Lomira Town

Lomira Town

In Town 13 north. Range 17 east, in the extreme northeastern part, lies the town of Lomira, an exclusively farming town, there being no village within its boundary, though there is one post ofiBce. The nearest trading-points for her people are Mayville and Waupun. The population in 1870 was 1,905, and almost exclusively Germans. In 1879, were reported for assessment 23,446 acres, showing very little unavailable land. This was valued at $813,278. There were also returned as in cultivation, of wheat, 6,080 ; corn, 788 ; oats, 1,180 ; barley, 510 ; rye, 37 ; potatoes, 158 ; apple orchards, 127 ; grasses, 1,295.

ALBERT BIRK, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Knowles; born in Wurtemberg May 5, 1834; here he was educated and lived until 1853, when he came to America ; spent over two years in Montgomery Co., N. Y., tiien settled for three years in Fond du Lac Co., Wis.; he then located on his present farm of 120 acres, of which only ten acres were improved ; Mr. Birk did genuine pioneer work in chopping and burning timber, breaking land, etc. He enlisted, September, 1864, in the 45th W. V. I., and with his regiment did guard duty in Tennessee ; after several weeks of sickness in hospital, he was honorably discharged, June, 1865. He had married Miss Elizabeth Schults of Eden, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1859 ; they have seven children - Lena, William, Martin, Louisa, Edward, Margaret and Daniel. Mr. Birk is an independent Democrat, supporting men and principles; has been Supervisor twice and is now Assessor ; the family belong to the Evangelical Association. As a result of his own toil and calculation, Mr. Birk has a well-improved farm and a large modern brick hou.se, built in 1876.

ALFRED D. BROW9f, farmer and merchant, Brownsville; born in London, England, July 30, 1846 ; son of Joseph Brown, who came to America in 1850 ; he brought a general stock of merchandise from New York City, which whs the first stock sold in Lomira Township; he also broii.;ht the scciond thrashing-machine into the town from Milwaukee, which he used with horses bought in Chicago; settled on eighty acres of land whore he now lives, built a house and store cimbinod, and began as the pioneer merchant; boui^ht his second stock in Milwaukee ; the station and village of Urownsvillo was named in his honor, April, 1S78 ; his only son, A. D. Brown, has been in charge during the past fifteen years; he has a general stock of goods to meet country trade, viz., dry sjoods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, tinware, glassware, crockery, paints and oils, also imported and native wines, ales and other li(|uors sold for medicinal purposes ; he also has a well-improved farm of 280 acres. Father and son are in accord with the Episi-opal Church.

ANTO\ Bl^KRGER, agent P., A. & P. 11. R., Brownsville; born in Prus.sia, Province of Westphalia, March 31, lS5o ; came to America in 18(j() ; spent one year in Detroit, iMich., then removed to Lomira, where he worked ten or eleven years as a carpenter and joiner; in 1878, John and Anton B. built the Brownsville elevator, now owned by Anton Buerger and William Chandler; Mr. B. was appointee agent at Brownsville June, 1878. Married, November, 1878, Mi.ss Anna Bernard. Mr. Buerger is a Democrat, and is Justice of the Peace; attends the Catholic Church.

CASPAR Bl'KROER, blacksmith, Lomira; born in Province of Westphalia, Prussia; came to America, January, 18t)4. Enlisted August, ISlil, in the 104th N. Y. V. I.; was in the battles of the Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run ; was in front of Petersburg until it surrendered, and was a witness of the surrender of Lee; was discharged July 17, 18(5-4. On his return North, he worked at his tr.idc in Detroit, the Lake Superior region, Toledo, Cleveland, etc ; settled in Lomira and opened a shop, March, 1871, where he has since lived and done business. He is a stanch Democrat, and is almost universally known as Caspar.

CROMWELL BUI^LOCK, farmer. Sec. U; P. 0. Lomira; born in O.swego Co., N. Y., Feb. 11), 1824 ; spent his early life and was educated in his native State; came to Mayfield, Dodge Co., Wis., in 184!). spending the winter in the Wolf River pineries; returning to New York, he worked two years on the Erie Canal; he then went overland to California; spint six months as a miner, then sailed for Australia; after two years of mining here he returned to San Francisco; took passage on the Golden Gate for the i.sthmus, the ship striking a rock and sinking on the way ; all hands were saved by the fortunate proximity of an island ; he landed safely in New York City, thence going to Philadelphia, where his savings were coined ; he then bought land in Minnesota, but settled in Wisconsin, on his present farm of eighty acres; Mr. Bullock was one of the 3d W. V. I.; was in the great battle of Nashville, and served until the war (tlosed. He married Miss Mary A. Wheeler in 1857; they have four children - Clifford A., Josephine iM,, Alice L., and Elinor A. Mr. Bullock is a Republican in politics.

