The MICHELAU family -- From Luxembourg to the USA


The Michelau brothers (and a sister) came to Chicago from Luxembourg one by one, about 100 years ago. They were all born in Harlingen (also called Harlange) population at the time about 300, in the canton of Wiltz, adjacent to the Belgian border and just a few miles northwest of Boulaide. Their parents were Jean Pierre MICHELAU and Barbe DAPFONTAINE. This webpage traces their family history before and after their immigration.

 

Early History of the MICHELAU families in Luxembourg

There is a town called Michelau in the commune of Bourscheid, canton Diekirch, last picture at bottom, where the Michelau family might have originated. The name in the Lëtzebuergesch language is MECHELA. There is also a town in Germany called Michelau.

Nicolas MICHELAU was born about 1726 in Erpeldingen, Diekirch, Luxembourg, and died on April 16 1800 in Goesdorf, Luxembourg. On January 25 1756 in Goesdorf he married Margaretha LESCHER (or LESCHETTE, born about 1731 ex Goesdorf, died January 18 1798 in Goesdorf.) They had 3 children:

  1. Dominique MICHELAU born about 1763 in Goesdorf, Luxembourg. On March 31 1794 in Goesdorf he married Anne BERCKEL (born August 18 1768 in Neunhausen, Luxembourg, died on April 12 1827 in Goesdorf). She was the daughter of Antoine BERCKEL (about 1731-1771) and Maria Catharina MAJERES (born about 1734.)

  2. Susanne MECHELA (born 1764, died after 1815). On March 18 1792 in Wiltz, Luxembourg, she married Pierre KUFFER 1764-1804. (The KUFFER children were Nicolas 1793, Jean Pierre 1794-1821, Anne Catherine 1797, Marguerite 1803). Then on May 4 1808 in Wiltz, Luxembourg, Susanne married Nicolas MAJERUS.

  3. Catherine MICHELAU (born about 1770.) On January 8 1797 in Wiltz, Luxembourg she married Pierre WEBER [born about 1767, the son of Jean WEBER (1737-1797) and Catherine PÖMMERS (1742-1797)]. No known children.

Dominique MICHELAU and Anne BERCKEL had 2 children:

  1. Martin MICHELAU born on May 17 1801 in Goesdorf, Luxembourg. On April 19, 1826, he married Elisabeth GRAFF (or GRAAFT) born on January 17 1801 in Merscheid, Luxembourg, the daughter of Jean Nicolas GRAFF (about 1778- May 25 1828 in Merscheid) and Catherine THULL (born about 1783, died April 25 1837 in Merscheid.) Merscheid is a town just south of Heiderscheid.

  2. Anne Marie MICHELAU 1803-1857 born on August 21 1803, Goesdorf, Luxembourg, died on April 30 1857 in Goesdorf. On January 17 1828 in Goesdorf, she married Pierre SCHAUL (born on August 11 1802 Oberfeulen, Luxembourg, died after 1863, the son of Michel SCHAUL ca 1765-1845 and Anne Marguerite BENTZ 1775-1816) and had the following children: Catherine 1828, Catherine 1832, Marie Catherine 1834.

Martin MICHELAU and Elisabeth GRAFF had two children:

  1. Catherine MICHELAU was born Apr 6 1827 in Merscheid. She married Martin DEVILLE on Apr 26 1854. They had 8 children including a son Rodolphe (Adolph) DEVILLE born Mar 19 1855, who married Barbara UNSEN (born Lintgen, Lux, Mar 11 1857, emigrated Apr 1883, died Apr 4 1941, the daughter of Adam and Magdelena Unsen) on January 19 1886 in Minneapolis MN. Some of the DEVILLE descendents ended up in South Dakota.

  2. Jean Pierre MICHELAU was born Oct 23 1833 in Merscheid, Luxembourg, and died Aug 12 1904 in Harlingen, Luxembourg. On Apr 26 1864 he married Barbe DAPFONTAINE who was born Mar 1 1845 in Harlingen, and died Nov 23 1891 in Harlingen. Jean-Pierre and Barbe had 12 children, all born in Harlingen. Most of the children went to the USA.

