Backhaus, Nicholas (Nick) (July 5, 1873-Oct. 18, 1954 –husband of Katharine Schwoerer [married June 25, 1901 at St. Gregory Catholic Church in St. Nazianz, Town of Eaton] –after Katharine died on May 16, 1913, Nicholas re-married to Theresa Wesling [married Nov. 14, 1914 at St. Gregory] –son of Henry Backhaus and Margaret Sheidt [Henry and Margaret are buried at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Alverno, Town of Manitowoc Rapids –Henry Dec. 19, 1829-March 24, 1895 –Margaret Feb. 24, 1842-March 11, 1916 –Margaret was the daughter of Theobald Sheidt and Gertrude Drexther] –born at Silver Lake, Town of Manitowoc Rapids –blacksmith and merchant in hardware –on Feb. 1, 1901 purchased the house and blacksmith shop at 102 East Main Street in St. Nazianz from the widow of Joseph Casper, who was the previous village blacksmith –Nicholas lived and worked here until about 1914 –after this date he rented these buildings to others –the blacksmith shop was destroyed in the fire of April 5, 1918 –the house at 102 East Main was sold on Nov. 15, 1930 –on April 25, 1911 purchased the vacant lot at 111 South Fourth Avenue in St. Nazianz and about 1914 a house was built –this house was then destroyed in the fire of April 5, 1918 –in 1933 Nicholas built a post office building on this same lot and then made a long term lease agreement with the US Government for a post office to be located there –on April 25, 1911, also purchased the former George Grieshaber house at 203 South Fourth Avenue in St. Nazianz –Nicholas then razed this building and built a large garage, feed mill, and hardware store –these were all destroyed in the fire of April 5, 1918 –the fire originated in the Backhaus mill –after this fire a new hardware store was built –on Jan. 26, 1934 this hardware store with residence at 203 South Fourth Avenue was sold to Nicholas's son-in-law Anton Meyer and his wife Mary Backhaus –on May 25, 1933 purchased the vacant lot at 106 South Fourth Avenue in St. Nazianz –sometime about 1940 Nicholas had a Sears and Roebuck house built on this lot – on Sept. 20, 1940 Nicholas sold this house to his son Edmund Backhaus –from Nov. 16, 1936 to Oct. 6, 1939 owned the house at 211 South Fourth Avenue in St. Nazianz –from Nov. 4, 1944 to Oct. 2, 1954 owned the lot with house at 206 South Second Avenue in St. Nazianz, which he rented to his daughter Ann Theresa Backhaus –died from "myocardial failure –heart disease –pernicious anemia") –buried at St. Gregory Catholic Cemetery in St. Nazianz, Town of Eaton [buried in Section 3, Row 1, Lot 16 –stone] [first marriage record Manitowoc 7-166] [second marriage record Manitowoc 11-551] [death record Manitowoc 48-66]
****************************************
Nicholas Backhaus, 81, of St. Nazianz, passed away at 11 p.m., Monday, at the home of his son, Edmund, St. Nazianz, ager a lingering illness.
He was born July 5, 1873, at Silver Lake. In June, 1900, he was married to Catherine Schwoerer, who preceded him in death on May 16, 1913. He was a member of St. Gregory's Catholic Church and the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.
Survivors include eight children, Mrs. Anton Meyer, Joseph, Edmund, and Henry of St. Nazianz, Mrs. Aloys Wesling, and Mrs. Charles Frewert of Plymouth, Mrs. Joseph Diedrich of Collins, and Frank of Neenah; 14 grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Clara Neuser of Manitowoc.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church, St. Nazianz. The Rev. Frederick Dorn will be celebrant of the requiem high mass and burial will be made in the church cemetery.
The body will lie in state at the Kellenbenz Funeral home, St. Nazianz. Members of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin will pray the rosary at the funeral home at 8 p.m., Wednesday.
The Sheboygan Press Tuesday, October 19, 1954 pg. 10
*************
Funeral services for Nick Backhaus, 81, retired blacksmith and hardware and implement dealer who passed away Monday at the home of his son Edmund in St. Nazianz, were held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Gregory's Church.
The Rev. Frederick Dorn was celebrant of the requiem high mass. Burial was in in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Roman Backhaus, Hartland Meyer, Arthur Schwoerer, Charles Backhaus, Elmer Klein, and Mike Schwoerer.
The Sheboygan Press, Sat., Oct 23, 1934, page 6
(Note: Thus he died Oct 18, 1954; burial on Oct. 21, 1954.
Born Nicholas Backhaus)
********