| Joseph Fay's life chronicles an admirable immigrant success story. He came to this country at the age of 19, and despite many challenges, rose to become a prosperous businessman and, more important, an exemplary citizen and leader. Glimpses of his life are seen on census pages, in vital records of church and state, in the memories of family, and in official biographies. Of these, perhaps the most significant is the short "bio" found in
the Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties Wisconsin (1892)
which is included in these pages.
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I. The Beginnings: birth and baptism; the voyage to America; early life in NY
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| Church records show he was baptized on 7 Feb 1821 by J Lipper, sponsored by Anna Maria Martine and Joseph Burkard in the Roman Catholic faith. The family remained in Oberstreit for almost 20 years (see Charles' story). In 1840, the Fe� parents and their seven children sailed from Havre on the ship St. Louis of Boston, with captain O Konig, landing on July 2, 1840 in New York. Joseph is listed at 17 on the ships records, however, he was in actuality 19. The Biographical History of La Crosse... notes that despite the desperate circumstances of the family in their early years in Buffalo, New York (actually Black Rock, now a portion of Buffalo), Joseph made his start in this country as a weaver of fine goods, such as tablecloths. While living there, he married Miss Mary Incinburg (sic; probably a mixup with her birthplace of Engenberg, as her name was Meier) who was born in Germany.
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Mary's death on April 6, 1851, in Burlington, Wisconsin is recorded, and she is listed there as "Anna Maria...nee Meyer"; she was also called "Anna Maria" when her daughter "Maria Anna" was born in 1846. It is possible that as in the case of Charles' wife Maria had several names. It seems to be usual in this family.---ed. note
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While living in Buffalo, Joseph Fay initiated his life-long dedication to building parochial schools, in this case, one in the city and one just outside the city.
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II. Wisconsin: the move to La Crosse; second marriage; naturalization
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| Joseph and Mary apparently settled in Burlington, Wisconsin, after their 1845 marriage in Buffalo (his parents and siblings had moved to Burlington in 1844) and before the 1846 birth of their first child, Mary Eva (Hoeschler). In the August 8, 1850 federal census of Wheatland Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin (Kenosha and Racine County were one entity until the separation in 1850), Joseph was listed as a 29 year-old farmer with wife Mary, also 29, and two children, Mary 3, and Joseph E (Ernest) 3 month. A 14 year-old Sophia Strauss, born in New York, also resided in the household. Joseph and Mary's first son, Charles, or Carl Joseph, had died in 1849. The death of Mary Meier Fay followed in 1851. In 1852 Joseph and his father Charles "Carl", became citizens in Racine County, a process they initiated in Erie County, New York. While living in Burlington, Joseph also helped build two parochial schools.
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| The Biographical History of La Crosse... continues, "soon after his first marriage Mr. Fay came to La Crossse to see the country, and being pleased with the outlook he here determined to pitch his tent". A few months after Mary's death, Joseph married Julia Boschert in Burlington, Wisconsin and here they had the first two of their three children. In 1855, Joseph, Julia and the four children (two from his first marriage and two from his second) moved to La Crosse where the biography comments that he "has been an honored resident of this section ever since". (A July 6, 1890 article listed Joseph Fay as one of the 32 founding members of the Old Settlers's Society organized in 1890.)
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III. Land purchases; 1860; more children
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It was on October 15, 1855 that Joseph Fay purchased from Nathan Myrick, the founder of La Crosse, lots 4, 5, and 6 block 7 in the Dunn, Dousman and Cameron additions in downtown La Crosse for $500. This land currently covers 214-228 South 3rd Street, now the site of a city parking ramp. Fay must have sold this land by the time of the June 12, 1860 federal census which stated his net worth as $2000 in personal property, none in real estate. The 1860 census listed 40 year-old Joseph, a merchant, living with his wife, Julia, 31, and five children: Mary 14, Ernest 11, Eliza (Louisa Sarah) 9, Charles 8, and Joseph 3. (The March 29, 1861 Weekly Democrat listed Joseph Fay as owner of a grocery establishment). The census noted that he and his wife were born in Saxony, and his children in Wisconsin. All the children, including three year-old Joseph, had attended school within the past year.
