WI BIO - Kenosha Co - C. WITSCHEBER

History of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman, F. Clarke 
Publishing, 1916, vol II, pp 587-588

C. WITSCHEBER, long numbered among the representative farmers of Somers 
Township [Kenosha County, Wisconsin], having become a resident of the county 
in 1858, was born in April 1838 in Germany, and was but four years of age 
when his father died, and his mother died at his birth. He obtained his 
education in the common schools of Germany, and at the age of sixteen years 
crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He made his way at once into the 
interior of the country, settling first at Kewanee [Kewaunee County], 
Wisconsin, and afterward at Sheboygan [Sheboygan County, Wisconsin].

For four years he was employed in the sawmills, and in 1858 removed to 
Kenosha County, where he hired out to William BOSE, for whom he worked for 
two years. He was anxious, however, to engage in business on his own 
account, and rented land in Racine County [of which Kenosha County was a part 
until its creation 26 January 1850], which he cultivated for two years. He 
afterward spent the winter in Kenosha [City of Kenosha or Kenosha County?] 
and then purchased twenty-six acres of land in Kenosha County, upon which he 
engaged in farming for twenty years. On the expiration of that period he 
sold he property and bought forty acres on Section 13, Somers township 
[Kenosha County], making his home thereon until his death. C. WITSCHEBER 
died 18 January 1903. His was an active, useful life, and the success which 
crowned his efforts was the direct result of his close application, energy 
and ability.

In early manhood Mr. WITSCHEBER was married to Miss Louisa RINEHARDT, a 
daughter of Max RINEHARDT, and to them [to C. and Louisa (RINEHARDT) 
WITSCHEBER] were born five children: (1) Minnie, who became the wife of 
William R. BIRCH, a resident of Somers Township, by whom she has four 
children; (2) Paulina, the wife of L. J. MOREHOUSE and the mother of one 
child; (3) Edward; (4) Frank; and (5) Louis, the last three named being at 
home. The death of Mr. WITSCHEBER was deeply regretted, not only by his 
immediate family but also by the many friends that he had won during the 
fifty-five years of his residence in this part of the state. He was laid to 
rest in Oakwood Cemetery. His political allegiance was given to the 
Republican party, and he was a devoted member of the German Lutheran church, 
guiding his life by its teachings.

His [C. WITSCHEBER's] youngest son, Louis WITSCHEBER, was born 20 January 
1871 on the old homestead farm in [p 588] Somers Township, Kenosha County, 
Wisconsin, and obtained a common school education, dividing his time during 
his boyhood between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the 
playground, and the work of the fields. He has always followed the 
occupation to which he was reared, and in connection with his brothers is now 
cultivating the old home place. They have made all of the improvements upon 
this property and are now extensively engaged in raising cabbage, potatoes, 
beets, and grain, their practical and progressive methods bringing good 
results. In politics Louis WITSCHEBER is also a Republican where national 
issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot. He belongs to 
the German Lutheran church and is a representative of a family that for many 
years has figured prominently and honorably in connection with the history of 
Kenosha County. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly