History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens, Part 77

Author: Marchetti, Louis. cn
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1042

USA > Wisconsin > Marathon County > History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens > Part 77

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).

CHARLES WEISBROD, a well known business man of Wausau, a member of the firm of Denfield & Weisbrod, painting contractors, with office at No. 307 Forest street, has been in the painting contracting line since 1891, at which time he formed his partnership with Henry Denfield. He was born in Germany, August 3, 1865, and is a son of Henry and Annie Weisbrod, who came to Marathon county, Wis., in 1883, and now resides on their farm in the town of Hamburg.

Charles Weisbrod was sixteen years old when his parents moved to Wausau, coming directly from Germany, and when they moved on a farm two years later he remained at Wausau, having started to learn his present business and being interested in the same. Mr. Weisbrod and partner do a large business, giving employment to fifteen men dur- ing the busy season, and their trade is constantly on the increase as a result of honest work and promptness in completing contracts. Mr.

850

HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY

Weisbrod married Miss Rosa Hirsch. They are members of the Catho- lic church. He belongs to the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and to the Germania.

HENRY GROSS, who fills a very important position in the civic government of Wausau, Wis., being superintendent of the city water works, has been a resident here since 1886. He was born July 4, 1860, in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, and is a son of Nicholas and Christiana Gross.

Henry Gross was five years old when his parents brought him to America. They settled on a farm in Portage county, Wis., on which they lived for a number of years and then removed to Stevens Point, where their closing years of life were passed. Henry Gross remained on the home farm in Portage county until 1886, when he came to Wausau and for fifteen years afterward was manager here for the Pabst Brew- ing Company. In 1901 he was first appointed superintendent of the city water works and served until 1906, and in 1910 was reappointed to the office which he has since so satisfactorily filled. In 1889, at Ashland, Wis., Mr. Gross was married to Miss Mary Waters, a daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Waters of that place.

EDWARD C. LANGENHAHN, who is vice president of the Ritter & Deutsch Furniture Company at Wausau, undertakers and dealers in furniture, has been identified with this business house for the last nine years and is one of the alert and reliable young business men of the city of his birth. He was born here January 18, 1883, and is a son of Theodore and Mary (Kline) Langenhahn. For a number of years the father was in the harness business at Marathon City, where he lives retired.

Edward C. Langenhahn was educated in the public schools and the Wausau Business College and later attended a school of embalming. When twenty years of age he went to work for his present company, of which he became vice president in 1910. The business is one of long standing and it enjoys public confidence. Mr. Langenhahn was married to Miss Helen Ruder, a member of an old Marathon county family, and they have one child, Marie. They are members of the Catholic church and he belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Woodmen of America and to St. Joseph's Society.

851

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

JOSEPH WILLEMS, junior member of the well known firm of Haesle & Willems, meat dealers, at No. 524 Forest street, Wausau, is one of the enterprising native born sons of this city, in which he has spent his life and secured a very creditable position as a business man and citizen. He was born March 1, 1882, and is a son of John and Agnes (Berens) Willems, the latter of whom survives. The father died in 1902, a well known man in this county and for years a police officer and also street commissioner at Wausau.

Joseph Willems was reared at Wausau and was educated in the St. Mary's parochial school, and was a student in the city High School until his junior year, when he began to learn the meat business. He worked for the old firm of Gilham & Rich for about ten years and in 1905 associated himself with John Haesle, another employe, in the purchase of the business and since then the firm of Haesle & Willems has been a prosperous one here, handling the bulk of the trade in their section of the city. Mr. Willems is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church.

EDWARD G. WEINKAUF, president and treasurer of the Wein- kauf Bros. Clothing and Furnishing Company, at Wausau, is one of the city's enterprising and substantial business men. He was born in 1868, in the town of Texas, Marathon county, Wis., six miles from Wausau, and is a son of Carl and Augusta Weinkauf. The parents of Mr. Wein- kauf were born, reared and married in Germany and from there came to the United States and to Wisconsin in 1866, settling on a farm in the town of Texas, Marathon county. The father at first engaged in farm- ing and then bought a saw mill. Both parents survive and reside at Edgar, in Marathon county.

