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

Shucha, Adolph J. now engaged in farming in Section 22, town of Arbor Vitae, Vilas County, is one of the real pioneers of this region. Very few men are left in the timber and lake region of northern Wisconsin that came as early as did Mr. SHUCHA. It was in 1884 that he first entered the lumber woods of what is now Vilas County, which at that time was a part of Lincoln County. He well remembers when the early lumbering began. It was not until 1900 that he bought his present farm in the town of Arbor Vitae, having previously followed the vocation of lumberjack and railroad man in the vicinity of Eagle River and on the Big St. Germain, and along up what is now the Chicago & Northwestern line to Watersmeet, Mich. Mr. SHUCHA was born in Bohemia, Austria, Nov. 13, 1868, son of Frank and Annie (BIRT) SHUCHA. The parents, who were also natives of Austria, came from that country to the United States in 1879 and located in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, where they were engaged in farming until 1898. They then removed to Hinkley, Minn., following agriculture there until 1903 and then going to Dogden, N. D., where they took a homestead and farmed until 1914. Selling out there then, they went to Montana, where the father died in 1920 and the wife and mother in 1921. Adolph J. SHUCHA came to America with his parents and his brother Louis at the age of 11 years, in 1879. He attended the grade schools here for a time and remained at home until he was 16 years of age, at which time he started life for himself in the lumber woods of the original Lincoln County, as mentioned previously. In 1900 he purchased 80 acres of timber and stump land in Section 22, town of Arbor Vitae, Vilas County, bringing his wife and child from Antigo to make a home in the new country. Mr. SHUCHA had but 50 cents in his pockets when he took up his home on his land, and he was surrounded by obstacles and hardships on every hand. There were no roads to his farm, and he often packed 50 pounds of flour on his back from Woodruff to his home amid the timber and stumps. Undaunted, however, he set to work to develop the wild forest into a farm. In this great task he was assisted by a faithful and loving wife, and as the years rolled on, by a willing family of children, and today he has one of the modern farms of Vilas County. A good house built in 1919 replaced the original structure, and a good barn and set of outbuildings have been erected. Fifty-five of the 80 acres are under the plow, and the place is well stocked with Guernsey cattle. Mr. SHUCHA carries on general and dairy farming along modern lines, and besides these activities he has continued n the lumber woods every winter up to the present time. He was justice of the peace for some time, and is now serving as weed commissioner for the town of Arbor Vitae. His fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of America, he having been connected with this organization since 1898. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. SHUCHA was married Oct. 8, 1894, to Augusta LINSDAU, who was born in Menasha, Wis., July 6, 1874, daughter of John and Mary (TUMIT) LINSDAU. Mrs. SHUCHA'S father was a native of Germany and her mother was born in Wisconsin; after their marriage the parents settled in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and later they took a homestead in Langlade County, where they were subsequently engaged in farming until the death of the wife and mother in February, 1902; since that time Mr. LINSDAU has made his home with his children, and he is now living with Mr. and Mrs. SHUCHA at the age of 80 years. Mr. and Mrs. SHUCHA have ten children, as follows: Edna, Agnes, Jervas J., Joseph F., Leonard A., Neil J., Annie I., Felix A., Zeta I., and Lawrence R. Edna is now Mrs. George MATTKIA of the town of Arbor Vitae, and she and her husband have three children, Carroll, Adolph, and Shirley. Agnes is Mrs. Clarence LYONS and resides in Rhinelander. Jervas J. is working at his trade as a carpenter.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 706, 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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