Barney
Was A Professional Wrestler And Championship Contender Back In
1930s
THIS
CLIPPING from a Mexico City newspaper in 1939 shows Barney Lobsinger
as Otto Lugger before his big match with Bobby Arreola.
If
you were a professional wrestling fan in the late 30's and 40's,
you might remember seeing a fellow hop into the ring with a boa
constrictor wrapped around his neck.
If
he had a full beard and tousled hair pushed back from his forehead,
he was the fearsome Otto Lugger. If he was clean shaven he was
Barey Lobby.
But
either way, as soon as he stepped back out of the ring, he was
Barney Lobsinger!
Barney
Lobsinger is a son of Francis Lobsinger, son of Louis Lobsinger,
son of Count Joseph Lobsinger, and as far as we know, he's the
only professional wrestler in the family. He is one of 5 children
in the Francis Lobsinger family. His brothers are Laurier Lobsinger
who lives in Kitchener, and Jerome who is deceased. His two sisters
were Emilene and Lena.
Barney
is now 74 and retired, living in Windsor, On. And he's one of
the most fascinating individuals we've found so far in our search.
One
of the highlights of Barney's wrestling career was his match against
Middleweight Champion Bobby Arreola in Mexico City in 1939. A
clipping from the Hanover Post on February 27, 1939 reported the
event:
"Hanover
is being kept on the sporting map by ...Barney Lobsinger, who
won a wrestling tournament by defeating all entries in Millwaukee,
Wis., and is thereby state champion in the 158 pound class.
Barney was born and raised in Hanover
and has appeared here and in district towns as a wrestler on several
occasions and local sports' fans will wish him every success in
his chosen profession.
Barney
had little difficulty in winning his bouts in this district and
since then he has been victorious over some of the world's best
wrestlers while barn storming in Mexico and the southern
United States.
In
a letter sent to this office from Mr. Frank Lobsinger..., father
of Barney and former Hanover resident, was a clipping from the
Kitchener Daily Record which is as follows:
'Freak
vegetables and unusual miscellaneous articles often find their
way to the Record office, but one of the strangest, yet interesting
collections to be seen in the editorial department was displayed
by Frank Lobsinger.
Wrapped
in a queer-looking hide "afghan,' made from the skins of
Mexican animals were more than a dozen articles of various sizes
and forms. Several ornaments were so strange, Mr. Lobsinger was
at a loss to explain what they represented.
One
was a representation of a funeral made up of six plastic figures
carrying the corpse on their shoulders. Another was a quaint ornamental
clock. Still another was a bull's horn.
One
was what is known as a Mexican thermos, but bearing no resemblances
to any seen in this country. The assortment also comprised a ten-gallon
cowboy hat, the skin of a Mexican wolf, wooden slippers worn by
the natives, and sandals, a lasso and various other Indian and
Mexican things and stuff, which Mr. Lobsinger could not name.'
Frank
Lobsinger had received the "stuff' from Barney during his
travels on the wrestling circuit.
According
to a large ad appearing in one of Mexico City's newspapers, Barney,
who goes under various pseudonyms, is billed to wrestle the world's
middleweight champ on Feb. 21 (1939) in Mexico City."
Did
Barney Lobsinger win his championship match with Bobby Arreola?
Was Otto Lugger ever Middleweight Champion Of The World? Well,
we just don't know. Barney forgot to tell us that part! (House
of Louis)
Visit
Barney's Web Page at http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Stadium/9117/bio.htm
Notes
From The Mailbag
Just
as we were finishing up the last newsletter, we received a subscription
check and card from Gail and Gary Gilbert of Ahwahnee, CA. Gail
is the granddaughter of Anna Mae Lobsinger and Herbert Schnarr.
They live in the central Sierra Nevada's just outside Yosemite
National Park. Makes a flatlander like me very envious. The children
and grandchildren of Hubert and Anna Schnarr are planning a big
reunion next summer in Waterloo, ON. No date or other info on
that affair yet. Maybe later.
