NICK, Martin

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 167

Martin NICK, proprietor of the Eagle Hotel and saloon at Fountain City 
[Buffalo County, Wisconsin], was born 15 November 1828 in Switzerland, and 
came to America in 1855, first locating in Sauk County [Wisconsin], where he 
lived until 1858. He then removed to Buffalo County. Here he began farming, 
on some land which he purchased from the Government, and on this he lived 
until 1874, when he traded his farm for some property in Fountain City and 
commenced keeping an hotel. He was Treasurer of the town of Mondovi for 
twelve years, and in 1880 was one of the village Trustees of Fountain City. 
Mr. NICK is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge No. 13, at 
that place [Fountain City].

In Fountain City [Buffalo County, Wisconsin], he [Martin NICK] was married to 
Miss Doratea PFOSZ [Dorothea PFOSE? PFUND?]; she was born in Switzerland. 
They have eight children, two sons and six daughters. [The family is 
enumerated in the 1880 census of Fountain City, Buffalo County, Wisconsin: 
Martin NICK, age fifty-one, hotel keeper, born in Switzerland (by his census 
age about 1829, which does not dispute the year of birth given in the 
biography) to parents also born in Switzerland; wife Dorothea, age 
forty-eight, born in Switzerland, about 1862, to parents also born there; and 
eight children: (1) Simon NICK, son, age twenty-two, single, warehouse 
laborer, the only child born in Switzerland (the remaining seven born in 
Wisconsin; all eight born to parents who were born in Switzerland), Simon 
born about 1858 by his census age; (2) Nina NICK, daughter, age twenty, born 
about 1860; (3) George NICK, son, age eighteen, a hostler, born about 1862; 
(4) Anna NICK, daughter, age sixteen, by her census age born about 1864; (5) 
Maria NICK, daughter, age thirteen, born about 1867; (6) Elbeth NICK, 
daughter, age eleven, thus born about 1869; (7) Margaretha NICK, daughter, 
age eight, born about 1872; and (8) Emilia (Amelia?) NICK, daughter, age 
seven, born about 1873. (Was Emilia or Amelia born in March 1873, married to 
Hugo HECK, and died 1927 in Fountain City? See also the Buffalo County, 
Wisconsin, biography of William HECK.) Also in the NICK household are four 
male borders, unrelated to Martin NICK. Thus the biography statement that 
Martin and Dorathea NICK had two sons and six daughters is supported by the 
enumeration of that number in the 1880 census of Fountain City. Bracketed 
material added by submitter (who is not researching these surnames) to 
support and clarify information given in the biography and to raise 
questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly