- PLOGER BROTHERS. Prominent among the agriculturists of Seymour township, Outagamie county, may be mentioned the Ploger brothers, William F. and Henry F., farmers and stock raisers, who own 280 acres of valuable land situated in section 18. They are sons of William and Mary (Reiboldt) Ploger. The grandparents of the Ploger brothers were Frederick and Fredericka (Crouse) Ploeger, who came to the United States from Germany in 1856 with their family, consisting of August, who is now deceased; Ferdinand, Frederick and William. They settled in Greenville, Outagamie county, Wisconsin, where Frederick Ploeger died in 1875 at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife in 1872, when seventy-two years old. William Ploeger was born in Germany, April 15, 1838, and during the Civil War enlisted in Company K, Second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. On the army records his name was misspelled, becoming Ploger, and it has been so spelled by the family ever since. Mary (Reiboldt) Ploger was born January 17, 1845, at Mecklenburg, Germany, daughter of John and Christina (Nemann) Reiboldt, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1867, settling in Center, Outagamie county, where Mr. Rieboldt died in 1872, aged sixty-five years, and his widow in 1900, when seventy-four years of age. They had the following children: Mary, who married Mr. Ploger; Dorothea, who died aged twenty years; Christina, who married Fred Baker; John; Caroline, who married William Sittes; Fred, who died in Germany; Joachim; Fred (II.), who died in Germany; Christian, and Anna, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ploger were married October 5, 1867, and came to Seymour township April 3, 1873, driven in by ox-team, to 160 acres of wild land on section 19. There was not a stick cut on the place, and their first task was to build a log cabin for their own protection and comfort and a temporary stable to shield their animals. They began clearing the land for crops, and as the boys grew up they did their share of the farm work, and now this property is one of the finest in Outagamie county. The log cabin has been replaced by a large eleven-room house, built sixteen years ago. In 1900 the big 40x98 feet barn was built; and in 1909 the wagon and tool shed, 36x50 feet, was erected. The tired, dusty team of oxen which brought the family to Seymour township were a poor means of locomotion as compared with the high-power five-passenger Buick automobile which is now the family means of conveyance. Mrs. Ploger was always a lover of her home, and she managed to keep her boys together throughout their youth and young manhood. William and Henry took charge of the farm in November, 1906, and here they have interested themselves particularly in the breeding of fine stock. They have the distinction of raising one of the finest teams in the country, valued at $1,000, being ot an exact weight, 1,710 pounds each, with their halters. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ploger were as follows: Agnes, born July 24, 1868, who married John Johnson; Otto, born October 10, 1889, who died April 7, 1899; George, born September 27, 1872, who died June 17, 1892; Arnold, born September 24, 1874, who married Lizzie Green; Mary, born October 13, 1876, who lives at home with her brothers; Bertha, born February 20, 1879, who married Charles Shepherd; William F., born September 19, 1881; and Henry, born April 15, 1884. Neither William nor Henry have married.
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1884 - 1970 (85 years)
Biography
