- DAVID ZEHNER, who for the past eight years has served in the capacity of clerk of Dale township, is the owner of a magnificent farm of 207 acres situated in section 27, and for a number of years has been closely identified with the agricultural and political life of this community. He is a native of Dale township, and was born January 18, 1862, a son of Abraham and Mary (Zehner) Zehner, natives of Pennsylvania who were married in Ohio. They came to Dale township in October, 1853, purchasing eighty acres of raw woodland, on which they lived until Mr. Zehner's retirement in 1882, when they removed to the village of Medina, where Mrs. Zehner died January 9, 1893, Mr. Zehner following her to the grave three months later, on April 14, when his death occurred at the home of his daughter in Dale. Both were seventy-six years of age, and were buried in the West Medina Cemetery. David Zehner was the youngest of a family of ten children and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he commenced working for wages at the painting and paper hanging trade, which he followed for nine years, in connection with working in the woods during the winter months. He then purchased thirteen acres of land in Medina, which he cultivated when he could spare the time from his trade, and in 1893 sold this land and purchased eighty acres of land in Dale township, this being a part of the land which he now owns. This land had been partly improved and there was a log house and frame barn on the property, and he cultivated this tract for nine years, when he added eighty acres by purchase from an uncle. He resided on the new purchase until 1911, when he removed to his modern residence, and he now rents to his son-inlaw, who is operating the property. In 1885, Mr. Zehner was married to Miss Eliza A. Diley, daughter of John and Rosanna (Hanselman), Diley, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wurtemberg, Germany. Mrs. Diley came to the United States with her parents and she and Mr. Diley were married in the Keystone State. During the early '50s they came to Wisconsin and settled in Outagamie county, but later removed to Waupaca county, and both died in the township of Caledonia, and are buried in Pine Grove Cemetery at Dale. Mrs. Zehner was the seventh of their family of eight children, and was born March 19, 1860. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Zehner: Bessie E., who married Otto Doshner, is now living in Dale township and has two children; Norma E., who married Leonard Doshner, is living on the homestead; and David W., is single and living at home. Zehner now has about 100 acres under the plow and all is fenced with barbed and woven wire. He carries on general farming and stock raising and markets dairy products, hogs, cattle, sugar beets and potatoes, and feeds his hay and grain. He milks about twelve cows throughout the year, and keeps Poland-China hogs and breeds to Percheron horses. His residence is 18x26 feet on both sides, consisting of ten rooms, which are fitted with all modern conveniences. He also has a basement barn, 36x74 feet, and numerous outbuildings for the shelter of his stock, grain and machinery. A good driven well, with windmill attachment, furnishes the farm with water and in addition there is a clear, cool spring with a spring house built around it. Mr. Zehner is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious connection is with the Baptist Church of Dale. He has been prominent in Democratic politics, serving as chairman of the township board for five years, as clerk of the school board for seven years, as delegate to the county convention three years and as delegate to the State convention at the time of William Jennings Bryan's first nomination, and for the past eight years has served as township clerk. For about two years he was a director in the Home Insurance Company, and he is now serving as a notary public.
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1862 - 1939 (77 years)
Has 4 ancestors and 29 descendants in this family tree.
1900 Census
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: City/Town
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Language
Zehner, Bessie
