“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  
Western Historical Company.   1879.


F. KUSEL, hardware merchant, etc.; was born in Doenitz, Germany, 
Nov. 1, 1839;  came to Watertown in 1849 with his father and learned 
the hardware and tin trade with him; in 1864, in connection with his 
brother, D. Kusel, bought out his father and they still continue in the 
hardware business under the name of D. & F. Kusel.  Mr. Kusel went to 
Texas for a short time, and, on the outbreak of the war, came home and 
raised a company of 104, which was attached to the 20th Wis. V. I., Col. 
Pinckney, and was known as Co. E, and in which he enlisted August 16, 
1862; Mr. Kusel was engaged with the regiment in the following battles: 
Prairie Grove, Ark.; siege of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Port Hudson and a 
number of skirmishes; he was wounded slightly in the hip at the battle of 
Prairie Grove; receiving his discharge in October, 1863.  He has held the 
following offices:  In 1868, Alderman of the Fourth Ward; 1872, Mayor 
of Watertown; in 1875, Supervisor of Fourth Ward, also Alderman of 
Fourth Ward; in 1879, Mayor of Watertown.  He married, March 4, 
1864, Mary Bodien, of Germany; he has four children living – Theodore 
D., Bertha, Edward H. and Arthur, all born in Watertown.



Submitted by:  Linda Pingel  (LPingel@worldnet.att.net)