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The biography of Joseph lists an Andrew, born to Joseph and Julia 26 Jan 1856, a fact that doesn't appear anywhere else. Also, a baptism was recorded in the St Mary's Church which says a Carol, daughter of Joseph and Julianna, born the 16th of May was baptized the 25th of May with Carolo Wagner and Elizabeth Bohner as sponsors. This Carol does not show up in any other records that I have found as yet. (It is very confusing as they were not yet married at this point, although the church records do not report this fact.)
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It looks to me as if this might have a relatively simple explanation. This note does not indicate the year for Carol's birth; it merely says May 16. Then it has something about the year, but I cannot tell from the brief note what year is meant. There is a child who was born to Joseph and Julia on May 16 (1854), and that child was Charles. Note that the sponsor's name was Carolo; and remember that the child's grandfather was Charles, also known as Carl. I think that this "Carol" is actually "Carolo", named in honor of his sponsor, and anglicized as Charles. The "daughter" is someone else's misinterpretation of the name.
There could have been an Andrew born in 1856; there is plenty of time between the births. If so, he must have died in infancy. However, it should be noted that the article says that he married Miss M. Lutz. Now Joseph Ernest, the son of Joseph and Mary Meyer, married Mina Lutz. I think that the author of the article merely confused the two, or misinterpreted a name. --ed. note
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IV. Civic Accomplishments (1860's)
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Although we don't know the specific years of Joseph Fay's many civic accomplishments, it is clear that by the 1860's he was assuming his role as an outstanding community force, guiding and improving La Crosse's development. In 1863 he helped found St Joseph's Cathedral, according to an article in the January 14, 1888 Republican Leader (this article also noted that St John's on the north side and At Nicholas on the south, were branches which eventually separated from St Joseph's). Fay also built St Joseph's college and another parochial school in Geneva, WIsconsin. His La Crosse public offices listed in his 1892 biography include: Supervisor, 5 years, Street Commissioner, 3 years; Alderman, 6 years; City police, 6 years; and numerous tenures as Secretary and Treasurer of both the public and parochial schools, "the duties of which offices he discharged with the same care and fidelity that has ever characterized his career in business circles...He is acknowledged to be a leader in the affairs of this portion of the country, and his intelligence, enterprise and integrity have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any fictitious circumstances, but a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit, and this has been proven by his call at different times to positions of trust and responsibility...He is very liberal in the use of his means; is filled with the milk of human kindness, and those who know him best recognize in him a warm friend and a useful citizen". In a lesser vein, on August 1, 1860 Joseph Fay joined several other dozen "German Democrats", who repudiated Mr Ulrich, publisher of Nord Stern who had just changed his newspaper into a Republican "sheet". And on January 6, 1864, Joseph Fay was listed in the local paper as having given $25 to support the (Civil) war fund.
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V. La Crosse 1870 and 1880
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| According to the June 21, 1870 federal census of the 2nd Ward of La Crosse, 49 year-old Joseph Fay, a grocery merchant (the entry appears to have first been written up as a grocer, later changed to "grocery mt or mk") born in Prussia, now owned $65,000 worth of real estate and $2000 in personal property. Obviously, Joseph had accumulated a good deal of real estate since the 1860 census. He lived with his 39 year-old Baden-born wife Julianna, and their four children, all "at home". Ernest 20, Charles 17, Eliza 17, Joseph 11; Eliza and Joseph had both attended school within the past year.
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I read this a bit differently -- ed.
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In the June 4 1880 federal census of La Crosse, Joseph Fay, a "retired saloon keeper" lived with his spouse Julia (their listed ages are too faint to read, but they would have been 59 and 49). None of their children lived in the same household.
