WI Family Groupsheet for August Frederic ELFTMAN Family

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Submitted by: Debbie Barrett
Email address: MrsGrinnin@aol.com

Husband: August Frederic ELFTMAN
Birthdate: 10 Nov 1855
Birthplace: Karolina, Posen, Prussia
Death date: 24 Dec 1939
Place of death: Dunn Co., WI
Father: August ELFTMAN
Mother: Rosina DENZIN

Marriage date: 2 Apr 1882
Marriage place: Dunn Co., WI

Wife: Mary LABS
Birthdate: 15 Jan 1865
Birthplace: Pommern, Prussia
Death date: 16 Aug 1922
Place of death: Dunn Co., WI
Father: Carl LABS
Mother: Henrietta THUROW

CHILDREN

Child No. 1: Emma
Sex: F
Birthdate: 3 Mar 1883
Birthplace: Dunn Co., WI
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Spouse's name: Christ BERGAMAN

Child No. 2: Angelica
Sex: F
Birthdate: 16 Feb 1886
Birthplace: Dunn Co., WI
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Spouse's name: Frank LAMB

Child No. 3: Charles William
Sex: M
Birthdate: 8 Mar 1892
Birthplace: Dunn Co., WI
Death date: 30 May 1949
Place of death: Menomonie, Dunn Co., WI
Marriage date: 20 Oct 1912
Marriage place: St. Paul, Ramsey Co., MN
Spouse's name: Lottie Alice BRITTON

Child No. 4: Frances Julia
Sex: F
Birthdate: 17 Feb 1896
Birthplace: Dunn Co., WI
Death date: 24 Feb 1899
Place of death: Dunn Co., WI
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Documentation: August Elftman's Naturalization papers gives his date of
arrival in this country as April 2, 1873 in New York City, having left
Hamburg, Germany March 1, 1873.  According to the History of Dunn County,
published in 1925, August spent the first two months after his arrival in
New York going from there to Oshkosh where he spent the remainder of 1873. 
He spent the following year (1874)  in Iowa and then to Menomonie, where he
spent another year (1875).  After that, (1876) in Minnesota, finally
returning to Menomonie and entering the employ of the Knapp, Stout and
Company for whom he worked 6 years.

In 1882 he began his farming career by purchasing 80 acres on Morton Hill
in Section 9 Town of Eau Galle.  There he erected a log cabin and barn and
began clearing the land for cultivation.  In time the size of the farm was
increased to 190 acres with 110 under cultivation.

August apparently told a story of fleeing Prussia to avoid conscription
during the Franco-Prussian war.  He became a naturalized citizen in 1921.
I was told by my uncle, Charles Elftman, that August was terrified of being
returned to Germany at the onset of WWI which may have accounted for his
decision to naturalize at the close of that war when anti-German sentiment
was so prevalent.

Excerpt from the Dunn County History Book of 1925:

Owner of the well-known Elftmann diary farm in Section 9 town of Eau Galle,
which is his hown creation, as he developed it from the primitve
wilderness, was bornin Germany, November 10, 1855.  He acquired his
schooling in his native land, where he remained until he had attained the
age of 18 years.  Then in 1873 he came to the United Sates to seek wider
opportunities for advancement.  (His brother Ludwig had come to this
country some time before.

For about 2 months after his arrival in this country he remained in New
York state and then came west to Oshkosh where he spent the rest of that
years.  Thence he went to the state of Iowa where he spent a year.  The
following year was spent in Menomonie, WI and after that he spent a year in
MN.  He then returned to Menomonie and entered the employ of Knapp Stout
and Co. for whom he worked six years.

It was at the end of that time, or in 1882, that he began farming by buying
80 acres of wild land on Morton Hill in Section 9, the town of Eau Galle.
There were no buildings on it and no attempt had been made at a clearing.
Mr. Elftmann made one at once and put up a log dwelling and log barns.  He
then began to clear the land for cultivation.

The story of the development of many beautiful farms that delight the eye
of the traveler through this region has been told many times over and one
individual case closely resembles another.  Where there was timber, it had
to be cleared away and the stumps removed.  The latter operation, which was
a difficult one, ususally being termed as "grubbing".

There was also, as a rule, a considerable amount of brush consisting of
young trees that had sprung up from seed within a year or two--wild shrubs
and bushes, and other small undergrowth-- all of which had to be removed.
Thent he sod-covered surface had to be broken, or turned up with a plow,
exposing the underlying soil to the rays of the sun.  For yars after the
first plowing there would be a pretty thick growth of weeds, the seeds of
different species lying at different depths below the surface.  Even on
prairie land, where there was no timber, the work was much the same after
the first breaking of the soil.  But Mr. Elftmann knew that persistent work
would conquer all difficulties and acted accordingly.

In time he also increased the size of his farm, buying an additional 30
acre track, and thus building it up to an area of 190 acres.  At present
110 acres are cleared and under cultivation.

The improvements of his buildings are equally noteworthy.  The original log
house is no longer in evidence as a dwelling, but instead there stands a
beautiful modern residence of ten rooms which was built in 1908 and
includes a full basement.  A barn measuring 32 by 62 feet fulfills the
chief purposes connnected with the dairying branch of business.  This barn
has the James patent steel equipment.  The other buildings on the farm
include a good sized machine shed, a chicken house, a hog house and a
garage.  The homestead is provided with waterworks and the grounds about
the house show well-kept lawns giving an indication of a keen appreciation
of utility.

In developing the place, Mr. Elftman has established a monument to his own
memory that will last for many years after he has passed away and the farm
is occupied by his descendants, or perhaps by representatives of some other
family.  He is no longer engaged in hard work upon it, having in 1925
turned over the management to his son, Charles.  However, he still resides
on it.

Mr. Elftmann was married on April 2, 1882 to Mary Labs, who was born in
Germany, January 15, 1865 and was brought to this country by her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Labs, when a babe of nine months.  She proved a
faithful wife and helpmate, a wise and kind mother, and an agreeable
neighbor.  She was sincerely mourned when she passed away August 16, 1922.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. August Elftmann were four in number--three
daughters and one son.  Emma born March 10, 1883, is now Mrs. Christ
Bergaman and has three children:  William, Harry and Hazel.  Angelica, born
February 16, 1886 is the wife of Frank Lamb, a farmer in Pierce county, and
has two children:  Alma and Oscar.  Charlie, born March 8, 1892 and now
conducting the home farm is married to Lottie Britton and has five
children:  Carol, Fern, Dorothy, Arnold and Lorraine.  Francis, born
February 17, 1896, died February 24, 1899.  The Elftmann family are members
of the Lutheran Church at Elmwood.