BioA: Braatz, Mr. and Mrs. Henry (Golden - 1959)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Braatz, Kurzrok, Reiff, Davis, Treichler, Hubbard, Lindloff, Diethrich, Short, Lautenbach, Dudei, Howard, Beilke, Schmidt, Nonhof, Reber, Counsell, Olia, Putz, Eisentraut, Feutz

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) October 8, 1959

Braatz, Mr. and Mrs. Henry (Golden - 29 September 1959)

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Braatz celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary last weekend, with the immediate family joining in a dinner at Club 10 Saturday evening, and with relatives and friends gathering at their home Sunday evening.  Sunday also was the birthday of Mrs. Braatz.

Henry Braatz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Braatz, was married to Edith Kurzrok, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kurzrok, in Zion Lutheran Church, Town of Grant September 29, 1909.  The Rev. Jacob Reiff officiated.  Arthur Braatz, now of Milwaukee, and Miss Flora Kurzrok, now of Racine, attended the bridal couple.

Henry Braatz was born December 25, 1877, in the Town of Grant, at the residence known for many years as "the Carl Braatz home," and now owned by Clarence Braatz.  Mrs. Henry (Edith) Braatz was born October 4, 1881, in Burlington.

Mrs. Braatz came to Clark County in 1907 and, in partnership with her sister, Flora, operated a millinery store in Granton.  Mr. Braatz, before his marriage, was a builder and for several years erected homes and farm buildings throughout southern and central Clark County, building as many as six houses per year.

Houses still standing, constructed under his supervision and labor, include the John Diethrich residence where the Dale Short family now lives, the Herman Braatz residence where the Victor Braatz family now resides, the Julius Lautenbach residence now occupied by the Hubert Dudei family, and the George Howard, Norman Braatz, Glen Short, Ted Beilke, Bill Schmidt and Al Nonhof houses.

After their marriage the couple took up farming one-fourth mile south of Kurth corners, on a farm now owned by Walter Reber. They lived there for 36 years.  In 1945 they moved to Neillsville, purchasing the former Joseph Counsell residence from Mrs. Nina (Counsell) Olia, where they have lived since.

They have two children: Leonard, now living with his wife and three daughters in Milwaukee; and Roberta Davis of Watertown.

Mr. and Mrs. Braatz were members of Zion Lutheran Church in Grant from 1909 to 1945 and of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville since 1945.  Mrs. Braatz also has been a member of the Ladies Aid of these two churches.

Mrs. Braatz has spent much of her leisure time as a seamstress.  Mr. Braatz has fished since he was "strong enough to carry a fishpole," and has been an active hunter since he was 12 years old.  While a resident of the Town of Grant, he cleared 35 acres in Grant and Lynn, in addition to carrying on the work at his farm.

When 16 years of age, his father presented him with a heavy Winchester .40-.82 rifle and the first year he brought down a large bear and four deer.  Since that time, down to 1958, he hunted deer, small game, and did considerable fishing each year.  He made two excursions in later years to South Dakota for pheasant hunting.

A room in his home on Oak Street displays some of his marksmanship.  They include many deer trophies.  In the early days neighbors got together and camped in the deer country.  He usually went southeast, near the East Fork of the Black River.  A picture in his living room shows nine hunters and nine deer.  Henry is pictured with Alvin Eisentraut, Christ Feutz, Herman and Carl Braatz, and other residents of southern Clark County.

"We usually hung the deer up in the woods where we shot them," said Mr. Braatz, "and then drove around and gathered them up the last day of hunting.  No one ever stole a deer.  The law of the hunt gave the man who did the shooting the title to his kill."

In recent years, Mr. Braatz has hunted in the Columbia area, usually on the John and Frank Putz farm.  Last year he found it necessary to stay home, but felt pangs of regret in not being able to continue deer hunting.

Attending the surprise anniversary party Sunday evening were:  Mr. and Mrs. Donald Braatz, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Eisentraut, Mrs. Nellie Braatz of Neillsville, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Braatz, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Braatz, Mrs. Carl Braatz of the Town of Grant; Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Braatz and Billy and Gordon of Rice Lake; Mrs. Oscar Treichler of Menomonee Falls; Mrs. Clayton Hubbard of Oshkosh; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Braatz and children of Milwaukee and Mrs. Roberta Davis of Watertown.

The Rev. and Mrs. Norman Lindloff and children were supper guests during the week.  Many gifts and anniversary greetings were received.