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MARATHON COUNTY ASYLUM AND POOR FARM
All the following information about the history of the Asylum and Poor Farm comes from copies of materials at the Marathon County Historical Libary, 410 McIndoe, Wausau, WI
The asylum was built in 1893 for $80,000 at the end of Sturgeon Eddy Road in Wausau, at the urging of Judge Louis Marchetti, and was called the Asylum for the Chronic Insane. Built next door to the insane asylum was the Marathon County Home and Hospital which served as maternity and general hospital for poor residents.
The asylum was once considered a model structure for care of mental patients.
In 1939, there were 210 chronically insane persons in the asylum. In 1948 the asylum changed its name to the Marathon County Hospital.
In 1963 it became Sunny Vale Infirmary, and a renovation of a tuberculosis sanatorium on Highway 29 became Sunny Vale Manor.
The current Marathon County Health Care Center was built in 1971. They do have a very few records from the early period in their basement, but there is minimal information on those records - just names and charges. They destroyed most of the records.
The county poor farm was built in 1883 on Town Line Road. It was destroyed by fire in 1909, and was rebuilt in 1910 to the asylum complex on Sturgeon Eddy Road. It was destroyed again by fire in 1926, but was rebuilt in 1928 and continued to operate as a poor farm until 1944 when residents were transferred to the home and hospital.
From "Appropriations for the Care of the Chronic Insane, in County Asylums, for the year ending September 30, 1890"
For Marathon County Insane ..............$1,710.34
From "Northern Hospital for the Insane STATEMENT of the amount due for the Support of Inmates from Marathon County, 1899. Filed Oct. 16, 1899, W. J. Gehrke, Co. Clerk.
Office of Wisconsin Home for the Feeble Minded, Chippewa Falls, Oct. 1, 1899 - $676.47
Name Time Board @ $1.50 week Clothing Total Amount
Bartholomew Burek 52 wks 1 day 78.21 $30 year $108.21
Willie E. Brawley 52/1 78.21 30 108.21
Mary Dorsky 52/1 78.21 30 108.21
Hannah Lipinski 52/1 78.21 30 108.21
Fred C. A. Peters 52/1 78.21 30 108.21
Myrtle Bell Harris 52/1 78.21 30 108.21
Frank E. Rothmann 13/1 19.71 7.50 27.21
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Office of State Board of Control of Wisconsin Reformatory, Charitable and Penal Institutions: Amount due from Marathon County, as of 10th of October, 1889 - $1678.95
Name Time Board Clothing Money Total
Augusta Goeling 52/1 78.21 78.21
Robt. Buss 7/1 10.71 11.25 24.65 46.61
Geo. Schremp 39/4 59.35 41.50 18.61 119.46
Emelie Krause 52/1 78.21 20.00 98.21
William Crawford 52/1 78.21 15.25 93.46
Emil Riccorz 52/1 78.21 24.25 102.46
Agnes Bessey 37/1 55.71 10.25 65.96
Louisa Werner 9/3 14.14 4.13 8.85 27.12
Eddie Fitzpatrick 27/5 41.57 5.88 8.85 56.30
Mary Paa 52/1 78.21 16.75 94.96
Otto Westphal 52/1 78.21 12.75 90.96
Mathilda Frayer 52/1 78.21 8.75 8.85 95.81
Christ Franklin 52/1 78.21 34.50 112.71
Ferdinand Buckholz 52/1 78.21 17.38 95.59
Henry Ferge 28/2 42.43 18.50 2.82 63.75
Joseph Tuhalski 38/4 57.86 37.00 94.86
Frank Golz 42/3 63.64 2.00 65.64
Edward Grimm 41/6 62.79 41.25 104.04
Fred Klinschmidt 28/3 42.64 12.00 54.64
Herman Mielke 6 9.00 16.00 25.00
Rudolph Brose 13/2 19.93 16.63 2.95 39.51
Julianna Karas 7/6 11.79 15.75 27.54
Mary Boeni 5/4 8.36 8.36
James Quinn 6 9.00 9.00
Frank Emil Prenss 5/6 8.79 8.79
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The following names are from the town of Weston 1910 Census, and are possibly from the inhabitants of the Marathon County Poor farm. The first listing of dwelling 208 the people are listed as patients, and the second listing of dwelling 209, the people are listed as charges.
House number 208, family number 213. This is only a partial listing of the information from this census.
Also, the enumerator seems to have taken it upon himself to put down not only the place of birth, but the persons nationality also - which seems to include both parents place of birth - for example, Russ. Polish - I think - he was born in Russia, and one or both parents were born in Poland.
Name Relation Age Place of Birth
Roehl, Joseph Jr. Head 42 Wisconsin
Roehl, Theresa Wife 42 Wisconsin
Roehl, Joseph M. Son 19 Wisconsin
Roehl, Susan Daughter 18 Wisconsin
Bramm, Renata Cook 23 Wisconsin
Gross, Louis Supervisor 22 Wisconsin
Schneider, Sigismund Attendant 21 Wisconsin
Muenchow, Emil Attendant 28 Wisconsin
Doleshal, Minnie Supervisoress 36 Michigan
Loschky, Barbara Attendant 23 Ohio
Schroeder, Helen Attendant 21 Wisconsin
Griepp, Elsie Cook 21 Wisconsin
Davis, Louise Baker 18 Wisconsin
Hanson, Alma Laudress 21 Wisconsin
Heutsch, Alois Barn Boss 40 Switz. German
Nelson, S. A. Farm Boss 42 ?
Kauter, Herman Farmer Mistake, Was taken elsewhere
Paulus, George Farmer 20 Wisconsin
Peterson, Gust Attendant 40 Nor.
Bedynek, Mary Attendant 19 Wisconsin
Miller, Pauluise Attendant 21 Wisconsin
Shoepke, Hattie Attendant 21 Wisconsin
Bettin, Carl Patient 41 Ger.
Nowacki, Anton Patient 37 Pennsylvania
Ohde, Carl " 53 Ger.
Kersling, Daniel " 24 Wisconsin
Rollenhagen, Henry " 32 Wisconsin
Frayer, Matilda " 41 Wisconsin
Lillie, John " 46 Wisconsin
Kunz, Mary " 70 Germany
Seefeld, August Jr. " ` 31 Wisconsin
Nelson, John " 68 Nor.
Boettcher, Bertha " 50 Ger.
Ruder, Edward " 40 Wisconsin
Hendrickson, Emil " 57 Nor.
Golz, Frank " 35 New Jersey
Davis, Lizzie " 49 Wisconsin
Fiker, Augusta " 81 Ger.
Crawford, William " 64 New York
Albrecht, Emelie " 46 Ger.
Boeni, Mary " 55 Switz.German
Besdek, Elizabeth " 43 Wisconsin
Van Order, Willaim W. " 62 New York
Salzmann, Louisa " 62 Swiss German
Riccioz, Emil " 45 Switz German
Bessey, Agnes " 61 Scot. English
Teeter, Jane A. " 77 New York
Gesellchen, Anna M " 45 Ger.
Miller, Amelia " 67 Ger.
Fogarty, Martin " 67 Can. English
Johlke, Bertha " 39 Ger.
Scheer, Anna " 33 Ger.
Krueger, Ottilie " 49 Wisconsin
Hoolshan, Anna " 30 Wisconsin
Goerling, Augusta " 47 Ger.
Heihl, Mary " 46 Ger.
Raatz, Ferdinand " 60 Ger.
Randall, Katherine " 51 Ger.
Brown, Mary " 36 Ger.
Kamerath, Edward " 43 Ger.
Ladwig, Emile (male) " 30 Ger.
Ellingson, Tena " 30 Wisconsin
Weigal, John J. " 50 Ger.
Furger, Josephine " 65 Switz.
Harth, Emma " 25 Wisconsin
Kleinschmidt, Fred " 37 Wisconsin
Nilson, Anton " 52 Swedish
Grams, William " 57 Ger.
Golbach, Kate " 55 Ger.
Gallagher, George L. " 23 Wisconsin
Albrecht, Caroline " 50 Ger.
Steidtman, Harvey " 33 Missouri
Prezewsloska, Andrew " 65 Russ. Polish
Frickner, Edward " 36 ?
Dunn, Charles L. " 22 Wisconsin
Michlig, Fredolin (male) " 44 Switz. German
Pasha, Frank " 28 Wisconsin
Clark, Kittie " 41 Wisconsin
Baerwald, Charles " 31 Wisconsin
Allis, Elizabeth " 59 Pennsylvania
Naell, George Jr. " 33 Switz. German
Schwartz, Elizabeth " 59 Aust. Bohemian
Dallman, Hulda " 45 Wisconsin
Hoffschmidt, Edward " 22 Wisconsin
Kolbeck, George " 75 Ger.
Schneider, Theresa " 60 Aust. Bohemian
Traeger, Augusta M. " 53 Ger.
Sopes, Pauline " 32 Wisconsin
Doleschal, Frank " 42 Wisconsin
Krause, Amelia " 72 Ger.
Papke, Johanna " 64 Ger.
Buckholz, Ferdinand " 51 Ger.
Aschbrenner, Adolph " 67 Russ. Polish
Franklin, Christ " 60 Ger.
Gohdes, Herman " 57 Ger.
Hoffman, John " 51 Ger.
Kruppe, Louis " 58 Ger.
Koltes, Joseph " 81 Ger.
Richter, Bernhard " 43 Ger.
Sell, Emelie " 41 Ger.
Christopherson, John " 48 Nor.
Kahner, John " 69 Hun.Mazyan (?)
Leffel, Carl " 61 Ger.
Mattis, Charles " 48 Ger.
Leitt, Lizzie " 29 Wisconsin
Gibbs, Clara " 45 New York
Baker, David W. " 61 Wisconsin
Dietrick, Anna " 36 Ger.
Krueger, William " 50 Wisconsin
Jesse, Anna " 42 Ger.
Walker, Joseph " 46 Can. English
Ossenfort, Freda " 53 Ger.
Lecini, Angelo " 41 Aust. German
Bever, Laura " 34 Wisconsin
Kell, Herman " 27 Wisconsin
Helke, Clara " 35 Wisconsin
Goertz, Emelia " 50 Ger.
Throm, John " 64 Ger.
Chapman, Kittie " 39 Wisconsin
Koch, Julius " 69 Ger.
Bennett, Louis " 47 New York
Bartells, William " 62 Ger.
Bell, Nellie " 49 Wisconsin
Fischer, John G. " 52 Ger.
Damity, Emilie " 61 Ger.
Cummings, Stephen " 53 Wisconsin
Rape, Adolpha H. " 63 New York
Henich, John " 56 Aust. Bohemian
Dahlke, Gustav " 66 Ger.
Oleson, Mary " 77 Den. Danish
Elk, Ferdinand " 51 Aust. German
Klewin, Frederich W. " 47 Wisconsin
Paulson, Charles " 56 Nor. Norwegian
Letwan, Melvin " 42 Wisconsin
Reiter, John " 48 Aust. German
Reese, Willaim " 60 Ger.
Corrigan, Lizzie " 41 Can.
Jones, Mary " 50 Russ. German
Hill, Minnie " 66 Swd. Swedish
Boldt, Walter " 27 Wisconsin
Skinner, George " 39 Wisconsin
Kersten, Celia " 70 Ger.
Lestikow, Wilhelmine " 82 Ger.
Jacobs, Elmer " 41 Ger.
Pyjoch, Herman ' 41 Wisconsin
Viergutz, Emelia " 43 Ger.
Rista, Ole " 49 Nor.
Gunell, Hilda " 33 Fin. Finnish
Huebner, Lydia " 44 Russ. German
Larson, Nels " 49 Swd. Swedish
Lehman, Charles A. " 72 Ger.
Hanson, Ephriam " 52 Swd. Swedish
Huges, Harold ' 33 Pennsylvania
Jensen, Anna M " 54 Den. Danish
Stadig, Niels " 54 Nor. Norwegian
Schneider, Anton " 59 Switz. German
Norelius, Johannes " 50 Swd. Swedish
Nedden, Herman " 50 Ger.
Jahnke, Emil " 44 Ger.
Johnson, Rasmus " 49 Nor. Norwegian
Hathaway, Silvester " 59 New York
Thomkins, Valentine ' 45 Wisconsin
Peterman, William " 40 Wisconsin
Mineshewski, Emilie ' 53 Ger
Miske, William " 50 Ger.
