Konter and Sinowski
This page is dedicated to the John Konter and Hedwig Sinowski Family
Luxembourg/ "Dutch"
Matthew Konter was born on April 2nd, 1883, in the Town of Burnside, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. He was the son of John Konter and hedwig Sinowski, of Luxembourg and Dutch ancestry. His baptism sponsers were Matthew Hansen and Susana Bolz. Rev. L. Lay baptised him. He received first communion on December 1, 1898.
Matt Konter went to the Catholic School in Waumundee through the 5th grade. When he was 13 he went to work for a wealthy farmer in Waumundee Valley named ... Reuter. Mr. Reuter took him under his wing and taught Matt how to farm and build with wood and bricks. Upon his death, Mr. Reuter asked to see Matt but Matt refused, thought to be because he didn't want an inheritance from him.
As a young man, Matt enjoyed dancing and played the guitar. Once, he was playing and noticed another man dancing with Anna too much. He put down his guitar and didn't play so he could dance with her for the rest of the night.
Matt Konter and Anna Bautch met through their Siblings. John, Matt's brother, had married Mary, Anna's sister. Matt visited John and Anna visited Mary quite a lot for a while, until finally they were officially courting and Matt would harness up the western bronc he had bought and broke to his courting buggy and visited Anna. Upon their marriage, they each were given 2 cows and a pig from their parents to start their farm.
Matthew Konter and Anna C. Bautch were farmers for many years. They had cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry. They owned a farm on Gamaoke Road in Fox Coulee in Tamarack Valley near Arcadia, WI. Matthew built a house in Independence and many farm buildings. A tornado went through the farm once close to the house and blew down the windmill and a shed. He also had a contractor, Mr George of Arcadia, WI, build a new home for his wife Anna. He is reported to have loved to visit with family and talk to neighbors. Sometimes, he went to North Dakota with relatives to help with logging and other things with a colony of Anna's cousins up there.
During WWII it became too hard for Matt to farm, as Leonard was in town, Marcel was in the war in the South Pacific Theatre, and there were no hired men to be found: 2 would have been required to maintain the farm. Matt was older and could no longer do it himself. So, at age 68. he retired and they moved to Winona, MN. He never felt too good after that. Matt died at age 72, in 1955, of cancer.
Matthew and Anna had 5 children, 4 of whom survived.
Matthew Konter and Anna Clara Bautch
Matthew Konter and Anna Clara Bautch wedding, February 16, 1909.
Math and Anna Konter, farm and home scenes.
Please see "Bautch" for more photos.
If you are a relative and have scanned photos to add or information on this family, please email me with the link on the first page.
Hedwig Synowski was described as being Dutch in origin. However, the exact country of origin remains a mystery. She was an indentured servant who worked for her passage to the US for a wealthy family. After her passage was paid she paid for her sister, then her brother to come, too. The brother died of illness a few years after he got here.
Hedwig was second wife to John Konter after his first wife was murdered. She and John homesteaded in Waumundee Valley and they had 9 surviving children. John would go logging in the north during the winters,and Hedwig would manage both farm and family while he was gone. Generally, there would be a new baby born beforehis return in the spring. Hedwig was a devout Catholic and made sure the children each attended Catholic boarding school in Waumundee (St.Boniface Parish). She would sometimes make a big bunch of popcorn, stuff it in a pillowcase, and take it to the children in the school so they would have a treat.
When she was older,she had a huge belly. It is said to have been caused by a huge ovarian cyst, which eventually ruptured and drained. After that, which she survived, she was a thin woman again.
Hedwig was second wife to John Konter after his first wife was murdered. She and John homesteaded in Waumundee Valley and they had 9 surviving children. John would go logging in the north during the winters,and Hedwig would manage both farm and family while he was gone. Generally, there would be a new baby born beforehis return in the spring. Hedwig was a devout Catholic and made sure the children each attended Catholic boarding school in Waumundee (St.Boniface Parish). She would sometimes make a big bunch of popcorn, stuff it in a pillowcase, and take it to the children in the school so they would have a treat.
When she was older,she had a huge belly. It is said to have been caused by a huge ovarian cyst, which eventually ruptured and drained. After that, which she survived, she was a thin woman again.
Hedwig Sinowske, seated, with her 3 daughters: Agnes, Mary, and Ann.
John Konter emigrated to the US from the Luxemberg/ Germany border area. He is said to have been a stowaway on a ship, and to have jumped ship on the east coast of the US to get into the country. Another man, probably a brother, also jumped ship and swam to shore, but they were separated by the currents and never saw each other again.
