Tag Archives: fond du lac

by

Today’s Tidbit | WWII Ration Book

This is my grandma’s War Ration Book No 3.

Four different series of war ration books were issued. “Book No. 3″ series books were issued in October of 1943. Each ration stamp has a  drawing of an airplane, gun, tank, aircraft carrier, ear of wheat, or fruit, etc. and a serial number. My book is missing a couple of pages and only contains stamps with the airplane, aircraft carrier, tank and artillery. Rationing ended in 1946.

Much more on rationing during WWII can be found here.

by

Happy 26th Birthday, Grandpa!

Today is my grandpa’s 26th birthday! I know, that sounds odd, considering he was born in 1908! My maternal grandfather, Raymond Christian Hau, was born on February 29th, 1908. So, if he were still with us today, he would be celebrating his February 29th birthday for only the 26th time.

I have a newspaper article from 1996, when his hometown newspaper, the Fond du Lac Reporter, did a story on his 22nd Leap Year birthday. The subhead of the article reads, “He looks older than most 22 year olds”.

Celebrating his birthday in 1996

My Grandpa Hau had a great sense of humor, and he always enjoyed the uniqueness of his special day!

by

Tuesday Treasure | December 7, 2010

This is a 1954 Motorola 53h tabletop radio. It’s made of black Bakelite plastic. The radio has five tubes and an AM band. It’s style is of the industrial jet age design look of the day.

I’m fortunate to have inherited this radio from my Grandpa and Grandma Hau. I can just imagine them listening to it in their Fond du Lac, Wisconsin home – whether it was music, Packers football or Milwaukee Braves baseball games. The radio still works, and the reception is better than in most modern AM radios!

by

Tuesday Treasure | November 17, 2009

This is the marriage certificate of my grandparents on my mom’s side, Raymond Christian Hau and Florence Rose Heller.

Marriage Certificate of Raymond Christian Hau and Florence Rose Heller

My grandpa was born in Fond du Lac, WI on February 29, 1908. He spent a year at Lawrence College in Appleton. Ray eventually went to work for his father, who owned the Lion Cafeteria, in Fond du Lac.

My grandma was born and raised in Montello, WI. She graduated from St. Agnes School of Nursing in Fond du Lac and then worked, until their marriage, at St. Agnes Hospital.

Ray and Florence were married, on October 10, 1933, at St. John the Baptist Church in Montello. Their marriage was witnessed by Ray’s sister, Delores, and Florence’s brother, Howard.

by

Surname Sunday | HAU

My mother’s surname is Hau. Wilhelm Hau came to America from Prussia, probably in the 1860′s. He settled in Sheboygan County, WI as a farmer. He married Kathrine Tuepper in 1869. They had nine children together. Wilhelm died in 1884 at the age of 41. One of their sons, John, is my great grandfather. He, together with his sons Raymond and Clarence, owned and operated Hau’s Lion Cafeteria in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI.

by

This Week’s Family Anniversaries | June 21 – June 27, 2009

On June 24, 1675, William Salisbury and his son John are the first colonists killed in King Philips War. Four days earlier, William had killed an indian warrior who entered his home at Kickemuit, MA. The indians killed William and John in retribution. William is my 8th great grandfather.

Isaac Ormsbee – Born June 21, 1763 in Warren, Bristol Co., Colony of Rhode Island. He married Patience Chase on February 8, 1789 in Warren, Bristol Co. Isaac died on October 13, 1848 in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY and is buried in the Ormsbee Cemetery on the Ormsbee Farm near Porters Corners, Saratoga Co., NY. He is my 4th great grandfather.

Elizabeth Fuhrman – Born June 22, 1874 in Marshfield Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI. She married John Hau on June 12, 1900 in Johnsburg, Fond du Lac Co. Elizabeth died on May 27, 1964 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co. and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac. She is my great grandmother.

Henry Lawrence Heim and Vera N. Gage – Married on June 21, 1916 in Jackson, Jackson Co., MI. They are my wife’s great grandparents.

Richard Kemball – Died June 22, 1675 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was born on April 10, 1595 in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England. Richard Married Ursula Scott on October 23, 1615 in Rattlesden. He is my wife’s 10th great grandfather.

President Stephen Grover Cleveland – Died on June 24, 1908 and is buried in Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer Co., NJ. He was born on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, Mercer Co. Grover married Frances Clara Folsom on June 2, 1886 in the White House, Washington, District of Columbia. He is my 6th cousin, 3 times removed.

John Hau – Died June 25, 1966 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. He was born on August 25, 1874 in St. Joe, Marshfield Twp., Fond du Lac Co. John married Elizabeth Fuhrman on June 12, 1900 In Johnsburg, Fond du Lac Co. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac. John is my great grandfather.

