SIEFERT, August
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 589-590

August SIEFERT is one of the young men who emigrated to America without 
capital and worked his way from a position of comparative obscurity by 
adapting to circumstances and taking advantage of opportunities to a position 
of success among the leading men of the community in which he resides. He is 
now one of the most successful business men and influential citizens of Sauk 
County, WI. August SIEFERT was born in Velmeden, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, 14 
Aug 1855, a son of Rev. Carl Frederick and Antoinette (HELLER) SIEFERT. The 
father, a minister of the Evangelical church, was located at Velmeden a 
number of years, but died at Milmes, Kreis Hersfeld, Hessen-Nassau, in Mar 
1872, at the age of 69. He took an active and prominent part in educational 
and other public affairs, and was honored and respeocted by all who knew him. 
The wife and mother is still living, at the age of over 70 years, and now 
makes her home in Cassel, Germany.

During his boyhood and youth August SIEFERT attended private schools and 
acquired a good education in several languages. On first coming to the U. S. 
in 1873, he spent one year in Milwaukee, WI, where he clerked in a grocery 
store, and in [p 590] Jun 1874, became a resident of Reedsburg [Sauk County, 
WI], where he has since made his home. He began business here as a clerk in 
the hardware store of HANSEN, GALE & Company, and in 1880 purchased an 
interest in the business, though the firm name was not changed until 1884, 
when it became GALE, SIEFERT & Company, and later SIEFERT, BLANK & Company. 
After the death of Mr. BLANK in 1891, the firm became SIEFERT Brothers, E. A. 
SIEFERT becoming the junior partner. Besides a general hardware trade, they 
handle the largest line of agricultural implements, vehicles, etc., in Sauk 
County, and from the public they receive a liberal patronage. Mr. SIEFERT is 
also vice president of the Citizens' Bank of Reedsburg, of which he has been 
a stockholder since 1887. He is a most capable and systematic business man, 
who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and has 
won a prominent place in the business circles of his adopted county.

In 1883 Mr. SIEFERT was united in marriage with Miss Ida BARTEL, a native of 
New York City, who came to Milwaukee [MIlwaukee County], WI, with her parents 
in childhood. Her father, Carl BARTEL, was a retail clothier of Milwaukee. 
Mr. and Mrs. SIEFERT have one child, Hugo, born 02 Apr 1888. The Republican 
party always finds in Mr. SIEFERT a stanch supporter of its principles, and 
in 1896 he was a delegate to the national convention at St. Louis, which 
nominated William McKinley. He was appointed postmaster of Reedsburg by 
President Harrison, and most acceptably filled that office for four years. 
He was a member of the county board of supervisors one year, but has 
repeatedly declined to accept other elective offices, perferring to give his 
entire time and attention to his extensive business interests. He is, 
however, a public-spirited and progressive citizen, was one of the promoters 
of the Reedsburg public library, and takes a deep interest in everthing 
pertaining to the public welfare of the town, withholding his support from no 
enterprise calculated to prove of public good.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly