Bio: Charles William Wesner (1856  - ?)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Fri, 16 Feb 2001

Surnames: WESNER, DAVIS, JUNCHEN, GERBER, KAUER

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

CHARLES WILLIAM WESNER, who is engaged in the pursuit of agriculture on a farm of 160 acres in Section 20, Lynn Township, was born Jan. 18, 1856, in Richfield, Washington County, Wis. His parents were Fred and Caroline (Davis) Wiesner. The father, who was born in Bulgaria, in Eastern Europe, came to the United States alone at the age of 23 years, being fourteen weeks on the ocean in a sailing vessel which was driven out of its course several times by gales. Locating in Milwaukee, Wis., he rented a farm in that vicinity, and there, in the early fifties, he was married to Caroline Davis.

Ten years later, or about 1860, he and his family removed to New London, Outagamie County, Wis., where he bought eighty acres of wild land, which he started to clear with a team of oxen, also building a log house and barn. Thirteen years were spent by him and his family on that place, and then they moved to a homestead in Wood County, which was their home for ten years, and where he cleared forty acres of land. At the end of that time he sold the farm and bought eighty acres of partly cleared land west of Neillsville, Clark County, on which place he subsequently died. His wife is still living at the age of 85 at Neillsville.

Charles W. Weisner remained with his parents until he was 22 years old, at which time he bought eighty acres of land in Section 20, Lynn Township, Clark County, which now forms half of his present farm. Here he lived a bachelor's life for two years, clearing the land, which was wild, and also building a road, a most useful work, by which others benefited as well as himself. He also built a log house, 16 by 20 feet in size, which is still standing. On Nov. 5, 1884, he was united in marriage with Bertha Gerber, who was born in Pine Valley Township, this county, Dec. 24, 1861, daughter of Godfred and Anna (Junchen) Gerber, her father'being a farmer in Grant Township. He and his wife have since resided on this farm, the original size of which he has doubled by the purchase of eighty acres more. He has built a good eight-room,. house and a barn 40 by 84 feet in size, and is successfully engaged in general farming.

For about nine years Mr. Wiesner has been treasurer of his school district. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Laura, wife of Ernest Kauer, a farmer in Lynn Township; Edward, also a farmer in Lynn Township, and Otillia and Louis, who are residing at home.