Lizzie Thielen Willing

Great grandma's birthday, mostly

likely September, 1970.

When I was 9 years old, I rode with my Dad from Milwaukee to Racine to visit my Great Grandma Willing in the nursing home.  This would be the first and only time I would meet her.  My memories of that day are of her white hair and the strangeness of the nursing home.  She had fallen and broke her hip and needed care she couldn't get at home with her daughters, Hildegard and Genevieve.  As far as I know, she never went back home and died within a year of our visit.  She was 91 years old.

As a child, my Dad and his family "traveled regularly to visit my Mom's family, the Willings, and our cousins in Racine.  I remember Grandma Willing quite well.  Snow-white hair, rimless glasses, cotton print house dresses, black high heeled lace shoes and a soft gentle voice were her trademarks."

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Even though I don't remember much of that visit, I feel fortunate to have met her once and hope she felt the same.  With 81 years between us, she was born the year Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb, 1879 and lived through 20 United States Presidents, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War, the Wright Brother's first airplane, the addition of 12 states into the Union and numerous scientific inventions/theories including Albert Enstein's Theory of Relativity.

Genevieve Willing (Dunham)

Gorski, date unknown.

Grandma Lizzie's story will appear soon under the Willing Family page.  A large majority of the information for this post will be from Genevieve Willing's memoirs written sometime in the late 1970's or early 1980's while she was recovering from surgery.  Without her forethought and insight there wouldn't be a post.  Her writings about childhood, siblings, parents and grandparents as well as daily life in the Willing home prove to me that everyone has a story to tell.  Even the most seemingly everyday, unimportant writings will be someone's treasure someday.  Thank you, Aunt Gen!

Atwell, William H.  

Remember the Good Times:

self published, 2004.

Ernest James Hiller; Businessman and Civil Leader

Ernest James was born (1878) and raised in Lake Odessa, Michigan.  His parents, Christian and Isabella (Henderson) Hiller were immigrants, arriving in Lake Odessa with their perspective families within a year of each other, 1857 and 1856.

EJ Hiller's high school commencement program, 1899, (given to me by Dorothy Hiller Mather).

EJ was one of 5 students to graduate from the 6th graduating class at Lake Odessa Public Schools on June 20, 1899, their class motto was "Rowing, not Drifting".

Choosing college instead of working the family farm, EJ went on to attend business school at Ferris Institute, now Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.  After graduation, he was employed as a bookkeeper by a logging company, Gibbs and Sons of Kingsley, Michigan.  After one season there, he returned to Lake Odessa and then in 1907, relocated to Charlevoix, Michigan and became the bookkeeper at the Charlevoix Lumber Company (established in 1868).

EJ & Martha (Kenyon) Hiller on their wedding day.

Ernest Hiller and Martha Kenyon were married June 19, 1908 and by 1909 their first child, my grandfather Don C. Hiller, was born.  In 1912, the complicated delivery of their first daughter, Opal Ruth, resulted in her being stillborn on May 3.  Martha developed an infection and lingered for another 18 days before succumbing from septicemia.

Both the Kenyon and Hiller Families helped tremendously in raising Don while his father worked at the lumber company, however, by 1918 EJ was married to Christine Peterson and she took over that role.  They added 3 children to the family, Ernest James "Jim" in 1919, Lee Christian in 1921 and Annabelle in 1924.

304 Antrim Street about 1911. L-R: Isabella Hiller, Barbara Hiller, EJ holding Don and Christian Hiller.

EJ advanced from lumber company bookkeeper to manager in 1923 and eventually owner of Charlevoix's oldest business (until the time it was sold).  After World War II, he was joined by his son Jim who eventually took over the business.  EJ walked the eight blocks to work every day - 304 Antrim Street to the lumber mill near the bridge on Round Lake.  Over the years my great grandfather

Charlevoix Lumber Company safe, now housed a Harsha House Museum in Charlevoix.

served as Second Ward alderman, a member of the school board, deputy city clerk, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Charlevoix County State Bank.  He was also a member of the Charlevoix Lodge No. 282 and the Freemasons.   Community was important to him as displayed by his level of service in city.  In 1967 when EJ was 89 years old the city honored him at the Venetian Festival naming him Charlevoix's Top Citizen of the Year.  The newspaper quoted him as saying "It's been interesting being a spectator in these changing times", no doubt commenting on the past 60 years he had lived in Charlevoix. 

