Keller Family Tree
Transcribed and edited by Bruce Erickson, February, 2023.
Updated 02/21/2023
Past Sussex Sun articles have revealed some of the man named Fred H. Keller and his family; the Keller clan, from whom he came from is now presented in more detail than ever before. There is no truth to the rumor that Fred Keller acquired his history interest because his family came over on the Mayflower [see below]. Though he probably inherited his gift of gab from his salesman father, Hilbert “Hip” Keller .
For further reading about Fred Keller, click on Fred Keller: A Man For All Seasons by Kathy Holt, Sussex Sun, Staff Writer, August 10, 1999, or visit the Pauline Haass Library to read in the bound Sussex Sun volumes, and also on the website, Fred H. Keller and His Collection – Sussex Sun articles about his collection and the beginning of a local historical society.
Generation No. 1 Frederick H. Keller, the H., Hilbert or Herman, it may be. Born in Burlington, Wisconsin on December 20, 1931. Frederick was the third of four children born to Hilbert Frederick Keller and Regina Gertrude Halbach. Fred passed away on January 12th, 2023.
Keller met his wife, June Krafczyk, while he was working at the First Wisconsin Bank, Milwaukee, and they were married in 1955. In February of 1959, they moved into their home on Elmwood Avenue, Sussex. June passed away on October 15th 2021.
Keller’s children; Craig, Carol, Catherine and Curt, have helped bring a new interest into his life – his eleven grandchildren: Jenny, Jim, Jessica, twins, Mark and Mike, Kianna, Kariss, Kaylee, Kiernan, Erik and Melissa; all outstanding athletes like their Grandpa.
June’s parents were Alfred Krafczyk and Theresa V. Erler. Alfred’s father, Frank in 1910 Wauwatosa, age 39, b. in Illinois (? see below), is married to Jennie, age 41, b. Wisconsin; they have son, Marlin, age 12; son Roman, age 10, Alfred, age 9; Frank, age 7, son, Ambrose, 4, Paul, 3, and daughter, Angela, 1 yr, 7 mos. The 1910 Census was taken May 11, 1910.
In the 1900 Census Milwaukee Ward 11, Frank’s birth is Sept. 1869, in Poland, Germany, immigrating in 1872; working as a day-laborer, his wife is listed as Sophie, born July 1877, in Wisconsin, there’s a son, Mois, b. May 1895, daughter Karimer, b. Sept. 1897, and son Lorenz, b.Dec. 1899. Frank married twice? Was his father Anton Krafczyk?
In the 1930 Census, Alfred B. Krafczyk is listed as “Krafczyso”a typo by the census taker, b. about 1901, and is married to Theresa, age 24, b. 8 Mar 1904, living on Watkins Avenue, no children, just around the corner from his brother Ambrose, on 59th Street. Alfred works as an appraiser for an appraisal company. He died Feb 1960. Theresa died, Mar 1980. [Note: Ambrose P., b. abt 1906 in Wisconsin, and wife Christina E., b. abt 1907 in Austria, living in 1930 Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.]
Theresa Erler was the daughter of Richard and Theresa Erler, Richard, age 49, in 1920 Wauwatosa, b. in Germany, coming to America in 1885, becoming a Naturalized citizen in 1906; wife Theresa listed as 60 yrs oldin 1920, with daughter Aretta, age 23; son Joseph, age 21, son, Erwin, age 18,and Theresa (listed as Threasa), age 15. all children born in Wisconsin. Richard was a house carpenter.
Generation No. 2 Hilbert Frederick KELLER was born 3 JUL 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died 7 OCT 1974 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Elm Grove, Wisconsin. He was the son of Frederic Herman KELLER and Louise Christina GREDE. He married Regina Gertrude HALBACH 28 JUN 1926 in Waterford, Racine County, Wisconsin,daughter of Herman Werner HALBACH and Mary Elizabeth WEGGE. She was born 17 MAR 1902 in Waterford, Wisconsin, and died 12 DEC 1989 in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
In 1930 Hilbert lived in Rockford, Winnebago, IL, working as a manufacturing salesman, with Regina Gertrude, nee Halbach, Keller, b. Mar17, 1902, age 28, d. December 12, 1989 and daughter Mary Louise , 2 yrs 10 months, and Elizabeth Ann., 1 yr. 5 months.; then Frederick in 1931, a later another a sister, Agnes, who married Harold Ferdinand Pohl.