Edward G. Weinkauf was reared on the home farm and worked for several years as a logger. He was twenty-five years old when he came to Wausau and entered the employ of his uncle, John Patzer, who con- ducted a saloon adjoining the Ritter & Deutsch Building. Later Mr. Weinkauf bought his uncle's interests and conducted the saloon until 1909 when he went into his present business, which is an incorporated concern, well managed and amply financed. Just prior to coming to Wausau, Mr. Weinkauf was married to Miss Minnie Volkman, and they have two children, Arnold and Anesta, both of whom attend the Wau- sau High School.

852

HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY

CHARLES F. PESCHMANN, deceased, for many years was en- gaged in business at Wausau, as a merchant, and after he became an in- valid was succeeded by his wife, who still continues the business, having greatly enlarged its scope and ably managing all its many details. Mr. Peschmann was born in Germany and died at Wausau, Wis., in 1908, having been under medical care at Oshkosh for seven years previously. In 1885 at Wausau, Mr. Peschmann was married to Miss Matilda Poch. Their seven children all died in infancy.

Mrs. Peschmann was born in Germany and accompanied her brother Carl Poch, to Wausau, the latter being now in business at San Fran- cisco. Mr. Peschmann, whom she knew well in Germany, had come to Wausau one year before and after their marriage they continued to live in this city until Mr. Peschmann's affliction fell upon him. Mrs. Peschmann and husband started their store on North Sixth street, in 1893, and it has been mainly through her energy and wise judgment that the business has reached its present large proportions. She de- veloped great business capacity when it became necessary for her to take entire charge and now owns the fine, well stocked store at No. 1910 Sixth street and five additional properties. She is well known and is held in very high esteem by her business associates and has a wide circle of personal friends. She is very charitable in many directions and liberally contributes to help all worthy public movements.

JOSEPH KARL, who, for the past six years has been the caretaker of St. Joseph's school at Marathon City, owner of valuable property, and for the past nine years village assessor, is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of the town of Marathon. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 28. 1835, and is a son of Sabastain and Catherine Karl.

The parents of Mr. Karl were also natives of Bavaria who came to the United States with their five daughters and one son, landing at the port of New York, July 16, 1852. They went to Pittsburgh, Pa., where the father found work for four years and from there came to Wisconsin, in 1858, he being then aged fifty-eight years. He had been a farmer in Germany and when he settled in Marathon village it was in the hope of again having his own land to cultivate and in this he was not entirely disappointed. He secured eighty acres of wild land and immediately be- gan the labor of clearing, making his home in the village which was then only a little shanty settlement on the border of the deep woods. He

853

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

was a man of judgment and sound principles but always felt too busy to accept any public office. His death occurred when he was aged sev- enty years and six months, his widow surviving to the age of eighty-four years and five months. They were good Catholics, members of St. Mary's church and their burial was in this church cemetery.

Joseph Karl's school period was passed in Germany. After he ac- companied his parents to Pittsburgh, Pa., he worked at digging ore in the mines and afterward worked in a rolling mill at Pittsburgh. He was twenty-five years old when he came to Marathon City in 1860 and imediately began to help his father in the really laborious work of clear- ing the farm, his father only succeeding in getting three acres cleared by himself. Joseph Karl cleared twenty-five acres and later bought eighty additional acres one-half mile south of Marathon City, in the town of Cassel, which he sold in 1898, moving then to the village. Here he owns a business block and his home.

Mr. Karl married Miss Tressa Blume, who was born in Prussia-Ger- many, a daughter of John Blume. Their children who were born in the town of Marathon were: Caroline, Theresia, Blandina and Romonda, and those born in the town of Cassel are Joseph and Mary, while eight children died in infancy. Mr. Karl and family belong to St. Mary's Catholic church. Mr. Karl has been a lifelong democrat. For fifteen years he was elected assessor of the town of Marathon and at first his district included also the towns of Frankfort, Wein and Cassel, and at that time he lived in section 26 in the town of Marathon.

CHARLES H. PETH, president of the Peth Candy Company manu- facturers of candy at Wausau, Wis., is at the head of a large and grow- ing business enterprise of this city and is a thoroughly experienced man in this line. Mr. Peth was born at Chicago, Ill., August 1, 1861, and is a son of Charles Frederick and Annie (Klotz) Peth. The parents were born, reared and married in Germany and the father was a car- penter by trade.

