USA > Wisconsin > Marathon County > History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens > Part 87
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Dr. Thielke married Miss Annie Ringle, daughter of John Ringle, and they have two children: Eugene, aged seven years; and Leonora, who is an infant. Dr. and Mrs. Thielke are members of St. Paul's German Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally is identified with the Elks. His office and residence are located at No. 309 Jackson street, Wausau.
OLAF M. OLSON,* a prosperous business man of Wausau, Wis., pro- prietor of the Fashion Ladies' and Gentlemen's Tailoring establishment, situated at No. 309 Jackson street, has been a resident of this city for twenty- three years. He was born at Steven's Point, Wis., April 10, 1887, and is a son of Nels and Hansine Olson.
Olaf M. Olson was young when his parents came to Wausau, where his father opened his tailor shop, and after his school days were over he became an apprentice under his father and worked for him for two years, afterward for seven years being with W. H. Nablo. To perfect himself in all branches he then went to Chicago, Ill., where he took a course in a cutting school, afterward spending four months in an establishment at Dayton, O. After returning to Wausau he embarked in the tailoring business in partnership with A. C. Koppa and four months later bought his partner's interest. As his trade-mark indicates, Mr. Olson conducts an up-to-date establishment,
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guaranteeing his work, employing seven high-grade tailors and meeting with the public approval that his work justifies him in expecting.
In 1909 Mr. Olson was married to Miss Ida Schultz, a daughter of Peter Schultz, of Wausau, and they have one child, Wilma. Mr. Olson is identi- fied with the following fraternal organizations: The Beavers, the Yeomen and the National Fraternal League.
HON. WILLIS F. LA DU .* proprietor of a general store at Mosinee, Wis., formerly a member of the Wisconsin State Legislature, representing the First District, is a man of wide influence, both politically and in a busi- ness way. His life has been one of interesting activity. He was born at Richmond, Tioga county, Pa., July 2, 1856, and is a son of Edgar E. and Sarah (Ayers) La Du.
In 1865 the parents of Mr. La Du moved to Wisconsin, settling first in Waushara county and moving from there to Mosinee, Marathon county, Sep- tember 26, 1866. Here the son attended school and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he entered the employ of the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company. In 1880 he entered into partnership with F. L. Demers in a grocery and notion business, which continued for three years, when Mr. La Du built what is known as Temple Hall, in which he embarked in business for himself. In 1888 he moved to Dancy, where he conducted a grocery business for five years, and when he returned to Mosinee in 1893 he bought the store property of James O. Paup, and in association with C. A. Bernier went into the mercantile business. Shortly afterward he became also interested in a saw mill in the town of Halder and operated that mill for five years and then built a mill for the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company, and during several years manufactured lumber for them. From early manhood he has been intelligently interested in public matters and has been stanch in his adherence to the Democratic party. He has been a mem- ber of the Marathon County Democratic Committee since 1880 and its chair- man. In 1896 he was a delegate from the First District to the Democratic National Convention, and in 1902 was elected to the General Assembly. In 1894 Mr. La Du was appointed postmaster at Mosinee and served four years and he has filled other local offices, such as village supervisor and president, with commendable public spirit and largely to the advantage of all concerned. He owns considerable real estate in this section and many acres of timber land in California.
Mr. La Du was married May 28, 1884. to Miss Helen Keefe, and they
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have one daughter, Sarah Jane. Mr. La Du is one of the representative men of Marathon county.
FRANK N. BLECHA, whose productive farm of 100 acres lies in Riet- brock township, owns also a fine residence with seventeen acres of land in the village of Athens, and is one of the substantial and representative citi- zens of this section. He was born at Fillmore, Washington county, Wis., January 15, 1871, and is a son of Frank E. and Mary (Hubing) Blecha.
Frank E. Blecha was born in Bohemia, Germany, and was one of the early enterprising settlers of Athens, building the first hotel (year 1890) here, which he conducted for a number of years. He married Mary Hubing, who was born in Wisconsin, but was of German ancestry. They are both deceased, their children being: John, deceased; Frank N., George A., Anna, Celia, Arthur, Charles and Edwin. Anna married John E. Loomis.
