Bio: Rusch, Charles "Carl" A. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Charles "Carl" A. Rusch

C. A. Rusch, one of the active and enterprising citizens of Lincoln County, is now engaged in the hotel business in Merrill. He is a native of Wisconsin, born in Herman, Dodge County, April 24, 1851. His father, Daniel Rusch, was born in the northern part of Germany, June 16, 1800, and was a son of Martin Rusch, a blacksmith by trade.  The father was one of a family of four, the others being William, Caroline, and Mary, through he also had two half-brothers and two half-sisters. In his native land, in 1836, he wedded Minnie Dense, and they became the parents of children, as follows: Frederica, Amelia, Johanna, Minnie, Caroline, William, Bertha, Carl A., Herman, Tena and Alvina, and the twin of our subject, deceased in infancy. Six of the children were born in Germany, the remainder in Wisconsin.

The family crossed the Atlantic in June, 1846, and after their arrival in Milwaukee, Wis., the father there worked as a blacksmith for a year and a half, when he bought a farm near the city. After cultivating it for about eighteen months, he purchased a tract of wild land in Herman Township, Dodge Co., Wis., which he improved and continued to make his home twelve years. On selling out in the fall of 1861 he removed to Marathon County, and bought the old homestead of 240 acres, which is now owned and operated by his son William. It is located in Maine Township, and the father continued its cultivation and development until his death, which occurred in 1878. He was a well-educated man, and one of the leading pioneers of both Dodge and Marathon Counties, Wis. His wife passed to her final rest July 10, 1867.

Carl A. Rusch, the subject of this sketch, obtained a limited education, only being able to attend the common schools before he reached the age of fourteen years. In the summers he aided in clearing and developing the farm, which in the winters he worked in the lumber camps, which occupation he followed until he was twenty-six years of age. He was then united in marriage, and located on a part of this father’s farm, where he carried on agricultural pursuits four years, but two years after the death of his father he sold out and came to Merrill. In this pace he was variously employed until 1882, when he opened a saloon, and five years later he erected his present residence, which is a fine brick building. He now conducts a hotel, known as the “Farmers Home,” and in winning popularity as a host who understands well how to cater to the wants of the public. He has a good knowledge of the business, and is conducting his present enterprise with marked success.

In 1876, in Marathon, Wis., Mr. Rusch was married to Miss Louisa Ahrens, a native of Chicago, Ill., and a daughter of Detlof and Mary (John) Ahrens, who were the parents of four children: Louisa, Henry, Augusta and one now deceased. Her father was a Dane, a native of Holstein, and served as a soldier in the Danish Army. He came to America when a young man, and in Chicago was married, where also, in 1882, his death occurred; by occupation he was a gardener. Mrs. Ahrens, who is still living, is a native of Germany, and came to the New World with her brother, William. To our subject and his most estimable wife have been born eleven children: Amelia, Mary and Martha (twins), Henry, Paul, Otto, Laura, Freddie, Elma, and two who died in infancy. A great-grandfather of Mr. Rusch crossed the water and located in Virginia some time in the seventeenth century, and one of his sons was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In religious faith, Mr. Rusch is a Lutheran, holding membership with St. John’s Church, of Merrill, and is now acting as one of its trustees. Politically he votes the straight Republican ticket, and is an active worker in his party. For four years he was chairman of the town board of Maine Township, Marathon Co., Wis., and since his residence in Lincoln County has most of the time been a member of the city council of Merrill and the county board, being at present chairman of the latter. He has never been an office seeker, but has been honored with many public positions which were entirely unsolicited by him. He takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the up building and advancement of Merrill, and was appointed by the county board to sign and look after the bonds voted to aid in the construction of the new railroad through that section, the bonds given by Lincoln County amounting to $176,000. He is faithful to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and has the confidence and esteem of all.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 314-315