Contributor: Marie Hardesty Source: Family Album

July 4, 1904, Celebration in Laper's Woods

.

The inscription on the back reads:

First Row: 1. Esther Kubehl Brown 2. Nora Kubehl Duerr 3. Lillian Frei Bielke 4. Edna Kussman Pleuss 5. Erna Leuthe Born 6. Grace Werth Merrill 7. Alice Behr 8. Elsie Briese Block 9. Alvina Hannaman Hammen 10. Mamie Schmuhl Laper
Second Row: 11. Lillian Laper Hanley 12. (?) Edna Kussman Pleuss 13. Helen Jahns 14. Erna or Ella Riemer 15. Lena Block Strelow 16. Clara Laper Peschke 17. Mary Fenske Hamner 18. Amelia Lamonska Berg 19. Alma Briese Patchett 20. Bertha Born 21. Elsie Frei Kubehl 22. Mabel Fenske Block 23. Laura Laper Sommer
Third Row: 24. Agnes Alwin 25. Emma Lamonska 26. Lillie Werth 27. Elsie Hannaman Laper 28. Laura Hannaman Schimel 29. Mabel Hess Sasada 30. Ella Kussman Card 31. Lillian Kussman Hamphrey 32. Emma Born Utke 33. Kydia Falbe Lieske 34. Ida Drager Schultz 35. Elda Daehn Zimdars 36. _____

The following recollection is from a letter written to Marie Sommer Hardesty by Elsa Briese Block on 5/28/81. Mrs. Block was 85 years old at the time and living at Russell Manor, Ripon.:

In regard to the 4th of July picture--I don't happen to have a copy but I would know everyone on it. My sister (19. Alma Briese Patchett) wore a striped dress. I'm the one sitting in the front row with my knees up as there was cow dirt in front of me--Isn't that something to remember? The material was bought at Charlie Smith's store, which later was Henry Lieske's. Your mother and aunt Lillie (23. Laura Laper Sommer and 11. Lillie Laper Hamley) got the girls together and we marched in the 4th of July Parade. Later we had a drill which formed the flag.

The Bierman girls (Mrs. Oscar Schmuhl and Mrs. Ed Born) were part of the group too but didn't come. A tornado had gone through the night before and took the Bierman's barn so, of course, there was a lot of excitement. The Bierman place was located west of Fairwater on the south side of Hwy 44 where County Line Road goes north.

Oh yes, the celebration was in Laper's woods, Fairwater. The local band played and we danced all day. That was a fun day. Thanks for reminding me. Elsa Block.