O'Hara, Thomas " 36 Wisconsin
Carr, William D. " 17 Wisconsin
Hoxie, Lizzie " 36 Can. English
Wilson, Charles " 66 Eng. English
Valicka, James " 46 Aust., Danish
Barrett, Edward " 38 Aust. Irish
Graham, Mary " 36 Wisconsin
Hansen, Peter " 49 Swd. Swedish
LaMontague, Louis " 57 Unknown
Belanski, Joseph " 44 Aust. Polish
Ballanz, John " 48 Ger.
Ellis, Eliza " 48 Wisconsin
Kryazana, Madgelena " 50 Russ. Polish
Levandoski, Balbina " 59 Russ. Polish
Hansen, Caroline " 54 Wisconsin
Knotz, Juliana " 64 Hun. Magyar (?)
Keogh, John " 51 Ire. Irish
McCleary, William " 63 Ohio
Dumonowski, August " 48 Russ Polish
Piankowski, Frank " 56 Russ.Polish
Ceary, John " 69 Ire. Irish
Rawson, Michael " 52 Wisconsin
Hesse, Tracy " 42 Ger.
Dudzeh, John " 51 Ger.
Buffum,Cassandra " 44 Wisconsin
Osowski, John " 38 Russ. Polish
Gorman, Maria " 71 Georgia
Eder, Anna " 51 Ger.
Ellis, Ottillia " 58 Wisconsin
Holmes, Ransom " 53 Can. English
Knook, Rudolph " 26 Wisconsin
Finkel, James " 57 Can. English
Theilig, Christina " 45 Wisconsin
McAdams, Mary E. " 52 Wisconsin
Dennis, Mary C. " 79 New York
Keeper, Amelia " 55 Ger.
Hansen, Charles " 56 Nor.
McGoff, Patrick " 54 Can. English
Strand, Ingra (female) " 42 Nor.
Olson, Ellen " 54 Nor.
Cynderman, John " 47 Finland
Hasselberg, august " 48 Ger.
Lilja, Amelia " 43 Sweden
Siebert, Jessie " Info. not here
Auglim, Delia " 20 Wisconsin
Howland, Alice " 31 Wisconsin
Humphrey, Anna J. " 56 Wisconsin
Kluxtal, Louise " 38 Wisconsin
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Dwelling 209 - Household 214 - here the patients are called charges
Kurtz, Henry Manager 70 Ger
Nelson, Ida Matron 23 Wisconsin
(this says she is 23, yet has been married 10 years.)
Nelson, Madeline Daughter 9 Wisconsin
Nelson, Linda Daughter 7 Wisconsin
Donner, Mabel Cook 28 Wisconsin
Donner, Pearle Daughter 1 10/12 Wisconsin
Trantow, Fred Charge 25 unknown
Peterson, Ole " 32 unknown
Wehlitz, Charles " 67 unknown
Pflughoeft, albert " 78 Ger.
Verden, John " 48 unknown
Pinsky, Theresa " 10 unknown
Pigeon, Patrick " 70 Ire. Irish
Plieffer, Nic " 76 Ger.
O'Niel, Dennis " 65 U. S.
Domhowsky, Caroline " 73 Rus. Polish
Schlee, August " 59 Unknown
Helke, John " 47 Ger.
Holtz, Charles " 55 Ger.
Goldman, Mike " 36 Unknown
Tilton, Lewis " Unknown Unknown
Burkhardt, Joseph " Unknown Unknown
Rusch, Ernest " Unknown Ger.
Lipinski, Maria " Unknown Russ. Polish
Haesle, Anna Nurse 28 Wisconsin
Woldt, Albert Charge Unknown Unknown
Wehlick, John " 68 Ger.
Sikorski, Charles " 60 Ger.
Elliot, George " 60 Wisconsin
Miller, Fred " Unknown Wisconsin
Jeskowski, James " 57 Russ. Polish
Cerney, Joseph " 69 Unknown
Kilroy, Patrick " 58 Ire.
Peterson, Kettle (male) " 70 Swedish
Barry, William " 72 Unknown
Rank, Mike " 60 Unknown