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VI. Miscellaneous real estate holdings
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| Joseph's 1901 La Crosse Democrat obituary stated that "He at one time owned as much La Crosse real estate as any other one man and was extensively engaged in the hotel business". Articles about these enterprises as well as listings of Fay's new construction and capital improvements appeared over the years in various La Crosse publications. November 25, 1876: $8800 expansion of Revere house, 2nd near Main (later named the Britannia Hotel, Cliff House, and Central Hotel, all under Fay's ownership). January 2, 1883: 3 new dwellings, two of brick for $1500 and $1000, one frame for $800. The January 5, 1889 Republican Leader noted that Josseph Fay was building a brick hotel for $5000 (probably the Fay Hotel, later named the Julien). In 1879 La Crosse had three first class, nine second class and 35 smaller hotels, whereas in 1933 there were but 20 hotels total, according to an April 2, 1933 Tribune article.
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VII. Britannia Hotel - Cliff House - Central Hotel - Burlington House - Mentis Hotel
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The 1893-4 City Directory listed the "Britannia Hotel: Board by the day, week or meal. Rates reasonable. Splendid accomodations for the traveling public. 106 and 108 N Second". A July 8, 1893 news article reported that Joseph Fay, owner of the Brittania (sic) Hotel located near Second and Main, was seizing control of the operation from his tenant, Ole Ulven. Evidently Ulven hadn't paid rent for a year, and now owed $1100. The article said that Ulven ran the "popular hostelery...well located for patronage" for 7 years in a professional manner, but had been pressured into investing heavily in the defunct Varden newspaper, owned by his father-in-law. The article noted that Sheriff Ladd had taken charge and Fay's son (possibly Charles, as he did operate hotels for his father at times) was running the business while they looked for a new tenant, that Fay owned most of the furnishings, and the John Gund Brewing Company owned the bar fixtures. While Fay assumed control of the business, poor Ulven still lived there while seeking an alternative residence.
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After repossessing the hotel from Ulven, Fay changed the Britannia's name to Cliff House. On October 5, 1893 the Democrat reported that "Joseph Fay, the pioneer who built more houses in La Crosse than anybody, has been running Hotel Cliff for some time, but he complains that he has too much business and wishes some one would come and take the house off his hands. Parties are now in La Crosse who are thinking of taking the house". Fay obviously kept the hostelry because the 1895-6 City Directory listed Joseph Fay as proprietor of Cliff House at 106-108 N 2nd Street, with "Good accommodations for boarders and the traveling public". The July 1, 1895 Democrat listed him among the throngs of liquor license applicants, in his case, for his "106 North Second Street establishment".
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About 1900 Cliff House was renamed the Central Hotel "(New)...Neat beds, and good dining room service. Steam heat, bath rooms, etc. Rates $1 and $1.50 per day", proprietor Lee Prather, "Ex-travelingman", according to the 1900 City Directory. The Central, which later became Burlington House (1903-1919), then Mentis Hotel (1919-1953), was still owned by Joseph Fay and his estate through at least 1904, according to probate records. These records described the Central Hotel as comprising 25 bedrooms, a dining room with four tables and chairs, a parlor with "old"plush chairs (very poor) and pictures", and an office with a table, six chairs and heating stove.
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VIII. Fay Hotel - Julien Hotel - Northwestern Hotel
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| Fay's probated holdings also included the smaller Julien (formerly Fay) Hotel, probably the hotel he built in 1889 for $5000. The 1891 City Directory listed the Fay Hotel, next door to Joseph Fay's home at 319 Vine Street, Mrs. Ourat, proprietress. Hotel residents included her husband, Professor A E Ourat, "teacher of dancing", and their two daughters, Merope H and Stella A. The 1893-4 City Directory listed Mrs Ourat at the helm of the hotel, the latter described in the exact same words as that year's entry on the Britannia: "Board by the day, week, or meal. Rates reasonable. Splendid accommodations for the traveling public", adding only "Centrally located". In 1900 the establishment was listed as the Julien Hotel, 319-321 Vine, G.F. Mannegold, proprietor. (Between 1907-1919 it was the Northwestern Hotel, advertising "electric light" in the 1915 City Directory, proprietor William Collins). From the hotel inventories in Fay's probated estate we learn that the Julien Hotel had 10 bedrooms, an office, 4 dining tables with 24 chairs, and a parlor with a small reed organ, stove, three chairs and pictures.]
