Bio: Aebly, Henry (1914)
Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Aebly, Becker, Duerst, Kundert, Hoesly

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 624-625

Henry Aebly, one of the prosperous and well-known farmers of Brunswick township, comes from Swiss lineage. He was born at New Glarus, Green county, Wis., June 7, 1850, to Henry and Mary (Becker) Aebly. The father emigrated from Switzerland, his native country, to America in 1845. Soon after landing in New York City he secured an outfit and started overland for the state of Iowa via prairie schooner, arriving safely at his destination. He remained but a short time in Iowa, however, when he removed to Wisconsin and settled on a large farm near what is now known as New Glarus, in Green county. Here he was successfully engaged in farming until 1898, when he died at the age of seventy-five years, and his remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at New Glarus. He married Mary Becker, daughter of Solomon Becker, of Switzerland, and they were the parents of six children, as follows: Solomon, deceased; Henry, the subject of this review; Mary became the wife of Nicholas Duerst, a prosperous farmer of Green county; Magdelina married Thomas Kundert, a retired farmer of New Glarus; Elizabeth married J. Henry Duerst, of New Glarus, also retired, and Jacob a farmer of West Concord, Minn.

Henry Aebly, grandfather of our subject, Avho was a farmer in Switzerland, came to the United States with his son, Henry, in 1845. He also followed farming in Green county, this state, but lived only a few years after arriving at New Glarus.

Henry Aebly, III, the subject of this sketch, acquired his education in the common schools of New Glarus. He was reared on the farm and remained at home until he reached the age of 25, assisting his parents with the farm Avork. He then purchased a farm at Exeter, Green county, and successfully conducted the same for seven years. He then in 1883 returned to his home town and engaged in the hotel business, owning and operating the Wisconsin House, and as proprietor of this well-known hostelry catered to the best of public patronage. After successfully carrying on this business for eight years he retired from the hotel and rented the same for the next seven years. In 1908 he sold the hotel and other buildings at New Glarus and moved to Eau Claire county, where he purchased the Porter farm, containing 507 acres of highly cultivated and well-improved land in Brunswick township. In his general farming operations Mr. Aebly employs the most modern and up-to-date methods and gives particular attention to the breeding and raising of fine stock, and from his 100 head of cattle carries on an extensive dairy business, shipping his milk to the Eau Claire Creamery Company, and in this as well as in all his work has been eminently successful. He is a Democrat in political opinion, but has taken little part in matters outside his regular business more than to perform his duties as a good citizen. He is affiliated with the Lutheran church and the German Lodge, G. U. G. G.

Mr. Aebly married Mary Duerst, daughter of Samuel and Barbara (Becker) Duerst, and to this union have been born four children, as follows: Mary Anna married John M. Schmid, who is connected with the International Harvester Company at Milwaukee; Henry Nicholas, who resides at home, assisting with the farm work; Emma Barbara married J. Herman; Elmer, a farmer of Green county, Wisconsin, and Magdeline Ida, who is the wife of J. M. Hoesly, a well-to-do farmer of Brunswick township.