Edward J. Leichtnam, 1885

Posted4U@Charter.net on Thu, 15 Feb 2001

Surname: LEICHTMAN, STRAUSBERG, TISCHENDORF, HAHEN

Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

EDWARD J. LEICHTNAM, a well-known and prosperous citizen of Mayville Township, engaged in dairying farming in section 35, was born on the homestead on which he now lives, June 24, 1885, son of Martin and Carrie (Strausberg) Leichtman. The father, Martin, was born in Canada in 1840 and came to Clark County in 1872.

He had been for several years a copper miner in the district around Superior, Wis. On arriving in this county he homesteaded forty acres of land in Colby Township, which he proved up and sold, moving onto the farm now owned by his son Edward J., which later place he had bought some time before, paying $1.25 an acre for it. Its present value is $100 an acre. This tract he cleared up, using oxen, and building a log house for his first residence. This latter task he was well fitted to perform, being a carpenter by trade, as well as a logger by occasional occupation. The country around was wild when he came and he often killed deer on the site of the present village of Abbotsford. In early days he bought several pieces of land, some for as low as $1.00 an acre.

For many years he served on the Mayville township board and also on the school board of Abbotsford, in politics being a Democrat. He was one of the organizers of the Abbotsford creamery and cheese factory. On his farm he bred full-blooded Holstein cattle, milking as many as twenty-eight cows and giving special attention to his dairying interests. He also raised many hogs, horses and sheep. He is still living and resides on an adjoining farm.

Martin Leichtnam was twice married, Carrie Strausberg being his first wife. By her he had nine children. Of his second marriage, with Gusta Bushman, no children were born. Martin Leichtnam, with his brother Joseph, carried the first corpse for burial in Colby Cemetery, making the coffin himself. It was carried by hand through the woods. Edward J. Leichtnam finished his schooling in Abbotsford and resided during his youth on his father's farm, where he gained a good knowledge of agriculture and dairying. In 1908 he bought the farm on which his father now lives, and which adjoins the one he is operating himself, the latter being purchased from his father in 1911. Like the latter he has made dairying a specialty. He owns a full-blooded Holstein bull, and is grading up his cattle, milking from ten to twelve cows. He was a former stockholder in the Abbotsford creamery and the Farmers' Co-operative Mercantile Company of that place.

In 1913 he organized the Farmers' Cattle Shipping Association of Mayville, and while he had to work hard at first to arouse interest, eventually the farmers supported the movement and the organization is now strong and vigorous. He also organized the Deer Creek branch of the Shipping Association at the first called meeting of which thirty farmers were present, twenty-six of whom joined the association. For five years-from 1908 to 1913, Mr. Leichtnam owned a grade-blooded Belgian stallion.

His activities along agricultural lines have been marked by foresight and enterprise and have not only advanced his own prosperity but also been of benefit, to the general community.

Mr. Leichtnam was united in marriage, Oct. 11, 1911, to Rose Tischendorf, who was born in Clark County, Wis., Aug. 13, 1889, daughter of Gustav and Ida (Hahen) Tischendorf. Her parents, who came to this country from Germany twenty-seven years ago, are now living on a farm one mile north' of Dorchester. Mr. and Mrs. Leichtnam have two children - Arthur, home., Aug. 30, 1912; and Elmer, born Aug. 15, 1914.