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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 532-533
AUGUST KETTLER, a retired business man of Platteville, Wis., came from the Fatherland, and the strongest and most creditable characteristics of the Teutonic race have been marked elements in his life, and have enabled him to win success in the face of opposing circumstances. He possesses the energy and determination which mark the people of Germany, and by the exercise of his powers he has steadily progressed, and has not only won a comfortable competence, but has commanded universal respect by his straightforward business methods.
Mr. KETTLER was born in Hanover, Germany, July 3, 1837, a son of Henry and Louise (KRAUS) KETTLER, also natives of Hanover. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to the New World in 1856, taking passage at Bremen on a sailing vessel, and landing in New York after a voyage of six weeks. He came at once to Platteville, Wis., and opened up a farm in Smelser township, Grant county, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his life. His death occurred in 1877, and his wife died in the same township in 1886. They had four sons: Henry, a resident of Platteville; Conrad, who died in that city in December, 1899; August, of this review; and Frederick, a resident of Nebraska.
August KETTLER passed his boyhood and youth in his native land, and was there educated. Coming to America in 1856, he has since November of that year, made his home in Grant county, Wis. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed in Platteville until 1863, and then embarked in general merchandising at that place, successfully conducting a store there until 1888. The first building he owned on Second street was destroyed by fire, and he then erected a two-story frame building on the same street, which he occupied until purchasing a building on the corner of Main and Second streets. This building on Second street, and later (in 1873), his building the corner of Main and Second streets, which he was occupying as a dry-goods store, were also destroyed by fire. Since then he has erected a good two-story brick block on the corner of Main and Second streets, which he still owns and which is now occupied by Henry SANDERS as a general store.
In 1860, in Grant county, Mr. KETTLER was married to Miss Julia THOMPSON, a native of Norway. Her father, Thomas THOMPSON, brought his family to America in 1849, and located on a farm in Green county, Wis., where he continued to make his home until death. Mr. and Mrs. KETTLER have two children: Louise, wife of Henry SCHAMBOW, of Platteville, by whom she has one child, Clara; and Carrie, wife of Frank BURG, a clothing merchant of the same place, by whom she has two children, Frankie and Leo. In his political views Mr. KETTLER is a Republican, and has faithfully served his fellow citizens as a member of the city council. He has also filled the office of jury commissioner of the county for the past three years, and has ever taken an active and commendable interest in public affairs. Religiously he and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran Church. Pleasant and genial in manner, he makes friends of those with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life, and is one of the popular and honored citizens of Platteville.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck