Surnames: Porath, Koelar, Groise, Handt, Wischulke, Fero, Riedel, Sternitzky, May, Hinke, Moen, Volz, Moldenhauer, Domke

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) January 13, 1949

Porath, Albert Julius (10 June 1857 - 6 January 1949)

Albert Porath, for nearly 66 years a resident of Clark County, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ed Wischulke in the Town of Lynn early Thursday morning, January 6, (1949). He was 91 yeas old.

Funeral services were held Saturday, January 8, at the American Lutheran Church in the Town of Grant, the Rev. Leonard Domke officiating.

The pallbearers were the grandsons: Wilbert Wischulke, Victory Porath, Neal Fero, Glen Porath, Norman Porath, and Edwin Porath. Flower girls were Jean Porath, Betty Lou Fero, Nancy Porath and Naomi Porath, granddaughters.

Albert Julius Porath was born June 10, 1857, in Pommern, Germany, the son of Ferdinand and Henrietta (Koelar) Porath. The parents remained all their lives in their native land; but about 1880 Albert Porath came alone to the United States, proceeding from New York to Milwaukee, where he worked at the mason’s trade for about two years.

On June 12, 1881, he was there married to Louise Groise, whose father Christian, a German farmer, had come with his family to this country in 1870, locating in Jefferson County. In 1882, after their marriage, Albert Porath came with his wife to Neillsville. Here he found employment in a heading mill, where he worked for 15 years.

During their first year in Neillsville Mr. Porath and his wife were forced to live in the kitchen of one of the few houses in the village, this being the best accommodation they could find.

After the first year he bought a five-acre tract on the north side of Black River, north of Neillsville. He then had to build a boat, as there was no bridge, on which he could transport all his supplies, including the lumber for his house, which he built himself. He also had to cut his own road from the creek north to his home. His supplies and lumber had to be carried on his back from the town.

There he resided for 17 years, and then, about the year 1900, he bought 80 acres of wild land that constitutes the farm in the Town of Lynn which was later sold to his son, Henry. Here he made a small round clearing in which he built a house - the second that he had erected with his own hands, and which is still standing.

He is survived by three daughters and a son: Mrs. Fred (Agnes) Handt of Beloit, Mrs. Ed. (Emma) Wischulke, town of Lynn; Mrs. Lyle (Norma) Fero of Granton; and Henry Porath, of La Crosse. Fifteen grandchildren, also survive: Luther Handt, Wilbert Wischulke, Mrs. Louis (Irma) Riedel, Glen Porath, Naomi Porath, Nancy Porath, Jean Porath, Betty Lou Fero, Neal Fero, Victor Porath, Loren Porath, Mrs. Oscar (Gladys) Sternitzky, Joyce Porath, Norman Porath, Edwin Porath and six great-grandchildren, Wallace Riedel, Barbara Handt, David Handt, Elaine Sternitzky, Evelyn Sternitzky and Allen Sternitzky.

His wife died September 29, 1929. His sister, Mrs. Herman May, died November 4, 1932. His son, Ernest Porath, died December 13, 1931; and his son, Alfred Porath, died June 19, 1945.

Those from away who attended the funeral services were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Porath and family, Glenn, Naomi, and Nancy, and Mrs. W. A. Hinke, all of La Crosse; Mrs. Alfred Porath and sons, Norman and Edwin, Owen; Mr. and Mrs. John Moen, Mr. and Mrs. Otto May and Mrs. George Volz and Mrs. Lillian Moldenhauer, all of Neillsville.