A Continuation of the Feuerstein Family in Enterprise
Original Feuerstein Lakeview Resort in Pelican Lake, Wisconsin
By Bear Wheeler
I had so much interesting information on this family that wasn’t in the previous newsletter that I wanted to continue their story. Thank you to Joseph Feuerstein’s great-granddaughter, Anita DeGumbia who shared this information with me.
Back Row - Katherine & Joseph F, Agnes F, Katherine Devlin, Anna Musiel, Margaret Musiel holding Edwin Keeler, Ed & Anna Keeler, Alma F
Front - Mary F, Catherine D, Joe K, Frank F, Clara K, John K, Ella K
Joseph was born on August 5, 1851, aboard a ship coming to America and Katherine his wife was born in 1856 in Germany. Obviously, they were both here in America as young children and their paths crossed years later and were eventually married on June 6, 1878, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. They had ten children together and five of which preceded their father Joseph in death in 1935. This story will capture the lives of the remaining children so here is a detailed setting of them.
Anna (Anne), born in Manitowoc, WI, February 7, 1880, died in Danville, CA, August 22, 1971.
Joe Jr. born in Manitowoc, WI, March 3, 1882, died in Chicago, IL, August 25, 1970.
Kathie born in Manitowoc, WI, September 21, 1884, died May 28, 1916.
Peter born in Antigo, WI, September 11, 1885, died in Enterprise, September 24, 1933.
Clara born in Monico, WI, May 16, 1888, died in Rhinelander, WI, December 15, 1917.
Margaret born in Enterprise, WI, November 13, 1890, died May 29, 1891.
Agnes born in Pelican Lake, WI, February 6, 1893, died in Enterprise, WI, July 7, 1975.
Elma (Alma) born in Antigo, WI, April 6, 1895, died in Palatine, IL, October 4, 1979.
Frank born on September 15, 1897, died in Arlington Heights, IL, February, 1965.
Mary born in Enterprise, WI, August 22, 1900, died on July 12, 1963.
Joe & Katherine Feuerstein's daughters, Elma (Alma) is standing right in the long black skirt, Sitting in the chair closest Agnes, then Anna, Ed Keeler's wife.
In our eyes today, Joe and Katherine had a large family, but back then it was considered normal sized. Katherine used her experience in childbirth and served the local ladies as a midwife. Her oldest daughter Anna (Anne) would also help with nursing duties. The entire family was devout Catholics and they all regularly attended St. John’s Catholic Church in Pelican Lake. Joe served the Town of Enterprise in various positions and even on the Board of the Enterprise school.
Once the Feuerstein’s sold the resort to the Guth family, Joe and Katherine picked up and moved down to the Old Woodcock house, about a mile east of Enterprise. At this time Joe was 69 and Katherine was 64, Joe sold because he was ready to retire and slow down a bit. They would winter down in Chicago because Joe Jr, Frank, and Elma lived there.
Anna (Anne) in Pelican Lake with her husband Ed Keeler whom she married on September 29, 1896. In the early days of the Lakeview resort Ed worked for Joe, he would pick up guests at the train station in Pelican Lake and would deliver them by boat to the lodge. What a great way to start a vacation (provided there was good weather)!
Ed Keeler Piloting the Pelican to the Resort
Ed was born in Michigan and his family moved to Enterprise, Wisconsin, around 1889 and were the first white settlers in this area. Edward spent much time with the Indians that also lived here and they taught him to hunt and trap, also learned their habits and customs. Ed was a true woodsman. His father had operated their own resort on Pelican Lake and a good portion of his life, Ed was a fishing guide, just like his father-in-law, “Grandpa” Feuerstein. One fateful day in December of 1931, Ed was killed by a bullet, that was either mistakenly shot at him or it could have been deliberate. When his body was found there were no footprints in the snow near him, only the legend remains of what happened.
Anna (Anne) and their remaining kids lived on after the tragedy. Ed and Anna’s six children by now were in their 20’s and 30’s, having young ones of their own. They had lost a son, George in infancy. Not too long after this incident with Ed, Anna moved down to Chicago and took a job. In 1937, Anna then moved out to California. On August 22, 1971, Anna had passed away in Durham, California. She was buried in the Enterprise Cemetery next to her husband Ed.
Mary (Magdalene), Anna, Frank, Joe, Agnes, Elma (Alma), Joseph and Katherine 1928
I’m going to start with the other children of Joe and Katherine, but from the perspective of Anita DeGumbia, who would be Joe and Katherine’s great granddaughter through Elma (Alma).
Now Uncle Joe, I remember him coming to visit our house in Illinois (where I grew up), he was tall and lanky, and had a witty personality. Joe and his wife Clara didn’t have any children. He always brought me goodies and played games with me, I guess I was kind of his adopted daughter. Aunt Clara died early on because I always remember him coming with a lady I knew as Aunt Matilda (there is unfortunately nothing in the family history about her, so she was probably a “lady friend.”)
