This is the 250th Back in the Day column that has been printed since February 1, 2020. I continue to be amazed by the attention these columns receive from people around the country who research on the Internet. And now these columns are being posted on the Monroe Public Library homepage (https://www.monroepubliclibrary.org/), which will make them even more accessible for researchers.
I received a voicemail on August 4, 2024 from Christi McNett that simply said, “I absolutely enjoy your columns. There was a story in there that I was really interested in because it involved a farm between here and the Junction House. That Hasse farm was my grandparents’ and great grandparents’. I really enjoyed it and shared it with many family members. Keep it up, Matt. Thanks.”
I received another voice message from Sandra Meyer on January 28, which simply said, “Hi. My name is Sandra Meyer and I’m calling from Milwaukee about three columns that were really inspirational for three different families.”
When we talked later, Sandra shared the three different topics that were of interest to her. Her grandfather, Emil Preisig, worked for Harry Ammann at the Clarno Lumber Yard for 39 years and rented the house next door from Mr. Ammann. The column about the Schaar Lumber yard that was printed on September 14, 2024 reminded Sandra of her memories of visiting her grandparents in Clarno as a child.
She sent the columns about the fire that destroyed the Jacob Regez home, which were printed in May 2024, to her husband’s first cousin, John Meyer, in California. John was the son of Frederick and Elise (Regez) Meyer. She continued to look through the columns and found the column about the dispute between John Stuckey and Christ Milheim that had been printed in March 2023. She was able to share this with her friend, Rex Millheam, who is Chris Milheim’s great-grandson.
Sandra came to Monroe on June 9 with a large tote filled with memorabilia from her family as well as a USB drive with photos and memories of the Clarno area. One never knows when something that she shared might become a column — or part of a column.
I continually tell people who comment on my columns that I only keep writing them because of the comments I receive. There is no reason for me to write the columns if I don’t know that people are reading them. I always write about topics that I find interesting and hope that others will also find them either interesting or entertaining.
I mentioned in a column about the United States House (printed on January 6, 2024) that Stephan Schuetze-Coburn from California had contacted me in September 2023 about a column that I had done on his ancestor, Anton Miller, and we have been in contact ever since. I knew that he was related to Bill Schuetze, who now lives in Georgia, and I put them in touch with each other. They had had a brief contact years earlier. Whenever I find information about any of their Schuetze relatives, I email it to them to share with the rest of their family.
Stephan, like me, is very interested in learning more about his ancestry and travels to where they used to live. So he made arrangements with his brother, Scott Schuetze, of Michigan, to travel to Monroe to see the sights and walk where their ancestors had previously walked. Stephan planned the entire trip via the Internet; during their days here they were able to do everything that was on their “bucket list” for Monroe. The men, along with their wives, arrived late Thursday evening, May 1. Fortunately, cousin Bill was also able to make the trip and they met at Amy’s Corner Cafe on Friday morning where they became acquainted.
I met up with them later that morning and gave them a tour of the downtown area, starting with the Suisse Haus where they received a full tour, including one of the rooms where their relatives might have slept more than a century before. Anton Miller, who opened the City Hotel in that building in 1879, was one of their common ancestors. From there we toured the Courthouse where much information about their ancestors was recorded. We then walked to the Monroe Arts Center, which is housed in the former Methodist Church, where their ancestors were members. By then it was lunchtime so we went back to the Suisse Haus where all four tried (and liked!) the Limburger sandwich.
After lunch we went to the library, the former Ludlow Memorial Library, and the Green County Historical Society museum before returning to the Square. In the museum, Scott found their grandfather’s graduation photo hanging in the stairwell inside the front door. Bill and I then left the group so they could tour more on their own. They made the most of their time in Green County by going to New Glarus, taking the Walking Tour of downtown Monroe, finding their ancestors graves at Greenwood Cemetery, and eating at Turner Hall. In addition, they experienced a superb tour at the National Historic Cheesemaking Center, which had significance because their great-grandfather, Louis Schuetze, had worked for Borden for a time. They left Sunday morning with many pleasant memories of the weekend.
As you may remember from the final column about Peter Wells that was printed on June 28, I mentioned that I’d like to find a photograph of him. I really did not hold high hopes of receiving one, at least not very quickly. However, I was amazed when I received an email on July 20 from his brother’s descendent, Sue Sadowsky, with a photograph attached. Peter’s brother, William, contributed to building the town of West Union, Iowa. The entire Wells family has to be extremely proud of their heritage.
— Matt Figi is a Monroe resident and a local historian. His column will appear periodically on Saturdays in the Times. He can be reached at mfigi48@tds.net or at 608-325-6503.