Even after he had retired and his eyesight failed he continued to visit the lumber company every day, walking of course. (See above video, taken by my grandfather in the 1960's.) At home, his flower garden was his pride and job and many hours were spent there hoeing and planting.

My great grandfather died in 1969 and since I never knew or met him, this writing is based on research alone.  I would like to thank my Mom and Aunt for answering my MANY questions and my family for indulging me while I make my yearly visit to Charlevoix.  The Charlevoix Lumber Company is long gone and the Edgewater Inn now occupies that area, just north of the bridge on the shores of Round Lake.  Regardless, I feel drawn to that area and love to stand on the bridge where I have a clear view of Round Lake and Pine River/Round Lake Channel, the lighthouse and Lake Michigan.  My great grandfather must have loved the view too, 62 years worth.

Great Grandpa Hiller

EJ Hiller at Charlevoix Lumber Mill, date unknown.  (Sure wish I could read the date on that calendar.  Note:  See comment below)

I was 8 years when my great grandpa died and his was the first funeral I attended.  The contrast of the church service and burial and crying with the light-hearted conversation and children playing in the yard at the luncheon afterwards was very confusing.  I remember thinking that I should be sad and the realization that people I loved were sad and crying, but I never knew him and I don't think had ever met him until I saw him in that casket.  Maybe that's why I spend so much time with genealogy - to get to know the ancestors I never had a chance to meet.

Not unlike most people, Ernest James Hiller's life was filled with joys and sorrows, great sorrows.  Surely, losing a child then a wife within a week could be called the greatest life tragedy one could possibly endure.  But he did endure.  He continued to work, raise his son (with the help of family), remarry and have three more children

Telegram EJ Hiller sent to his son, Don (my grandfather), informing him of his brother's death.

only to have his world heaved again in 1943 with the death of his son Lee.  Like I said, great sorrows.  And endurance.  For most of us, we won't dare let our minds wander to these thoughts.  We just thank the Lord and pray it never happens in our lives.

Over the years, as I have researched my great grandpa and his story and collected death certificates, telegrams, photos and even the old pot-belly stove from his home in Charlevoix, I am truly amazed by the strength of this man I never met.  However, I really shouldn't be as his father and his father before him have equally inspiring stories which I will share in due time.  If only I knew at 8 years old what I know now, there would have been tears that day.

See EJ Hiller's full story here.

"The Tavern"

Frank Zupanchich, date unknown.

According to the Wright's Milwaukee City Directory, Frank Zupanchich purchased the tavern in 1931.  However, during that year and the next, due to Prohibition, he is "listed" as selling only soft drinks but in reality he was selling booze from the back door, which continued until the end of Prohibition.

Uncle Johnny Penne behind the bar, circa: unknown.

 By 1932 Frank has married Mary Ann Penne (my grandmother's only sister) and by March 1933 FDR signs the Beer-Wine Revenue Act and "Frank & Mary's Place", a legal tavern is born.

Penne's Haven, front to back:  Wanda, Johnny, my Grandma Anne Hiller, unknown man.  Circa 1950's.

Unbeknownst to Frank, the purchase of this property not only provided a home (there were living quarters attached) and a social circle for many members of my grandmother's family but more importantly it provided them with employment.  Beginning around 1933 the whole Pene Family relocated from Eveleth, Minnesota to Milwaukee, beginning with my grandma, Anne and her sister, Mary and ending with their parents Anton and Johanna who arrived in 1941.   They lived a number of years at the tavern with Frank and Mary before moving with them to a new home at 3921 W. Greenfield.  Both my great grandparents were hard workers and even in their golden years were earning their keep.  Throughout the years, my grandmother Anne and her brothers Al, Louis and John all worked the tavern as well.   It's also where my grandmother met her husband, Don Hiller.  Eventually, Al and Louis found other employment and John was drafted in WWII, however, off and on all three worked as bartenders.