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The Fay estate may have sold or leased the Julien at this point, suggested by an entry in the 1904 publication, La Crosse, Wisconsin, The Gateway City: "The New Julien Hotel, Ernst Gillmeister, proprietor, 319 Vine Street. This hotel enjoys the reputation of being a first-class house in every respect, the table fare being very good and every room neat, clean and in the very best condition. It was established one year ago under its present name, it being known as the old Fay House prior to that time. It is a substantial brick structure, has twenty rooms, electric lights and is fitted throughout neatly and handsomely. The New Julien is splendidly located, being just opposite the court house and next to the Northwestern depot and rate of $1.00 per day is very reasonable considering the excellent service afforded. Twenty-six persons can be accomodated in the dining rooms and an excellent chef prepares appetizing meals which more than please the guests of the house. Mr Gillmeister is a man of many years experience in the hotel business and takes excellent care of his many guests.
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Joseph Fay also had a wholesale wine and liquor business at 3009 Main Street in La Crosse, according to the 1891 City Directory. His 1892 biography was quite impressed:
"The vast amount of adulteration in wine and brandies in use at the present day has made the public wary, and they are only too glad to patronize an establishment where only the purest and best of goods are handled, and consequently the establishment of Mr. Fay, located at 309 Main street, La Crosse, has an extended and paying patronage. His assortment embraces the finest imported and domestic wines and liquors of all kinds and he does the largest business in his line in the city, amounting to about $60,000 annually."
Joseph apparently also owned the adjacent building at 311 Main, 2002 site of North Central Trust.
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| In the June, 1900 federal census of the 12th ward of La Crosse, 80 year-old Joseph Fay, a hotel keeper, lived with his wife of 56 years (actually 49 years) 69 year-old Julia, born in 1831 and immigrating the same year, along with two married sons, Ernest 50, a carpenter (married 30 years), and Charles 46, a traveling salesman (married 25 years). The census records that Joseph was born "at sea" but this appellation probably applies to Julia since she was born in February 1831 and immigrated the same year (Joseph was 19 when he emigrated from Germany). Julia had born 4 children, two of whom were alive as of 1900 (son Joseph died in 1894).
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| Although both sons were married, neither of their spouses and none of their children were included in Joseph's household. Charles is also included in the 1900 census for Ramsey County, where he is listed with his wife in a North St Paul Village (Little Canada) where she operated a boarding house, and with four children and 18 boarders.
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| Ernest is also here, but unlike Charles, he is not listed elsewhere.
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| This fact led me to wonder what had happened to Ernest's wife and where she was. It turns out that she is living in the same town; she and their daughter Mina are living with her parents. --ed. note
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| There are several things to notice about this. First, Mina is a dress maker; many wives and mothers were simply "keeping house." Her daughter's last name is given as "Fahy" - a normal variation, although less common in this line. But there are two more things about Mina. First, she is "S" - single. And second, she is listed under her maiden name of "Lutz." And we have already noted that she is living in the same town as Ernest, but not in the same establishment, although Joseph obviously had plenty of room. I believe that the two were divorced. In 1910, in fact, Mina is still with her parents, although she has taken back her married name, and she is listed as "W" although Ernest supposedly didn't die until 1913. --ed. note
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Joseph was well acquainted with Mon Anderson, the leader of the Norwegian community whose commercial paper was so respected by the Norwegian immigrants that it practically amounted to its own currency. Mons Anderson became an icon of civic pride and responsibility for Frank Hoeschler, Joseph's grandson whom Joseph took with him on one of his visits with Anderson.
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XI. DEATH - WILL - ESTATE
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| Within a year, on March 11, 1901, Joseph Fay died in La Crosse from heart failure and senility (death record). His March 12, 1901 obituary in the La Crosse Morning Chronicle was subtitled "Another Old and Well Known Citizen of La Crosse Passes Away" and began: "Joseph Fay, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens in this city passed away at his residence, 329 Vine Street...death being due to senility...(he) distinguished himself in both public and private life," adding that he was "very liberal and broad minded...of strong character and a useful citizen".
