- FRED MERBACH, president of the Merbach Hardware and Furniture Company, at Kaukauna, Wisconsin, is one of the representative business men of this city and has had years of practical experience along this line. He was born in Calumet county, Wisconsin, October 21, 1867, a, son of John and Sophia (Brockmann) Merbach. The parents of Mr. Merbach celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, on March 1, 1911, at which time they enjoyed the presence of their kindred from distant and nearby points, including the following of their children: Fred, Louis and Mrs. George Buerth, of South Kaukauna; Charles, of Neenah; Henry, of Eau Claire; John, Jr., of Harrison; Peter and William, of Drake, South Dakota; Albert, of Great Falls, Montana and Mrs. Anna Miller, of Appleton, together with the grandchildren, twenty-two in number. Mr. Merbach is the oldest member of Paul H. Beaulieu Post, G. A. R., having served in the great Civil War as a member of Company E, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry. In 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Merbach came to Kaukauna but he still retains his old homestead farm of 145 acres in Harrison township. During many years of his active life, Mr. Merbach officiated in public office and after retiring from farming was in the insurance business from 1895 until 1910, when he resigned and since then has been taking the ease to which his age and former activities entitle him. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merbach were born in Germany and came to the United States when young, the families being pioneers in Wisconsin.
Fred Merbach attended the country schools and afterward was a clerk in a hardware store at Appleton, from 1884 until 1894, when he came to Kaukauna where he operated a store for one year, for Haas & Brier, and afterward went into business for himself, which he continued until he went to Ripon, where he bought a hardware store and conducted it for six years. He then disposed of his Ripon interests and for two years traveled for a purpose of recreation, visiting different points in the South, after which he was a representative of a hardware firm for some nine months and then became interested in his present business. On May 6, 1911, he went into business under the firm name of the Merbach Hardware and Furniture Company. He deals in general hardware, stoves, paints, oils, etc., also carries a general line of furniture and does undertaking, giving employment to eight people and doing his own management. He occupies one entire floor and the basement of a building that has a 50-foot front and is 100 feet in depth, an excellent location for business purposes. Mr. Merbach was married in 1884, to Miss Minnie Neumann, of Calumet county, Wisconsin, and they have two children: Edward and Elphie. Mr. and Mrs. Merbach are members of the Congregational Church. He is identified with the Modern Woodmen. Edward Merbach, his son, was born January 12, 1889. He attended the grade schools at Kaukauna and finished his high school course in Ripon. In 1910 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Ripon College. While in college he participated in athletics, winning his letter in several branches, among these basketball, baseball and football. He graduated in chemistry and physics. In 1910 he was elected principal of the High School at Stanley, Wisconsin, and was reelected the following year. This position he still holds.
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1863 - 1955 (91 years)
Has 2 ancestors and one descendant in this family tree.
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