Bio: Stintzi, Robert J. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Robert J. Stintzi

Robert J. Stintzi is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of Tomahawk, Lincoln County, where he is successfully carrying on harness making. He is a native of Wisconsin, born in Sauk City, October 20, 1856, and is a son of John Stintzi, whose birth occurred in France in 1834.

Matthew Stintzi, grandfather of our subject, owned a vineyard in France, where he was married, and of his large family of twelve children only three are yet living – John, Joseph and Magdalena. He brought his family to America in 1851, locating in Sauk City, Wis., but he later removed to Bangor, this State, while his late days were passed in Eau Claire, Wis., where he died in 1882. His wife had long since departed this life, dying in 1852. He had served as a soldier in the French Army under Napoleon, and in one of his campaigns was wounded. John Stintzi, the father of our subject, wedded Francisco Welshinger, a native of Alsace, France, who had come to America with her parents in 1849. Her father, Joseph Welshinger, as a farmer, and his family contained thirteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Stintzi had four children. Mr. and Mrs. Stintzi had four children – Robert J., George E., Delia and Louisa, who died in infancy. The father owns a fine farm near Bangor, La Crosse Co., Wis., but has now laid aside business cares and is living retired in that city.

Like most farmer boys our subject aided in the work of the farm, and acquired his education in the country schools, remaining at home until he had reached the age of twenty-two years. During that period, however, he had gained some knowledge of harness making, and now went to La Crosse, Wis., where he finished learning his trade. For seven years he worked in that city, and then opened a shop at Bangor, Wis., which he successfully conducted until March, 1889. The following October, he arrived in Tomahawk, where he began business, opening the first harness shop in the city, which he still profitably carries on. He owns his own building, in which he has a good stock of everything found in his line, and is meeting with a well merited success. He has also dealt to some extent in real estate, buying and selling timber land, and now has in his possession two hundred acres of land.

In 1884, in La Crosse, Wis., Mr. Stintzi was united in marriage with Miss May Lee, who was born in Norway in 1863, the only child of John and Mary Lee. Her father died in that country, and in 1881, her mother came to the United States, since which time she weeded John Snedhal, and they now make their home in La Crosse. Our subject and his wife have become the parents of two children – Forest and Flossa. Mr. Stintzi takes an active interest in political affairs, and now casts his ballot with the Republican Party, though he was formerly a Democrat. He has served as supervisor, and for three years was a member of the county board. He is now holding the office of treasurer of the Tomahawk fire department, and is one of its leading members. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is now secretary of the local lodge. He has been prominently connected with the growth and up building of Tomahawk, aiding in every possible way in its advancement, and is heartily in sympathy with every moment that will in any way add to the prosperity of the city.

---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 951-952