Category Archives: E. Caroline & Jacob Boma Family

Mary & Emil North Family

Gladys North 1913 –

Gladys North
1913 –

Gladys was the last child of Emil and Mary North born in November of 1913.

Gladys never married. Her two nieces lived with her for a time after her sister died. Gladys had her heart set on raising the girls but on a trip to see their father Pat in California, he kept the girls with him.

As a young woman, Gladys tinted pictures at Paramount Studios in La Crosse. A job she was very good at. This was before colored film and all the colored pictures were still hand painted. Later she was employed at Northern Engraving. When they moved out of town Gladys took care of the elderly in St. Joseph’s Home. After working there many years, the home was changed to self care in 1981 and Gladys retired.

Three years after retiring, Gladys became ill with Alzheimer’s Disease and went into a nursing home in La Crescent.

Mary & Emil North Family

Marie (North) Johnson 1911 – 1952

Marie (North) Johnson
1911 – 1952

The daughter of Emil and Mary North, Marie was born in October of 1911. She was a pianist and played the piano in several orchestras.

Marie was joined in marriage to Pat Johnson. Pat was a cook on the Wabash Railroad. During World War II, they were stationed in Maryland where he served as cook on a submarine. After the war they came back to La Crosse for a short while before following a dream to move to California.

The Johnson’s had two girls. When they left La Crosse, Patty was age six and Jean was two. While the children were still young, Marie died of cancer at age 41. Patty and Jean came back to La Crosse to live with their aunt Gladys for a while before rejoining their father in California.

  1. Pat Johnson in married to Rick Webster who is a silk screen supervisor for a name plate co.. They are the parents of two children:
    1. Kelly Webster born in 1974.
    2. Ryan Webster born in 1977.
  2. Jean Johnson was married to Robert Neary and they had four children. She is now married to Duane Quall.
    1. Amanda Neary born in 1961.
    2. Michael Neary born in 1966.
    3. Steven Neary born in 1967.
    4. Eric Neary born in 1969.
Mary & Emil North Family

Andy North 1909 –

Andy North
1909 –

Andy was born March 20, 1909, the first child and the only son of Emil and Mary North.

Andy grew up below grandad’s Bluff where his father managed the stone quarry. Recalling some good times on the bluff Andy said,

“When I was a teenager I built a bobsled from oak. It had brakes and a bell on the back. Gladys and I, with friends from high school, would slide down Bliss Road in the bobsled from the top of grandad’s Bluff all the way to the church on Losey Blvd. We pulled the bobsled up to the top behind a friend’s old car. “

When he was young, Andy worked at the brick yard for John Schnell who was married to his aunt Julie. After high school he worked in the quarry.

“One of his jobs was operating the locomotive of a narrow gauge railroad that hauled the rock from the quarry site to the tramway. He also worked as a weighmaster at the crusher, a stone salesman, and as a supervisor of county trucks hauling away loads of crushed rock. ‘Working in the quarry wasn’t easy!’ Andy said. ‘Even getting to the top of the bluff in the winter time was a hard day’s work, especially if I had to carry fifty pounds of dynamite.'”(1)

Andy’s job ended with the closing of the quarry in 1935. He then worked for Allis Chalmers.

Andy married his high school sweetheart, Gladys Ott, in 1934. Four years later he built their home on 2628 King St. using the wood from Dominick Mader Jr.’s tobacco shed. Andy did most of the work on the house himself and he and Gladys have made it their home for 48 years. It is located about a block from his childhood home within full view of grandad’s bluff. In 1940 the North’s became the parents of their only daughter, Nancy.

In his retirement, Andy enjoys woodworking. A complete circus made of wood that he has made was on display at the La Crosse Library. He also has built train sets and many country items that his daughter paints and sells. Andy sees something he likes and then goes home and makes his own pattern.

Andy had been featured in many articles written about the bluff, since he has been involved with the early stone quarry and has lived at the foot of grandad’s bluff all his life.