Charles H. Peth spent his earlier years in his native city and was educated in the public schools and afterward learned the trade of candy- making following which he went on the road as a candy salesman and came to Wausau, about 1901 from Peoria, Ill., having been in the candy business all his active life. He established the Peth Candy Company in the same year and the company was incorporated in 1903 with Charles H. Peth as president and general manager; \V. L. Covey as vice presi-

854

HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY

dent and H. G. Flieth as treasurer. A large territory is served by this firm which has representatives all over Wisconsin and Lower Michigan, and employment is afforded from twenty-five to thirty-five people. A general line of fine candies are manufactured and they have a number of special brands.

Mr. Peth was married to Miss May Waidely, of Lincoln, Ill., and they have one son, Adlai, who travels over the trade territory for the firm. In politics Mr. Peth votes independently and fraternally is identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias and the W. C. T.

JACOB PAFF, manager of the Wausau branch of the F. C. Smith Piano Company, with office and wareroom at No. 204 Third street, is one of the best known business men of this city. He was born at Wau- sau, Wis., July 3, 1865, and is a son of Jacob Paff, who is affectionately remembered as "Honest Jake Paff", this testimonial to his father's in- tegrity being dearly cherished by his son. The elder Mr. Paff came to Wausau about 1849 and became a man of substance here, carrying on a large mercantile enterprise for many years and later erecting the Paff Block, a fine brick structure located at No. 202 Third . street.

Jacob Paff the younger, was reared at Wausau and attended the public schools and afterward worked for three years in a tin shop. After that he was in the employ of the Marathon County Bank and the First National Bank of Wausau, for seven years, when he became in- terested in the merchant tailoring business and conducted the finest and most exclusive tailor shop at Wausau, which he continued until 1903, when he disposed of that interest to advantage. For several years afterward Mr. Paff was connected in a business way with a large fire insurance office at Chicago, Ill., and after returning to Wausau, in 1904. went into the musical line and acepted his present position. He handles the Bradbury pianos as a specialty and also the Webster, the Henning, the Smith & Barnes, the Willard and the Rogers Bros., pianos and also piano players. Wausau is a cultivated musical center and Mr. Paff does a large business.

In 1896 Mr. Paff was married to Miss Stella Dean of this city and they have one child, Marie. As a good citizen and native born resident, Mr. Paff takes pride and interest in his city's development and ever is ready to do his full share in advancing movements that appeal to his good judgment.

JOSEPH BRAUN

857

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

JOSEPH BRAUN, deceased, for many years was numbered with the leading business men and active and public spirited citizens of Athens, Wis. In naming many of the most important business enterprises of this section, his name is prominently mentioned, officially or otherwise, while his capital was invested in numerous ways that not only was advantageous to himself and family, but to the neighborhood in which various industries were success- fully carried on. At the time of his death, April 15, 1907, he was superin- tendent and manager of the Braun Bros. Co., and a heavy stockholder in the Bank of Athens, the Athens Brick and Tile Company, the Marathon County Telephone Company, the Athens Printing Company and the Athens Park Association.

In May, 1886, Mr. Braun was married to Miss Cecelia Heinemann, who was born at Milwaukee, Wis., a daughter of Joseph and Ann Bell (Kemper) Heinemann. Mr. and Mrs. Heinemann were born, reared and married in Germany, and after coming to Wisconsin lived at Milwaukee and Wausau, in which city the father now lives retired since the death of the mother. Mrs. Braun is one of the following family: Catherine, now deceased, who was the wife of Heman Aiken; Margaret, who is now deceased, was the wife of William Caward; Henry; Joseph; Hannah, who married first Her- man Dehn and second, August Meyer; Anna, who is the wife of William Waterhaus; William: Cecelia ; and Philip. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Braun: Henry, Bella, Esther and Anthony. Mr. Braun and family were members of the Catholic church and he belonged to the Catholic Order of Foresters and also to the E. F. U. For a long time Mr. Braun was a notary public at Athens. In his death Marathon county lost a citizen of sterling character and public usefulness.

VICTOR KLECKER, a member of the firm of Pfeifer & Klecker, dealers in meats and manufacturers of home made meat products, at Wausau, with retail store at No. 412 Scott street and slaughter house at the end of Grand avenue, has been in the meat business here for twenty years. He was born in Austria, August 23, 1865, and came to America and to Wisconsin when aged sixteen years, and almost di- rectly to Wausau.