Frank N. Blecha attended the public schools and later took a commercial course in a business college at Milwaukee. For the following two years he was a clerk in a grocery store and after that was with his father in the hotel, as his clerk, for two years, and after the death of his father was manager for his mother for about five years. Then he and his brother George bought the mother's interest and they continued to be partners for six years, during which time they were also .in the saw mill business, buying the Big Rib Lumber Company's plant and name. In 1903 they sold the hotel, but continued a few years longer in the lumber business and then sold to the Star Lumber Company. For the next three years Mr. Blecha served as manager, secretary and treasurer of the Athens Creamery Company, when he purchased the opera house and retained that property for five years, since then devoting his time mainly to looking after his agricultural interests.
On June 23, 1897, Mr. Blecha was married to Miss Anna Fink, who was born in Austria and was nine years old when she accompanied her father to America, her mother dying previously. The father was a farmer in Mara- thon county and died here. His children were: John, who is deceased ; Catherine, who is the wife of Joseph Beil; Christiana, deceased, who was the wife of Louis Greattinger; Mary, who is the wife of George Greattinger ; Aloysius; Matilda, who is the wife of Blasus Bischel; Anna, who is the wife of Mr. Blecha ; and Charles. To Mr. and Mrs. Blecha seven children . were born: Beatrice, Ruth, Cecelia, Loretta, Anna, Mary and Charles. The family all belongs to the Catholic church. Mr. Blecha is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, of the Eagles, the Elks and the G. U. G., the last named being an exclusive German organization. He is a Republican
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nominally, but in public matters is more apt to use his own judgment than to blindly obey any party call. He has served in a number of important positions in the government of the village.
WILLIAM J. SCHOENHERR, residing on a farm of 100 acres in section 17, town of Hamburg, Marathon county, Wis., of which town he was elected treasurer April Ist of the present year (1913), was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, Wis., August 24, 1873. He is a son of Fred Schoenherr, who was born and reared in Germany, and who came to this country at the age of twenty-five, settling in Watertown, Wis., where he was married to Fredericka Augusta Kuehn. She also was a native of Ger- many and came to America after reaching the age of twenty. They engaged in farming in Jefferson county. Their three sons, William, Gustavus and Ernst, are all residents of Hamburg, Marathon county. Fred Schoenherr came to the town of Hamburg from Jefferson county about 1878 and settled on the present farm of our subject, which then consisted of eighty acres, all woodland. Later he purchased another farm of eighty acres and still later another eighty acres and also a twenty-acre tract, the latter adjoining this farm on the north. With the help of his sons he improved his property and made this farm his home, dying here at the age of sixty-six years, in 1911. He was buried in Hamburg cemetery. His wife, who died two years pre- viously at the age of sixty-two, was laid to rest in the same place. They were members of the Lutheran church and he was a Republican in politics and was supervisor of the town of Hamburg for two years. With the help of his neighbors he built a road through to his farm.
William J. Schoenherr received his schooling in the town of Hamburg and subsequently devoted his attention to agriculture. He has remained on the home farm, which he has improved and which is located on the north side of East and West road, and is one of the town's substantial and useful citizens, having served as school treasurer for the last three years. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He is religious and a member of the Lutheran church.
He married Pauline Burchardt, who was born in the town of Rome, Jefferson county, a daughter of August Burchardt. Their children-all born on this farm-have been as follows: Alma, Walter. Adelia and Arnold (twins), Louise, Edna (all those mentioned living), and Hans, who died at the age of sixteen months.
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FRED G. SCHAEFER,* who is one of the enterprising young business men of Wausau, junior member of the general mercantile firm of Krause & Schaefer, with business location at No. 741 Third avenue, South, was born on a farm in the town of Stettin, Marathon county, Wis., April 18, 1882. His parents, Fred C. and Louisa Schaefer, came to Marathon county from Dodge county, Wis., in 1878, and both are now deceased.
Fred G. Schaefer was reared on the home farm in the town of Stettin and attended the public schools there and at Wausau, in which city he has made his home for a number of years and has been in the mercantile busi- ness with his father-in-law, Fred Krause, as a member of the firm of Krause & Schaefer, for the past eight years. In 1904 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Krause, who is a daughter of Fred Krause, one of Wau- sau's leading citizens. They have a wide social circle and additionally Mr. Schaefer is identified with the Royal Arcanum and the Modern Woodmen.