  1. Nancy North was born in 1940. She is married to Ron Lepsch. Ron is retired from John Deer and Nancy works for the school system in Waterloo, Iowa. They have two children:
    1. Rhonda Lepsch was born in 1965 and is a college student. Rhonda won over 100 metals and trophies for high school gymnastics.
    2. Randy Lepsch born in 1967 attends Waterloo, Iowa Tech.

_____________

(1) Past, Present and Future, “Andy North and the Stone Quarry” by Gen Koenig (La Crosse Co. Hist. Soc.) Vol V.
Julia & John Schnell Family

William Schnell 1916 –

William Schnell
1916 –

William was born in the Schnell brick house above State Road in 1916, the last child of John and Julia Schnell.

Only nine years old, Bill started working in the Schnell brick yard. “that’s how I got my crooked fingers!” he said. His school days came to an end at age 15 when he was sent to run the Boma farm of 380 acres for his father Bill farmed the land from his parents home for nine years until his marriage to Idel Miller.

Bill and Idel were married on April 26, 1941 and moved on the farm to live in the Boma brick house. At this time Bill purchased the farm from his father, John. Here, their only son, David was born on February 21, 1947. They lived on the Boma place until ca. 1965. Bill said, “A guy from Milwaukee wanted it worse than I did so I sold it to him.” The farm had been in Boma family for 100 years.

The family moved to 1718 Losey Blvd. in La Crosse where Bill and Idel still live. Bill worked for 10-15 years as ground man for the University.

  1. David Schnell is the only son born on February 21,
    1947. He taught high school English in Menominee Falls,
    WI. He presently owns a catering business in Milwaukee
    and also conducts cooking classes for the college. He is
    living in West Bend, WI.
Julia & John Schnell Family

Florence (Schnell) Schaefer 1913 –

Florence (Schnell) Schaefer
1913 –

Florence was born December 22, 1913 to John and Julia Schnell. Florence was married on January 20, 1942 to John Schaefer and they became the parents of two children, Barbara and John Jr.

John was a salesman for Heileman’s Brewing Co.. They left La Crosse in 1946 when John transferred to Mitchell, South Dakota. In 1960 he was transferred to Mason City, Iowa where the family still resides. John passed away in January 1976 and Florence now lives alone. [update]

  1. Barbara Schaefer was born June 21, 1946 and is married to Dwight Kleven. Dwight owns a garage called Dale’s Service. They reside in Mason City and have two children: [update]
    1. Michael Kleven born in 1966.
    2. Lisa Kleven born in 1969.
  2. John Schaefer Jr. born on July 26, 1948 married Denise Hall. He works for Curries Mfg. Co. in Mason City. John and Denise have three children:
    1. Ryan Schaefer born in 1980.
    2. Adam Schaefer born in 1982.
    3. Jennifer Schaefer born in 1984.
Julia & John Schnell Family

Helen (Schnell) McHugh 1911 –

Helen (Schnell) McHugh
1911 –

Helen is the daughter of John and Julie Schnell born on May 6, 1911. She married Francis McHugh in 1935.

Helen and Francis were the parents of five sons and one daughter. Their children are Roger, Paul, Tom, Patricia, Danny, and William.

At first the McHughs lived in La Crosse, later moving to Onalaska and Holmen. Francis was a log hauler and then hauled milk. They had been married 35 years when Francis passed away in 1970.

Helen has worked at Arenz Shoes in La Crosse for 25 years and lives on Avon St.

