1859–1868
Places · Historic setting
The Marine Hospital's first chapter
Completed in 1859, opened in 1861, and sold in 1868, Galena's hospital often had only one or two patients. Its history predates the Brownells. 1011
Read the storyA shared chronologyThe years
The years
that connect them.
Follow the two families across a changing century. Use the filters to focus on one line, or read the history together.
1880 and 1884
Brownell · Family or indexed record
William and Lelia's generation
Family and cemetery-derived entries give William's birth year as 1880 and Lelia's as 1884. 11213
Read the story1905–1906
Loeffelholz · Original record
A blacksmith in Dickeyville
Polk's business directory lists George Loeffelholz as a blacksmith, independently supporting the trade and town described in the later garage memoir. 1920
Read the story1913–1917
Loeffelholz · Local / property history
From repair work to a Ford agency
Later accounts trace the brothers' repair venture, the larger Main Street premises, and the Ford business. Different dates describe separate business and property milestones. 20212223
Read the story1915
Loeffelholz · Local / property history
A chassis for the fire company
Cuba City's fire department bought an $800 Model T chassis from Loeffelholz Bros. & Wagner; a local blacksmith shop fitted the body for hose and tools. 23
Read the storyJanuary 1917–October 1920
Loeffelholz · Original record
Picture shows above the garage
A new electrically driven projector, a trade-paper film review, and an Auditorium program preserve the building's life as a place for films and dancing. 293031
Read the storyMay 23, 1919
Loeffelholz · Original record
Charles in a Fordson advertisement
The original group caption names Charles among men looking over Fordson work on C. C. Clemens's farm. It does not assign names to particular faces. 24
Read the storyFebruary–July 1920
Loeffelholz · Original record
A growing workshop and journeys for cars
Newspaper reports describe an expanded garage, organized parts stock, and drivers—including Charles and Wilbur—bringing new Fords from Detroit and Milwaukee. 2728
Read the storyJanuary 5, 1922
Brownell · Family or indexed record
George's birth
Vital and burial indexing places George's birth in the Platteville area. 3
Read the storyApril–May 1923
Loeffelholz · Family or indexed record
Florette's birth and an early loss
Florette was born in April. The family gravestone date places Charles's death on May 24, about five weeks later. 1438
Read the story1932–1935
Brownell · Local / property history
Leila's Coates House nursing home
Wisconsin's property inventory names Leila as the owner and records the substantial Platteville house's nursing-home use. 5
Read the storyJanuary 1943
Brownell · Original record
George photographed in New Guinea
An ACME caption names Sgt. George Brownell at a footwear salvage dump. The image also appeared in YANK on January 31; its exposure date is unspecified. 3940
Read the story1944–1951
Brownell · Local / property history
Care and hospitality in Galena
Property history connects the Brownells to a Stillman mansion nursing home and the separate former Marine Hospital, used as Idle Acres resort and hotel. 78
Read the story1947–1978
Brownell · Original record
Josiah's international career
A State Department obituary traces service from Bogotá through consular posts on several continents, with retirement after Santiago in 1978. 1718
Read the storyApril 1950
Both families · Original record
Two households in the census
In Cuba City, Elizabeth's household includes George, Florette, William C., and infant Barbara J. In Galena, William and Leila appear under the heading Brownell Nursing Home. 27
Read the story1951 and 1961
Brownell · Family or indexed record
William and Lelia's later years
Family and derivative entries give William's death year as 1951 and Lelia's as 1961. The Idle Acres sale also falls in 1951; its cause is not established. 181213
Read the storyJuly 22, 1989
Brownell · Family or indexed record
George's death
Indexing records George's death and burial at Saint Rose of Lima Cemetery in Cuba City. The family remembers cancer as the cause. 13
Read the storyMay 4, 2003
Loeffelholz · Family or indexed record
Florette's death
Florette's indexed death date closes the central couple's chronology. 4
Read the story