WI BIO - Dane Co - SOELCH, J. George
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 212-213

Among the successful businesses of Madison [Dane County, WI], and one which 
has been appreciated by the citizens, is the meat market conducted by J. 
George SOELCH. This place of business was opened in 1853, and it was for 
years known by the name of the Old City Meat Market. Mr. SOELCH took 
possession of it in 1865, and is now the oldest dealer of the kind in the 
city who has been continually in the business.

J. George SOELCH was born in Bavaria, Germany, 26 March 1836, and there he 
grew up and was educated in the same place, and was the first of his family 
to come to the United States. He took passage in the spring of 1853, from 
Bremer Havre, on [p 213] a sailer called the "Ocean," and finally landed in 
New York City, after a passage of thirty-four days. He came thence to 
Chicago [Cook County, IL]. The father of our subject was a most worthy 
merchant in the meat line in Bavaria, and there he died in 1889, at the age 
of eighty-six years. At the same time he [the father of the subject] 
conducted an hotel in his native place, and when he died he was mourned by 
all, as he had been a good and consistent member of the Lutheran Church. The 
mother of our subject is yet living in Bavaria. Her maiden name was Miss 
Barbara KEASTE.

Our subject [J. George SOELCH] has a brother, Philip, and a sister, Mrs. 
Caroline RAITHEL, who are yet living in their native country of Germany, the 
former [Philip] the owner and conductor of his father's business. Another 
brother, Charles [SOELCH] is living in Madison [Dane County, WI] and is in 
the employ of his brother, our subject.

Mr. [J. George] SOELCH was married to Miss Henrietta KEASTNER, who was born 
near her husband's birthplace in Germany, and came to this country in 1871, 
settling in Madison [Dane County, WI]. She is the only one of the family 
living in this country. Three brothers who came are now deceased. Her 
parents lived and died in Germany, and were good and worthy members of the 
Lutheran Church.

Mr. and Mrs. SOELCH of this notice [J. George and Henrietta (KEASTNER) 
SOELCH] are the parents of no children of their own, but that has not 
prevented their kind hearts from going out to a nephew, whom they have made 
their own. This is the son of a brother of the wife of our subject, and his 
name is John F., a bright and promising young man, who is engaged with Mr. 
SOELCH in the business. They are members of the German Lutheran Church, to 
which Mr. SOELCH has been a liberal supporter, and both he and his nephew 
[John F.] are sound in Democratic principles.

Mr. [J. George] SOELCH deals in livestock to some extent also. He came to 
this city [Madison, Dane County, WI] in 1857, and has been a resident here 
ever since. He learned his trade in Chicago [Cook County, IL], where he 
spent four years after coming to the United States. He is a man who has won 
many friends by his honest business methods.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly