Bio: Abraham, Herman J. (1870 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Abraham, Curtis, Yale, Pieper

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

Abraham, Herman J. (14 February 1870 – 19??)

HERMAN J. ABRAHAM, sheriff of Marathon County, is well known in public, military and business circles at Wausau, of which city he is a native. His birth took place here February 14, 1870, and he is a son of William F. and Hannah Abraham, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to Wausau in 1869 and the father engaged in manufacturing brick. His death occurred April 19, 1891, at the age of fifty-seven years. He organized the old Germania Guard, of which he was first lieutenant until he retired in 1884, a man well posted in military life as he was a veteran of the German Austrian War of 1866. The mother survived until August, 1898. They had three sons and one daughter.  

Herman J. Abraham attended the public schools at Wausau until old enough to be self-supporting and then continued his education in the night schools. For eighteen years he was foreman of the Curtis & Yale Company at Wausau. Inheriting perhaps his father's taste for military life, Mr. Abraham, who is now a major in the W. N. G., enlisted in Co. G, 3rd Inf. October 4, 1889. He was appointed corporal, September 5, 1890; sergeant, May 7, 1891; commissioned second lieutenant, January 7, 1892: commissioned first lieutenant, September 11, 1894; commissioned captain, January 14. 1896; commissioned captain Wisconsin Volunteers, May 11, 1898; participated in all the engagements with the 3rd Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers during the Spanish American War; mustered out with his regiment, January 4, 1899; commissioned captain W. N. G., March 28, 1900, with date of rank from January 14, 1896; commissioned major, May 15, 1910. His shooting record as a soldier reflects exceeding credit upon him in every contest. From 1891 until 1894 he was a member of the state and regimental teams; winner of the Falk Skirmish Medal in 1894; member of the state and regimental teams from 1895 to 1896; and winner of the Holway Diamond Medal in estimating distances in 1908. Major Abraham has been a lifelong Democrat and his loyal services have been shown appreciation. On January 1, 1911, he was appointed under sheriff of Marathon County, and in 1912 was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket. A man of unflinching courage, proved valor and fortified by experience in the office of under sheriff, he seems exceptionally well fitted for the responsible office of sheriff. Personally he has friends in every section of the county. He has attended two General Maneuvers, in 1908 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, and in 1912 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.  

On March 25, 1895, Sheriff Abraham was married to Miss Alvina Pieper, a daughter of Ludwig Pieper of Wausau, and they have three children: Douglas, Adaline and Gordon.