Bio: Abel, Frank Sr. (1845)

Transcriber: Marianne

Surnames: ABEL, DACHTLER, BANTIN

----Source: HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY, 1918, pg.575 - 576

Frank Abel, Sr., a well known farmer of Warner Township, where he has resided for many years, was born in Mecklenberg, Germany, Jan. 27, 1845, son of Henry and Marie (Bantin) Abel. His parents, who were farmers, came with their eight children to the United States in 1857. The voyage, made on a steamer which also carried sails, took two weeks, which, though a much shorter time than was occupied by the average sailing vessel, the family found quite long enough. The children were Henry, Mary, Frederick, William, Christian, Frank, Eliza and Doris. After landing they proceeded to West Bend, Washington County, Wis., where they settled on an improved farm and were there two years, at the end of which time the father turned the farm over to his son Henry, Jr., and, with his wife, went to reside in the village of West Bend, where he subsequently died.

He was a member of the German Lutheran Church. Frank Abel, Sr., attended school first in Germany, and later was a pupil for two winters in the district school in Washington County, Wis. He grew to manhood on the farm, acquiring a good knowledge of agriculture, which was his daily work. At the age of 18 he struck out for himself, working at anything he could find to do. On March 4, 1864, he enlisted in Company F., 48th Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry, in which he served one year, being sent to western Kansas to watch the Indians. Then he worked on a farm again and on Jan. 22, 1871, was united in marriage with Caroline Dachtler, who was born in Washington County, Wis., Oct. 21, 1852, daughter of John and Rasena Dachtler, who located in Wayne, that county on coming from Germany. After his marriage Mr. Abel lived with his father-in-law for one year and then moved to Barton, Washington County, where he lived two years.

After that he resided with his parents until their death, when he came to Clark County, this being in 1879. Here he bought a tract of eighty acres in Warner Township, Section 30, where he now lives. It was covered with woods and had no buildings and the road to it was merely a trail. When he came he brought with him enough supplies to last for one year, but began the work of improvement with practically nothing but his hands. After a while he got a team of oxen and later one of steers, which he broke himself. The first house, in which he lived for twenty-five years, was a log structure, 18 by 24 feet in size. He then built a frame residence and also a log barn, which is still standing. The first summer he got a cow, which he obtained from Mr. Baker. Since then Mr. Abel's history has been one of continued progress, slow at first but subsequently accelerated, until now he has a good farm with sixty acres cleared, and substantial buildings, and as a farmer is doing a successful business.

He has been a director on the school board and an officer for twelve years of the Reformed Church, which he helped to build and has also served as janitor. Mr. Abel is a member of the Grand Army Post at Greenwood. He and his wife have had six children, three of whom - William, Frank and Fred - accompanied them to Clark County, and of these Fred was killed on the railroad at the age of 24 years. The three others were born on the farm here, namely John, Gustof and Hulda, the last mentioned of whom died at the age of 12 years.