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| It should be noted that "senility" can be used as a synonym for "old age"; it does not necessarily indicate any loss of mental capability or agility. It is as if we said, 'Joseph died of old age.' --ed. note
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The March 11, 1901 La Crosse Democrat obituary about this "Old and Esteemed Citizen", commented on his substantial holdings (above) adding: "But perhaps in his large and varied career, Mr. Fay most distinguished himself as a builder of Catholic parochial schools. He erected a magnificent edifice in Buffalo, NY and a large school at Nutbrush near that city. After coming to La Crosse he built the first St Joseph's College on the site of the present cathedral and also erected two schools at Burlington, and one in Geneva. In the passing of Joseph Fay, La Crosse loses an old, respected and useful citizen, one whose death will be regretted by the entire city". Joseph's funeral was held on March 13 at St Joseph's Cathedral with Reverend Sluyter officiating: burial was in the Catholic Cemetery in La Crosse.
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Joseph Fay signed his will just 9 days before he died in Marach 11, 1901; it made the usual claim that he was "of sound mind and memory." He bequeathed all his estate to a trust managed by Joseph Boschert, "at present cashier for the German American Bank" for the "support and comfort of my wife, Julia Fay" (this Joseph Boschert was the cousin of Julia Boschert Fay). Upon termination of the trust (with Julia's death, which happened 4 years later) the estate would be given to daughters Mary Fay Hoeschler and Sarah Louisa Boschert (married to a Joseph Boschert, cousin of the executor). He also left "no property whatever" to sons Ernest and Charlie, nor to the heirs of son Joseph, "for the reason that I have heretofore, in my lifetime, provided fully for them". Frank Hoeschler, Charles Spettel (who became Frank's brother in law a few months later) and George Bruns were witnesses to the will. John Doherty was the estate lawyer (he built the Coulee house bought in 1953 by Jake and Janet Hoeschler); and John Brindley (relative of Hoeschler Coulee neighbors) was the judge in the probate.
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Joseph Fay's real estate holdings were appraised at $26,000 for 6 lots in La Crosse, $753.60 for furniture and equipment in the Julien and Central Hotels plus household furniture. There is no value placed on his house, the hotels themselves, nor other rental property he owned. The Fay home at 329 Vine featured 5 bedrooms, sitting, front and dining rooms, and kitchen; all bedrooms in hotel and home featured commodes.
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Other Joseph Fay properties generating rent were located in Sioux City Iowa and La Crosse: 618 North 9th Street (between Grove and La Crosse Streets), a barn of unknown location, 211 Main Street (housing the Republican and Leader and La Crosse Chronicle newspapers), 209 Main (4 tenents, including Thompson and McCord), 307 Main (4 tenants), the Julien Hotel, and the Central Hotel (renamed the Burlington, according to probate records). From July 22, 1901 through May, 1904 repairs to Fay's properties totaled $2320.30 (it appears that both hotels underwent significant facelifts); other properties lissted under "repairs" and not included before are 207 Main and 309 Main (the latter being the siste of his liquor dealership). During the same 3-year probate period insurance expenses of $644.15 were accrued; additional property named on this list is 311 Main.
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Interest from bank and personal notes generated $3801.68 to the estate during this period; city taxes were $2099.65 for the three years. Claims filed to the estate and apparently settled totaled $5525.45, $2000 of which was by Louisa Fay Boschert and $2700 by Elizabeth Sullivan Kelly, one of Fay's notebearers. From July 20, 1901 to March 1, 1904 Julia Fay had $738.00 in household expenses from groceries, wood and coal, ice, medical and sewing, which the trust paid.
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XII. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ONE LAST QUESTION
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Much of the above was gathered by Linda Hoeschler. The information that Gordon C Fay had found in the newspapers archives agreed with this; however, he orally reported that he found an article somewhere that said Joseph started then sold the well-known brewery in La Crosse, while none of the articles found by Linda Hoeschler nor those found by Karen Teichmann Fay have shown this as fact. Perhaps it was one of the many buildings that he built, but for someone else?
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