Baehr, Otto 1863

Transcribed by Janet

OTTO BAEHR, a prosperous dairy farmer, residing in Section 23, Mayville Township, was born in Germany, May 13, 1863, son of Carl and Fredericka (Wurdel) Baehr. The family came to America in the spring of 1877, landing at New York and proceeding west to Milwaukee, Wis., to visit a son, Frank, who resided there, having preceded them to this country. In the fall of the same year they came to Clark County, where Carl Baehr bought the eighty-acre tract on which the subject of this sketch now lives. It was unimproved, and he built a log cabin and cleared the land with an ox team. He also erected a log stable and in time made fair progress in the work of improvement. His death took place in 1885, his wife dying in 1892. Their children were: Frank, now of Ashland, Wis.; Robert, who is in Germany; Carl, of Withee, Wis.; Otto, on the home farm; Martha, now Mrs. Herman Hedrich, of Abbotsford; and Arthur, who resides in Mayville Township, this county.

Otto Baehr received his present farm from his fathers' estate, and is chiefly engaged in carrying on dairy farming, milking ten cows of the Holstein and Guernsey breeds. He also raises oats, barley and hay, and is about to construct a good silo. He has made improvements on his property, and is doing a successful business. Mr. Baehr has taken an active part in public affairs, and is now clerk of the school board of his district, being elected in 1917 for two years, and having previously served on the board some twenty-one years.

In 1913 he was elected a member of the township board and served for three years. He has also been justice of the peace for one year, and assessor two years. Mr. Baehr was married Aug. 24, 1896, to Louisa Theel, who was born in Manitowoc County, Wis., daughter of William and Fredericka (Wichman) Theel, the former of whom died Dec. 29, 1917, and the latter of whom died in 1910, leaving of their twelve children, in addition to Louisa, now Mrs. Baehr, Herman, of Reseburg Township, this county; William, of Kiel, Manitowoc County this state; Minnie, now Mrs. Oscar J. Johnson, of Thorp; and Albertine, now Mrs. William Weeseburg, of California. Mr. and Mrs. Baehr have nine children: Irvin, born Dec. 6, 1896; Amanda, Jan. 20, 1898; William, Sept. 12, 1899; Arthur, Aug. 27, 1901; Freida, Sept. 23, 1903; Robert, Oct. 3, 1905; Clara, May 18, 1908; Leona, Dec. 1, 1910; and Clarence, Feb. 9, 1912. Irvin is connected with the automobile business in Detroit. William is a student at Concordia College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.