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Alois Letcher.
His nickname was "Alex". He was known to his nieces and nephews as "Uncle Alex". He is also listed as "Alex" Letcher, on his marriage certificate, and also in his sister Pauline's obituary.
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Alois is the son of Joseph Letcher Sr. and his wife Magdalena Koch, of Willisau, in the Canton of Luzern in Switzerland, and (later), of Naperville, DuPage County Illinois.
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His name is pronounced as "Al-lois".
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Alois was born in Willisau, in the Canton of Luzern, in Switzerland, on Dec. 14, 1885
(per his birth record, obtained...
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Alois Letcher.
His nickname was "Alex". He was known to his nieces and nephews as "Uncle Alex". He is also listed as "Alex" Letcher, on his marriage certificate, and also in his sister Pauline's obituary.
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Alois is the son of Joseph Letcher Sr. and his wife Magdalena Koch, of Willisau, in the Canton of Luzern in Switzerland, and (later), of Naperville, DuPage County Illinois.
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His name is pronounced as "Al-lois".
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Alois was born in Willisau, in the Canton of Luzern, in Switzerland, on Dec. 14, 1885
(per his birth record, obtained at their Catholic Church, in Willisau, Switzerland, in 1970 "after" Alois had passed away).
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Alois immigrated to the United States at Ellis Island, New York on Dec. 18, 1893, with his parents and two siblings, when he was 8 years old (he turned 8 while on the ship). His family also brought two little boys to the U.S. with them, ages seven and four, both named Joseph Koch. They were the children of Magdalena's unwed sisters Mary and Rosa Koch, who had immigrated previously.
Note: Records in their Catholic church in Willisau, Switzerland, show that Magdalena was the godmother for one of these boys. Could she have been for both of them?
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See the memorial for one of these boys, named Joseph Albert Koch (1885-1971) of Tennessee, on this find-a-grave web site.
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Note: Their immigration records are listed under Joseph "Lotscher", and "portions" of the records (that were later typed), can be viewed at: www.ellisisland.org
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Their entire "original" ship passenger records (written in the original handwriting), can be viewed on microfilm, in the genealogy department, at the Allen County Public Library, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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A man named "Johann Felder", age 29, is also listed next to their names (on the "original" ship passenger records, on microfilm), with his destination also listed as Naperville, Illinois (from Switzerland to Naperville). Could he be a relative, who traveled with them?
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Note: A granddaughter of Alois's brother Joseph, named Janet (Letcher) Harper, has had Alois's family added to "The American Immigrant Wall Of Honor" at Ellis Island, New York, in the name of "The Joseph G. Lotscher Family", located on Panel # 720. (See it listed on their web site). If you ever visit Ellis Island, be sure to look for their name (spelled as "Lotscher"), on "The American Immigrant Wall of Honor", on Panel number 720.
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It is thought that Alois and his family lived with his mother's brother Joseph Koch, on his dairy farm in Naperville, Ilinois when they first arrived in the United States. (The location of his dairy farm is "now" the site of the Edward Hospital). Alois's youngest sister Pauline was possibly born on his dairy farm, and she later died in the Edward Hospital (born and died in the same exact location, per: Pauline's daughter).
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Note: Magdalena's brother Joseph Koch later moved to Memphis, Tennessee in late 1896 or in 1897. Magdalena's sister Mary (Koch) Duerbusch also later moved to Memphis, Tennessee (between 1930 and 1940).
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Alois had one older brother named Joseph George ("Joe") Letcher, and two younger sisters, Mary Cecelia (Mrs. George A. Yender Jr.), and Pauline (Mrs. Clarence T. Brown). Pauline was born in 1895, "after" they had settled in Naperville, Illinois.
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In Switzerland, their surname was spelled "Lotscher", with two dots over the "o", called an "umlaut". This was the spelling in both their Catholic Church records in Willisau, Switzerland, and on the ship passenger records when they immigrated to the United States. When the name was typed on a typewriter which had no "umlaut" key, it was spelled as "Loetscher". When the "umlaut" is removed, that changes the spelling, because the "unlaut" takes the place of a vowel.
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When doing research on this family in Switzerland, look under "both" spellings, "Lotscher" and "Loetscher".
The family switched to the spelling of "Letcher" after they had settled in Naperville, DuPage County Illinois.
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Note: The town of Willisau is located W.- N.W. of the large town of Luzern, and also, North - N.-W. of the villages of Wolhusen, Mensberg, Doppleschwand, and Romoos. Willisau is in the North-Central part of Switzerland, which is the part where Swiss-German is spoken: a dialect which about 64 percent of the nation speaks.
