Featured Photo Gallery
Ferdinand Haevers
Ferdinand Haevers 1841-1909
Ferdinand was born in Brussels, Belgium on the 22nd of April 1841 to Albertina Haevers (who was between husbands at the time and had two young daughters). He was immediately taken to the Brussels orphanage and placed in the "drawer" in the tower and the bell rung for the sisters to come for the baby. On 27 July 1841, Ferdinand was taken by Jean-Joseph Tibou and Ermelinde Minsart to Wavre Belgium. He was returned to the orphanage on July 10 1847; no reason was given for his return. The same month, Ferdinand was placed with Pierre Draye, a farmer from Sint-Agatha Rode. Ferdinand continued to live in Sint-Agatha Rode with the Draye family until the death of Pierre's wife. In July of 1855, Pierre Draye petitioned the courts to allow him to take Ferdinand to America with him. Pierre, his son and his daughter-in-law and granddaughter sailed with Ferdinand to the US.
Adventuresome Life
Ferdinand lived with Mrs. Tank in Green Bay who taught him to read and write in English. He took a job on a ship with Captain Doyle of Milwaukee, making his way to New Orleans where he was working as a painter at the start of the Civil War. He later told his grandchildren that the army offered a place to sleep and food and regular pay. His unit was the 14th Louisiana Regiment of the Confederate Army, commanded by a Polish general and made up of mostly dock workers of various backgrounds. He took part in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines and was under the command of Generals Robert E Lee, John Magruder, James Longstreet, and JEB Stuart. For this he was paid $11/month. He was taken prisoner in June of 1862, sent to Fort Delaware in New York and exchanged in August of 1862. He returned to duty and was wounded in October 1863 and hospitalized. When he wasn't returned to duty immediately, Ferdinand left the hospital (deserted) and joined the Second Kentucky Calvary under the command of John Hunt Morgan.
Historical Impact
Ferdinand's service in Confederate Army could easily have changed history according to this newspaper article. A humanitarian impulse on his part spared the life of William McKinley who became president of the US, but at the time was an officer in the Union Army. In this article, Haevers explains that he was so close to McKinley that shooting him seemed more like murder than like war, so he shot McKinley's horse instead.
Teaching Certificate
After the war, Ferdinand returned to the Green Bay area where he became a farmer, notary public, real estate operator, auctioneer and school teacher. This is the certificate he earned in 1877 to teach in Kewaunee County.
Philomene Bredal
Ferdinand married Philomene Bredael on October 10, 1866 in Bay Settlement. Philomene was born on December 28, 1848 in Ottenburg, Vlaams, Brabant, Belgium. She immigrated to the US with her family in 1855. They had 13 children.
Haevers Farm
Farmhouse of Ferdinand and Philomene in Tonet, circa 1885. From left: Josephine, Angeline, Philomene (sitting), Mary (behind Philomene), William, Ferdinand, Albertine (in white), Elizabeth (behind Albertine), Martin, Virginia, Agnes, Amos, Philibert, Louis.
Philomene and children
On the back porch of their summer kitchen, circa 1895
Oldest Son, Philibert
Philibert (far left) started a lumber and coal company in the early 1900's at Acme & Willis (now University) in Green Bay. His son, Philip (second from left), was a salesman and accountant. Philibert's brothers-in-law (center and far right) Henry Massey and Felix Petitjean also worked at the company.
Daughter Mary Haevers
Mary taught school, first in Tonet, then in Green Bay. She ran for the elected office of superintendent of Green Bay public schools. She moved to Chicago in 1910 and taught school there.
Daughter Agnes Haevers Hannon
Agnes attended Green Bay Business School. She is at the low desk in the third row just right of the support pole.
Grade School
Agnes' grade school picture
Daughters Angeline & Albertine
Angeline Haevers Hodek (left of door) and Albertine Haevers Duerr opened the first Haevers Millinery Store on Main Street in Green Bay.
Family Portrait circa 1925
Back from left: Albertine Duerr (1882-1963), Amos (1875-1936), Louis (1874-1937), Philibert (1867-1941), William (1884-1950), Martin (1879-1939), Agnes Hannon (1881-1965). Front: Josephine Legois (1873-1939), Angeline Hodek (1883-1967), Mary (1870-1940), Elizabeth Petitjean (1871-1957), Virginia Massey (1869-1938). Son William (1873-1876) died in childhood.
At Rest
Ferdinand died in 1909 at age 67. Philomene died in 1928 at age 79. They are buried at St. Martin's Cemetery in Tonet. Photo courtesy of Find A Grave