BioA: Bleichroth, Mr./Mrs. Traugett (50th Anniv. - 1935)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: BLEICHROTH NEUMEISTER KOBS OTTO WASCHOW GRAMBORT

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 3 Jan 1935

Bleichroth, Mr./Mrs. Traugett (50th Anniv. - 1 Jan. 1935)

At the annual watch-night party of the Lutheran Sewing Circle and Walther League in the Zion Lutheran school Monday evening, the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Traugett Bleichroth was also observed with the members of the congregation in attendance. On New Year’s day the family celebrated the event at the Bleichroth home.

Mr. Bleichroth was born in Ritteburg, near Exfurt, Saxony, Germany, December 14, 1851. He came to this country in 1882 after serving as an apprentice for four years in a jewelry and watch repair establishment at that place. The same year he arrived at Milwaukee where he met friends who were going to northern Wisconsin where they heard that land was cheap. Arriving at Medford, the country looked good to them so they stayed. There, in 1884, Mr. Bleichroth met Herman Neumeister, then a harness maker at Colby, who advised him to open a jewelry store at Colby. He still conducts his jewelry store at his first location on Spence street.

Mrs. Bleichroth was born near Milwaukee March 19, 1865, and came to Colby with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kobs, in 1876. They were married at the Lutheran church, January 1, 1885, by the Rev. F. W. Otto. They have three children, Miss Anna Bleichroth of Colby and Mrs. Clarence Waschow and Miss Frieda Bleichroth of Chicago, and four grandchildren. Mr. Bleichroth is the only living member of his family; Mrs. Bleichroth has a sister, Mrs. Fred Grambort, and three brothers, Julius and Fred W. Kobs of Colby and Henry Kobs of Milwaukee.

Mr. and Mrs. Bleichroth are members of the Zion Lutheran church and both have always taken a keen interest in all church affairs as well as in the entire community. Mr. Bleichroth is one of the oldest members of the Colby fire department and Mrs. Bleichroth is a member of the Zion Ladies’ Aid Society.