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Note: See the memorials for his mother Magdalena's three siblings, who all three immigrated to the U.S. before Magdalena did, and who all three were married in the Sts. Peter and Paul (Catholic) Church in Naperville, Illinois, on this "find-a-grave" website:
1. Joseph Koch Sr., of Memphis, Tenn.
2. Mary (Koch) Duerbusch, of Tenn.
3. Rosa (Koch) Keller, of Michigan.
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Alois and his family were members of the Sts. Peter and Paul (Catholic) Church in Naperville, Illinois.
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It is not known if Alois and his siblings attended the Sts. Peter and Paul School, as there are no existing records available listing the students of this school for that time period (per: the church office). This school was taught in English one half of the day, and in German the other half of the day. They very well could have attended the church's school, as they lived right in the town of Naperville, and they attended the Sts. Peter and Paul Church. (The children of Alois's sister Mary (Letcher) Yender, later attended the Sts. Peter and Paul School).
For additional information on the Sts. Peter and Paul School, see the memorial for their Priest at Sts. Peter and Paul, Rev. August Wenker, of Illinois.
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Alois had just turned 13 years of age when his mother Magdalena died of "post operation infection" on Dec. 30, 1898, at the age of 38, only five years after they immigrated (per: church records).
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The 1900 census of Naperville, DuPage County Illinois shows Alois Letcher, age 14, living as a servant with a farming family by the name of Morris J. Kessler (for his room and board, or perhaps to earn extra money for his family).
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Alois had just turned 17 years of age when his father Joseph Letcher Sr. died (four years after Magdalena died), in Naperville, Illinois, of pneumonia, on Dec. 29, 1902, which left the four children orphans.
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The "Sts. Peter and Paul (Catholic) Church", in Naperville, Illinois, then helped to find homes for these four children.
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Alois and his brother Joseph then went to live on the farms of seperate "Ehrhart" families in the area.
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Note: Edward Ehrhart was a "witness" (in the wedding party), for the marriage of Alois's Aunt Rosa Koch to Alex Keller on June 6, 1893 at the Sts. Peter and Paul (Catholic) Church in Naperville, Illinois. (A Naperville township plat map, shows that five different Ehrhart families were living in the area).
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His youngest sister Pauline (age 7), was adopted by Herman H. Bockhop and his wife Emma D. (Hallen) Bockhop.
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Alois's sister Mary (age almost 11), was "taken in" as a foster child by William and Frances Drifus (but they never adopted her).
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Note: Thanks to the efforts of his sister Mary's civic minded son Andy Yender, the farmhouse once owned by Alois's sister Mary and her husband George Yender Jr., has been moved to downtown Lisle, Illinois and is now part of a museum complex at "Lisle Station Park" on Burlington Avenue, in Lisle, Illinois (East of Naperville), which is open to the public. This museum complex also includes a "Chicago, Burlington and Quincy" railroad depot and cabose, a 1830's tavern, and a blacksmith shop. The Lisle Heritage Society hosts the "Depot Days" celebration there every September. The Yender farmhouse also has some of Alois' sister Mary Yender's school books, and a milk bottle from the Yender dairy, that was owned by Alois' sister Mary and her husband George Yender Jr. See the following web site: (www.lisleparkdistrict.org/lsmfeatures.htm).
Also see the memorial for Alois's sister, Mary (Letcher) Yender, of Illinois, on this web site.
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Mary's son Andy Yender tells us that Alois Letcher and his sons would bring a pick-up truck full of bushels of apples from his farm in Buchanan, Michigan, to sell at his sister Mary Yender's grocery and market, located on Ogden Avenue, between Naperville and Lisle, Illinois. They would line up the bushels of apples on both sides of the driveway, going up to the two barns. Alois Letcher would spend the night there, while his sons would return home to Buchanan, Michigan to get another load of apples. Andy said his Uncle Alois Letcher was a lot of fun, and that Alois told them he could remember their home in Switzerland, which had a loft upstairs, where they slept.
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Many of Alois's documents have incorrect information on his birth, because when they immigrated, Alois was too young to remember his correct "date of birth".
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Later, his sister Mary's grandson, Ronald Yender, now known as "Father Basil - Yender" (who was studying to become a Catholic priest), went to their Catholic Parish in Willisau, Switzerland in 1970 ["after" Alois had died], and obtained their birth records, and the marriage record of their parents Joseph and Magdalena.