Some celebration at Penne's Haven, circa 1960's. Wanda is behind the bar, my Grandpa Hiller is in a suit and my mother next to him in a white coat.

Johnny returned from the war in December, 1945.  In trying to recreate a timeline, I am taking a guess that sometime around between 1946 and 1950 Frank sold the tavern to his brother-in-law, Johnny who renamed it "Penne's Haven".  Johnny and Wanda were married in 1950 and lived and worked at the tavern, 1501 W. Greenfield Avenue, Milwaukee, full time.  My mother and aunt both remember walking to Uncle Johnny and Auntie Wanda's tavern on Saturday mornings to help clean sea crabs which were then sold for a quarter that evening.  This would make three generations working at the tavern.

 When my parents would bring us to the tavern for a visit, I remember not ever wanting to leave.  I loved that place and thought my great uncle and aunt had the best life ever, but I was just a child.  Now I know they both worked long hours which is probably why they also lived where they worked.  When we visited, I would help Uncle Johnny load empty beer bottles into the old thick cardboard beer cases which we then stacked in the garage.  The kegs were kept in the basement, loaded down from a trapdoor and ramp on the sidewalk above, however I don't recall helping with the kegs, only the bottles.

The tavern was sold before 1977 which was when Wanda died of cancer. Johnny couldn't work and drive her to her chemotherapy appointments, something he continued to do for other patients even after Wanda's death.

When Johnny died in 2009, I was given a box of his old home movies, some of which I have digitized.  The clip here is dated 1947 and titled "Hard Time Party" - I have no idea why.  As you watch, look for a man in a straw hat, that's my Grandpa Don Hiller and in front of him, my Grandma Anne (she has a red flower in her hair).   Mary Zupanchich, wearing a traditional Slovenian dress like my grandmother, can be seen in the middle of the film and toward the end where she starts to polka with another woman.  I can also see quick glimpses of my two of my grandma's brothers but they are hard to point out.  

I still love taverns, the smell of beer-stale or otherwise and remembering all the fun I had at Penne's Haven!

Special thanks to Barbara (Hiller) Atwell and Mary Ann (Hiller) Boschke for their recollections and my husband Ray for helping me with an historical timeline.

News stories about John Penne 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19831116&id=tAMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5E4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2198,3521122

and 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19860405&id=wwYqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gRIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3555,7821167

For more interesting reading about Milwaukee during and after Prohibition read "The Day Beer Returned to Milwaukee" in Austin Frederick's blog-Making History Since 1990 

https://austinfrederick.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/the-day-beer-returned-to-milwaukee/

Citation:

Music in clip by Kevin MacLeod, "Four Beers Polka", Creative Commons License Deed 

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer–Wine_Revenue_Act

Ancestry.com Wright's Milwaukee City Directories, 1929-1950

Penne's Haven

Penne's Haven Wurlitzer jukebox. Photo courtesy of my cousin, Tony Boschke, who is lucky enough to own this beauty now.

When visiting my grandparents in Milwaukee one of my childhood highlights was a trip to Penne's Haven, a tavern owned by my great Uncle Johnny and his lively wife Wanda.  I know, it seems strange even as I write this,  but it was the candy and endless nickels for the jukebox that elevated the tavern to "highlight" status.  Auntie Wanda always let me and my siblings go behind the bar where she kept a rack of candy bars, gum and Life Savers hard candy rolls - 5 Flavors, Butter Rum, Pep O Mint among others.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love candy BUT it was all about the jukebox during those visits.  Elvis Presley sang about a Hound Dog, Bobby Vinton of Blue Velvet and America's Polka King Frankie Yankovic about a girl who's too fat for him!  The beautiful blue Hawaiian beach scene, the multi-colored front panel lights and of course the movable stack of 45 records was mesmerizing.

