| Biography |
- According to Victoria Firnstahl:FRANK FIRNSTAHL, one of the leading merchants of Colby, WI where he is eng aged in the boot and shoe business, was born in Austria, Oct 4, 185 7. In 1875, at the age of 18 years, he accompanied his parents, Michael a nd Katherine (Wermes) Firnstahl, to the United States, first locating at N ashville, TN and then removing to Louisville, KY. Their stay in both plac es was short, for they soon came to WI, residing in Stevens Point for a sh ort time and then coming to Colby.
Michael Firnstahl Sr. then bought forty acres of land in Hull Township, Ma rathon County, where he built a log cabin, in which he resided for two yea rs. He then built a frame house, which was his subsequent home and whi ch is still standing. He was engaged in the dairy business, keeping Holst ein cattle, with the care of which he had been familiar from early yout h. He died in 1893 at the age of 70 years. His wife survived him a numb er of years, her death occurring in 1909 when she was 82 years old. The ir children were Michael, Jr., Peter, John, Joseph, Nicholas,Mathew, Frank, Paul, Stephen and Michael, second. Of these children all a re now dead, except Frank, Paul and Michael. Paul is living on the old ho mestead.
Frank Firnstahl finished his school studies at the high school of McGreg or IA in 1877, and then began to learn the shoemaker's trade there, remain ing one year. Then coming to Colby, he worked for others here for thr ee years, and then started in business for himself. He is now the only me rchant in town dealing exclusively in boots and shoes, and has bui lt up a thriving business. In 1886 his place was destroyed by fire b ut in the following year he erected the building in which he has since be en located. He is a stockholder in the Colby Cheese-box Silo Company. M r. Firnstahl has been active in county politics for many years, giving h is allegiance to the Democratic party. In 1896 he was elected justi ce of the peace, in which office he is still serving. He was also city tr easurer for 17 years, being elected in 1895. His society affiliations a re with the Beavers Reserve Fund Fraternity and the EquitableFraternity Union, in both of which orders he has been through all the chai rs.
Mr. Firnstahl was married May 2, 1882, to Rose Adrains, who was born in Fr eedom, WI May 18, 1865. She died April 29, 1885, leaving two children: L ucilia, now Mrs. William Wendt, of Monroe WI, and Rose, who resides at ho me with her father.
Mr. Firnstahl married for his second wife, February 25, 1897 Augusta Hert z, who was born in Dodge County WI, May 8, 1875 daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ca rl Hertz. Of this second union six children have been born: Floyd, Richa rd, Alpheus, Lea, Louis and Lawrence. The daughter, Lucilia, has four chi ldren: William, Howard, Agnes
and Robert.
FRANK FIRNSTAHL, son of Michael and Katherina (Wennes) Firnstahl, a shoema ker, resident of Colby, born in "Hungary Austria." He married on 25, Fe b. 1897 in Colby to Augusta Hertz in Colby. She was born in Prussia, t he daughter of Carl and Caroline (Greske) Hertz.
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1856 - 1938 (81 years)
Has no ancestors but 6 descendants in this family tree.
1900 Census
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Language
Firnstahl, Lucilia