Note: Herman W. Halbach, age 58, born December 29, 1861, a farmer, lived on Third Street in 1920 Waterford, Racine, Wisconsin, with wife Mary E., age 58, son Leonard, age 28, daughters, Marie a., age 22, Agnes M., age 19, and Regina G.,17. Herman’s parents were: Johann Halbach, born January 3, 1828 in Adenau, Lind, Trer Germany; died October 12, 1901 in Waterford Wisconsin, and [Anna] Gertrude Kroeger, born 9 Oct 1824 in Coesfeld, Westfalen, Prussen, died .19 Jun 1908. She and her parents arrived in Milwaukee in 1844. Parents: Heinrich KROEGER b: 10 Nov 1792 in Prussia and Anna Gertrude Clara KOEHLMANN b: 18 Sep1799 in Prussia.
Herman married Mary [nee Maria Bernhulz] in Racine county 31 Jul 1888 [Racine County, vol.4, page 36. Note: another source states 29Jun 1888]. According to the 1870 Waterford, Racine, Wisconsin Census -Mary Wegge was born abt 1861 in Waterford, Racine, Wisconsin; daughter of Frederick, age 43, and Mary Wegge, age 42, were both from Prussia. Their children: Anna, 15; Lucy, 13; John,11; Mary, 9; and William, 7, were all born in Wisconsin.
Generation No. 3 Frederic Herman KELLER was born 25 JUL 1873 in Town Holland, Brown County, Wisconsin, and died 30 SEP 1946 in Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the son of Carl KELLER and Beate FEIGE.
Also named “Frederick”. Occupation: Black smith in Big Bend, Wisconsin; wagon maker in Milwaukee; then a farmer.
Louise Christina GREDE was born 10 MAY 1870 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died 27 FEB 1921 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Arnold GREDE and Wilhelmina SCHAUB.
Children of Louise Christina GREDE and Frederic Herman KELLER are:
i. Erwin George KELLER was born 27 MAY 1899 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and died 16 MAY 1966 in Laona, Forest County, Wisconsin. He married Lilian Mary AIRD 14 JUN 1923 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, daughter of James AIRD and Ida Mae (Taggart-Aird) BULL. She was born 7 DEC 1901in Dunbar, Wisconsin, and died 8 NOV 1978 in Bradenton, Florida.
ii. Hilbert Frederick KELLER was born 3 JUL 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died 7 OCT 1974 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He married Regina Gertrude HALBACH 28 JUN 1926 in Waterford, Racine County, Wisconsin, daughter of Herman Werner HALBACH and Mary Elizabeth WEGGE. She was born 17 MAR 1902 in Waterford, Wisconsin, and died 12 DEC 1989 in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
Generation No. 4 Carl KELLER was born 22 NOV 1822 in Schlabotschine, Kreis Militsch, Schlesien, Prussia, and died 15 JAN 1903 in Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He was buried in Vernon Cemetery, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He was the son of 8. Christoph KELLER.
Beate FEIGE was born 8 SEP 1833 in Schlabotschine, Kreis Militsch, Schlesien, Prussia, and died 13 OCT 1900 in Clark County, Wisconsin. She was buried in Baptist Cemetery, Dorchester, Clark County, Wisconsin.
Children of Beate FEIGE and Carl KELLER are:
i. August J. KELLER was born 15 AUG 1863 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and died 11 APR 1932 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County,Wisconsin. He married Elizabeth BAAS 18 OCT 1885 in Tess Corners, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, daughter of August BAAS and Caroline STERN. She was born 17 APR 1861 in Town Muskego, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and died 20 FEB 1945 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
ii. John KELLER was born ABT. 1865 in Wisconsin, and died ABT.1883 in Town Holland, Brown County, Wisconsin.
