Generation No. 1

1. JOSEPH¹ MAAS was born Unknown in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, and died Bef. 1799 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia. He married ANNA HELLENDORF Abt. 1770 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, daughter of PHILIPP HELLENDORF and ANGELA MANNEBACH.

Notes for JOSEPH MAAS:
All of this information was found in the Freudenburg Church records book that Klaus Sieren published - 1675/1875.

Children of JOSEPH MAAS and ANNA HELLENDORF are:
        i. MARIA² MAAS, b. December 24, 1771, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
2. ii. JOSEPH MAAS, b. September 15, 1773, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. August 01, 1813, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
        iii. JOHANN MAAS, b. July 10, 1776, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. July 13, 1776, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
        iv. MARIA MAAS, b. September 14, 1777, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
        v. JOHANN MAAS, b. August 19, 1780, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
        vi. ANNA MAAS, b. January 30, 1783, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. February 06, 1824, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; m. MICHAEL KAYSER, December 22, 1807, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.

Generation No. 2

2. JOSEPH² MAAS (JOSEPH¹) was born September 15, 1773 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, and died August 01, 1813 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia. He married ANGELA NEISES January 11, 1801 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, daughter of CONRAD NEISES and SUSANNA TURCK.

More on the Herber Family
Children of JOSEPH MAAS and ANGELA NEISES are:
3. i. JOSEF³ MAAS, b. January 15, 1802, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. February 12, 1881, Town Meeme, Manitowoc County, WI.
        ii. JOHANN MAAS, b. October 22, 1803, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; m. MAGDALENA SCHMITT.
        iii. MICHAEL MAAS, b. February 20, 1806, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
        iv. NIKOLAUS MAAS, b. January 09, 1810, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; m. MARIA HERBER.

Notes for NIKOLAUS MAAS:
The Nikolaus Maas family emigrated to Cleveland, WI. They are both buried on St. Wendel Cemetery, Cleveland, WI.

Generation No. 3

3. JOSEF³ MAAS (JOSEPH², JOSEPH¹) was born January 15, 1802 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, and died February 12, 1881 in Town Meeme, Manitowoc County, WI. He married SUSANNA WELSCH January 07, 1823 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, daughter of TILMAN WELSCH and MARGARETHA GROSS.

Notes for JOSEF MAAS:
Josef Maas Sr. and wife Susanna, & Josef Maas Jr. & wife Margaretha Herber came to America on the 13 May 1863 with 800 talers, ($8.00.00). Joseph and Susanna are both buried on St. Gregory's cemetery, St. Nazianz, WI.

Notes for SUSANNA WELSCH:
Josef Maas and Susanna Welsch came to America on 13 May 1862, with their son Josef and his wife Maria Herber. We have the passenger list for them also.

Children of JOSEF MAAS and SUSANNA WELSCH are:
4. i. ANGELA⁴ MAAS, b. August 11, 1824, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. December 16, 1892, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI.
5. ii. JOSEF MAAS, b. March 15, 1826, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. May 11, 1903, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI.

Generation No. 4

4. ANGELA⁴ MAAS (JOSEF³, JOSEPH², JOSEPH¹) was born August 11, 1824 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, and died December 16, 1892 in Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI. She married PETER BINVERSIE February 08, 1844 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, son of JOHN BIWERSI and HELENA LANG.

More About ANGELA MAAS:
Date born 2: August 11, 1824
Fact 2: All of Peter and Angela's daughter's married 'John's'.

Notes for PETER BINVERSIE:
Peter Biwersi was born on 15th July 1813 at Freudenburg, Prussia the son of Johann Biwersi and Helena Lang. He died at the age of 80 on the 24th Nov. 1893 at the farm home about one half mile west of School Hill, WI.

He married Angela Maas 8 Feb. 1844 at St. Trinitatis Church in Freudenburg, Prussia - Germany today. Angela was born 11 Aug. 1824 at Freudenburg, the daughter of Joseph Maas and Susanna Welsch. Her parents also came to the School Hill area and are buried at St. Gregory's, St. Nazianz, WI. Angela died 16 Dec. 1892 on their farm near School Hill of cancer of the breast. She was 68 years of age. Angela and Peter are buried side by side on St. Gregory's Cemetery at St. Nazianz.

Peter and Angela had three children: Helen, Margaret, & Catherine when they came from Prussia. My mother, Elizabeth Kestell told me that her mother had told her that there were twins born on the trip overseas that died and were buried at sea. Margaret was four years old. The Binversie's came to Wisconsin in 1851.

Peter and Angela bought their farm in the town of Meeme, Manitowoc County, on 19 Dec. 1860, from George & Griesins Sohn for $90.00 for 20 acres. They bought more land later. They had three more children after they came to America, Nicholas, William and Mary. Helen Binversie married John Schaller, Margaret Binversie married John Netzer, Catherine married John Stiefvater, the Twins died on trip overseas, Nicholas married Anna Weiter, William married Regina Schuler, and Mary married John Elias.

All of the Binversie girls married "Johns". Mary's husband was not well liked by her family, and when she died, the family must have put her grave stone on her grave, and she is listed as " Maria Benversie"

Peter and Angela's youngest son William, took over the operation of the home farm after their retirement, and his parents lived with them just a very short time, when they had both died. William and Regina married on the 1 Feb. 1892. Angela died the 16 Dec. 1892, and Peter died 24 Nov. 1893. The farm was in the Binversie family until about 1981.

The Binversie name has several different spellings. The most common in the past was spelled "Benversie", as it is spelled on the gravestones on the Cemetery at St. Nazianz, WI. Today the spelling is "Binversie". "Biwersie" is the original spelling in Germany and is still spelled that way there today.

