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View Tree for Leopold William Leopold William "Dody" Koehler (b. April 3, 1871, d. December 16, 1944)


Picture of Leopold William
Koehler Family Home

Leopold William "Dody" Koehler (son of Albright "Albrecht" Koehler and Elizabeth S. Burkart)1627 was born April 3, 1871 in Peru, Illinois1628, 1629, 1630, and died December 16, 1944 in Chicago, IL.1631, 1632, 1633. He married Elizabet V. Noel on October 24, 1895 in Zion E&R Church, Peru, IL1634, 1635, daughter of John Noel and Rosalia Sara Neu.

 Includes NotesNotes for Leopold William "Dody" Koehler:
[dianekoehlerkastelloapril2001.FTW]

May 2000
Source is primarily Edna Koehler Helm, Leopold's daughter, my great aunt.
According to obit. he was baptized in the Zion's Evangelical Church, Peru.
Leopold met Lizzie Noel at a dance. She apparently liked to dance very much and was quite good. He danced to make her happy. Such is the way of the world!
He was a volunteer fireman and was Chief while they were dating. Lizzie tells the story of them being out on a date in a sleigh which was being pulled by horses. The fire bell rang and in Leopold's haste to turn the team around to take her home and get to the fire, he upset the sleigh, throwing Lizzie to the ground. Nevertheless, they dated about a year and then were married.
All of their 11 children were born in the 2-family home they shared with his parents, Albreicht & Elizabeth Burkhart Koehler, between 5th & 6th on Putnam St. in Peru, which still stands today. Elizabeth outlived her husband almost 28 years and she continued to live in the apartment on one side of the house until her death. When the home became too crowded, Leopold and "Lizzie" moved to the home at 1710 12th St. with the large barn. Leopold felt his parents were rather snobbish and that they didn't really like having the grandchildren around (I don't blame them--all those grandchildren in the same house!) Consequently, his family developed a closer relationship with his in- laws, the Noel/Neu group.
Only 9 of their children survived. The last child was stillborn and the child prior to that was Edna's twin Edwin, who died of pneumonia at about 4 months.
Leopold was in the painting business which he operated out of their barn. This barn also contained horses, pigs, chickens & geese. Edna heard her mother Lizzie remark to him one day, "We have horses, pigs, chickens & geese, but no cows." He replied, "I would, but there's no room." I suspect with 9 children to raise, her comment was made, not lamenting the fact that there were no cows to take care of, but rather in expressing gratitude that she didn't have cows to milk as well.
"Doty" was also a serious gardener. The older boys Arthur & Leo, Jr., (Bud) helped in the garden until they were older and had other jobs. Great Aunt Edna tells me the next children, her sisters Elsie & Charlotte & Mabel, never liked getting their hands dirty. Edna always felt it was an honor when her father asked her to help out. She and her brother George "Jim", my grandfather, worked in it a lot. The rows had to be "very straight" and never were any weeds allowed!
My father told me of that same garden, but his impressions of it were somewhat different. He used to have to go over to the family house and weed the large garden and he hated it! As far as I remember, my dad never liked working in a garden the rest of his life, although he greatly enjoyed the spectator sport of watching his wife and children working at them!
My father always liked his grandfather though, and he was generally thought of as a "good Joe". When he died, my father was in boot camp and he was able to obtain emergency leave to come home for the funeral.
On the other hand, Dad didn't care for his grandmother. He said, "She was a complainer and never had much to do. She had a maid." Well--it's obvious someone with 9 children always had something to do. (See Notes on Elizabeth Noel) and I think there was a period later in her life when her legs bothered her terribly and she had someone helping her in the home (the "Maid" my father referred to).
"Doty" began the now famous Koehler Family Duck Decoy carving activities, in this same barn, and is known to have made some 6000 Mallard and Pintail decoys during his lifetime. His two sons George (my grandfather) and Leo, Jr. (Bud) were also very well-known in this field, carrying on the tradition. His grandson Jim Koehler worked in the "shop" with his father George "Jim" in later years as well. It is very difficult to secure one of these decoys now, and latest information is they are going from $650 to $7000. Wouldn't Leopold be astounded! See article in my personal files ("Unsung Heroes Along the IL Flyway")
Doty also helped his father in the pharmacy where Albreight worked, and he learned a lot about medicine. Edna says none of the 9 children ever saw a doctor, which is not surprising considering the cough remedy her father would bring home from the drug store; rock candy, licorice and whiskey. Another remedy for keeping your insides healthy was sulphur and molasses, which was "ugly-tasting" according to Great-Aunt Edna. Her mother would put some sugar on the spoon and a dash of turpentine--I don't know why, but I imagine this is apropos to the old saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
Leopold died without a will, as did his wife, and the family home was sold. He died in A. M. Billings Hospital, 950 E. 59th St., Chicago, where he had been a patient for about 2 weeks with carcinoma of urinary bladder. He was an honorary member of the Peru Fire Co. at his death and a member of the Painter's Local No. 390. He is buried in Peru Cemetary. He had been living at 1710 12th St., Peru, before his death, in the family home.

April 2001
Searched FTM Index
Genealogy & Ancestry.coms
1900 Census in file
Grave photo in file
Homestead photo in file
Decoy article in file
Marriage Cert in file
Obituary in file
Death Cert in file May 2000
Source is primarily Edna Koehler Helm, Leopold's daughter, my great aunt.

