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At the time of this writing, there are only nineteen families in America who bear the Ableiter name. And all of these families are descendants of two brothers who came to America from Germany.

Ableiter, like many German names, has come from some family profession, but the exact interpretation is open to question. If it is Ab Leiter, it would mean someone who leads others out. Perhaps a military leader who leads into battle.

The two brothers, John George and Melchior Ableiter, were sons of Leonhardt and Maria (Liebling) Ableiter. Their home town was in Dettingen, Germany.

Since there are four towns named Dettingen in Germany, a bit of geographical information should prove helpful. The full address of this town would be: Dettingen am Albuch, Heidenheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.

The present Land (State) of Baden-Wuerttemberg is an amalgamation of the 19th century kingdom of Wuerttemberg, the Grand Duchy of Baden and the Duchy of Hohenzollern. It is one of eleven states which make up West Germany. A great many of the persons who emigrated to America came from this region.

The area of Baden-Wuerttemberg is bounded by Lake Constance and the Rhine River on the south and west. The Eastern boundary is formed generally by the Iller river in the southeast and the Tauber River at the northeast corner.

If the American states of Connecticut and Massachusetts were combined to form one state, the newly formed unit would be almost identical in size, population and situation to the present day Land (state) of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Of those who came to America from this area, most passed through the port of Heidelberg, so they were often called "Palatines" by their fellow American colonists.

Trying to compare German terms to our American system, the next unit referred to: Heidenheim, could be called the County in which our Dettingen is located. Another term you may run across is "Gross Kreis". This term, found only in Wuerttemberg, refers to its four divisions into which this territory is divided. So, for Dettingen, the "Gross Kreis" is Jagst Wuerttemberg. And if you are confused at this point, I would suggest that you just refer to a map.

Leonhardt and Maria Ableiter had a total of nine children. Before their youngest child Melchior was confirmed, the mother Maria died. Also one son died at the age of 21 and a daughter at the age of 23.

Leonhardt operated a blacksmith shop and was also a farmer. His sons were well trained in woodworking as well as the metal skill we usually associate with a blacksmith. Melchior's blacksmith shop in Boscobel Wisconsin was also a buggy factory in earlier times. John, in addition to farming, worked in a wagon and buggy factory in the small town of Annaton in southern Wisconsin. Some examples of his furniture and some of his tools still exist and are prized by his descendants. My father, Oscar Barnes, said that his grandfather (John), could saw boards so straight with a hand saw that they would fit watertight. This is an example of the craftsmanship they were taught during their youth in Germany.

John George Ableiter came to America first, and later encouraged his younger brother, Melchior, to join him.

John, who was the older of the two brothers who came to America, and our ancestor was born March 4, 1829 in Dettingen, Germany, and came to Wisconsin in his mid twenties. He was married to Anna Maria (Mary) Klais who had been born near Cologne, Germany. At this time the region was part of the Prussian Empire. Her father, Bernard Klais, had come to America with his family and settled in Mineral Point, where he was a potter. John and Mary Ableiter lived in Platteville, Wisconsin for about a year, then bought a farm between Stitzer and Livingston, Wisconsin which was to remain in the family for over a hundred years.

The first son of John and Mary Ableiter was George Ableiter, who was born in Platteville, on July 7, 1856. He grew up on the family farm, and spent two years of his youth working as an assistant to Mr. G. Wilkie at the flour mill in Annaton. (A small town a few miles east of the farm.) He often hauled flour by team to Dubuque, Mineral Point, Platteville, Boscobel and Lancaster.

On February 25, 1883 George was united in marriage to Sophia Wilkie, and settled on a farm he had purchased northwest of Preston. To them was born one son - William Victor. The home was broken by the death of his wife August 17, 1893. On June 30, 1898 he was united in marriage to Mary Dinsdale. To them was born one son, J. Kenneth. They lived on the home farm until 1920 when they retired and took up residence in Fennimore, Wisconsin.

He had remarkable mechanical ability and knew trades ranging from millwright to watch making. He had been the town chairman and director of many other organizations including the Annaton-Preston Telephone Company, and Preston Co-op Cheese Factory. He died November 21, 1938 at the age of 82 following an illness of about a year.