He was said to have workied in construction inIowa for a time after coming to the US.
His first wife was a school teacher with many nice dresses, considered a wealthy woman at the time. John went to town one day, and returned to find that his wife had been brutally murdered- some say by an ax- and her things had been taken. This occurred in the 1880's and the killer was never found.
He later married Hedwig Sinowske, who was described as being Dutch. Hedwig was an indentured servant who worked for a wealthy family. Women were in short supply in those days. It was not known how they met. He went logging for entire winters and Hedwig would manage farm and household until his return. Logging paid well at that time,because the railroad was being built so there was a great need for lumber. Generally, when he would return in the spring, there would be a new baby there.
John Konter is described as a smallish man who always had black hair (balding when older) and a long black beard, even when he was older. He had a relative in Missouri near the Mississippi River who died, who owned a sawmill. but when John went to check on the estate nothing was left for him, because no relatives of the deceased were known to the local establishment. It is also rumoured that his brother (the other jumper?) settled in Georgia and had a family there. One relative in Missouri, along the Mississippi, of his had a sawmill.
There are a number of Konter businesses in Georgia and the surrounding area now.
He was a baptism sponser of Maria Catherine Bolz.
He was a baptism sponser of Maria Catherine Bolz.
I have found no photos of John Konter thus far.
Above is a photo of the 5 Konter brothers in later middle-aged years: John, Mathew, Michael, Jacob, Nicholas, and Peter Konter
The seated man in the photo to the right is Mike Konter
Below is John and Elsie Weideman, children of Agnes Konter
Anges Konter Information:
The baptism sponsers for Agnes were John Bolz and Agatha Riple. Rev. S. Rohr. prerformed the baptism. Agnes received first communion on Dec. 1, 1898.
Agnes is remembered by Alvina Konter as a very nice woman and a good cook.
Agnes was a devout Catholic but was not allowed to pray out loud by her husband Noah, who was not religious. Noah was half Native American, was described as short and dark skinned, and rarely made eye contact. He was also said to be a nice fellow and once gave Alvina a free ice cream cone when she was a girl, a big treat.
They had a big farm in Waumundee Valley where they lived with his folks. It had a big brick home, big strong barns, and a beautiful view of the fields and cattle. Noah's Dad (?) lived there too, and stored his smoking tobacco in the stairwell. One day he was found dead at the base of the stairs, tobacco nearby. his family said it was accidental and he fell, but the sheriff found a bloody pipe nearby said to match his head wound, and there was an accusation that someone had murdered him. There was no murder charge, but the Weideman farm, already having financial trouble, was lost to the family as a result of this tragedy. (per Alvina Konter)
Noah and Agnes then moved to a small farm along the highway on the Mississippi River near Winona, which they truck farmed. They would raise vegetables, fruit, and flowers which they took to Winona to sell in the market. Ann Wera (who was a friend of her cousin Dorothy Weideman) once helped to get water from the spring there for the Weideman home: they had no well. She saw a big green frog under the screen and said she'd never drink there again! Agnes was eventually injured when her team of horses bolted and ran and she was thrown against a tree. She hurt her back and could no longer work in the gardens after that.
Noah and Agnes moved to Winona where they had a home with a big front porch. Agnes, by now allowed to pray, would say the rosary there and Noah asked what she was doing. She showed him how to say the rosary and then both of them would pray on the porch. Agnes died,and, having met with the priest and set things right, was able to have a beautiful funeral and be buried at St. Staneslaus church in Winona(?). Noah thought it was the most beautiful funeral he was ever at, and asked the priest how he could have a funeral like that. The priest siad he had to go to church and be baptised. He did so and was in the end able to have a Catholic funeral and to be buried next to Agnes.
Agnes is remembered by Alvina Konter as a very nice woman and a good cook.
Agnes was a devout Catholic but was not allowed to pray out loud by her husband Noah, who was not religious. Noah was half Native American, was described as short and dark skinned, and rarely made eye contact. He was also said to be a nice fellow and once gave Alvina a free ice cream cone when she was a girl, a big treat.
They had a big farm in Waumundee Valley where they lived with his folks. It had a big brick home, big strong barns, and a beautiful view of the fields and cattle. Noah's Dad (?) lived there too, and stored his smoking tobacco in the stairwell. One day he was found dead at the base of the stairs, tobacco nearby. his family said it was accidental and he fell, but the sheriff found a bloody pipe nearby said to match his head wound, and there was an accusation that someone had murdered him. There was no murder charge, but the Weideman farm, already having financial trouble, was lost to the family as a result of this tragedy. (per Alvina Konter)
Noah and Agnes then moved to a small farm along the highway on the Mississippi River near Winona, which they truck farmed. They would raise vegetables, fruit, and flowers which they took to Winona to sell in the market. Ann Wera (who was a friend of her cousin Dorothy Weideman) once helped to get water from the spring there for the Weideman home: they had no well. She saw a big green frog under the screen and said she'd never drink there again! Agnes was eventually injured when her team of horses bolted and ran and she was thrown against a tree. She hurt her back and could no longer work in the gardens after that.