History of the MICHELAU families in the USA

The 12 children of Jean-Pierre MICHELAU and Barbe DAPFONTAINE were

1. Martin MICHELAU (Apr 28 1865 - Jul 15 1866) age 14 months

2. Magdalena MICHELAU (Jul 21 1866 - Apr 24 1867)  age 9 months

3. Nicolas MICHELAU (Feb 26 1869-?)(He was said to have stayed in Lux and died young.) He m Marie MATHIEU (Aug 30 1870 Tarchamps- ) on May 18 1901

4. Anne Catherine MICHELAU (Feb 11 1871-?) married a Mr. Coleridge and lived in San Francisco California. They had a daughter and a son.

5. Pierre MICHELAU (Aug 6 1873- Aug 2 1951) m Anni CLEMENT (Jan 5 1871- 1943) married in 1900. According to the immigrant records for ships' passengers held at Ellis Island, New York, "Peter Michelan" (misspelled), age 24, arrived on Jul.21 1897 on the ship Noordland on a visit to the home of his brother John in Chicago.) Then on another trip "Peter Michelou" arrived Mar 9 1898 on the Kensington on his way to his home in West Ridge IL.  Peter referred to the previous trip in 1897 and another in 1893. Peter was ill from typhoid fever and recuperated at Alexian Brothers Hospital. His future wife Anni Clement (listed as Anne Clement) was on the same ship arriving Mar 9 1898. They were both identified as single and did not appear to be traveling together, although they both came from Harlingen, the same small town, and surely saw each other on the ship. They were surprised when they met again later in Chicago. They married in 1900. Peter worked for the Schwind family in Evanston and learned the greenhouse business. Peter and Anni lived on a farm near Devon Ave. Their first 6 children were born there (St Henry's).  Then about 1910 they moved to 205 Asbury Ave, Evanston, where the last 3 children were born (St Nicholas.) They owned greenhouses there.

Peter and Anni MICHELAU had 9 kids:

  1. Fred "Fritz" MICHELAU (about 1903-Aug 21 1928) He was a member of the Evanston Fire Department. He and his fiancee Marie Hoffmann of Wilmette lost their balance while changing seats in a canoe in Echo Lake, Muskegon MI. He drowned but Marie was rescued.
  2. Mary MICHELAU (Sep 26 1900- Jul 21 1961) m Nicholas ENDRE (Apr 18 1897- Sep 14 1978)
  3. Barbara "Bebe" MICHELAU (Feb 26 1901- Sep 7 1980) m Matthias N STEFFEN (-Feb 8 1956)
  4. Magdelyn Helen "Mic" MICHELAU (Mar 24, 1904- Jun 3 1986) m John WINANDY (-Dec 26 1957)
  5. Michael MICHELAU (Sep 18 1906- Sep 8 1993) m Clara SCHWALL (Jan 8 1913-Jan 13 1990)
  6. Joseph "Spiv" MICHELAU (Mar 11 1908-Mar 3 1972) m Gladys ENGELS (b about 1911)
  7. Agnes MICHELAU (Aug 2 1912-Jan 9 2005) m Richard STICKLER (Jan 10 1911 IL -Jan. 3 2001 CA)
  8. John P "Slim" "Jim" MICHELAU (Jan 15 or Mar 15 1914- Aug 11 1995) m Mary NELLESSEN (Jan 11 1918 -Jun 10 2003)
  9. Margaret MICHELAU (1916-1918 died age 2 yrs.)

On that same 1898 voyage to the US was Anni's brother Frederic ("Fritz") CLEMENT (1874-1932).   Two of Anni's sisters and a cousin also came to the US. In fact, John Peter STORCK and Josephine CLEMENT and their kids came to the US in 1914 along with John MICHELAU (#7 below.).  Other CLEMENTs stayed in Luxembourg.  See my Clement page for details of this complex family I have been studying.



6. Etienne MICHELAU (twin) (Sept 26 1875- Jan 6 1945 Liefringen, Luxembourg). (Etienne is a form of Stephan or Steven.) He might have come to the US but returned to Luxembourg and married Elisabeth HEINTZ (? - Aug 16 1941 in Wiltz) in 1904.  See article under Joseph, below. 

  1. Anne MICHELAU (July 24, 1915 Liefringen?- June 16, 2006 Tarchamps, Luxembourg) married Leonard Burggraff
  2. Berthe MICHELAU born in Liefringen (Liefrange) about 1921. She married Nicolas Aloyse MACK (Jul 17 1927 Bavigne- Jan 18 1991 Ettelbrück.)


7. Jean MICHELAU  (twin) (Sept 26 1875-?)   Called "Henny" for "John Henry". Jean and Susanne Michelau sold their house and goods in Harlange in early 1914 and steamed to New York, arriving on May 17 1914 on the Lapland. He appears  as "John Michelan," age 38, with wife Susanne Michelan, age 31, son Pierre Michelan, age 4, daughter Marie Michelan, age 7 (note: ages reversed), plus Susanne's father Pierre Salentiny, age 70 (b Apr 7 1843 in Eschdorf). Susanne SALENTINY was born Aug 6 1882 in Montigny-les-Tilleuls, Belgium, the daughter of Peter SALENTINY and Marie EVEN. Jean and Susanne married on Oct 27 1907. They were headed to see his brother Joseph.  He referred to a previous visit in 1906/1907. They later lived in Skokie. Susanne died very young of cancer on Jan 1 1919. Her father helped to raise their two kids. John then married Margeret WEBER who was from Schieren, Luxembourg. They had two more children. John died of pneumonia and Margaret died in a car crash while the younger children were still young, and Art and Mary CLESEN raised them.

  1. Peter P MICHELAU (born 1908? Harlingen, Lux. died Chicago Nov 19 1959) never married.
  2. Mary Ann MICHELAU (Jun 20 1912 Harlingen, Lux.- May 1 2009 Wheeling IL) m Arthur CLESEN (-Apr 22 1977) on Nov 23, 1928.
  3. John J. MICHELAU (Dec 13 1920- Oct 1985) m Ruth BOOTHMAN
  4. George Joseph MICHELAU (Jun 6 1922- Jan 21 1969 Highwood IL.) He was in the US Army stationed at Newfoundland and married Roberta Walters in April 1956.

8. Marie Catherine MICHELAU (Nov 30, 1877-?)  stayed in Luxembourg.  She married Joseph MALGET.

9. Michel MICHELAU "Mike" (Feb 19, 1880 - Aug 24 1953) m. Mildred BLASCHKE (July 10 1890- Aug 28 1970). Dundee MN. No ship record found. 6 kids all of Minnesota.  Three sons and two grandsons (sons of Hilda) died in a 1974 house fire in Nobles County MN.

  1. Anton MICHELAU (Jan 9 1914- Oct 17 1985 Anoka Co MN) m Vivian (Mar 21 1921- Oct 30 1992 Lyon Co MN)
  2. Albert MICHELAU (Mar 9 1916- Oct 29 1990) m Darlene JOHNSON (Nov 10 1921-)
  3. Frank Joseph MICHELAU (Feb 9 1918- Feb 17 1974) m Lucille CHEPA (Sep 8 1926 -May 10 1999 Jackson Co. MN)
  4. John Nick MICHELAU (Jun 10 1920- Feb 17 1974) never married
  5. Hilda Mathilda MICHELAU (Mar 24 1923- Jul 11 1966) m Bernard KIRCHNER (Dec 13 1917-May 17 1956) Nobles Co MN
  6. Raymond John MICHELAU (May 28 1925- Feb 17 1974) never married


10. Joseph MICHELAU (Mar 29 1883- Jun 30 1933) m. Margaretha KEYLS (Nov 25 1880- Jan 16 1932). He must have been here before 1904, since there was an article in the Luxemburger Gazette : Apr 6 1904 “he has returned to Luxembourg to attend the marriage of his brother Etienne.” Then "Joseph Michelan" (misspelled) arrived Apr 11 1910 on the Vaderland with wife Marga KEYLS who was from Lullingen.  The Luxemburger Gazette article from Apr 26, 1910 verified that “he came back from Luxembourg, together with his young wife.” They were living at Devon & Roby, High Ridge IL (Roby Street is now Damen Avenue)  In 1914 they lived at 1312 Mulford, Evanston (just around the corner from Peter's farm at 205 Asbury). Later (1920s) they lived in Tessville IL (now Lincolnwood). Children were

