Henry was born in Ruthenbeck, Mecklenburg, Germany; which is between Schwerin and Parchim. He served in the Prussian army and lived in Posen before immigrating in 1895. An uncle, who lived in Neenah, WI paid for his passage on board the California. The ship left Hamburg on 19 March and arrived at Boston during the first week of April. He carried with him a ticket to Neenah and $13.00.
Anna was born in Grosssanchr, Germany. She immigrated with her parents and brother in 1893, joining a sister who already lived in Menasha, WI, and worked as a housekeeper.
Henry and Anna were married in Neenah, WI. He worked at the Neenah Foundry until after the birth of his daughter Clara in 1900. Then he purchased a farm near Anna's parents outside of Readfield, WI and became a farmer. The farm had 83 acres; 20 acres of marsh, 20 acres of woods, and 40 workable acres.
While visiting his younger sister Minnie Zachow in Germany in 1929, his house in Wisconsin burned down. He brought Minnie's son Karl back to America with him, although Karl had to come a month later because Henry's ship ran out of room. He replaced his burned house with a former schoolhouse, which was moved to the same site on Hillcrest Road. He and Anna later lived in Readfield, selling the farm to son-in-law Art Schuelke. Eventually they lived with daughter Minnie in Winneconne, WI.
Anna died in Oshkosh, WI.
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Henry & Anna Stecker
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