LAND RECORDS FOR PROELL FARM, NW 1/4 OF SECTION 24, TOWNSHIP OF EATON

THE PROELL FARMSTEAD
 
John Proell, Sr. (1814-1889), in the company of his son John Proell, Jr. (1843-1879), 
emigrated from Bohemia and arrived in the port of New York on the ship Saxonia from 
Hamburg, Germany on August 18, 1858.  On October 22, 1858, John Proell, Sr. purchased 
from Father Ambrose Oschwald, for the price of $700.00, 120 acres of land that would 
become the base of the Proell Farmstead, which to this day remains within the Proell 
family.  The 120 acres of land purchased on Oct. 22, 1858 consisted of the E ½ of 
the NW 1/4 (80 acres) and the S 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the NW 1/4 (40 acres) – both 
parcels being in the Township of Eaton, Section 24.

Following are the land records for what today is the 160 acre John Proell Farm, 
Section 24, Eaton Township. 

Feb. 11, 1847 – By an act of congress enacted on Feb. 11, 1847, William Benson, 
a private in Captain Baylon’s company Battalion Texas Mounted Volunteers, was 
awarded 160 acres of land in compensation for his military service. This 160 
acres was the NW 1/4 of Section 24, Township of Eaton, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.  
This land was then assigned by William Benson to Augustus L. McCrea, a land 
speculator living in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [665-374]

Aug. 22, 1854 – Augustus L. McCrea and his wife Louisa sell to Father Ambrose Oschwald 
a total of 3,840 acres of land in the townships of Eaton and Liberty. This land sells 
for $3.50 per acre or for a total of $13,440. A part of this 3,840 acres includes the 
NW 1/4 of Section 24, Township of Eaton. [I-457] 
 
Oct. 22, 1858 – Father Ambrose Oschwald sells to John Proell, Sr. 120 acres of land 
for $700.00. This 120 acres comprises the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 and the S 1/2 of the W 1/2 of 
the NW 1/4 - both parcels in Section 24, Township of Eaton.  [R-371]
 
Nov. 2, 1858 – Because Father Ambrose Oschwald is not able to keep payment on the 
3,840 acres he originally purchased, much of the land goes on sale at a public 
auction in the City of Milwaukee. On that day, Nov. 2, 1858, John C. Starkweather 
of Milwaukee purchases (as the highest bidder) the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 24, 
Township of Eaton plus the NW 1/4 of Secton 23 of the same township. This is a total 
of 200 acres at a price of $327.25. Once this auction sale is made, John Proell, Sr. 
owns 120 acres of the NW 1/4 of Section 24, Township of Eaton. The remaining 40 acres 
is owned by John C. Starkweather.  [R-429]
 
June 1, 1865 – John C. Starkweather of Milwaukee sells to John Proell, Sr. the 
remaining 40 acres of the NW 1/4 of Section 24, Township of Eaton for the price of $200.00.  
With this purchase, John Proell, Sr. owns the entirety of the NW 1/4 of Section 24, which 
is the Proell Farmstead as it exists today. [6-24]
 
Feb. 13, 1884 – John Proell, Sr. sells to his son Frank Proell the 160 acres of the 
NW 1/4 of Section 24 plus the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 28 – at total of 200 acres all 
within the Township of Eaton – for $2.600.00. Included with this sale is “Also all and 
singular the personal property, stock, machinery and implements now belonging to the 
above described farm.”  [42-351]
 
Feb. 4, 1898 – Frank Proell and his wife Katie sell to Mathias Strack for $1,800.00 a 
part of the NW 1/4 of Section 24. This parcel is described as “commencing at the SE 
corner of NW 1/4, running W 44 rods, N 2 rods, W 23 rods, N 100 26/67 rods, E 67 rods, 
S 102 26/67 rods”, which would put one back to the starting point.  [67-64]
 
Jan. 16, 1923 – Mathias Strack and his wife Louisa sell to Frank Proell for $2,800.00 
the same property described in #7 above.  [130-457]
     
Sept. 10, 1937 – Frank Proell dies and the 160 acres of the NW 1/4 of Section 24, 
Township of Eaton is inherited by his widow, Katie Proell.  This is verified on 
Oct. 22, 1945 in Vol. 222, p. 518 of the Manitowoc County Land Records.
 
Oct. 22, 1945 – Katie Proell (widow of Frank Proell) assigns the 160 acres of the 
NW 1/4 of Section 24 to her son Walter Proell (who is single). [218-598]
 
April 22, 1975 – Walter Proell dies on Oct. 18, 1973.  He is a single person. 
On April 22, 1975, the 160 acres of the Proell Farm are assigned to Walter Proell’s 
brother, John F. Proell.  [534-35]
  
John Proell, Sr. – Oct. 22, 1858-Feb. 13, 1884 
Frank Proell (son of John Proell, Sr.) – Feb. 13, 1884-Sept. 10, 1937 
Katie Leichtnam Proell (widow of Frank) – Sept. 10, 1937-Oct. 22, 1945 
Walter Proell (son of Frank Proell) – Oct. 22, 1945-April 22, 1975 
John F. Proell (son of Frank Proell) – April 22, 1975-May 29, 1978