USA > Wisconsin > Marathon County > History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens > Part 74
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Mr. Pine was married at Columbus, Wis., to Miss Clara E. Moll, and they have two children: Laurence Edward and Dorothy Ruth. Mr. Pine is a member of several fraternal organizations including the Mod- ern Woodmen, the Knights of Pythias and the E. F. U.
JOHN L. KOMERS, proprietor of "The Leader," one of the large mercantile establishments at Wausau, has been in business in this city for the past twenty years. He was born at Milwaukee, Wis., January 26, 1864, and is a son of Joseph and Anna Komers. In the infancy of their son they moved to Grant county and settled on a farm and in 1872 removed to Muscoda, Wis.
John L. Komers secured his educational training in the public schools but left home when thirteen years of age, deciding to make his own way in the world. He found work on a farm and also in a store in the home neighborhood, then went to Dakota and worked there for a short time on a farm and finally drifted to Omaha and even as far east as Chicago.
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All this time he realized that upon his own efforts depended his advance- ment in life and when he came to Wausau in September, 1892, it was with a definite plan of entering his present line of business. He estab- lished a five and ten cent store beginning in a small way in the building that he has occupied for twenty years, all of which he at present utilizes, including the basement. A general line of merchandise is now carried and some sixteen clerks and helpers are employed all the year round. He is proprietor of the business and has his brother, Joseph F., asso- ciated with him as manager.
Mr. Komers married Miss Pauline Ringle, of Wausau, and they have three children: Madeline, Lester and Paula. He has been an active and public spirited citizen and served two years as a member of the city council, representing the Fourth Ward. He is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
AUGUST BOETTCHER, proprietor of the City Hotel, located on the corner of Washington and Sixth streets, Wausau, is one of Wau- sau's much respected and well known citizens, having lived here for more than twenty years. He was born in Germany, August 3, 1846 and came to America in 1873.
In his own land Mr. Boettcher was a tailor but after coming to the United States he found conditions of living different and the opportuni- ties for his business success lay in another direction than his trade. He had served four years in the German army and was strong and robust and soon after coming to Wisconsin he went to work at lumbering and for eighteen years was a lumber grader for Scott's mill at Merrill, Wis. He had already spent some time at Wausau and then returned here and bought the City Hotel property, which he operated for sixteen years but has now shifted his responsibilities to his son Frank, who has had the father's excellent training for the position. The City Hotel is a well kept hostelry, a two-story brick building, with twenty guest rooms, all fitted with modern comforts in the way of hot water, light and baths, and the house has a fine line of patronage, the public realizing that their hosts do all in their power to make visitors comfortable.
Mr. Boettcher married Miss Elizabeth Steller, who was born in New York but since girlhood has been a resident of Wausau. They have two children: Frank, who was born at Merrill, Wis., September 2, 1882, and is his father's very capable manager; and Caroline, who is the wife of Fred Brach, and they have two children: Vera and Evelyn.
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REV. WILLIAM SPIEGEL, pastor of St. Stephanus German Evan- gelical Lutheran church, at Wausau, Wis., is generally recognized as one of the ablest, most zealous and scholarly members of the Lutheran clergy in the state. He was born at Ridgeway, Lenawee county, Mich., September 9, 1876, and is a son of Carl and Ernesta (Breahmer) Spiegel.
Carl Spiegel was born in Germany and was given excellent educa- tional advantages there. He was reared on a farm and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits after coming to the United States when twenty-three years of age. At Ridgeway, Mich., he married Ernesta Breahmer, who was also born in Germany, a daughter of Frederick Breahmer, who spent his last years at Ridgeway, where his venerable widow still lives. Carl Spiegel and wife now live retired at Blissfield, Mich. Of their family of eight children seven are living and William was the first born.
