1998 Ancestral File (nil)
2000 Ordinance Index (nil)
Main Archive Record (nil)
Wilhelmena was the spelling on her grave marker in the Lake Benton Cemetary (found by George Sommerlade, grandson, and Joyce Goodman, great-granddaughter in May of 1969). She came to America in 1866 with family and friends, settling in Minnesota. Four years later she married John C. Sommerlade, 15 Jan 1870 in Olmsted county. The tamily moved in 1878 to Drammen township settling onb a farm. One child died apparently before 1880, according to the obituary of Wilhelmena's husband, Johann Christoff Sommerlade. This is the only reference to this child. She was a cute-looking short, roundish lady with light gray hair parted in the middle. She was spoken of as a kind woman who cared about her neighbors. She inherited money from her family in Germany which she kept in a trunk in the attic. The house burned down, destroying the money. She was said to never have recovered fully from this tragedy.
He married Blocked .
They were the parents of 10
children:
Johann August Laabs
born 15 May 1832.
Ferdinand Laabs
born 21 Jul 1834.
Wilhelmena Laabs
born 18 Oct 1836.
Marie Therese Friederike Laabs
born 28 Apr 1839.
Albert Hermann Laabs
born 1 May 1841.
Sophie Caroline Laabs
born 26 Oct 1843.
Friederich Wilhelm Laabs
born 1 Mar 1846.
Emilie Dorothea Laabs
born 18 Feb 1850.
Pauline Charlotte Laabs
born 16 Dec 1852.
Otto Hermann Laabs
born 6 Jun 1855.