Biographical Sketch of

Fred Engelbracht

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 672 - 673


Fred Engelbracht, a leading German citizen of Berlin, was born in the Principality of Lippe Detmold, Germany, 
on the 15th of February, 1844, and is a son of Conrad and Caroline (Thoke) Engelbracht.  His ancestors were 
residents of that country as far back as the history is known.
 
Our subject attended school in his native land until ten years of age when he came to America with his parents, 
reaching the United States in October, 1854.  On landing, the family at once resumed their journey to Wisconsin, 
locating on a farm near Watertown, Jefferson County, where the succeeding seven years were spent by our subject, 
assisting his father in the cultivation of the land.  In the meantime the war cloud was throwing a dark gloom 
over the country; the South had made threats of secession and at length fired upon Ft. Sumter.  Though but 
seventeen years of age, Mr. Engelbracht, in the fall of 1861, responded to the call of his adopted country and 
enlisted in the ranks of the boys in blue as a member of Company F, 16th United States Infantry.  He served under 
Gen. Rosseau in the Army of the Cumberland and was captured at the battle of Perryville.  However, he was only 
held prisoner for ten days, when, being in poor health, he was paroled and returned North.  In the winter of 
1863-4 he enlisted in the navy and was assigned to the United States iron clad Monitor, Lehigh under Capt. Semmes 
and served until the close of the war in June, 1865.
 
On his return from the South, Mr. Engelbracht resumed life on the farm and was employed in that occupation until 
his marriage, which occurred Nov. 11, 1868, in Watertown.  The lady of his choice was Miss Laura Bushell, a native 
of Milford, Jefferson Co., Wis., and one of a family of fifteen children.  Her father, Stephen Bushell, was born 
in Canada, of French parentage and her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Telyea, was of similar parentage.
 
Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Engelbracht removed to Berlin and engaged in his present business which he 
has carried on continuously since, covering a period of twenty-one years.  He has a large stock of choice liquors, 
wines, cigars, tobacco and smoker's articles and does more or less jobbing in small lots.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Engelbracht have four children, two sons and two daughters; Fred Jr., the eldest, was born in 1869; 
Charles, in 1870; Laura, in 1874, and Minnie, Jan. 1, 1876.  The children were all born in Berlin.  The parents 
of our subject continued to reside in Jefferson until called home, the mother's death occurring in the spring of 
1872, the father dying in the spring of 1878.
 
Mr. Engelbracht is a Democrat in politics and has served two terms as alderman in the City Council of Berlin, also 
was school commissioner one term.  He is a man of superior ability, was a loyal soldier during the late war, and 
has many warm friends in Berlin and Green Lake County.






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