The older son of George Ableiter, Victor, lived in Lancaster and was married to Nellie Martin. He worked as a salesman for the W.T. Raleigh Company of Freeport, Illinios. They had no children. The younger son, Kenneth, Worked for the US Soil Conservation which later became a part of the Department of the Interior. He was married to Nellie Reed and had three children: Kenneth, Erlys and Alene. They live in retirement at Hyattsville, Maryland and continue to travel worldwide for the Department of the Interior.

The second child of John G. and Mary Ableiter was Albert Ableiter, who was born on the home farm near Annaton on April 12, 1858. When only eight years old he wormed in the mines of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and at age 14 started working in the blacksmith shop of his uncle Melchior Ableiter in Boscobel, Wisconsin. He continued to work in this vocation until 1936 when ill health caused him to retire.

On September 23, 1879 he was married to Lizette Brechler and they were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple were childless, but enjoyed working with children. Albert taught Sunday School and played the organ for both Church and Sunday School. He died September 27, 1937 and was buried in St. John's Lutheran church in Boscobel.

The third child of John G. and Mary Ableiter was August Ableiter, who was born February 25,1861. He lived with his parents on the home farm until he was 21 at which time he moved to Clark County. He was married to Electa Jane Barnes on January 6, 1883. To this union were born two children: John and Elsie Ableiter.

Electa died June 9, 1907 of an epileptic seizure, an affliction which she had for about 8 years. She was buried in West Pine Valley Cemetery, near their home. August was later married to Sarah Metcalf, the mother of his daughter-in-law, Olive Metcalf. This marriage did not work out well and they soon parted. After this, August rather gave up on life and his health soon began to decline. Eventually he suffered a stroke which caused him to be bedridden for about 8 years. During his illness, he lived with his daughter Elsie and her husband, Ernest Ayers, east of Granton, Wisconsin.

The son of August and Electa, John W. Ableiter was born July 1, 1884. He grew up in Pine Valley township, west of Neillsville, working for neighboring farmers and in the woods in winter. He was married to Olive Metcalf and the couple had two sons: Archie Elroy Ableiter, who was born January 11, 1909 and Richard H. Ablieter, born September 24, 1910. Archie married Ilene Nora Conway and Richard married Elizabeth Strangfield. The three children of Archie and the five children of Richard are found elsewhere.

The second child of August and Electa Ableiter was Elsie Ableiter. She was married to Ernest Ayers and the couple farmed east of Granton, Wisconsin. They later bought a farm several miles to the east which was located in the village of Lynn. They had four children who will be listed elsewhere.

Her husband Ernest was disabled with rheumatism for a few years, and as a result, they lost the farm. They then bought a farm located west of Pattison State Park near the village of Foxboro, near the Wiconsin-Minnesota border. This farm proved to be a disappointment, so they moved to a nearby farm. In later years they ran the hotel in Foxboro.

Mary Ableiter, the fourth child of John G. and Mary (Klais) Ableiter was born November 24, 1863, and married Charles Barnes on March 30, 1884.

Mary Ableiter was born November 24, 1863, the fourth child of John G. And Mary Klais Ableiter. She was born on the Ableiter farm which was owned by Ableiter descendants for over 100 years and is registered as a centennial farm. She married Charles A. Barnes after the family moved to Clark County. Since her older brother married a Barnes, she was probably at his home when the decision to marry was made. They were married in Clark County on March 30, 1884. They farmed for one year, then returned to Grant County and rented the Ableiter farm. The Ableiters continued to live in the second story of the farm home.

I recall Mary (who was my grandmother) telling of her early years on the farm, when there were still wolves peeking in the windows at night. She always took a hatchet along when she went to the spring house to get milk or butter. Farmers churned their milk into butter at the time. She told of walking nine miles to a small town to sell the butter. She was a typical German by nature; thrifty and hard working. She always fussed when her husband borrowed more money to buy more land to increase the farm to a total of 500 acres. She always counted the change the storekeeper gave me when I went to the store for her, thinking he would try to cheat her. Yet she was the most generous person possible to her family. She and Charles moved to Fennimore in 1922, and since neither of their children were married, the farm was rented out. She continued to live with her daughter Pearl after the death of Charles in 1935. Mary died April 14, 1951 and is buried in Parry Cemetery, near Fennimore.

