Bio: Uerkvitz, Frederick W. (History - 1855)

Contact: Janet Schwarze

Surnames: UERKVITZ SACHNANG HILES

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson County

FREDERICK W. UERKVITZ, manager of Samuel Hiles store at Lynn, Clark County, was born on the island of Rugen, in the Baltic Sea, under the Prussian government, October 4, 1855, a son of Frederick W. Uerkvitz and he had one sister, and no brother. His paternal ancestry for several generations were also natives of that island. Rugen contains about 100 square miles, and is characterized by beautiful scenery and mild and healthful climate. Mr. Uerkvitz served his three years in the Prussian Army but in time of peace. His father served in the war of 1848, when a revolution was carried on in order to obtain a constitutional representation. Mr. Uerkvitz, our subject was the first and only one of the family to break away from the land of their nativity and cross the seas to America, which he in July, 1882, landing in New York on the 18th of that month, at the age of twenty-seven years. Coming directly to Steven's Point, Wisconsin, he spent a few months there, and then devoted one winter to the pineries. The next spring he went to Pittsville and was for several years employed in the hub and spoke factory there of A. J. Webster Co. Next he was in mercantile business a year in Frank Hiles store. Then Samuel Hiles purchased the stock and started a store in the village of Lynn, and Mr. Uerkvitz was placed in charge, which position he now holds.

He was married December 1883, to Albertine A. Sachnang, and they have two children, namely: Amelia A., born in Pittsville, October 8, 1884, and Frederick W., born in Pittsville, January 14, 1888. His wife's father's family, containing five children, came from Switzerland to this county in 1862. Mrs. Uerkvitz, the youngest, was born January 11, 1861, a year before the family came to America, locating in Washara County, Wisconsin. Her parents are still living, their age being somewhere in the 60's. Mr. Sachnang was a sailor in his youth, circumnavigating the globe and visiting many foreign ports.