Bio: Heisa, Julius (1923)

Contact: Ken Wood.

----Surnames: Heisa, Grohbel, Reiser, Lyons, Ringer, Palanske, Whitrock, Buler

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 566-567

Julius Heisa, a prominent farmer and dairyman in Sigel Township, was born in Germany, June 20, 1849, son of Christian and Ernestine Heisa. The parents were natives of Germany, in which country the father was a farmer until his death in 1857; the mother came to the United States in 1888, and spent the remainder of her life in this country. Of the nine children born to them five now survive; these are: Gust, living in Watertown, Wis.; Minnie, now the wife of August Grohbel, of Watertown, Wis.; Julius, subject of this sketch; Herman, now living in Seneca Township; and Frank, who lives in Minnesota. Julius Heisa attended school in Germany and remained at home there until he was 15 years of age, when he launched out upon his own resources. In 1867, he being then 18 years old, he came to the United States and located in Watertown, Wis., where he remained, however, only two months before coming to Centralia, now a part of Wis. Rapids. Here he worked first in the shingle mill operated by John Miller, then for Otto Reiser, and later for Reuben Lyons, in the lumber industry. In 1882 he bought 40 acres of wild land, and a short time later another tract of 80 acres, all in Sections 21 and 22 of Sigel Township. The country was then a wilderness, without roads, and upon the shoulders of the settlers of that day fell the heavy burden of building up from that wilderness the prosperous farming region of today. Toiling amid hardships and obstacles, Mr. and Mrs. Heisa accomplished their share of this great work. They now have 80 acres under cultivation; the log house he built to serve as a home during the early days of his residence here has been replaced by a modern eight-room house, and he has built a splendid set of farm buildings, including a barn 30 by 60 feet with full basement. With his son-in-law, Frank Ringer, he is now carrying on general farming and dairying on the property thus built up; they are milking 16 cows, and are operating the place along the most modern lines. Mr. Heisa was married in 1872, in Sigel Township, to Minnie Palanske, daughter of Gottfried and Amelia Palanske. Mrs. Heisa's parents, both of whom are now deceased, were early settlers in Sigel Township. Mr. and Mrs. Heisa have four children, Laura, Ella, Martha, and Amanda. Laura is now Mrs. Albert Whitrock, of Sigel Township; Martha married Herman Ringer, of Sigel Township; Amanda is Mrs. Emil Buler, of Wis. Rapids; Ella is the wife of Frank Ringer, who is managing Mr. Heisa's farm.