When Penne's Haven was sold in the early 1970's my only questions was "What happened to the jukebox?" and I was delighted to hear my Uncle Bob was the new owner.  That was over 40 years ago and it's still in the family today.

More about the owners and history of the tavern can be seen on the Penne Page.

Harry Atwell; Artist, Inventor, Tinker

Harry, date unknown

Harry was born to William and Helena Atwell in Racine, Wisconsin in 1908 and any information regarding his childhood is pretty much non-existent.  However, Harry did talk to his son, Bill, about how difficult life was during The Depression and obtaining food was a difficult task and often times they had to take a wagon to do so.  Once all they had left was canned peaches which was their meal for a full week.  During interviews with his children I have found that they, too, know very little and that the "Atwell's" weren't a close knit family.  I write the last name "Atwell" like this because, well....it's not really our last name!  Harry's father's name was originally William Henry Stone at birth and the Atwell surname was added when William became the foster child of James & Vice Atwell.  He was never officially adopted but he use the last name Atwell but also keeping the name Stone, however, his children including Harry never used the surname Stone.  Again, the circumstances of William living with the Atwell's are unknown and probably the main reason for the lack of information is that William just didn't want to talk about HIS childhood, therefore, his children didn't either.

Harry & Marie, date unknown.

Harry married Marie Willing in 1930, briefly living in Kenosha and Manitowoc before settling in Milwaukee for the remainder of their lives living in rental homes on Elgin Lane, Walker Street before finally fulfilling their dream of owning a home on 35th Street.  They had 4 children Joan, Marlene, William (my father) and Don.

Billy in one of his Dad's hand built rowboats.

My father remembers his father as "a happy person but one who was not happy with his current job and always trying to come up with an idea to improve our life".  The "current job" would have been as an artist/painter of tavern and business signs.  Over the years, his jobs included painting the Liberty Bakery trucks, a picture for a March of Dimes campaign, theatre signs and designing logos for a steel company and Knight's Popcorn (which are still in use today) and printing press operator.  Harry was also an inventor and patent holder of a toy called "Jiggin' Jim, a one man boat loader (my father still has a complete version) and a fishing bait called "The Croaker".  Harry also built small rowboats for children, selling about 8 of them.  His last project was a Model A Ford built to scale and I personally remember riding in this in the alley!  (There is even a photo somewhere that I am trying to locate.)

Harry and his Saturday afternoon catch.

Theatre sign painted by Harry Atwell.

Harry loved to fish, generally heading to the lake every Saturday in the summer and often taking Bill and Don.  However,  Don was diagnosed with diabetes as a child and often was too sickly to attend.  He had the latest equipment, owning some of the first spinning reels on the market and after years of renting a boat, finally built his own, with the help of his sons.  Harry eventually learned taxidermy to mount his own catches and to tie flies for fishing.

Sunday's were generally reserved for picnics and swimming or a trip to visit Marie's family in Racine where Harry enjoyed his extended family.  Harry and Marie also enjoyed playing cards, often inviting the neighbors over while playing bartender and fixing "highballs with powdered sugar" and also dancing - both of them were "light on their feet".

As in life, times were not always great.  About the late 1940's Harry removed his mentally ill mother from a nursing home in Libertyville, Illinois and brought her home to Milwaukee.  While his intentions were 

good, this made a small rental home even smaller, displacing children and putting a large amount of stress on his wife, who already had a full plate with four children, one of which had a serious illness.  

Family Fun.  Clockwise from top: Bill, Don, Jim & Howie (Harry's son-in-laws) and Harry. Back right:  Marie and granddaughter, Kathy, circa late 1950's.

