Bio: Zielsdorf, Frank F. (1870 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Zielsdorf, Curtis, Yale, Miller, Kuhlmann

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

Zielsdorf, Frank F. (30 January 1870 - 19??)

Frank F. Zielsdorf, who has been chief of the Wausau Fire Department since the fall of 1909 and a member of this brave and effective organization for about twenty-five years, is one of Wausau's best known and most respected and useful citizens. He has lived here for forty-one years but was born in Germany, January 30, 1870, and is a son of William and Louise Zielsdorf, who brought him here when two years old. The father settled on the west side and Chief Zielsdorf has always lived in this section of the city. The father died in 1891 but the mother survives being now in her eighty-first year. She is well known and much beloved in the west side and has always retained, more or less, her thrifty, wholesome German customs.

Frank F. Zielsdorf obtained his education in the public schools and then went to work with the firm of Curtis Bros., now Curtis & Yale, in their sash and door factory, where he remained for eight years. He was one of the early members of the volunteer fire department and after the pay system came in and the department was made a part of the city government, he was made second assistant chief at the West Side Fire House. In 1907 he was appointed first assistant chief and in 1909 he succeeded Chief Miller as City Fire Chief, a responsible office for which he is admirably qualified in every way and he has the high regard of his fellow citizens as well as the confidence and admiration of his men.

Chief Zielsdorf married Miss Ida Kuhlmann, who was born in Washington County, Wis., and came from there to Wausau with her parents at the age of twelve years and was educated here. Her father, John C. Kuhlmann, is assistant postmaster of Wausau. The following children have been born to Chief and Mrs. Zielsdorf: Florence, Earl, Lucile, Byron, Frank and Margaret. Florence and Frank both died in infancy. Chief Zielsdorf is a member of the Order of Owls and of the E. F. U.