Shawano County Journal
17 September 1936
Thanks to our "Shawano GenWeb Volunteer" for sending this in!!

[Photo in newspaper clipping is too dark to copy. 
Left to Right: Seated Herman Kupsky, Standing Adolph Kupsky holding Leslie Kupsky, Seated Ferdinand Kupsky.  Little Wesley seems to be wearing a “sailor’s suit” baby outfit.  The three adult men are well-dressed in suits and neckties.  Ferdinand appears to be sporting a handsome mustache!]

*** UPDATE 2009*** Ken Kupsky sent in this additional information, as well as a GREAT CLEAR PHOTO!  "On your page with the biography of Ferdinand Kupsky you mention a picture that was too dark to scan in.  Here is a copy of the picture.  It had dirt on it that I didn't want to ruin the photo getting off.  I heard someone has a clean color copy.  If I get it, I'll send it in.  On the same page you mention the loss of his infant daughter Emma.  Her full name was Emma Alma Helene which would explain partially the discrepancy with the cemetery record.  Further, the picture on top is labeled wrong.  I have attached a family portrait with the names in.  The question is who the baby is as Emma died while momwas due with Helene.  The original cabin is in the background.  It was replaced in 1901 with the current house.  (I'll send the photo of it being built later.)  Deer hunting calls.  Send more later.  Ken"

Many thanks, Ken!

 
(Click on the photo for a larger view)

NOTE: Thanks, Carl for correcting this data!  Carl is Adolph Kupsky's son and if you are researching this family, I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. 

FOUR GENERATIONS OF KUPSKY FAMILY

Four generations of the Kupsky family are represented in the accompanying picture.  It is a rare occasion when a family can boast of four generations.  Ferdinand Kupsky, who is 76 years old and is one of the early pioneers of this county, represents the first generation; his son, Herman, aged 53, the second generation, and Herman’s son, Adolph, aged 24, the third, while the latter’s son, the smiling little fellow, Wesley, 14 (or 24) months, is the fourth generation.

Ferdinand Kupsky came to this country from Germany in 1867, when he was seven years old.  His parents settled in Belle Plaine on land located just off what was then called Military Road.  It was the first trail to be cut by the government through northern Wisconsin.  All about was dense wilderness and in typical pioneer fashion, Mr. Kupsky’s father set about building a new home in a new country.  All of Mr. Kupsky’s life has been spent on this same farm, which has been developed by three generations of the family.

Like many of those early settlers, Mr. Kupsky’s father had only a small sum of money to take he and his family to America.  When they arrived in Belle Plaine the money had dwindled away and it was up to him to take the first job at hand in order that he might provide food for his family.  His father was one of the first wagonmakers to come to these parts and because of his skilled knowledge of the work it was not hard for him to find employment.  “Those were the days, “ Mr. Kupsky said, “when a man worked for a living.” There was no county aid, no old age pensions, nor relief.  Both men and women worked from sun-up to sunset, taking advantage of every opportunity offered them.  “People were more content and appreciated what nature had to offer,” he said.  “They lived simple lives and knew the joys that came with such manner of living.”  He well remembers when his father paid $15.00 for a barrel of flour(?)

In 1883 he married Augusta Reinke in the town of Grant and brought her home to his father’s farm to live.  There are eight children in the family, five boys, one of whom is a minister, and three girls.  The children are: Herman, who lives in Appleton; henry, of this city; Ted, who resides on a farm near Bonduel; rev. William Kupsky of Bellwood; Albert, who is on the home farm; Helen, Mrs. William Schmelling, Rockford, Illinois; Tillie, Mrs. Arnold Krohn, this city; and Gertrude, Mrs. Walter Cash, who lives near Rockford.  There are 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Besides farming, Mr. Kupsky and his sons have operated a sawmill on the farm for over twenty years.  All of them worked in the mill besides assisting with the farm work.  Today, Mr. Kupsky’s son does as his father did—operates the mill along with the farm.

Two years ago, Mr. Kupsky fell from a ladder and broke his hip, and since that time has been forced to retire.  Mr. and Mrs. Kupsky celebrated their golden wedding anniversary nearly five years ago.  In March 1937, they will have been married fifty-five years.  Mrs. Kupsky is 77 years old.

For many years, Mr. Kupsky has been active in the town of Belle Plaine as well as in the county.  He served as a member of his town board and has been a member of the Shawano County fair association for many years and is one of the early presidents of that organization.  Age, however, has not diminished his interest in the association and this week you will find him at the county fair just as he has been coming for over fifty years.

Mr. Kupsky is among the last of those pioneers who aided in the development of this community.  Their foresight and integrity have builded a community that they can, with pride, hand down to the generations to come.  He has built a beautiful farm home, he has reared a fine family, and now, when he has reached that place in life when he no longer can engage in active work, he is able to guide others because of his experience.  We know the late years are going to be all the more interesting and amusing because of that curly haired little fellow, his great grandson, who has come to bring happiness to one of Shawano county’s oldest pioneers.