  1. Ann MICHELAU (Jun 2 1911- Feb 3 2007) m Jacob HERFF, then Leander BURKEMPER (-Jun 2001)
  2. Barb MICHELAU (May 29 1913- Feb 14 1976) m Harold WEIDNER
  3. Helen MICHELAU Dec 31 1913 m Clarence "Kelly" WEIDNER (Jan 27 1912- Oct 25 1980) then married Mr. BURKEMPER
  4. Mary MICHELAU (Jul 20 1916- Mar 15 1991) m Nicholas Quirne "Dick" WEIDNER (Dec 13 1910- Dec 26 1999)
  5. John  "Jim" MICHELAU (Jan 25 1918- Feb 10 1992) m Lillian KITZMAN (-Sep 7 2002)
  6. Aloysius "Allie" MICHELAU (Feb 3 1923- Jan 5 2003) m Grace GEIMER (Sep 22 1925-)


11. Jean Pierre MICHELAU "Jamp" (Jul 17 1885- Nov 25 1952) m Marguerite SCHULLER (Dec 2 1889- Dec 29 1966).  John arrived on the ship l'Aquitaine from Le Havre, France on April 21 1901.  He was 25, single, a cobbler, and was planning to go to Le Mars, Iowa.  In May 1910 he became naturalized as a citizen in Chicago and he also married his wife in 1910.

Margaret SCHULLER was a cousin of the CLEMENTs mentioned in #5 above. She was born at the mill at Boulaide (Bauschleiden) Luxembourg. Her sister Mary SCHULLER married John BIERCHEN. The two SCHULLER sisters came to the US in 1908 after the death of their mother and the sale of the mill.

In 1924 John returned to Luxembourg to visit his mother, arriving back in New York on Oct 18 1924 on his way home at Route 1, Box 1335, Morton Grove IL. John and Margaret lived on Dempster Street in Niles Center (Skokie) Illinois and then moved out to a farm in Grayslake in late 1941.  John was kicked by his horse on Nov 25 1952 and died from a crushed liver. Their children were:

  1. Joseph Peter MICHELAU (May 3 1911- Jan 1985) m Elsie CRAFT (Jan 2 1922- Mar 15 2002)
  2. Mary MICHELAU (Oct 27 1913-Oct 14 2006) m Chuck JANS (Jan 5 1910- Jan 14 1981)
  3. Susan MICHELAU (Aug 26 1916-) m Joseph BEZDEK (May 3 1911- May 7 1980)
  4. Elizabeth Anna “Lee” MICHELAU (Apr 7 1919- Jun 10 1987) m Bill HAJDUK (Dec 28 1914- Jun 23 2002)
  5. Fred B “Benny” MICHELAU (Apr 20 1923- Apr 23 2005) m Kathryn JACKSON (Feb 2 1930-)
  6. Margaret MICHELAU (Mar 24 1925-) m Ray HOOK (Jun 18, 1918- Feb 5 2003)
  7. Ann MICHELAU (Feb 6 1927-) m George HOOK (Aug 8 1926- Nov 10 1991)


12. Martin MICHELAU (Sept 4, 1888- Aug 4, 1950 Heron Lake, Jackson, MN). "Martin Michelan", age 17, arrived Mar 21 1906 on the Zeeland, bound for the home of his brother Joseph Michelau in Rose Hill, Cook County, IL (Note: Rose Hill is now part of Chicago, located at Peterson and Ridge.) Martin moved to Minnesota and married Mathilda KLOPP (Jul 2 1898- Jul 18 1992) on Apr 16, 1918 in Dundee, MN. She was born in Southbrook, Cottonwood County, MN, the daughter of Dominic Klopp and Mary Antoine. (Dominic was born about 1861 in Arsdorf, Luxembourg.) They had 6 children all of Minnesota:

  1. Mary MICHELAU (Mar 4 1919-+) m Woodrow ARMOND (Sep 10 1918-)
  2. Henry Dominic MICHELAU (Sep 25 1920- Jun 17 1985) m Rosemary RIEBSCHLAGER (Jan 8 1924-)
  3. Bernadine MICHELAU (Mar 10 1923- October 26 2006 Heron Lake MN) m Clair HABERMAN (Apr 27 1917- May 6 2002)
  4. Josephine MICHELAU (May 28 1927- Jul 1 1989) m Leonard SUNDER (Aug 31 1923-)
  5. Virginia MICHELAU (May 17 1934-) m Richard HANSEN (1936-)
  6. Barbara MICHELAU (Dec 3 1940-) m Harold SPRINGMAN (Mar 7 1937-)


Notes

Who came first to the USA?  The oldest Michelau passenger record shows Peter on his way to brother John's house in 1897. That would have to be the John who was born in 1875, evidently already living here. But Peter also referred to a previous trip in 1892. Now we find that John sailed on the Baumwell on March 19 1892 or March 13 1893, (bith dates appear in the records) bound for St Paul.

