Peter Klaes 1780 — 1870

We are uncertain as to when Peter lost a leg farming in Wisconsin, but we know he was head of the family in the 1850 census while living in the Township of Berry, Dane County, Wisconsin. By the 1855 census, he is probably one of the eight individuals living with Franz Staeler and family. Peter was not head of the household in that census. In 1860, he was living with Franz and Anna Maria in Roxbury, and he is not the head of the household. Wilhelm and Frances Klaes were still living in Honey Creek, Sauk County, Wisconsin, in 1875 when their youngest child Josephine was born on 14 February 1875. In Honey Creek Township, a satellite parish called Our Lady of Loretto was established, in close proximity to Wilhelm’s farm. Father Alelbert Inama traveled to Honey Creek Township from Roxbury, Dane County, to administer to the Catholics living in Honey Creek Township. A permanent church building for Our Lady of Loretto was not built until 1880, but cemetery records indicate burials took place in the cemetery as early as 1862. However, Peter Klaes is not listed in the cemetery records. We know that in 1870, according to that census, he was living with Franz and Anna Maria in Roxbury. We assume that he was buried at St. Norbert Catholic Cemetery in Roxbury, Wisconsin, probably alongside his wife Agnes Bungardt Klaes.