Bio: Grottke, Ernest (1872 - ?)

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

Surnames: GROTTKE, PAUEL, SCHARFF

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

Ernest Grottke, 1872

ERNEST GROTTKE, a progressive farmer of Section 7, Grant Township, was born in Schlassing, Germany, Jan. 8, 1872, son of Carl Gotlieb and Anna Rosa (Pauel) Grottke. He was educated in Germany, and had little chance for attending school after he came to this country with his parents' family 1886. He was then about 15 years old, and soon after he began working out for farmers and was thus occupied until he located for himself on eighty acres of land in Section 7. This was stumpy land with no buildings on it. At the time he settled on it he had just married Anna Scharff, the date of their marriage being -- --, 18-- .

Mr. Grottke put up the frame of a house and by the year 1900 had a handsome nine-room brick house completed. Later, he built a good barn, 40 by 52 feet, and a machine shed, and 13 by 34. He now owns 160 acres of well-tilled land, and raises Holstein cattle and other good stock. Like his father, he is a member of the German Lutheran Church. He and his wife have had eight children: Elma, Walter, Ida, William and Edward (twins), Bernhardt, Herb and Arnold, of whom Edward is now deceased.