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Alois was married (as "Alex" Letcher), to Alice Ketchum on Sept. 8, 1909 at the Sts. Peter and Paul (Catholic) Church in Naperville, DuPage County Illinois by Rev. August Wenker, the Catholic Priest. Members of the wedding party were James Ketchum and Stella Ketchum (siblings of Alice), Mary Letcher (sister of Alois), and Herman A. F. Jordan (per their marriage certificate, and also, per Andy Yender, the son of Alois's sister, Mary (Letcher) Yender).
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Note: Herman A. F. Jordan was born in Germany on Dec. 28, 1865. Herman immigrated from Germany in 1881, with his parents Christian F. Jordan and Caroline (Mueller) Jordan. Herman and his wife Sarah Jane (Bottoms) Jordan lived in Naperville, with their son John C. Jordan. Herman's occupation is listed as an engineer (probably for the railroad). Herman Jordan died in Naperville, on Feb. 5, 1943, at the age of 77. Herman and his parents, and wife Sarah, are buried in the "Naperville Cemetery" (not the Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery), in Naperville, Illinois (Section 4, Lot 47).
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Note: See the memorial for his wife Alice Letcher, to read about her losing her citizenship when they were married.
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See a picture of the church that they were married in, on the memorial for Alois' father Joseph Letcher Sr., of Illinois.
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Note: On a postcard which Alois's sister Mary Letcher sent to her sister Pauline, following Alois's wedding, she states that their Aunt Mary (Koch) Duerbusch had missed the train, and that John Neff (a relative of the family), was gone, so she (Mary Letcher) was the only relative on Alois's side of the family at Alois and Alice's wedding. (Alois's sister Mary was a bridesmaid).
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Note: After the death of their parents, the Sts. Peter and Paul Church arranged for Alois Letcher and his brother Joseph Letcher to live with separate "Erhart" families, that lived in the area. Joseph Letcher's granddaughter tells us that the family that Joseph lived with made Joseph stay home and do the farm chores while the rest of the family went to church. Joseph resented the Sts. Peter and Paul church after that. Joseph Letcher and his wife Ida May did not attend the wedding of Alois Letcher and Alice Ketchum at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Joseph and his wife Ida May Ketchum (sister of Alice), were married in the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Eola, Illinois (West of Naperville), in 1906 (although they had their first two children baptized at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Naperville). Alois and his brother Joseph ("Joe") G. Letcher, married sisters, Alice and Ida May Ketchum.
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Note: Alois NEVER went by the name of "Aloysius". The only document where we have found him listed by this name, is on his son Paul's baptism certificate, because the Roman Catholic Church commonly used the "latin" spelling of names, in their baptism records.
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In 1908, Alois was the Godfather for Grace Mary Letcher, the daughter of his brother Joseph G. Letcher, at her baptizem, in Naperville, Illinois.
In 1910, Alois was also the Godfather (or "sponsor") for Harvey James Letcher, the son of his brother Joseph G. Letcher, in Naperville, Illinois.
The other "sponsor" at Harvey's baptism was John Neff, a relative of the family.
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Alois and Alice Letcher had three sons: Paul, Russell, and Ward. (They are listed in the memorial for his wife Alice Letcher).
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Note: The godfather at the baptism for Alois's eldest child Paul Letcher, at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, in Naperville, Illinois, in 1911, was John Neff, who was a relative of the family.
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Note: John Neff was born on May 1, 1866 in Luzern Canton, Switzerland. In the 1900 and 1910 census', he is living (as a single man), near Naperville, in Lisle township, DuPage County Illinois, with farm families, and working as a farm hand. John Neff was married to Katharina Kaelin, on June 6, 1911, by Rev. August Wenker, Catholic Priest, of the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, in Naperville, Illinois. Alois Letcher's sister Mary Letcher, was the maid-of-honor at John Neff's wedding. John Neff and his wife Katharina had a daughter, Freida Christina Neff, born Sept. 9, 1912 in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. (Note: Alois's brother Joseph Letcher purchased a farm in Buchanan, MI in 1912). John Neff died (as a married man), on Jan. 8, 1914, at the age of 47, in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. John Neff's probate record (will), lists both Alois Letcher and his brother Joseph Letcher, of Naperville, Illinois (because Alois had borrowed some money from John Neff in Oct. of 1909, and in Feb. of 1910, and Joseph Letcher had borrowed some money from John Neff in 1902 (was this one for Joseph Sr. or Joseph Jr.?), in 1906, 1907, and 1909). These loans were probably to start out their married lives with in Naperville, as they were made about the time Joseph and Alois were each married.
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On Nov. 11, 1911 (11-11-1911), Alois's brother Joseph G. Letcher and his wife Ida May were renting the Calvin Steck farm in Naperville township, near Big Woods (N.-W. of Naperville), when it was hit by a tornado and the barn demolished. A number of Joe's cattle were killed, while others were badly hurt. Two windmills were demolished and other buildings wrecked. Article published in the "Naperville Clarion" newspaper, in Naperville, Illinois, on Wed. Nov. 15, 1911, Page one (front page).
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On March 6, 1912, Alois's brother Joseph ("Joe") Letcher purchased a farm in Buchanan, Michigan.
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On Sept. 9, 1912, John Neff and his wife Katherine (Kaelin) Neff's daughter Freida Neff was born in Buchanan, Michigan.
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In 1913, Alois's Aunt Rosa (Koch) Keller (his mother's sister), moved to a farm they had purchased in Buchanan, Michigan, with her seven children, after the death of her husband (which they had purchased before he died).
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Note: Alois's wife Alice had a sister named Jennie (Ketchum) Watry who moved to Buchanan, MI in 1917 (per the obit for Jennie's husband John F. Watry Jr.). Jennie is also listed as living in Buchanan, MI in Nov. of 1918, at the time of their father Leander Eugene Ketchum's death.
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Alois and his family were still living in Eola (West of Naperville), Illinois in Nov. of 1918, at the time of Leander Eugene Ketchum's death.
Alois and his family are listed as still living in Naperville, DuPage County Illinois in the 1920 census.
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Note: Alois's obituary states that he and his wife Alice came to Buchanan, MI "38 years ago" (which would be in 1917). The obituary for Leander E. Ketchum shows that this is NOT correct, as Alois and Alice were still living in Eola, Illinois (west of Naperville), in 1918, and the 1920 census shows Alois and his family still living in Naperville, Illinois. It "should" have said, "35 or 36" years ago (in late 1920, or 1921).
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On August 15, 1919, Alois Letcher purchased a farm containing 171 acres, for the sum of $22,400.oo located at 3575 West Bertrand Road, in Bertrand Township, South of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan, from Frank E. ["Little Frank"] Rough and his wife Daisy L. (Emery) Rough. (Frank Rough had moved to Detroit, Wayne County, MI about 1914 and had rented out the farm to Jay and Mamie Rhoades, until it was sold). Frank had inherited the farm from his parents George G. Rough and his second wife Susan G. (Shetterly) Rough. It was in Section 13 and it continued South into Section 24. This farm was located on both the North and the South sides of West Bertrand Road.
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Note: George G. Rough had purchased this land from the Morley family. William Morley had purchased a land patent from the U.S. government of 140 acres in Section 24, on Oct. 10, 1840 (per: land patent records).
In 1856 the Kansas school district decided to build a school house. The land where the Kansas school was built, was taken from the government by William Morley in 1838 (per: "The Story of Portage Prairie"). In April of 1856, George G. Rough bought it and in that year he gave .71 of an acre to School District No. 2, to build the Kansas School.
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George G. Rough started building this red brick farm-house, at 3575 West Bertrand Road, about 1880.
The home had hardwood floors and woodwork, and a handsome fireplace in the parlor. George G. Rough died in this home at 3575 West Bertrand Road on Oct. 28, 1887.
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The land that the Kansas one-room school was located on, kiddy-corner from their farmhouse, was originally part of this farm. The land was given to School District No. 2, by George G. Rough in 1856, and construction of the Kansas school was started that year. One of the early-day teachers at the Kansas school was Nancy Smith (later known as Nancy Bliss-Studebaker, the wife of DeBert Bliss). Some of the other early teachers there were Frank Boone, and Edith Boone, who both had boarded at the Alois Letcher home.
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This farm is located about 1/4 mile North of the Michigan-Indiana State line. Back then the mailing address of the home at 3575 West Bertrand Road, was listed as South Bend, Indiana (even though the home was located in Berrien County Michigan). This home later had a Niles, Michigan mailing address.
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The 1920 census shows Alois and his family
still living in Naperville, DuPage County
Illinois. Perhaps Alois let the renters
stay on the farm near Buchanan, Michigan
until they were able to find another place
to live, and until Alois was able to move
his family to Michigan.
Note: The renters, Jay and Mamie Rhoades had a "sale" about 1920, and then moved to California.
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The dairy barn burned down while the Letcher family lived there and they replaced it with a new one, including modern milking machines.