WILLIAM CHANDLER, of Chandler & Buerger, Brownsville; born in Nottingham, England, Sept. 7, 1831t ; came to America in 1841 with his parents, who resided about five years in the State of New York, and came to Milwaukee in 1840 ; William Chandler came to Byron, I'ond du J^ac Co., the same year with his grandfather; although young at the time, he remembers many incidents of jiioncer life; he has spent his life and been educated in Wisconsin, and was a farmer until 1878. when he bought his interest in the elevator. Married Miss Lydia D. Brown Dec. 1, 18(51 ; they have one son - Charles W. Mr. Clinn Her is a Republican, and is in accord with the Episcopal Church.

DEWIT C. COLLl\S, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Lomira ; born in Yates Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1824; he went from home at the early age of 8 years, and passed his early life at farming in his native Slate; spent two years in Ohio, and worked on the canal in Shelby Co.; returning in 1843 to Genesee Co., N. Y., he remained until September, 1846, when he bought his present farm of the Government; spent one year in Shawano, Wis., and was three winters in Fond du Lac; settled on his farm in 1841) ; it was covered with timber, and he did pioneer work in clearing it ; ho now has 174 acres, well improved, with a large farmhouse, and the best of barns, etc. >rarricd Miss Catherine Lerch Oct. 25, 1857; they have seven children - .^Ielissa, Rosa, Howard I., Edward, Clinton, Catherine and Lulu. Mr. Collins is an earnest Repiiblic.in, and a mcmlicr of Byron Grange No. 33.

CHRISTIAN EHRH.4.R'l>T, fanner, Sec. 21 .and P.); P. 0. Knowles ; born in Alsace March 31, 1828; spent his early life and was educated in his native land; came to America in 184() ; spent one year in Milwaukee ('ounty, one year in Merman, and settled in Mayville, February, 1848 ; having no means, he worked at anything he could do until 1 854, when he bought eighty acres of heavy timber land in Williamstown ; this he cleared and improved, building a stone house and making a home; he sett'ed on his present 20l)-aerc farm in 18(.I3, h;is cleared more than one-half of tliis, built a large stone house, raised and rebuilt his 40x84 foot barn, built a tasty horse-barn, and though he began with nothing, now has one of the best farms and homos in the county; near his house is a large spring, from which runs a stream large enough to turn <a small grist-mill ; he is now oonUruoting a trout-pond. He married Miss Barbara Buchner in 1855; they have ten children - Mary, William C, Amelia, Martin, Anna, Edward, Lydia, Daniel N., Sophia, and Sarah. Mr. Ehrhardt is a Republican, and has been Justice of the Peace, and Assessor. He belongs to the Ev'an^elical Association. He owns 120 acres in Ls Roy, on which his eldest son and daughters Amelia and Sophia reside. Mr. Ehrhardt gave hearty support and pecuniary aid to the Union cause during the late war ; he also gave over three acres of land to the F. A. & P. R. R. Co., thus securing a station and elevator within one hundred rods of his house. Mr. Ehrhardt is a public-spirited farmer, and a stanch temperance man. as are all his sons.

HARK ELLKI\TO\, farmer. Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Lomira ; born in Lincolnshire, England, July, 181G ; spent his early life and was educated in his native land; came to America, November, 1851; spent two and a half years in Monroe Co., N. Y. ; May 19, 1854, he settled on his present farm of 80 acres, for which he paid SI, 000 ; only 30 acres were then improved; he now has it well improved - a large, modern, brick farmhouse, good barns, etc. Married Miss Ann Bu-ih Sept. 9, 1851 ; they have eight children - Mary A., Mark 'P., John T., Evaliue H,, Chas. H., Orta, William H. and Frank. »Ir. Ellkinton is a stanch Republican, and is a self-made and successful pioneer farmer.

AJ^TOX GEORGE, proprietor of the Lomira Steam Mills; born in Prussia Sept. 15, 1818 ; came to America in June, 1849; worked two years as a miller in State of N^w York; came to Theresa, Dodge Co., Wis., fall of 1851, and removed to Fond du Lac Co., in 1852; after two years of farming he went to Neenah, Wis., and worked as miller five and a half years ; returning to Fond du Lac Co., he resided until 1874, then bought the L )mira Mdls, which has two run of stone, also a circular saw. Married Misj Charlotte Zimmirman, 1853; they have seven children - Julius, August, Mary, M irtha, Lydia, Sarah and Joseph. Mr. George is a Republican; was Postmaster of El Dorado, Fond du Lac Co., and Justice of the Peace eleven years. He is a member of the Evangelical Association of North America.