Leopold met Lizzie Noel at a dance. She apparently liked to dance very much and was quite good. He danced to make her happy. Such is the way of the world!
He was a volunteer fireman and was Chief while they were dating. Lizzie tells the story of them being out on a date in a sleigh which was being pulled by horses. The fire bell rang and in Leopold's haste to turn the team around to take her home and get to the fire, he upset the sleigh, throwing Lizzie to the ground. Nevertheless, they dated about a year and then were married.
All of their 11 children were born in the 2-family home they shared with his parents, Albreicht & Elizabeth Burkhart Koehler, between 5th & 6th on Putnam St. in Peru, which still stands today. Elizabeth outlived her husband almost 28 years and she continued to live in the apartment on one side of the house until her death. When the home became too crowded, Leopold and "Lizzie" moved to the home between 12 & 13th St. with the large barn. Leopold felt his parents were rather snobbish and didn't really like having the grandchildren around. Consequently, his family developed a closer relationship with his in laws, the Noel/Neu group.
Only 9 of their children survived. The last child was stillborn and the child prior to that was Edna's twin Edwin, who died of pneumonia at about 4 months.
Leopold was in the painting business which he operated out of their barn. This barn also contained horses, pigs, chickens & geese. Edna heard her mother Lizzie remark to him one day, "We have horses, pigs, chickens & geese, but no cows." He replied, "I would, but there's no room." I suspect with 9 children to raise, her comment was made, not lamenting the fact that there were no cows to take care of, but rather in expressing gratitude that she didn't have cows to milk as well.
"Doty" was also a serious gardener. The older boys Arthur & Leo, Jr., helped in the garden until they were older and had other jobs. Great Aunt Edna tells me the next children, her sisters Elsie & Charlotte & Mabel, never liked getting their hands dirty. Edna always felt it was an honor when her father asked her to help out. She and her brother George "Jim", my grandfather, worked in it a lot. The rows had to be "very straight" and never were any weeds allowed.
My father told me of that same garden, but his impressions of it were somewhat different. He used to have to go over to the family house and weed the large garden and he never liked it! As far as I remember, my dad never liked working in a garden the rest of his life, although he greatly enjoyed the spectator sport of watching his wife and children working at them!
My father always liked his grandfather though, and he was generally thought of as a "good Joe". When he died, my father was in boot camp and he was able to obtain emergency leave to come home for the funeral.
On the other hand, Dad didn't care for his grandmother. He said, "She was a complainer and never had much to do. She had a maid." Well--it's obvious someone with 9 children always had something to do. (See Notes on Elizabeth Noel)
"Doty" began the now famous Koehler Family Duck Decoy carving activities, in this same barn, and is known to have made some 6000 Mallard and Pintail decoys during his lifetime. His two sons George (my grandfather) and Leo, Jr. (Bud) were also very well-known in this field, carrying on the tradition. His grandson Jim Koehler worked in the "shop" with his father George "Jim" in later years as well. It is very difficult to secure one of these decoys now, and latest information is they are going from $650 to $7000. Wouldn't Leopold be astounded! See article in my person files ("Unsung Heroes Along the IL Flyway")
Doty also helped his father in the pharmacy where Albreight worked, and learned a lot about medicine. Edna says none of the 9 children ever saw a doctor, which is not surprising considering the cough remedy her father would bring home from the drug store; rock candy, licorice and whiskey. Another remedy for keeping your insides healthy was sulphur and molasses, which was "ugly-tasting" according to Great-Aunt Edna. Her mother would put some sugar on the spoon and a dash of turpentine--I don't know why, but I imagine this is apropos to the old saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
Leopold died without a will, as did his wife, and the family home was sold.
April 2001
Searched FTM Index
Genealogy & Ancestry.coms

1900 Census in file
Grave photo in file
Homestead photo in file
Decoy article in file

More About Leopold William "Dody" Koehler:
Baptism: Zion Evangelical.1636
Burial 1: December 17, 1944, City Cemetary, Peru, IL.1637, 1638
Burial 2: City Cemetary, Peru, IL.1639
Confirmation: Zion Evangelical.1640
Died 2: December 16, 1944, Peru, IL..1641
Military service: Renowned decoy maker.1642
Obituary: In file.1642
Occupation 1: Painting contractor.1642
Occupation 2: Painting contractor.
Religion: Catholic.

More About Leopold William "Dody" Koehler and Elizabet V. Noel:
Marriage 1: October 24, 1895, Zion E&R Church, Peru, IL.1643, 1644
Marriage 2: October 24, 1895
Pastor: Rev. Hoffmeister.1644

Children of Leopold William "Dody" Koehler and Elizabet V. Noel are:
  1. +George William Koehler, b. July 4, 1903, People's Hosp., Peru, Illinois1645, 1646, 1647, d. November 4, 1974, Peru, Illinois1647.
  2. +Arthur Koehler, b. March 22, 1896, Illinois1647, d. April 14, 19671647.
  3. +Charlotte Koehler, b. February 18, 19011647, d. February 4, 19711647.
  4. Edna May Koehler.
  5. Edwin "Lester" Koehler, b. December 15, 19111647, d. April 4, 19121647.
  6. +Elsie Koehler, b. February 15, 1899, Illinois1648, 1649, d. December 20, 19731649.
  7. +Ethel Rita Koehler, b. January 21, 1908, Peru, Illinois1649, d. May 18, 19601649.
  8. Infant Stillborn Koehler.
  9. Leopold W. "Bud" Koehler, Jr., b. June 29, 1897, Illinois1650, 1650, 1651, d. February 28, 19521652, 1653.
  10. +Mabel Koehler, b. February 2, 1906, Peru, Illinois1653, d. November 19, 19751653.
  11. +Ruth Elda Koehler, b. December 2, 1909, 916 Putman St., Peru, Ill.1653, d. February 4, 19831653.
  12. +George Koehler, b. July 3, 1903, Peru, Illinois1654, d. November 4, 1974, Peru, Illinois.
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