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

Rusch Sr., Gerhard a pioneer of Merrill, having living here since 1874, was born in the State of Prussia, Germany, June 26, 1854, and came to America with his parents, Charles and Minnie RUSCH, when he was two years of age. The family came direct to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in the town of Bloomfield, Waushara County. There were five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles RUSCH, of which number four are now living: August, of Merrill, Gerhard, subject of this sketch; Lena, who is now Mrs. William TANK of the town of Bloomfield, Waushara County; and Anna, living at Merrill; a sister, Elizabeth, died in the fall of 1922. Gerhard RUSCH attended German school in Waushara County until he was 15 years old and then remained at home, assisting in the development and operation of the farm, until he was 30; during this period he spent many days driving an ox-team on a breaking plow, and he learned all the lessons taught by the hardships of pioneer life in an undeveloped country. After leaving the farm and coming to Merrill in 1874 he and his brother August opened a butcher shop here under the firm name of Rusch Bros., which shop they subsequently conducted for 18 years; it was one of the prominent business enterprises of Merrill's early history. Since the brothers sold this place in 1892 Gerhard RUSCH has followed the lumber industry and other occupations in Merrill and vicinity, and he is a very well-known resident of the city. He and his family are members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. RUSCH was married on Dec. 1, 1882 to Emma TIMM, of Waushara County, this state, who was born July 11, 1862, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Erdman TIMM. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. RUSCH, as follows: John A., a sketch of whose life is separately given; Gerhard, Jr., a resident of Merrill; Lena, who is now Mrs. Albert DEGNER of Merrill; Margaret, who is living at Hayward, Wis., the wife of Louis OLSON; Martha, who is Mrs. William KRUEGER of Merrill; Anna, twin sister of Martha, now Mrs. Walter MUSCHINSKI of Pine River, Lincoln County; and Flora and Harold, who are living at home, the latter being a student in the Merrill High School.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 695; 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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