Bio: Castner, George & Nettie (Wicker)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: CASTNER, NUTTING, GILMAN, MACK, WICKER, YOUNG

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918 by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, pg. 402

George & Nettie (Wicker) Castner

                                 Mr. & Mrs. George Castner

GEORGE CASTNER, a progressive farmer of Loyal Township, was born in a log cabin on his father's farm in section 22, this township, April 28, 1864. A memoir of the father, John Castner, appears elsewhere in this volume. George remained on the parental farm until reaching the age of 14 years, when, being a strong and energetic boy, he went to work in the lumber camps. His strength and vigor increased with exercise; he developed into a strong and hardy man and today shows effect from the hard work he did in lumber camps, in railroad construction work, and on the farm. He was first married, Aug. 23, 1886, to Lillian Nutting, daughter of Charles and Cordelia  (Gilman) Nutting, and who was born in Randolph County, Wis., Jan., 18, 1859.

The Nutting family trace their ancestry back to John Nutting, who came from England in 1636. The Gilmans are of Welch ancestry, and their genealogy has been traced back to the year 926. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Castner, with his wife, located on a wild tract of land in section 27, Loyal Township, beginning its improvement with a team of horses, aside from which they, had nothing but their hands. There they resided nine years, Mr. Castner putting up good buildings and having fifty-five acres cleared when he left the place. During this time he was also engaged as a contractor in, the logging Industry, his camps being located in Loyal Township and on Black River and near Rhinelander.

After that he engaged in railroad contract work in various places, including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana and British Columbia, from which last place he returned to Loyal Township and purchased the old homestead of his father, where he was born, which was then owned by Daniel Mack, his maternal grandfather. On this he now resides, and here he has built, a good ten-room house, a barn, 36 by 100 feet, and a silo, 16 by 34 feet. He raises good stock, keeping- high grade Guernsey and Holstein cattle, and, using a milking machine. In addition to this farm he owns another in Loyal Township. His first wife, Mrs. Lillian Castner, died Dec. 31, 1895, leaving four children: John, Cora, Ethel and Frona. The three daughters have all been teachers. Mr. Castner married for his second wife, Nettie Wicker, the date of their union being Jan. 28, 1903. She was born in Neburg, Wis. Aug. 2, 1868, daughter of William and Emeline (Young) Wieker, who, at an early day, settled in Colby, Marathon County, where they were pioneer farmers. Her mother still resides there, but her father died at the age of 54 years. Of Mr. Castner's second marriage three children have been born: Jeanette, Edith and Valda.

The Castner Brothers

Dan, Albert, Alfred and George

(Albert & Alfred are twins)