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

Kurtzweil, Peter a well known citizen of Rhinelander, who has had a busy career of many years as logger, timber cruiser and general lumberman and is still in the harness, was born at Mosiness, Marathon County, Wis., April 17, 1873, while his parents, George and Mary (RHODES) KURTZWEIL, were on the way from Fond du Lac County to Marathon County. The parents, who were born, reared and married in Bohemia, had come to America in 1859, settling in Fond du Lac County, Wis., where the father, in addition to farming, conducted a potash factory. After selling out and moving to Marathon County in 1873, he took a homestead of 94 acres, the land being covered with heavy timber. Making a small clearing he built a house and set to work to develop a farm. This was arduous work and for years he made but slow progress but was eventually successful and containued farming until well advanced in years. He died at the ripe age of 90, on Aug. 20, 1922. His wife is still living, being now 87 years old. They had a family of twelve children, Joseph, John, Martin, Kate, Frank, George, Peter, Mary and Marie (twins), Elizabeth, Louise and Charles, all of whom are now living but Kate. Peter KURTZWEIL acquired his elementary education in the rural school of his district and subsequently (after his marriage) took a business course. He grew to manhood on the home farm, which he helped his parents to develop, the difficulty of the task, owing to the heavy original timber growth, serving to harden his muscles and strengthen his powers of endurance, though often, when tired out, he would have preferred easier work. At the age of 25 he left home and engaged in the logging business in Marathon County on his own account, thus continuing until 1903. He then went to Crandon, Forest County and for one year worked in that locality or vicinity as a timber cruiser. After that for four years he followed logging in Marinette County. It was in the year 1908 that he came to Rhinelander, since which time he has resided here, following the lumber business in its various branches, both cruising and logging, and also farming, having a farm at Big Horsehead Lake in the town of Newbold. In the town of Monico he has a lumber camp. Mr. KURTZWEIL is a stockholder in the Oneida State Bank and owns his residence at 521 S. Oneida Avenue. He is a member of the Catholic Church and also belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the local lodge of Eagles. Mr. KURTZWEIL was married April 15, 1903, at Hadler, Marathon County, Wis., to Lucy SAUSEN, who was born at Campbellsport, Wis., May 20, 1879. Their home life has been broadened and brightened by the birth of six children, as follows: Bernice M., Dec. 5, 1905; Mabel S., Sept. 3, 1908; Alice E., Aug. 30, 1910; Helen M., Feb. 20, 1914; Lucy Jane, June 27, 1917; and George A., Aug. 13, 1920.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 510-511; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; H.C. Cooper Jr. & Co, 1924

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