!!!iAJI[JEL KINYOHr, farmer. Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Lomira ; born in Washington Co., N. Y., March, 3. 1805 ; spent ten or twelve years of his life as a raftsman on the Susquehanna River ; settled in Pennsylvania, in 1827, where he lived as a farmer and lumberman ; cleared up over sixty acres in that State ; came to Rock Co., Wis., 1843, and to Limira, Dodge Co., spring of 1844; thus Mr. K. is one of the first settlers in the town, and a genuine pioneer he was - chopped and cleared, shot deer, dealt with the Indians and can tell many interesting and amusing anecdotes about them ; provisions were scarce and he used to haul his supplies from Rook Co., 100 miles away; he bought 170 acres of the Government, sold some, and now his SO acres. Married Miss Martha ToJd, 1831, wlio died Feb. 11, 1850, leaving six children - Phineas, Sarah J., Ellis, Sophronia, William and Martha. Mr. Kinyon married Mrs. Elizabeth Bullard in 1850 ; they have one son, Holden. Mr. Kinyon is a thorough Republican, and has for many years been a member of the Baptist Church.

FERDINAND MARQUART, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Knowles; born in Prussia Dec. 15, 1842; sou of Peter M., who came to America with his family and settled in Lomira on heavy timbered land, in 1850; roads were then few and poor; his first grist was sent to Milwaukee, and he did genuine pioneer work in clearing his farm and making a home ; the family located on their present farm of 130 acres, in 1873. F. Marquart ha5 spent his life and been educated in Lomira. He enlisted Sept. 28, 1864, in the 45th W. V. I., serving one year. Returning to Lomira he married Miss Mary Schultz, January, 1866 ; they have six children - Emma, Henry, August, Sarah, Edwin and William. Mr. Marquart is a Republican, and a member of the Evangelical Association. He has made substantial improvements on his farm, and is a prosperous and respected citizen.

WARREX MARSTON, retired farmer, Lomira; born in Cortland Co., N. Y., Aug. 21, 1826; spent his early life and was educated in his native State; came to Lomira, Dodge Co., Wis., in July, 1847, with his parents; lived with his father on a farm until 1855, then spent three years in Adams Co., Wis.: on his return to Lomira, he bought a farm, on which he lived until 1873, when, having been elected County Clerk, he removed to Juneau; served one term as Deputy Clerk and two terms as Couniy Clerk. Mr. Marston'is in politics an ardent Democrat, and has been Chairman, Treasurer, Clerk and Justice of the Peace of his town ; was a mjm'oer of the Legislature of Wisconsin in 1867 ; is a member of the Masonic Order. Has a family of sis children - ^Charles, Adeline, Mary, Howard, Edward and Cora.

JOHN SCHWARTZ, farmer. Sees. 26 and 24; P. 0. Lomira; born in Prussia in 1830 ; was educated in his native land ; came to America in 1847 and settled on a farm in Lomira, Dodge Co., Wis.; the land was heavily timbered ; he had no neighbors for two years, and at one time lived for two weeks on wild game, as he could get no bread, many of his neighbors who came afterward subsisting on bran ; having no oxen, he and his brother used to draw a drag by hand ; Mr. Schwartz settled on his present farm of 260 acres in 1863; this farm, with its first-class improvements, he has earned himself. He married Miss Mary Srop in 1851; they have six children - Mary Agnes, Minnie, Charlie, William and Len;i. Mr. Schwartz is a member of the Evan'.;elioal Association of North America.

REV. FATHER SEBASTIAN SCHWINX, Pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, L'jmira; burn in Newburt;, Washington Co., Wis., Aug. 2(3, 1852; was educated in St. Francis Theological Seminary, Milwaukee, graduating July 9, 1876; he had been made Deacon March 2t), 1876 ; Father Schwinn said his first ma.'is July It!, 187G, and took charge of his Lomira congregation in October, 1877. He is independent in |iolitics, supporting men and principles instead of party.

