The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-05-20
MOTHERWAsO VEAL THY CLASS
Eloped With Father Many Years Ago
When He Was Working AS Coachman
in Her Fathers Home -Grandfathe
Takes Children Back to Germany.

The request of Frederick Kath, form
er Kenosha county man, who is now at
Charlottan near Berlin in Germany, for
some records in regard to his birth, has
brought to light an unusual romance
which was carried out in Germany and
In Kenosha county. Frederick Kath,
was born in the town of Salem in
August of 1898, and it is declared that
his mother was a daughter of one of
the wealthiest men of the city of Char
lottan near Berlin. The story Of her
life in Germany and in this country
was not brought out until few days
ago when the request for the record
of the birth of the son caused some
of her close friends in Salem to
divulge the facts.
Kath was son Of the late Frederick
Kath, who for many years lived ON the
Minnis farm in the town of Salem.
Kath came to this county with bride
from Germany in the late "eighties.
They appeared to be cultured people,
but they went out into the town Of Sa-
lem and settled on rented farm and
there they had several children born
to them. Kath was hard working
man and his wife appeared to be en-
tirely wrapped up in her interest in
her home. She, however, on many oc-
casions gave indication that she had
known the best things in this life.
Kath and his wife both died many
years ago leaving the family of small
children. At that time no one knew
of their relatives and the children were
cared for by the people in the neigh
borhood. Some time after the death of
Mrs. Kath her father came from Ger
many and carefully gathered the child
rem together and took them back to the
"Fatherland' with him. To one man
who had refriended the children the
old man told the story of the romance
Of the Kaths.
Frederick Kath had been employed
as a coachman in the family of the
woman who he afterward married. She
had been vivacious school girl, at
tending one of the schools near her
home and Kath had driven the CARR
age which took her to her school work
every morning. This constant associa-
ton brought the young people together
and they eloped. The father declined
to forgive his daughter and Kath and
his bride left Germany and came to
this country. Only once after Mrs.
Kath reached Salem did she communi-
cate with her father. She received no
reply from the letter and died broken
hearted. Only short time after the
death of Mrs. Kath her father came to
America seeking her and he finally
came out to the town of Salem. He
did not give his name to any one save
the men and woman who had befriend-
ed the children of his daughter and he
pledged them to secrecy. The little
children were gathered together and
the men and women who had sought to
adopt them when they saw the sorrow
OF the old man consented to surrender
to him the children of his daughter and
more than ten years ago he carried
them away to the ancestral home in
Germany. No one in Salem had heard
from the old man since he came for che
children, but frequent letters have
passed between Kath and some of his
boyhood chums. Kath has not been
heard from since the beginning of the
war. His friends in Salem believe he
is now seeking to prove the fact that
he is an American citizen in order that
ne may escape military duty in Ger
many. The strange story of the Kath
children had been forgotten by many
in the town of Salem. Young Kath
was, when last heard from, student
| in one of the German universities at
| Berlin.
Records of his American birth are
now being sent to him.