OTTO BRAUN, proprietor of the Black River Cheese Factory in Hixon Township, was born in Manitowoc, Wis., Aug. 15, 1876. His parents, Albert and Hannah Braun, were born and married in Germany, coming to America in 1871, and locating at Manitowoc, where Albert Braun worked. as a laboring man for fifteen years. In 1886 they came to Clark County, settling in Colby Township, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, which was then merely a tract of wild land. Building a log cabin, he began the work of improvement, which he continued for many years, finally becoming prosperous. On one occasion in early days on the farm, a black bear made a raid on his pig and carried off the only pig he had at the time, a serious loss to him then, but an incident at which he could afford to smile in later years. He finally sold his farm and moved to Colby, where he is still living with his wife. They have had ten children-four sons and six daughters Mrs. F. McMiller, of Unity; Mrs. A. A. Wert, Ashland; Otto of Hixon; Albert, Platteville; Mrs. William Welsch, now in Alta, Canada; Gustave, of Owen; Mrs. C. M. Anderson, Withee; Mrs. C. M. Halverson, Withee; Reynold, Junction City, and Minnie, living at home with her parents at Colby. All the sons are cheese makers but one. Otto Braun remained associated with his father until he was 21 years old. He had learned the cheese making industry at the age of 17 years, and now followed it as a regular occupation, which he has done since, except during a period of six years.

In 1901 he began farming near Withee, but in the summer of 1913 his buildings were blown away by a cyclone. Beginning in 1914, Mr. Braun operated a cheese factory at Withee for one year, after which he started his present factory, known as the Black River Cheese Factory, which has a ready taken a high place among the similar institutions of the county. After running this factory for three years he sold it and bought an improved farm of eighty acres in the Town of Hoard, where he hopes to be known as one of the successful farmers of the day.

Mr. Braun was married Oct. 30, 1900, to Mary Nelson, who was born in Beaver Township Clark County, Jan. 28, 1881, daughter of Nels and Johannah Mary (Christenson) Nelson, her parents being natives of Norway. The father died in 1888 at the age of 62 years, and the mother Feb. 28, 1909. Their family contained seven children-Julia, now living in Trempealeau County, Wis. Of Fred, of Clark County; Christ, who is -in Montana; John and William, of Clark County; Effie, deceased, and Mary, wife of Mr. Braun. Mr. and Mrs. Braun are the parents of three children born as follows: Myrl, April 28, 1903; Donald, March 23, 1907, and Alice, April 27, 1909.