BIOGRAPHIES:  Joseph F. DROST, Cameron, Barron County, WI

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  30 October 2000	
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Joseph F. Drost, a miller of Cameron and former chief of the Cameron fire
department, was born in Austria, Jan. 15, 1874, son of Francis and Mary Drost,
both of whom spent the span of their years in Austria, where the father was a
blacksmith. Three of the six children in the family live in Austria, and two
are dead. Joseph F. was reared to boyhood in Austria, and attended the public
schools. In 1888 he came to America with his grandfather, Franz Drost, settled
in Rice Lake, and for one winter attended school to learn English. Then for
some years he worked in the lumbering industry. With this preparation he
became the manufacturer of handles for tools, opening his establishment at
Haugen, and a year later moving it to Cameron, where he conducted it for
thirteen years. Then he sold out and took his present position with Edward
Ludwig. The mill does a general grist business, grinding wheat, buckwheat,
corn and rye. For some years, Mr. Drost served as trustee of the village and
he was a most efficient chief of the fire department. Fraternally, he is a
member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Drost was married in 1901 at Rice Lake, to
Mary Schlessinger, daughter of Martin and Barbara Schlessinger, natives of
Austria. This union has been blessed with seven children: Joseph, Mary,
Francis M., Eleanor, John H., Barbara and Albert M. All are at home. Joseph
assists his father in the mill.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., &
Co., 1922, pg. 589.