George Reindel, 1867

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Sun, 11 Feb 2001

Surname: REINDEL, SPIEZEL, BEHOS, BRETNA, JERKEL, KULUSA, SHENGARTH, WERCHEL

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918), by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

GEORGE REINDEL, a successful agriculturist of Section 5, Grant Township, was born in Jefferson County, Wis., Jan. 3, 1867. He is a son of John Reindel, a German farmer who came alone to the United States when about 26 years old. The voyage, made in a sailing vessel, was a long one, taking seven weeks, and while abroad ship he made the acquaintance of Counicunsta Spiezel and they were married in Milwaukee two months after landing in this country.

Soon after their marriage they removed to Jefferson County, Wis., and took up a homestead of sixty acres, which consisted entirely of wild land. On this tract John Reindel built a log house and barn, and started clearing the land, being fortunate enough to possess a yoke of oxen. With the lapse of time he made progress and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives on the place. They reared eight children-Walter, residing in Chicago; Marie, wife of a Mr. BeHos, of Chicago; Annie, now Mrs. Nick Bretna, of Chicago; John, who resides in Marshfield, Wis.; George, of Grant Township; Kate, who is the wife of Mr. Jerkel, and lives near the old home, in Jefferson County; Joseph, who is now deceased, and Michael, who lives in Jefferson County.

George Reindel remained at home until he was about 17 years old. Then for two years he was engaged in doing various kinds of work in Chainsville and Edgerton, and that vicinity, afterwards going to Marinette, Wis., where, however, he stayed only a few months. The next seven years of his life were spent in Neillsville. It was during that period also that he was married in Neillsville, March 7, 1892, to Emma Shengarth, daughter of William and Hannah (Kulusa) Shengarth, farming people of Clark County. The father, William, who had served in the German army, had come to this country from Germany when about 28 years old, his wife coming with her parents. when she was a girl.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. George Reindel kept house in Neillsville for about three years, at the end of which time they moved onto her father’s farm, where they spent the next two years. He then purchased his present farm of 120 acres in Section 5, Grant Township, which has since been the family home. Of this farm he has cleared about sixty acres and is carrying on general agriculture, also raising horses and Holstein cattle successfully among other improvements he has effected, he has erected a good ten room brick residence and a barn 40 by 70 feet, the house taking the place of the log dwelling which stood on the farm when he first moved onto it.

When he and his wife came to this place they had four children, of whom two had been born in Neillsville, namely: William J., May 20, 1893, now living at home; and Alma, Aug. 7,1895, who is now the wife of Mr. Werchel, of Clark County. The other two children, who were born on the farm of Mrs. Reindel’s father, were: Leah, born Jan. 26, 1896, and Clarence, born Jan. 13, 1898, both of whom reside on the home farm. Here two more children came to enlarge the family circle: Franklin, born Sept. 14, 1908, and Helene, born May 1, 1910.