Obit: Abler, Phillip J. (1869 - 1935)

Contact:  Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: ABLER STOLLENWORK

----Sources: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 06/13/1935

Abler, Phillip J. (20 JUN 1869 - 11 JUN 1935)

The entire community was suddenly shocked and deeply grieved by the death of P.J. Abler, one of Owen’s well known citizens who passed away early Tuesday morning at his own home as the result of a heart attack. Within a few days, on June 20th, Mr. Abler would have reached his 66th birthday.

He is survived by Mrs. Abler; a brother, Matt Abler of Mount Calvary; and three sisters, sister Levina, Notre Dame Convent, Chicago; Miss Kate Abler, Mount Calvary; and Mrs. J.W. Schlewyer, Fond du Lac.

Mr. Abler has a brother, an uncle and a cousin, who have given their lives to religion as priests, also one sister, Sister M. Levina of Chicago.

Funeral service at Owen (Clark Co., Wis.) was held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, a solemn Requiem High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Lange of Colby, assisted by Deacon Rev. Muckerheide of Thorp and Rev. Betz, Sub-deacon, of Stetsonville. The choir was the Young Ladies Choir of Colby.

The pallbearers were C.H. Patrie, G.I. Sturgeon, William Hilt, J. Becker, H.B. Mauel and V.D. Merriman. The Holy Name Society, of which Mr. Abler was a charter member, was represented by W.J. Mahoney, several Withee members also were present.

Final rites are to be conducted at Mount Calvary at 10 a.m. Friday and burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery there.

Upon being married to Christine M. Stollenwork in 1907, Mr. Abler took up his residence in Owen and since that time has continued to live here. He has always been active in civic matters. For many years after coming to Owen Mr. Abler owned and operated a general store but disposed of it in 1927.

Soon after this Mr. Abler received the appointment of chief of police in Owen, and during his years in that position, also served the county as deputy sheriff. During his life in Owen Mr. Abler also had held offices of village president, and was village councilman for six years before Owen became a city.

The early portion of Mr. Abler’s live reads like a book of adventure due to his excursions into Alaska and the Arctic. He was born at Mount Calvary, Fond du Lac Co., on June 20, 1869, and began his career as a telegraph operator for the Chicago and Northwester railroad at the age of 18. In 1898 he journeyed to Alaska on an old type sailing vessel, reaching there the following spring and making his home at Nome for the next eight years. For several years he operated a trading schooner, the "P.J. Abler," furnishing transportation between Seattle and Alaska ports, and also carrying hunting parties into the far north.

He was a member of a scientific expedition under the direction of Frank Kleinschmidt of the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, in the early 1900’s, remaining in the Arctic for six months. His home was filled with mementos of his travels.

(Follow on in 6/20/1935 Owen Enterprise)

The remains of the late Phillip J. Abler were taken to Mount Calvary Thursday noon of last week, and on Friday the last rites were held at Holy Cross Church, where the church with a seating capacity of 2,000 was filled with relatives and friends.

Those from away attending the last rites were: Mike Abler, John and Julia Wagner, John Reichling, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Fox, Mr. and Mrs. A. Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker, Ed Craper, Mr. and Mrs. F.F. Uctchig, Mr. and Mrs. J. Freund, Dr. and Mrs. Yakey, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stollwert, Mr. and Mrs. E. Enders, Mrs. J. Hau, J. Furhman, of Fond du Lac; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Berg of Ashford; A.K. Abler of Rudolph; Mr. and Mrs. J. Krebsbach, and Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. L. Casper of Johnsburg; Mrs. Mike Hargeim, Mrs. H. Stollwerk and Lorraine, and Mrs. C. Stollwerk of Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. A. Minister, E. Helzer and Miss Elsie Plober of Chicago.

Mr. abler was a resident of Owen for 27 years. He was secretary of the Holy Name Society in Owen and chairman of the advisory board of the Holy Rosary Church.