Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Zschunke, Frank P. 1873 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 23, 2014, 12:35 pm

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

FRANK P. ZSCHUNKE.

    Frank P. Zschunke, well-known clothing merchant at New Ulm and head of a
chain of five clothing stores in Minnesota and the Dakotas, one of the most
enterprising and energetic business men in this section of the state, is a
native of Germany, having been born in the town of Alstedt, Thueringen, June 29,
1873, son of Louis and Mina (Mueller) Zschunke. both natives of that same state,
who later became residents of New Ulm, where the former died in 1891, at the age
of forty-six years, and where the latter still lives, in her sixty-fifth year.

    Louis Zschunke was reared to the tailor's trade in his native land and
became a very competent tailor, the owner of a merchant tailoring establishment
in his home town. In September, 1885, attracted by the good reports proceeding
from this part of Minnesota, he and his family came to the United States and
settled at New Ulm, where he opened a merchant tailoring establishment, which he
conducted to the time of his death in 1891. He and his wife were members of the
Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of
these children, namely: Fred, deceased; Frank P., the immediate subject of this
biographical sketch; Carl, of Springfield, this county; Otto, of Harvey, North
Dakota; Louisa, who married C. W. Bloom, now living at Los Angeles, California;
and Anna, who married Allen Steffen, of Detroit, Michigan.

    Frank P. Zschunke was twelve years old when he came to America with his
parents. For two years after his arrival in New Ulm he attended the city schools
and then, in 1887, he then being fourteen years of age, he went to work on the
farm of August Kiesling. In 1888-89 he was engaged as a clerk in the clothing
store of John F. Neumann, at New Ulm, and in 1890-92 worked as an apprentice in
the printing department of the New Ulm Post, a German paper, following which he
went to Watertown, South Dakota, where he was for a while engaged as a printer
on a newspaper there, after which he returned to New Ulm and for some time
worked in the office of the New Ulm Review, an English paper. He then returned
to his old position in the clothing store of Mr. Neumann and was there employed
until in August, 1901, at which time he formed a partnership with Albert
Schilling and the two established a clothing store in New Ulm. At the end of a
year of this partnership, Albert J. Katz bought Mr. Schilling's interest in the
store, the firm then becoming F. P. Zschunke & Co. In 1908 this firm established
a store at Mankato, in addition to its New Ulm store, and incorporated, with a
capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, as the Columbia Clothing Company.
As this company's affairs prospered additional stores were started, until it now
owns a chain of five stores, those besides the central store at New Ulm being
the stores at Brooking, South Dakota; Howard, South Dakota; Harvey, North
Dakota, and at Morton, in the neighboring county of Renville, this state. During
the time of his ownership of the store at Mankato Mr. Zschunke made his home in
the latter city, but in 1910 he returned to New Ulm, and ever since has resided
there. The store at New Ulm is well-stocked and admirably managed and is a
fitting model for the other stores in the prosperous chain of the Columbia
Clothing Company, of which Mr. Zschunke is the head.

     On October 22, 1901, Frank P. Zschunke was united in marriage, at
Minneapolis, to Emma Schilling, who was born at New Ulm, daughter of Louis and
Cecelia (Ochs) Schilling, natives of Hanover and early settlers of New Ulm.
Louis Schilling was a veteran of the Civil War and for many years a prominent
resident of this section of the state. He died in 1895, at the age of
seventy-five years and his widow is still living. They were the parents of five
children, of whom Mrs. Zschunke is the third in order of birth, the others being
Louis, Albert, Rose and Lydia.

     To Frank P. and Emma (Schilling) Zschunke four children have been born,
Gretchen, Melvin, Joslyn and Albert. Mrs. Zschunke is a member of the Catholic
church and she and her husband take a warm interest in all worthy movements for
the advancements of the community's general welfare, being held in high regard
by their many friends hereabout. Mr. Zschunke is a Democrat and gives thoughtful
attention to local political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking
class. He is a member of Charity Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
at New Ulm; of New Ulm Chapter No. 57, Royal Arch Masons, and of New Ulm
Commandery, Knights Templar, and is also a member of the local lodge of the
Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which organizations he takes an
active interest.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


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