Name/Title
Fleischer family: Clara Fleischer (Mrs. Joseph McNeilly), 1879 settler in Bohnsack Township, Traill County, Dakota TerritoryEntry/Object ID
2025.24.1Description
This family history folder describes the life of Clara Fleischer, the daughter of Charles William (CW) and Ernestina (Bohnsack) Fleischer, who in 1879 homesteaded in Bohnsack Township in Traill County in Dakota Territory. Clara Fleisher was born on 31 May 1869 in Redwood Falls, Minnesota [obit info, left]. In the 1870 US Census, Mollie was age 9 and lived with her parents and siblings in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, where her father, CW Fleischer operated a mill.
From profiles in Jackie Baumgartner's Ancestry.com Public Member Tree titled: "Ackerman/Kneip/Fleischer/Hagen Family Tree", we know that Clara Marie Fleischer was the fourth of seven children born to Charles William (CW) Fleischer Sr. and Ernestina Bohnsack (see TCHS Catalogit Family History entry 2025.12.1). Clara Fleischer was raised by Redwood Falls, Minnesota, and then on land her parent's had homestead in 1879 in Bohnsack Township in Traill County, Dakota Territory.
As a young woman on the Fleischer farm, Clara met and married widower and mailman Joseph 'Joe' McNeilly of Blanchard, ND, on 24 July 1912. Joe McNeilly had married Agnes Irwin on 24 July 1895, but Agnes died on 25 June 1909 [ND Death Certif.]. The McNeilly and Irwin families had immigrated together to America from Ireland, settling in Michigan [see page 107 in Traill County History, Vol. II, below]. Joe and Agnes came to Traill County in about 1881 and settled in Blanchard, Dakota Territory, where Joe operated a livery stable. In the 1900 US Census for Blanchard Township, Joe was age 36, was listed with his wife Agnes, 32, and his mother, Jane Boyd) McNeilly, aged 76. In 1900, Joe's employment was recorded as "US Postal Carrier". Joe and Agnes had a son, Joseph 'George' McNeilly born on 24 October 1900. George McNeilly married Myrtle Reinan on 1 March 1930 in Moorhead, MN. George worked on farms in the Blanchard area, was a mechanic at the Blanchard Garage, and then delivered bulk fuels out of Blanchard for 30 years [see page 108 in Traill County History, Vol. II, below]. George and Myrtle were active in the Blanchard community. Myrtle (Reinan) McNeilly died age 70 on 3 August 1975 in Fargo, ND. George McNeilly passed away, age 84, on 22 January 1985 in Mayville [ND Death Certif.]. They were interred in the Cemetry by Hunter, ND.
In the 1910 US Census for Blanchard, Joe McNeilly, age 45, was recorded as widowed, as his wife Agnes (Irwin) McNeilly had died in 1909, as noted earlier. Joe was recorded as a "Livery man", and "Own boss'. Joe's son, George McNeilly, age 9, was listed with Joe, along with a lodger, Robert Falconer, age 60. Two years later, in July 1912, widowed Joe McNeilly, 48, married Clara Fleischer, 43, as noted above. Clara raised her stepson, George McNeilly at their home in Blanchard.
In the 1920 US Census for Blanchard on 15 January, Joe, 54, and Clara (Fleischer), 50, McNeilly were residing on First Street, and Joe was employed in the town as a "Drayman", delivering goods where needed.
On 30 August 1929, Joe McNeilly passed away, age 65, at St. John's Hospital in Fargo, ND [ND Certificate of Death, info]. Joe was interred in a McNeilly Family plot at the cemetery by Hunter, ND [Grave monument and grave-marker, below].
After Joe's passing in 1929, Clara (Fleischer) McNeilly, age 59, remained at their home in Blanchard, ND [1930 US Census]. In the 1940 US Census taken in Blanchard, ND, Clara (Fleischer) McNeilly, age 70, continue to reside in her home, but had two lodgers listed for her household.
In the 1950 US Census, Clara (Fleischer) McNeilly, age 80, was recorded with her brother, George Fleischer, and sister, Tillie Fleischer, on the Fleischer home farm located in the NE Qtr. of Sect. 26 in Bohnsack Township in Traill County, ND.
Clara Marie (Fleischer) McNeilly passed away, age 87, on 21 February 1957 at the Iverson Rest Home in Fargo, ND. After a funeral service at the Blanchard Lutheran Church, Clara was interred next to her husband, Joe McNeilly, at the cemetery by Hunter, ND [grave-marker, below].Acquisition
Accession
2025.24Source or Donor
Jackie (Ausk) BaumgartnerLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