Alois and Alice Letcher's first grandchild Mary Pauline Letcher, was born in this red brick farmhouse in 1936, in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
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1940 deed records show that Alois Letcher
and wife, sold 15 acres of land in
Section 24, to Leo Huebner and wife
(per newspaper article in the Benton
Harbor, MI "News-Palladium" newspaper
on April 1, 1940).
In 1947, Alois also sold 14.5 acres
(more or less), to Lyle A. Bachman
(per newspaper article in the
Benton Harbor, MI "News-Palladium"
newspaper on April 28, 1947).
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This area where Alois and his family lived on West Bertrand Road, South of Buchanan, MI was known as "Portage Prairie". A lady that lived in Portage Prairie all of her life, named Alma Vite Hartline, wrote a book titled, "The Story of Portage Prairie". She writes in this book of the "Rough-Letcher" farm, on pages 351 thru 353. She tells of the wonderful care that the Rough and Letcher families took of this farm. She takes one road at a time, and tells of each home and the families that have lived there. She also tells about the Kansas School, located kiddy-corner from their farmhouse (pages 340-349). (See pages 349-353 for information on George G. Rough and his son Frank Rough and this Rough-Letcher farm). A copy of this book can be found in the Niles District Library, in Niles, MI, the Buchanan District Library, and also, at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana (www.acpl.lib.in.us) It also may be purchased at various locations including the Buchanan District Library, and the Buchanan City Hall.
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Note: Alma Vite Hartline was a Great-granddaughter of Jacob Rough (and his wife Nancy), who with his brother George G. Rough, were two of the four Rough brothers who were very early settlers of Portage Prairie. [When George G. Rough came to Michigan about 1852, his wagon was driven by a 14-year-old orphaned boy named Peter Rhoades, who later became the father-in-law of Julia (Dragoo) Rhoades]. Jacob and David Rough arrived in Portage Prairie in 1849. David Rough donated the land for the Portage Prairie Church and Cemetery, in Berrien County Michigan. Margaret (Walmer) Rough, mother of the four boys, died in 1852, and was the first person buried there. Many members of the Rough (rhymes with plow), family are buried there in the Protage Prairie Cemetery. [Note: There is also "another" cemetery, also named "Portage Prairie Cemetery", located just across the state line, North of South Bend, in St. Joseph County Indiana]. George "H." Rough, William R. Rough, and Solomon Rough (sons of David), owned the "Rough Bros. Wagon Works" (factory), in Buchanan, and William R. Rough was once President of Buchanan, and also, President of the "St. Joseph Valley Railroad". In 1877 Harvey D. Rough established a hardware store in Buchanan, with his brothers. In 1879 Harvey became a co-partner of the Rough Bros. Wagon Works. Harvey D. Rough was also listed as the proprietor of the Rough Opera House. George H. Rough was at one time, part owner of the Pears Flour Mill in Buchanan. The Rough family was a very prominent family in Portage Prairie and in the Buchanan area. (Alma V. Hartline taught at the Kansas school for four years (1915-1918), right before the Letcher family purchased the farm there in 1919).
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Note: Portage Prairie is not a town, but an "area" South of Buchanan, Michigan, which also extends South into St. Joseph County Indiana. There are two cemeteries known as "Portage Prairie Cemetery", one in St. Joseph County Indiana (North of South Bend), and another one in Berrien County Michigan (South of Buchanan).
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In 1942, Alois Letcher, of Bertrand (township), Berrien County Michigan, filled out his World War II Draft Registration Card. He states that he was born on Sept. 14, 1885, which is not correct (per his birth records at their church in Switzerland). It "should" have said Dec. 14, 1885.
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An article published in the "News-Palladium" newspaper in Benton Harbor, Michigan tells of Alois Letcher being part of a large class of 91 foreign-born to take their final citizenship exams on Feb. 13, 1942.
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On Feb. 13, 1942, Alois Letcher took the "Oath of Allegiance", and became a "Naturalized Citizen of the United States", in the Circut Court in St. Joseph, Berrien County Michigan (per his naturalization papers).
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On his "Petition For Naturalization", Alois states that he was born on Sept. 14, 1885, which is not correct, according to his birth records in Switzerland. Alois states that he was born in Mansburg, Switzerland, but his older brother Joseph G. Letcher, states on the birth certificate for his eldest son, that he (Joseph), was born in Willisau, Switzerland. Alois also states that he immigrated to the U.S. in April of 1891, which is also not correct, according to his immigration records. [Alois was too young at the time, to remember. Alois was only 7 years of age, when they left Switzerland]. Alois states that he is a white male, with medium complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, five foot and 5 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, and is 56 years of age.
