So...What is the real story?   

Bridget married William Vallender around 1865.  Their first child Frank was born a year later, and Catherine, their youngest daughter, was born in either 1868 or 1869.  In the 1870 census their daughter, Catherine, was listed as "Mary".  As noted earlier,  Bridget was listed as "Theresa" in this census.  Our ancestors on both sides of the family changed names "freely" - the priest knew them by their baptismal name while their friends often knew them by another name.  In this census, it shows that she was born in Ireland around 1842. 

But in the 1880 census, Theresa (Terresa) shows her birth year around 1845 and of Prussian origin.   It also shows another daughter was added to the family - Margaret - who was born in 1875.  In addition, we see a family by the name of Schroeder living with them in 1880.  Sally Schroeder was listed as a sister-in-law in the census, and her daughters listed as "nieces" to the head of household.  Sally Schroeder showed her heritage as Bavaria (or Prussia).

At first we thought that Sally was a sister to William Vallender...but this is where the story gets interesting. 

The Wisconsin state records show that William Vallender and Therisia Schroeder were married in Dane County on October 8, 1872. The sister-in-law, Sally Schroeder, was actually Therisia/Theressa's sister; and therefore the birth country listing in the 1880 census is accurate.   It appears that Bridget Smith Vallender, mother to Catherine and Frank, died sometime after the census was taken in July 1870 and October 1872.  As we don't have Bridget's death record, we can only speculate as to the cause of her death.  But...who would have thought that William would have married two women by the same first name.

William's daughter Margaret is technically unrelated to us.  That is why the only two families we will follow are Frank and Catherine's family, and appears that they had some connection to the South Dakota Smith's until the mid-1950s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRANK VALLENDER FAMILY - BRIDGET SMITH LINE

Frank Vallender’s parents were William Vallender and Bridget Smith (Smyth).  Bridget Smith was “Irish” John Smith’s sister.  Bridget died in the early Eighteen Seventies, and William married Theresa Schroeder.   William Vallender was Madison’s Fire Chief from 1882 to 1884; President of St. Michael’s Benevolent Society and a Barber. 

The following picture shows the 100 State Street block in Madison, which contains the William Vallender Building that also houses the No. 2 Fire Department.  This building had been in the hands of the Vallender family since before the Civil War.  It was one of the oldest buildings on State Street and has been used as a saloon, barber shop, and tailor shop.  The William Vallender family occupied the second and third floors.

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1900 US Census for Madison, Wisconsin

In 1900 Frank Vallender and his family were living at 401 University Avenue in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin.  Frank and Sarah Vallender were married at Madison on February 4, 1890.  Frank was promoted to Captain of the Fire Department on September 3, 1910, and was also one of the oldest members of the Fire Department at that time.  Three children’s names appear in this census:  Willie (William), Florence and Marie.  The census record shows their date of birth and ages.  One other interesting fact also appears.  Sarah and Frank had 4 children; however, only 3 children survive. 

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1911 Madison Directory

The 1911 Madison, Wisconsin, Directory shows several interesting facts.  Florence is employed as a laundress.  Frank is the Fire Captain at Station #2.  Son, William F. Vallender, died on April 13, 1911.  We lost track of young William after the 1910 US Census. So this last entry clarified Vallender family history.

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Parts of William Vallender’s obituary are illegible due to the ravages of time and environment.  William died of Bronchitis after coming back home from his trip to the Dakotas.  We assume he got sick while visiting his cousins in Kimball, South Dakota.  After William died, Frank and Sadie Vallender adopted a boy and named him Robert.

The Wisconsin State Journal; April 14, 1911 (parts are illegible):

OBITUARY

VALLENDER - William F. Vallender, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vallender, 311 North Broom Street, died at 1:15 o'clock last night of bronchitis after an illness  lasting but a little over three weeks.  He had just recently returned from the Dakotas and arrived home sick.  Besides his parents he leaves his sisters, Florence, Marie and Catharine.  He was 19 years old and was one of the most enthusiastic young hunters and fisherman at the local lakes. He greatly will be missed by those who had reason to ...but for.. on Lake Monona.

The funeral will be held Monday morning at 7:00 o'clock from the home and ... from the Holy Redeemer church.

 

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FIRE AT PLYMOUTH CLOTHING STORE

Frank was injured May 1913 while putting out a fire at the old Plymouth Clothing Store in downtown Madison, Wisconsin.  A cornice fell on him.  We could not find any news article mentioning this fire, let alone whether any fireman had been injured.  What we did find were multiple advertisements paid by the Plymouth Clothing Company for their huge Fire Sale.  Frank died in December 1913 after a short two week illness.

May 13, 1913, Wisconsin State Journal

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Two articles below report Frank Vallender’s death and funeral.  Please note this newspaper spelled Frank’s last name as ‘Vallener’ and not ‘Vallender’.

 

The Wisconsin State Journal; December 22, 1913:

VETERAN MADISON FIRE FIGHTER DIES

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Captain Frank Vallener of No. 2 Fire Company, died at his home at 833 Jenifer Street at 8:30 o'clock Friday evening after a two weeks' illness.  He had been in poor health ever since he was struck on the shoulder by a falling cornice stone at the Plymouth Clothing store fire last May, although he was on duty, except for a few weeks up to December 3.  He responded to his last alarms at 1 a.m. November 30.

Starting as a torch boy at the old No. 2 fire company more than twenty-five years ago, he became a call man until the creation of a paid department in 1901.  He was appointed to his position as captain in 1911.

Frank Vallener was the only son of William Vallener, 127 State street, at one time chief of the department.  The captain was born in Madison August 1, 1866, was educated in the Holy Redeemer school.

His wife and four children survive him:  Florence, 21; Marie, 15; Genevieve, 12; and Robert, 1 1/2.  His father and his three sisters, Mrs. Frank Esser of this city, Mrs. Margaret Dufrenne of Milwaukee and Mrs. Sophie Schilling of New Holstein are left to mourn his loss.

Captain Vallener belonged to the Woodmen of the World and to the Catholic Order of Foresters, both insurance organizations.  The funeral will be held Monday morning at 9 o'clock from the Holy Redeemer church and interment will be in Calvary cemetery.  The fire station flag will be lowered to half mast.

 

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Wisconsin State Journal; December 22, 1913

FIRE BELL TOLLS "LAST CALL" FOR CAPTAIN VALLENER
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Head of Department No. 2 Laid to Rest in Calvary Cemetery Monday
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FELLOW FIREMEN ACT AS PALLBEARERS
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Services are Held at Holy Redeemer Church With Father Haertle Conducting

As the funeral cortege of Captain Franz Vallener of No. 2 Fire company roared up King street at 8:45 o'clock Monday morning the bell in the tower of the central station tolled his "last call" for him.  The procession started from the house, 833 Jenifer street at 8:30 o'clock and for the Holy Redeemer church where services were conducted by Father Haertle, interment was at Calvary cemetery.

The pallbearers were fellow firemen from the various companies in the city as follows: Carl Eichman of No. 1 Station, George Eichman of No. 3, Patrick Brown of No. 3, James Nash of No. 1, James Higgins of No. 2 and James Schelg of No. 2, Chief Heyl attended the services and had it not been for the necessity of remaining on duty, every fireman in this city would have been there.