Bio: Anton Nachtwey (1862  - ?)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Tue, 13 Feb 2001

Surnames: NACHTWEY, PLATTEN, RONDOW, CLEARMAN, BURKHARDT

----Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

ANTON NACHTWEY, proprietor of the Mayville Cheese and Butter Factory near Dorchester, Mayville Township, was born in Manitowoc County, Wis., Sept. 12, 1862, son of Anton and Catherine (Platten) Nachtwey. The parents were natives of Germany, the father coming from Frankfort and the mother from the Rhine country. The former came to America at the age of 21, alone, locating at Two Rivers, Wis. He was a farrner by occupation, but during his first four years in this country he worked in a sawmill, later removing to Coopertown, Wis., where he bought a farm. His wife came to the United States with her parents, who settled at Green Bay, Wis. They were married in Green Bay and in 1877 removed to Brown County, Wis., where Mr. Nachtwey was a pioneer settler, the country being new there. He died in 1903 at the age of 78 years, and his wife in 1908 at that of 73. They had twelve children: Joe, now deceased.

John, residing in Brown County; Henry, deceased; Peter, deceased; Anton, subject of this sketch; Frank, residing in Brown County; Mary, who is a teacher in the Sisters' school at Milwaukee; Mark, residing in Coopertown, Manitowoc County; Tillie, a teacher in the Sisters' school at Oshkosh, Wis.; Maggie, wife of Joe Rondow, of Green Bay, Wis.; Lizzie, wife of August Clearman of Green Bay, and George, now deceased. Anton Nachtwey at the age of 28 years left home, going to Glenmore, Wis., where he started a store and cheese factory, remaining there five years. He then went to Marinette County, Wis., where he worked two years in a sawmill. At the end of that time he came to Clark County, locating two and a half
miles west of Dorchester, where he cleared land for a home and factory, this being his present location. In 1902 he started a cheese factory in Hoard Township, which he owned and operated for some four years.

In 1915 Mr. Nachtwey established a cheese factory four miles northwest of Dorchester, which his son, Robert, is now conducting. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative store at Dorchester. When he first came to Clark County he had a hard time in starting, but was greatly helped by his wife, who took full charge of the Hoard Township factory, making the cheese herself, and they have worked together to attain the prosperity they now enjoy. They are members of the Catholic church, which Mr. Nachtwey has served as secretary since his first year up to 1902, his son Robert now serving in that capacity.

Mr. Nachtwey was married Nov. 27, 1888, to Mary A. Burkhardt, who was born in Kiel, Wis., Feb. 18, 1871, daughter of Christopher and Charlotte Burkhardt. She resided with her parents until she was six years old, at which time her mother died and she was adopted by Henry Warning and wife, with whom she lived until her marriage. She has a sister, Rosa, who is now Mrs. Oscar Peterson, of Granton, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Nachtwey have had nine children: Irene, born Sept. 12, 1889, who died in infancy; Josephine, born Sept. 10, 1890, and died March 22, 1892; Robert, born March 23, 1892; Charlotte, born March 9, 1894; Roman, born Jan. 31, 1896, and died June 18, 1898; Raymond, born April 11, 1900; Cecilia, born Aug. 18, 1901; Antonia, born April 13, 1910, and died April 13, 1910, and Mary A., born June 23, 1912. Charlotte is a commercial teacher in the High School at Turtle Lake, Wis.