Frank lived in Evanston, IL. Frank was married to Louise Helton. Anita continues, Uncle Frank had lived at our house for a short time before he passed away from a heart attack. I again remember my mom and grandma had just gotten home from the hospital one evening from visiting him (Northwest Community Hospital) and got a phone call that he succumbed to a heart attack. Frank was 67 years old.
Mary (Magdalene) and Elma (Alma) Feuerstein
Aunt Magdalene or Mary also lived in Illinois, married Abraham Osman and she gave birth to two sons, David and Abraham Jr. Abe Jr and Anita’s parents vacationed together until he passed away.
Aunt Agnes (Aggie), Anita says, “Well what can I say about Aunt Aggie!! If anyone ever wanted an aunt that swore like a sailor on leave, drank the hooch, and had a great time, it was my Aunt Aggie! She was built like a brick house if you know what I mean. She lived with her husband Uncle Henry Gade (he passed early so I have no memories of him). She then moved in with her daughter Betty and son-in-law, Art. It was always a good time when Aunt Ag would visit because you didn’t know what would come out of her mouth next. (I remember being told on more than one occasion…. Go Play Outside!)
Agnes’ husband Henry Gade was born March 11, 1883, in Chicago, IL. Henry had worked as a Chicago policeman his whole life, until his death on October 19, 1954. Henry and Agnes owned a summer house on Pelican Lake for most of their life. Henry was buried in the Enterprise Cemetery and his wife Agnes would be interred there next to him after she passed on July 7, 1975. Henry and Agnes had three children, Richard, Edward, and Elizabeth (Betty).
Anita adds about her Grandmother Elma (Alma) (Feuerstein) Olmstead, she only had a 6th grade education and she was so smart, way beyond her years. Grandpa Ben and Grandma lived with us my entire life as mom and dad had to both work full-time, so they moved in to help. Grandpa died in 1962 but I remember him so keenly. He was a wonderful human being and a kind, gentle soul. Now Grandma was very worldly, seeing things a lot of people miss. I believe she had some gypsy in her. I remember her telling me that the gypsy’s would come around and they had to tighten down the hatches so things wouldn’t disappear. They taught her a lot and I think she picked up on a lot of their insights. I remember my Grandma reading “coffee grounds” and the scary thing about it was is that she was right. I remember Grandma talking about her brothers and sisters, especially Peter, who died in his 40’s. She was very close to him and when he had passed it was very difficult for her. Grandpa and Grandma had two children, my mother Patricia (who passed in 2018 at the age of 90) and my Uncle Ben (the last remaining grandchild who turned 91 in May of 2025).
Feuerstein Family
Anita continues about her Grandma Alma, one thing I remember and will until the day I die, is her talking about Uncle Ed. Grandma always told me that he would go out into the woods and drink the hooch with other white guys and native Indians. Ed loved to party with his friends. She had told me that he was even part of the group that came up with the Hodag. Is it true? Who knows. She also had ideas on how Uncle Ed died out in the woods on a snowy winter’s night, but who didn’t. The murder of Ed Keeler remains unsolved after nearly a hundred years anyway.
The following is what I’ve been able to find regarding Peter Feuerstein of Rhinelander. Peter died in 1933, so Anita would have no memories of him, other than what she was told. Peter was born in Antigo, Wisconsin, on September 11, 1885. He lived in Enterprise, Wisconsin, until he was 21 years old when he went back to Antigo and became a railroad employee. Peter worked his way on the railroad and eventually worked the rail all the way from Indiana to California. Around 1931, he moved from San Francisco and came back to Enterprise to be close to his family. Within a year of coming back, Peter was in Rhinelander one day walking along the street and suffered a severe stroke. He was kept in St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander as he never regained his health. Peter was visited frequently by his parents, his siblings and their families. Both of his brothers and three of his sisters lived in Illinois and would frequently come up north and visit their debilitated brother. On September 24, 1933, at the age of 48, Peter passed on from this life. Peter’s funeral was in Pelican Lake at St. John’s Church and Father Verbatin of Elcho officiated the service. Peter Feuerstein was buried in the Enterprise Cemetery.
Joe and Katherine had raised a tight knit family as they always visited each other. Joe and Katherine had always gone down to Chicago to spend the cold months with one of their kids. On January 11, 1935, Joseph Feuerstein had passed away while staying at Mary’s house in Chicago. He was buried in Des Plaines, Illinois, at the Ridgewood Cemetery.
Katherine doesn’t just sit back and go out quietly. At the age of 82, she finds companionship again. His name is Michael Ehlinger and he was from Suring, Wisconsin. They both knew what they wanted in each other and in 1936, Katherine remarried. Mike and Katherine were married at the St. John’s Church in Pelican Lake. The wedding was attended by a few of her children and grandchildren. Katherine lived out her days with her new husband, and she had passed away 10 years later on June 28, 1946, in Des Plaines, Illinois. She was buried in the Ridgewood Cemetery.
If you have more information or pictures (pictures can be digital) you may send it to us through email or any way that suits your situation. It will help us answer questions in the future for people looking for information regarding their ancestors.