I was researching the last day or so the August Hass / Hess family who were supposed to be near Shell Lake until 1910 (they were actually a bit further west in Burnett County, Rusk or Dewey Twp.) when I came across your Fred Hess family in Shell Lake in 1900 census. I saw on the Wisc. birth index (also on Washburn Co. website) an approximate time frame when the name seemed to change-- around 1891-93-- for the oldest (Elma) unnamed when born in 1889, is a Hass. Then Adolph b 1891 is a Hess. But Elsie, unnamed in 1893, is written Hass. After that the children are spelled Hess, it would seem, according to the index. Your Hella Emma Augusta Hess is born 5 Mar 1899. Fred and Mary had 5 children, 4 surviving by then (but more after 1900 too, of course).
I am wondering if you have ever heard of a brother to Fred Hess named August Hess or HAAS or Hass, born Aug. 1863, Germany? He resided in Rusk Twp. or nearby from about 1885-1910 when he with his family moved to Ratner, Saskatchewan, Canada. Your Fred Hess (b Dec 1865) emigrated in 1886, according to the 1900 census, so close to the same time when August came to the area in 1885 (he emigrated 1882).
Do you have any idea where your HAAS or Hess family came from in Germany? That is a special interest of mine.
Thanks for any response.