Ira R. Niesweinder [should be "Neiswender"], and Aug Ernst [August C. Ernst], both farmers of Buchanan, Michigan, served as wittiness', as to his good moral charactor. (Petition granted: Line No. 1, of List No. 96, and Certificate No. 5430181).
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Note: Mr. and Mrs. Ira R. Neiswender, Mr. and Mrs. August C. Ernst, and Mr. and Mrs. Joe G. Letcher (Alois's brother), are listed among the charter members of the Moccasin Grange No. 1658 (later called the "Wagner Grange"), in Buchanan, Michigan, which was organized on Nov. 21, 1918 (one year before Alois Letcher purchased the farm South of Buchanan, Michigan).
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Obituary for Ira R. Neiswender was
published in the "Niles Daily Star"
newspaper, in Aug. 29, 1975, page 2.
Ira R. Neiswender (1882-1975), is
buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
See the memorial for Ira R. Neiswender
of Berrien Co. Michigan, on find-a-grave.
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Obituary for August C. Ernst was published
in the "Niles Daily Star" newspaper, in
Niles, Michigan, on June 11, 1969, page 2.
He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery,
in Mishawaka, St. Joseph County Indiana.
See the memorial for August Charles Ernst,
of St. Joseph County Indiana on find-a-grave.
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An article published in the Benton Harbor, MI "News-Palladium" newspaper on Mon. March, 9, 1942, pages 1 and 5, states: "Citizenship Awarded 89 Here", and another in the same newspaper titled: "Citizenship Granted 86 in Berrien County", which lists Alois Letcher as one of them.
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On May 30, 1951, after dark, about 9 p.m.,
four of Alois's cows got out of the pasture,
and went towards the road. Three of them
remained on the grass near the fence,
beside the road, while the fourth cow
was attempting to cross the road. Alois
was hit by a car, driven by Norman J.
Robinson, while trying to get the cow
out of the road. Alois, age 65,
suffered cuts on his head, arms and
body, and a broken leg.
(Newspaper article in "The Herold-Press"
newspaper, in St. Joseph, Michigan,
on Thursday, May 31, 1951,
page 14, column 3).
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Another article ("possibly" published
on Feb. 6, 1952), states the following:
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Buchanan Man Faces $25,000 Damage Suit.
A damage suit in the amount of $25,000
was filed with the Berrien county clerk's
office today by Alois Letcher of Bertrand
township against Norman J. Robinson of
Buchanan.
In his bill for suit, Letcher claims that
while he was driving cows across the road
that fronts his farm, he was struck down
by an auto driven by Robinson.
The accident occurred on the evening of
May 30, 1951, according to Letcher's
complaint. Letcher claims too, that
Motorist Robinson was warned with a
flashlight, of Letcher's presence on
the road.
As a result of the accident, Letcher
suffered a broken arm, leg, ribs, nose,
and elbow, as well as bruises and
lacerations over his body, he claims.
Letcher claims he suffered permanent
injury as well as incurring medical
bills totaling $10,000.
Letcher lives on Portage road,
three miles south of the intersection
of M-60 in Bertrand township.
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The article stated that Alois lived
on Portage Road, three miles south
of M-60. It "should" have
said "West Bertrand Road".
Note: South Red Bud Trail (which goes
South from Buchanan to W. Bertrand Road),
was at one time called Portage Road.
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Note: Numerous articles have listed
Alois as living on Portage Road (?)
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Alois would later show his son Paul
and grandchildren, the can of pipe
tobacco he had in his pocket, that
was flattened by the car that hit him.
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The lawsuit Alois filed against Mr.
Robinson, went to the Supreme
Court, but to no avail.
See: mi.findacase.com/research
(Sept. 8, 1954, Letcher v. Robinson).
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Alois and his family were members of the St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church in Buchanan, Michigan.
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In 1955, Alois died in his home at 3575 West Bertrand Road, South of Buchanan, Michigan, of stomach cancer at the age of 69 years, 11 months, and 17 days. [An obituary says age 68, but that was before they obtained his birth records from their church in Switzerland].
Alois died 4 and 1/2 years after he was hit by the car.
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The obituary for Alois was published in the local newspapers. This first one was in "The News-Palladium" newspaper in Benton Harbor, MI on Mon. Nov. 28, 1955:
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Alois Letcher.
