MADERA, Joseph 1849-1939

MADERA, ZEMANEK, COBEEN, SPAIGHT

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 19:08:51

JOSEPH MADERA SUCCUMBS AT AGE OF 89 YEARS

EARLY SETTLER OF MITCHELL COUNTY; PIONEERED ALSO IN WISCONSIN

Death claimed Joseph Madera, 89 year old Mitchell county pioneer at Manly, January 12, 1939.

Joseph Madera, the second son of Francis and Anna Madera, was born in Telecy, Bohemia, on October 28, 1849, and passed away at his home in Union township, Worth county, January 12. He was left motherless when he was five days of age.

In 1854 the Madera family was one of several other families in Bohemia to form a group of homeseekers and sailed for America. The trip across the Atlantic was long and tedious, and when in mid-ocean the main mast on the sailing vessel broke. Fifty-eight days were spent on the water in reaching New York City.

After a two-day rest in New York the group started for Watertown, Wis., by way of Buffalo, Detroit, and Milwaukee, traveling by train, boat and team.

In 1868 the Madera family came to Mitchell county and located on a farm about four miles northeast of St. Ansgar. The journey was made from Watertown overland with an ox team. Mr. Madera was a true pioneer, having seen the country of Wisconsin and Iowa changed from a prairie wilderness to the beautiful farming country of fine homesteads that they are now.

On November 18, 1870, he was united in marriage to Marie Zemanek, who preceded him in death on September 23, 1918. To this union four children were born: Angie, Mrs. John Cobeen; Edmund, Arthur, deceased and Lottie, Mrs. William Spaight.

In 1879 he moved with his family to a farm east of his former home where he lived until 1911 when he moved to Union township, Worth county. He is survived by one son, two daughters, six grandchildren, two sisters and one brother.

St. Ansgar Enterprise