BIOGRAPHIES: Nicholas MICKELBROOK, 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 02 September 2003 ************************************************************************ Nicholas Mickelbrook, a retired farmer residing in the town of Elk Mound after an industrious career of many years during which he built up a good farm, was born in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Feb. 11, 1855, son of Henry and Theresa (Wagner) Mickelbrook. The parents came to this country from Luxemburg in 1851 and inSheboygan County, Wisconsin, engaged in farming. Henry Mickelbrook also ran a blacksmith's shop on his farm, having followed the trade in Luxemburg, and picked up many extra dollars that way. In fact he was a handy man well adapted to suceed in a pioneer community. In 1884, when getting along in years, he came to Dunn County with his son Peter, who engaged in farming in the town of Spring Brook, and at his home he lived retired for the rest of his life, dying in 1907. He had survived his wife several years, she having passed away in 1904. They had seven children: Catherine (first), Peter, Catherine (second), Matthew, Nicholas, Julia and Susan. Peter is now living in Menomonie, Matthew in Washington, Julia in Oregon, and Susan, who is now Mrs. Peter Schumacher, in the town of Spring Brook, Dunn Co., Wisconsin. The others are deceased. Nicholas Mickelbrook was educated in a district school in Sheboygan County, and grew to manhood on his parents' farm, where he resided until he was 22 years old. His father then deeded to him 40 acres of land, which he farmed until 1883. He then sold it and came to Dunn County, buying a farm of 80 acres in Section 3, town of Spring Brook. About 30 acres of the land had been cleared and broken, but the buildings on the place were poor. Such as it was, it presented opportunities for work, which Mr. Mickelbrook took hold of. In the course of years he not only cleared the remaining 50 acres but bought 20 acres adjoining, and erected good, substantial, modern equipment and waterworks, and other well planned out-buildings. He followed general and dairy framing, keeping a herd of good grade Holstein cattle. In 1917, turning the farm over to his son John, he retired, though he continued to live on it for two years longer, at the end of that time taking up his residence with his daughter, Mrs. Anton Green in the town of Elk Mound, which is his present home. Nicholas Mickelbrook was married in January, 1879, to Margaret Schrantz, who was born in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Feb 28, 1854, and who, after a wedded life of 33 years, died on April 2, 1912. The children of this marriage were four, Catherine, Mary, John and Margaret. Catherine, born Jan. 27, 1880, is now Mrs. Emil Tilleson of Elk Mound. She was first married to Arthur Keen, who died in 1905, and by that union had one child, Florence, who is now Mrs. Elliot C. Nelson. Mary, born March 19, 1881, and who became the wife of Fred Paff, died March 1, 1924. John, born Oct. 30, 1889, now owns the old home farm in Section 3, town of Spring Brook. He married Catherine Green and has one child, Cecelia. Margaret, born Feb. 27, 1892, is the wife of Anton Green of the town of Elk Mound, as already mentioned, and has two children, Vernon and George. Mr. Mickelbrook is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elk Mound. -Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County, Wisconsin, 1925", page 506 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm