Bio: Kabat, Leonard B. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Leonard B. Kabat

Leonard B. Kabat is successfully engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Tomahawk, Lincoln County, and is one of the leading citizens, a well-educated man, an interesting conversationalist, and one who has many friends in the community who esteem him highly for his genuine worth. The record of his life follows:

Mr. Kabat was born in the city of Genasen, Province of Posen, Germany, February 1, 1852. His father, Michael Kabat, was also born in that place, and there married Henrietta Jones, by whom he had six children, namely: Michael, Leopolt, Julia, Amelia, Leonard and Matilda. In 1854 he brought his family to America, going to Detroit, Mich., and within a few days after their arrival the father was killed. The mother then removed with the family to Watertown, Wis., and subsequently married Matthew Hauer. She is still living and by her second marriage had five children – Abelt, Theodore, Ferdinand, Rose and Henry.

Leonard Kabat came with his parents to America, and remained at home until thirteen years of age. He was then apprenticed to a shoemaker, but after six months his health failed and he was obliged to give up that undertaking. He was next apprenticed to Wiginhorn Brothers, cigar makers, with whom he served for eighteen months, and at the age of fifteen years he went to La Crosse, Wis., where for two years and a half he followed his trade. He spent three months in St. Paul., Minn., then going to the East remained for a similar period in Buffalo, N. Y., and for six months is Westfield, Mass. During the next seventeen years he led a rowing life, going from place to place. He is an expert cigar maker, and worked at this trade in every State east of the Mississippi, besides going to England in the spring of 1874, where he remained for four months.

In August, 1882, Mr. Kabat was united in marriage with Minnie G. Weller, who was born in Peoria, Ill. They now have two children – Leona M. and Aneta M. In 1887 the husband went to Minneapolis, where a year later he was joined by his family, and in that city he engaged in the manufacture of cigars for the firm of Winckey & Doerr, wholesales dealers, who employed eight men. He continued in their service six years, or until 1892, the year of his arrival in Tomahawk, where he built a residence and at once began the manufacture of cigars. He sells his goods in the surrounding towns, and the excellent quality insures a liberal patronage. He is an enterprising and industrious man, and whatever success he has achieved in life is entirely the result of his own well-directed efforts.

In politics Mr. Kabat was formerly a Republican and later became a Populist, but, in the spring of 1895, was elected on the Democratic ticket as alderman form the Third Ward. In the fall of 1894 he was nominated by the Populists for the position of Representative, and made a thorough canvass of his district, declaring his principles and receiving a handsome support from many who were members of the old parties. He is a man well informed on all general subjects. His educational privileges were very meager, but after he had attained the age of seventeen he realized how necessary is knowledge to a successful life, and began to read and study until he is now one of the most intelligent and best posted citizens of this locality. He has been especially interested in the study of astronomy, and in 1881 purchased a good telescope in order that he might further pursue his investigations.

---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 222