Harry had bouts of heavy drinking and the atmosphere in the house was unstable.  Eventually, after grandma, and then the children, moved out Harry and Marie moved to 35th Street and things improved.  Unfortunately, it wasn't long after that Marie died suddenly and Harry never adjusted to living alone.  Like his mother, he suffered from depression and would never seek help. Eventually he agreed to live in a nursing home something which must have terrified him after seeing the conditions his mother lived in while in a nursing home.  

Harry died in 1985.  I miss him along with all my other grandparents.  I wanted to post these two photos, which I really enjoy.  The one to the right labeled "Family Fun" because my Grandpa is having so much fun and I like to remember him this way and the other labeled "Portrait" because it's the last photo I took of my Grandpa.  He said he thought it was his best.  I'm not so sure, but glad he said so.

Portrait of Harry, circa 1980's.

Grandpa Atwell

Me and my Grandpa Harry Atwell, circa 1963

Sometimes I see a photograph and enjoy it so much that I want to see beyond the edges.  Who else was present?  Where was the photo taken?  Who took the photo?  Seven years ago when my Auntie Marlene first showed me this photo, I immediately wanted to see beyond the edges.  My Grandpa Atwell and I are center in this photograph and my cousin Brad is seated next to me with a cake of his own, we both have birthdays in May.   This is probably my 2nd birthday, 1963, and my Grandma Atwell would have still been alive.  Maybe that's her arm,  moving the cake a little closer to me so I can blow out the candles with my Grandpa's encouragement.

This photo is interesting to me because I don't remember my Grandpa as a particularly happy man but he is clearly enjoying himself here.  I guess this is where I should mention that later in life, he was burdened with mental health issues that were never diagnosed due to his unwillingness to seek help. However, he enjoyed his grandchildren and was always ready with sleight-of-hand tricks involving coins or other objects and my favorite where he would pull his thumb into two pieces.  An artist, inventor and general tinker, he held patents for some of his ideas and with the proper capital,  I believe, would been quite successful.   His story and artwork can be found on the "Atwell" page.

Marie Atwell's Cheese Pie

Crust Ingredients:

16 graham crackers, rolled fine
1 stick melted butter
4 tablespoons sugar
Mix above ingredients together and press into and 8 x 8 or pie pan.

Filling Ingredients:

4 small packages cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat above ingredients together, fill crust and bake on 375 for 15-20 minutes or until set.  Hold oven temperature.

Top Layer:

1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Mix above ingredients together and spread over pie and bake for another 5 minutes.

When cool, refrigerate.

Marie Willing Atwell

Marie Willing, First Communion

Marie & Harry, 1926.

Marie was born on January, 23, 1910 in Racine, Wisconsin to John and Elizabeth (Thielen) Willing along with her siblings: Bernard, Hildegard, Raymond, Edmond and Genevieve.  She attended grade school and one year of high school before leaving to attend a vocational school.  During the summer, Marie picked strawberries at a local farm until she was hired at Kressig Dimestore in downtown Racine.  Her sister, Genevieve, recalls in her memoir that "Marie loved to dance and ice skate" as a teenager and was often found on weekends at the Surf Ballroom dancing to the Wayne King Band and that "she was always full of fun and an interesting talker like Papa".

I have never heard how my grandparents met but as evidenced by the photo they were clearly dating in 1926, Marie was 16 and Harry 18.  Four years later they were married and shortly after that moved to Kenosha where my Grandfather painted "coming attraction" signs for a local movie theatre and their first child, Joan, was born.  The family made another move to Manitowoc, where they welcomed daughter Marlene before settling in Milwaukee where William and Don were born.  I have no doubt she was a wonderful mother, baking (I've posted her recipe for her famous "cheese pie" in the recipe section) sewing for her children.  When her son Don developed diabetes at the age of eight, she was diligent with his diet measuring all his food and watching him constantly.  Don died at the age of 33 from complications of diabetes and it is a blessing she did not have to witness his death.