Anna Ableiter, the fifth and youngest child of John and Mary (Klais) Ableiter was born June 30, 1865. She was married to John McLimans March 2, 1884, and they farmed in various locations until 1913 when they moved to Fennimore. Her husband passed away December 7, 1930. Annie continued to live in their large home on 14th street in Fennimore until undertaker Charles Sulzer worked out a trade of houses with her and made the McLimans home a funeral home. Annie became forgetful in her old age and during her last years was cared for by her children. She passed away March 3, 1949 at the home of her son Donald at Livingston, Wisconsin at the age of 83 years and 8 months.

Anna and her husband John were the parents of ten children, all of whom were living at the time of their mother's death. They are: Mabel (Mrs. John Beaver), Van Hook, South Dakota; Roy, Platteville, Wisconsin; Albert, Madison, Wisconsin; Donald, Livingston Wisconsin; Arthur, Bagley, Wisconsin; Lester, Harry, Lavern, Elva (Mrs. Chris Bock)

Bernard Klais was born near Cologne which is West Germany today. However it was previously a part of the Prussian Empire. As a young man he studied to become a priest. He gave this up, married and raised a family. They came to America about 1845, arriving in Milwaukee by boat, then settling in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where he was a potter. His home has been restored as a part of "Shake Rag Alley".

The Family Born In Prussia age in 1860 year of birth
Bernard	(potter)	59	b. 1801
Celia	(wife)	48	b. 1812
Mary	(Ableiter)	24	b. 1836
John	(potter)	21	b. 1839
Anna	(Sherman)	16	b. 1844

The Family Born in America age in 1860 year of birth
Margaret	14	b. 1846
Gertrude	11	b. 1849
Jacob	10	b. 1850
Stephen	8	b. 1852
Michael	5	b. 1855

Mary Klais, a daughter of Bernard Klais, was born in 1836 near the present city of Cologne, West Germany. At that time this territory was a part of the Prussian Empire. She and at least two other children were born in Prussia, while the rest of the children were born in America. Her father, Bernhard Klaus (the original spelling) was a potter by trade. When he arrived in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, he built a house near what is known as "Shake Rag Street". His house was built of brick, rather than the stone used by the Cornish miners. The roof was pottery (Tile) which he had made. Bernard's house has now been restored along with other houses in a group called "Shake Rag Alley". Some of his pottery still has been kept by our family.

Unless there were other older children which I don't know of, Mary would be the second oldest in the family. Her older brother Michael helped his father in the pottery trade. Other children of the Klais family with whom we have kept in touch over the years are Anna, Mrs. Nick Sherman of St. Louis, and Jake Klais one of the younger children whose descendants live in the Fennimore area. Jake had been a miner near Galena, Illinois.

Mary was married to John G. Ableiter in 1855. They lived on a farm between Stitzer and Livingston, Wisconsin. Mary Klais Ableiter lived in Fennimore after her husband's death with the wife of a dentist. She died November 10, 1910 and is buried in Stitzer beside her husband.

Melchior Ableiter was the youngest child of Leonhardt and Maria (Liebing) Ableiter. He was born September 18, 1833. When he was 14 his mother and a sister died. Melchior was also near a point of death at that time, but he recovered. Since his father ran a blacksmith shop and a farm, Melchior's help was needed at home during his youth. However, at the age of 18 he had the opportunity to travel and visited Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, and other places.

Receiving a letter from his brother John, who had been in America for some time, requesting him to come, too, he departed from his old home to the new world. He arrived in Wisconsin in 1857 with the resolve to be a farmer. But farming in those days was not to his taste, so he associated himself with is John Ruka in the year 1859. When the Civil War broke out, he answered the call of President Lincoln by enlisting in the army of the United States. He served in the army for three years and received and honorable discharge. He said that if he were to write down all the misery, privation, hunger, thirst, etc., endured during this army life it would be too much.

