USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Completing his medical course Dr. Steffen became first assistant to the chief physician and surgeon in charge of the employes of the Virginia-Rainey Lake Lumber Company at Virginia, Minnesota, largest lum- bering institution in the world. He returned to An- tigo, his birthplace, in October, 1913, and became as- sociated with his father in the practice of his profes- sion.
When the world war broke out he enlisted, May, 1917, and was called into service August 8, 1917. He sailed for England on August 29, 1917, and became attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was stationed six months in England (Manchester) with the Second Western General Hospital, when he was ordered to France, in March, 1918, to become attached to the 63rd Royal Naval Division, B. E. F. He served two months with the 148th Field Ambulance of the B. E. F., and then was assigned as medical officer in charge of the 317th Field Artillery Brigade, 63rd Division. Dr. Steffen attained the rank of Captain while in service. In February, 1919, he returned from France to England and was again stationed at
the Second Western General Hospital upon his re- quest as he desired more surgical practice.
In May, 1919, he was transferred to the U. S. forces and returned to the United States, landing in New York on June 12, 1919, and being honorably discharged June 13, 1919, at Camp Dix, New Jersey. He was awarded the British Military Cross, coveted British honor, while serving in the war.
Dr. Steffen had the unique distinction of taking a Masonic degree with an Australian and a Canadian in February, 1918, and still holds membership in the Charlton-cum-Hardy chapter, a suburb of Manches- ter, England. Fraternally he is allied with the Mas- ons, Elks, Moose and Knights of Pythias. Dr. Stef- fen was selected City Health Physician of Antigo, in June, 1920.
September 23, 1914, he was married to Miss Erma Hessel, daughter of John Hessel, pioneer Antigo mer- chant, and two children, Jean Louise and Elizabeth Allen, have been born to this union. The Steffen family resides at 511 Fifth Avenue.
Dr. Steffen is a member of the Langlade County Medical Society, of which he has been President for the past three years, a member of the Wisconsin State Medical Association, the American Medical As- sociation, the American Association of Railway Sur- geons, and the Chicago & Northwestern Surgical As- sociation.
CHARLES F. DALLMAN, a pioneer resident of Antigo, was born November 19, 1857, at Winchester, Wisconsin. He attended school at that place and spent his youth and early manhood in the place of his birth. June 1, 1882, he was married to Miss Eliza- beth C. Keen, at Winchester. His wife was a daugh- ter of the late D. W. Keen, one time Antigo mayor. Shortly after their marriage they moved to the then village of Antigo, having made their home in Antigo for thirty-nine years, until his death September 21, 1921. Charles F. Dallman was one of the early An- tigo citizens and as an architect and contractor he provided plans for and constructed more public build- ings than any other Antigo or Langlade County citi- zen. He erected the public library, the city hall, scores of schools in the rural districts of Langlade County and also many other buildings. These pub- lic buildings are a monument to his progressiveness and his thrifty spirit.
Mr. Dallman is survived in life by his widow and three children: Lydia, now Mrs. Dudley Burton, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Hulda, now Mrs. Edward Van Deuren, of Antigo; Daniel Dallman, of Chicago, Illinois. One daughter, Ida, died in 1905.
The late Mr. Dallman was one of the active mem- bers of the Unity Evangelical church and had much to do with its advancement and progress. He was fraternally affiliated with the Beavers and Fraternal Reserve Association. He lies buried in the old Anti- go cemetery.
The life of Charles F. Dallman serves as an excel- lent example of the rewards that come only after a life
290
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
of probity, industriousness and integrity. Mr. Dall- man was a man of upright character and highly es- teemed by all who knew him.
