Bio: Wegner, Charles H. (1863 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Wegner, Kickbush

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

Wegner, Charles H. (28 January 1863 – 19??)

CHARLES H. WEGNER, general merchant, who has been a resident of Wausau, Wis., for twenty-nine years and established here in his own business for almost a quarter of a century, is one of the city's reliable, substantial and truly representative men. He was born in Germany, January 28, 1863 and the first twenty years of his life were spent in his native land and his education was secured in the German schools.

Charles H. Wegner decided very early in life to become a merchant and in early manhood decided that the United States could offer better opportunities than were to be found in his native neighborhood, and after landing at the port of New York, came immediately to Wausau, Wis., where already many of his countrymen had settled. He very soon secured employment as a clerk in stores and served in that capacity, in the meanwhile learning the English language and the important details of merchandising, until 1888 when he embarked in business for himself, opening up in what was known as the old Kickbush Block, on the corner of First and Scott streets and has occupied this site ever since, now owning his fine brick structure which includes Nos. 502-504 First Street. He carries one of the largest as well as most carefully selected stocks in the city, covering many commodities: dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, china and crockery, together with flour and feed. His present enormous business has been built up on a foundation of honesty and he has customers who have dealt with him from the beginning. His place is the trading headquarters for a very large percentage of the farmers, campers and loggers in the surrounding country, his long experience enabling him to provide just the goods these patrons want, while his honorable business methods are well known to them and their confidence in his integrity is unquestioned.  

On April 23, 1889, Mr. Wegner was married to Miss Emma Kickbush, a daughter of the late Hon. F. W. Kickbush, who was once consul from the United States to Germany.