Leon Feldott family history

The Feldott homestead dates back to 1847-55, when German immigrant Johaan Feldott settled on 120 acres of timberland near the "Big Woods." Johaan and Theresia Hermreck Feldott raised nine children.

One of Johaan's sons, Joseph, a well driller, bought 180 acres adjacent to his parents' home in 1900. He married Katherine Mettel in 1889, and they raised four children - Leo, Raymond, Francis, and Jenny. In 1941, Leo purchased his parents' farm. Leo and his wife, Estelle Feuerborn Feldott, raised three children, Rosalind, Jean and Leon. In 1955, Leon married Mildred Seppelfrick and the young couple lived on the farm with his parents. They raised four children and purchased the farm in 1966. Leon Feldott proudly improved his family's farm by planting many trees, growing corn, soybeans, oats and barley, and maintaining the family's dairy cattle, hogs and chickens until 1969.

One of the older buildings of the Feldott homestead housed the historic Round Grove School where, for over 100 years, the children of the area received grade school education. An automobile accident in the early 1960s knocked the schoolhouse from its foundation and the treasured building had to be torn down.

The Feldott families recall many traditional childhood memories of the rich and varied community activities of farm life. Planting, riding horses, family reunions, ice-skating and snow sledding were all enjoyed at home. Joseph's original mid-19th century home from Site 52, built in the Greek Revival style, was moved from grandson Leon's farm on Old Batavia Road to #3 Sauk Circle in 1971. The Feldott barn remains in its original setting and is home for the Fermilab bison herd.

Click on individual photographs for more information.

Farm families