"PETER & CATHERINE SCHANK - Peter Schank, Sr., (b. 27 Nov. 1809) in Ramstein, Bavaria, Germany, came to America in 1849 without his family but bringing with him a team of oxen. He bought land in Section 3, Cross Township, and worked hard clearing the land. He spent his nights at the home of Thomas A. Holmes who operated a trading post and whose wife was a Native American. In those days the Indians were not always friendly, so Holmes and Peter took turns being at watch so members of the Winnebago tribe wouldn't harm them.

Peter raised wheat and shipped it down the river since there were no railroads at that time. In less than three years, he sent for his family. He and his wife Catharine had three sons and two daughters. Another son was born in Wisconsin in 1854. He then bought more land from the government and built a two-story log home that is still being used today.

Peter Schank, Jr., a farmer, married Mary Lins and had a son, Anthony (b. 12 Oct 1865) in Fountain City.

Jacob, a farmer and grain buyer, married Anna Burt and had five children: Peter (b. 28 Nov. 1864), Ferdinand (b. 23 Sept. 1867), Anna (. 16 Jan 1871 or 74), Florence Helen (b. Jun 1876), and Joseph J. (b. 14 Nov 1882). These five children were baptized at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fountain City, there is no further data on them.

Peter. Sr.'s third son, Anton, married Anna Remmel who came to Wisconsin from Oberdelfen near Siegen, West Germany. They are the ancestors of all the Schanks now living in our area.

Peter Sr.'s oldest daughter died of pneumonia shortly after arriving from Germany. She was buried about 100 feet from the new barn on the farm, since there were no cemeteries in the area at that time.

The next daughter, Mary Schank, was married to Prosper St. Jacques of Kellogg, Minnesota. He raised cabbage, which was shipped to Chicago after the railroads were built.

The youngest and fourth son of Peter and Catherine Schank was Frank (b. 1854) in Wisconsin. He was a teacher and lived in St. Louis, Missouri.

Catherine Schank was visiting Frank in St. Louis when she died of the Black Plague in the 1880's. She is buried in a large cemetery near St. Louis. Catherine also had a sister, Christine. Christine was married to Joseph Weiter and they lived in St. Louis.

Peter Schank (d. 31 Dec 1874 and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Fountain City."

excerpt from: BUFFALO COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS, 1853-2003. TURNER PUBLISHER. OCT 1, 2002.