Michael Schlegel

Michael and Theresa Schlegel came to this country in 1886 from Pilgerdorf, Austria Hungary. They came to this area with my oldest sister, Mary, who was one year old, and homesteaded northeast of Fingal, North Dakota. In the following years, ten children were born to them:

  1. Theresa (Mrs. Joe Steidl);

  2. Annie (Mrs. Frank Stangler);

  3. Rosina (Mrs. Gust Stangler);

  4. Rosalia (Mrs. Anton Steidl);

  5. twins - Leopoldena (Mrs. Frank Price) and

  6. our first brother, Joseph, who married Mary Sherman;

  7. Agnes (Mrs. Henry Sherman);

  8. Clara (Mrs. Edmund Stienman); and

  9. Louise (Mrs. Olaf Olauson) and

  10. Rudolph. He married Tillie Kettleson.

In 1920 the farm was sold. Mr. and Mrs. Schlegel, Clara, Rudolph and Louise moved to Brownsville, Texas. A few acres of land were purchased' and they engaged in truck farming. It was a lot of hard work, North Dakota was always on our minds and in 1927 they packed up the Model T Ford and headed north. It took only seven days to get back to Fingal.

Mr. and Mrs. Schlegel spent their retirement years in Fingal as most of the family lived near there. They had 75 grandchildren that visited them off and on.

Michael Schlegel passed away in September 1941 at the age of 79 and Theresa passed away November 1952 at the age of 86.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 216