Bio: Kraut Family in Curtiss (1891)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kraut, Blumentrett, Bass, Peissig, Miller, Kind, Kindler, Zulke, Karsten, Vorland, Cattanach, Klocke, Hoeper, Maurina

----Source: Olson Family Scrapbook

Josef Kraut was born April 27, 1855 at Tysa, Austria. He married Maria Blumentrett at Konigswald, Austria, January 7, 1878, where they owned a flour mill and sawmill. The following children were born there; Joseph, Frank, Bertha, Mary and Leo.

Josef came to Curtiss in 1891. He worked as head sawyer at the Bass Sawmill. He purchased land in the town of Green Grove.

A year later, in 1892, his wife Maria and the children came to the United States and by train landed at Peissig's Road in the Dorchester-Stetsonville area, where they stayed overnight with a family who had also come from Austria. The next day Josef took his family to Green Grove, where he had built a house.

In 1898, another son, Arthur, was born. This same year, Joseph purchased a saloon from Andrew Olson. He operated the saloon until his death on August 2, 1900. The business was then rented by Mike Miller until 1905 when the cyclone hit Curtiss, demolishing the building. A daughter of Mike Miller still resides at Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

After the saloon was rebuilt, Joe and Frank took over the business. Joe later went into business at Atwood and Frank purchased the tavern.

In 1909, Frank married Ida Kind, daughter of Gottlieb and Ida (Kindler) Kind. Born to them were: Franklin, married to Elsie Karsten; Pearl, married to Atty. Gorton Vorland, Colby; Donald; Ethel. Mrs. Willard Zulke, Madison and Marie, Mrs. James Cattanach, Owen.

Donald Kraut is the third generation to own the building which housed the Kraut's Saloon; now run by Mr. & Mrs. Merman Klocke and known as Herman's Bar since 1957.

Donald graduated from the Goodman College of Embalming, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1935. His first job was at the Thorp Funeral Home. Later, he started his own business at Dorchester, operating it until 1942, when he entered the service. After his discharge he started Hoeper and Kraut funeral Home at Owen, Wisconsin, in partnership with Wm. Hoeper. Upon Hoeper's retirement, James Maurina came into the partnership in 1973. At this time, the Abbotsford Funeral Home was purchased, adding it to the present Owen and Dorchester business.

In 1978, Donald retired and is presently President of the Village of Curtiss, a position he has held throughout the years.

Submitted by: Pearl Vorland and Donald Kraut