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

Nick, Sr., Jacob head of the firm of Jacob Nick & Sons, engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Tomahawk, was born in Germany, on the Rhine, in 1860, son of John and Katherine NICK. The father was a baker by trade, and after conducting a bakery for some time in Germany, he emigrated with his wife and family to the United States, locating in Marshfield, Wis., where he died many years laters at the age of 73 and his wife at the age of 86. Their son Jacob, the subject of this sketch, as a boy attended school in his native place and subsequently learned the cabinet and burial casket maker's trade, which for a time he followed there. It was in 1882 that he came to the United States, settling in Milwaukee, and he there followed his trade until 1889. He then came to Tomahawk and with his brother Matt opened a furniture store and undertaking business, adopting the business style of Nick Bros. The business prospered and at the end of eight years Jacob bought out his brother Matt and carried on with the assistance of his two sons, the firm becoming Jacob Nick & Sons. Their location is at 102-106 West Wisconsin Avenue. They manufacture burial caskets for the trade, making 14 complete caskets a day, which are sole in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. For this they employ 14 workers and their business is increasing so fast that they expect to double their output in the near future. Mr. NICK also manufactures tables and carries on a general furniture business. In 1903 he built a sawmill, a shingle mill and excelsior mill at Spirit Falls, which he operated subsequently for six years, at the end of which time he turned them over to his brother Matt. He is a member of the Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Foresters, Maccabees and Equitable Fraternal Union. Jacob NICK, Sr., was married in Milwaukee in 1887 to Katherine HERTE, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob HERTE, were long residents of that city, Mr. HERTE, indeed, was born there; he served with a Wisconsin regiment in the Civil War. Both he and his wife have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob NICK, Sr., have five children, namely, Jacob J., William M., Isabelle M., Benjamin L. and George M. All the sons are associated with their father in business. William and Benjamin were in the United States' service in the World War, Benjamin serving eight months in France in the Aviation department, while George entered the navy and was stationed at Great Lakes.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 699-700; 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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