Cheryl
Ritchey sent us a subscription check, but not much other information.
She apparently works for Car and Driver Magazine in Ann Arbor,
MI, as her note was on C&D printed note paper.
Then
comes a letter with gobs of information from Beverly (Gallagher)
and David L. Miller, of Lakewood, CA. She is a daughter of Beulah
Lobsinger, granddaughter Joseph and Cecilia Lobsinger, of the
House of Joseph. Among the many things she provided, was information
that Cheryl Ritchey (above) is the daughter of Alice Lobsinger
Stoike. We thank Mrs. Miller for providing current information
on the family of Joseph Frank Lobsinger and Cecilia Matilda Linseman,
from whom she is descended. Slowly but surely, the House of Joseph
is falling into place.
The
Millers have 4 children, as well as 2 from her previous husband,
Glenn J. Brockway, who died in 1952. Their children are Becky
Ann Brockway, Barry L. Brockway, Bonnie S. Miller, Laurie A. Miller,
Marilee A. Miller, and Karen L. Miller.
Dr.
William J. and Sheila (Brady) Lobsinger sent us an announcement
on the birth of their latest grandchild, as well as notice that
their son Mark William Brady Lobsinger has graduated from the
University of Western Ontario (London) with Honors in business
Administration, where he received the Senior Merit Award for the
school's Social Management program. Mark is employed at Computerland,
an international company headquartered in California with many
North American branches. (House of Peter)
My
brother Patrick Leo Lobsinger of Lake Worth, Fl., actually sent
me a letter for a change. And a check for the postage fund, too.
Will wonders never cease! Anyway, he owns the Green Lightning
Lawn Service and also is in the Tennis Court Construction and
Repair Business in South Florida. Patrick and his twin Michael
Eldon are also sometime musicians, now performing weekends as
"Strummin' Drummin" at the Brass Ring Pub in North Palm
Beach. He and wife Susie Ann (Free) have one son, Matthew Patrick,
age 2.
A
little further down the pike, brother Michael Eldon Lobsinger
also broke loose with some bucks for the postage fund. Mike works
for a construction outfit, doing lab tests on concrete and other
exotic things. He and wife Kimberly Susann Cummings are the parents
of daughter Kari Nicole Lobsinger and Jessica Alise Lobsinger,
who is also a daughter, in spite of what I said when I put her
in the birth announcements in the last issue.(House of Peter)
We
have received a couple of notes from Harold Elmo Lobsinger of
Denver and Apache Junction. His picture was in the last issue.
(House of Antoine) Harold is getting more and more curious about
the St. Louis branch of the family from which he hails. We tried
to answer some of his questions, but we haven't got all of the
answers, either. Would like to hear more from some of you St.
Louis and Belleville, Ill. Lobsingers! Harold also sent a little
more "postage" money, which we appreciate.
Lots
of interesting information came from Barney Lobsinger of Windsor,
On.. He's a son of Francis Lobsinger, son of Louis and Katherina
(Gehl) Lobsinger and spent many years as a professional wrestler.
More on him elsewhere. (House of Louis)
Charles
Rinck of Collinsville, Il, reports that the memorial cross seen
in the countryside near Langatte, France by Tony Lang was definitely
not in memory of the Marie Elisabeth Lobsinger we had speculated
on. He has solid documentation about her as she is his paternal
great3 grandmother. So we still don't know who the memorial cross
was made for...
In
a later note from Charles, he says Mme. Odette Meyer of Langatte
has managed to enhance the weatherworn letterning on the cross
and reports that it actually reads, "Dieses Kreutz Ist Gerichtet
Durch Elisabeth Lobsinger Zur Ehre Gottes Im Jahr 1839" It
was apparently erected simply to pay homage to the Glory of God.
Still, we do not know for sure which Elisabeth Lobsinger was involved....
Letter
and picture of Christopher James Lobsinger arrived from St. Lucia,
Queensland, Australia, along with some sample coins and a $2 Australian
bill. Chris is the first Aussie Lobsinger, and we asked him to
send us more information about himself and his life down under.
He's the son of Jerome Lobsinger of Minot, N.D.
Chris
wrote back that he is a student at the University of Queensland,
Brisbane, studying for his Masters Degree in Social Work. He hopes
to finish in November, 1989, and then possibly work in Australia
for awhile before returning to the states. Chris says Aussie English
is the most obvious difference between here and there. And of
course, the summer is in the wintertime down under. (House of
George)
Clayton
J. Lobsinger (House of Peter) reports that not all 94 persons
at the reunion mentioned in the last newsletter were his descendents.
Actually, they were the descendents of his father, Francis X.
Lobsinger, and Caroline (Krug). Clayton was born in Chesley, spent
many years in the trucking business, and wound up being the Chief
and entire police force of Chesley for about 16 years before retiring
in 1972. He and first wife Clara (Detzler) have 4 girls, Martha
Weppler, Doreen Robson, Helene Ruetz, and Eileen Henley. Clara
died in 1976, and Clayton and his second wife Phyllis (McBain)
are now living in Hanover, On.
Artists,
musicians, and other talents pop up from time to time in the family.
Now, we can also boast of a poet. Mary Grambusch, grand daughter
of Anna Mae Lobsinger Schnarr (House of Louis) sent us some examples
of her hobby. She writes in free form, and at least one example
of her work will be reprinted somewhere in this issue.
Lila
Lobsinger Schmidt, of High Ridge, Mo., sent a note and a photograph
of Julia Lobsinger. She thinks Julia may be the unknown Lobsinger
whose photo was printed in the last newsletter.
If
the unknown one isn't Julia, she almost has to be a close relative...
sister or something. Both photographs were made by the same photography
firm, but at different times. G. Cramer of Carondelet, Mo. took
the one of the unknown lady, and Cramer & Gross, of 333 S
4th St, St. Louis, Mo., took the one of Julia Lobsinger. Since
Carondelet, Mo., was absorbed by St. Louis, the unknown photo
is probably the oldest of the two. The background is different
in both photos, but the chair used as a prop is exactly the same.
Interesting. Julia Lobsinger was a daughter of Antoine Jean Michael
Lobsinger. She married a man named Kirberg, but that is all we
know about her. (House of Antoine)
Jacqueline
Dee Lobsinger Doss, of Pevehy, Mo., dropped us a note asking to
be added to the mailing list. She is the daughter of Leslie Lorenzo
Lobsinger of O'Fallon, Il., and sister of Kenneth Lobsinger, the
Texas shoe store manager whose picture was in the last issue.
(House of Michael)
Also
heard from another of Kenneth's siblings. Ronald J. Lobsinger
wants to join the club, and says he enjoys reading the newsletter
when it arrives. He sent addresses for his father, Leslie Lorenzo,
and his son, Bradley James Lobsinger, who lives in Oakville, Mo.
We
asked George Lobsinger, of Mt. Pleasant, MI, to help fill in some
gaps in his family tree, and he responded with a long list of
facts and figures, and occupations. We appreciate getting it.
We keep plugging all new bits and pieces of information into the
family tree, and if I live long enough, maybe I'll get all the
bare spots filled in.
Leo
Ruetz of Shaunavon, SK, who provided the Ruetz-Lobsinger photo
in the last issue writes to report that I messed up and got young
Louis Ruetz identified as sitting on the left in the photo. Louis
is on the right. Sorry. Also sent some postage money, which we
appreciate. (House of Peter)
Pastor
John Lobsinger, son of Leo and Agnes Bross Lobsinger, sent us
a change of address for the newsletter. He is now in Matachewan,
ON. Pastor John and wife Anna Carolyn Laughlin have two children,
Cory John, and Jeffrey Lee.
Clarence
Lobsinger of Dearborn, MI. (House of Louis) sent us his 49 page
handwritten notebook of favorite jokes he has collected over the
years. We'll scatter some of them through the newsletter as fillers,
just for fun. Clarence reports that his relatives have a pretty
good record "No Lobsinger, Tschirhart, or Kretsch has ever
been arrested!"
Tony
Lang of Toronto, has sent us some photographs of his trip to Langatte,
France. Youl'll find them printed somewhere in this issue. (House
of Peter)
John
and Dolores Schmidt of Mildmay, On., sent us a copy of the obit
of Kathleen (Lenehan) Lobsinger, as well as addresses of Swiss
Lobsigers that were gleaned from telephone books in Geneva, Switzerland
by Joe and Marie Moran on a recent trip to that country. We are
trying to find the Swiss connection and tie in the few Swiss Lobsingers
with the rest of us... (House of Peter)
Congratulations
to John Schmidt, who won the individual horseshoe championship
in his league in Mildmay this summer. (Ditto)
Howard
John Lobsinger of Elliot Lake, On., whom we had the pleasure to
visit last summer, sent us the photograph of his family reunion
that you find printed in this issue. He also sent us addresses
for his son Douglas Lobsinger, and daughters Marlene Schwehr,
and Marjorie Paulitzki. (House of George)
Richard
Tschirhart, 19764 Cranbrook #C, Detroit, MI 48221, is chasing
Tschirhart folklore much as we are looking for Lobsinger history.
Our families' paths cross in several places, it appears, especially
in the House of Louis. Anyone with Tschirhart blood who is interested,
might contact Richard for more info.
John
Lobsinger Recorded This Short History Of The Town His Father Helped
To Build
The
following is a story of the founding and early settlers of Carlsruhe,
Ontario, a small hamlet of Carrick Township in Bruce County, written
by John Lobsinger, (son of Louis Lobsinger and his wife Katherina
Gehl), a grandson of Count Joseph Lobsinger. The article was relayed
to us by Dennis Agombar of Hanover, grandson of Salome Lobsinger
Bohnert. Salome was a daughter of John's brother Peter and his
wife Mary Stephanie von Kaiser.
John
writes: "It was about the year 1858 when the first settlers
located on the spot which is now Carlsruhe, and comprised the
following families: There was the Hoffarth Family with three sons,
namely Conrad, Leo, and John. There was the Hesch Family with
five sons, namely, Peter, John, Joseph, Jacob and Philip. Jacob
Russell located on the farm where Clarence Russell lives now.
Karl
Gehl (Louis' father-in-law?) took up the first farm lots from
the Crown then sold the Village lots. There was also the Russwurm
family of six sons, namely, Valentine, George, John, Adam, Frederick,
and Henry. About the year 1860 Korman and Goetz gave a contract
to the late Louis Lobsinger (presumably John's dad) to build the
store building which is still being used and known as the Carlsruhe
Store. Louis Lobsinger had a saw mill one mile east of Carlsruhe
where he sawed practically all the lumber for most of the older
buildings in the Village. In 1868 he started a steam power mill
at Carlsruhe and sawed there for about twenty years. Then in 1868
he sold the mill east of the village to Mr. Louis Runstedler who
ran it for a short time before the dam broke away.
Carlsruhe
was a busy place in its prime years. There was the general store
of Korman and Goetz, afterwards belonging to Jacob and Annie Knetchtel.
There were two shoemakers; Joseph Stephan and George Bruder; two
tailors: Phillip Roaser and a Mr. Hondle, also two hotels, the
British run by Peter Schnitzler and the Carlsruhe, run by John
Nauer. There was one blacksmith shop, operated by Albert Goetz,
and two wagon makers, belonging to F.X. Hoessel and John Dish.
