The roots of our farm (today called Pine Hill Farm) run deep, tracing back to 1846 when our forefather, Christian Neitzel, homesteaded this very land, including its fertile marsh. With his wife Sophia and three sons, he journeyed here with fellow Pomeranians, driven from Trechel, Germany, by secular rule and religious persecution, seeking a new beginning in Lebanon, Wisconsin.

Upon arrival, these resilient immigrants quickly constructed makeshift cabins against the harsh cold. Many learned vital survival skills, including how to build shelters and even teepees, from the local Ho-Chunk Indians. Chronicles from that era consistently describe only peaceful and mutually helpful interactions between the German settlers and the Indigenous people.

Working together, these early ancestors tirelessly cleared dense grasses and brush to create clearings for homes and to sow winter wheat. Without sawmills or equipment, this dangerous and arduous labor took 5-10 years to establish up to 30 acres of tillable land. Once stoves and fire sources were in place, their meals were sustained by the bounty of the land: deer, turkey, quail, partridge, and other wild game and fowl.

The winters brought heavy snow and blustery winds, demanding layer upon layer of cotton and wool for warmth. Leather shoes were waterproofed with animal fat against the ice. While the Rock River provided ample drinking water, in winter, our ancestors melted snow to sustain both themselves and their animals. Their perseverance truly laid the foundation for Pine Hill Farm.

Eventually, the original cabin home was taken down, and in 1866, Christian’s eldest son, Johann Neitzel, built the farmhouse that stands today on the land. Outbuildings and small sheds have perished, but still standing is also the original, large wooden dairy barn.

I vividly remember summer days when my dad baled hay. My cousins and I would perch atop the hay wagon, enjoying the bumpy ride as the tractor pulled us home. The journey was especially exhilarating when we were baling down in the marsh, creating quite an adventure. In those days, before city neighbors, televisions, and smartphones, our cousins truly were our best entertainment. Frequent sleepovers meant my memories are rich with details of their nearby homes, too. I cherished all my aunts and uncles, and was doubly blessed to grow up with both sets of grandparents, which offered wonderful opportunities to learn practical skills like sewing, cooking, and cleaning. My parents, like so many of their generation, worked incredibly hard from dawn till
dusk, yet they were always incredibly supportive of my sisters and me.

Beginning with the immigration of Christian Neitzel in 1846, the eldest son, Johann Neitzel, continued the family's legacy, building the enduring brick home that still stands on the property today. The farm then passed to Johann's son, August Neitzel. When August tragically lost his first wife, Augustina Ulrich/Neitzel was sent from Germany to become his wife, helping to raise his children and tend to the home—a testament to the farm's vital needs.

Following tradition, the farm was passed to the youngest son, Raymond Neitzel (my grandfather), who married my grandmother, Elsie Gneuwuch. Then, my father, Arnold Neitzel, and his wife, my mother, Luanna Neitzel, purchased the farm from his father, Raymond.

As the only one of four daughters to express interest in continuing the farm's legacy, my husband, Jerry Groehler, and I proudly purchased the land. This marked the first time ownership transitioned from the Neitzel surname to Groehler, yet the family dedication remained.

In 2011, our oldest daughter, Jackie Phillips, and her husband Jon Phillips, moved into a home adjacent to the farm. Their vision led to a significant transformation: in 2017, they successfully transitioned approximately 80 tillable acres to USDA-certified organic farmland, now cultivating organic cash crops, grasses, and organic hemp. Building on this foundation, our three daughters collectively launched Pine Hill Farm in 2019, seamlessly integrating the farm into their holistic wellness business.

Today, the farm continues to thrive, actively nurtured and loved by our children and grandchildren. With several of the younger generations already expressing future plans to stay involved, we eagerly anticipate that the stewardship of the farm will proudly carry on for generations to come.

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