Joseph Witzig Biography - Grant County Wisconsin

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Submitted by Valeria Reckert (LadyGenes@comcast.net), 2003

Commemorative Biographical Record of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and
Lafayette Counties, Wisconsin
J. H. Beers, 1901
Page 517

JOSEPH WITZIG, one of the prosperous representatives of the agricultural 
interests of Grant county, residing in Section 6, Clifton township, was born in 
Prussia, Germany, May 15, 1844, a son of Martin and Annie Witzig, both natives 
of Prussia.
 
In August 1854, the parents left their native land, and after a voyage of five 
weeks landed in New York. By various means they reached Milwaukee, and thence 
made their way with ox-teams, the children walking, to Clifton township.  Here 
the father took up 100 acres of government land in Section 13, Liberty township, 
on which he settled in 1855. Here he resided, improving his property, until his 
death, which occurred July 30, 1862. The mother survived until May 27, 1900, 
when she, too, passed away, aged ninety.  To these worthy people the following 
children were born: Adam, who resides in Minnesota; Josephine, now Mrs. Whitish, 
of Fennimore; Peter, who died in Fennimore in 1874; Mary, Mrs. Stich, who died 
in Clifton in 1897; John, who died in 1862, on the battlefield, having enlisted 
in an Illinois regiment; Frank, who resides in Mt. Ida township, Grant county; 
Joseph; Johana. Mrs. Bunsell, who died in Iowa county, Wis., in 1875; Rose, Mrs. 
Krefal, who died in Chicago; and Catherine, Mrs. Abram, of Chicago. 

Our subject was ten years of age when the family came to Wisconsin, and, small 
as he was, he bore his part in clearing the land, attending school as chance 
offered. As soon as he was able to begin life on his own account he purchased 
eighty acres, in 1869, in Section 13, town of Liberty, to which he added eighty 
acres in Section 7, Clifton township. To his first purchase in Clifton township, 
in Section 6, Mr. Witzig has added forty acres. All of the property was heavily 
timbered, and the work of clearing difficult, but he has accomplished this feat, 
and has built a good story and a half residence 34 by 26 feet, and a good barn 
30 by 29 feet with 16-foot posts, upon his last purchase. Upon his first farm he 
also erected a story and a half house, 16 by 26 feet, with an "ell" 14 by 16 
feet, as well as a barn 30 by 48, with 16-foot posts and a good basement. The 
farm is supplied with a windmill, and is all fenced. The land is devoted to 
grain and stock raising, and the horses, cattle and hogs are bred from excellent 
strains, therefore commanding good prices. 

In 1867 Mr. Witzig married Miss. Ruth Bacon, a native of Ohio, a daughter of 
John and Sally (Kenyon) Bacon, who were natives of Connecticut and Rhode Island, 
respectively. They came to Clifton township in 1850, and opened up a farm. Here 
the father died about June, 1880, aged ninety-four: the mother died some years 
later, in 1889, aged eighty-six. To Mr. and Mrs. John Bacon were born ten 
children: Mrs. Mary Wanamaker, of Lancaster; Thomas; Mrs. Aurora McLimans, of 
Fennimore; Joseph who died in 1884; Janette, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, now of Rewey; 
Mrs. Sarah Mann, of Dubuque; Mrs. Oral Frye, of Boscobel; Austin, who died in 
1842; Mrs. Ruth Witzig; and Miss Ellen, who died in 1894. To Mr. and Mrs. Witzig 
have been born ten children: Bertha, now Mrs. Scheel, of Clifton; John, of 
Minnesota; Ben, who married and on the old homestead; Minnie, now Mrs. Ellis, of 
Iowa county, Wis.; and Joseph, Cora, Willie, Sallie, Beatrice and Emma. 

Having attained his present comfortable circumstances through his own unaided 
efforts, Mr. Witzig deserves high praise for his industry and thrift, and enjoys 
the confidence of a large circle of friends, who appreciate his many admirable 
qualities of heart and mind.