Lots 69 & 70 History
Compiled and Edited by Mike Reilly
The following history wouldn’t have beenpossible without Virginia Ackmann loaning me the Abstract of Title for theproperty she once owned in Lannon. Virginia and her late husband, then son Tim,owned lots 69 & 70 from 1969 until July, 2000.
I’ve boiled down the dozens of pages into amore compact chronological survey of events, people and companies. These twolots were only a portion of what was platted by The Hadfield Company in 1891;much of the early information may be applicable to any number of theseothers. The original Abstract of Title was for property containing 80acres. Over a period of time the land has been owned by many persons, but in the1800’s it was owned primarily by one man, John Cusack. This man mortgaged theentire property or portions of it to various individuals for over 50 years. Whatisn’t known is whether he lived on the property (with his family) alone, orthose to whom he provided mortgages to, also built a home (s) on the land orlived in his residence. More information will have to be delved into todetermine what life was like on the 80 acres, and how this acreage became partof the total land area that Hadfield had platted in 1891.
Abstract of Title description – Lots 69 & 70, Plat ofHadfield, now Lannon, in the Southeast quarter (SE 1/4) of the Southeast quarter(SE 1/4) of Section Eighteen (18), Township Eight (8) North, of Range Twenty(20) East, containing 80 acres.
The above from the Tract Book in the Office of the Register ofDeeds in and for the Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
May 16, 1847 – First recorded entry by Michael Dormody (probablythe first official government survey results.
The initial owner, a John Cusack, has norecorded transaction listed in the Abstract as purchasing the 80 acres, and isfirst mentioned in Vol. 3 on page 228 as owner in a Quit Claim Deed process toone Daniel G. Deissner for $200 (Charles F. Falley is listed as the Justice ofthe Peace in the proceeding). on Nov. 17, 1849. John Cusack remains the 80acre property owner until 1888. But as you’ll see below, many individuals soughtto own it during this time. Some of these people may have been issued mortgagesfrom the primary mortgagee who in turn paid Cusack. It’s unclear as to whether,John Cusack and his family actually lived on the property along with all ofthese others, and they built homes and farm buildings to work from, or theylived within his own home. Perhaps more can be learned from some of the earlycensus records?
Around November 1850, Daniel G. Deissnerpasses away and the mortgage is transferred to his widow (a Charles Th. Deissner,is listed as executor, who happens to be the Justice of the Peace in1854).
In 1854, Cusack’s wife name is revealed – Mary, when the mortgage is assumed by C. Augh. Mehner.
April 25, 1855 – Passes to HenryAusterman for $244.
Dec. 13, 1856 – Passes to John Hodgson for$350. Charles Th. Deissner is listed as the Justice of the Peace.
In Jan. 1859, Hodgson appears to have taken aloan (?) for $75 which is added to the mortgage (?).
March 1859 finds money exchanging handsbetween one Cyrus S. Davis and John Cusack first for $50, then $110 in 1860,then for $676 in 1864. In 1868, Davis certifies that the mortgage to Cusack ispaid in full, then John Hodgson assumes it once again for $676 (Why?)
Sometime between 1868 and June 6, 1870, JohnHodgson dies and wife Esther E. is released of the mortgage by Cusack who isalso listed as a widower for the first time.
On June 6, 1870, a $840 mortgage is issued toJames Moore. In 1874, Feb. 28th., Cyrus S. Davis is back in the picture with amortgage of $344. Later, both are released of the mortgages by Cusack on Jan. 1,1875 when Eliza Stoltz acquires the property (still the original 80 acres for amortgage value of $1,272.75. It appears to be refinanced three years later forthe sum of $1,431.00 wh9ich is paid in full (?) by Eliza Stoltz in another threeyears, 1881. This transaction also shows that Eliza is the wife of GeorgeStoltz.
