Joseph Phillip Ochsner
Joseph Ochsner and his wife, Mary Ann Rothmund,
were immigrant ancestors.
B: May 5, 1817, in Blicheim, Behtcingen County, Baden, Germany.
M: Mary Ann Rothmund (February 21, 1821 – December 26, 1906) on July 4, 1848, in Utica, New York
D: February 22, 1893
Bu: Bear Valley Cemetery, Ritchland County, Wisconsin.
Children:
Joseph Phillip Ochsner (April 24, 1849 – 1931), who never married.
Charles Ochsner (June 3, 1859 – March 2, 1936), who never married.
Edward Ochsner (November 7, 1851 – unknown) who married Clara Leda Shontz.
Margaretta (“Gretta”) Ochsner (January 3, 1856 – 1927), who never married.
William H. Ochsner (May 9, 1854 - March 15, 1921) who married Lola Kathryn Shontz.
Benjamin Franklin Ochsner (March 17, 1856 – 1940) who married Bertha Plummer.
Mary Ann (“May”) Ochsner (November 17, 1857 –) who married Ebenezer Lewis Drury.
Louise Ochsner (February 4, 1860 – 1941) who married Lenn Ober Brainard.
Louis Ochsner (February 4, 1860 – January 19, 1861) who died of diphtheria.
Arthur Ochsner (February 21, 1862 – 1907) who married Elizabeth Lutin.
Fannie Josephine Ochsner (September 22, 1863 – May 21,1950) who married Henry A. Brace.
Migration: Emigrated to the United States in 1844 and settled in Illion, Herkimer County, New York. Moved to Sextonville, Richland County, Wisconsin, in 1856, where he was a blacksmith and had a wagon shop for nine years. In 1865 he and his family moved to Bear Valley where he purchased a farm on Bear Creek on the line between Richland and Sauk Counties. In 1871 he formed a partnership with two neighbors and began a flour, feed and later a saw mill. His son Arthur was involved in the flour mill. The sawmill was eventually became a cheese factory operated by his son, William H. Ochsner.
Occupation: Blacksmith; Farmer and operator of a flour mill in Bear Valley.
Other Activities: Was a charter member of St. Kilian’s Roman Catholic parish, though he was later buried at the Bear Valley Cemetery at the Brown Church, a nondenominational church.
Notes: The oldest son of Joseph and Mary Ann Ochsner, Joseph, moved west where he helped build the Santa Fe and Mexican National railroads. For a time he lived with the infamous gambler Bat Masterson, and during this period he was engaged in several skirmishes with the Mexican warlord, Pancho Villa. Late in his life he returned to Bear Valley where he died and is buried. Three of Joseph and Mary Ann’s sons moved to South Dakota. Two of them, Edward and William married sisters, Clara Leda and Lola Kathryn Shontz. Their children considered themselves “double cousins” and were very close. One of the children was named Edward William Alton Ochsner; he became a well-known New Orleans surgeon who is credited with discovering the connection between smoking and lung cancer. Close relationships were also maintained with the family of Louise Ochsner and Lenn Ober Brainerd, and with the family of Fannie Ochsner and Henry A. Brace.
Wife’s Parents: Additional research is needed. A copy of the record of Mary Ann’s birth in French script, was obtained on a visit to Guebweiler. It needs to be translated.
Additional research is needed on the parents of Joseph P. Ochsner. Research also is needed on the relationship to Dr. Albert John Ochsner who was born in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin.