Bio: Prehn, Arthur William (1884 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Prehn, Gorman, Erdman, McGovern, Magee

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Prehn, Arthur William (1 December 1884 - 19??)

ARTHUR WILLIAM PREHN, a well known member of the Wausau bar and assistant district attorney of Marathon County, junior of the law firm of Gorman & Prehn was born December 1, 1884, at Marathon City, Wis., and is a son of Frederick and Bertha (Langenhahn) Prehn. Frederick Prehn was born in Manitowoc County, Wis., a son of Theodore Prehn, who was a native of Germany. In 1881 Frederick Prehn came to Marathon City and embarked in the mercantile business in which he continues. He is very prominent in Republican politics and served in the state legislature from 1905-1907, for a number of years has been president of the village board and also of the school board. To his first marriage three children were born: a daughter, who died early; Erwin and Arthur William. His second marriage was to Miss Emma Erdman, a native of Marathon County, and they have three sons and two daughters.  

Arthur W Prehn attended the public schools and in 1904 the Marathon County Training School, in 1905-6 Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis.; and spent 1907-8-9 in the University of Wisconsin at Madison and was graduated from the law department in the class of 1909. During the sessions of the General Assembly of 1907 and 1909 he filled a clerical position in that body. When prepared for practice after a year's practice alone at Wausau he formed a partnership with E. P. Gorman at Wausau, and since December 1, 1911, has been assistant district attorney of the 16th Judicial District of Wisconsin. He is an active politician and served as secretary of the Republican county committee in 1910-12, and in the latter year was appointed a member of the income tax review board by the State Tax Commission; and in 1911 was appointed by Governor McGovern a member of the state board of Agriculture to serve until February, 1914, and was superintendent of speed at the Wisconsin State fairs in 1911 and 1912 and 1913. He was a delegate from the 8th Congressional District to the Republican National Convention held at Chicago in June, 1912. Mr. Prehn gives attention also to fraternal, social and professional organizations, belonging to the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the E. F. U. and the F. R. A.; Y. M. C. A. to the Milwaukee City Club, the Chicago and Waukesha Driving Club and the Marathon County Bar Association.  

Mr. Prehn was married February 15, 1913 to Miss Gertrude E. Magee, of Shawano, Wis. a daughter of Charles Magee, a lumberman. Mrs. Prehn was graduated from the Shawano High School in 1909, attended Downer College, Milwaukee, in 1910, and Wisconsin University, 1911 and 1912. She belongs to the Eastern Star, to the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and to Madison Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and was a page at the National Convention of this organization held at Washington, D. C, in 1912.