Bio: Kohler, Joseph (1923)
Contact: Ken Wood

----Surnames: Kohler, Martin, Leirtz, Kuhl, Grandadam, Thompson, Olson, Tuffti, Hill, Accola

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 560-561

Joseph Kohler, a prosperous farmer of Cary Township, was born in Alsace- Lorraine, Germany, Sept. 3, 1854, son of Joseph and Magdeline (Martin) Kohler, who were natives of Alsace-Lorraine and spent all their lives in that country. He received his education in his native land and worked for his father until 1874, when he was drafted into the German army, from which he was discharged two years later because of his father's death. In the fall of 1878 he came to America, landing at New York and proceeding direct to Sheridan, La Salle County, Ill., where he did farm labor for two years and then operated rented farms until 1909. He then bought 160 acres in Section 21, Cary Township, came to Wood County in 1912, and proceeded to build up the farm. He has cleared about 80 acres, built a complete set of buildings including a silo and an excellent barn, and is successfully carrying on general farming and dairying. In building up this property and in all his personal relations here he has established a fine record, and he takes his place among the solid, dependable citizens of the community. Dec. 14, 1880, in La Salle County, Ill., Mr. Kohler married Barbara Leirtz, daughter of John and Gertrude (Kuhl) Leirtz. Mrs. Kohler's parents were both born in Germany; they came to the United States in the early sixties and settled in Washington County, Wis., where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler are the parents of ten children: Emma, Sophia, Charles, Winnie, Frank, Ella, John, Lawrence, Leona, and Clarence. Emma is now Mrs. Amos Grandadam of DeKalb County, Ill.; Sophia is the wife of Joseph Grandadam and lives in La Salle County, Ill.; Charles married Josephine Thompson, and resides in La Salle County, Ill.; Winnie is Mrs. Ed Olson of La Salle County, Ill.; Frank married Gertrude Tuffti and is a resident of De Kalb County, Ill.; Ella is Mrs. Oscar Hill of La Salle County, Ill.; John married Freda Accola and is operating the home farm; Lawrence and Clarence live in La Salle County, Ill.; Leona is Mrs. Joseph Tuffti, also of La Salle County.