Fred Leverenz was born September 16, 1849 in Hungerstorf, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany.  He was the son of Joachim Heinrich Theodor and Sophia Luisa Heinrike (Priem) Leverenz.  Johanna was born August 15, 1850 in Varchentin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a nearby town.  They were sweethearts in Germany and when Fred came to America with his mother, an older, married sister and her family, and his younger sister, Johanna was with them.  They embarked from Hamburg on the John Bertram on October 15, 1872 and arrived in the Port of New York.  They were married in Appleton, Wisconsin September 7, 1879 and lived in Appleton for two years before moving to Dupont, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.