JOHW B. !STEI\ER, farmer, Sees. 1 and 2; P. 0. Lomira; born in Switzerland Dec. 31, 1832; spent his early life and was educated iu his native land ; came to America in 1851, locating as a harness-maker in Milwaukee; after four years, he went to Fond du Lac and worked two years; settled on his present farm of 182 acres in 1857 or 1858 ; the land was wild and his work hard, but by labor and good care he now has a well-improved farm, large modern brick house, the best of barns, etc. He married, in the fall of ISOo, Miss Susan Renner ; they have nine children - Julia A., Jacob D., John F., William H., Sarah L., Emma A., Edward L., Laura L. and Lillie S. Mr. Steiner is a Republican ; has been Supervisor several years, and is now Chairman of the Town Board. He is a member of the Evangelical Association. Has on his farm the u.sual stock and crops of the county.

FRANZ THEISEN, merchant, Lomira; born in Prussia in 1823; was educated in his native land, and was a soldier from 184.^ to 1845 in the Prussian Army; came to America in 1847 and settled in Hartford, Washing,on Co., Wis.; bought heavy timbered land of the Government and, with his three brothers, cleared it up and made homes ; they were real pioneers, as they had no roads nor bridges ; Mr. Theisen settled in the fall of 1854 in the southwest part of Lomira; here he began clearing again, built a shanty iu the woods, worked hard and made another home ; he opened a hotel in Lomira Center in 18lJ2. which he kept several ye.irs; now has a store where he has a stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, glassware, crockery, boots and shoes, notions, etc.; also has in connection a saloon. Married Miss Elizabeth Manderi in 1859; they have five living children - Peter, Lizzie, George W., John and Franz. Mr. Theisen is a Democrat, and has been Supervisor, Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace several years ; he is a member of the Catholic Church.

ANDREW WELSCH, farmer. Sec. 12; P. 0. Lomira; born in Bavaria; March 2, 1830 ; came to America about 1851, was in Erie, Penn., about six years, and worked on the docks and railroads; returned to Bavaria, and after three months, came to America ; settled in Lomira in 1857, and on his present form of 280 acres in 1859 ; at first he rented a 10x12 shanty in Le Roy, and rented a farm the first two years ; he owned the first J. P. Manny Reaper in the town. Mr. Welsch is a most successful farmer; brought a stallion and two mares from Pennsylvania, and from these has sold over $1,700 worth of horses; he also cleared the site and built the Lomira steam grist and saw mill, in 1866, which he sold in 1874. Married Miss Margaret Miller in 1851 ; they have nine living children - Leonard, Catherine, Mary. Anna, Xicholas, Hubert, Margeret, Anton and John ; their son Andrew is not living. Mr. Welsch is Independent in politics, and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

HENRY P. WENZEL, M. D., Lomira; born in Engelstadt, Hesse-Darmstadt, Aug. 29, 1848 ; came to America in 1858, with his parents, who settled in Wabash Co., Ind. ; here he had but poor school advantages, but advanced himself to the position of teacher; taught three years, and was then Superintendent of the Laketon, (Ind.) Village Schools; he at this time held the best certificate in the county; entered the Louisville Medical College in 1873 ; was dispensary physician during the last year, and graduated as physician and surgeon from the Louisville Hospital College of Medicine, February, 1875 ; began practice in Wheling, W. Va., and in nine months built up a practice worth SI, 500 ; was obliged to remove for change of climate, and came to Theresa, Dodge Co., Wis. ; here he remained and practiced until January, 1879, when he settled in Lomira, where he has a good and increasing practice. The Doctor is a member of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, and the Rock River Medical Society, of which he is Secretary. He married Miss Mary A. Hendricks. April 26, 1876 ; they have two children - M. E. and A. E.

liUDWKir ZEIDIiER, merchant, and Postmaster for Lomira; born in Pru.ssia, 1826; he was educated in his native land, and was five years a Prussian soldier; he fou'^ht through the revolution of 1848 ; came to America in 1852, and settled on a farm in Lomira; at this time not a house existed in the present village ; the country to the east was heavily timbered. Mr. Zeidler improved his land and was a Dolge County fanner about twenty one years; settled in Lomira and began business in 1873 ; was appointed Postmaster the same year ; he has a general stock of goods, viz., dry goods, gpoceries, boots and shoes, hardware, glassware, crockerry, notions, etc., and still owns a farm of 118 acres; his son Paul is by trade a watchmaker, and works in the store. .Mr. Zeidler is a Democrat ; has been and is now. Town Treasurer; he is a member of the Lutheran Church. Married Miss Julia Berton in 1851 ; they have five living children - BTfha. Louis. Paul, Helene and Anna.