Kathleen Marsh

Competing histories make finding truth hard

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 08/27/2024 - 12:04pm

Shortly before Christmas 1864, my great-great-aunt Margarethe Walter said a tearful goodbye to her husband, Johann, certain she would never see him again. A Sheboygan County German immigrant farmer, Johann was forced to leave her and their baby daughter to join the Union Army during the Civil War. Margarethe’s premonition was spot on, but in a way she could not have imagined.

Book continues story about iron pot

Published by admin on Mon, 07/22/2024 - 1:33pm

The story my father told me about my great-great grandmother’s cast iron pot was in large part corroborated by a distant cousin, Donna Holschuh Haanen. Her book, “The Holzschuh Families of Geisfeld, Germany,” was published in 2007. It took Donna (whose name is spelled without the z) 10 years to compile the book, but it’s absolutely priceless. I’m so glad I have it, but in truth, it sat undisturbed on my bookshelf until I began writing about my favorite soup kettle.

Golden pot made of iron useful on journey

Published by admin on Wed, 07/03/2024 - 11:50am

While relating a fascinating piece of family history, my father told me the decision to emigrate to America began taking shape for my ancestors John George Holzschuh and his wife, Anna Maria, in 1850. As they contemplated the prospective trip, one burning question demanded an answer. America was a huge place — wild, unfamiliar, fearsome. If they did go, where would they settle?

Sit right back, and you’ll hear a tale

Published by admin on Sat, 06/22/2024 - 10:35am

June 6, 2024, was the end of a multi-generational tradition that culminated in a dispersal sale at Hilrose Dairy Farm in Sherwood. It was a bittersweet ending to a love story that started almost two centuries ago in Hausen, Germany. It’s my family’s story, but it’s certainly not unique. Tens of thousands of similar events have occurred across Wisconsin during the past 50 years. I’m recording what happened because seismic economic change affects real people’s lives. The story starts with a simple cooking pot.

Summer hummers, bummers around the corner

Published by admin on Fri, 06/07/2024 - 11:47am

While getting ready for Memorial Day weekend and a houseful of family coming to Otter Run, I took a mid-morning break and headed out to sit a bit on the porch swing, cup of coffee in hand. It was an absolutely beautiful day. The lake was calm and the trees almost fully budded. I was enchanted by a swallowtail butterfly checking out my white lilac bushes, truly savoring the moment. Summer hummer.

Behind great Memorial Day was motivated woman

Published by admin on Tue, 05/14/2024 - 11:20am

If you aren’t planning to attend a Memorial Day Ceremony this year, I’ll skip the usual sermon scolding you for viewing the holiday as the kickoff to summer fun and not the solemn occasion it should be. Instead, I’ll share the history of Memorial Day. As is too often the case, it never made the history books that it was women who were most instrumental in creating this patriotic exercise embedded in our national identity.

Not everyone can easily become a mother

Published by admin on Tue, 04/30/2024 - 11:02am

“As American as motherhood and apple pie” is a simile meant to represent things Americans consider sacrosanct. In recent years, the very act of becoming a mother has given birth to an impassioned national conversation. No, I’m not going there, but I was there in 1974. You may not agree with my decision, but it was my decision to make.

Bewitched by books, library mission goes on

Published by admin on Tue, 04/16/2024 - 3:49pm

I’ve been deeply involved in the library business since 2017. At a November town meeting, I respectfully asked the board if anything could be done about the $45,000 bill we owed to Oconto County for library services. I knew much of it went to fund faraway Brown County libraries, though Townsend had a handful of residents using them.

The town chairwoman responded with a flat-out no.

“Have we tried?” I asked.

In an exasperated tone, she replied, “You try!”

Farm life admirable, but not easy in practice

Published by admin on Tue, 04/02/2024 - 12:26pm

As a fellow columnist recently observed, the lineup of opinion and feature writers that NEW Media has assembled is impressive. I’m proud to be a part of this group which covers such a wide variety of interesting topics that readers tell me they turn to the columns first. Count me among them.

Women’s month good time to look at health

Published by admin on Thu, 03/14/2024 - 12:22pm

March is National Women’s Month. I’m not one to pass up the chance to celebrate anything, so let’s toast the fabulous females in our lives. Kudos to all of the wonderful women whose lives intersect with mine. You are my role models, my inspiration and my mental salvation in these trying times.