Michael Botwinski

Michael Botwinski, born in Poland on September 29, 1866, came to America about 1892. He was married at Chicago to Mary Magalski, who preceded him in death on October 21, 1931. Mr. Botwinski had lived for 20 years on a farm in the town of Bergen, Marathon county, and for 14 years in the town of Knowlton. He was also engaged in business for five years at Hammond, Indiana.

Michael Botwinski died at St. Michael's hospital at Stevens Point on July 18, 1946, at the age of 79. Funeral services were held on July 22 at St. Francis Xavier church at Knowlton, Rev. Roman Papiernik officiating. Burial followed in the Knowlton Catholic cemetery.

Eleven children survived Mr. Botwinski, Mrs. Helen Miswick, Niles, Mich., Mrs. Felix Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Mrs. Charles Hruska, Chicago, Mrs. James Milinar, LaGrange, Ill., John Botwinski, Michigan City, Ind., Mrs. Joseph Milda, Calumet City, Ill., Joseph Botwinski, Bensonville, Ill., and Mrs. Charles Malkowski and Jane, Chester and Zigmond Botwinski, Dancy. He also left 31 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

A daughter, Mary, born on July 31, 1898, died from appendicitis in February 1926, when they lived at Hammond. Her body was brought to Knowlton on October 29 of that year, after the family had moved to that vicinity, and interred in the Knowlton Catholic cemetery.

Ben A. Botwinski

Ben A. Botwinski was born in Chicago on July 31, 1898, a son of Michael Botwinski of the town of Bergen, Marathon county, and Mary Magalski Botwinski. The family came to the Knowlton vicinity when Ben was seven years old. He operated a tavern and store at Knowlton from 1931 until 1936, when he located at the present farm. For some time prior to his death he also operated a grocery store in Dancy.

He was married to Miss Helen Lake at Knowlton on October 8, 1930.

At the time of his death from heart trouble on May 2, 1941 at the age of 42, he was survived by his wife, two children, Marietta, age nine, and Ben, Jr., seven; seven sisters, Mrs. John Miswick of Niles, Michigan, Mrs. Charles Hruska, Mrs. James Millinare and Mrs. Joseph Milda of Chicago, Mrs. Malkowski of Dancy, Jane Botwinski at home, and Mrs. Felix Wolocek of Wisconsin Rapids, and four brothers, John Botwinski (address unknown), Joseph Botwinski of Chicago and Chester and Zigmund Botwinski at home.

The funeral was held at St. Francis Xavier church in Knowlton on May 5, with Rev. Edward Roskos officiating. The pallbearers were James Baravetto, Thomas Stark, George Mishnick, Leo Pelot, Alex Palcinski and John Jazdewski. Burial took place in the Knowlton Catholic cemetery. The funeral was largely attended.

Mrs. Helen Botwinski

Born in the town of Dewey on October 8, 1904, Helen Lake was married to Ben Botwinski on October 8, 1930. After his death eleven years later, on May 2, 1941, Mrs. Botwinski continued to live in Knowlton until the summer of 1949 when she moved to the town of Amherst and became housekeeper for James P. Slater. She also worked nights in Slater's restaurant in the village of Amherst.

On the evening of February 13, 1950, the body of Mrs. Botwinski was found on a couch at the Slater home, dressed in a bathrobe and slippers. A 30-30 rifle slug had passed through her body, and the rifle lay by her side, with one cartridge fired. After an investigation, the coroner declared her death a suicide.

The district attorney and coroner said that her suicide was apparently the result of despondency. This was indicated by the contents of a note left by Mrs. Botwinski and other personal correspondence of hers.

Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Botwinski were held Friday morning at the Beste funeral home at Mosinee, with Rev. John Nowak officiating. Burial took place in the Knowlton Catholic cemetery. The pallbearers were Alex Polchinski, John Wentzka, James Baravetto, George Mischnick, Emil Feder and Leo Pelot.

She was survived by a son, Ben, 16, at home, who was at Amherst when the death was discovered; a daughter, Rita, of Merrill, and these brothers and sisters: Mrs. Verona Dombrowski of St. Joseph, Mich., Mrs. Richard Wilbur of Eau Claire, Mich., Mrs. Frank Yetka of Chicago, Frank and Julius Lake of Dancy, Edward Lake of Racine and Anton Lake in the state of Oregon.