Raymond Christian Hau – Died June 27, 2003 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., WI. He was born on February 29, 1908 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI. Raymond married Florence Rose Heller on October 10, 1933 in Fond du Lac. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Fond du lac. Raymond is my grandfather.

by

This Week’s Family Anniversaries | May 24 – May 30, 2009

Joseph Voiland and his wife, Felicitée Marie (Sadie) Romond, arrive in New York City from France on May 27, 1857. Joseph and Sadie are my 2nd great grandparents.

Katherine Protz – Born May 24, 1833 in Württemberg, Germany. She married Leonhard Seybold in 1857. Katherine died on July 15, 1910 in Brillion Twp., Calumet Co., WI and is buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Calumet County. She is my 2nd great grandmother.

Hezekiah Newcomb – Born May 26, 1693 in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay. He married Jerusha Bradford on Movember 14, 1716 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut Colony. Hezekiah died on August 15, 1772 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut Colony and is buried in the Trumbull Cemetery in Lebanon. He is my 6th great grandfather.

Joseph Bradley – Born May 27, 1770 in Haverhill, Essex Co, Province of Massachusetts Bay. He married Mirriam Currie on September 29, 1798 in Haverhill. Joseph died on July 23, 1845 in Haverhill. He is my wife’s 4th great grandfather.

Ezra Cleveland – Born May 30, 1726 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut Colony. He married Jerusha Newcomb in May, 1745. He died on November 7, 1802 in Hartford Co., CT and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Jefferson Co., NY. Ezra is my 5th great grandfather.

John Jacob Musbach – Born May 30, 1839 in Württemberg, Germany. He married Elizabeth Notten on January 4, 1864. John Jacob died on April 22, 1905 in Waterloo Twp., Jackson Co. MI and is buried in Salem Grove Cemetery, Grass Lake, Sylvan Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI. He is my wife’s 2nd great grandfather.

Herbert Harvey – Born May 30, 1879 in Leoni Twp., Jackson Co., MI. He married Martha Anne Musbach on March 9, 1904 in Lansing, Ingham Co., MI. Herbert died on March 3, 1949 in Waterloo Twp., Jackson Co., MI and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Chelsea, Washtenaw Co., MI. He is my wife’s great grandfather.

Alice Carpenter and Edward Southworth – Married May 28, 1613 in Leyden, Holland. Alice is my 9th great grandmother.

Patience Chase – Died May 26, 1820 in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY and is buried in the Ormsbee Cemetery on the Ormsbee Farm near Porters Corners, Saratoga County. She was born in February 10, 1767 and married Isaac Ormsbee on February 8, 1789 in Warren, Bristol Co., RI. Patience is 4th great grandmother.

Elizabeth Fuhrman – Died May 27, 1964 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac. She was born on June 22, 1874 in Marshfield Twp., Fond du Lac County. Elizabeth married John Hau on June 12, 1900 in Johnsburg, Fond du Lac Co. She is my great grandmother.

Nancy Ormsbee – Died May 28, 1881 in Greenleaf, Brown Co., WI and is buried in Cato Heights Cemetery, Cato, Manitowoc Co., WI. She was born on April 6, 1796 in Barrington, Bristol Co., RI. Nancy married John Earl Harris on November 1, 1820 in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., NY. She is my 3rd great grandmother.

Reuben Gage – Died May 29, 1892 in Chelsea, Washtenaw Co., MI and is buried in Vermont Cemetery, Chelsea. He was born August 20, 1819 in Benton, Yates Co., NY and married Fanny Parker on December 31, 1839. Reuben in my wife’s 3rd great grandfather.

Elizabeth Lowden – Died May 30, 1884 in Leoni Twp., Jackson Co., MI and is buried in Harrington Cemetery, Henrietta Twp., Jackson County. She was born on February 28, 1838 in England and married George Harvey in 1859 in England. Elizabeth is my wife’s 2nd great grandmother.

by

Tuesday Treasure | May 5, 2009

My great grandfather, John Hau, founded and operated the Lion Cafeteria in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., WI from 1919 until turning it over to my grandfather and great uncle in 1959. More about the restaurant can be found here.

In the 1920′s and 30′s, before the installation of air conditioning, the Lion Cafeteria tried to keep its patrons cool with the help of oscillating electric fans that were mounted on the walls.

One of these fans was handed down to me by my grandparents, Raymond and Florence Hau. They had it sitting on the floor in their entry way closet. I don’t remember this, but my mom says that they would bring it out in the summer months to help circulate the air.

General Electric fan c.1920's from the Lion Cafeteria

General Electric fan c.1920's from the Lion Cafeteria

My fan is all original except for the plug on the end of the electric cord. It is very heavy and solid. It still works and is very quiet, but since the cord is frayed, I don’t turn it on very often. Notice the blade guards. They certainly don’t guard against much! The fan is painted dark green and the blades are brass.

In the photo below of the Lion Cafeteria in the 1930′s, a couple of these fans can be seen mounted on the wall. I’ve had this fan for many years, but didn’t notice it in the restaurant picture until recently.

Lion Cafeteria c.1930's

Lion Cafeteria c.1930's