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----Source: Transcribed Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

Surnames: BRESEMAN, CLOSE, WISHULKEE, NITCHKIS

Theodore Breseman, 1863

THEODORE BRESEMAN, proprietor of a good farm in Section 17, Lynn Township, is a native of Wisconsin, having been born at Wayne, Washington County, March 19, 1863, son of Philip and Nettie (Close) Breseman. The parents were born, reared and married in Germany, where the father followed the occupations of farmer and carpenter. With one child, Lena, they set out for the United States in 1854, taking passage in a sailing vessel and landing in this country after a voyage of seven weeks. Coming West to Wisconsin, they stopped a short time in the vicinity of Milwaukee, and then located on a tract of timber land in Washington County, where the father erected a log house as their first dwelling. That place was their home for about twenty-five years, during which time Philip Breseman improved it into a fairly good farm, using an ox team to cultivate the land, after clearing it, Milwaukee being for some years their nearest milling point.

He sold out and came to Fremont Township, Clark County, March 19, 1879, securing two tracts of land, each of eighty acres, one of which lay in Wood County, and the other in Section 34, Fremont Township, Clark County. The land was wild but there was a log building on it, and there Mr. Bresernan and his family remained until he sold out and removed to the village of Lynn, where he died in 1900.

He was born Sept. 28, 1829, in Germany. His wife had died in Washington County many years before, at the age of 35. There were nine children in the family: Lena, Henry, Charles (now deceased), J. Phillip, Martin, Theodore, Jacob, Katie and Nettie. While residing in Washington County, Phillip Breseman held local office, and later was treasurer of Fremont Township, Clark County. The family were affiliated religiously with the Presbyterian Church. Theodore Breseman passed his school days in Washington County, and after coming to Clark County helped his father to clear the home farm, also at times working in the logging camps.

At the age of 22 years he was married to Anna Wishulkee, a native of Germany, who came to this country when a child of 3 years. She was born April 27, 1863, daughter of Gotlib and Marie (Nitchkis) Wishulkee. He then located for himself on a tract of a quarter section in Section 17, Lynn Township, Range 1 East, the land being covered with stumps and there being no buildings; neither was there any road. Here he erected a log house 18 by 26 feet in size, which in after years he enlarged and improved so that it is today a neat and commodious dwelling, mostly frame. His early years on this place were years of hard work, with nothing but his hands to aid him, except a few small tools. He carried rails on his back, and walked to Mapleworks for supplies, which he carried for two and a half miles. Buying a pair of two-year-old steers, he broke them himself, and now, having an ox team, made a jumper, which he used for his first "wagon," and with which he hauled his grain for the first three years. In time he cleared all his land-160 acres-and built a barn 100 by 28 feet in dimensions, which, however, was struck by lightning and burned. To replace it he built a basement barn 36 by 82 feet, which is now standing. He raises good stock and is doing a profitable business in general farming.

At various times Mr. Breseman has taken a more or less active part in local affairs, having served on the township board as supervisor, and as a member of the district school board, which he helped to organize. Aside from his farming interests, already mentioned, in former days he did work as a stone mason, taking contracts.

He and his wife have been the parents of eight children: Oscar, Bertha (now deceased), Martha, Lydia, Ida, Freda, Fred and Louie. Lydia is now the wife of Lee Sires of Altona, Wis., and has two children, Dale and Idabell; Freda is the wife of William Prust of Chili, Clark County, they have one child, Kenneth Lloyd. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.

 

 


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