Obit: Umhoefer, Paul (1857 - 1930)

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Surnames: UMHOEFER BARTIK LACHNIT REDING KAUTSKY LUKOWITZ WEIX TRUN LACKUS

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wisconsin) 6 Feb 1930

Umhoefer, Paul (27 Mar. 1857 - 2 Feb. 1930)

Paul Umhoefer, founder of Cherokee, died Sunday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. W. Bartik, paralysis and infirmities of old age being the cause of his departure. Funeral services were held at the St. Mary’s Catholic church Wednesday morning, February 5th, at 9:30, Rev. H. Lachnit and Rev. Reding of Wisconsin Rapids officiating, and internment was made in the Catholic cemetery at Colby.

Mr. Umhoefer was born in Menomonee Falls, Wis., March 27, 1857, and was seventy-two years, ten months and six days old. After working a few years on the farm of his uncle in Cherokee, Iowa, he, in company with his father, went up into the northern woods. They went by railroad from Iowa to the Wisconsin River bank and then walked from Wisconsin Rapids to Wausau, and from there, across country to a place five miles east of Colby. Here he purchased the saw mill on the banks of the Eau Pleine River from Mr. Trun. Mr. Umhoefer conducted this saw mill for twenty-two years. In the year 1892, he established a general store and also a post office to which he gave the name of Cherokee. In 1900, he built the Cherokee flour mill which he operated in connection with the saw mill.

After selling his saw mill to Dr. E. V. Kautsky of Marshfield, his flour mill to Mr. Lukowitz, and his store to Joe Weix he moved to Colby and purchased the Colby Lumber Co. saw mill which he operated a number of years until his sons, in company with Joe Weix, continued the business.

Mr. Umhoefer retired from active business in 1905. After this his time was occupied with his farm and pea canning interests. He was vice president of the Medford Canning Co. at the time of his death. He also served as alderman for the city of Colby for a number of years.

He leaves to mourn his death four children - Emil of Marshfield; Anton, Mrs. E. W. Bartik, Miss Tessie of Colby; and five grand children, Ivo and Richard of Marshfield and Paul, James and Mary of Colby. Also four brothers - Henry, John and ? of Menomonee Falls and Ben of Harve, Mont., and one sister - Mrs. ? Lackus of Nenosha, Wis. His wife and two daughters preceded him in death.

It was the writer’s good fortune to have known him long and well and now his kindly smile and friendly greeting will be missed. He was a man of fine Christian character and generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. He had filled the various relations of life as son, husband, father, brother and friend and filled them well. But now he is gone and another name stricken from the ever lessening roll of our old settlers.