William Spiegel first attended the public school in Lenawee county but the instruction secured there did not satisfy his craving for knowl- edge and when sixteen years of age he entered the Lutheran college at Waverly, Ia., where he remained until he was graduated, after which, for three years he was a student in the Lutheran Seminary, at Dubuque, Ia., graduating with the class of 1900. He immediately entered upon minis- terial work and was assigned to a large mission field at Swanton, O., where he worked with faithfulness and encouraging success for five years. He then accepted a call to Versailles, Ind., and remained there for five years, in the fall of 1910 coming to St. Stephanus, at Wausau. In every field he has added to the material prosperity of the parish over which he has had charge and has increased membership, and at Versailles not only remodeled the church edifice but built a parochial school house. Since coming to his present charge he has aroused interest in every line of church work with the result of a larger congregation and such an addi- tion to the school that an additional teacher has been required. He is wise, sympathetic and judicial in his communication with his congrega- tion and his display of thoughtful care for both the material and spirit- ual life of his people has won their respect and affection.
In 1901 Rev. Spiegel was married to Miss Amelia Esslinger, a daugh- ter of Charles Esslinger, of Dubuque, Ia., and they have six children, namely: Rosa, Carl. John, Werner, Ruth and Walter.
REMMELL BROS., a well established business house of Wausau, made up of Nicholas and Mathias Remmell, brothers, engages in the
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manufacture of sofe drinks, soda water and weiss beer, and deals whole- sale in glassware, bar supplies and lunch goods, having fine quarters at Nos. 1502-1506 Third street. The brothers established this business in 1900 and so prospered that in 1910 the wholesale department was added. They have six men employed in their factory and have a traveling representative introducing their goods in other sections.
Nicholas Remmell born on a farm in Washington county, Wis., October 15, 1870, and is a son of John Remmell, who was born in Ger- many and accompanied his parents to America when aged seven years. John Remmell married Barbara Glaeser who was born in Washington county, Wis. Mr. Remmell and brother attended the country schools and continued on the home farm until they established their present flourishing business at Wausau. Their reputation as honest and reliable dealers was built up at the beginning and has been steadfastly main- tained.
GEORGE F. RICK, who, for the past six years has been conducting his grocery business at No. 608 Third street, Wausau, has been a resi- dent here since 1873 and is one of the city's successful self-made men. He was born in the village of Waterloo, Mo., twenty-five miles south of St. Louis, June 28, 1861, and is a son of John and Mary Rick. His father died when he was young and his mother subsequently removed to Southern Wisconsin.
It seems a hard fate when a boy of but ten years finds himself entirely dependent upon his own resources, as was the case with George F. Rick, and not every child so situated possesses the determination and confi- dence in himself that enable him to steadily face the future and work out his own salvation. He came to Wausau in 1873, with a capital of ten cents in his pocket but of courage in his heart and immediately accepted an offer to work for his board in the Clark & Sweeney drug store. Shortly afterward Mr. Sweeney sold out to Mr. Clark and so useful did George F. Rick prove himself that he remained, under more favorable contract, with Mr. Clark, for four years. His next employer was E. M. Mott, who hired the youth to work on his homestead in the woods of Marathon county, for fifteen dollars a month. So far from all that money could buy, Mr. Rick had no occasion to spend his earnings and therefore at the end of eighteen months, when he left Mr. Mott, had a little capital. He came back then to Wausau and went to work for John Gebhardt, in the grocery business, with whom he continued for
FRANK E. CHARTIER
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ten years and afterward was with John Kiefer for two years. He then opened a small store of his own, on the corner of Forest and Grand avenue, where he remained for two years and then, in partnership with William Gilham, bought out the meat market of Edward Neibower, on Forest Street and they enlarged the meat business so that at one time they were conducting three markets. In 1907 Mr. Rick and Mr. Gilham dissolved partnership and since that time has confined himself to his gro- cery business at his present location. His story of business success is interesting for all that it tells and for what it indicates and it may be added that he was able to provide a home for his mother soon after he came to Wausau and provided for her as long as she lived.
Mr. Rick married Miss Adele Young, daughter of A. W. Young, who was formerly editor of the Deutsch Pioneer and once postmaster of Wausau. They have three children: George, Norman and Mark. While never an active politician, Mr. Rick has always been a close observer of passing events and has been an interested citizen willing to. accept a citizen's responsibilities in upholding the laws. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen, identified with the Wausau body.