Noah and Agnes moved to Winona where they had a home with a big front porch. Agnes, by now allowed to pray, would say the rosary there and Noah asked what she was doing. She showed him how to say the rosary and then both of them would pray on the porch. Agnes died,and, having met with the priest and set things right, was able to have a beautiful funeral and be buried at St. Staneslaus church in Winona(?). Noah thought it was the most beautiful funeral he was ever at, and asked the priest how he could have a funeral like that. The priest siad he had to go to church and be baptised. He did so and was in the end able to have a Catholic funeral and to be buried next to Agnes.
To the right are Mathew and Mike Konter at around age 20.
Jacob Konter
Jacob's baptism sponsers were James Fink and Apolliana Fritschler. Rev. JM Wicker performed the baptism. Jake Konter lived most of his life in La Crosse.
Michael Konter: Michael's baptism sponsers were Tony Huettel and Elizabeth Rothering. He was a stylish young man very attentive to grooming.
Maria Konter: Mary's baptism sponsers were Jacob (James) Schneider and Caroline Schneider. Father Williams performed the baptism.
Alvina Konter describes her as a nice person who was quiet in temprement. She was a good cook. She and her husband had a large family. One of her daughters, who also had a large family, became a caterer and had a very good business.
Alvina Konter describes her as a nice person who was quiet in temprement. She was a good cook. She and her husband had a large family. One of her daughters, who also had a large family, became a caterer and had a very good business.
Nicholas Konter: Sponsers at Nicholas' baptism were Nicholas Bach and Amalia Benning. Fr. A. Havestadt performed the baptism. Remembered as a very large man, 300 plus pounds. He had to have the steering wheel of his pickup trucks altered so he could fit behind the wheel.
Nick died by suicide from an aspirin overdose when he was in his 50's. He had been very depressed and had attempted suicide 2 times previously.
Nick died by suicide from an aspirin overdose when he was in his 50's. He had been very depressed and had attempted suicide 2 times previously.
Peter Konter
Baptism sponsers were Peter Mueller and Mary Schneider. Peter was a very large man, 300 plus pounds. He sometimes referred to himself as "The baby of the family." Alvina Konter remembers him as a very stylish "Jim Dandy"as a young man.
Below is the John Konter and Mary Bautch wedding
Math and Anna (Bautch) Konter are at right
John Konter came from Luxembourg: below is the location of Luxembourg in Europe.
Below are scenes from Luxembourg countryside and towns.
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839 but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area
Luxembourg Cemetary for US soldiers that died in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII
Luxembourg ( i/ˈlʌksəmbɜrɡ/ LUKS-əm-burg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg, French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, German: Großherzogtum Luxemburg, Dutch: Groothertogdom Luxemburg), is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland ("good country") in the south.[4] Luxembourg has a population of over half a million people in an area of approximately 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi).[5] A representative democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is ruled by a grand duke. It is now the world's only remaining sovereign grand duchy. The country has a highly developed economy, with the world's highest GDP (nominal) per capita according to the IMF. Its historic and strategic importance dates back to its founding as a Roman era fortress site and Frankish count's castle site in the Early Middle Ages. It was an important bastion along the Spanish Road when Spain was the principal European power influencing the whole western hemisphere and beyond in the 16th–17th centuries.
Luxembourg is a member of the European Union, NATO, OECD, the United Nations, and Benelux, reflecting the political consensus in favour of economic, political, and military integration. The city of Luxembourg, the largest and capital city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the EU.
Luxembourg culture is a mix of Romance Europe and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. Luxembourg is a trilingual country; German, French and Luxembourgish are official languages. Although a secular state, Luxembourg is predominantly Roman Catholic.
Luxembourg is a member of the European Union, NATO, OECD, the United Nations, and Benelux, reflecting the political consensus in favour of economic, political, and military integration. The city of Luxembourg, the largest and capital city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the EU.
Luxembourg culture is a mix of Romance Europe and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. Luxembourg is a trilingual country; German, French and Luxembourgish are official languages. Although a secular state, Luxembourg is predominantly Roman Catholic.
