Fred Belitz family Muskego, WI

The family consists of Frederick Belitz (1826-1896) and wife Wilhelmina (1828- abt 1879), children: Frank (born abt 1850), Lezarette (born abt 1853) , Louisa (born abt 1856) and Bertha (born 1861).

The first time the family is found is the 1855 WI State Census where Friederick Belitz lives in Milwaukee, WI with a household of 2 Males/2 Females; and 3 are Foreign born. This should be Fred, Wilhelmina, and Frank as the foreign born, with  Lezarette as the second female family member  as she was born before 1855.

The 1860 census Fred, wife Mina have children Frank , Lezarette and Louisa (born abt 1856) and now live in Muskego, WI. Fred and Wilhelmina list Preussen as their birth nation.  Bertha was born in 1861 and is not listed on this census. I have not found her by name on any census in the household with Fred or Wilhelmina. There is a Fred Belitz on the 1870 census with wife Anne age 44, son Carl age 15 and daughter Lansa age 11. (I know names are fluid but the dates don't match up to anyone I've come to believe are his family as Frank would now be about 20 and Lezzetta would be 17, Louisa would be 14 and Bertha would be 9). In 1875 Fred lives with 3 females and on the 1880 census Fred lives with Dora still in Muskego, WI; in 1895 Fred lives with 1 woman (who I believe is Dora) and the Herman Lucht family lives next door which is Bertha’s family. 

Also found in Muskego are Carl Belitz , wife Henriette and son Fred in the 1880 census; Carlitiz Balitz with wife Henrietta, children Maria, Louisa and Anna  on the 1870 census. There is also a Wilhem Belitz and wife Mary are also in Wisconsin on the 1880 census.

In numerous census years Fred Belitz is listed living with a sister Dora Peters (abt 1832-1906).

In the Brandenburg, Prussia Emigration Records there is a Wilhelmine Dabruck, verh. Belitz; age 23; Frau von Friedrich (wife of Frederick); place of origin is Mohrin/Koenigsberg; destination is North America; year is 1851; birth date is abt 1828. As all the information fits Wilhelmina I am still searching for more records as proof.

Bertha Lucht, Frederick and Wilhelmina Belitz were buried in the old Muskego cemetery. The cemetery was moved in 1955 to make way for Dandelion Park. The graves were moved to a number of area cemeteries but the graves of Bertha, Fred and Wilhelmina were moved to Highland Memorial Park in New Berlin, WI.  In the legal notices at the time there is a Dorothea Peters listed but at this time I haven't found Dora's grave. I do believe it was moved to Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha as some of the graves went there.

There isn't a death date for Wilhelmina in any of the grave information located. I went to Highland Park and while they have her name there is no birth or death dates listed.  I did find a write up on the Rootsweb website where it is supposed that she ran off taking some of the children with her;  I didn't agree at the time I read that and as evidence mounts it looks less and less likely.  I believe she died sometime around 1879/1880 and was buried in one of the now lost cemeteries with just her name added to Fred's gravestone at the time he died.  Wilhelmina Belitz is on the 1860 census and for the marriage information of daughter Lezarette ( Lizzetta or Elizabeth) to Herman Kreuger in Waukesha county, WI. who married in 1875. 

In the Madison WI State Journal dated 25 May, 1879 Fred Baetz of Muskego reported his wife  missing. Mrs. Baetz is 50 years of age , and ten years ago was an inmate of the insane asylum at Madison. As there is no Fred Baetz in Muskego on the 1880 census I believe this to be Fred and Wilhelmina Belitz.

According to plat maps Fred's farm was located in Muskego on the East side of Muskego Lake, off Durham Dr. and down what is now Priegel Dr. Records show that Fred died in 1896. A earlier news article from 1895 mentions he is suffering from malaria.

  In the 1900 census Bertha and husband Herman Lucht (first from right) live next door to "Deborah Peters" (I believe that to be Dora (second from left) as the birth year is close). In July 1900 Bertha is struck by lightning and dies leaving Herman to raise their five children.

In July 1900 in the death information for Bertha there is husband Herman Lucht and father Fred Belitz mentioned.

I also do not believe Dora ever had children, she has widow on the census' and on the 1900 census "Deborah Peters"  has 0/0 for children.  On the 1900 census she also has 1850 for the year she immigrated.

Taken between 1900 and 1906 this picture includes the Lucht children: Selma, Alfreda, Alma (against post) , Elsie and Otto; Dora Peters (second from left), Herman Lucht (on right). In the center I believe that to be  Lezarette (Elizabeth) Krueger nee Belitz with her daughter next to her.
.
In a probate article from the Waukesha Freeman around May 24, 1906 in the estate of Dorathea Peters the petitioner is Herman Lucht and he is named the executor of her estate.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Updated 4/21/2018
For future research:
Fred's immigration
Find proof of Wilhelmina's maiden name
Find proof of Wilhelmina being in a Madison insane asylum
Find Wilhelmina's death information
Locate Dora's grave
Get Dora's probate records
Find Fred and Wilhelmina's parents

1)