On April 7, 1888, John Cusack sells his 80acres to son Daniel Cusack for the sum of $4,600. It seems that John wantsDaniel to pay off (?) Eliza Stoltz’s mortgage of $1,600 (out of the $4,600),then pay John the $3,000 balance before 10 years time at an interest rate of 5%on the balance. Daniel is to pay at least $100 by the 7th of April each year.Daniel is also to cloth and support John on their property or any other placethat John felt suitable. The last condition was to keep the building, fences,and improvements in good repair.
September 30, 1889 – a warranty deed isrecorded selling 80 acres by John and Daniel Cusack to The Hadfield Company(Incorporated) for $7,000. (Editor’s Note – On November 30, 1886,Joseph Hadfield (pres.), Abram H. Hadfield (sec.), and George A. Hadfield (ofMilwaukee) form The Hadfield Company. The corporation had an initial stock valueof $200,000 divided into 200 shares of $1,000 each. The company’s purpose wasthe quarrying, manufacture, buying, selling and dealing in stone, and themanufacture of lime and building materials, and the buying, selling, andexchanging and dealing in real estate, coal, fuel, and general merchandise.)
Dec. 10, 1889, The HadfieldCompany warranty deeds to The Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls, and Western RailwayCompany (a Wisconsin railway corporation) a 60 ft strip of land for railroadtrack and spurs. (Editor’s Note – by 3/8/1892, the aboverailway is the Milwaukee and Superior Railway Company.)
On March7, 1892, all land except for that owned by the railway, August Schulz,and one Charles Struve is sold to The Menomonee Falls Quarry Companywhich was owned by Winfield Smith, Henry Herman, Abram H. Hadfield and SamuelRosendale in Milwaukee. The company was worth $100,000 in 1,000 shares worth$100 each.
By July 1894, lots 71, 76, 77,78, 79, and 80 have all been conveyed (sold?).
JohnCusack dies on January 2, 1894 and if the record is correct – is buried at St.James cemetery. Daniel Cusack then assigns a mortgage to Margaret McMahon for$2,900. For what is unknown? Margaret McMahon then applies mortgage to George H.Hook for $3,060.
August30, 1897, Eliza Stoltz assigns the mortgage to a George H. Hook for $1,661.33 (Editor’sNote – What this consists of is believed to be lots 69 and 70.) By Dec. 19, 1901, George H. Hook is released from the mortgage by Daniel Cusackand The Hadfield Company (Editor’s Note – It may be thatsometime before 3/26/1890, most of the 80 acres was acquired by The HadfieldCompany, then sold to its’ subsidiary, The Menomonee Falls StoneCompany by warranty deed for $20,500. This transaction was platted withEliza Stoltz as the owner (?) of lots 69 & 70 with mortgage of $1,600 andwith George H. Hook or Hiles’ two mortgages, $10,000 and $5,000. He diesafter 1901 and later on May 19, 1925, one Fred A. Bartelt is claiming ownershipof lots 69 & 70 ?) Further note – Joseph Hadfield is pres. and Geo. A.Hadfield, sec., of the The Menomonee Falls Stone Company which wasincorporated c. 2/7/1890, a corporation of Milwaukee, with the same purpose asThe Hadfield Company, with a stock value of $100,000 in 1, 000 shares of equalvalue.
By Dec.1894, lots 8, 67, 71, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 and 81 have all been conveyed (sold?).
Dec. 10, 1898, The MenomoneeFalls Quarry Company sells all land, except for the lots mentioned in 1894above, to the Menomonee Falls – Lannon Stone Company, owned by HenryHerman (pres.), George I. Lindsay, and Henry Lindsay to be headquartered inMilwaukee. The company’s purpose is to buy, sell, trade in and manufacture allkinds of stone, lime, and building materials, to acquire, own, buy and sell,lease and dispose of real property; to quarry, mine, and develop deposits ofstone or mineral upon its’ own or other properties, and to market theproductions thereof, to cut , handle, buy, sell and deal in ice and othermerchantable commodities; to buy, build, acquire, sell. lease and dispose ofhouses and buildings upon its’ own or other lands, and for the purposesaforesaid to do and perform any and all necessary acts. Capitalized at $100,000in 1,000 shares of equal value.
