaret/Emil Mielke — a township on the Lake Michigan shore, southern Door County. Margaret’s obituary says she lived in Fish Creek “all her life” — she may have moved from Clay Banks to Fish Creek later.

Casper Pfister — resolved

• Margaret’s 1962 obituary names “one brother, Casper Pfister of Sturgeon Bay.” The 1900 census confirms Casper is in John Pfister’s household — he is John’s son and Margaret’s brother.
• Casper was not listed in John’s 1908 obituary, but the obituary itself explains why: “the failure of the letter, which was dispatched announcing his death, to reach the relatives” — the obituary writer may not have had the full family list.
• Casper lived to at least 1962 (alive at Margaret’s death, age likely 70s-80s).

Funeral note

• The obituary mentions that the letter announcing his death failed to reach relatives, and they didn’t learn of his passing until after the funeral. They traveled to his home two days after the burial. Poignant detail about rural communication in 1908.

Next steps

1. Search for Phillip Pfister in Civil War records — Wisconsin volunteer regiments. Would give physical description, enlistment details, and death circumstances.
2. Search Door County marriage records for John Pfister — two marriages would give both wives’ names.
3. Search 1860, 1870, 1880 census for John Pfister in Door County — would show wives and children.
4. Wittenberg, Germany church records for Pfister family — would give parents.
5. Casper Pfister confirmed as John’s son — resolved.
6. Identify first wife — Door County marriage records or earlier census.
7. Confirm Edward/Frank as twins — birth records.