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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 492-493
AUGUST C. PRIOR, the well-known manager of the general store of Mrs. G. PRIOR, at Cassville, Grant county, is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred March 5, 1850 in Racine.
Gottfried PRIOR, his father, was born in Prussia, Germany, and in early life came to America, locating first in Milwaukee. Subsequently he was married, in Racine, to Miss Margretha THEISS, a native of Bavaria, Germany, and a daughter of Theobold THEISS. She became a resident of Racine in the early 'forties.' In 1856 the family came to Cassville, where Gottfried PRIOR engaged in the hotel business, continuing same until the spring of 1862. In 1861, he was proprietor of the "Dennison House." In the spring of 1862 he, with his son August C., went to Woodman, Wis., where he had a building erected during the summer, in the fall of the same year commencing the business of general merchandising, his wife and the other children moving there in the summer of 1863. Mr. PRIOR continued business in Woodman until the summer of 1866, when he removed back to Cassville, where he conducted his successful business until his death in 1891. His widow continues the business, her son August C. acting as general manager. He is the eldest of four living children, the others being Mrs. Mary HOLST, a resident of Cedar Bluffs, Neb.; Mrs. Christena LOSCH, of Elkader, Iowa; and Mrs. Gertie PETERSON, of Pilger, Nebraska.
Coming to Cassville with his parents at the age of six years, August C. PRIOR was reared at that place, and attended the public schools until the spring of 1862, when he had just reached the age of twelve years. This was all the schooling he received, though through experience in business he has acquired a good education. Throughout his active career he has been interested in business pursuits. From 1871 to 1875 he was the junior member of the firm of G. PRIOR & Son, also from 1876 to 1879. In 1875 he traveled as a salesman for a Milwaukee dry-goods house. In 1879 he engaged in business in Glen Haven, which terminated in 1881. He now has full charge of the business established by his father in 1866, and in its management is meeting with excellent success.
August C. PRIOR was married, at Glen Haven to Miss Martha STEWART, a native of Beetown, Grant county, and a daughter of David and Emeline (HUDSON) STEWART, who came to this State at a very early day in its development. As a merchant the father engaged in business first at Beetown, and later at Glen Haven, where his death occurred; her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. PRIOR have two children: Mamie, a teacher in the public schools of Cassville; and Gertie, who is also a teacher, but now assists her father in the store. Mr. PRIOR is connected with the Cassville Lodge, No. 335, F. & A.M. In business circles he occupies an enviable position.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck