Leo and Margaret were married in Glen Haven June 6, 1911. Ten of their eleven children were born on the family farm on Squirrel Hollow Road above the town. Their children were: Helen Margaret (Cheathem), Apr. 6, 1912 (died Mar 11 1974); Bernadette (Bea) Agnes (Allman) June, 22 1914: Marcella (Sally) Susan (Siemers) Jan. 16 1916 (died Jan. 20 1977); Adele Gertrude (Johnson) Aug. 10 1917; Norbert Leo, Sept. 11 1919 (died Sept. 17, 1934); Jerome (Jerry) John Harsch, Apr. 10 1921; Eugene (Gene) Frederick Harsch, Jan. 22 1923 (died Oct 6. 1962); Joan Madeline (Trudeau) Apr. 12, 1925; Joseph Nickolis, Dec. 12 1926 (died, Dec. 12, 1926); Mary Ann Dec. 21, 1927 (died Jan. 2 1928) and Robert (Bobby) John, June 4, 1931. Leo took over the farm when his father left in 1909 and he and Margaret farmed from the time of their marriage to 1930. The farm, along with the neighboring Rauch farms was purchased in the early 1960's as part of the Apple Valley Eagle Preserve on the Mississippi River and is now operated by the Kohler Company as a preserve and corporate retreat center. Leo and Margaret moved to Marshfield in 1930 for three reasons, First, there was no high school in Glen Haven for his children. Second, when his father and older brother died in 1910, the farm (as was German custom) was inherited by all the children, as the surviving only son. Leo farmed the land and was paying off his sisters. Given the farm depression of 1923 and the great depression of 1929 this was becoming impossible. Third, he wanted to find a flatter piece of land, since the farm is located in the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. It was said with only slight overstatement, that of the 160 acres only the land on which the house stood was level. They chose Marshfield because the land is relatively level and some close friends, the Neibauers and Ackermans lived here. Leo sold the land and auctioned off the cows, horses and equipment and put the proceeds into the bank in Glenhaven. Using an uncle's truck to move household goods, the family were about to move but couldn't get down Squirrel Hollow Road due to a heavy rainstorm. When they finally got to town the next day to begin their trip and pick up the money from the bank, the bank had closed - failed, and they lost everything. The Harsch's moved to a rented 30 acre farm along Hwy 97 just north of Marshfield (now the sight of Northern Auto), They then moved to East 4th St., near what is now Wick Homes and then in 1934 to 910 S. Cedar. Leo first worked as a farm hand, then at the cemetery and finally in the glue department at Roddis Plywood. Leo suffered a stroke and was invalided for several years before his death in November 1951.
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Margaret Helen Rauch was the daughter of Joseph Peter and Margaret (Petry)
Rauch, and was born Aug. 12, 1887 in Glen Haven, WI she was the second
oldest of 7 children. Her mother was born in Nittel Germany and immigrated
to Grant County, reportedly as a "Mail-Order Bride" The family name is
pronounced RAU in spite of the spelling. 