Bio: Beseler, William Frederick (1928)
Contact: Ken Wood.

----Surnames: Beseler, Brickheimer

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, 28 Mar. 1928

William Frederick Beseler was born in Bluff Siding, Buffalo County, Wis., July 25, 1895, and came with his parents to this city in 1901. He attended the Immanuel Lutheran and public schools. In 1911 he entered the employ of the Felker Manufacturing Company where he has worked since, except for two years spent in the army in the Mexican Border Campaign, and the World War. He enlisted in Company A, Second Regiment Infantry, Wis. National Guard, and served with it through the Mexican Border Campaign in 1916. In August, 1917 he was appointed second lieutenant in Company A., 127th Infantry Regt. and the following October was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. In this capacity he served with the Company A in France in the World War until August 9, 1918, when he was transferred to the intelligence section of the first army headquarters. March 1919, he was appointed as a captain, and re-organized the local guard unit, known after that as the 15th Separate Company; until designated Company C, 128th Inf., Wis. National Guard. In December, 1920 he resigned from his commission as captain. In 1923, he accepted a commission, as second lieutenant of the local company, and later was advanced to first lieutenant. His advancement to captain, was from private through the ranks of corporal and sergeant.

Mr. Beseler was married to Miss Cora Brickheimer of this city (Marshfield, WI), October 11, 1919. They have one son, Donald William.

He is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and has no fraternal affiliations. Politically, he is Independent. His hobbies are hunting and fishing.

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----Source: Marshfield News, Friday October 14, 1920, Page 1 column 7
 
WEDDINGS

#1--Capt. Beseler and Cora Brickheimer Married--Her Sister Weds Next Monday (Winnifred Brickheimer and Joseph H. Seidl)
 
William F. Beseler and Miss Cora Brickheimer were the principals of a quiet but very pretty wedding Monday, solemnized at the parsonage of the Sacred Heart Catholic church at 7:30 o'clock in the morning, Father Stehling officiating.  The couple were attended by Arnold Beseler, brother of the groom, and Zita Brickheimer, sister of the bride.  At 8:30 a sumptuous wedding breakfast was served at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brickheimer, 703 East Fourth street, and later in the forenoon the newlyweds left for St. Paul, Minneapolis and Lake Namakogan to spend their honeymoon, after which they will return to this city to go to housekeeping.  The bride wore a brown traveling suit with hat to match and carried a corsage bouquet. The color scheme of the decorations in the home was of pink and white.  The groom is the captain of the local militia company and is in the employ of the Felker Bros. Co.  His bride formerly held a position as saleslady at the Tiffault-Kamps stores.
 

Monday morning, October 18 another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brickheimer will become a bride.  She is Miss Winnifred.  Her choice of a husband is Joseph H. Seidl, the first lieutenant of the Marshfield militia company.  The words linking them in wedlock will be pronounced by Father Stehling in the Sacred Heart Catholic church at 7 a.m.  Willis Brickheimer, brother of the bride-to-be, will be the best man, and Marie Seidl, sister of the groom-to-be, the bridesmaid.  A wedding breakfast will be served at the bride's parents' home  After a wedding trip to St. Paul, Minneapolis and Lake Namakogan, the young couple will make their home in this city.  She was employed as teller in the State bank for some time.  Mr. Seidl is employed by the S. Miller Cold Storage company.

Both grooms are volunteer veterans of the world war, having served in France with Company A.  Mr. Beseler held the rank of first lieutenant, Mr. Seidl was a first sergeant and after the armistice was promoted to second lieutenant.

Both couples are highly esteemed young people and popular among their friends.

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#2----Source: Marshfield Herald, Saturday 16 October 1920 p. 1 c. 6

CAPTAIN WM. BESELER WEDS MISS BRICKHEIMER

At Sacred Heart parsonage, Monday morning at 7:00 o'clock, occurred the marriage of Captain Wm. Beseler to Miss Cora Brickheimer, Fathyer Stehling performing the ceremony.

The bride, attired in a brown traveling suit, with hat to match, was attended by her sister Zita and the groom by his brother Arnold. Following the church services the wedding party repaired to the home of Edward Brickheimer, 703 East 4th street, where a sumptuous wedding breakfast awaited them. The happy couple left during the forenoon hours for St. Paul and Moinneapolis. They will reside in this city.

Mr. and Mrs. Besler are a son and daughter of two of Marshfield's highly respected families and enjoy a host of admiring friends. The bride, as saleslady in the Tiffault-Kamps store, by her agreeable manners, was a favorite with the trading public. The groom, who served overseas with the 32nd division, has an enviable record as a soldier and since his return was chosen captain of the 15th Separate Company, this city. He is an excellent young man and worthy the love of any girl. Their many friends wish them a long and happy married life.

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OBITUARY

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, 2 Nov. 1968 p. 6 c. 6

W.F. Beseler Is Dead at Age 73

William F. Beseler, 1601 S. Locust Ave., retired salesman for the Felker Manufacturing Company, a veteran of the Mexican Border campaign, and an American Intelligence officer in World War I, died at 9 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Hospital where he had been under treatment for a complication of ailments. He was 73 years of age.

The Rev. Theodore E. Krueger, associate pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, will conduct services at the Hansen Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be made in Hillside Cemetery.

Hours of visitation at the Hansen Chapel will be between 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday. An Elks Lodge of Sorrow will be conducted there at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Mr. Beseler was born in Bluff Siding, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, July 25, 1895, and came to Marshfield with his parents in 1901. After attending public and parochial schools here he entered the employ of the Felker Manufacturing Company at the age of 15 years. Except for leaves of absence during military service, remained with the company until retirement in 1960, serving in various capacities, including factory foreman and salesman.
He enlisted in Company A, Second Regiment Infantry, Wisconsin National Guard, and served with it through the Mexican Border Campaign in 1916. In August, 1917 he was promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant in Company A, and in the following October was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.

In this capacity he served with the Company A in France in the World War until to the First Army headquarters because of his abilty to read, write and speak German fluently. As an intelligence officer he was assigned to the Stenay-Souilly prison to interview enemy prisoners. In his home here beseler had a unique collection of shoulder straps taken from captured German soldiers.

Returning to Marshfield and the employ of the Felker Company after World War I, was appointed captain of the re-organized Company C, 128th Infantry, of the Wisconsin National Guard.

He was married in Marshfield on Oct. 11, 1919 to Miss Cora Brickheimer, who survives him. Other survivors are a son, Donald William Beseler, Minocqua; a daughter, Mrs. Tom (Yvonne) Mechler, Issaquah Wash.; six grandchildren; a brother, Arnold Beseler, Marshfield; and fice sisters, Miss Johanna Beseler and Miss Sophie Beseler, both of Marshfield; Mrs. Etta Killorn, Livingston, Mont.; Mrs. Herman (Emily) Guderman, and Mrs. Willard (Hermina) Critchfield, both of Winona, Minn.
One sister preceded him in death.

Mr. Beseler was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, the American Legion Post and the Elks Lodge of Marshfield.