JACOB ENHELDER, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Weston Township, is a pioneer of Clark County and a veteran of the Civil War. He was born in Switzerland, Jan. 1, 1831, son of John and Mary Enhelder, the father being a miller by occupation. John and Mary Enhelder had three children: Jacob, John and Mary. Jacob Enhelder was educated in his native land and there learned the miller's trade. He was the first of the family to come to the United States, being 17 years old at the time, his emigration taking place in 1848. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel and lasted eighty-six days, terminating at the port of New Orleans. From there Mr. Enhelder proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and from there went to Davenport, Iowa, where he stayed all summer. In 1849 he came to Clark County, Wis., following an Indian trail from the mouth of Black River. On arriving at North Bend he halted and spent the winter there, and in the following spring came to Black River Fans, where he worked in lumber camps and on the river until after the Civil War, except for the time that he spent in military service.

It was in 1861 that he enlisted at Black River Falls in Company G, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteers, being mustered in at Milwaukee and sent to Louisville, Ky., where he stayed on Salt River until the spring. The regiment then marched against Beauregard and Mr. Enhelder took part in the battle of Murfreesboro and other engagements, serving three years and three months, and being mustered out at Atlanta, Ga. Returning home, he again took up his residence at Black River Falls.

In 1864 he was married at Neillsville to Jessie Douglas, an adopted daughter of Robert Douglas, an old pioneer of Clark County, and after his marriage he and his wife resided at Neillsville. While residing there he engaged in teaming between Greenwood, Sparta and Neillsville, and was thus occupied until the construction of the railroad. When that event put an end to his teaming he resolved to take up farming and accordingly secured a piece of land in Pine Valley Township. It was a wild tract of eighty acres, but a road had been chopped through and there was a log building on the place. He and his wife lived there for three years, at the end of which time he traded the place for a tract of the same size in Weston Township, on the west side of the river. There was a frame barn already constructed and he built a frame house and with a team and two cows he began the work of clearing the land, a task that he finally accomplished. There he resided for thirty years, during which time he and his wife had six children born to them, who were named respectively: Clarence, Mattie, Dean, Ernest, Willis and Robert, the last mentioned being now deceased. This place, which lay in section 31, he finally sold, buying a tract of 240 acres in section 4. Of this latter about forty acres were cleared, and there was a sort of building on the land which passed for a house, but which was neither ornamental nor commodious. There were also one or two other buildings, all of which needed improvement. These, together with the house, he rebuilt and erected other buildings, including a warehouse and silo, and in time he had the place well cleared and improved. In early days Mr. Enhelder took some long walks in the country, on one occasion walking from La Crosse to Black River Falls, assistance of fifty-one miles in one day, and on another occasion he repeated the same feat. Mr. Enhelder is now retired from active work and is enjoying his latter years in ease and comfort, the reward of his long career of industry and thrift. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Neillsville. His son, Willis, now owns and conducts the old farm. He married Clara Newell, and has two children, Eugene and Ruth.

The 1880 Census for Weston, Clark, WI

JACOB ENHELDER @47, Farmer, b. Switz, parents also b. Switz. (d. 11-Apr-1918 in Eaton, Clark, WI & buried 16-Apr-1918 in Neillsville, Clark, WI)

Wife: Jessie @27, b. WI, parents b. Switz. (m. 13-Dec-1868 Pine Valley, Clark, WI)

Son: Clarence @10, Student, b. WI

Dau: Mattie @8, Student, b. WI

Son: Eugene @3, b. WI

Son: Earnest @1, b. WI

Son: Willes @4 mo., b. WI

Jacob Enhelder is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

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