Johann Paulus Kohl (1814 - 1866)

Born 3 Sep 1814 in Thansüß (Thansuess), Freihung, Amberg-Sulzbach, Bavaria, Germany

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Pocock — married 28 Mar 1849 in Rockdale, CT

Descendants

Died 5 Nov 1866 at age 52 in Slinger, Washington County, WI

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Biography

Birth & Christening

He was born about 1814, likely in Thansüß, Bavaria to Georg Kohl and Barbara Pruckner. His age is based on the few documents found in the US. His parents were Lutherans. Perhaps more research in the church records will yield a birth record.^[1]

Early Life

Nothing is known of his childhood.

About Thansüß:

Thansüß (spelling in English: Thansuess) is located in Germany, about 25 miles from the border with the Czech Republic, in the State of Bavaria that in the past was the former Kingdom of Bavaria (Königreich Bayern). It is within the region referred to as the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) and the local district called Amberg-Sulzbach in Bavaria in Germany. Thansuess dates to the 13th Century as a separate rural village, but today it is a part of the municipality Freihung. Coordinates: 49°37′N 11°55′E.

Immigration to Wiskonsin

The family story goes that he left Europe separately from his brothers and sister known to have immigrated in 1845. The family story also says that he and his brother Freiderich immigrated in 1840. If Friederich did travel, then he would have had to have gone back to Bavaria to get his family.^[2] If this had been the case, then why would Paulus then go back to Connecticut, get married and have a child there when he could have stayed in Milwaukee to make arrangements for this family's arrival from Germany? There are no other records found that support this preliminary trip to Wisconsin.

Trans Atlantic Voyage

His name has not yet been found on a ship's manifest. He likely went to New York City and then went to Rockdale Connecticut, either before or after meeting his wife who is assumed to have been living there. He may have spelled his name Cole.

In Connecticut

In Connecticut is where he met and married his wife (or did they meet in NYC and then go there) and they had their first daughter in Rockdale, CT. His wife's name was Jane Pocock and she was described as an English woman. He may have spelled his name Cole. Paulus and Jane were married on March 28, 1849 in Rockdale CT.^[3]

Connecticut to Wisconsin

Between 1850 and 1856 (based on birth location of daughters in census) the family moved to Wisconsin, and joined Paulus' siblings there.

In Wisconsin

Paul purchased 54.26 acres from the US Land office in Milwaukee on February 10, 1848 in Section 1 of Hartford Township, Washington County, WI.^[4] This is in the north east corner of Polk Township. His brother Johann owned land "across the road" in Addison Township, but was not living there yet in 1848.

Paul later purchased 40 acres from the US Land office in Milwaukee on August 1, 1849 in Section 1 of Wayne Township.This is near where he and his brother established Kohlville.^[5]

Paulus was still living in Addison Township in 1855, because his name shows up in the Wisconsin State Census of 1855, with the spelling Paulus Cole.^[6]

Paulus secured U.S.Citizenship from Federal Court in Milwaukee on 3/30/1855. Back then, citizenship from the head of household would have automatically be conferred to his wife and children if foreign born.

The 1860 Census shows the family living in Hartford, WI. Perhaps on his property there. Their last name is seriously misspelled as Cool. "Pallas Cool" was a 46 year old farmer whose real estate was worth $1000, and person estate was worth $250. It shows he was from Bavaria and Jane was from England. At home was Catharine, 18; Meary Ann, 10; Caroline [Sarah], 5; and Lormon or Lomon age 1. This implies that they were living near St. Lawrence and not up in Kohlsville.^[7]

A Web page says he had 7 children between 1842 and 1862. Only five have shown up in records.

Born 1814 - Came from Bavaria -came to New York in 1840 with brother Freiderick - Paulus may at one time spelled last name Cole. While in east - Married an English girl Jane Pocock. Jane from Rockdale, Conn. Married 3/28/1849. Kenneth Kohl wrote in his family book, on page 15:^[8]

Some of the dates in Kenneth Kohl's book may be incorrect, given the information we now have regarding the date that Friederich Kohl left Germany with the large family group in 1845.

Paulus is credited with helping to found Kohlsville Wisc with brother Friederich.

Death & Burial

Paul died on 5 Nov 1866. Since he is buried in Slinger, one has to wonder if he ever moved to Kohlville in Wayne Township. Or it might be that Jane was not Lutheran, and may have attended a different denominational church in Slinger.

Paul and Jane's gravesites in Slinger Wisconsin were moved. The original cemetery was moved when the Slinger Elementary School was expanded. They are buried at the Saint John United Church of Christ Cemetery, Slinger, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA. There is a sign by the church that reads:^[9]

The original St. John's United Church of Christ cemetery was located on what is now school property from approximately 1856 until 1969. These twenty-five head stones were relocated here when the south wing of what is now Slinger Elementary School was constructed near the cemetery. Slinger Elementary School is located at 203 Polk Street, Slinger, Wisconsin.

This does not state if the graves were moved too, or are they remaining in the school yard or under the building?

Sources

1. ↑ Based on Research by Joseph A. Kohl in the Lutheran Church records in Thansuess, found on Archion.de.
2. ↑ The Friederich Kohl & Elizabeth Krause Family History, 1991 by Kenneth William Kohl, (handmade book) found in the West Bend Public Library in West Bend, Wisconsin.
3. ↑ The Friederich Kohl & Elizabeth Krause Family History, 1991 by Kenneth William Kohl, (handmade book) found in the West Bend Public Library in West Bend, Wisconsin.
4. ↑ State: WI; Meridian: 4th PM - 1831 MN/WI; Twp-Rng: 010N - 018E; Aliquots: NW¼NE¼; Section: 1; County: Washington. from a search at: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.
5. ↑ State: WI; Meridian: 4th PM - 1831 MN/WI; Twp-Rng: 012N - 018E; Aliquots: NE¼NE¼; Section: 25; County: Washington
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. Wisconsin Census, 1820-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
7. ↑ 1860; Census Place: Hartford, Washington, Wisconsin; Roll: M653_1438; Page: 240; Image: 246; Family History Library Film: 805438; Search for "Pallas Cool."
8. ↑ The Friederich Kohl & Elizabeth Krause Family History, 1991 by Kenneth William Kohl, (handmade book) found in the West Bend Public Library in West Bend, Wisconsin.
9. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 149816306, Created by: C Gengler; Record added: Jul 26, 2015.