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Harry & Marie Atwell with their children: Joan, Marlene, Billy, Don 1941 or 1942.

I remember the house on 35th Street in Milwaukee that my grandparents shared, however, I only remember my Grandpa living there.  As a child I spent the night one time and slept on one of two Jenny Lind beds, the same beds used by my aunts when they were children. I have these beds now.  My Dad was cleaning out his basement and was ready to part with them, but I wasn't.

Grandma Atwell

Grandma Atwell & Lee, circa 1961

There are few photos of me with Grandma Atwell because she died at age 55, about the age I am now.   I was 4 years old then and don't remember her at all.  When I look at her photo, however,  I see a strong resemblance to my Auntie Marlene, her daughter.  The family has even said that they were very much alike-interesting talkers and good bakers - so my idea of "knowing" my Grandma really just stems from that notion.  As a child I remember missing my Grandma and always felt family gatherings would have been more fun with her there.  When my Grandma became ill in December of 1965 she had been sewing a Santa Claus suit so my Grandpa could play Santa for the grandchildren at our Christmas Eve gathering.  She died before it was completed.  Although she said it was the hardest thing she ever did, my Auntie Marlene finished sewing that Santa suit.  I'm not sure if my Grandpa had the heart to wear it that year or not but I have told my Uncle Don was always the Santa on Christmas Eve.

Uncle Don, cousins Brian and Brad and Me and my younger sisters, 1966.

 I have no idea where the Santa suit is today, probably long gone, but I sure am glad Grandma started sewing it as it brought her grandchildren a lot of joy.  It wasn't until 2008, that my Aunt finally told me the Santa suit story.   Maybe if I had known the story as a child it would have felt like she was there at all those Christmas Eves she was missed.

Since I was never able to interview my Grandma directly, I have had to rely on family member's accounts and a memior written by her sister, Genevieve, to gain insight.  Grandma's story can be found under the "Willing" Page on this blog.

Don "Red" Hiller, A Sailor's Story

Don Hiller, circa 1909

Born in 1909 in Charlevoix, Michigan my grandfather's first three years of childhood were traditional.  But in 1912, his mother and sister both died shortly after childbirth leaving his father to raise a toddler alone.  Not much is known about who cared for him while his father worked but my guess is that his great Aunt Barbara did at least part-time.  Her home was in Lake Odessa, Michigan (also the hometown of my grandfather's parents) and she was unmarried and could have been available on sudden notice.  Interestingly, my grandfather has a photo of himself with Aunt Barbara, taken before his mother's death (shown),  but I have yet to find one with him together with his mother.  My grandfather named his own daughter Barbara, so his aunt must have held a special place in his heart.  Don spent his childhood summers in the Lake Odessa area working and playing on the farms of his mother's siblings, rotating through them all during the summer.

Catherine Barbara Hiller & Don C. Hiller, Sept. 1911

His education ended at 6th grade and at some point he joined the United States Lighthouse Service on the Great Lakes working on maintaining lighthouses and buoys.  

A sailor walks into a bar.....and meets his future wife.  It's no joke, that's how it happened!  My grandma, Anne, was working part-time at Frank & Mary's Place  (a tavern owned by her sister and brother-in-law) and he was a sailor who....well....enjoyed drinking.  They married in July 1935 and by 1936 had a son.  When Anne became pregnant again in 1937 with twin daughters,  Red's sailing days were over.  In an effort to find a career more suited to a family man, he attended technical school and was eventually hired in 1938 as a welder for Allis-Chalmers working for a time building equipment for the Manhattan Project.  

"Red Sky in Morning, Sailors take Warning, Red Sky at night, Sailor's delight" Red Hiller, middle, with shipmates aboard the Sumac.

Unlike today's standard, he spent his entire career at Allis-Chalmers eventually retiring in the early 1970's.  After retirement, to keep busy, he and my grandma attended church daily followed by lunch with friends afterwards.  