ANTHONY LOMBARDO. Prominent merchant, was born December 13, 1889, in the city of Termini Imerese, Italy, the son of Pauline (Castro) and Salva- tore Lombardo. His father was born in 1849 and his mother ten years later. His father was a farmer. Young Anthony spent his boyhood in Italy leaving that country April 14, 1903, for the United States. He en- gaged in the marble and mosiac and tile contracting in the U. S. and Canada, from 1910-15 in the latter. He came to Antigo in 1917, following the fruit business in which he entered with Curtis McCollister in The Antigo Fruit Company, now owned entirely by Mr. Lombardo. He was married to Anastasia Filbrandt, born October 8, 1888, at Berlin, Green Lake County,
ANTHONY LOMBARDO Proprietor of the Antigo Fruit Company, Antigo, Wis.
Wis. To this union three children have been born : Anthony Michael, Jr., April 9, 1918; Gertrude Pauline, April 3, 1919; Marie Catharine, November 9, 1921, all were born in Antigo, Langlade County, Wis. Mr. Lombardo obtained full citizenship in the U. S. in 1919 and two years later, February 11, 1921, returned to Eu- rope to visit at his birthplace and with his aged par- ents. He made stops at Rome, Genoa, Turin, Napoli, La Havre, was in Rome two weeks, saw Pope Benedict XV April 24, 1921, visited at Paris two weeks, the Ver- sailles Palace, Invalides Museum and Marsellies. He was also in Trieste, Austria, returning to America, May 9, 1921. Mr. Lombardo resides at 515 Virginia street. He is by faith a Catholic and fraternally is affiliated with the Loyal Order of Moose, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Catholic Order of Foresters and Knights of Columbus.
LEONARD FREIBURGER, former Antigo mayor and a prominent pioneer, was born in the town of Arran, Washington County, Wisconsin, on May 20,
1859, the son of John and Katherine Freiburger. He lived on the farm operated by his father until he at- tained the age of seventeen, having in the time preced- ing that age attended the rural and parochial schools of the community. He started out in the world for himself at New London, Waupaca County, Wiscon- sin, where he learned the trade of a wagon maker. After serving two years as an apprentice he quit wagonmaking and went into the woods to work. This was followed by mill work until 1879 when he became associated with Chris. Buehlman in the brick in- dustry at New London. This business he followed until 1883 when he sold his interest to his partner and moved to Antigo, Langlade County, Wisconsin. He started to work June 15, 1883, for Edgar Neff, working by the piece. For three years he stayed with Mr. Neff and then purchased from his employer the wagon making shop. Since then Mr. Freiburger has been continuously in the same business. He conducted his shop one year where the Raskin second-hand store is located, having previously been asso- ciated with Laughlin & Kelly. He then formed a partnership with Jos. Wirig, which lasted from 1902 until 1917. In 1904 the shop was moved from Fifth Avenue to Field Street, present location. The firm was known as the Antigo Wagon Works.
Mr. Freiburger was married November 2, 1881, to Agnes Monnette, of Duck Creek, Brown County. To this union five children were born: Irene, now Mrs. H. L. Pepper, of Wausau, Wisconsin; Florence Es- ther, deceased; Clarence, Leonard, Jr., and Vernon, all of Antigo. Vernon was a seaman during the World War. Fraternally the subject of this sketch is affiliated with the Catholic Foresters, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Reserve Associa- tion, the Beavers, St. Joseph Benevolent Society and the Knights of Columbus. Politically he is a Demo- crat. He has served as Consultor and Treasurer of St. John's church of Antigo for about twenty years or more. Since coming to Antigo Mr. Freiburger has been inducted into public service continuously. He has served with distinction as school commissioner, Alderman, Supervisor, President of the City Council, Mayor of Antigo, Chairman of the Langlade County Board for five years, and has served in other public capacities. He is now a member of the County Nor- mal Board. He first was elected a school commis- sioner of the old 4th Ward (Antigo then had but four wards) in 1885. A synopsis of the administration of Mr. Freiburger as Mayor is given elsewhere.
