Bio: Baumann, Richard (1839 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Baumann, Paff, Lattermann, Dobring, Seim,

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

--- Baumann, Richard (24 September 1839 - 19??)

RICHARD BAUMANN, hardware merchant and president of the R. Baumann Hardware Company of Wausau, has lived in this place for many years, coming in 1864 and being now the oldest hardware man in the city in point of years in the trade. He was born in Germany, September 24, 1839, and is a son of Henry and Wilhelmina Baumann.  

Richard Baumann remained in Germany until he was nineteen years of age, attending school and also learning the tinsmith trade. After reaching the United States he made his way to Milwaukee in 1859 and there worked as a tinsmith. It was through the encouragement of Jacob Paff that he came to Wausau, Mr. Paff at that time operating a general store, and for two years Mr. Baumann continued in the employ of Mr. Paff and then started a tin shop of his own. As trade increased he expanded his business so that it gradually included a full line of hardware and Mr. Baumann keeps abreast with the times in his line, his stock including all the thoroughly proved goods as well as the later improvements and the newly invented ones. He has much that is interesting to tell concerning the changes that have come about not only in his own line of trade but in other directions since he embarked in the business some forty-six years ago.  

In 1864, just prior to leaving Milwaukee for Wausau, Mr. Baumann was married to Miss Emma Lattermann, who was also born in Germany, and five children were born to them, the two survivors being: Anna, a widow (Mrs. Dobring), residing at Wausau; and Agnes, who is the wife of Henry J. Seim. Mrs. Emma Baumann died April 10, 1913. When Mr. Baumann went into business he began on Third Street, on the site of his early store in 1880 erecting his handsome Baumann Building. In 1898 he erected the handsome brick residence that he subsequently sold to his son-in-law, Henry J. Seim. Mr. Baumann is a member of the Evangelical Church.