----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin, pg. 534 - 535.

               Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rondorf and Family

Joseph Rondorf, who is aiding in the agricultural development of York Township, having a farm in section 16, which he has developed from primitive conditions, was born in Dane County, Wis., Aug 16, 1855, on the farm of his parents, Hilarious and Maria (Schell) Rondorf. The parents were born in Germany and came to the United States in 1852, journeying west and northwest until they came to Madison, Wis., where the railroad ended. Then renting a farm in Dane County, they resided on it for six years, and at the end of the time moves to Monroe County, where Hilarious Rondorf bought eighty acres of wild land, on which he built a log house and barn, thus beginning the work of improvement. Having cleared his land, he bought 120 acres more, thus making 200 in all, and he spent the remainder of his life. In 1863 after the outbreak of the civil war, he enlisted in company K, 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the conflict. He and his wife had two children. Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Trinkes, a farmer of La Crosse County, Wis. Joseph remained at home until he was 28 years old. He was then a married man, having been united in matrimony, with Odelia Algree, on May 16, 1880 in Monroe County. Her fathers name was Carl Algree his occupation that of farming.

Residing for two years on the home farm after their marriage, he then came to Clark County, having previously purchased an eighty-acre tract of land in Section 16, York Township. The land was wild and he had to build a house, in which he and his wife took up their abode. He also erected a log barn and with a team of oxen began the arduous work of clearing the land. Fifteen years after moving onto the farm, he bought forty acres more, then, finding the log house too small-his family having been increased by the birth of two more children, he built an 11 room brick residence, and also replaced the old log barn with a modern structure, 40' X 74' in size. He also put up several smaller buildings. He is now engaged in raising Holstein cattle and Percheron horses, and in addition to his immediate farming operations, is a stockholder in the Wausau Packing Company.

For a number of years Mr. Rondorf served as supervisor of his township and he has been a school treasurer for twenty years. His wife died Jan. 21, 1913. He and his wife have two children: Mamie, now Mrs. A. Dorn, of Eau Claire, Wis., and Rella, who is in the United States service as a motor repairing expert. Henry and Ida both died in infancy.