A. K. POTTER, prominent citizen, actively identi- fied with public welfare of Langlade County, was born March 9, 1870, at Adams, Mass. He came west to Wisconsin in 1891, settling at Wonewoc, Wis. Here he was married to Mildred Ella Holmes on February 14, 1895. To this union was born a daughter, Miss Mildred Potter, now a student at Milwaukee-Downer College, Milwaukee, Wis., and a son, Rusk K. Potter, now an electrical engineer. Mr. Potter entered the employ of the C. & N. W. R. R. Co. at Wonewoc in
291
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
1891 in the operating department and later transferred to the Purchasing Department, with which he has since been connected. The Potters spent several years in the south before coming to Antigo on April 1, 1902. Mr. Potter holds the responsible position of Purchas- ing Agent for the Chicago & Northwestern Co. on both the Ashland and Lake Shore Divisions. He had an active part in purchasing the land and other- wise aiding Antigo to get the Langlade Lumber Com- pany and the Charles W. Fish Lumber Company plants to locate here. During the great World War, 1917-19, Mr. Potter played the part of a 100 per cent American. His son Rusk, graduate from the Antigo High School in 1915, a University of Wisconsin School of Engineering graduate and from the School of Engineering at Milwaukee with a B. S. degree in E. E., was commissioned Lieutenant in the Field Ar- tillery, U. S. A., November 18, 1918, and ordered to Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, where he served until the end of the war, receiving an honor- able discharge December 14, 1918. Mr. Potter was in all the five Liberty Loan drives and other patriotic war work, was chosen in 1921, Chairman of Langlade County for "Relief in Ireland, soliciting funds for suf- fering of that belated country. The campaign went over the top. Langlade County was the first in Wisconsin to reach its quota. Mr. Potter is a mem- ber of the Congregational church, belongs to the Masonic orders as follows: F. & A. M., Chapter, Knights Templar, Thirty-two degree Mason, and a member of the Mystic Shrine, of Milwaukee. His son, Rusk, was married January 5, 1921, to Miss Marion Duchac. They reside at Milwaukee. Wisconsin, where Mr. Potter is state representative for the King Pneumatic Tool Co., of Chicago, Ill. The Potter family are the kind of citizens that make for the betterment of a community.
JOSEPH S. GUENTHNER, real estate dealer and farmer, was born in Milwaukee, March 11, 1877. He moved to this county with his parents the same year settling in Rolling township, then a wilderness. He attended the public schools and later engaged in farm- ing. In January, 1902, Mr. Guenthner was married to Lillie Schoblasky, of the town of Embarass, Wau- paca County. Four children, one girl and three boys, were born to this union. Mr. Guenthner is a member of the Beavers. Up to 1922 he was associated with Julius Schoblasky in garage business in Antigo. He is the owner of considerable real estate in the county.
ASHER R. TREAT, Train dispatcher, was born November 16, 1859, the son of Alzina and David Treat. He attended the common schools at his birth- place, Buchanan, Michigan. Completing the common school education he studied telegraphy, which he has since followed. In 1874 he started with the Michigan Central at South Haven, Michigan, where he stayed four years; he then went with the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy for eight months; then with the Kansas Pacific, now a part of the Union Pacific system; the
Louisville & Nashville, Burlington & Northern at Cedar Rapids, which concern he was with four years; then with the Canadian Pacific for a year, after which he served with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Soo Line, and then the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western, which in 1893 was sold to the C. & N. W. Railroad Company. Mr. Treat was married on August 9, 1906, to Pearl Barnes. They have one child, Asher E., Jr. Mrs. Treat is an accomplished singer of more than local success. The Treat family attend the Congrega- tional church. Mr. Treat is a member of the K. of P. Lodge. He came to Antigo February 22, 1905. The Treat residence is at 714 Second Avenue.
