John D. Feske Family

John D. and Augusta A. Feske were married in Falkenstein, Prussia in 1864.  They came to America in 1871 and settled in Michigan for 9 years.  They then moved to Valley City for one year.  At that time they moved to Griggs County and homesteaded near Sutton.  John and Augusta Feske had 10 children.  

  1. Bertha Mary Lizzie - Married Henry Fenner
  2. John August - died when he was 12 years old
  3. Otto Frank - Married Annie Nylander
  4. John William - Hannah Helmer
  5. Augusta Emilie - Married John Riber
  6. Herman William - Unmarried
  7. Charles G. - Married Hattie Clark
  8. three died at birth
  9.     "
  10.     "

John died in 1901.  Augusta continued to farm with her youngest son, Charles G. , until he married.  She then lived with her son Herman, until her death in 1924.

CHARLES G. FESKE was born in Griggs County February 28, 1884.  He lived on the home farm 11 miles southwest of Cooperstown, where his son CHARLES JR. lives now.  Charles married Hattie Clark in Minnesota in 1917.  They had three children: 

  1. Berniece, now Mrs. R. A. Madison living in Seattle, Washington
  2. Leona, Mrs. Mel Dewanz, New Ulm, Minnesota
  3. Charles Jr. Cooperstown

Charles D. Feske was born in Cooperstown in 1930.  He married Rosemary Willis in Cooperstown in 1952.  They have four children: 

  1. Vicky - married Marvin Holweger and lives in Milton Florida, and they have one daughter
  2. Larry married Denise Lafferty and lives near Cooperstown.  They have one son
  3. Kathleen and 
  4. Steven are at home

When Charles G. was about a year old a prairie fire went through their farm.  His dad was gone so his mother told him to get behind a cabbage plant and stay there.  When the fire was over she came to look for him and he was safe behind his cabbage plant.

When Charles was older, he and his brother (Herman) had the job of herding cattle for the neighbors.  When they would go across the creek they would grab the tail of a cow and stay over on the other side of the creek all day and then grab a tail and go back home.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  Page 311