Buchanan, Nov. 28 - Alois Letcher, 68, who lived south of Buchanan on Portage road [?], died at 8 p.m. Sunday in his home. He had been ill for the past nine months. Mr. Letcher was born Dec. 12, 1886 [should say Dec. 14, 1885], in Switzerland. On Sept. 8, 1909, he married Alice Ketchum in Naperville, Ill. The couple moved to Buchanan 38 [35 or 36] years ago. Surviving, besides his wife, are three sons, Paul of Vandalia, Russell of Portage Prairie, and Ward of Wakefield; one brother, Joseph G. Letcher of Buchanan, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Yender of Naperville, and Mrs. Pauline Brown of Lyons, Ill. He also leaves 13 grandchildren. Mr. Letcher was a member of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic church. Requiem high mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Anthony's church. The Rev. Frank Jansen, pastor of the church, will be the celebrant. Burial will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.
Friends may call at the Swem funeral home.
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Another was in the "Berrien County Record" newspaper in Buchanan, Michigan on Thursday, Dec. 1, 1955, page 7, columns 7 and 8. It reads as follows:
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Alois Letcher, Succumbs Sunday. Alois Letcher, Portage Prairie, died Sunday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m., after an illness of nine months. Mr. Letcher was born in Switzerland on Dec. 12, 1886 [later found to be Dec. 14, 1885, from their church records in Switzerland]. He married Alice Ketchum on Sept. 8, 1909 in Naperville, Ill. He was an active farmer until his illness. About thirty-eight years ago, he came to the Buchanan community [about late in 1920, or 1921]. He was a member of St. Anthony's [Catholic] church in Buchanan, [MI]. Surviving him are his wife [Alice], three sons, Paul, Vandalia, [MI], Russell, Portage Prairie [next door to Alois], and Ward, Wakefield, Mich.: thirteen grandchildren; one brother, Joseph [Letcher], Buchanan, [MI]; and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Yender, Naperville [Ill], and Mrs. Pauline Brown, of Lyons, Ill. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Anthony's church with Rev. Frank Jansen officiating. Burial was in Oak Ridge cemetery.
--------------------------------
Note: In the summer of 1957, a new
"two-room" Kansas school house was
built just East of the old one.
Alois's son Russell Letcher was the
President of the Kansas School
board in 1957 and 1958.
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Note: After Alois died, his wife Alice sold some land West of the farm house to Clifford Upham (brother of Clarence), and they built a home there.
Alice also sold a small house across from the Kansas School and some land to Ira Swartz (per: "The Story of Portage Prairie").
---
Note: Alice gradually sold off pieces of the farm, until the remainder of the farm was all on the North side of West Bertrand Road.
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On November 4, 1965 (10 years after
Alois had died), his wife Alice sold
the red brick farmhouse at 3575 West
Bertrand Road, to Harold V. Howe and
his wife Blanche (Liber 687, page 65).
Alice then had a small ranch home
built for herself (on the West side
of the large red brick farmhouse),
next to her son Russell. The Letcher
family had owned this farm with the
red brick farmhouse, for fourty-
seven years (per: "The Story of
Portage Prairie"). It was actually
46 years, 2 months, and 3 weeks,
that the Letcher family owned the
red brick farmhouse. They owned
part of this original farm (land)
for 54 years, and 3 months.
--------------------------
In Dec. of 1968, Alice sold 12 acres
of land to some neighbors Jack A. and
Dorothy J. Schuck for $5,300.oo
(Liber 844, page 307).
-----------------------------
On Dec. 27, 1968, Alice sold some
land to her neighbors,
Glenn O. and Edna W. Vite, for
$13,500.oo (Liber 845, page 34).
Glen Vite and his wife Edna
were founding members of the "South
Bend Farmers Market". The "Glen Vite
Farm" sold fruits and vegetables.
They were especially well known, for
their sweet corn, and green beans.
------------------------------
On Nov. 27, 1973, Alice made a sale
to Robert L. and Esther M. Hilliard,
of Redlands, California, for $26,700.oo
(Liber 965, page 1179). Could this
possibly be the small ranch home she
had built for herself?
Alice died in 1975.
-------------------------------
On October 14, 1987, the Howe family
sold the red brick farmhouse to
Terry R. and Teri L. Miller
(Liber 1323, page 95).
-----------------------------------
On September 4, 1996, the Miller
family sold the red brick farmhouse,
along with 11 acres, to John M. and
Therese "Theri" (Zimmerman) Niemier, who
then operated it as a small, working organic
farm, known as "Bertrand Farm, Inc.", as a
not-for-profit educational facility
for all ages, including farm camps
for kids, tours for school children,
and a "Pumpkin Patch" in October
(which was later discontinued at
the end of the 2010 season).