GEORGE FALKENHAGEN, JR., plumber, was born July 22, 1890, son of Anna and George Falken- hagen. He attended the Chicago public schools, moving in 1904 to Antigo with his parents. He started a plumbing and heating concern for himself in 1912. Walter Falkenhagen, a brother, was his partner until 1921. The Falkenhagen shop is located in the First National Bank Building. Mr. Falkenhagen can trace his ancestors back many years, church records sub- stantiating the fact that Gen. F. Von Falkenhayn, German leader, was a distant relative. When war broke out George Falkenhagen enlisted, serving in a Machine Gun School, Camp Hancock, Georgia, from July 8, 1918, to July 25, 1919. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Falkenhagen has gained recognition as an artist. His chief paintings are "Morning Scene on Duck Lake", Post Lake scene, and others. He often visits the Chicago Art Insti- tute and has entered his paintings in Wisconsin Paint- ers and Sculptors competitions.
ANTON KRAUS, proprietor bowling alleys, was born in Neva township in 1883, son of Josephine and Joseph Kraus. His father was drowned in Bass Lake, west of Kempster when young Kraus was four years old. He often remembers when his father "packed provisions" from Wausau. He attended the rural schools, engaged in farming, was a retail store clerk, woodsman and retail liquor man in Antigo, also a year in Neva. He took over the Antigo bowling alleys, purchasing same from F. J. Hoffman. They are popular and well conducted. He was married to Carrie Schwartz, June 20, 1905. Mr. Kraus is a mem- ber of the C. Z. B. J., Eagles, and Elks. The family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus and one child, a girl. They reside at 404 Dorr street.
FRED SCHWARTZ, Neva township farmer, was born May 30, 1860, in Checo-Slovakia. At an early age he came to Langlade County, settling in Neva on a farm. He married Antonio Ferminak, to which union ten children were born, five girls and five boys. Two children died. Mr. Schwartz has been Assessor fourteen years, three years town of Neva supervisor, four years a school treasurer. For seven years he was agent, five years Secretary and four years Presi-
292
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
dent of the Neva Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is now Vice President of the Neva Farmers' State Bank. Mr. Schwartz is a member of the M. W. A. and Z. C. B. J. lodges. He has a splendid forty acre farm.
JOHN BENISHEK, ex-Mayor, real estate dealer, was born near the city of Tabor, Bohemia, January 21, 1856, son of Mathias and Apolonia Benishek. With his parents he came from Bohemia in December, 1871, settling in Manitowoc County on a farm. Un- til twenty-one years of age he aided on the farm, then went to the city of Manitowoc and learned the carriage maker's trade, following same for four years. Then worked in Milwaukee, same trade, one year, from there he went to Fayette, Michigan, two years. Here he started work in a machine shop, running steam en- gines, teaching music and leading a band. He moved to Manistique, Michigan, where he was four years in a machine shop, the last year as foreman. The Soo line was then built into the region. Mr. Benishek laid off from work and came to Antigo, small hamlet, in 1887, got a job on the railroad, saw greater oppor- tunities here and then moved to Antigo. He has pre- viously been in Michigan and at Minneapolis, Minn. January 14, 1889, Jos. Duchac and John Benishek formed a real estate partnership, lasting until August 26, 1891. From 1891 to 1894 he was in business alone, purchased old Antigo Brewing Co. from John Chalup- sky, aided to establish the Citizens Brewing Co., was Secretary and Manager of that business, engaged in real estate business for fourteen years with Hon. B. W. Rynders. In 1915 took his son, Ben Benishek, in the firm, known as Benishek & Son. John Benishek has been Supervisor, Alderman, Assessor, Justice of the Peace, member of the Board of Education, and Mayor of Antigo. He is a member of the C. Z. B. J., I. O. O. F., Camp, Eagles and M. W. A. lodges. He was married to Anna Hynek in 1886. His first wife died in February, 1888. He was remarried to Bar- bara Holup in 1891. She died in February, 1900. Four of the Benishek children are living. The John Benishek residence is at 222 Edison street.
