John A. Mund, 1854

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Thu, 15 Feb 2001

Surname: MUND, CARRUS, BODWIN, LYMAN, RITCHIE, KEISTER

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

JOHN A. MUND engaged in agriculture and dairying in Weston Township, where he has made a success after long years of effort and early discouragements, was born in Rensselaer County, New York, Oct. 23, 1854, son of Bernhardt and Theresa (Carrus) Mund. The parents were born in Baden, Germany, and married in New York. Berhardt Mund came to the United States alone in 1849, landing in this country after a fifty-two-days' voyage in a sailing vessel. His wife came in 1851 with her mother also in a sailing vessel, the voyage lasting fifty-four days. Bernhardt was, at that time 22 years old and a shoemaker by trade. While still residing in New York State two children were born to him and his wife: John subject of this sketch, and Mary, who is now married and resides in Weston Township. About 1855 he and his family came west to Washington County, Wis., where two more children were born: Rosa, now the widow of Ferdinand Barr, of Pierce County, and Bertha, wife of Joseph Bodwin, of Weston Township, Clark County. The father followed his trade until 1878, after which he resided with his son, John A., until his death in March, 1914, at the age of 86 years. His wife, Mrs. Theresa Mund, died here, in 1906, at the age of 72. Bernhardt Mund had been a soldier in the Germany army, but after coming to this country became thoroughly imbued with American principles.

John A. Mund, in his boyhood, attended district school in Washington County and when a little older acquired a knowledge of farming. When he left home he first took up railroad work but later went to farming. In 1878 he came to Clark County, securing eighty acres of land in section 18, of which twenty acres were chopped and the rest wild. There was no building on the place and no traveled road near it, so he built a log house, 1'6 by 26 feet, with one room, which was his first residence here. He also bought a yoke of oxen, a sow, and a wagon and plow the first year, and made a three-cornered drag. Of this tract he cleared all except twenty acres, which he left in timber, buying forty more acres of wild land in section 17. He also worked in the lumber camps sawing and driving team, at intervals coming home and doing a little chopping on his farm, or working in the harvest fields of neighboring farmers. In this way he made gradual progress, which was slow at first but faster in later years, as the farm improved sufficiently to support himself and family. He had come to Clark County with the idea that it was a farming country, but had found the principal occupation lumbering, and had to make the best of conditions. In time he built a log barn 60 by 25 feet in size, and has since made various other improvements, now having a well developed and profitable farm of sixty acres, and keeping a good grade of stock. In early days his wife would make butter and walk to town with it, having to sell it for eight cents a pound or less, and rarely being able to get six cents a dozen for eggs. It was not until the creameries started that prosperity began to dawn upon them.

Mr. Mund's marriage occurred in 1883, his bride being Jessie Lyman, of Oconomowoc, Jefferson County, Wis., where she was born, March 5, 1866, daughter of Albert and Jennie (Ritchie) Lyman. Her father was a gardener by occupation and had come to this country before the Civil War, in which he served four years as a soldier in the Federal army. He and his wife had another child, William Lyman, now of Portage, Wis. Mrs. Jessie Mund died Mar. 6, 1912, having been the mother of four children: Elmer of Self Township who married Josephine Poppie and has three children, Lloyd, Vitus and Glen; Byron, who resides on the home farm; Mamie, who is the wife of Henry Keister, of Warner Township, and has two children, Dorothea and Edwin; and Lillian, who died at the age of four months. Mr. Mund is now serving in his ninth year as chairman of the township board, having been supervisor fourteen years, and having also served three years on the school board. He has shown efficiency both in his private business and in public office and is one of the leading citizens of Weston Township.