Bio: Lonsdorf, Ferdinand A. (1878 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lonsdorf, Kestley, Blecha, Houfec, Lehman, Paersch, Leak, Dietrich, Deering, Vetter, Fiedler, Freiders, Miller, Snyder, Schmidt, Shubert, Buhl

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

Lonsdorf, Ferdinand A (1 September 1878 - 19??)

Ferdinand A. Lonsdorf, treasurer and manager of the Athens Farmers Store Company, at Athens. Wis. is a member of the village board and chairman of the conference committee, and in every way is a useful and representative citizen. He was born September 1, 1878, at Manitowoc, Wis., and is a son of John P. and Theresa (Kestley) Lonsdorf. The parents of Mr. Lonsdorf were also born in Wisconsin and they reside on their farm in Manitowoc County. Their family consists of the following children: Ferdinand A., John, William, Arthur, Herbert, Raymond, Laura and Nora. Laura is the wife of Arthur Blecha, and Nora is the wife of Wenzel Houfec.

Ferdinand A. Lonsdorf was educated in the Manitowoc schools and was graduated from the High School in the class of 1898. He then secured a position as clerk in that city and continued in that capacity there until he came to Athens. The Athens Farmers' Store Company was organized to meet a general demand for commodities, first class in quality and moderate in price, November 1, 1900, and is an incorporated concern with officers and directors as follows: William Lehman, president; Rinehold Paersch, secretary; Ferdinand A. Lonsdorf, treasurer and manager, and Gustav Leak, Charles Dietrich, Gustav Deering, Carl Vetter and August Fiedler. In addition to owning stock in this prospering enterprise, Mr. Lonsdorf is one of the stockholders in the Athens Bank, and owns a comfortable residence in the village and twenty acres in the village of Athens.

In October, 1902, Mr. Lonsdorf was married to Miss Margaret Freiders who was born at Appleton, Wis., a daughter of Philip and Lucy (Miller) Freiders. The father of Mrs. Lonsdorf was a brick-mason by trade. Her brothers and sisters are: Rose, who is the wife of Richard Snyder: John; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Eugene Schmidt: Anna, who is the wife of Frank Shubert; Tena, who is the wife of Frank Buhl; and Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Lonsdorf have five children: Marie, Charles, Margaret, Herbert and Mildred. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Lonsdorf is identified with the Eagles and the Catholic Order of Foresters. In politics he is a Democrat.