WI BIO - Dane Co - PIERSTORFF, William F.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 209-210

William F. PIERSTORFF, engaged in the lumber business in Middleton, Dane 
County [WI], was born in Penewitt [Penewit?] Township, Germany, 30 June 1848, 
a son of Carl and Catherine (BRAMER) PIERSTORFF. The father [Carl 
PIERSTORFF] was born in Bridenbuck [means Breidenbach], Germany, 26 August 
1810, was a blacksmith and farmer by trade, and came to the U. S. in 1857, on 
the sailing vessel "Humboldt." He remained in New York about two weeks, 
where he lost a son, and then purchased forty acres of improved land in Dane 
County, Wisconsin. Five years later he sold that place, bought forty acres 
in Spring Dale [Springdale] this county, five years after sold that land and 
purchased 150 acres in Vernona Township [Dane County, WI], but two years ago 
retired from active labor and settled where our subject now lives [Middleton, 
Dane County, WI], and where he [Carl PIERSTORFF] died 06 October 1889. He 
was a prominent politician, and voted the Republican ticket since LINCOLN's 
nomination. His [Carl PIERSTORFF's] father, Carl PIERSTORFF, was engaged in 
blacksmithing all his life, and his death occurred at the age of 
seventy-seven years. The mother of our subject [Catherine nee BRAMER] was 
born in the same place as her husband [Breidenbach, Germany], in October 
1810, and died in Spring Dale [Springdale], Dane County [WI], 08 February 
1857. Her parents were born in the same locality in Germany, and the father 
[Mr. BRAMER] was a miller by occupation. The mother [Mrs. BRAMER] died at 
about the age of fifty-two years, and the father in the same year.

Mr. and Mrs. [Carl] PIERSTORFF reared a family of fourteen children, eight of 
whom still survive, three sons and five daughters, and the former are nearly 
all engaged in mercantile pursuits. One son, August [PIERSTORFF], was a 
soldier in the late war, a member of Company B, Eleventh Wisconsin Regiment, 
for which he now draws a pension.

William F. [PIERSTORFF], the subject of this sketch, was reared to farm life, 
and educated in the district schools, and also six weeks in a select school. 
At the age of twenty-two years he went to Montana [territory; became an 
organized territory in 1864; before that was part of the surrounding 
territories, e.g., Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; became 
a state in 1889], where, 10 September 1871, he engaged in a grist mill with 
his brother [not named here, but perhaps in the territorial census for 1870 
or later]. One and a half years later he [p 210] followed mining one season; 
went to Salt Lake [UT] on horseback, a distance of 800 miles, in company with 
six others; from there went to Toelle City [means Tooele, Tooele County, 
Utah, then a territory; Utah became a state in 1896], engaged in mining; and 
in 1874 returned as far as Nebraska, where he clerked for his brother-in-law 
in Riverton [Franklin County, NE], and also worked in the hay fields during 
the summer. In 1875 Mr. [William F.] PIERSTORFF returned to Paoli, Dane 
County, Wisconsin, where he found employment in a grist mill, and the 
following year rented his father's farm. He next purchased an hotel and 
saloon in Verona [Dane County, WI], which he conducted five years, and while 
there served as Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace, also conducted a general 
store. In the spring of 1884 he sold all his property; the following fall 
was elected to the position of Sheriff, in the spring of 1887 bought 200 
acres of fine land in Middleton [Dane County, WI], and also bought the lumber 
business of Kuptke Brothers, which he has since conducted. Since his 
residence in this city Mr. [William F.] PIERSTORFF has been chosen Chairman 
of the Township Board, Justice of the Peace, treasurer of the School Board, 
and as treasurer of the Middleton Fire and Lightning Insurance Company. In 
his social relations, he is Senior Warden of the Masonic order, No. 80, and 
Treasurer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 158.

On 29 September 1876, our subject [William F. PIERSTORFF] was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary PRIEN, a native of this county [Dane County, WI], and 
a daughter of John PRIEN. To this union has been born the following 
children: William H., born in Verona [Dane County, WI], 22 December 1877; 
George B., 30 March 1880; and Frank L., 20 June 1888. Mr. and Mrs. [William 
F.] PIERSTORFF are active members of the Lutheran Church.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly