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GEORGE & LOUISA LAFFE
​George J. Laffe
Birth: January 2, 1860
Death: September 13, 1940 (aged 80)
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Katherine Louisa (Lizzie) Eisenhardt Laffe
Birth: July 11, 1869
Death: May 12, 1948 (aged 78)
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Operator Date: 1930? - 1940
Property Name: New Hotel & Pool Hall?
​We have had many names given to us by locals. Some turn up to be dead ends, and other names send us down rabbit holes of information. One name we had been given was Laffe. Although there is no record of any Laffe owning our property, we have discovered that George and Katharine Louisa Eisenhart-Laffe (known as Lizzie) were operators (aka Managers) of our property during the timeframe that George Lastofka owned our building circa 1926-1940. These years include prohibition!
The Laffe's didn't live onsite. They owned a farmhouse east of town, but worked here to earn a living.
Both originally were immigrants from Germany. They married on 10-26-1886 in North Bend. The Laffe's originally moved to Winona, MN. They lived there until 1908, when they moved back to WI and settled east of Humbird.
Although the Lastofka's purchased our property in 1926 and lived on-site in our building, they were apparently somewhat hands off when it came to the day to day operations of our business by employing the Laffe's.
Per the 1930 census, George Laffe was employed here as a Soda Drink Room Operator as prohibition was still in effect at this time, this terminology in his title tracks.
The 1930 census showing George Laffe as a Soft Drink Operator. His wife Louisa and son, Henry, are also listed under his name.
Per the 1940 census George Laffe is listed as a Manager of a Tavern as prohibition was no longer in effect, this title for his position is also appropriate.
The 1940 census shows George Laffe now as a Tavern Operator once Prohibition had come to an end. His wife Louisa and son, Henry, are also listed under his name.
The question on our minds is - were they part of the Speakeasy operations in our basement, or were they the nice old people running a soda shop as the legitimate face to the public? After all, police would be less suspect of the debauchery happening in our basement just a few feet away with a couple of nice old folks hanging out behind the soda bar. Perhaps the owner Lastofka ran the Speakeasy while they managed the public face of the soda shop business. We're unsure of the division of work at that time, but it it's very intriguing!
When George Laffe passed away in May 1940, Lizzie was done working here. Shortly after his passing, the owner of our property Lastofka moved in Kermit Falk and his family to take over the operations of the premises. The Falks were only here for approximately 10 months before Lastofka moved back in to prepare the property for sale to William Kuberra in 1941. Beautifully, the 1940 census data also tracks with that information. On the same page we discovered George Laffe's information, we also discovered Kermit Falk's information.
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The 1940 census shows George Laffe as a Tavern Manager once Prohibition had come to an end. The Falk's who came in to take over operations are also shown on the same page.
Although operators of our property are not owners, they have a major impact on the community and the energy in our place These were people working day in and day out to keep this business's operational during a timeframe in which it would have been very easy to shut down and give up due to prohibition. We are grateful to the Laffe's and their tenure here at our property. Whether they were part of the Speakeasy or not, they helped insure this place kept running, and is still available today to serve the community.
What is extraordinary in researching the Laffe's, is learning they celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1936 and worked here until George's death in 1940 at the ripe old age of 80! It's incredible to think he was behind our bar slinging drinks up to that age!
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Humbird has seen in recent years numerous golden wedding anniversary celebrations, but perhaps no happier one was ever held than one last Sunday, when Mr. and Mrs. George Laffe observed that event. A gathering of the family and a few other relatives at their home marked the day. Present were their four sons: Louis G. and family, Leonard J. and family, Fred A. and family, and Henry E; and their two daughters, Mrs. Emma Haag and family from North Bend, and Mrs. Mary Iffland and husband, of New London. Others present were Mr. and Mrs. Haag, of Black River Falls, and Christ Eisenhart, brother of Mrs. Laffe. All excepting one of their twelve grandchildren, Herman Laffe who is employed in Madison, were present. Twenty-seven partook of the golden wedding feast Sunday.
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George Laffe and Miss Lizzie Eisenhart were united in marriage at North Bend, on Oct. 26, 1886. Both were natives of Germany, Mr. Laffe of Bavaria, and his wife of Wurtemberg. Each had come to America several years previous, the latter with her parents and brothers and sisters, and the former with his brother Andrew. About a year following their marriage was spent at Winona, and then they came to a farm east of Humbird, and this vicinity has been their home ever since. A large circle of friends join with the family in wishing these good folks many more years of happy journey together.
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Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) Sat., 31 Oct. 1936
Sadly we haven't found any pictures of the Laffe's yet, but we hope to do so eventually. Both George and Lizzie are at rest in the Mentor Cemetery​ located just 1.4 miles outside of Humbird.
George & Lizzies headstone in Mentor Cemetery, Humbird, Clark County, WI. Photo Bill Hart.