I remember my grandpa as a happy-go-lucky, easy-going man who enjoyed a good time, his family and friends, and beer.  Always helpful in the kitchen, he was my grandma's eager assistant while making strudel or potica for the holidays or a church bake sale.  There were many Yahtzee and card games at their kitchen table and if my grandpa wasn't playing he would always walk in and ask "Who's cheatin' the most?"  My grandparents and their homes, Walker Street and 88th Street, have special memories for me that I still recall today.

Grandpa Hiller

I cherish this photo of my Grandpa and me and clearly remember the day it was taken.  I was about 9 years old and in the backyard of my home.  My Grandpa and Grandma were visiting from Milwaukee and my Grandpa asked Mom to take a photo of us together.  It seemed an usual request to me at the time since my Grandpa was never very demonstrative with his feelings and I didn't think he noticed me much.  Usually my Grandma made requests for photos with her grandkids.  Before this day, I always felt a closer to my Grandma than my Grandpa, I think most kids do.   Maybe that's why he asked for the photo and chose this pose.  At first, I felt a little awkward being so close to him but then it was just......comfortable.  My Grandpa and me-the family's blueberry pancake eatin' redheads!

The story of his dramatic childhood can be found on the Hiller Family page.  

Grandma: Anna to Anne

Grandma was known as Anna Pene when she was born July 23, 1905 in Eveleth, Minnesota and also on her 8th grade graduation certificate.  Later, after she moved to Milwaukee, The Milwaukee City Directories of 1933 and 1934 list her as Anna Pennee and Anna Penne, respectively.  But just one year later on her wedding day, July 6, 1935 she became Anne Hiller when she married my grandfather, Don C. Hiller.  

In an effort to improve my genealogy citations, I sent for Grandma's birth certificate and was surprised to see her listed as "Anna" and after questioning her children, it became obvious that this was a surprise to them also. Everyone had always thought her name was "Anne", pronounced "Ann" not "Annie", she didn't like that. As much as my Grandmother liked to talk and fill my notes with family history, she didn't speak much of herself or her early life and I guess I always thought there would be plenty of time, until there wasn't. She died in 1995, outliving her husband by almost ten years.

This situation is a perfect example of how important it is to ask the "right" questions when interviewing for genealogical purposes.  I missed my opportunity with my Grandma and now am trying to piece the information together with documents. Little is known about her decision to move from Eveleth, Minnesota to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The 1930 United States Census does not show her living in Eveleth.  In fact, I haven't found her listed in 1930 anywhere yet.  She shows up next in Milwaukee in 1933 working for Reliance Laundry & Cleaning Company and living at 1501 W. Greenfield Avenue, the home of her sister Mary and her husband Frank Zupancic who owned a tavern, Frank & Mary's, at the same location.  The Milwaukee City Directory of 1934 shows a change of employers for Grandma, National Family Laundry Company, where she was a press operator and still living with her sister and brother-in-law.  

By this time, her brothers Louis and Albert Penne had also moved from Eveleth and were employed by Frank at the tavern.  Eventually, Frank moved all Grandma's siblings and her parents from Eveleth to Milwaukee.  

Family members have told me that my Grandmother may have also worked in the tavern, maybe as a waitress and that is where she met my Grandfather.  

So, as of today, my research continues for information about my Grandmother's journey from Eveleth to Milwaukee and the few years she spent there before getting married.  Once married, she and my Grandfather made Milwaukee their home for the remainder of their lives.

Hiller Family Immigration

Le Harve 1850's

On August 11, 1857 Katherine (Sindlinger) Hiller arrived at Castle Garden, Port of New York with her 5 children; Elizabeth 15 years, Christian 12, Leonard 11, Barbara 7 and Wilhelm 5 and three wooden trunks holding all their possessions. Their journey began in Kehl, Germany with stops in Strasbourg, Paris and eventually boarding the "Chase" in Le Havre, France.  Katherine's husband, Johann Leonard Hiller, died in Germany prior to to their voyage, however details are still  unknown.  Katherine must have been a brave and courageous woman to make the decision to travel with 5 children and join her brothers, Jacob & Christian Sindlinger, in Sebewa, Ionia County, Michigan who immigrated in 1855.

