"As of the 1880 Federal Census for Dallas Twp., Clinton Co., Michigan, Joseph worked as a brewer. As of the 1900 Federal Census for Dallas Twp., Clinton Co., Michigan, Joseph was working as a stage driver.

"Joseph moved his family from Westphalia to Detroit, Michigan in 1907 and lived there until his death. His oldest sons (Alfred, Edward, and Herman) had preceded them, and were working in an auto plant. Joseph is rumored to have operated a brewery in Detroit, but no evidence of this has been found. It is more likely that he was lured by the burgeoning auto industry. As of the 1910 Federal Census, Joseph, Mary, and their children (Edward, Alfred, Peter, Roman, Eleanor, and Antoinette) were living at 31 Navarre St. in Detroit. Joseph was working as a laborer in a factory. As of the 1920 Federal Census, Joseph, Mary, and their children (Alfred, Peter, Roman, Anthony, and Eleanor) were still at 31 Navarre St. in Detroit. Joseph was a laborer in an auto factory. Detroit changed its street numbering system in 1921; in the 1923/1924 City of Detroit Directory, Joseph was living at 9361 Navarre, Detroit. Most likely, this was the same dwelling, newly numbered. Joseph was listed as an autoworker."
--Author unknown, provided by Diane Kaye Schafer, August, 2000.

"At the time of the 1900 Federal census, Maria and Joseph were living on a farm in Dallas Twp., Clinton Co., Michigan. They moved with their family to Detroit in 1907, and lived at 31 Navarre St. Maria was fond of having large gatherings, especially for Sunday dinners."
--Author unknown, provided by Diane Kaye Schafer, August, 2000.