Frank Witzig Biography - Grant County Wisconsin

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Submitted by David W. Taft, dtaft@cowtown.net

Commemorative Biographical Record of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette 
Counties, Wisconsin
J. H. Beers, 1901
Pg. 916

FRANK WITZIG is one of the most prominent farmers of Mount Ida township, Grant county, 
and a veteran of the Civil War.  He was born in Germany, April 15, 1831, being the son of 
Martin and Anna (Patchkonsky) Witzig, both natives of Germany, who came to this country 
in 1854.  They reached Chicago, thence went to Milwaukee, Wis., where they hired a team 
to go to Waterstown.  At the latter place Mr. Witzig bought a yoke of oxen, and proceeded 
to Mineral Point and Clifton.  Remaining in Clifton township for a short time, he then 
removed to Liberty, where he entered 160 acres of land, which he cultivated most 
successfully.  The good couple made this their home until Mr. Witzig's death, which 
occurred July 31, 1862.  His remains rest in the cemetery at Highland.  His wife survived 
him until May 27, 1900, when she passed away at Fennimore in her ninety-second year.  Of 
the children born to Martin and Anna Witzig we have record of Adam; Josephine, now re-
siding in Fennimore township; Peter, who died in Fennimore in 1871; John, who enlisted in 
an Illinois regiment in 1862, and died in a hospital the same year; Frank; Joseph, of 
Clifton township; Johanna, Mrs. Bonsall, died in Iowa county in 1888; Rosa, who became 
Mrs. John Krefal, and resided in Chicago for some time, where she died; and Catherine, 
who married Abraham Minsky, of Chicago.
 
Frank Witzig attended the common schools at Liberty, is a man of natural ability, and he 
has always made the most of his opportunities.  He enlisted in the 41St Wis. V. I. for 
one hundred days service, being stationed at Memphis, Tenn., on garrison duty, and was 
honorably discharged in the fall of '86.  Mr. Witzig re-enlisted in Clifton township, and 
cherishes highly a record of honorable mention signed by President Lincoln, which he 
received during his last enlistment.  In 1884 he came to Mount Ida township, and 
purchased the farm upon which he now resides.
 
In the year 1865, in Iowa county, Wis., Frank Witzig married Catherine Bonsall, daughter 
of Andrew and Anna Bonsall, both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1858, 
locating in Highland township, where the former opened up a farm, on which he resided 
until his death.  To Frank and Catherine (Bonsall) Witzig have been born five children: 
Frank; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Steinforth, of Fennimore township; Newman; Mary; George.  The 
family are among the early prominent pioneer-citizens of the county, and Frank Witzig has 
always been identified with its interests. They enjoy the respect of their neighbors, and 
their friends are numbered by legions.