  1. Roger McHugh was born on Oct. 27, 1937 and is married to Jean Hanson. Roger is Mayor of Holmen, WI and works in the office at Trane Co. They have three children:
    1. Kelly McHugh born in 1962.
    2. Jay McHugh born in 1964.
    3. Collen McHugh born in 1970.
  2. Paul McHugh was born in 1939. Paul was killed in an automobile accident at age of 18 in 1958.
  3. Tom McHugh was born on Oct. 19, 1940. He married Alice Ballet. Tom is self-employed selling heavy road equipment. They live in Eau Claire, WI and are the parents of four children:
    1. Paula McHugh born in 1966.
    2. Kimberly McHugh born in 1968.
    3. Tammy McHugh born in 1970.
    4. Matthew McHugh born in 1973.
  4. Patricia McHugh is the only daughter born on Nov. 25, 1942. Pat is a nun working in Campus Ministry at Stout College in Menomonie, WI She loves her work!
  5. Danny McHugh born on Jan.. 9, 1947 married Sharon Eide. Dan owns an Excavation and plumbing Company in Onalaska WI. Dan and Sharon have three children:
    1. Dean McHugh born in 1966.
    2. Vicky McHugh born in 1968.
    3. Terry McHugh born in 1970.
  6. William McHugh is the youngest child and lives in Holmen, WI. He is a sales representative for Westburn Supply. Bill married Nancy Sacia and they have three children:
    1. Nicholas McHugh born in 1979.
    2. Randon McHugh born in 1983.
    3. Adam McHugh born in 1985.
Julia & John Schnell Family

Edwin Schnell 1910 – 1963

Edwin Schnell
1910 – 1963

Edwin was the first child born in 1910 to John and Julie Schnell.

In a hunting accident at age 16 Edwin lost part of his arm. He was picking up his shot gun when it discharged up his arm.

Edwin served in World War II and was stationed in Greenland. He later was employed by the City of La Crosse.

Edwin was joined in marriage to Myrtle Biessel and they had four children: Steve, Susan and twins Scott and Sally.

At age 53, Edwin died of a brain hemorrhage on March 28, 1963. Myrtle remarried and now lives in West Salem.

  1. Steve Schnell is married to Anna who is the mother of three children by a previous marriage: Lisa, and twins Tim and Trent. Steve is a maintenance supervisor for Norplex in La Crosse and he has two children from a previous marriage.
    1. Mike Schnell born in 1966.
    2. Barbara Schnell born in 1970.
  2. Susan Schnell married Tony Krajewski and they reside in Onalaska. Susan and Tony have two girls:
    1. Michele Krajewski born in 1970.
    2. Kim Krajewski born in 1973.
  3. Scott Schnell is a twin to Sally born July 7, 1954. He is a computer engineer at Trane Co. in La Crosse. Scot married Judy Pretasky and they are the parents of three children:
    1. Matt Schnell born in 1976.
    2. Melanie Schnell born in 1980
    3. Kevin Schnell born in 1982.
  4. Sally Schnell is Scott’s twin sister born on July 7, 1954. Sally is married to Dennis Miller who is a printer. They have two sons:
    1. Josh Miller born in 1975.
    2. Justin Miller born in 1978.
E. Caroline & Jacob Boma Family

Mary (Boma) North 1885 – 1938

Mary (Boma) North
1885 – 1938

Mary was the youngest child of Caroline and Jacob born in December of 1885. She was married to Emil North who was born in 1880.

Emil managed the stone quarry on grandad’s Bluff. They mined and broke the rocks on top of the bluff and lowered the rocks down on cable cars. Mary and Emil lived on 28th St. under Grand Dad’s Bluff. At that time there were only three houses there and a tavern. One was a boarding house for the workers. The tram track ran by the side of North’s house, which is where they crushed the rock. (The tavern is still there. The third house from the tavern was Emil and Mary’s, and the fifth house was the boarding house.)

Three children were born to the North’s; Andy in 1909, Marie in 1911, and Gladys in 1913.

“In those days, every Sunday families got together.’ Andy said. Ben Mader remembers going to North’s with the Boma’s in a horse drawn wagon.

Andy’s mother and dad told the following story:

“They were going up to Bliss Road to a party up the hill in horse and wagon. It was just a wagon road in those days and every so often a ditch ran across the road to drain the water. Theodore Mader sat on the tail of the wagon and in the back was a keg of beer. When they bound over the ditch the keg of beer rolled, knocking Theodore off with it, unknown to Emil and Mary until some distance further.”