iii. Carl John KELLER was born 8 OCT 1867 in Town Holland, BrownCounty, Wisconsin, and died 24 JUN 1919 in Town Holland, Brown County,Wisconsin. He married Caroline Katherine WINK 11 FEB 1892 in Brillion, Calumet County, Wisconsin, daughter of Philipp Heinrich WINK and Maria Margarethe BELZ. She was born 22 MAR 1870 in Breckenheim, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, and died 19 JUN 1955 in Green Bay, Bown County, Wisconsin.
iv. William KELLER was born 21 SEP 1869 in Town Holland, Brown County, Wisconsin, and died 13 JUN 1943 in Town Pewaukee, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He married Annie STERN, daughter of Julius STERN and Marianne HECKL. She was born 14 FEB 1875 in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and died 22 JUN 1912 in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. He married Anna VOSSLER 3 FEB 1913 in Thorp, Clark County, Wisconsin. She was born 1881 in Germany, and died ?.
v. Gottlieb Heinrich KELLER was born 29 SEP 1871 in Town Holland,Brown County, Wisconsin, and died 11 JAN 1944 in Waterford, Racine County,Wisconsin.
vi. Frederic Herman KELLER was born 25 JUL 1873 in Town Holland,Brown County, Wisconsin, and died 30 SEP 1946 in Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He married Louise Christina GREDE 29 JUN 1898, daughter of Arnold GREDE and Wilhelmina SCHAUB. She was born 10 MAY 1870 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,and died 27 FEB 1921 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He married Ida Mae (Taggart-Aird) BULL 25 JUN 1929 in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, daughter of John TAGGART and Mary Ann TATROE. She was born 14 APR 1878 in Kaukauna, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, and died 10 OCT 1963 in Laona, Forest County, Wisconsin.
vii. George Albert KELLER was born 17 OCT 1876 in Town Holland, Brown County, Wisconsin, and died 29 MAR 1954 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He married Anita Louise OLSON 22 NOV 1905 in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, daughter of Andrew OLSON and Christina CHRISTIANSEN. She was born 28 SEP 1880 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and died 1 APR 1964 in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
viii. Infant Daughter KELLER was born ABT. 1881, and died ?.
Arnold GREDE died ?.
Wilhelmina SCHAUB died ?.
Child of Wilhelmina SCHAUB and Arnold GREDE is:
i. Louise Christina GREDE was born 10 MAY 1870 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died 27 FEB 1921 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She married Frederic Herman KELLER 29 JUN 1898, son of Carl KELLER and Beate FEIGE. He was born 25 JUL 1873 in Town Holland, Brown County, Wisconsin, and died 30 SEP 1946 in Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Generation No. 5 Christoph KELLER born ?; died ?; married ?
Children of Christoph KELLER are:
i. Carl KELLER was born 22 NOV 1822 in Schlabotschine, Kreis Militsch, Schlesien, Prussia, and died 15 JAN 1903 in Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. He married Beate FEIGE 2 NOV 1862 in German Evangelical and Reformed Church, New Berlin, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She was born 8 SEP 1833 in Schlabotschine, Kreis Militsch, Schlesien, Prussia, and died 13 OCT 1900 in Clark County, Wisconsin.
Also named “Charles” and”Karl”. Immigration: 1 MAY 1861 From Hamburg, Breschine, Prussiaon the “Isaac Newton” arriving in Quebec Note: Ship: “Isaac Newton,” Captain Jorgenson – leaving Hamburg, Germany, on May 1, 1861, arriving in Quebec. Date of landing unknown.
ii. Rosina Anna KELLER was born 19 JAN 1832 in Schlabotschine, Kreis Militsch, Schlesien, Prussia, and died 18 NOV 1910 in Town Vernon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She married Sebastian HENDLER 30 OCT 1865. He was born ABT. 1819, and died BET. 1870 – 1880.
Note: according to Jean Keller – Immigration: 30 APR 1862 From Hamburg, Germany, on the “Robert Peil”; arriving in New York on June 24, 1862. Ship: “Robert Peil, ” Captain Jurgen, leaving Hamburg, Germany on April 30, 1862, arriving in New York City on June 24, 1862. Beate Feige and Rosina Keller sailed on the same ship.
Sources: Various Sussex Sun articles; Fred Keller’s relatives, especially Jean Keller for so thoroughly researching the family history, several corrections by Fred.