BIOGRAPHIES: HENRY KELKENBERG Town of 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 3/19/2006 ********************************************************************* HENRY KELKENBERG, proprietor of Spring Dairy Farm, the largest farm in the town of Elk Mound, containing 800 acres, and who has various other important business interests, both agricultural and otherwise, was born in Germany, Feb. 4, 1844, son of Christian and Mary Kelkenberg. His parents died in their native land when he was quite young. He acquired a good education and remained in Germany until he was 22 years old, coming to the United States in 1866, and for a year thereafter working on farms in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. In 1867 he went to Eau Claire, where he worked in a sawmill for about a year, afterwards becoming assistant miller in the flour mill on Elk Creek in Eau Claire County, which was conducted by a Mr. Summermeyer. After remaining there for a year and a half, he went to Chippewa Falls, where he was employed for one year in a sawmill. It was at the end of that time that he came to Dunn County and began his career as a farmer, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. He started with 320 acres of land in Section 21, town of Elk Mound- a larger stretch of land than most Dunn County farmers began with, and, moreover all raw or wild- and from that he has developed his present fine property, notable not only for the large number of acres under cultivation, but also for its admirable buildings, which present a pleasing view to the eye indicative of good taste and successful industry. The main barn, set on a full basement, measures 40 by 140 feet, and is supplemented by a small one of 40 x 70 feet, while Mr. Kelkenberg's machine- shed is 112 feet long. There is also a fine granary and corn cribs, with a hog house underneath the latter measuring 22 x 40 feet. The residence is in keeping with the other buildings and has the desirable setting of yards, lawn and shrubbery, including an evergreen windbreak. The water supply is derived from a fine well which furnishes running water for the residence and other buildings. Mr. Kelkenberg has a splendid herd of Holstein cattle including both grade and pure bred stock with a pure bred sire, and his dairying, stock raising and crop farming operations have been conducted with intelligence and usually with a considerable degree of success. As he is now 80 years old, he has for the last five years rented his farm out, but still resides on it and is active every day helping to do some of the work, being exceedingly well preserved both mentally and physically, and rather having the appearance of a man of 60 than of one of his years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery of Elk Mound, and is also interested in the general store and machinery business of William Siedenberg in the village of that name, he and Mr. Siedenberg owning together 240 acres of land in the village, some of which they have platted into lots and some of which they lease. They also own certain other lands together. Mr. Kelkenberg is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has never married, his household having been taken care of by hired help.