Theophile Antoine Joseph Balza Matilda Finendael & Mary Louise Leurquin Boncher

Theophile Antoine Joseph Balza,
Matilda Finendael &
Mary Louise Leurquin Massey


Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA was born January 22nd, 1878 in the village of Sart-Walhain, Brabant, Belgium (Declaration of Intent) the sixth child of Antoine BALZA and Marie Antoinette FLAHAUT.  In 1880, at the age of two, Theophile emigrated with his family from Belgium aboard the vessel the "Belgenland" (Passenger List) leaving Antwerp for New York and arriving on 26 August, 1880. They journeyed to the town of Duval, Door County, Wisconsin where they established their residence and Theophile's father farmed.

Little is known of Theophile's childhood growing up in Duval. It is assumed that like the other children of farmers in the area he probably attended school for at least some of the elementary grades. We can also assume, that like all farm families in the area, a large portion of their time was spent doing the daily farm chores and learning the farming trade. They also attended and sponsored the annual "Kermiss" a Belgian Harvest Festival.  Theophile must also have apprenticed as a blacksmith during this time, for in 1902 Theophile he was a blacksmith in the town of Duval.

Mathilda FINENDAEL was born August 23rd, 1882 ,in Duval, Door county Wisconsin.  the daughter of Henry FINENDAEL and his wife Adolphina MONFORT.

Theophile Anton Joseph Balza & Mathilda Finendael

On May 19th, 1903, Theophile married his first wife (pictured above) , Mathilda FINENDAEL, the marriage was blessed with six children:

On March 19th, 1914 Theophile and Mathilda moved to the Finendael 's Farm, in the town of Eaton, Wisconsin where Theophile farmed and earned extra income as a blacksmith. Matilda died on December 23, 1917 in childbirth (Gravestone) with their newborn son Joseph who died soon after his mother.

After Mathilda's death the family had a hard time making it on the farm. On October 8th, 1919 Theophile and the children moved to Hoiken's farm in the town of Humboldt where he met and later married his second wife Mary Louise Leurquin Boncher.

Mary Louise LEURQUIN was born April 28th, 1894 the second child of  Dieu Donni LEURQUIN and Victoria MARTIN.  She was raised on the family farm in Sugar Bush, Wisconsin.  At the age of 16, she went for a bike ride with a young man by the name of  Joseph Henry Massey (Boncher ).  Soon afterward she discovered she was pregnant.  Mary Louise and Joseph Massey were married on November 20th, 1991.  They had three children together:

Joseph Massey died on August 3rd, 1917, leaving Mary Louise alone to raise her three young boys. Through mutual friends and acquaintances Mary became aware of Theophile Balza, who had recently lost his wife ,and they decided to marry.

Theophile Antoine Joseph Balza & Mary Louise Leurquin Massey

Theophile Antoine Joseph Balza, and Mary Louise Leurquin Massey were married November 24th, 1920 in St. Mary's Church (Marriage Certificate) in Humboldt, Wisconsin (Marriage  License). The couple farmed and Theophile continued to work part-time as a blacksmith, helping neighbors by shoeing horses, sharpening plows (There was no welding equipment so the two plow pieces had to be heated and pounded together), made wagon wheels, and fixed and repaired wagons. Together the couple had three children (pictured below):

*  Family histories available on request

         Tony          Donald          Firman

On the farm, sugar beets were the best cash crop although peas were also grown. Barley, oats, corn and alfalfa were raised as feed for an average of 17 cattle. Sheep (20-25) were raised for wool. Pigs, chickens, geese, and cats were also raised.

Unable to pay the mortgage they lost the farm in 1930. The mortgage money for the farm was owed to the Hoikens. The value of the farm had doubled because Theophile had added two new silos, a milk house, and fixed all the buildings. The Hoikens didn't want the mortgage money owed they just wanted the farm back because of its increased value.

The family moved to Henry Vanden Busche's house across the road from the farm. Theophile started a Blacksmith shop in a building 1 1/2 miles away on County Trunk N near Rainbow Gardens. He walked the distance daily. Unable to collect bills owed, they moved to 1316 Smith Street in Green Bay, on March 16th 1933. The house was wired for electricity but they could not afford the cost to turn it on. Theophile made $15.00 a week working for the Work Projects Administration (WPA). Rent was $15.00 a month. An outhouse was replaced by a toilet after a year's stay. Neighbors had pigs in back of the house and there were lots of farms across the railroad tracks. Horses were kept in the city also. About 1936 or 37, Theophile worked for Harry Vanden Kelen building houses, then he worked for Frank Greenwood tending horses at the Brown County Fairgrounds. He also built a house trailer. He walked to and from the fairgrounds to his job (five miles one way).

On August 29th 1939, they moved to 1448 Harvey Street in Green Bay. Theophile Joseph died of emphysema in the house on Harvey Street May 21st, 1941 (Death Certificate, Obituary). He was buried: May 26th, 1941 in Allouez Cemetery, Green Bay, Brown County, WI.  Mary worked as a housekeeper and dishwasher to make ends meet after Theophile's death. Mary Louise died on October 28th, 1967 of a stroke (Death Certificate, Obituary), and was buried next to her husband in the Allouez Cemetery (Gravestone).