FRANK E. CHARTIER, deceased, for a number of years was one of the best known men in the insurance business in this section of Wisconsin, and organized the Chartier Insurance Agency at Wausau, of which he was the head, his partner being his only son, Ray E. Chartier. He was suc- ceeded in business by his son and his widow, Mrs. Louise Chartier, and the firm name remained the Chartier Insurance Agency. Frank E. Chartier was born at Farmington, Jefferson county, Wis., February 15, 1852, and was a son of Francis and Lucinda Chartier.
Francis Chartier was one of the early settlers in southern Wisconsin, coming to the state when a large part of it was practically a wilderness. He secured a small tract of land on which he built a log cabin, and subsequently added to his possessions until in the course of time he became a man of sub- stance and a prosperous farmer. When his active period was over he and wife retired to Oconomowoc, where his death occurred in 1895, and that of his widow two years later.
Frank E. Chartier was reared on the home farm and remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, in the meanwhile attending the country schools. For two years after leaving home he traveled in the inter- ests of a marble firm of Logansport, Ind., but a serious attack of typhoid fever interrupted his business career at that time and he returned home.
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After regaining his normal health he embarked in the farm implement busi- ness and conducted it for two years, then went into the coal and grain busi- ness at Oconomowoc and remained so engaged until 1893 when he came to Wausau. Here he was interested in the life insurance business for a time; but later turned his entire attention to fire insurance and dealing in real estate. At that time, on account of the excessive high rates the citizens organized a Mutual Fire Insurance Company, with the active assistance of Mr. Chartier, and this organization existed for two years when, its object having been accomplished, the lowering of rates, it was sold to a stock company. The Chartier Insurance Agency handles insurance, real estate and loans, making a specialty of improved, cut-over and timber lands. As illustrative of the confidence placed in the firm, the following list is given of the old line companies represented : Germania, Girard Fire and Marine, Glens Falls, Boston, Agricultural, City of New York, Dubuque Fire and Marine, Prussian National, National Lumber, Farmers of York, Williams- burgh, Western, Pittsburgh Underwriters. County Fire of Philadelphia, Wil- liamsburgh City, Allemannia of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Ben Franklin, Ger- man of Indiana, Security of Iowa, United States and the Central National. As an able, honest, and upright business man Mr. Chartier secured and pre- served the respect and esteem of all who had relations with him. His death occurred at his home in Wausau, January 10, 1912, when he was aged fifty- nine years.
In 1883, in Jefferson county, Wis., Mr. Chartier was married to Miss Louise Muck, who was born and reared there, a daughter of Adam and Eliza- beth (Winterling) Muck. The father of Mrs. Chartier was a dealer in meats and live stock. His death occurred in 1872. The mother resides with Mrs. Chartier at Wausau, being now aged eighty years. One son, Ray E., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Chartier. After attending High School and business college Ray E. Chartier became associated with his father when seventeen years of age. He married Miss Chalmers McInnis and they have one child, Frank E., named for his grandfather and great-grandfather. Frank E. Chartier was a Mason and took much interest in fraternal matters.
AUGUST C. NETZEL, who is doing a prosperous business as man- ufacturer of cigars, with factory at No. 221 Third street, Wausau, Wis., has been engaged in his present business in this city since 1907, but has been a resident since 1902. He was born in the village of Caroline, in Shawano county. Wis., February 6, 1882 and is a son of William and
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Olrieka (Kruger) Netzel, the former of whom is a substantial citizen and retired farmer in Caroline, Shawano county.
August C. Netzel was educated in the village schools and his first industrial employment was as a shingle maker, but for 13 years he has been working at the cigar trade, which he learned with the firm of P. A. Machalis & Son, of Marion, Wis. As above stated he came to Wausau in 1902 and entered the employ of A. L. Kryshak, with whom he remained about five years. In 1907 he, in partnership with Gustav Krueger, established a cigar manufacturing business at No. 506 First street, removal being made to the present location in October, 1911. Since January 1, 1912 Mr. Netzel has been the sole proprietor. He does an ex- tensive business, keeping from six to eight employes, and his specialties are the Great American, the distinguishing mark of which is a portrait of George Washington, and the Triangle, the former retailing at ten and the latter at five cents. Both are in great demand all over central Wis- consin.