W. B. DRESSER, prominent Norwood township resident, was born in Kenosha, May 2, 1867, the son of Ellen and Mark Dresser. He attended the Kenosha public schools and the Kansas City (K.) High School, having moved to that city with his grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Priestly. Young Dres- ser was left on his own resources at an early age, his mother passing away when he was but nine days old and his father when he was a boy of nine. His school days over he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company where he served for nearly twenty years. Mr. Dresser then went to Chicago, where for three years he was engaged in the lumber business. In 1901 he came to Langlade County as a representative of the Forest Lumber Company, Wis- consin corporation, a branch of an Illinois lumber con- cern. Mr. Dresser moved to Phlox, where for three
years he conducted the Riverside Hotel. He was married on January 12, 1887, to Margaret Rob- erts, of Kansas City, Kansas. Eight children were born to this union, four of whom are living. A son, Dr. Harry B. Dresser, Marquette University dental graduate, has offices in Antigo in the Fidelity Bank building. Mr. Dresser is a member of the K. of P., Eagles and B. P. O. E. lodges. He has travel- ed extensively, but Langlade County, where he has spent the greatest number of years of any one place, pleases him best.
JOHN McCARTHY, druggist, was born at Memee, Manitowoc County, July 28, 1864, son of Dennis and Bridget McCarthy. When a boy his mother died. He attended the common schools of Manitowoc County, after which he began railroading on the old Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad. In 1895 he went to Shawano where until 1901 he was engaged in the druggist business. In 1901 he came to Antigo, becoming proprietor of the City Drug Store, Clermont street and Fifth avenue, which he still owns. Mr. McCarthy was married to Eleanor Mullin, of Maple Grove, Manitowoc County, February 11, 1902. Five children were born to this union. Four children are living, one boy having died in infancy. Mr. Mc- Carthy is a member of the B. P. O. E. and K. of C. lodges.
OTTO P. WALCH, banker, was born in the town of Holland, Brown County, November 8, 1873. When four years old he moved with his parents into the wil- derness of Outagamie County, where they hewed out a small farm. Here they resided until 1885 when they moved to Antigo Mr. Walch attended the pub- lic schools of Antigo and completed three years in the Antigo High School. In the fall of 1889 he took a position with the Langlade County Bank. This Bank was reorganized as the Langlade National Bank in 1901 and Mr. Walch was then made Cashier, Janu- ary, 1903. In 1918 Mr. Walch was chosen Vice Pres- ident of the same institution. He has served for sev- eral years on the Board of Education, was two years President of that body. In 1921 was selected a mem- ber of the Advisory Board of the City of Antigo, on which he still serves. Mr. Walch was active in many of the various financial campaigns during the World War.
FRED H. SHAW, prominent lumberman, was born in Flint, Michigan, February 11, 1870, son of Ruth M. and Daniel E. Shaw. At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Bay City, Bay County, Michigan. He attended the public schools and the Bay City High School. When a youth he entered the employ of the Warren Lewis Lumber Company, of that city, and for three years gained his first knowl- edge of his future work. He worked successively for the Mosher & Maltby Lumber Company, Bay City, for eight years, the Ross & Wentworth Lumber Company, Bay City, following which he entered the
293
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
lumber commission business for himself. He follow- ed this business until 1908 when he became Superin- tendet for the Hackley-Phelps Bonnell Company, Phelps, Wisconsin, with which concern he was asso- ciated for five years. Since 1916 Mr. Shaw has been Superintendent of the Langlade Lumber Company plant at Antigo, Wisconsin. Mr. Shaw was married to Hannah Tomke, Bay City, Michigan, July 3, 1877. Three children were born, Floyd, age 4, and Fred H., Jr., age 23, passed away at the ages mentioned. Mrs. C. J. Peterson, a daughter, is living. Mr. Shaw is a member of the B. P. O. E., Masonic order and M. W. A. He was an Alderman for two terms at Bay City, Michigan, was the instigator of the original cement walk campaign years ago in that city, was Assessor at Phelps and is now a member of the Antigo Police and Fire Commission, since 1921.
