Bio: Apfelbeck, Joseph & Mary

Surnames: APFELBECK BRILL

----Source: ABBOTSFORD, WIS. CENTENNIAL BOOK - 1973

Apfelbeck, Joseph & Mary

Joseph Apfelbeck was born in Germany in 1841 and when twelve years old, was put in charge of a guardian and came to America in a sail boat, saling around the “horn” and landing in California. His early years were spent in the California gold mines. Later he came to Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin.

In 1877 he married Mary Brill, who was born at Oakfield, Wis. in 1854. They lived in the Oakfield area until 1880 when they moved into the wilderness one mile south and five miles east of Abbotsford. They homesteaded one hundred-sixty acres, which over the years became one of the best farms in the territory. This farm has been in the family since it was first acquired. Shortly after World War I the couple moved to Colby and the farm was taken over by a son, Carl. Mr. Apfelbeck died in 1926 and Mrs. Apfelbeck in 1929.

The couple raised a family of ten children: Will, Frank and Pete, Matilda, Rose, Carl, Leo and Ben, Ernest and Albert. All of the children of the Joseph Apfelbeck family have lived in this territory all their lives and all of those who married were wed to local people, in many cases the descendants of old settlers. Most of the many descendants also are local residents.