Mr. Netzel married Miss Emma Bartels, a daughter of Jacob Bar- tels, a former builder and contractor at Wausau, and they have two children, Evelyn and Anita. Mr. Netzel is identified fraternally with the order of Eagles. He is a musician of recognized talent, his favorite instruments being the violin and clarinet, and he has played with the C. S. Cone band and orchestra of Wausau.
HERMAN W. KILIAN, who is one of Marathon county's substan- tial citizens, resides on his valuable farm of 200 acres, sitiuated in sec- tion 25, town of Berlin, of which town he has been a justice of the peace for eight years. He was born in the town of Greenfield, Milwaukee county, Wis., September 8, 1862. He attended school in Dodge county, Wis., later the Northwestern College at Watertown and the Lutheran Seminary at Milwaukee, and in 1885 came to the town of Berlin, where he has since made his home.
On June 11, 1886, Mr. Kilian was married to Miss Matilda Nass, who was born in the town of Berlin, a daughter of Edward and Fredricka (Rollenhagen) Nass, the latter of whom was a daughter of Peter Rol- lenhagen, who came to the town of Berlin in 1856 as one of the first set- tlers. Mr. and Mrs. Kilian have the following children: Olga, Otto, Walter, Else, Ewald, Margaretta and Herbert. Mr. Kilian and family belong to the Evangelical Lutheran church of which he is one of the trustees. Of the home farm 120 acres have been cleared, Mr. Kilian
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having cleared forty acres himself and has also put up the substantial buildings and made other improvements on the place. This property lies ten miles northwest of Wausau. In politics Mr. Kilian is a Repub- lican. He is interested in several local enterprises and is a member of the Berlin Insurance Company.
FRANK J. GAETZMAN, who has been a resident of Wausau, Wis., for a quarter of a century and is prominent in political and fraternal cir- cles in Marathon county, was born in Kewaunee county, Wis., June 19, 1871, a son of Peter and Regina Gaetzman. He was reared at Green Bay, Wis., and from there came to Wausau, where he engaged in the hotel business, and six years later he opened his palm garden, which he has conducted for the past eleven years. He is one of Wausau's pub- lic spirited and liberal handed men. Politically a republican, he has served in many party offices and in 1910 was his party's candidate for sheriff. For the past six years he has been a member of the county board from the First Ward and carefully watches the city's interests.
Mr. Gaetzman was married at Wausau to Miss Celia Fruechtl and they have three children: Liparda, Esther and Margaret. The family belong to the Catholic church. Mr. Gaetzman has been very active in the Catholic order of Foresters and at present is chief ranger and deputy high chief ranger of this district. He is also state vice president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and is personally and officially known all over this part of Wisconsin.
WILBUR J. ZOCHERT, who is one of the proprietors of the mon- ment and marble works on the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets, Wausau, Wisconsin, is the junior member of the firm of W. J. Zochert Company, the present location of the firm having been a marble yard for twenty-five years. He was born in this city, July 22, 1885, and is a son of W. R. and Carrie Zochert.
Wilbur J. Zochert was educated in the Wausau public schools. For several years afterward he worked for the Wausau Novelty Works and then started to learn the monument and marble business, with his uncle J. P. Zochert, who at that time was the owner of his present shop. In 1906 he started into business for himself, in partnership with Jacob Empter, and they occupied the building that adjoined the St. Paul's church on Washington street, until 1908, when removal was made to Clinton street. In March, 1912 they secured their present desirable
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location, and they do business under the firm style of the W. J. Zochert Company Monumental Works.
In 1909 Mr. Zochert was married to Miss Emma Joyade, of Wausau, and they have two children: Marion and Earl. Mr. Zochert belongs to the following organizations : the D. A. V. V., the W. O. W., Commercial Club, Amitie Club, and the T. I. C. He is numbered with the enter- prising and successful young business men of this city.
HON. ROBERT E. PARCHER, whose death took place in Wausau, Wisconsin, December 4, 1907, was for many years one of the most sub- stantial business men of this place and one of its most esteemed citi- zens. He was born at Troy, Vermont, December 6, 1838, a son of Robert and Lucretia G. (Kenny) Parcher, and was reared and educated at Mor- risville, Lamoille county, Vt., whence he came to Wausau in the spring of 1858. For eighteen months after his arrival here he was employed as clerk by the firm of Taylor & Ellis, and when Mr. Ellis retired soon after- ward, Mr. Parcher succeeded him in the firm. Later he succeeded to Thomas Taylor's interests in the business and conducted it alone until July, 1876, when he admitted George Fernald as a partner.
