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----Source: Levis 125 Year Book (1981); provided by "The Jailhouse Museum".

Surnames: RATH PINGLE DEMMER UTTENWEILER PHILLIPS WENTZ SCHWAMB SPAUR PHLUGHOEFT

Rath, William - Family

Wm. H. Rath, the youngest of three brothers, sons of John and Fredericka (Pingle) Rath, was born at Richland Center, Wis. Aug. 27, 1874.  He attended school there and worked as driver for the livery stable for several years.  He also drove for the veterinarian and worked as his helper.  Later he worked for Ringling Brothers Circus, taking care of the horses and taking them by train to their winter quarters in Sarasota, Florida.  He then attended the University of Wisconsin for two years in order to become a licensed cheese maker.

He married a neighbor girl, a former school mate, For a Demmer of Richland Center, Wis. on Jan. 1, 1901.  Two children, Margaret and Carl were born at Richland Center.  On May 4, 1906 the family moved to the township of Levis (Clark Co., Wis.), taking over the farm his brother James owned.

Viola was born May 9, 1909 in Levis.

At first they raised sheep and goats, but because the farmers lost so many animals to dog packs, killing them, they sold the sheep and goats and went into dairy farming.  Wm. Rath was also the cheese maker at the Levis Cheese Factory at Halvorson’s Corner where later Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matousek Sr. lived, after the cheese factory burned down.  He also made cheese at the Day’s Corner Factory and the Stone Cheese Factory (which later came to be Hagie’s Blacksmith Shop).

His wife, For a, passed away suddenly May 27, 1910.  Margaret and Carl then made their home with their grandparents in Richland Center, and Viola, being only one years old, went to Dent, Minn. To her mother’s parents.

On Feb. 27, 1911, Wm. Rath married Sophia Maria Uttenweiler, who was born in Pittsburg, Pa., moving to Chicago, Ill at about twelve years of age.  She worked in stores for sometime before her father bought a farm in Levis.  Wm. And Sophia had one daughter, Frieda, who received her education in the Meadow View School.

Margaret received her education in the Lincoln-Meadow View School.  She then went to Chicago, Ill. In 1920 where she worked for Western Electric Co. until her marriage to Lewis L. Spaur Aug. 19, 1924.  Several years later they left Chicago and started farming in Iowa.  Margaret is a resident of the Albia Manor, Albia, Iowa.  Her husband passed away Jan. 11, 1961,

Carl also received his education at Lincoln-Meadow View School.  He worked on his father’s farm as well as on other farmers who needed help.  He also worked in Floyd Hagie’s Blacksmith Shop.  He went to the Dakotas at harvest time for several years.  He married Ann Wentz while in North Dakota, Sept. 25, 1934 and lived there the rest of his life.  They had six children, 4 boys and 2 girls and step-daughters.  Carl passed away March 29, 1980 after suffering several strokes, at the Cando, N.D. Nursing Home.

Viola also received her education in Meadow View School in Levis.  She later died housekeeping and on Dec. 29, 1931 she married Leavitt Phillips.  They had two sons.  She worked at domestic work until a few years ago when due to failing health she entered the Plymouth, Wis. Nursing Home where she still resides.  Her husband passed away Agu. 19, 1976.

Frieda received her education in the Meadow View School, then helped at home and worked out doing housework for others.  She was married March 1, 1932 to Theodore Schwamb.  They had one daughter, Hazel, now Mrs. Donald Phlugheoft.  They have two children, Dale and Lori, both at Home.  Frieda is now employed at Neillsville Memorial Nursing Home for the past 26 ½ years.  Her husband passed away Dec. 11, 1953.