There was also two brick yards, one owned by Andrew Zettler and
the other owned by George Gross. Andrew Zettler made most of the
bricks for the Carlsruhe Church which was built about 1871 to
1872. Rev. Father Rassartz was the parish priest, and he brought
the plan for the church from Europe. The masons were Lorenz Wandt,
John Ruetz, John Detzler, Peter Girodat, Louis Lobsinger, John
Klempp and John Werner. Peter Zettler was a house carpenter and
he made most of the coffins for the surrounding district in his
time. The school was a little log building located on the lot
now owned by Mr. Paul Hinsperger. The present Public School was
built about the year 1874.
There
were two cloth weavers in Carlsruhe, namely William Bruder and
John Henry Ecken. They were always very busy as those days most
families had their own cloth woven from the wool.
It
was about the year 1864 that the late Jacob Kuntz built the Carlsruhe
Lion Brewery which he operated for some years. Later the late
William Schwan with three of his sons, operated the brewery for
some years and finally David Schwan took it over and managed it
until he died. The Brewery for years was a flourishing business
with usually two wagons on the road, The early peddlers or deliverers
were the late John Priester and John Hundt."
There
are two Lobsinger homes still standing in Carlsruhe, Agombar reports,
and although there was no date on this history by John Lobsinger,
it was written prior to 1954.
John
Lobsinger was married to Bridget Tschirhart, an accomplished musician,
choir leader, and organist. They had 11 children, some of whom
have contributed to this newsletter from time to time:
Edward
drowned about the age of four. Helena married and moved to Saskatchewan
where she raised 4 children by her first husband Joseph Kretsch,
and 3 more by her second husband Mr. McGarrity.
Agnes
married Joe Ducharme. She worked as a chocolate dipper in a candy
factory.
Christina
married John Durst. Florentina and her husband Peter Kretsch live
in Saskatchewan, and their family picture was in the last newsletter.
Alfred Edwin married Philomena Sidel, and worked for Canada Packers
in Walkerton.
Isabel
married John Stevenson and they have five children. Clarence J.
and wife Gertrude Lamb live in Dearborn, MI. Jokes from his handwritten
joke book make good fillers for this newsletter. They have two
children.
David
Pious was a dry cleaner in Detroit. He and wife Eleanor Wagnor
have 3 children. Norman Peter was a caterer, postman, and organist
in the Capuchin Monastery of Detroit. He married Elsie Leiderman,
and we know of one child.
John's
youngest child is Irwin (Lobie) Lobsinger, the fire chief, game
ranger, Mayor, artist, and businessman featured in our last newsletter.
Peter
Lobsinger's Family Photo Album
(Left)
Wedding Photo of Petronella Lobsinger (left in photo) and Nathan
Tschirhart (sitting). Best man was Petronella's brother Isadore
Lobsinger; Maid of Honor was her cousin Agnes Lobsinger, daughter
of John Lobsinger. (Right) Wedding Photo of Joseph Bohnert and
Salome Lobsinger. She is the daughter of Mary Stephanie von Kiser
and Peter Lobsinger. Peter was the son of Catherina Gehl and Louis
Lobsinger. Louis was a son of Count Joseph Lobsinger. Photos courtesy
of Dennis Agombar)
Peter
Lobsinger was born on December 14, 1862, the fourth child (we
think) of Catherina Gehl and Louis Lobsinger. Peter was a grandson
of Count Joseph, the man who started the Canadian branch of the
Lobsinger clan.Dennis Agombar of Hanover, On has been chasing
his ancestors, and is Peter's great grandson. He recently located
and sent us copies of the two wedding photos on this page.
Peter
married Mary Stephani von Kaiser about 1880, and the union produced
four children. Edwin Lobsinger, the first child, died in World
War I. Salome Lobsinger was born in 1886, and married Joseph Bohnert.
(See photo). They had a daughter, Dorothy Bohnert, who is Dennis
Agombar's mother.
