History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

JOHN CARL GUSTAV MUNDT, a respected citizen of Fremont Township, who has taken an active part in helping to develop the agricultural resources of this part of the county, was born in Pommern, Germany, Sept. 26, 1839. He was reared by his uncle, John Mundt, who was a farmer in Germany. In that country he was married, Nov. 22, 1864, to Austenia Prust, whose father, John Prust, was a fisherman. After their marriage Mr. Mundt and his wife resided in the village of Mudelznon, province of Statien, where he worked out for about a year.

Then, in 1865, he came to the United States, locating first in Brown County, Wis., where he worked on farms for about three years. At the end of that time he moved to Calumet County, and bought forty acres of wild land, on which he built a log house and barn and where he and his family remained for fourteen years, he clearing his land with the help of an ox team. His next removal was to Clark County, and here he again engaged in pioneer work, buying forty acres of wild land. The land was so thickly timbered that he had cut a small clearing to begin with, on which to erect a log house and barn, but the work was not new to him and he soon got it accomplished. He was the first settler in this vicinity and at first he and his family had to get along with few conveniences. Later Mr. Mundt bought forty acres in Section 121 and 80 in section 28, where he now lives, keeping some cattle and a horse. He has cleared over 100 acres of land, a useful though hard task, which has not only advanced his own prosperity but aided in the general work of improvement and civilization in the locality. Among his other are a six-room house and a barn 26 by 20 feet.

Mr. Mundt served as treasurer of the school board for twelve years and has also a member of the township side board, rendering efficient service in the support of progressive ideas.

He and his wife have had seven children: Matilda is now Mrs. Bradt, and a resident of Newcastle, England John, a farmer William and Robert, who are deceased Richard, a farmer Bertha, now Mrs. Trompson, of Milwaukee, and Charles, who is a farmer in Clark County.