Ernest Barth, 1866

Posted4U@Charter.net on Sat, 17 Feb 2001

Surname: BARTH, RAISNER

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

ERNEST BARTH, a progressive citizen of Lynn Township, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising, was born in Germany, March 7, 1866, son of Ernest and Elizabeth (Raisner) Barth, the father being a blacksmith by trade. In 1869, Ernest, Sr., with his wife and four children-John, Gusta, Bertha and Ernest, left Germany for the United States, landing at Baltimore after a voyage of eighteen days in a steamboat. Locating in Calumet County, Wis., where he had acquaintances, the father bought eighty acres of land, which was a wild tract without buildings. These he put up, remaining there seven years, the first year having nothing but his hands to depend on, but later getting an ox team.

In 1876, he and his family came to Clark County, he purchasing a tract of eighty acres in Lynn Township, of which sixteen acres were cleared, though there were no buildings. Accordingly, he first built a log house and log stable, and buying an ox team of Frank Lapp, started to clear the stump covered place. He had made good progress in this task when he died in 1884 at the age of 59 years.

A hard worker and a lover of home, he was a man who had won general respect. His wife, born May 8, 1828, is now living with her son Ernest. They attended the Lutheran Church. Ernest Barth, Jr., has always resided on the home farm. In his boyhood he attended the log school-house in Lynn Township, but had no opportunity for gaining a liberal education. In time the management and ownership of the home farm came into his hands, and he has since increased its size by the purchase of forty additional acres. He has also made other improvements, enlarging the house and building a barn 36 by 82 feet in size. He is raising a good grade of gray Durham cattle, is a member of the elevator company at Chili and a shareholder in the Bank of Chili. His fraternal society affiliations are with the Woodmen.