In the year 1866 he lived in Iowa, but is health was very poor there, so he came back to Boscobel, Wisconsin, where he lived the remainder of his life. On June 14,1867 he entered into Holy Matrimony with Fredericka Koss. To this union were born eight children. Most of his sons helped their father in the buggy factory and blacksmith shop which he operated in Boscobel.

Melchior died December 21,1915 after an illness of about two years. His obituary reported six children living at the time: George, Adolph, Emil, Emma, Leo and Louis. One daughter died as a child in 1872. His son, Theodore, died in a train accident on December 26, 1903. His grandchildren numbered seven at the time: four boys and three girls. The funeral was held at the German Lutheran Church of Boscobel of which he had been a lifelong and leading member.

The oldest son, George T. Ableiter carried on his father's business and there was an interesting article on him printed in the Telegraph Herald, the Dubuque Iowa paper in December 1949. At that time George was 81 years old and had been a blacksmith for 68 years. In addition to his being the oldest active businessman in Boscobel, he said that he had stayed in a business he didn't like longer than any other man in quite a large territory. In addition to being a blacksmith, he was also a farm implement dealer. He was also on the Boscobel fire department for many years. As a hobby, he used to make and repair clocks. He also did woodworking with a scroll saw. His wife was born in Fennimore "more than 72 years ago", and still accompanied her husband to the shop each day and helped by waiting on customers. They had two daughters: Mabel, a registered nurse in Madison and Agnes, noted for her beautiful flower gardens at home with her parents. Unlike most fathers, George did not want his sons to engage in his business, and never allowed his boys, Ernest and Art to become interested in blacksmithing.

Melchior's second son, Adolph left the blacksmith shop and moved to Anaheim, California with his family. There he was a janitor in a school. He and his wife had two children; a son Carl, and a daughter.

The third son of Melchior was Theodore who died in a railroad accident. Emil was a dentist in Iowa; Leo and Louis both worked in their father's shop and did not marry. Emma also remained single. So despite a family of eight children, the descendants were very few.

John G. Ableiter b. 3-4-1829 Dettingen, Wuerttemberg, Germany d. 11-20-1903 (son of Leonhardt and Maria Ableiter) m. Mary Klais (b. 1836 d. 11-10-1910) daughter of Bernard Klais

J. B. L Winter was born on March 8, 1824 at Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana. In 1845 he married Magdalene Stoner. She was born in Virginia in 1826 and came to Montgomery county, Indiana with her widowed mother. It might be noted that two others of the Winter family married Stoners: John L. Winter married Katherine Stoner, and Lydia Ann Winter married Jacob Stoner.

In 1826 the J. B. L. Winter family came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm three miles south of Muscoda, Wisconsin where they lived until 1865. Five of their thirteen children were born before they came to Wisconsin.

They then bought what was known as the Wesley Crow farm, located two miles north of Fennimore, Wisconsin. This was before the present city came into existence.

Then, in the year 1882 The Eli Barnes family and the J. B. L Winter family moved to Pine Valley Township in Clark County Wisconsin. The original pine trees were still standing at that time, and limbering had been the principle industry. Each of the families established farms and Mr. Winter also planted a fine grove and orchard.

Making the move with their parents were all five Barnes children, all of whom were married, save for Charles, who was the youngest. Most of the Winter children accompanied their parents, although several who had married remained in Fennimore. The two marriages uniting the families were: John V. Barnes and Rebecca Winter; also Joseph winter and Mary Ella Barnes.

J.B.L. Winter sold his farm in 1887 and returned to Fennimore, where he died a year later. Some of the Winter children returned to Fennimore, while others remained in Clark County.

