A Snapshot of the Baker-Meinen-Stoffel-Yakesh families  
in Chippewa County at the Turn of the Century

Introduction: The Yakesh and Baker (Pecha) families did not immigrate to the United States until 1883 so they would have missed the 1880 census, and since the 1890 census was unfortunately destroyed in a terrible fire in 1921, the 1900 census represents an invaluable service to our families because it is the first existing record to show all of the original immigrants living in Chippewa County at the same time.

The census takers came to the Chippewa Valley in June of the year 1900. They recorded the first and last names of the head of the household and the first names of everyone else living on the property.

They also recorded birth dates (month/year only), how many children the family had had, how many were still living, race, sex, age, years married, occupation, where everyone was born (state or country), when they immigrated, where they immigrated from, whether or not they went through the naturalization process, if they had any schooling, whether they could read, write, and speak English, whether the family had a farm or a house, and if they had a mortgage, free land, or rented.

A note on spelling and accuracy: The census was done in hand writing and was difficult to read in some places. Toward the end of some pages the microfiche appears dark, but overall everything was legible. Names were the hardest to read, and do show variation. For example, Yakesh was spelled Jaokish with Peter’s name, Yaokish with Jacob’s name, and Jakesh with John’s name. It looks like John was the first to modernize the name Yakesh. I also found someone by the name of Matias Jaokish who immigrated from Bohemia in 1870, was born in 1845, wife’s name was Mary, had many children, and resided in the Auburn Township. This person could be a brother to Thomas.

Everything I recorded is as I found it in the census, and I used my better judgment when something was hard to read. Remember also that the answers to these census questions were mostly given orally so that the census taker could have taken the liberty and filled in the blanks if something was not understood. The 1900 census can be found at: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin 816 State St. Madison, WI 53706

William Ager May 1998

Auburn Township

Baker, John (Head) Born Feb 1838 (62 years old) married for 30 years, immigrated 1883, NA

Theresie (Wife) Born March 1844 (56 years old) married for 30 years, immigrated 1883

Mary (Daughter) Born May 1872 (28 years old) single, immigrated 1883

They were all born in Bohemia. They all had schooling. Theresa could not read, write or speak English, but John and Mary could read, write, and speak English. John’s occupation was "Farmer". They had a mortgage on their farm. The census also says they had only one child, but we know this is not accurate!

Auburn Township

Yaokish, Jacob (Head) Born May 1868 (32 years old) single, immigrated 1883, NA

Thomas (Father) Born Dec 1830 (69 years old) married for 40 years, immigrated 1883, NA

Katie (Mother) Born Dec 1827 (72 years old) married for 40 years, immigrated 1883

They were all born in Bohemia. They all had schooling. Kathryn could not write, but could read. There was what appeared to be a "No" on the top of a "Yes", or vice versa, on whether or not Kathryn could speak English. Jacob and Thomas could read, write, and speak English. Thomas and Kathryn had a total of 11 children, with only 5 living at the time. Katie’s and Jacob’s occupation was labeled as Farmer, but Thomas had nothing labeled as his occupation. They own a farm on free land.

Auburn Township

Jakesh, John (Head) Born June 1864 (35 years old) married for 5 years, immigrated 1883, NA

Annie (Wife) Born July 1874 (25 years old) married for 5 years, immigrated 1883

John Jr. (Son) Born Aug 1896 (3 Years old)

Katie (Daughter) Born Aug 1898 (1 year old)

Mary (Daughter) Born May 1900

John and Annie were both born in Bohemia. Both had schooling. John’s occupation was "farmer". They had a mortgage on their farm.

Auburn Township

Jaokish, Peter (Head) Born April 1857 (43 years old) married for 8 years, immigrated 1882, NA

Angus (Wife) Born July 1872 (27 years old) married for 8 years

James (Son) Born Feb 1890 (10 years old)

Minnie (Daughter) Born March 1894 (6 years old)

Edward (Son) Born April 1895 (5 years old)

Richard (Son) Born July 1898 (1 year old)

Peter was from Bohemia. He had schooling, and could read, speak English, but could not write. They owned a farm on free land.

Tilden Township

Meinen, Nick (Head) Born June 1834 (66 years old) married for 34 years, immigrated in 1854, NA

Magdalena (Wife) Born June 1849 (50 years old) married for 34 years, immigrated in 1857

Barnard (Son) Born 1883 (17 years old) single

Joe (Son) Born 1884 (15 years old)

Louis (Son) Born 1890 (10 years old)

Nicholas and Magdalena were both from Germany. Together they had 8 children, but only 6 were alive. They had schooling and could read, write, and speak English. Joe and Barnard were "Farm Laborers". Nicholas and Magdalena owned a farm on free land.

Tilden Township

Stoffel, Peter (Head) Born Oct 1828 (71 years old) married for 43 years, immigrated 1868, NA

Anna (Wife) Born May 1832 (68 years old) married 43 years, immigrated 1868

Mikel (Son) Born May 1871 (29 years old) single, immigrated 1868

Tresse (Daughter) Born May 1876 (24 years old), immigrated 1868

Peter and Anna were from Belgium. They all had schooling, and could read, write and speak English. Peter and Anna had 10 children, 9 were still alive at this time. The occupations of Mikel was listed as "Farm Laborer" and Tresse’s was "Servant". They owned a farm on free land.

Tilden Township

Stoffel, Peter Jr. (Head) Born June 1860 (40 years old) married for 7 years, immigrated in 1868

Tressa (Wife) Born May 1870 (30 years old) married for 7 years

Barnard (Son) Born Sep 1894 (5 years old)

Adelaide (Daughter) Born Aug 1899

Peter was born in Belgium. He had schooling and could read, write, and speak English. They owned a farm on free land.

Tilden Township

Stoffel, John (Head) Born May 1866 (34 years old) married for 3 years, immigrated in 1868

Tresse (Wife) Born June 1877 (22 years old) married for 3 years

Wilhelm (Son) Born July 1897 (2 years old)

Adolf (Son) Born Feb 1899 (1 year old)

Eugene (Son) Born Feb 1900

John was born in Belgium. John and Tresse both had schooling and could read, write, and speak English. John’s occupation was "Farmer". They owned a farm on free land.