Bio: Genrich, Fred W. (1872 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Genrich, Brown, Pradt, Brown, Wilson, Erdman

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Genrich, Fred (9 August 1872 - 19??)

Fred W. Genrich, a leading member of the bar at Wausau, Wis., belonging to the well known law firm of Brown, Pradt & Genrich, with offices in the First National Bank Building, has been a resident of Wisconsin since he was eight years old. He was born in Germany, August 9, 1872, a son of Fred W. and Wilhelmina Genrich.

In 1880 the parents of Mr. Genrich came to the United States with their children and settled first at Berlin, in Marathon County, Wis., but shortly afterward came to Wausau. In his native land the lad had already attended school and been a credit to his class, but the strange English language in America was difficult to learn, with its many shadings and meanings, and it was a task indeed to conquer it and not only to write and speak it with correctness but also with eloquence. When fourteen years of age Fred W. Genrich entered the law office of Neal Brown as an office boy, by that time having acquired a speaking knowledge of English, and perhaps here he found the encouragement that aroused his ambition and made him resolve by day and night study, whenever opportunity offered, to become not only master of the English tongue but also to qualify in law. In the course of time he successfully passed his examinations and in the fall of 1899 was admitted to the bar and immediately thereafter became a member of his present firm and this association has continued for twenty-five years. Politics have also interested Mr. Genrich and on the Democratic ticket he has been elected to the city council and from 1896 until the spring of 1899 filled the office of supervisor and from 1900 until 1904 made a creditable record as district attorney. His business interests in addition to those of his profession are well placed and he is a director of the Citizens State Bank and is vice president of the Wilson Mercantile Company, wholesale grocers.

Mr. Genrich was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Erdman, of Grand Rapids, Wis., in 1894, and they have two children: Helen, who was born in 1895, and Fred W., Jr., who was born in 1898, both of whom attended the Wausau High School. Fraternally Mr. Genrich is identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Masons and is serving at present as master of the local Masonic lodge.