Of the thirteen Winter children, one died in infancy; Emma died at the age of twenty and Julia died at the age of eighteen. The oldest son, David moved to Mason City, Iowa. Lydia married Thomas Linton and lived in Fennimore. Rebecca married John V. Barnes and lived in Clark County, just to the east of the Winter farm. When the children were pretty well grown, she left John, taking her children along to North Dakota. Rebecca later moved to California where she lived in Pacific Grove and other locations. William moved to Minnesota; Mary continued in Clark County. Christina moved to southern Iowa with her husband. Martha married Vermont C. Waldorf and lived in Fennimore. She later married a Clemens and lived near her sister Rebecca Barnes in California. Martha returned to Fennimore, where she died in 1929. John married Elizabeth Quinell and lived in Hawkins and Kennan, which are located east of Ladysmith on highway 8. The youngest son, Jesse Winter lived in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The fifth Winter son, Joseph, continued to live in Pine Valley. He and his wife, Mary Ella (Barnes) had five sons who are listed on the pedigree page along with their children. Their oldest, Julius Albetrius (Bert) married Jenny Wanton and farmed in the Pine Valley and Colombia areas. At the time of this writing, Clifford and his wife Beatrice continue to live in the area where he was raised. The youngest, Grace and her husband, Ed Schooner live on the east side of the Black River, which is just a few miles south east of the home area. Florence and her husband, Fred Marry, live in Granton, about fifteen miles to the east. Edith lives in Futon, Illinois. Alice resides in Milwaukee, Vivid in Michigan and Clark in Washington state. Arthur died young.

The other sons of Joe and Ella Winter were: Frank, who married Gretchen Ye and died in a brush fire on his farm; Eli who did not marry and ranched in South Dakota before returning home; Charles, who died young; and Arthur, who married Hazel Christmas and moved to Fennimore where they had nine children.

CHRISTOPHER WINTER II born in 1752, married 1778 Catherine Schaeffer in Berkshire County, Pennsylvania. They resided in Donegal Township Washington County Pennsylvania. He served in the Revolutionary War. Buried in Zion House Church Yard.

married Catherine Pfrimmer, daughter of John George Pfrimmer and granddaughter of Michael Pfrimmer.

Joseph Benjamin Levi Winter Born 3-8-1824 Corriden, Harrison county Indiana. Married 10-4-2845 Magdalene Stoner at Lagoda, Montgomery county, Indiana. Died 7-22-1899 at Fennimore Wisconsin.

9. Martha Winter born 1-1--1861 m. 1-15-1880 Vermont C. Waldorf son of Albert Waldorf and Adeline Harrington of Fennimore Wisconsin. Second mariage to a ? Clemens. Died 12-27-1929 and buried Prairie Cemetery Fennimore Wisconsin.

12. John Wilson Winter born 9-7-1868 in Fennimore, married 1-1-1894 to Elizabeth Quinell. Lived in Neillsville, Tony and Kennan Wisconsin. Died 10-19-1958 and is buried in Kennan. His wife, Elizabeth was born 12-1-1875 in England, died 10-2-1963 and is also buried in Kennan.

Cephas Telson Winter - wife Wealthy Francelia Youmans - she was a daughter of Miles and wife Sarah

Eli Barnes, the son of George W. Barnes and his wife Electa (Slater) Barnes, was born September 20th, 1822 in the village of Hunt in Livingston county, New York. He was named after his grandfather, Eli Slater. He married Mary A. Wrisley in August of 1840. Their first son, John V. Barnes was born August 30, 1842. He family then moved to Wisconsin, settling in Linden township of Iowa County. This area, laying to the west of Mineral Point was settled by miners from Cornwall, England, who mined the lead and zinc deposits.

Three children were born while the family lived in this area. William Barnes was born May 28, 1847 but died in infancy. A daughter, Betsy Barnes was born May 29, 1848. And another daughter, Abby Jane, who was named after her grandmother, Abby Wrisley was born August 10, 1850 and she also died in infancy.

When gold was discovered in California in 1849 a great portion of the Cornish miners left the area and headed for the gold fields. In the spring of 1851 Eli joined with a large group of these miners and headed west, leaving his family behind in Linden. Rather than taking a wagon, his job was to ride on ahead on horseback, hunting meat for other travelers. This journey, as told by Eli has been recorded by his grandson, Oscar Barnes and is printed on a later page.

After his return, the family moved west to Grant County, living first in Beetown township and then Little Grant. These townships lie west of Lancaster, the county seat. The date of the moves is not exact, but the 1855 census shows them in Little Grant. Another Barnes family, that of Moses Barnes lived next to them in both these location, then left the area.