From the time he first came to Wausau Mr. Parcher's activities were mainly devoted to the lumber business. For five years he was president of the Boone Company and he was one of the founders of the Wausau Lumber Company, which was engaged in the manufacture of shingles on Trapp river. After disposing of his interest in the shingle mill Mr. Parcher gave some attention to farming and also to mercantile interests. Early recognized as a man of sterling integrity and force of character, he was at different times tendered various public offices. He served as city assessor and as a member of the city board and later be- came postmaster, during this time conducting a general store. In 1891 he was elected mayor of Wausau and served until the spring of 1894, be- ing twice re-elected. In his later years he kept up his interest in public matters but became independent in his political views. He was frequent- ly called upon, as a representative man, to fill temporary civic positions along the lines of benevolence or public safety.
On June 12, 1865, Mr. Parcher was married to Miss Mary H. Sin- gle, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Taylor) Single, who were natives of the county of Hertford, England. Charles Single, with his brother Benjamin, came to America in 1836 and they went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1844. They then made their
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way to the Wisconsin pineries, where they worked together for a time, after which Charles Single came to Wausau and built the Forest House for hotel purposes, on Third street, of which he was proprietor until it was destroyed by fire in 1878. He served a number of terms in the city council and was a useful and respected citizen. He died April 30, 1880, at the age of 58 years, and was survived by his wife, and children as fol- lows : Benjamin T., now deceased; Mary H. (Mrs. Parcher) ; Alice, who is the widow of A. L. Fitzer, a former citizen of Wausau; Josephine, wife of J. Baldwin, of Wausau; Henry, who resides at Antigo; Letitia, wife of Charles E. Dunbar, of Wausau, and Charles, who is a resident of the state of Washington. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Single, died at Wausau, June 24, 1897, at the age of 69 years. Mrs. Parcher is a mem- ber of the Episcopal church. She resides in a beautiful home on Third street and is a prominent member of the best society of Wausau.
ROBERT PLISCH, who was born in Prussia, April 7, 1845, came with his parents to America in 1856 and to Marathon county, through many hardships, in the same year. and there are few men better known or more highly respected in this section. His valuable farm of 160 acres is situated in section 29, town of Berlin, his residence being nine miles north and east of Marathon City. His parents were Gottleib and Car- oline (Grosse) Plisch, who left their native land with their children and came to the United States, taking passage on the ship Delmach, commanded by Captain Schroeder. Although many hundreds of indi- viduals crossed the Atlantic ocean at that time, the usual carrying ves- sels were not fitted up for human beings as well as are the cattle ships of the present day and what the voyagers endured during the ten long weeks of the voyage would take many pages to tell. After finally land- ing in the harbor of New York, they were able to secure conveyance to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, but still were far from their eighty acres of government land which was situated in section 32, town of Berlin, Marathon county.
In their own land Mr. and Mrs. Plisch, had been accustomed to com- fort and were prepared for lack of luxury but it is doubtful if they ever imagined the hardships they would have to endure in the pioneering which they had undertaken. As there were no conveyances to be secured the parents and the children had to walk, not along the fine highways that are now provided in every direction, but through a path- less tract of timber and six weeks were required to cut a road.
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At first they made cakes of flour and water but the flour gave out and for two days parents and children kept alive on bass wood leaves and an occasional berry. Fortunately the first winter proved mild as their house was one of Indian style, made of boughs and poles and cov- ered only with leaves. Gottleib Plisch was a well educated man and immediately began to agitate the starting of schools and for several years taught school in Marathon county and may, possibly, have been the first county superintendent of schools, and was chairman of the town of Berlin when its territory reached to Lake Superior. He lived into his eighty-third year, his wife passing away in her seventy-sixth year and their burial was in the Lutheran cemetery one mile east of their son's farm. The following children were born in Europe: Emelia, Oswald, Robert, Bertha, Mary, Paulina and Emma, while two more, Eda and Albert, were born in Marathon county.
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