Emil had a horse and buggy with a fringe on top. Andy said you had to be careful because when the last person stepped on the step of the buggy, the horse would take off!

At a homemaker meeting in 1938 at Sand Lake Coulee, Mary had just finished eating and sat down to play the organ or piano when she said, “My arm feels funny.” She died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 52. Emil passed away seven years later.

Julia & John Schnell Family, Mader Family Stories

The Schnell Brick Yard

The Schnell Brick Yard

The brick yard owned and operated by the Schnell brothers was opened ca. 1890 and had three sheds. They first learned the brick business by working in Weimer’s and later Dominick’s brick yard, located only a half a mile away. Eventually the Schnell yard was taken over by John Schnell, Julia’s husband, and his brother Charles. (It was located at the present sit of the trailer park on Highway 33, on the right side going East.)

As a boy, John Mader can remember kids in the neighborhood working at the brick yard for 17 cents a day which was the going rate at that time. John didn’t know then that the Mader family had been in the brick business.

Andy North recalled working for John, Charlie, and old Schnell. He stayed up nights firing the kilns to keep the brick at a certain temperature. “Those old timers were sharp!” Andy said, “If you missed a firing, John knew it in the morning by the feel of the brick. They really knew their business. Boy, you kept up with the machinery or you got so far behind!”

Helen remembered:

“Dad and Grandfather worked till they were real old because they were the only ones who knew the mixture of the clay – no one else could do it. The consistency of the mud had to be just firm enough and the firing of the kilns at just the right temperature or the brick would crack.”

The brothers John and Charlie stopped making brick during World War II. There was no building going on and all the young men were off to war so they could not get help.

E. Caroline & Jacob Boma Family

Julia (Boma) Schnell 1884 – 1972

Julia (Boma) Schnell
1884 – 1972

In July of 1884, Julia was born at the Boma home. She attended public school in Shelby township and the Catholic school at La Crosse. When she was 21 years of age, Julia married John Schnell November 21, 1905.

The Schnells were neighbors of the Boma’s. John was born in 1883 the son of Phillip and Helena Schnell who founded the Schnell Bros. Brick Co. with his brother.

In the wedding was Julia’s first cousin, Frank Mader Jr., who gave them an ornamental black and gold shelf clock for a wedding present. (This clock is proudly displayed in the home of Bill Schnell.) After the marriage, John and Julia lived with his father and two unmarried brothers on 15th and Market St. in La Crosse.

John was good looking and Julia was very attractive, a jolly, happy-go-lucky person. Frank Jr. always said, “The Boma girls were the prettiest girls he ever saw in his life!”

Later they moved into the Schnell brick house below the road in State Road Coulee. (Site of the trailer park today.) Two houses belonged to the Schnell Brick Yard. When John’s brother Charles married he lived in the lower house and John and Julia moved into the older brick house above the road. When the boys moved to the brick yard their father moved with them renting out his house in town. John and his brothers worked in the brick yard, eventually taking over when their father got too old.

Julia and John Schnell were the parents of four children; Edwin born in 1910, Helen 1911, Florence 1913, and William 1916. Keeping busy with her own family, Julia also had to keep house for the boarded workers in the brick yard, cooking the meals and doing up the bedding.

The children went to school in the red school house on State Road. Then they had two years at Trinity High School for religious training. “We’d run out to the road and catch a ride to school.” Bill recalls, “The janitor would let us in the boiler room until Mass started. After school we walked home.” John Mader can remember going to a school with a boy called “Brick” Schnell. “Brick” was a name for Edwin.

The boys worked in the brick yard. When John bought Jacob Boma’s 380 acre farm, he sent William who was only 15 years old to run it.

The Mader family all came to Julia and John’s Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1955.

Julia was going to be 88 years old when she died in May of 1972. Her husband John lived only six and a half months longer before he passed away at age 89.