Bio: Bielke, W. F. (1865 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bielke, Neumann, Bielkea, Fehlhaber, Ziegler, Ruder, Crochiere,

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

Bielke, W. F. (11 May 1865 – 19??)

W. F. BIELKE, justice of the peace and general merchant at Zeigler, Wis., was born in the town of Berlin, May 11, 1865, and is a son of Henry and Augusta (Neumann) Bielkea, who were natives of Germany and among the first settlers of the town of Berlin. They had three sons and two daughters. The father died when his son, W. F., was seventeen years of age and was buried in the Lutheran cemetery in the town of Berlin.  

W. F. Bielke attended the public schools in his native town and then worked on a farm until he embarked in the mercantile business, first at Naugart, where he continued for six years and then sold to A. J. Fehlhaber, after which he bought the stock and good will of George W. Zeigler, at his present place. For the entire time he was engaged at Naugart, Mr. Bielke was postmaster there and was appointed postmaster of this village and continued until the office was discontinued here. He is a stockholder in the Marathon-Zeigler telephone line, in the Marathon City Brewing Company, the George Ruder Brewing Company, and the City State Bank at Wausau, and is a member of the Berlin Fire and Lightning Insurance Company. He has served in a number of local offices, being justice of the peace and town and school clerk.

In 1890 Mr. Bielke was married to Miss Mary Crochiere, a daughter of Peter Crochiere, of Stettin, and they have five children: Ervin, Viola, Walter, Mildred and Delora. The family belongs to the Lutheran Church.