A portrait of Joseph and Franziska

Joseph and Franziska (Fuchs) Janson were married in Balzfeld, Germany in November 1869, and arrived in Minnesota in the spring of 1883 with 5 and 8/9ths kids.  Wendelin, Sebastian, Sophia, Eugen and Anton were born in Europe, while Anna, Frances and Rose were born here, in Buckman.

When the kids came of age, Wendelin joined the service, Sebastian got married, Eugen and Anton stayed on the farm, Frances and Rose married and moved to town, while Sophia and Anna became nuns in Campbellsport, Wisconsin (near Milwaukee).  

Sebastian's grandson Tom has the original of this photo and sent me a copy this morning:  

  

As far as I know, this is the only photo of Joseph Janson, our great grandfather.  And, seeing them now, he certainly looks familiar, and she has to be the woman in the blog masthead.

In figuring what year (and occasion) this was, we know Sophia did not move to Virginia with her parents as she was already in Campbellsport by 1900.  We know too, that Joseph died in 1911, so this photo had to be from between 1903 and 1911.  Was it the day of Anna's final vows?   I'll research that, ok?


Much later: Ahh! I think the photo was taken on the occasion of the sister's visit home in July, 1909.  Thank you, Pierz Journal, and 














THANK YOU, TOM!

Anna & Sophia Janson

This photo was in the "Closet batch" too.  I knew the two nuns were Srs. Lazara and Kunigunda.  They were my grandpa Anton Janson's sisters Sophia and Anna.  What I didn't know was who the young man between them was.

So, it's time to compare photos!

This man definitely has light eyes, and he's not very tall.  (Larry noticed that he's pinching the crease in his hat...lol)
All three of them look to be in their 30s, not older.  If Anna, the youngest, was born in 1883, then this pic could have been taken about 1913-1915. 

I know some of the Brandls went to Wisconsin to visit these women, who were their aunts.  But I don't think this man is a Brandl. 
Hmm...consider the photo from the last post:  Wendelin was in his 50's here, at least.   If it was a photo taken when he was 55, for instance, the year would be 1927...

Ok...so when did Sophia and Anna enter the convent?  Sophia was born in 1876, Anna in 1883; perhaps when they were each about 20?  If that's so, then Sophia left Buckman in 1896, Anna in 1903.  (Her obit says Anna made her vows in 1903).

Wendelin was born in 1871...by 1913, he was already 42!  The man in the photo with Sophie and Anna couldn't be Wendelin.  It couldn't be my grandpa Anton either, because Anton had a full head of fairly fuzzy hair and brown eyes.  So, it was either Eugen or Sebastian.

I think it was Eugen, who was born between these two sibs (1878). Wow!
(Later:  Eugen's WWI draft card says he had blue eyes!)

O+O+O+O+O+OO+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+OO+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+OO+O+O+O+O+O+O

This is pretty cool:

The four Janson sisters, in old age.

Janson graves

The graves of Joseph Janson and Franziska Fuchs Janson are in St Michaels Cemetery,  Buckman, Minnesota.  This couple came here in 1883 with their first five children, and had three more born in America.

The cross on the right is Franziska's, so the base next to it has to be Josef's.

Wendelin was born 20 October 1871, died in Los Angeles, California 8 June 1958.  He's buried in St Michaels Cemetery, Buckman.

Sebastian was born 20 January 1873, died 1 January, 1962 and is buried with his wife Mary Roos in New Munich, Minnesota.

Sophia, born in 1875 in Balzfeld, Germany, is buried in Campbellsport, Wisconsin near her sister Anna, born in Buckman, Minnesota in 1883.  
They were Franciscan nuns.

Eugen Janson was born in January 1878 in Balzfeld, Germany, and died in March 1940. His grave is in Buckman. 

Anton Janson was born in Balzfeld, Germany 11 June 1880 (or 1881 according to the stone).  

He married Margaret Naber in 1913, and died in Los Angeles, California 22 January 1955.  They're buried in Buckman.

Frances Janson was born 18 May 1885 in Buckman.  

She married John A Brandl, and died March 4, 1985.

Their grave is in St Michaels Cemetery, in Buckman.

Rose Janson was born in Buckman 28 October 1889 and married Joseph Brandl.  
She died 15 July 1985, and was buried next to Joe
in St Michael's Cemetery, in Buckman.