John Jansen Sr.

  General Notes:

THE KAUKAUNA LUMBER AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, one of the large industrial enterprises of this section, was organized and incorporated in 1884, succeeding Hewitt Bros. & Jansen. The first officers of the company were: Henry Hewitt, Jr., president; John Jansen, vice-president; and J. C. Mitchell, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Hewitt sold his interest in 1893 and Mr. Mitchell his interest in 1889. The present officers are: John Jansen, president; Joseph J. Jansen, vice-president; and John M. Jansen, secretary and treasurer. The plant occupies two and one-half acres on the island, operates its own saw mill and does a wholesale and retail business. It manufactures bank and office fixtures and high grade interior decorations and does a business of about $300,000 a year. Employment is afforded thirty people. This company installed the first electric circular saw in the United States. It operates Central Station electric plant.

John Jansen, the venerable president of the above company, who is now retired from much active participation, was born in the province of North Brabant, Netherlands, in 1835, and was fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents from Holland to America. He was reared in the family of Capt. James Boyd, in Brown county, and learned to work hard and at heavy tasks in the woods and in saw mills. In 1868 he started to operate a saw mill for John Stovekin, later bought an interest in it and still later the whole mill and retained it entire until 1880, when he sold a one-half interest. Mr. Jansen has been thrice married, his present wife, prior to marriage, having been Frances Rademacher who was born in Buchanan township, Outagamie county. Henry, a son of his first marriage, lives at Marinette. John M., residing at Kaukauna, has a wife and two children. Mary is the wife of Edward Guessenhainer, and they live at Neuminster, Holstein, Germany. Clara is the wife of Frank B. Fargo and they live at Vancouver, Canada. Joseph J. is a resident of Kaukauna. Theresa is deceased. Sarah is the wife of Eugene Taylor, residing at Appleton. Frances married Theodore Ellsworth and they live in this city. Mr. Jansen and family are members of the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Joseph and John J. are members of the Knights of Columbus and Joseph is also identified with the Foresters, the Elks, the Mystic Workers and the Royal Arcanum. He is serving in his third term as alderman from the Second ward and has been a member of the water commission. In earlier days Mr. Jansen also served as an alderman from the Second ward. ²

  Research Notes:

This is very likely the John Jansen Sr. who married Margaret Diedrich.

The interesting connection is that John Jansen was operating the saw mill for John Stoveken in 1868. This saw mill was built by Henry Hewitt and John Stoveken abt 1865-1867. It makes sense that John Stoveken's brother in law John Jansen would be brought into the "Family" business. The plat maps circa 1883 show that the Saw mill named Kaukauna Lumber was adjacent (50 feet west of) the Eagle Mill that John Stoveken and his brother Henry Frambach owned. I believe this also adds credibility that Peter Diedrich had owned this piece of land before John Stoveken married Gertrude Diedrich.

The date of marriage for John Jansen and Margaret Diedrich is likely abt 1855

I will look for the marriage record the next time I can get to the Archdiocese for look up's. ³

John married Margaret Diedrich, daughter of Peter Diedrich and Anna Maria Jung, about 1855 in Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA.¹ (Margaret Diedrich was born in 1837 in Köln, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, DEU ⁴ and died on 15 Jul 1886 in Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ⁵.)

  Marriage Notes:

Margaret St.

Margaret Diedrich was the oldest daughter of Peter Diedrich. She married John Jansen, Sr. and died on July 15, 1886, shortly after her marriage. ⁶