BIOGRAPHIES:  William GEHRKING, Elk Mound Township, Dunn Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Laura Abood <wabood@msn.com>  11 May 2005
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William Gehrking, now living retired on the fine farm in Section 36,
town of Elk Mound, which he himself developed from its original wild
and primitive condition, was born in Germany, Sept. 24, 1844.  He was
there educated and grew to manhood.  When old enough he entered the
standing army of Germany.  He also served two years in the war
between Germany and France.  In 1872, he came to America, locating
first in La Crosse, Wis., where he remained for one summer.  From
there he came to Elk Mound, Dunn County, and for about three years
thereafter was employed on the farm of Henry Seidenberg.  It was at
the end of that time that he bought his first 80 acres of wild land
in Section 36, from which starting point he followed the path of
unremitting industry to the goal of final success.  From time to time
he added to his landed possessions, as his means permitted, until he
found himself the owner of 680 acres, some of this additional land
being situated in the county of Chippewa, just across the road from
his original farm.  In his development of the property he showed
himself to be a man of foresight and a skilful planner as well as
hard worker, exercising care in the arrangement of his buildings so
as to have them conveniently placed with respect to each other and
with ample space between to give passage to teams, thus facilitating
work without waste of time or labor.  These buildings, in addition to
a fine residence, include a large dairy barn of 36 x 66 feet in
ground plan, with full basement; a small barn of 24 x 40 feet, and
other out-buildings for the storage of corn, small grains, potatoes
and machinery, besides a garage for his auto truck and pleasure cars.
A good lawn and shade trees form an appropriate setting for the neat
and commodious residence, and the whole establishment bears the
aspect of a well designed and excellently kept modern farm.  Mr.
Gehrking followed agriculture on this place with good success until
1904, when he sold 80 acres of it to his son William H., and rented
the remainder to his other sons, Fred J., Louis and George, who
farmed it until 1918.  The land operated by them was then made over
to them as proprietors, includiing the home "forty," on which Mr.
Gehrking lives with his son Fred J., and which cannot be alienated as
long as he lives.  Mr. Gehrking was married July 3, 1875, to Mary
Hesemeyer, who was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1974.
After living with him in happy wedlock for nearly 43 years, she
passed away on March 25, 1918, having faithfully performed her duties
as wife and mother.  Their children, nine in number, were as follows.
Henry, now deceased; John, also deceased; William H., already
mentioned; Herman, deceased; George, Fred J. and Louis, already
mentioned; and Sophia and Emil, who are both deceased.  Mr. Gehrking
was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which he is a
consistent member.
 
Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925" pages
638-639

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