Mr. Klecker learned the butcher businses in all its details and after- ward, for ten years, worked in butcher shops and then went into busi- ness for himself, almost immediately forming a partnership with Charles Pfeifer which has continued since. The firm owns the building at No. 412 Scott street and also the brick building on the same street now oc-

858

HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY

cupied by Carl Merklein in the same business. This firm has a reputa- tion for business integrity that places it among the representative ones of the city.

Mr. Klecker married Miss Emma Schulze, who was born at Wausau and is a daughter of Ernest Schulze, who was an early settler here.

ANTHONY VETTER, general farmer, whose well improved tract of 260 acres is situated on sections 21 and 29 town of Marathon, three and one-half miles south of Marathon City, was born one and one-half miles west of his present farm, in Marathon county, Wis., April 17, 1862, a son of George and Julia Ann (Kiefer) Vetter.

George Vetter was born in Alsace, now in Germany, and was seven- teen years old when he came to America and went to work in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa., where he married Julia Ann Kiefer. While they lived at Pittsburgh three children were born: George, Joseph and John, George dying before the family moved to Marathon county, where the following children were born: Victoria, Jacob, Frank, Anthony, Herman, Elizabeth, Any, Mary and Lena. Although George Vetter had only seventy-five cents as his capital when he reached Marathon county he was not discouraged for his previous life had been one of toil and more or less hardship and he and family knew that pioneering in an unsettled region would necessarily bring about occasions for much self denial. He entered eighty acres of government land and lived to improve it and also owned one lot in Marathon City. He had considerable busi- ness enterprise and he built the Vetter Cellars at Wausau, the first brewery there. He and wife were faithful members of the Catholic church.

Anthony Vetter attended the public schools and afterward a busi- ness college at Wausau and prepared for the profession of teaching by attending the State Normal School at Oshkosh for five terms. For eleven years he then taught school in the towns of Marathon, Cassel and Emmett, after which he settled on his present farm, forty-five acres of which he cleared himself. He also buys and sells cattle in the town of Marathon and is a stockholder in the Central Creamery here. He be- longs to the Marathon City Brewery Company of which he was secre- tary for two years. Since his first marriage he has resided on his pres- ent farm, first on the east end and later moving to the south side on the east and west road and here put up all the substantial buildings,

859

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

his residence being largely modern and a fine system of furnace heating being installed.

Mr. Vetter was married first to Miss Augusta Muhlbauer, who was a daughter of Joseph Muhlbauer, of Marathon county. She was a de- voted member of the Catholic church and her burial at death was in St. Mary's cemetery. She was the mother of four children: Walter, Anthony and Ella and Laura, twins. Mr. Vetter's second marriage was to Miss Anna Koller, who was born at Minneapolic, Minn., a daugh- ter of John Koller, a retired farmer of Marathon City. To the second marriage were born: Mary, who attends St. Mary's parochial school; Anna, who attends the public schools; Arnold and Sylvester, who are with their parents: and Mary, Anna and Arnold, all three of whom died in infancy. Mr. Vetter and family all belong to St. Mary's Catholic church. He has been a lifelong democrat and has frequently been called to serve in public office. For four years he was a member of the town board of Marathon and all that time its chairman, four years was a justice of the peace, two years was town treasurer and for six years was clerk of the school board.

JOHN F. MATHIE, secretary and manager of the Mathie Brewing Company, of Wausau, Wis., which is one of the old and solid business enterprises of this city, was born here in the year it was founded, July 5, 1869, and is a son of Frank and Catherine Mathie, both now de- ceased.

John F. Mathie was reared and educated in his native city and from boyhood has been more or less identified with his present business, early learning the necessary details and later applying his knowledge in the way best calculated to bring the plant to its present recognized com- mercial standing.

The Mathie Brewing Company was organized in 1869 by Frank Mathie. Since its incorporation John F. Mathie has been secretary and manager, the other officers being: Otto Mathie, president ; John Ringle, vice president ; and E. C. Zimmerman, treasurer. Mr. Mathie has ad- ditional business interests and is secretary and treasurer of the Mathie Land Company, of Wausau, of which Frank Mathie is president and Otto Mathie is vice president. John F. Mathie married Miss Mary Lehan, of Green Bay, Wis., and they have two children: Catherine and John.

