History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Herman, August who for some 15 years was a factor in the development of the agricultural resources of Lincoln County, and whose passing some four years ago was the source of sorrow to many friends, as well as to his surviving relations, was born in Germany, Aug. 28, 1857, son of Pancranz and Sefrena HERMAN. He was reared and educated in his native land, and, in accordance with its laws, served several years in the German army. After entering industrial and business life he became a sawmill contractor. It was in 1883 that he came to the United States, locating at Porter's Mills, Eau Claire County, Wis., where he worked two years as lumber grader. From there he went to Wausau, in which place he was employed in lumber yards, and then went to the Kelley mill, six miles east of Wausau, which was the scene of his activities for the next four years. In 1890 he came to Lincoln County and for 11 years subsequently was in the employ of the Bradley company. In 1884, the year after he had arrived in this country, Mr. HERMAN had bought 80 acres of cut-over land from D. C. JONES in the town of Bradley, being a part of his present location. There were then no roads to this section, except for the corduroy lumber road, which was hard to travel. In 1904 he built a small frame shanty on his place and moved on to it with his family, beginning to clear the land and develop a farm. Later he bought another 40-acre tract and from time to time additional land until he had 440 acres, and there are now 120 acres of the place under cultivation and producing abundant crops. During the development of his farm Mr. HERMAN worked winters in the woods, his son William, helping him to cut the timber, while Mrs. HERMAN and her son Harry milked the cows, took care of the stock, and did other work about the farm. In the same year 1904 Mr. HERMAN built an 8-room house and in 1920 the family built another frame home of seven rooms, both of which are now lighted with electricity from their Delco plant, and are also supplied with running water. In 1910 a frame barn was erected, 36 by 172 feet, with a full basement, concrete floor, running water and electric lights. There are also two good silos. Mr. HERMAN took pride in developing and improving his place, on which he resided until his death on Dec. 6, 1919. He was married in Germany in 1883 to Mary SCHMIDT, who was born there in 1860, daughter of Jacob and Maryann SCHMIDT, who lived and died in their native land. Mr. and Mrs. HERMAN had six children: Ida, wife of John DAY, a farmer; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Ralph MOTELET of Tomahawk; Helen, who is Mrs. William MUEHL of Madison; Harry A., and William, residing on the home farm; and Bertha, who married Algot LARSON and is now deceased. William married Alice O'CONNELL of Tomahawk and has one daughter, Alloyd. Harry married Louise RIESE of Milwaukee, and has six children, Carl, William, Helen, Edward, Harry, Jr. and Ruth. Since Mr. HERMAN'S death his widow and sons have carried on the farm and are doing well in general farming and dairying. They have a herd of 52 pure bred Holstein cattle, milk 25 cows and sell 250 quarts of milk a day, operating a milk route in Tomahawk. They also keep five head of Percheron grade draft horses. Mr. and Mrs. August HERMAN are practically the first farm settlers in this part of Lincoln County. Their land lies in Section 5 and 7, town of Bradley (all the buildings being in Section 7) and in Sections 1, 12 and 13, town of Tomahawk.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 620; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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