---
Note: In 2013, it was announced that
a large Canadian oil company named
Enbridge Inc. was going to put a new
pipeline through the barnyard of this
farm, to replace on old pipeline
put there in the late 1960's. (The old
pipeline would also be left in the ground).
The summer camps and activities
for 2013, had to be canceled.
The activities were continued the
following year.
--------------------------------
Also buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery are Alois's brother, Joseph G. Letcher, his Aunt Rosa (Koch) Keller (his mother's sister), as well as six of his "Keller" cousins, and two of his sons Paul and Russell Letcher, one Granddaughter Mary, four sister-in-laws, three brother-in-laws, and "numerous" nieces and nephews.
---------------------------------
Alois and his wife Alice Letcher
are buried in Section D, Lot 65.
Their headstone reads:
LETCHER
ALOIS 1885-1955
ALICE K [for "Ketchum"] 1892-1975
-----------------------------------
Note: See the memorials for Alois's family,
on this website:
-------------
Father, Joseph Letcher Sr., of Illinois.
Mother, Magdalena (Koch) Letcher, of Ill.
Sister, Mary (Letcher) Yender, of Ill.
Sister, Pauline (Letcher) Brown, of Ill.
Aunt, Rosa (Koch) Keller, of Michigan.
Brother: Joseph G. Letcher, of Michigan.
Wife, Alice (Ketchum) Letcher, of MI.
Son, Paul Anthony Letcher, of Michigan.
Son, Russell Leo Letcher, of Michigan.
Son, Ward Vincent Letcher, of Michigan.
Granddaughter, Mary P. Letcher, of MI.
------------------------------------
Note: Alois and Alice Letcher
are my Grandparents.
Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
-------------------------------------
Note: ALL of the people with the surname of Letcher who are buried in this cemetery, are descendants of Alois Letcher and his wife Alice (Ketchum) Letcher, "OR", of his brother Joseph G. Letcher and his wife Ida May (Ketchum) Letcher.
---
Note: Click on: "Find all Letcher's in Oak Ridge Cemetery" (on the left).
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Note: There was once a Governor of Virginia, at the time of the Civil War, named Gov. John Letcher. Also, a Governor Robert Perkins Letcher of Kentucky was the Uncle of Sam Houston, the family that Houston, Texas is named after. They are NO relation to "our" Letcher family. There is also a line of a "Letcher" family who were from England. There are also towns called "Letcher", in South Dakota, Alabama and Kentucky. There is a Letcher "County" in Kentucky, and a town named "Letchers" in Alabama (all of which have nothing to do with "our" Letcher family). Two men, Theron Letcher and John Letcher, both of Niles, Michigan, both served in the Civil War. (They are also, no relation to "our" Letcher family).
----------------------------------
Note: Willisau, Switzerland is located in the "Canton" of Luzern, and West-N.W. of the large "town" of Luzern. Willisau is also, North and N.-W. of the villages of Wolhusen, Mensberg, and Doppleschwand (where his father Joseph Letcher was from), and Romoos (where his mother Magdalena Koch was from), (per: Their church records in Willisau, Switzerland). Willisau is in the North-Central part of Switzerland, which is the part where the Swiss-German dialect is spoken; a dialect that about 64 percent of the country speaks.
----------------------------------
Note: Switzerland is the only European country with four reconized languages, with English making up an "unofficial" fifth language. The languages spoken in Switzerland are: German (64 percent), French (18 percent), Italian (11 percent), (and then, Romansh (7 percent) was reconized as a fourth language in 1938). German, French and Italian are the "official" languages. At least two of these three are taught compulsorily in the schools. Today, most young people there can speak English.
-------------------------------------
Switzerland is fairly evenly divided between Catholics and Protestants. Switzerland is the only country (except the Vatican) to have a square shaped flag. They are well known for their Swiss watches, Swiss army knives, Swiss cheese, Swiss lace, and for skiing in the Swiss Alps.
-------------------------------------
Click on photos to see enlargements,
captions, and additional photos.
-------------------------------
Google: "Willisau, Switzerland",
for photos of the town.
-------------------------------
See additional pictures of Alois,
on the memorial for his sister
Pauline (Letcher-Bockhop) Brown, of
Illinois, and on the memorial for his
son Paul Anthony Letcher, of Michigan.
-----------------------------------
See a photo of their church in Switzerland, where Alois's parents were married, and where Alois and his siblings were baptized, on the memorial for his mother Magdalena. |