THOMAS DAVIS,* vice president of the Mosinee Land, Log and Timber Company, of Mosinee, Wis., superintendent of the mill and also a heavy stockholder, was born in Green Lake county, Wis., January 4, 1852, and is a son of Edward and Mary Davis.
Edward Davis was born in Wales, but was married in England, where his wife was born. They came some years later to the United States and settled in Green Lake county, Wis., where Edward Davis was a farmer. The following children were born to them: John, Edward, Thomas, William, Elizabeth and Mary, Elizabeth being the widow of John Michaels.
Thomas Davis obtained his education in the schools of Green Lake county and afterwards came to the northern woods and has been in the lumber busi- ness for thirty years. He has additional interests, being a stockholder in the Mosinee paper mill and also in the electric company here. As a citizen he has been useful and public-spirited and has been a member of the village board for some time. He is an independent voter, nominally a Republican.
In 1879 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Viva Bigsby, a daughter of Samuel Bigsby, a farmer in Waushara county, Wis. His family was made up of the following children: Hattie, wife of W. W. Dunham; Alice, wife of James Lynch; Adelaide, wife of B. E. Upton; Viva, wife of Thomas Davis; and Samuel, Oscar and Frank. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis: Leon W .; Lillian E., wife of August Halberg, and Chester G. The family belongs to the Episcopal church. Mr. Davis is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
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LOUIS A. PRADT, who, for nine years served as assistant attorney general of the United States, connected with the Department of Justice, at Washington, D. C., having charge of the business coming before the Court of Claims and on appeal to the Supreme Court, may well be numbered with the distinguished citizens and able members of the bar at Wausau, Wis., to which city he came as a practitioner in the law, immediately following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin, at Madison. He was born in Pennsylvania, and is a son of Charles and Esther Pradt.
In 1856 the parents of Mr. Pradt came to Sheboygan county, Wis., where he was reared and received a public school training, and in 1872 he accom- panied them to the western part of Marathon county. For twelve years he occupied his time mainly in teaching school, both in Sheboygan and Mara- thon counties, and then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in 1881, in the same year being admitted to the bar and his first law office was opened at Wausau. In 1884, with others, he organized the Wausau Law and Land Association, four of the original members subsequently retiring, but Mr. Pradt and Hon. Neal Brown remaining and, with Frederick W. Genrich, who was admitted to the firm in 1899. continuing the old organization under the present firm style of Brown, Pradt & Genrich. This is a very influential body, made up of vet- eran lawyers, and its connections with important litigation cover all this section. In 1891 Mr. Pradt was elected city attorney of Wausau and served as such until 1897, when he was appointed by the late President Mckinley, assistant attorney general of the United States and his home was in the city of Washington during the succeeding nine years. In 1906 he resigned this office and went into private practice in the Capital, all this time continuing his association with the firm at Wausau. In the summer of 1909 Mr. Pradt returned to Wantsau and this city continues to be his home. His public services were in every way creditable and during his many years of Washington life he formed many permanent friendships with other able and prominent men from all over the country. During his long absence from this city he never forgot, in all the stress of great public business, the inter- ests of Wausau and in every way possible to him, advanced its enterprises. He organized the Wausau Country Club, of which he was elected president and still serves as such.
In 1890 Mr. Pradt was married to Miss Charlotte Atwater, of Milwau- kee, Wis., and they have three children: Louis, Alan and Charlotte. In his political affiliation Mr. Pradt has always been a Republican and from
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1891 until 1897 served as chairman of the Marathon County Republican Committee.
JOHN STUEBER, whose stock farm of 120 acres lies in section 18, town of Berlin, thirteen miles southwest of Merrill and ten miles north of Marathon City, fine markets thus being afforded, was born February 26, 1879, in the town of Granville, Milwaukee county, Wis., where he lived until he was ten years of age.
John Stueber has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since he reached the age when he could be useful to others, beginning to work on a farm in the town of Shields, Dodge county, Wis., and afterward, up to October, 1908, either labored for a wage for others or rented land and cul- tivated it in his own interest. At the above date he came to the town of Berlin, and as the farm had already been improved he was saved a large amount of heavy toil and expense. He raises thoroughbred cattle, mainly Holstein, and his stock is registered. He sells his entire yield of cream to the local creamery. About ninety acres of his land is tillable. fifteen acres he reserves for pasture land and fifteen acres are covered with timber. He carries on his various industries with excellent judgment and enjoys a large amount of success.
