Re: US World War 1 soldier Louis Landgraf – died of wounds - Flanders Field
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In reply to:
US World War 1 soldier Louis Landgraf u2013 died of wounds - Flanders Field
Patrick Lernout 9/05/05
Patrick
I have only a little information but this may provide some clues or direction for your future research. Louis Fred Landgraf was born in Sheboygan (I have no date), the son of Frank and Johanna "Jennie" Landgraf. He is believed to have had at least one sibling, a sister, but again I do not have a name. Louis came from a rather tragic family as there is an account in the local newspaper, the "Sheboygan Press", that indicates that Louis' father Frank Landgraf tried to commit suicide by hanging in 1904 in Sheboygan (at 1427 So.11th Street)in front of his family. Frank had been drinking heavily at the time, and the suicide attempt was apparently unsuccessful.
Also, Frank Landgraf was likely a practicing Lutheran at the time (Louis claimed to be Lutheran on his WWI induction papers), but was the product of the Catholic family of his parents, Johannes "John" Landgraf and Kunigunde Sibbel. This may have added to the family's troubles, as the switch in Frank's religion while not uncommon must have presented significant personal challenges nevertheless. Such a major lifestyle change at this time in Sheboygan where such a change was considered to be very "sinful", likely estranged Frank and his family from the other Landgraf's around Sheboygan.
Louis came from a large family of Landgraf's; he had 11 other siblings, and his family was one of a number of Landgraf families in Sheboygan who are believed to have emigrated from Neubrunn, Bavaria (near the Main River and Bamberg) in the mid1850s. This area in Bavaria produced a number of other families as well that settled around Sheboygan.
Hope this helps, but if not, Sheboygan County has an excellent genealogical research center. You may wish to contact them for further assistance. Their email is [email protected]. Good luck.
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Re: US World War 1 soldier Louis Landgraf u2013 died of wounds - Flanders Field
Patrick Lernout 9/26/05