Memories: Richard M. Balza (grandson)

BALZA Ancestry 

The surname BALZA is a derivation (Belzer, Balzac, Balzer, etc.) of  the ancient name "BALTHAZAR" (one of the three wise men).  The country of origin for this Balza family is Belgium more specifically Sart-Walhain in Namur Province where we've traced our earliest known ancestors.  At this time the earliest known family group with the Balza surname is Jean BALSA who married  Adele (?) DE GLIMES ( Jean and Adele had at least one child Jean BALSA (1626 - ?) who married Marie HODY (1654 - ?) and Catherine BRASSEUR.  Jean had one child Jacques BALSA (1685 - 1762) who married  Marie Francoise SCAMPART (? - 1727) and had four children.  The First born was Francois Joseph BALSA (1715 - 1792) who married Therese TOISON (? - 1754) had four children then married Jeanne HUBERT and had two children the first of which was Philippe Francois BALSA (1775 - 1804) who married Marie Catherine HENRY (1754 - 1822). Phillippe and Marie had eight children the second of which was Jean Joseph BALZA (1778 - 1836) who married Marie Therese BRABANT (1778 - 1851) see (Jean Joseph Balza Sr. Family History). They had at eight children the second of which was Jean Joseph Balza (1804 - 1889) who married Virginie BERO (1807 - 1882) and they where blessed with eight children (Jean Joseph Balza Family History).  The youngest of these was Antoine BALZA (1845 - 1927) who married Marie Antoinette FLAHAUT (1845 - 1927). Antoine and Marie Antoinette had ten children  (Antoine Balza Family History) six of which were born in Belgium. s Jean Joseph BALZA who married Marie Therese BRABANT.  Very little is known about this family - it is still a subject for on-going research (Jean Joseph Balza Sr. Family History). They had at least one son Jean Joseph Balza (1804 - 1889) who married Virginie BERO (1807 - 1872) and they where blessed with eight children (Jean Joseph Balza Family History).  The youngest of these was Antoine BALZA (1845 - 1927) who married Marie Antoinette FLAHAUT (1845 - 1927).  Antoine and Antoinette had six children while living in Belgium. They and five of their six children immigrated to Duval, Door County Wisconsin in 1880 and became U.S. Citizens. They had four more children in Duval (Antoine Balza Family History). Their sixth foreign born child was Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA (1878 - 1941) who first married Mathilda FINENDAEL (1882 - 1917) and later Mary Louise LEURQUIN Boncher  ( 1894 - 1967) described above.

FLAHAUT Ancestry 

The FLAHAUT surname originates in Sart-Walhain, Namur Province, Belgium.  Our earliest known Flahaut ancestor is Pierre Joseph FLAHAUT (1804 - unknown) who married Julienne ADAM (about 1803 - unknown).  This couple had  6 children  (Pierre Joseph Flahaut Family History) the youngest of which was Marie Antoinette FLAHAUT (1845 - 1927).  Marie married Antoine BALZA (1845 - 1927) and they had ten children (Antoine Balza Family History) the sixth of which was Theophile Joseph BALZA described above.

FINENDAEL Ancestry 

The oldest known FINENDAEL ancestor is Henry FINENDAEL ( 1850 - ?) who married Adolphina Monfort (1850 - ?).  Henry and Adolphina had six children. Their third child was Mathilda FINENDAEL (1882 - 1917) whose family is described above.

MONFORT Ancestry

Adolphina MONFORT Mother of Mathilda FINENDAEL described above.

LEURQUIN Ancestry 

The LEURQUIN surname is very much a research in progress.  The origin of the Leurquin family like the Balza family is Belgium.  According to the immigration records they come from the area around the city of Temploux.  Our earliest known Leurquin ancestor is Desire LEURQUIN (1824 - 1910) who married Cecelia BOURNONVILLE (1830 - 1918).  Together they had four children (Desire Leurquin Family History).  The third child of this union was Dieu Donni LEURQUIN (1865 - 1935) who married Victoria MARTIN (1871 - 1936).  Dieu Donni and Victoria raised ten children (Dieu Donni Leurquin Family History).  The second of these children was Mary Louise LEURQUIN (1894 - 1967) who first married Joseph Henry MASSEY Boncher and had three sons.  After his death Mary met and married Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA (1878 - 1941) described above.

MARTIN Ancestry 

The MARTIN surname is also assumed to originate in Belgium.  The earliest known MARTIN ancestor in this history is Daniel MARTIN  who married Theresa NOREAN.  This couple had at least one son Felix , see (Daniel Martin Family History).    Felix (Felician) MARTIN (1849 - 1909) who married Theresa CORBISIER (1849 - 1912). Felix and Theresa (Felician Martin Family History) had at least one daughter Victoria MARTIN (1871 - 1936) who married Dieu Donni LEURQUIN (1849 - 1935). Victoria and Dieu Donni had ten children (Dieu Donni Leurquin Family History) the second of which was Mary Louise LEURQUIN who married Theophile Antoine Joseph BALZA described above.


INDICES:  Surnames, People

Last updated: November 11th, 2020
Copyright 2000= 2020, Richard M. Balza
To make corrections or obtain more information contact: Richard M. Balza