Joseph Maas and Margretha Herber - brother of Angela's, also came to Wisconsin, with his and Angela's parents, and bought a farm right next to them. He bought his farm on the 10th of September 1863 for $375.00 for 80 acres. He was known as "Uncle Maas" to the Netzer family when they were children.

Nicolaus Biwerse, a brother of Peter's, also came to Manitowoc County in the Cleveland area. His name always stayed "Biwersie". He married Angela (?) and had their first child Maria on the 17th of January 1872. He was not married in Germany, as I have the records saying that he was single when he left Germany. Angela died 12 February 1872, after the birth of her child, and the child died 17 July 1872. Nicolaus then married Helena Wagner 7th Nov. 1872, who was the daughter of Jacob Wagner and Catharina Schwanikum. Helena was born in New York.

A Nicolaus Maas, who I did think might be a brother of Angela's and Josef, is not a brother, but an uncle who was a brother to Angela's father Joseph.

More About PETER BINVERSIE:
Fact 2: Abt. 1851, Peter and Angela and the first three children came to Wisconsin. The rest of th

Children of ANGELA MAAS and PETER BINVERSIE are:
        i. HELEN⁵ BINVERSIE, b. December 01, 1844, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia (Germany); d. February 21, 1915, Colby, WI; m. JOHN SCHALLER, June 24, 1861, St. Gregory's, St. Nazianz, WI.

Notes for JOHN SCHALLER:
 John Schaller and Helen Binversie Schaller lived in School Hill, WI until 1874, when they moved to a farm southwest of Colby, WI. They moved back to School Hill about 1897.

George C. Fecker, married Adeline Schaller, and William D. Fecker, married Angeline Schaller (two sisters and two brothers) in a double marriage ceremony on the 6 July 1898 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, School Hill, WI.

The four of them celebrated 50 years of marriage with a reception, which was held on Tuesday, July 6, 1948 on the George Fecker farm southeast of Colby in the town of Hull, WI. (Information came from a newspaper clipping),

        ii. MARGARET BINVERSIE, b. February 25, 1847, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. November 08, 1917, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI; m. JOHN NETZER, January 21, 1869, St. Nazianz, WI - St. Gregory's Church.
        iii. CATHERINE BINVERSIE, b. March 12, 1850, Freudenburg, Prussia; d. August 16, 1893, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI; m. JOHANN STIEFVATER, February 09, 1876, Holy Trinity, School Hill, Town Meeme, WI.
        iv. BABY BINVERSIE, b. Abt. 1851; d. Abt. 1851, died at sea on trip to America.

Notes for BABY BINVERSIE:
The two baby Binversie's were twins that were born on the trip to America. Both of them were born and died at sea.

        v. BABY BINVERSIE, b. Abt. 1851; d. Abt. 1851, On trip to America at sea.
        vi. NICHOLAS BINVERSIE, b. July 24, 1855, School Hill, Manitowoc Co.; d. November 19, 1921, School Hill, Manitowoc Co.; m. ANNA WEITER, June 17, 1884, St. Gregory's, St. Nazianz, WI.

Notes for NICHOLAS BINVERSIE:
The following death records from the Manitowoc Court House: Vol. 17, page 221, Vol. 3, page 124, Vol. 3, P. 354, Vol. 4, p. 125, Vol. 4 p. 129, Vol. 6, p. 261, Vol. 16 p. 68. School Hill Cemetery records.

The Binversie name has several spellings. It is still spelled "Biwersi" in Germany today. It is also spelled Beversie, Benversie, and Beneversie on the grave stones at St. Gregory in St. Nazianz.

More About NICHOLAS BINVERSIE:
Occupation: Farmer in the town of Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI

Notes for ANNA WEITER:
Anna Weiter died of Carcinoma of urethra, bladder and vagina.

        vii. WILLIAM BINVERSIE, b. May 10, 1859, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI; d. September 28, 1932, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI; m. REGINA SCHULER, February 01, 1892.

Notes for WILLIAM BINVERSIE:
The William Binversies had three daughters who became nuns. They were: Theresa, who became Sister Eulogia; Josephine who became Sister Bernice; and Margaret who became Sister Gabriel.

        viii. MARY BINVERSIE, b. April 27, 1865, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI; d. May 07, 1893, Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI; m. JOHN ELIAS, Unknown, St. GregoryIs, St. Nazianz, WI.

More About JOHN ELIAS:
Occupation: All of Peter & Angela Binversie's daughters, married "JOHN's"

5. JOSEF⁴ MAAS (JOSEF³, JOSEPH², JOSEPH¹) was born March 15, 1826 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, and died May 11, 1903 in Town Meeme, Manitowoc Co., WI. He married MARGARETHA HERBER January 21, 1847 in Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia, daughter of MICHAEL HERBER and ANNA WOLF.

More on the Herber Family

Notes for JOSEF MAAS:
Josef Maas Jr. & his wife Margaretha and their children left Freudenburg for America on 13 May 1863. He became a naturalized citizen on the 2 Nov. 1868 in Manitowoc County.

Children of JOSEF MAAS and MARGARETHA HERBER are:
        i. ANNA M.⁵ MAAS, b. October 01, 1847.
        ii. PETER MAAS, b. September 15, 1849, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia; d. September 25, 1849, Freudenburg, Bizerk Trier, Prussia.
        iii. MARGARETHA MAAS, b. September 18, 1850.
        iv. NIKOLAUS MAAS, b. August 30, 1853.
        v. ANNA MAAS, b. January 16, 1857.
        vi. MARIA MAAS, b. May 05, 1861; m. JOHN JOSEF DRESSEL.