The Carl and Mary Betker Family
by John C. Irish, (great-grandson)
Carl and Mary (Heinz) Betker: Carl Nicholas Betker was born in German-Poland in 1859. Mary Hintz was born on January 26, 1854, in Poland. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hintz. Carl and Mary were married in 1880 and came to the United States in 1880-81. After residing in Chicago for two years they came to Portage County and initially settled in the town of Sharon where Carl was employed at the Boyington mill. In 1892 they purchased a farm in town of Alban located about three miles northwest of Rosholt, Wisconsin. By the early
1890's sixty Polish families were living in the Rosholt area.
Carl and his brother August were on the list of individuals responsible
for founding St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church in 1898. Carl was involved
in local politics serving a span as town assessor and was chairman
of the town of Alban (Portage County Board) for a period of 12 years.
The couple had six children; Apolonia "Polly" Betker (Spitza-Zywicki),
Martha A. Betker (Simonis), Agnes M. Betker (Dehlinger), Peter P.
Betker, Mary A. Betker (Irish) and Balvina Betker (Myska).
Carl Betker died December 1, 1926 and Mary (Hintz) Betker died in
1940, both in Portage County, Wisconsin.
Carl and Mary's Children Living in Forest County
Martha A. (Betker) Simonis 1883-1912
Martha Betker was born in the town of Sharon, Portage County, February 14, 1883. She married Peter E. Simonis, the son of John and Mary (Nice) Simonis, May 15, 1900. They lived on a farm in the Town of Franzen in Marathon County, in Rosholt in Portage County, and Blackwell in Forest County from 1909-1912. Peter was a lumber scaler in the logging industry both at Blackwell and in the Rosholt area. The couple had five children; Clara Simonis (Lewis) born November 5, 1901, Helen Simonis (Johns) born August 19, 1903, Rose Simonis (Huck) born April 14, 1905, Carl Simonis born June 14, 1908 and Cecilia Simonis born in Blackewell, March 3, 1911.
Martha died June 16, 1912 from injuries sustained in an accident. The following was taken from a newspaper account of that accident:
After Martha’s death, Peter Simonis returned to Rosholt with his children where he lived until his death February 16, 1963. Peter died at St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point at age 87.
Mary A. (Betker) Irish 1891-1964
Mary Anna Betker was born in Portage County September 6, 1891, and came
to Laona in 1909. She married Chester J. ”Chet” Irish October 30, 1911, in
Laona. Chet, born September 3, 1891 at Bryant in Langlade County, was the
son of Effie (Starks) Irish and Henry W. Irish. They had two sons; John H. Irish
born 1913, and Harold C. Irish born 1919. Mary died at her home in Starks
Settlement March 29, 1964. For additional information regarding Mary Betker
and the Irish family click here.
Peter P. Betker 1889-1953
Peter Paul Betker was born in Rosholt, Wisconsin, April 29, 1889. He married Alice Simonis ofKnowlton, Wisconsin, on April 6, 1909. Alice was the daughter of Louis and Margaret (Nice) Simonisand she was born April 15, 1891 in the Town of Knowlton. She married Peter Betker in April, 1910 inRosholt. The couple moved to Blackwell and then to Stark's Settlement S/W of Laona. Peter andAlice had 12 children; Margaret, Carl, John, Agnes, Roy, Hazel, Ruth, Mary, Ethel, Francis, Vivian and Irene. Children of Peter and Alice Betker
Betker Family Photos
Mary (Hintz) Betker & Carl N. Betker circa 1905.
Irish Family Photo
Mrs. Simonis was returning home from Laona, on a motor car that makes regular trips to the two places, when as the car
rounded a curve in the track, another was seen approaching in the opposite direction. As both were going at a good rate of
speed, to stop was impossible and the occupants saw that jumping was their only means of escape. All but Mrs. Simonis
got off the car in safety, but she was thrown violently to the ground when her clothing caught in the car. The injuries she
sustained caused much suffering and death came as a great relief. Mrs. Simonis was about thirty years of age and is
survived by her husband and five small children.
Mary A. Betker (Irish) circa 1900.
The Carl and Mary Betker Family circa 1905. Irish Family Photo
1. Mary (Hintz) Betker 1854-1940, 2. Balvina Betker (Myska) 1894-1963, 3. Carl N. Betker 1859-1926, 4. Mary A. Betker (Irish) 1891-1964, 5. Agnes M.Betker (Dehlinger) 1886-1954, 6. Martha A. Betker (Simonis) 1883-1912, 7. Apolonia "Polly" Betker (Spitza-Zywicki) 1880-1967 and 8. Peter P. Betker 1889-1953.
Margaret M. Betker (Karl) 1910-1997
Margaret Mae Betker, the daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born July 26, 1910 at Johnson Creek, Wiscosnsin. Margaret married Francis Karl on February 17, 1926 in Forest County and the couple had six children; Al Karl, Marion Karl, Donna Karl, Dorothy Karl, Richard Karl and Donnald Karl. Margaret died April 13, 1997 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Carl L. Betker 1911-1961
Carl Louis Betker, the son of Peter and Alice Betker, was born October 24, 1911 at Blackwell, Wisconsin. Carl died February 21, 1961 at Garberville, California.
