John Elbers, his wife, Arnoldina Cordelia, and their 3 sons, Peter, (Constantinus) Alexander, and (Adrianus) John came here from Noord-Brabant Province, Wanroij Dist., Holland in 1848. They sailed on the America and settled in Madison, Wisconsin.
Their son, John, (10/5/1844 -11/29/1918) married Christena Tkirch on 9/1867 at Redeemer Church. They had 6 children, John Peter (b. 12/5/1868), Carl Constantine (d. 8/31/1871), Maria Barbra (3/18/1872-11/8/1873), ? Agnes (b. 1874), Andrew John (b. 8/26/1876), and Henry (9/23/1878-12-17-1878). They moved to Chicago 1872/1873. Christena died 10/5/1878, and John married Rose Wagner in Chicago in Sept. 1879 at St. Bonifactus Church. They had 3 children, Frank Constantine (9/24/1880 or '81-5/13/1909), ? Christena (d. 4/12/1883), and my great-grandma, Anna Arnoldina (10/29/1887-8/22/1962).
Anna married George Frederick William Colditz on 6/10/1914 at St. Aloysius Rectory. They had 2 children, my grandfather, George Gustav John (11/7/1917-1/8/1984), and Margaret Rose (3/4/1921-9/23/1965).
I have more family info, but am looking for more on the Elbers before they came to the U.S. I am also looking for info on Peter and Alexander. I think that Peter died in the Civil War in 1864 because I found a Peter Elbers listed on a roster for the 4th Calvary Reg. Wisc. Although I am pretty sure, I can not completely confirm if this is the same person. The man I found had a wife, Margaret, and John Elbers was her guardian, but I don't know if there were any children. I have no information on what happened to Alexander, or if John and Arnoldina had any more children.