HARRY J. MORSE, Deputy Sheriff, was born July 10, 1889, in the city of Neenah, the son of Margaret and Charles Morse and a grandson of Hon. J. W. Morse, Langlade County's first County Judge. He moved to Antigo in an early day with his parents. Charles Morse, his father, often toted provisions and supplies from Neenah to Antigo. He attended the public schools following which he entered an engin- eering school. Mr. Morse then took an engineering positions with the T. D. Kellogg Lumber and Manufac- turing Company, Antigo Lumber Company, Antigo Electric Company, Henshaw-Worden and Henshaw Lumber Companies respectively. He is an ack- nowledged expert in his work. Mr. Morse enlisted in Co A, 43rd Engineers, 1st Army Corps, was overseas fifteen months and was honorably discharged in July, 1919. January, 1921, he was appointed Deputy Lang- lade County Sheriff by Edward Buchen. In 1922 he declined an appointment as a Federal Prohibition of- ficer. Mr. Morse is a member of the Masonic order and the Elks fraternity.
JOSEPH FILBRANDT, plumber, was born in An- tigo, March 14, 1890, the son of Michael and Matilda Filbrandt. He received a common school education, attending both public and parochial schools. He en- tered the plumbing business in 1913 and on July 14, 1921, formed a partnership with H. Vowinkle of She- boygan, Wisconsin. The firm is known under the name of Antigo Plumbing & Heating Company, with offices on Edison street. While a new firm the concern has a steady growing business. Joseph Fil- brandt was married to Miss Helen Hurley on April 23, 1918. To this union one child, Francis, was born. He died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Filbrandt reside at 720 Pine street.
IRVIN A. WHITE, Attorney, was born in Antigo, January 2, 1892. He attended the public schools and Antigo High School, from which he graduated in 1909. While in school he engaged in various occu- pations, delivering papers, clerk in a grocery store, etc. Entering the University of Wisconsin in 1910, he graduated from the College of Letters and Science
in 1914. He taught History in the Bismark (N. D.) High School in 1915-16. Mr. White then entered the University of Wisconsin Law School from which he graduated in 1917. He served in the U. S. Army from May 12, 1917, to October 18, 1919, attaining the rank of Captain. He practiced law for a short time in the office of Olin, Butler, Stebbins & Stroud, Madison, Wisconsin. Then he came to Antigo where on April 10, 1920, he became the junior member of the law firm of Hay & White. In 1920 he was elected a member of the Board of Education and in 1921 was chosen President of that body. Mr. White is married and resides at 409 Edison Street.
CARL O. SOMDAHL, mechanical engineer, was born in Christiania, Norway, February 3, 1884, the son of Marie and Martin Somdahl. He came to Phil- adelphia, Pa., with his parents in 1884. In 1885 he moved to Valley City, North Dakota, where he at- tended the public schools. He then entered Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, from which in 1910 he graduated as a mechanical engineer. He became affiliated with the Western Gas Construction Company Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and rose to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of that Company when he resigned to take over the Antigo Gas Company, June 1, 1919. Since then extensive improvements have been made with the Antigo utility. Mr. Somdahl married Alma Harriet Berge, of Valley City, N. D., June 17, 1914. To this union two children, Robert and Marjorie, were born. The Somdahl family resides at 519 Second Avenue.
AUGUST A. ZELM, Summit township farmer, was born in Germany, August 29, 1882, the son of Henry and Anne Zelm. When three and a half years old he came to America with his parents, settling at Wausau, Wisconsin. A year later the Zelm family moved to Summit township where Henry Zelm took up a home- stead on Section 35, Township 33, Range 9 East. Young August attended the rural schools and then be- came engaged in agriculture. He also is an extens- ive logger, which business he does during the winter. Mr. Zelm has an eighty acre farm which he is con- tinually improving.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.