On November 13, 1912, Mr. Stueber was married to Mrs. Emma (Groth) Krueger, a daughter of Ludwig Groth. She was born in Germany and was seven years old when brought to Marathon county. Mr. and Mrs. Stueber are members of the Lutheran church. He is not identified with any political party, voting independently, but has been elected to several local offices by his fellow-citizens, who recognize his reliability. He is serving as school clerk of District No. 3, and as road superintendent of District No. 7. He is overseer and director of the local creamery and served three years as secretary of the Emmerich cheese factory.
CHARLES HOLZMANN .* a valued member of the city council at Wausau, Wis., ably representing the Eighth Ward, is proprietor of a shoe store, situated at No. 1706 Sixth street. He is a native of this city. born March 7, 1870, and is a son of Frank and Albertina Holzmann, the former of whom was born in Germany and has been a continuous resident of Wausau for forty-five years.
Charles Holzmann obtained his education in the public schools of Wau- sau, afterward learning the shoemaking trade, and for fifteen years has been at his present place, for eleven years conducting his own store. He handles
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and manufactures fine shoes and also in connection has a repair department. Mr. Holzmann married Miss Margaret Radke, of the town of Texas, and they have two children, Margaret and Melvin. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. Mr. Holzmann is an active and conscientious citizen, con- tributes his share to public improvements and exerts his influence in favor of all law-abiding measures.
FRANK MARTH,* a substantial and well known citizen, residing in section 27, Hamburg town, was born in Germany, February 23, 1854, a son of Carl and Fredricka (Holke) Marth. His parents on coming from Ger- many settled in the town of Hamburg, this county, and engaged in farming, the father dying on the farm at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife, the mother of our subject, dying in Wausau, at the age of seventy. They were industrious, law-abiding people and members of the Lutheran church. Carl Marth being a Democrat in politics ; he once served as supervisor of Hamburg. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are now living and residing in Marathon county, Wis.
Frank Marth was thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Hamburg. At an early age he began to be useful to them, working on the farm in summer and logging in the woods in winter. He is now. the owner of 440 acres of land, 120 of which are in the town of Maine and the rest in Hamburg, in section 27, in which his dwelling is located. Of this land about seventy-five acres in the town of Maine are cleared and 100 in Hamburg, the rest being still in timber. A Democrat, like his father, Mr. Marth has taken an active part in public affairs. He has served as super- visor of Hamburg and was town treasurer for nineteen years. He then served again on the board of supervisors, and was chairman of the board for five years, and in the present year ( 1913) declined further service. He is president of the Berlin Fire & Lighting Company, and is a stockholder in and ex-president of the Hamburg Creamery Company. He is a member of the Lutheran church, which he has served as treasurer.
Mr. Marth was married in 1884 to Amelia Lange, of the town of Stettin, this county, and daughter of Fred Lange. Their children are: Arthur. Alden, Paul. Ella. Walter. Emil, Frankie, Hilda, Lillie, Leo and Harry, all of whom are living.
JOHN S. BANNACH .* When the village of Stratford, Wis., was organized out of the town of Cleveland, John S. Bannach, as one of the most reliable citizens, was selected for the office of village treasurer, in which he
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has served ever since. He was born at Milan, Wis., June 21, 1877, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Bannach, the latter of whom is deceased.
John S. Bannach attended both public and parochial schools, in boyhood, and then learned his trade, although he had been already earning wages by . driving a team in Marathon City, after school hours. For two years he worked in the blacksmith shop of August Grunewald, for four months he was in the town of Athens, and then for nineteen months traveled as a journeyman throughout the Northwest. He then started a blacksmith shop of his own at Marathon City and remained there for some time. At Strat- ford he conducts a first-class blacksmith and general repair shop and manu- factures both wagons and sleighs. He is one of the prosperous business men of the village.
Mr. Bannach married Miss Clara Nowak, a daughter of Joseph and Theresa Nowak, the former of whom died at Edgar, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Bannach have five children, with ages ranging from ten to two years: Clara, Mary, John, Loretta and George. The family belongs to the Catholic church. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and to the Eagles. In poli- tics he is an independent voter.