John F. Betker 1913-1988
John Francis Betker, the son of Peter and Alice Betker, was born August 21, 1913 at Rosholt, Wisconsin. John married Laurelda Holtzman (1914-1983) on November 10, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. John died on August 2, 1988 at Woods, Wisconsin.
Agnes C. Betker (Mortson) 1915-1972
Agnes Cecelia Betker, the daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born October 22, 1915 in the Town of Knolton, Portage County, Wisconsin. Agnes married Harold O. Mortson (1912-1996) at Laona on October 21, 1933. The couple had one son, Harold W. Mortson born August 19, 1948 at Laona, Wisconsin. Harold W. married Linda Ambrosius on September 16, 1967 and the couple had three children; Wayne, Darlene and Jennifer. Harold W. died at his home in Laona on March 2, 2009. Agnes died April 26, 1972 at DePere, Wisconsin.
Roy W. Betker 1918-1997
Roy Walter Betker, the son of Peter and Alice Betker, was born February 23, 1918 in Laona. During the war he served with the United States Army. Roy married Eleanor Olson and the couple had 3 children; Peter R. Betker born 1959, Allan O. Betker, and Arlene Betker. Roy was employed by various lumber companies, working as a feller, before retiring in the 1970's. After his retirement, Roy and Eleanor spent quite a lot of time traveling, visiting most parts of the United States. He also liked to work with wood. Roy died Saturday, October 11, 1997, at Mammoth, Arizona at age 79. He and his wife had lived in the Mammoth area for several years and Roy is burried in Valley View cemetery in Mammoth, Arizona.
States. He also liked to work with wood. Roy died Saturday, October 11, 1997, at Mammoth, Arizona at age 79. He and his wife had lived in the Mammoth area for several years and Roy is burried in Valley View cemetery in Mammoth, Arizona.Hazel Betker 1919-1923
Hazel Betker, the daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born March 24, 1919 at Laona, Wisconsin and died on January 3, 1923 at Laona, Wisconsin.
Mary Betker 1923-1925
Mary Betker, the daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born June 6, 1923 at Laona, Wisconsin and died on January 5, 1925 at Laona, Wisconsin.
Ruth A. Betker (Adamski) 1922-2004
Ruth Alice (Betker) Adamski, the daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born March 17, 1922 in Laona, Wisconsin. She married John Eugene Adamski on August 24, 1940 in Laona and the couple had six children; Gerald L. Adamski born 1941, Dennis J. Adamski born 1947, Alan J. Adamski born 1950, Rita J. Adamski born 1953, Janis M. Adamski born 1957 and Lori Ann Adamski( DeNure) born 1958. During WWII Ruth worked as a welder in the Manitowoc shipyards and also at Trade Winds in Manawa during the late 1960's and 1970's. Ruth enjoyed bowling, dancing, cooking, playing cards and watching the Brewers baseball games. Ruth passed away at St. Mary's Hospital, Rhinelander on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 and was buried at the Laona Cemetery..
Ethel M. Betker (Calhoun) 1924
Ethel Maria Betker, daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born in 1924 at Laona, Wisconsin. She married Ivan "Kylie" A. Calhoun in Laona on January 9, 1943. Ethel and Ivan had five children; Francis A. Calhoun born 1946 who married John Menting, Davis A. Calhoun born 1951, Peter J. Calhoun born 1953, Kathryn M. Calhoun born 1961 who married Ed Collins, and Joseph C. Calhoun born 1963.
Francis A. Betker (Kendall) 1927
Francis Arlene Betker, daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born in 1927 at Laona, Wisconsin. She married Thomas D. Kendall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 14, 1950. Francis and Thomas had 6 children; Michael R. Kendall born 1950, Patrick T. Kendall born 1951, Kevin P. Kendall born 1953, Kay F. Kendall born 1955, Timothy D. Kendall born 1960, and Ann M. Kendall born 1962.
Vivian M. Betker (Tangness) 1929
Vivian Mae Betker, daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born in 1929 at Laona, Wisconsin. She married Rangvald Conrad Tangness in Minneapolis, MN on October 7, 1950. Vivian and Rangvald had one child; Carl Raymond Tangness born 1963 who married Susan Tulleys.
Irene M. Betker (Votis) 1932
Irene Mable Betker, daughter of Peter and Alice Betker, was born June 22, 1932 at Laona, Wisconsin. She married Patrick John Votis in Laona on October 27, 1951. Irene and Patrick had 3 children; Patricia Jean Votis born 1953, Karen Ann Votis born 1958, and Teresa Marie Votis born 1964.
Carl L. Betker
Roy W. Betker
Ethel M. Betker (Calhoun)
Francis A. Betker (Kendall)
Irene M. Betker (Votis)
Ruth A. Betker (Adamski)
Vivian M. Betker (Tangness)
