HERMAN E. HENSCHEL

A prosperous farmer of the town Russell and a poineer of Sheboygan County, he was born in Saxony, Germany, March 10, 1842. He was the son of Johann and Christiana Henschel, who came to America.

As most of his early life was spent in the wilderness, it was not untill he was 10 or 12 years of age Herman Henschel attended school; that he made good use of his opportunity, his well equipped farm will testify.

In 1862 he married Mary Maurer. they had eleven children, five boys and six girls. One of the sons Walter who married Katie Buchman, daughter of Adam Buchman then took over the farm.

Herman Henschel had married Maria Maurer about 1862. Maria was born in 1849 near Milwaukee where her father settled for a time before coming to Sheboygan County. Maria's parents died from cholera and Mary (Maria) and her brothers George and Conrad were raised by Richard Maurer at Thiensville according to a niece of Emma Herschel Larson in a letter dated July 9, 1958. Maria was fifteen years old when the parents died and to her fell the responsibility of caring for the three other orphaned children, Conrad, George and Molla who was only nine days old at the time.

Wisconsin was a wilderness in those days according to the county history with Indian and white man living side by side. The Maurer children came to live with their neighbors, the Henschels, and a year later Maria married Herman Henschel. To Herman and Mary were born 15 children. In order of birth they were Christine, Minna, Molla, Louis, Charles, Edward, Emma, Mary, Selma, Robert and Walter. Four children died in infancy or at birth.

A photo of the Herman Henschel residence can be found on page 8 of this PDF: https://townrussell.com/files/History.pdf

Obituary of Herman Henschel

OLD PIONEER IS DEAD AT STURGEON BAY
Herman Henschel, aged 73 years, a pioneer resident of Sheboygan County, died last week at his home in Sturgeon Bay, where he moved four years ago from this county. Death was due to heart failure.

Mr. Henschel was born in Elitz, Saxony, Germany, on March 4, 1842, and came to America with his parents when about seven years of age. His parents settled in Milwaukee, where they lived three years, and then moved to Sheboygan County. Mr. Henschel resided here 59 years.

Decedent is survived by his wife, four daughters and five sons; also 31 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Seven grandchildren died. The survivors are Louis, Charles and Edward, Sevastopol; Robert and Walter, Russell, Mrs. Louis Polster, Sevastopol; Mrs. William Austin, Sturgeon Bay; Mrs. Thomas Mathes, Oregon; and Mrs. Emma Larson, California.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the family residence in Sturgeon Bay, burial being made in Bayside cemetery.
Sheboygan Press February 13, 1915