BioA: Seif, Mr./ Mrs. Fred J. (50th - 1925)
Poster: Crystal Wendt
 

Surnames: Seif, Frantz, Poppe, Grether, Thayer, Roethe, Wiesner, Parks, Howard, Stelloh

Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 07/16/1925

Seif, Mr./ Mrs. Fred J. ( 50th- Anniversary - 5 July 1925)

On Sunday, July 5, Mr and Mrs. Fred J. Seif completed a half century of married life, and celebrated the event with a large gathering of relatives and friends at their home on Grand Avenue. The perfect weather added not a little to the happiness of the occasion. Mr and Mrs. Seif attended church in the forenoon as usual, and before their return the guests had begun to assemble, and before the dinner hour between 150 and 200 were present. Many of the relatives had not had the opportunity to meet one another for years, so the re-union brought up many reminiscences of the past as they mingled together. A bounteous dinner was served, those assisting in waiting upon the guests were Gertrude and Viola Seif, Mrs. Robert Frantz and Mrs. John Poppe. After dinner Rev. D. Grether gave a synopsis of the lives of Mr and Mrs. Seif with appropriate comments and then the group was arranged and photographs taken by Mr. Thayer, the Neillsville photographer. During the remainder of the afternoon the visitors were free to entertain themselves in any manner suited to their individual tastes. Toward evening supper was served. The guest from a distance were Mr and Mrs. E. J. Roethe and family of Fennimore; Mr and Mrs. Frank Wiesner of Circle, Montana; Mr and Mrs. George Frantz of Fennimore; Mr and Mrs. Chas. Parks of La Crosse; Mr and Mrs. Ed. Wiesner and Mr an Mrs. Chas. Wiesner and families of Granton and Miss Otellia Wiesner of Oshkosh.

Mr and Mrs. Fred J. Seif were married July 5, 1875, at Dale, Wis., and the same year came to Clark County and began a real pioneer life. Few couples have ever lived in this county who have had more real pioneer experience then Mr and Mrs. Seif and few have overcome the obstacles of life as successfully. Mr. Seif was born in Oshkosh, July 9, 1851. When a boy his parents moved to Dale, where, as he grew to manhood, he helped in clearing up and carrying on the home farm. He has little opportunity for an education, but made the best of the chance that he had, attending night school for a time. Mrs. Seif, whose maiden name was Mary Wiesner, was born on a farm near West Bend in 1857. After their marriage they drove to Clark County with an ox team and bought 80 acres of land in the town of Sherwood. After eight years of hard work they sold out and bought 80 acres in what is now the town of Seif. The place had a small clearing on it and a log house and barn. He enlarged the clearing, crected good buildings and later added by purchase 200 more acres to farm. The land was good and the industry of Mr and Mrs. Seif and their family, bore good results. They lived on this farm 23 years. Mr. Seif took a prominent part in local affairs. He was chairman of the town of Weston before the town of Seif was organized and was the first chairman of the new town. He had previously been assessor for two years and was district clerk in his school district during all the years he lived there, assisting in building the old school house and the new one after the first building burned. In 1906, Mr and Mrs. Seif came to Neillsville, their son John taking charge of the farm. They built a fine home here and two years after moving to the city, Mr. Seif went into the farm implement business with L. H. Howard; Fred Stelloh bought Mr. Howard’s interest, and later the entire charge of the business fell into the hands of Mr. Seif and his sons Charles and Fred Jr. For several years past Mr. Seif has been retired. He has always taken an active part in the city affairs and served six years as alderman and two terms as Mayor of Neillsville. In all the work and trails of life, Mrs. Seif has been a faithful and efficient helper for her husband; and the comfort of her home and the high character of her children are largely the result of her faithful and loving service. Mr and Mrs. Seif are affiliated with the Reformed church, and have always maintained a high Christian standard of life in their home and community.

To Mr and Mrs. Seif were born seven sons: Frank, William, John, David, Charles, Fred and Louis. All grew to manhood. Of these Frank, William and Louis are deceased. There are also living ten grandchildren.

It is the earnest hope of all who know this worthy couple, that their evening of life shall be calm and peaceful and that they may have yet, a long time together before the shadows of night shall fall upon them.

* Note there was a family photo enclosed with the write up.