Wolfgang Michael Doersch was born 30 November 1825 in Birnstengel, Kingdom of Bavaria. He became engaged, but before marrying decided to come to the United States to get established. He promised he would then return to Bavaria for his bride. His brother, John M. Doersch, born 6 Feb 1828, came either with him or shortly thereafter.
Michael arrived in May 1850 in New York where he worked upstate. True to his promise, Wolfgang Michael returned to Bavaria in 1853 or 1854. He and his bride-to-be, along with his sister and half-sister, boarded the ship "Hermine" in Bremen, and sailed to the United States docking in New York harbor on the 28 June 1854. His parents and the rest of his siblings came later that year. All of them traveled then to Wisconsin where they settled in Centerville (Cleveland), Manitowoc County, to farm.
On 25 February 1865, Wolfgang Michael Doersch, 39, and his brother, John Michael, 37, went up to Green Bay and enlisted as privates in Company E of the Wisconsin 45thVolunteer Infantry, the "German Regiment." Both were married with children, and the family tradition is that neither wanted to fight in the war. One of the reasons they had left the Kingdom of Bavaria and come to the United States, was to avoid forced conscription.
Michael and John's company was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, for garrison and guard duty. Although the unit was engaged in no battles, Michael injured himself with a hernia burying dead mules as the unit cleaned up a battlefield. He suffered pain from for the rest of his life.
Michael and John were mustered out of service with the rest of their company in Nashville on the 17 July 1865. Both the brothers paid to keep their uniforms and their Enfield rifles. They then headed back with the rest of the men to Wisconsin.
In the 1870s, John M. Doersch left Manitowoc County with his family and moved to Missouri for a time, and then on to South Dakota. He is buried there.
Michael farmed for the rest of his days in the town of Centerville, where his father and brothers farmed. He died 3 Feb 1910 at the age of 84, and is buried at St. John's Cemetery.
Michael arrived in May 1850 in New York where he worked upstate. True to his promise, Wolfgang Michael returned to Bavaria in 1853 or 1854. He and his bride-to-be, along with his sister and half-sister, boarded the ship "Hermine" in Bremen, and sailed to the United States docking in New York harbor on the 28 June 1854. His parents and the rest of his siblings came later that year. All of them traveled then to Wisconsin where they settled in Centerville (Cleveland), Manitowoc County, to farm.
On 25 February 1865, Wolfgang Michael Doersch, 39, and his brother, John Michael, 37, went up to Green Bay and enlisted as privates in Company E of the Wisconsin 45thVolunteer Infantry, the "German Regiment." Both were married with children, and the family tradition is that neither wanted to fight in the war. One of the reasons they had left the Kingdom of Bavaria and come to the United States, was to avoid forced conscription.
Michael and John's company was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, for garrison and guard duty. Although the unit was engaged in no battles, Michael injured himself with a hernia burying dead mules as the unit cleaned up a battlefield. He suffered pain from for the rest of his life.
Michael and John were mustered out of service with the rest of their company in Nashville on the 17 July 1865. Both the brothers paid to keep their uniforms and their Enfield rifles. They then headed back with the rest of the men to Wisconsin.
In the 1870s, John M. Doersch left Manitowoc County with his family and moved to Missouri for a time, and then on to South Dakota. He is buried there.
Michael farmed for the rest of his days in the town of Centerville, where his father and brothers farmed. He died 3 Feb 1910 at the age of 84, and is buried at St. John's Cemetery.
Wolfgang Michael Doersch was born 30 November 1825 in Birnstengel, Kingdom of Bavaria. He became engaged, but before marrying decided to come to the United States to get established. He promised he would then return to Bavaria for his bride. His brother, John M. Doersch, born 6 Feb 1828, came either with him or shortly thereafter.
Michael arrived in May 1850 in New York where he worked upstate. True to his promise, Wolfgang Michael returned to Bavaria in 1853 or 1854. He and his bride-to-be, along with his sister and half-sister, boarded the ship "Hermine" in Bremen, and sailed to the United States docking in New York harbor on the 28 June 1854. His parents and the rest of his siblings came later that year. All of them traveled then to Wisconsin where they settled in Centerville (Cleveland), Manitowoc County, to farm.
On 25 February 1865, Wolfgang Michael Doersch, 39, and his brother, John Michael, 37, went up to Green Bay and enlisted as privates in Company E of the Wisconsin 45thVolunteer Infantry, the "German Regiment." Both were married with children, and the family tradition is that neither wanted to fight in the war. One of the reasons they had left the Kingdom of Bavaria and come to the United States, was to avoid forced conscription.
Michael and John's company was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, for garrison and guard duty. Although the unit was engaged in no battles, Michael injured himself with a hernia burying dead mules as the unit cleaned up a battlefield. He suffered pain from for the rest of his life.
Michael and John were mustered out of service with the rest of their company in Nashville on the 17 July 1865. Both the brothers paid to keep their uniforms and their Enfield rifles. They then headed back with the rest of the men to Wisconsin.
In the 1870s, John M. Doersch left Manitowoc County with his family and moved to Missouri for a time, and then on to South Dakota. He is buried there.
Michael farmed for the rest of his days in the town of Centerville, where his father and brothers farmed. He died 3 Feb 1910 at the age of 84, and is buried at St. John's Cemetery.
Michael arrived in May 1850 in New York where he worked upstate. True to his promise, Wolfgang Michael returned to Bavaria in 1853 or 1854. He and his bride-to-be, along with his sister and half-sister, boarded the ship "Hermine" in Bremen, and sailed to the United States docking in New York harbor on the 28 June 1854. His parents and the rest of his siblings came later that year. All of them traveled then to Wisconsin where they settled in Centerville (Cleveland), Manitowoc County, to farm.
On 25 February 1865, Wolfgang Michael Doersch, 39, and his brother, John Michael, 37, went up to Green Bay and enlisted as privates in Company E of the Wisconsin 45thVolunteer Infantry, the "German Regiment." Both were married with children, and the family tradition is that neither wanted to fight in the war. One of the reasons they had left the Kingdom of Bavaria and come to the United States, was to avoid forced conscription.
Michael and John's company was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, for garrison and guard duty. Although the unit was engaged in no battles, Michael injured himself with a hernia burying dead mules as the unit cleaned up a battlefield. He suffered pain from for the rest of his life.
Michael and John were mustered out of service with the rest of their company in Nashville on the 17 July 1865. Both the brothers paid to keep their uniforms and their Enfield rifles. They then headed back with the rest of the men to Wisconsin.
In the 1870s, John M. Doersch left Manitowoc County with his family and moved to Missouri for a time, and then on to South Dakota. He is buried there.
Michael farmed for the rest of his days in the town of Centerville, where his father and brothers farmed. He died 3 Feb 1910 at the age of 84, and is buried at St. John's Cemetery.
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