Obit: Treat, Royal H. (1879 - 1963)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Treat, Olson, Thomas, Lombard, Broeren

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 07/25/1963

Treat, Royal H. (27 AUG 1879 - 22 JUL 1963)

Funeral services for Royal Harry Treat, 83, of Abbotsford, who died Monday about 8 p.m. at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, will be held Thursday, July 25 at 3 o'clock at the Abbotsford Village Hall. The body will be in state at the Polnaszek Funeral Home until noon today, when it will be taken to the village hall.

The Rev. Douglas P. Oyan of the First Presbyterian Church of Marshfield will conduct the services. There will be Masonic services by the Abbotsford Lodge, F. & A.M. No 296, of which he was a Past Master and the present secretary, which office he has held since 1934.

Interment will be made in the Abbotsford Cemetery.

Mr. Treat, known in this community as "Harry", was born Aug. 27, 1879, at Meadow Valley, Wis., and was educated in Tomah schools. He came to Abbotsford May 30, 1903, and opened a jewelry store in the Thompson Hotel building, now dismantled. In 1922 he sold his jewelry business and bought the Frank Fischer Insurance business, which he had operated for Mr. Fischer since 1917, while he was in service, and continued with the Treat Insurance Agency until July 1, 1963, when he sold it to Guy Dorazio of Abbotsford.

Mr. Treat and Miss Emma Olson were united in marriage at Abbotsford May 23, 1906, and lived at Abbotsford the entire time. They have one daughter, Mrs. Helen Broeren, Merrill.

Mr. Treat served this community with distinction in many capacities. He was a member of the village board for 12 years, and assessor; he was chief of the Volunteer Fire Department from 1905 to 1946. He was also elected Justice of the Peace in 1905 and held that office at the time of his death, and was Circuit Court Commissioner for Clark County since 1922. He was the president of the Abbotsford Cemetery Association from 1937 to 1962, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Other activities included being custodian of the Masonic Hall since 1913. Besides being a Past Master of the Abbotsford Masonic Lodge, he served continuously as secretary since 1934. He was a Worthy Past Patron of the Abbotsford Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of Medford Chapter No. 70, Royal Arch Masons, and the Hi-Lo Club of Owen.

He was a member of the Abbotsford Sportsmen's Club and an avid sportsman. Since he was 16 he never missed opening day of the trout season or the deer hunting season. Pheasants in the area looking for a meal in the cold winter always found grain waiting for them near his place.

Surviving him, besides his wife and daughter, are four grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and four sisters: Mrs. Lela Thomas of Appleton, Mrs. Otto (Ruth) Olson and Miss Gertrude Treat of Encinitas, Calif., and Mrs. Catherine Lombard of Olympia, Wash.