JAMES P. RILEY, attorney at law, member of the law firm of Riley & Ford, at Wausau, Wis., was born April 9, 1881, at Plymouth, Juneau county, Wis., a son of John Francis and Bridget V. (Kearney) Riley. The parents of Mr. Riley were born near Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha county, Wis., and they reside on their farm north of Elroy, in Juneau county. The paternal grandparents, Peter and Bridget (Mclaughlin) Riley, were born in Ireland, and when they first came to America lived at Boston, Mass., where they were married, and then came to Kenosha county, Wis., being pioneer settlers. Later, with ox teams, they moved to Juneau county, where a number of their descendants still live. To John Francis and Bridget Riley ten children were born: Annie, James P., John, Peter, Mary, Catherine, Agnes, Margaret, Zita and Cecelia.
James P. Riley attended the public schools in Juneau county and the Elroy High School, graduating from the same in the class of 1901, after which he taught school for four winters, spending the summers on the home farm. In the fall of 1904 he entered the University of Wisconsin, where literature and science claimed one year, but in 1905 he began the study of law and in 1909 was graduated with his degree of B. L. In February, 1910, he commenced practice and in August of that year entered into partnership with John Patrick Ford, under the firm style of Riley & Ford, as at present.
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He is a member of the Marathon County Bar Association. Mr. Riley is a communicant of St. James Catholic church, Wausau, and belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and to the Knights of Columbus. In politics he , is a Democrat.
The maternal grandparents, James and Ann ( Moore) Kearney, were born in Ireland, but moved to Massachusetts when they were still young. where they were married. They then moved to Kenosha county, Wis., where with an ox team they moved to Juneau county. where they were pioneer settlers.
Mr. Riley by his own exertion not only helped his parents, but put him- self through both his high school and college courses, practically paying all his expenses.
ERIC SCHUBRING,* who carries on general farming and dairying on his 112 acres, situated seven miles northeast of Wausau, was born on the old Schubring place, in the town of Wausau, Marathon county, Wis., in 1877, and is a son of Frederick and Amelia (Ventzke) Schubring.
Frederick Schubring and wife were both born in Germany and he was an early settler in Marathon county, coming- here in 1864. In 1866 he returned to Germany and was married there, and when he came back to Marathon county he settled on what is still known as the Schubring home- stead. He was an industrious man and in the course of years accumulated a large fortune in land, owning 292 acres at one time, being one of the largest land owners in this section, and at the time of his death he still held 120 acres. He followed farming during all his active life, dying at the age of seventy-four years. His widow survives and lives on the old home place with her son, Leo. There were six children in the family and four survive : Frederick, who is in the lumber business at Wausau: Rhinold, Leo, and Eric.
Eric Schubring obtained his education in the public schools and afterward worked on the home farm until December, 1902, when he purchased his present place, on which he has made all the excellent improvements, includ- ing the building of the farm residence. He is a stockholder and is treasurer of the local creamery.
Mr. Schubring married Miss Anna Hafermann, who was born in the town of Wausau, and they have three children: Verna, Herbert and Orval. The family attend the Lutheran church. In national political contests Mr. Schubring is a Republican, but in local matters he exercises his own judg- ment, putting man before party.
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WILLIAM T. LAWRENCE, D. D. S., at Wausau, Wis., was born in Connecticut, twelve miles from Hartford, a son of Henry and Martha Law- rence. The parents of Dr. Lawrence removed to Chicago, Ill., where the father, for a number of years, was the representative of the Waterbury Clock Company. He was a native of Vermont and his wife of Connecticut, and both died at Chicago.
William T. Lawrence was educated in his native state and for four years afterward was connected with a dry goods house, subsequently spending two years more in the same line in a Chicago business house, following which he was engaged for one year in selling dental supplies. In 1876 he came to Mosinee, Wis., and for four years was owner of a general store. In 1880 he returned to Chicago and turned his attention to dentistry, three of his brothers being engaged in the practice of this profession at that time. He spent one and one-half years in the office of a brother and then attended the Chicago Dental College, after which he came to Merrill, Wis., where he practiced for two years, in 1885 locating at Wausau, where, for twenty- seven years he has been in continuous practice. He is a member of a num- ber of dental organizations.
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