Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin, by The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 Pages 148 - 149:

WILLIAM GERGEN was born in Germany, April 25, 1823. His parents with a family of four children came to America in 1847 and settled in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The father died in that county in 1874. William was married in Racine County, February 5, 1856, to Elizabeth Bauchop, who was born in Scotland in 1836. Mr. Gergen came to Clark County in 1868. His family at that time consisted of four children and five were afterward born to them. They are all living at this writing and their names are as follows: W.A., Mary E., Emma J., Maggie, Elwood, Edwin, Grace, Alfred and Vernie. All have received a fair education in the district schools of the county.

In the fall of 1864 the subject of our sketch entered the service of his county, enlisting in Company H, Thirty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry. He participated in the White River expedition and in the engagement at Fort Spanish. All through the term of his enlistment he served with bravery and was honorably discharged February 4, 1866.

While in the army Mr. Gergen save enough money to buy an eighty-acre farm after his return to Wisconsin. This farm, which is located in section 5, Grant Township, five miles northeast of Neillsville, he purchased in 1872. He has since improved it and it is now valued at $50 per acre. Mr. Gergen is regarded as one of the successful farmers and prominent citizens of Clark County.