The
third child of Peter and Mary was Isadore Alexander who was born
in 1891 and married Vera Kalte. Later he married Lena Hoffarth/Fizell.
Isadore had two sons, Arthur Peter who is married to Lois June
Weidner, and John, who is married to Thelma Gilkinson.
Arthur
Peter is the father of Allen Peter Lobsinger and Ann Elizabeth
Lobsinger. As far as we know, John and Thelma have no children.
Allen
Peter and wife Joan Louise Cronin are the parents of Adam Peter
Lobsinger, Trevor William Lobsinger, Jason Allen Lobsinger, and
most recently, David George Lobsinger.
Petronella
Ann (Nellie) Lobsinger, Peter's fourth child, married Felix "Nathan"
Tschirhart, and inherited a ready made family of seven children.
In addition, she and Nathan had 10 more of their own.
Petronella's
offspring are Ruth Tschirhart, married to Robert Kenny; Vincent
Tschirhart; Bernard Tschirhart; Claude Tschirhart; Rose Tschirhart;
Leonard Tschirhart, married to Mary Louise Fleiger; Leo Tschirhart,
married to Eleanor Downey; Lawrence Tschirhart; Violet Tschirhart;
and Dolores Tschirhart.
All
of them probably have interesting stories to tell, and we'd like
to hear more about Peter's family...
Deaths
and Funerals
Leona
Warner Lobsinger
Leona
Warner Lobsinger died July 24, 1988. She was the wife of Robert
Eli Lobsinger of the House of Joseph. Mrs. Lobsinger was born
July 16, 1924. She and her husband Robert are the parents of 4
children, Susan Kay Keiser, Fredrick Robert Lobsinger who died
while an infant, Patricia Ann Faber, and Douglas Robert Lobsinger.
They
also have 4 grandchildren at last count, Amy Kay Keiser, Heidi
Lee Keiser, Paul Alton Faber, and Richard Robert Faber.
Internment
was in Riverside Cemetery, Alma, Michigan.
Kathleen
Lobsinger
Kathleen
Lobsinger of Mildmay, On., the former Kay Lenehan, passed away
at the County of Bruce General Hospital, Walkerton, on Monday,
August 1, 1988, in her 77th year.
Beloved
mother of Karen Seals of London, On., Kenneth and his wife Julie
of Tara, David and his wife June of Sauble Beach, Douglas and
his wife Audrey of Whitby, Rosemary and her husband Robert Heisz
of Waterloo, Rick and his wife Chyleen of Mildmay; also 13 grandchildren
and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Lenehan of Welland.
Predeceased
by her husband, Gordon (Nixie) Lobsinger; by her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Peter Lenehan, four brothers, Leonard, Frank, Jack and
Clarence, two sisters, Helen Freeman and Marie Metcalfe and two
stepsisters, Hilda Edwards and Margaret Payne.
The
late Mrs. Lobsinger rested at the Godfrey Schuett Funeral Chapel
until Thursday when Mass of Christian Burial was held at Sacred
Heart Church, Mildmay at 11 am. Interment was in Mildmay R.C.
Cemetery.
The
pallbearers were grandchildren Gregory Heisz, Paul Lobsinger,
Michael Lobsinger, Jeff Lobsinger, Tim Lobsinger and Kevin Lobsinger.
The
flowerbearers were Pam Lobsinger, Diane Seals, Susan Heisz and
Alison Heisz.
(House
of Peter)
Social
Notes:
John
and Ellen (McLay) Kretsch of Harper Woods, MI., celebrated their
50th Wedding Anniversary on November 26th. John is the son of
Helena Lobsinger and Joseph Kretsch of the House of Louis. They
have five children, and at least 10 grandchildren. Elmer Kretsch
and his wife (don't have her name) also celebrated their 50th
Wedding Anniversary in July. They have three children and four
grandchildren as of last count.
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