BIOGRAPHIES: Claus KACKMAN, Elk Mound, Dunn Co., WI ********************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Laura Abood 11 May 2005 ********************************************************************* Claus Kackman, an early settler in the town of Elk Mound, now deceased, but who for many years was a man of mark in this part of Dunn County, was born in Hanover, Germany, Jan. 9, 1841. He grew to manhood and attended school in his native land. He came to the United States in 1864, locating first at Boston, Mass., in which city, however, he remained but a short time, coming west to Red Wing, Minn. From the latter place he came in 1867 to Dunn County and began farming on 120 acres of wild land which he bought in Section 34, town of Elk Mound. Making a clearing, he put up a small frame shack, moving into it before it was finished and getting busy at once in his task of developing the land. That task, so easy to mention, but so hard to accomplish, involving many years of strenuous work, was well performed by him, and by degrees he also provided the suitable buildings for the farm. He rebuilt or added to his original dwelling, making it into a comfortable residence, and in 1902 he built a large dairy barn of 34 by 50 feet, with full basement and modern equipment. His other out-buildings were substantially constructed and designed with eye both to utility and good appearance. A few years after Mr. Kackman had begun the creation of this farm he had been united in marriage, on Jan. 1, 1872, to Emaline Gerlach, a native of Columbia County, Wis., born Sept. 7, 1851. She proved a faithful wife and loving companion, as well as an efficient helpmate, cheerfully enduring the hardships inseparable from life on a new farm and working hard for their mutual success. But time brings fateful changes, severing all human ties, and on Oct. 11, 1913, Mr. Kackman passed to his heavenly reward. He and his wife had been the parents of ten children, Rebecca, Anna, Henry, George, Mary, Minnie, Louis, Sam, William H. and Alfred, of whom Henry and George are deceased. Rebecca is Mrs. John Irving of South Park, Minn. Anna, as yet unmarried, resides at Beaver Dam, Wis. Mary, who is Mrs. William H. Gehrking of the town of Elk Mound, has five children, Lucille, Hazel, Mabel, Clarence and Norman. Minnie, wife of Robert Smith of Beaver Dam, is the mother of three children, Marvin, Bernice and Wilbur. Louis, who lives in St. Paul, married Carrie Martinson. Sam married Edna Findelson and they have one child, Dorothy. Alfred, who conducts a confectionery store and ice cream parlor in the village of Elk Mound, married Olga Holm and has one child, Viola. William H. Kackman, born on the home farm Feb. 20, 1891, as a boy attended public school and assisted his father in the development of the homestead until reaching the age of 17 years. He then took up and learned the machinist's trade, which he followed for several years in St. Paul. On June 13, 1918, he enlisted for World War service, being attached to the tank corps. Having trained at Lafayette, Ind., and at Gettysburg, Penn., he left for overseas, June 6, 1918, and in France was transferred to the Motor Transport Corps. He was stationed at various places in succession until his return to the United States, where he landed June 11, 1919, being discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, June 21, with the rank of sergeant. In the following year he was in St. Paul working at his trade. Then in 1921 he established himself in the garage business at Elk Mound, but a year later sold out to H. S. Flick and returned to the home farm, which he is now operating under rental. He has built a new machine shed, made certain necessary repairs, and is engaged in general and dairying farming and also in potato raising, having in 1924 raised over 3,000 bushels of Rural New Yorks. He has a good herd of grade Guernsey cattle including a pure bred sire. He is a member of Lloyd S. Howe Post, No. 37, A. L., of Elk Mound. After her husband's death Mrs. Kackman operated the farm with the help of her sons until she rented it to her son, William H. She still resides on it. Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925" pages 532-533 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm