Bio: Keil, Julius H. (1855 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Keil, Eschman

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

Keil, Julius H. (28 February 1855 – 19??)

JULIUS H. KEIL, capitalist, is one of the largest property owners at Wausau, Wis., and is one of the city's best known men. Not only is Captain Keil prominent in business affairs, especially in improved real estate, but has honorable military standing as well. He is a member of the Council of Honor of the Central Union of the German Veterans and Soldiers' Federation of North America, and second vice president of all the German Veteran Associations in the state of Wisconsin, the members of these bodies all having formerly been soldiers in the German army. Captain Keil was born in Germany, February 28, 1855, and is a son of Frederick and Rosa Keil. The father was a military man all his life and won many honors.

Julius H. Keil was reared and educated in his native land and when twenty years of age entered the army in which he served with credit for three years. By trade he is a dyer and after his army service was over he engaged at work in the line of his trade until 1880, when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean and visited in New York for six weeks. Finding his expenses heavier than he had anticipated he returned then to Germany but his impressions of the country and people had been so favorable that in 1886 he came back to America. Shortly afterward he became foreman of large dye works in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., where he remained for eight months, then spent a short period in Cincinnati and afterward came on to Milwaukee, Wis. In that city he became foreman for the Northwestern Woolen Mill Company and continued such for one year and then came to Wausau. Here he purchased a property opposite the Northwestern Railroad depot and conducted dye works there for eighteen years. In the meanwhile he had been purchasing property and improving it in different parts of the city, both on the East and West sides and now occupies his handsome residence on Sherman street, West side, and also owns all the resident buildings between Third and Fifth avenues South, having built them all. He also built the West side Roller Skating Rink. He devotes much of his time to looking after his numerous properties and many investments. His position in connection with the German Veterans Association is one of such honor that when he visited Germany in May 1910, where he remained for eleven weeks, he was the guest of royalty and great consideration was shown him. He travels over many sections of the United States on lecture tours, largely in connection with the military organization in which he is so interested.

On November 28, 1890 Captain Keil was united in marriage with Miss Emma Eschman, who was born in Switzerland, and they have three children: Freda, Rosa and Helen. He is identified with the fraternal organization known as the Eagles and belongs also to the Royal Arcanum. Wausau owes much to Mr. Keil's public spirit in the way of material development and his improvement of property here has undoubtedly done a great deal in the way of attracting capital to this city and the establishing here of permanent residents.