Mike and/or Martin might have lived in northern Iowa for a time before moving on to their farms in Minnesota.

Loose ends are mostly resolved, but who was Margaret? On Aug 17, 1932, Margaret Michelau, age 38, of Niles Center, IL, died at St Francis Hospital in Evanston, of injuries sustained in a crash at Lake Zurich, IL.

 

Earlier history DAPFONTAINE family in Luxembourg

Another incarnation of the name was D'AUBEFONTAINE. This line goes back to Pierre DAPFONTAINE, born about 1681? in Vance. He married Anne KLEIN, born about 1690? in Harlange, on Jan 14, 1714. Their son Peter DAPFONTAINE (Petrus D'AUBEFONTAINE) was born in Harlange. He married Maria PELLUS on Jun 14, 1733. Their son was Pierre DAPFONTAINE born 1744 in Harlange who married Catherine LALLEMAND b about 1747, on Jan 26, 1772.

Their son Heinrich DAPFONTAINE was born Apr 1 1787 in Harlange, and died Feb 5 1825 in Harlange. He married Anne Marguerithe HENRICY on Apr 27 1815 in Harlange.  She was born Jul 23, 1788 in Kaundorf, the daughter of Nicolas HENRICY and Catherina KRIER. She died Jan 31 1842 in Harlange.

They had four children:
Barbe DAPFONTAINE May 3 1816
Mathias DAPFONTAINE Jan 27 1818 (m Anne NICKS)
Jean DAPFONTAINE Sep 9 1820 (m Madeleine MERRES)
Etienne DAPFONTAINE Dec19 1822 (m Elisabeth MERRES)

Mathias DAPFONTAINE was born Jan 27 1818 in Harlange.  He died Jan 30 1857 in Harlange. On May 24 1841 in Harlange, he married Anne Catherine NICKS, who was born on Jun 7 1822 in Harlange.  She was the daughter of Nicolas NICKS and Anna LUTGEN. She died on Oct 1 1879 in Harlange.

Their children were:
Jean DAPFONTAINE Jul 14 1843
Barbara DAPFONTAINE Mar 1 1845 (m Jean Pierre MICHELAU)
Maria DAPFONTAINE May13 1847
Magdalena DAPFONTAINE Jun 3 1848 married Michel SCHAUL
Catharina DAPFONTAINE Aug 9 1850
Nicolas DAPFONTAINE Jul 18 1854 (m Josephine THILL)
Pierre DAPFONTAINE Oct 24 1856

Michel SCHAULwas born Jul 7 1843 in Merscheid, died Nov 12 1910 in Heispelt. He married Magdalena (aka Madeleine) DAPFONTAINE on Feb 11 1872. They had a son Frank who lived in Evanston Illinois.

There was another DAPFONTAINE family in Harlange. Pierre born Jan 1 1814, married Catherine SCHAMMEL on Feb14 1840 in Boulaide.

Michelau Family Photos

Here are some pictures of the Michelau brothers. I am always looking for more.

#5 Peter MICHELAU and Anni CLEMENT about 1920


#7 John MICHELAU and Susanne SALENTINY

 #9 Mike MICHELAU and Mildred BLASCHKE about 1917



 #10 Joe MICHELAU and Margaretha KEHLS about 1921


#11 John Peter MICHELAU and Margaret SCHULLER about 1921


   #12 Martin MICHELAU and Mathilda KLOPP about 1926




Entry to Michelau, Luxembourg

Plase email me at heckenbach@ameritech.net if you have an old picture or any additions or corrections. I might have more pictures to send you.


This page created Jan 26 2003, Last Updated Jan 11, 20109.
© Jim Heckenbach
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