860

HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY

ANTON L. KRYSHAK, proprietor of the Wausau Cigar & To- bacco Company, manufacturers of fine cigars, is established at No. 310 Third street, Wausau, Wis., in the Kryshak Building, a handsome, three- · story brick structure which is a positive testimonial to his industry and business, ability, for he is a strictly self-made man. He was born in Germany, in 1860, and was only eleven years of age when he came to the United States and immediately to Wausau. He attended school here but as soon as the law permitted became a cigar maker and thor- oughly learned the trade. In 1891 he started into the business for him- self, making his cigars in his own home, and finding a ready market. Through honest business methods and untiring industry he was able to meet competition and prosper. About nine years after entering into the business he was able to erect the substantial building which bears his name and in which he carries on his factory, giving steady employ- ment to twenty-five skilled cigarmakers. He has never been active in political matters, being more interested in promoting his business, but he belongs to several fraternal bodies, including the Elks, the Eagles, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and the United Commercial Travelers.

FRANK F. CHESAK, who is extensively engaged in the manufac- ture of lumber and a member of the board of directors of the Athens Manufacturing Company, directs a large Real Estate, Loan and Insur- ance business at Athens and for years has been one of the dominating men of Marathon county. He was born on a farm in the town of Trenton, Washington county, Wis., January 30, 1867, ten years after his parents, Martin and Mary (Sigmond) Chesak, had come to America from Austria. The father was a brickmaker by trade, but three years after locating in Washington county, Wis., he engaged in farming, con- tinued until 1884 and then moved to Marathon county, where, until the close of his life he was interested in merchandising and lumber.

After completing the common school course, Frank F. Chesak, in 1885, went to Poniatowski. Several years later he became a student at Pierce Business College, at Keokuk, Ia., where he was graduated. He then returned and went into his father's store at Poniatowski and be- came also interested with his father and two brothers in lumbering. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster there and served until 1894, and in 1895 was appointed general clerk of the State Land Office at Madison and served until July, 1902. In 1909 by the Marathon County Board of

861

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Supervisors he was elected treasurer of the Marathon County Agricul- tural School Board, in 1903 having represented the village of Athens on the County Board. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace, was twice elected president of the Athens Advancement Associ- ation; is police justice for the village of Athens; was chairman of the Republican County Committee of Marathon County, 1908-1910, and was the republican candidate for State senator, from the 25th Senatorial District, composed of Clark and Marathon counties. Mr. Chesak is well qualified for the many responsible positions which he has been called upon to accept. He is a master of four languages: English, German, Bohemian and Polish.

Mr. Chesak was married September 13, 1894, to Anna Blaszka, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Gates) Blaszka. The parents came from Poland to the United States and the father is a merchant in Chicago. Mr. Chesak is interested in the Athens Printing Company, being on the board of directors, is a stockholder in the Athens Bank, in the Geo. Ruder Brewing Company, in the Badger Ginseng Company of Wausau, and the Athens Telephone Company, and is a member of the board of directors and vice president of the Marathon County Telephone Company.

BRAYTON E. SMITH, a leading member of the bar at Wausau, a member of the law firm of Smith & Leicht, with offices at No. 512 Third street, is also favorably known in republican political circles and may justly be numbered with the representative men of Marathon county. He was born on a farm in Keokuk county, Ia .. April 25, 1874, and is a son of Israel. W. and Emma I. (Hoyt) Smith. His parents were resi- dents of Iowa until the spring of 1880, when the family moved to Rock county, Wis., where the father engaged in farming.

Brayton E. Smith remained at home and assisted on the farm until he was twenty-three years of age, in the meanwhile, however, securing a broadening education, first in the country schools and later in Beloit Academy, graduating from the latter with the class of 1896. In 1897 the family left the farm, moving to Beloit, where he entered college, and continued his studies for two years. In December, 1899 he was appointed to the position of clerk in the U. S. railway mail service. He spent six years in the railway mail service and during the last three years of that period made his home at St. Paul, Minn., devoting all his spare time apart from his official duties to special studies in the law department of the

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.

History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens, Part 77

Author: Marchetti, Louis. cn Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1042

Author: Marchetti, Louis. cn
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1042