During this period three more children were born. Mary Ella, born October 10, 1854, Electa Jane, born December 7, 1856 and Charles Allen, born September 9, 1862. Their oldest son, John served in the Civil War from August 13, 1862 to July 14, 1865. He married Rebecca Winter on September 18, 1866.

At this time the Dakota Territory was being opened up to homesteaders and the call of new land prompted the Barnes family to head west. Eli had been troubled by athsma and hoped that the dry climate would help him. They headed west through the western part of Iowa with their possessions in a covered wagon. As they went through the western part of Iowa, land agents would follow them for miles as they left various towns, hoping to sell them Iowa land for almost no money down. Looking back from our present vantage point we see that they turned down some of the best farm land in the middle west.

Most of the white population at the time consisted of soldiers in the forts. But two section were being settled by farmers, the southern counties of what was to become South Dakota and the Red River Valley of the north. The Barnes family settled in the south, but did not remain long. When the dust clouds rolled up Eli would nearly choke to death. So, before the 1870 census was taken they had already left.

They headed back to Wisconsin and settled this time in Liberty township which lies tot he east of their former location. They did not show up in the 1870 census, but another family was there which might cause researchers some confusion. There was a John Barnes whose wife was named Rebecca but these were older and both born in England. They also had a son and wife living near them. These families are not related.

The 1870 census does show however, that Eli's oldest daughter Betsy was married to Fred Robinson and they, along with his brother, Walter Robinson were living in Fennimore township. In 1857 we find both Eli's family and his son John's family living in Liberty township. The next daughter, Mary Ella was also married to Joe Winter and they too lived near Eli. It should be noted that the John Ableiter family also lived near the Barnes families since the remaining two Barnes children were to marry Ableiters.

In the year 1881 the call of new land and the hope of finding a better climate for Eli prompted the Barnes family to move once again. This time it was to the township of Pine Valley in Clark County, Wisconsin. A new village was being platted out which was named Columbia. The virgin pine trees still stood and the land was advertised as being well suited for agriculture. However, when cleared the soil proved to be sandy with many rocks and much low lying swampy areas. Today a few farms remain, but much has been planted back to trees and the village of Columbia has disappeared completely. Today, however, new homes are being built by those who are seeking the beauty of the wilderness.

By the time of this move all of the Barnes children had married except Charles. As a result, many family members were involved in this move. In addition to all the Barnes families the J.B.L. Winter family (parents of Rebecca and Joseph) moved north and two Winter children, Mary and John. They all settled on farms near one another, the exact location being shown on a map on a later page.

For Eli this was a good move, for he was able to breathe much better when living near the pines. All of the families remained in the area except for Charles who returned to Liberty township a year after he was married and rented the farm of his father-in-law, John Ableiter. J.B.L. Winter also returned to Fennimore in 1897, just a year before his death. Also, Arthur the son of Joe Winter moved to Fennimore after he married.

Eli and his son John were veterinary surgeons or probably called "horse doctors" a profession that they carried on in addition to operating farms. Our family still has many "recipes" for preparations such as "horse linament" which have been used for curing aches and pains over the years. The men also worked with logging crews during the winter to earn extra money.

Eli's wife, Mary died March 25, 1891. Her services were held in the home of her daughter, Ella Winter, and were conducted by Rev. W.T. Hendren. She is buried in the West Pine Valley cemetery which is located on the south east corner of the Winter Farm, the land being donated by the family. The cause of her death is not listed, but the Neillsville newspaper shows that diphtheria was epidemic in surrounding towns at that time. It seemed that such towns as Fairchild would be wiped out entirely.

Eli was injured by a team of runaway horses in Neillsville that had been frightened by the train. This was in the fall of 1899 and he never fully recovered. He died April 23, 1900 at his daughter Ella Winter's home. He is also buried in West Pine Valley Cemetery.

Note: the present sign on this cemetery erroneously calls it South Pine Valley. A Methodist church was built on the site where Eli's home stood on the corner of Sidney and Mohr Roads. No doubt this too was donated by the Barnes children and Joe and Ella Winter were outstanding supporters of this church. The building was finally torn down in the 1940's having stood vacant in later years.

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