By May 1900, The HadfieldCompany is going through bankruptcy and three stone companies (The MenomoneeFalls Quarry Company, Menomonee Falls – Lannon Stone Company, and a thirdpreviously unmentioned, the Menomonee Falls Stone Company, which was probably alater name for one already mentioned) are listed as defendants in theproceedings (all of which are absolved of wrong doing and acquire the assets ofHadfield.
December 18, 1900 – theMenomonee Falls Lannon Stone Company mortgages lots 69 & 70 to Otto R.Hanson. Who in turn mortgages the property to George P. Miller onNov. 17, 1903.
Lorenz and Anna Ackermannbuy the property on Jan. 1, 1905 and it’s believed that the present existinghouse was built on the lots sometime soon after. At the time of purchase, boothAckermanns sign their names in German. Lorenz appears to borrow $9,000 from hisfather or brother Fred in 1907, but is repaid by 1914. To repay the loan, Lorenzmay have borrowed money from one Pauline Schulz or Schadler on March 16,1914.
On July 23, 1928, Anna issuing Lawrence (Lorenz) Ackermann for divorce and has moved out of the house andmoved to 410 Greenfield Ave. in Milwaukee. From the MenomoneeFalls News 1929/2/8 – Because her husband soaked her with kerosene andattempted to kill her, Anna Ackermann received a divorce from LawrenceAckermann upon grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment. The two have propertyvalued at $7,000 according to the plaintiff. In a counter suit, the defendantalleged that his wife insisted that Robert Manake live and board withthem and that she has been seeking Manake’s company. He also denied that he hadproperty valued at more than $2,500. The plaintiff was awarded a decree and hadher maiden name before marriage restored, which was Anna Gossfeld. Lawrencewas restrained from bothering her and ordered to pay her $12 a weekalimony.
In 1928 the Ackermanns arelegally divorced, and Lawrence has to pay his ex-wife a $500 settlement; thisprobably causes him to lose the property to
By Jan. 23, 1930, it seemsthat Pauline wants out of the deal and may have already mortgaged part or all ofthe property to John Walter and his wife. But Ackermann still wants tolive there so he borrows $2,000 from his brother Otto and his wife Bertha.A mortgage transaction occurs between Otto Ackermann and John Becker.
During April 1945, Steveand Rose Mary Kindler purchase the property from the Walters for $2,500which is paid off by Nov. 5, 1956. On Aug. 17, 1961, they sell to James W.and Elsie L. Burg. The Burg’s first get their mortgage note from the sameinstitution as where the Kindler’s had theirs’, the “Local Savings and LoanAssociation” of Menomonee Falls. This became the “Menomonee FallsSavings & Loan Corporation” in 1958; then became the “FirstFederal Savings and Loan Association” in 1963.
In 1962, the property above was surveyed.
On August 15, 1969, Elsie L.Burg, now a widow, sells the lots to Glenn W. and Virginia Ackmann; themortgage holder is the “Catholic Knoghts Insurance Society”. Theiraddress is listed as 20501 W. Main St. Lannon, WI. 53046.
Due to Glenn’s illness,Virginia sells the house to son Timothy Ackmann on Feb. 29, 1996 whoholds onto it until June 6, 2000 when he sells it to Robert and Lisa Thompson.
Added Notes about the property:
Virginia Ackmann says the house originally (?)had a front basement entry that lead down to a tavern bar ? She also saysthat there are concrete slabs toward the rear south lot line of #70. Thegarage is actually located on lot 69. The was an outhouse in the back which wasused by a neighbor to dispose of old oil (?) – Said it kept the rats away!(Editor’s Note – But what did it do to the ground water?)
Was it Steve and Rose Mary Kindler who owned “Kindler’sFilling Station” on the the southeast corner of Main and Good Hope Rd.?