“Sebastian Guckenberger, of South Milwaukee, R.F.D No. 16, is a highly-respected and prosperous farmer. He is a native of Germany, born there on April 2, 1840, the son of Conrad and Katherine Guckenberger, both of whom had been born and reared in the Fatherland. Like so many of the sturdy German peasants who came to maturity about the middle of the Nineteenth century, these parents determined to seek the advantages offered by that land of opportunity, the United States, and sailed for this country in 1855, and immediately after landing came to Milwaukee. They settled first in the town of Lake, but after a few years moved to Oak Creek and took up sixty acres of land. Sebastian was fifteen years old when his parents came to America, and had already received the benefits of scholastic training in the excellent public schools of Germany. He assisted his father in running the farm for several years. When repeated calls came for volunteers after the outbreak of the Civil War, both Sebastian and his brother, Christian, enlisted for service. Sebastian became a private in Company C, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry. The first-named regiment was mustered in at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, and was immediately sent to Virginia, where it engaged in guard and picket duty until spring. Mr. Guckenberger, with the other members of the regiment, participated at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, and he was severely wounded in the ankle at Gettysburg, on July 3rd. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps, with which he served the remainder of his term of enlistment. He was honorably mustered out at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1865, after serving his adopted country most gallantly and loyally through three long years of warfare and bloodshed. In the fall after his discharge from the service, Mr. Guckenberger was united in marriage with Miss Mary Sheilz, on October 17, 1865. She had come to the United States with her parents at about the same time that Mr.. Guckenberger came, and their long friendship culminated in a happy marriage. After returning home from the war , he took up land and again went to farming, and for forty -three years has lived on the homestead in South Milwaukee, where he took his bride in 1865. Fourteen children have come to bless their home and have been reared to maturity on the hospitable old farm: Clara, Katherine, Henry, Anna, Eva, Mary (deceased), Frank, Nick (deceased), John, Joseph, jennie, Mathew, George and Charlie. The family are all devout members of the Roman Catholic Church.”
This was sent to me by the last remaining grandchild of Sebastian, my aunt Ethyl Vanselow (daughter of Frank). I believe she also has a copy of his “muster papers” but am unsure of the condition. In addition to the above, family lore I have heard fleshes out the above information. When Sebastian and his regiment came out of the Wilderness at Chancellorsville, they ran straight into Jeb Davis and his cavalry and were thereafter known as “The Flying Dutchmen” due to their hasty retreat. His injury came when traveling to Gettysburg, His regiment got the orders to proceed to Gettysburg at double time whereupon my Great Grandfather fell and ripped a tendon in his ankle. These stories were shared by the Oak Creek Historical Society at a dinner held about 8 years ago to honor veterans of the civil war from Oak Creek
“Memoirs of Milwaukee County” Vol. II, Page 628
Information by Dean Thomas
“Memoirs of Milwaukee County” Vol. II, Page 628
Information by Dean Thomas