The "3rd trunk" given to me by Christian's great granddaughter.

Family Lore

In the 1980's, I was given a copy of a letter written to my grandparents, Don and Anne Hiller, from his cousin Connie.  She states that the Hiller's arrived "with all their possessions in three trunks.  Dottie (Christian's great granddaughter) has one and Oda (Christian's granddaughter) has the other.  No one seems to know what happened to the 3rd trunk".  My curiosity was peeked and I have wondered, investigated and researched to find that trunk for years.  Last year, 2013, I found the 3rd trunk.  It ends up Connie was wrong, someone did  know where it was all along.  Dottie had two trunks and she lived about an hour from my home in Michigan!

I have Ancestry.com to thank for finding Dot.  I have been a member, with a public tree, for many years but last year Dot decided to join and make her tree public as well.  She messaged me about a name correction, we shared email addresses and agreed to meet in Lansing.  The meeting was remarkable; we talked and exchanged family photos for 3 hours.  I gave her a copy of the letter from Connie (who was her aunt) and we talked about the missing 3rd trunk and that's when she dropped the bombshell that she had two and was giving one to me!  The trunk has a home in my family room and I am reminded daily of the sacrifices my ancestors made to immigrate to this great country.  Last May, and again this year,  Dot and I met at Lakeside Cemetery in Lake Odessa to plant flowers on our common ancestor's grave - Christian Gottlieb Hiller - my 2nd great grandfather.

Citations

"Gustave Le Gray:  The Imperial Yacht La Reine Hortense, Le Havre"(2005.100.273).  In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.  New York:  The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2005.100.273.  (October 2006)

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Grandma Hiller

Anton Pene Family: Back L-R:Louis, Frank, Grandma, Mary, Al, Johnny; Front L-R: Johanna, Mathew, Anton.

It is only fitting that my first post (view it under Penne label) would be about my Grandma Hiller who was born and rasied in Eveleth, Minnesota to Slovenian immigrants Anton and Johanna (Kočijančič) Pene along with 10 siblings, four of whom would not live to adulthood.  She spoke fondly of her childhood which was filled with Slovenian music and customs.  Her mother's two sisters lived in Eveleth also so there must have been some family gatherings on the "Kočijančič side" but she never spoke specifically on this subject. Eventually,  in the 1930's they would all relocate to Milwaukee where they would spend the remainder of their lives.

Grandma's home in Eveleth (Leonidis), Minnesota, with her "Pa and Ma" standing on front steps.  

Graduating from the 8th grade was a proud achievement for my Grandma and she mentioned this often when we would talk about her early life.  She was promoted to high school but never attended.  My Aunt Mary Anne recently shared Grandma's diploma with me and I post it here  for you all.  This would make her happy.

My Genealogy Inspiration

Anne Penne

I was 16 when I read "Roots" and just like Alex Haley my grandmother played a pivotal role in inspiring my ancestral search.  Grandma (Penne) Hiller was the family historian and her "gift of gab" lent itself quite nicely to storytelling.  As the years went on she talked while I took notes, many notes.  When Grandma eventually entrusted the precious original documents inherited from her parents-Slovenian baptismal certificates, marriage documents and naturalization papers-to me at age 20 the torch was officially passed.

After many years, the amount of family history documentation - photos, documents, film, newspaper clippings, prayer cards, etc. - was so sizable my office was beginning to look like an archive.  At the same time I was searching for the most efficient way to not only compile the information in a storytelling format but also a way to make it accessible to family.  The idea of a blog seemed like an excellent solution.  So, each month I will write a short introduction on a person place or subject 

which can be viewed under the Blog page.  From there you will be directed where to find the "main story", generally under one of the family surname pages.  Happy reading!

Documents from Grandma's "Ma & Pa".