George Laffe Obituary (2 Jan. 1860 - 13 Sept. 1940)
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George Laffe, who passed away early last Friday morning, after being in failing health for several weeks, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Jan. 2, 1860. He came to America when a young man, locating in the nearby vicinity, and on Oct. 26th, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Eisenhart. Their home was in different places for a short time, but for fifty-six years Mr. Laffe called Humbird his home.
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To this union six children were born: Four sons, Louis G. and Henry B., of Humbird, Leonard J., of Egg Harbor, Fred A., of Marshfield; and two daughters, Emma, no w Mrs. Frank Haag, of Melrose, and Mary, Mrs. Hugh Iffland, of New London; who with his beloved wife, are morning his death, together with twelve grandchildren.
Four years ago, Oct. 26, 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Laffe most happily celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, at their home in this village, surrounded by their family and friends.
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One brother, Andrew, who accompanied him to this country, died twenty-four years ago.
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Mr. Laffe attained the age of 80 years, 8 months and 11 days, at the time the final summons came, on Sept. 13, 1940. His passing from life is mourned by all how knew him.
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During all of his long life, Mr. Laffe was a lover of flowers and the many beautiful flowers and wreathers which were banked about the casket and altar when the funeral services were held at St. John’s Church Monday afternoon betokened the sympathy of all to the family in their sorrow.
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The funeral sermon was given by Rev. Wilson Bixler of the Reformed Church in Neillsville, he using as a text Psalm 89:48: "What man is he that liveth and shall not see death." A ladies quartet, Mrs. Waters, Mrs. Hahn, Misses Lastofka and Trachsel, sang: "Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "God Be With You." Five grandsons and a nephew were pallbearers. Burial was in Mentor cemetery.
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Relatives, besides the members of the family, and friends coming from away to attend the funeral were Henry Eisenhart, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Laffe, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Haag, Mr. and Mrs. Algie Haag, Mrs. August Stern, Mrs. G. W. Isbell, Melrose; Mrs. Elizabeth Huber, Cataract; Mrs. Erwin Boguardt, Dale; Mrs. Sylvester Honk, New London; John Babler, Minneapolis.
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Mr. Laffe was a charter member of St. John’s Reformed church.
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CARD OF THANKS
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We wish to sincerely thank all the kind friends and neighbors who so thoughtfully and kindly assisted us at the time of the loss of our beloved husband and father; we wish to thank all who sent the beautiful flowers and the Royal neighbor ladies who cared for them; and we thank also the singers and all those who furnished cars. We sincerely thank you all.
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Mrs. George Laffe and family.
Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) Saturday 21 September, 1940
Louisa Laffe Obituary (1869 - 12 May 1948)
Louisa Katharine Eisenhard was born in Germany on July 11, 1869. At the age of sixteen, she came to the United States with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Eisenhard, with one sister and three brothers. They settled on a farm east of Humbird (Clark Co.), Wis.
On Oct. 26, 1886, "Lizzie" Eisenhard, as she had become known to all dear friends, was united in marriage with George Laffe, and has spent most of her married life in Humbird. To this union six children were born: Louis, Leonard, and Henry of Humbird, Emma (Mrs. Frank Haag) of Melrose, and Mary (Mrs. Hugh Iffland) of New London, and Fred, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Laffe happily celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at her home in this village, Oct. 26, 1936.
Mrs. Laffe passed peacefully to her Eternal Home in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 12, 1948, at the age of 78 years, 10 months, and 1 day. Her husband preceded her in death, on Sept. 13, 1940. Her only sister and two brothers, besides her son Fred, also preceded her to the Great Beyond. Mrs. Laffe leaves to mourn her loss, three sons, two daughters, one brother, Henry Eisenhard of Chicago, twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, plus other relatives and many friends.
She was a charter member of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, and was also a member of the Women’s Guild of the church, and a member of the Royal Neighbors.
Mrs. Laffe was a kind and loving mother, unselfish, always thinking of others first, even through her long illness never complaining nor asking anything for herself.
The funeral services was conducted by Rev. Geo. W. Hohmann at St. John’s Church, Saturday afternoon, May 15th. The pastor used as a text for the sermon, Psalm 23, verses 1, 4 and 6. Mrs. Walter Smith and Mrs. Will Theiler sang "The Old Rugged Cross," "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," and "The Lord is My Shepherd," accompanied by Mrs. Geo. Hohmann. There were many beautiful floral emblems and sprays from the community, organizations, and friends. The pallbearers were John Greub, George Mueller, Jacob Hefty, Fred Theiler, Moritz Kretschmer, and Fred Christen. Burial was in Mentor Cemetery.
Relatives and friends coming from away to attend the funeral were: Henry Eisenhard, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Haag and sons Leonard and Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Algie Haag, Melrose; Mrs. Hugh Iffland, Mrs. Minnie Houk, Mrs. Ed Lund, Mrs. Lulu Dauterman, New London; Herman Laffe, Miss Gertrude Clouse, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Laffe, Ida Grove, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. James Sutton, Merrillan; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Eisenhard, Alma Center; Mrs. Emma Wallerman, Appleton; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Clouse, Loyal.
Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) May 22, 1948