Bio: Zassenhaus, William (History - 1838)

Contact: Janet Schwarze

Surnames: ZASSENHAUS LUECKE LACHMANN ORTH

----Source: Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin, by The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891

WILLIAM ZASSENHAUS, Register of Deeds for Clark County, Wisconsin, was born in Germany, December 1838, the son of Frederick and Louise (Luecke) Zassenhaus, natives of Germany. The father was an extensive merchant at Mettmann, Germany, and continued the same until his death in 1866 the mother died in 1863. They were members of the Evangelical Church, and had a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, four of whom are still living, vis.: Wilhelmine, Eigen, William, Carl and Helena. All the children were natives of Germany except our subject.

He attended school until nineteen years of age, and graduated in chemistry and mining. He then served as a soldier two years and six months, after which he went to Australia where he remained five years in the gold fields which proved very satisfactory financially. In 1865 he returned to Germany on a visit, and after three months came to America, landing in New York City. He then set out for the western world, stopping first at New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming for a short time. In 1866 he went to Superior City, Wisconsin and engaged in exploring for minerals one year next he went to the copper mines of Michigan, and engaged in mining ten years with the exception of one year spent in the silver mines of Nevada. In 1877 Mr. Zassenhaus came to Clark County, Wisconsin and settled in the Township of Green Grove, where he started the first store and post office in the township, there being only four settlers there at that time. The land was covered with timber, consisting of pine, hardwood, and the only railroad was at Colby, six miles away. He conducted the and post office until 1889, when he was elected to his present position, after which he sold his goods and rented his building. He was the first Chairman of Green Grove, which position he held two years, and has also assisted in the building of churches and the schoolhouse. Since moving to the city of Neillsville, he has purchased stock in the large furniture plant of this city.

Mr. Zassenhaus was married in 1866, to Miss Maria Orth, a native of Germany, and the daughter of John and Wilhelmine (Lachmann) Orth. They have a family of eight children, namely: Louisa R., a clerk for her father in the register office Joseph W., Agnes M., Helena, William, Mary, Clara, and Frederick W. Mr. Zassenhaus is a Republican politically, and a member of the Knight's of Pythias. He is one of the prominent men of Clark County, and takes an active interest in the growth and development of the county and State.

ZASSENHAUS LUECKE LACHMANN ORTH