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From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 726-727
FREDERICK BEILHARZ, who, as a blacksmith and wagonmaker, was for many years prominently identified with the industrial and business interests of Cassville, Grant county, has made his home in that place since 1855, locating there when it was a village of about a dozen houses. As a public-spirited citizen he was actively connected with its early development and progress, and after a useful and well-spent life he is now living retired, enjoying a well-earned rest.
Mr. BEILHARZ was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Oct. 17, 1831, a son of Christian and Barbara (KUBBLER) BEILHAR, who spent their entire lives in that country. In their family were eight children, namely: Mrs. Christiana CHRIST, a resident of Buffalo, N.Y., Frederick; Mrs. Barbara HUNTER, of Germany; Mrs. CHRIST, who died in Clayton county, Iowa; Fredericka, a resident of Germany; Dora, who resides at the old home in the Fatherland; Mrs. Caroline HOOVER, of Cassville, Wis.; and John, who came to Cassville in 1859, and three years later enlisted in the 27th Iowa V.I. with which he served three years, and is now living at the Soldiers Home in Iowa.
Frederick BEIHARZ was the first of the family to come to America. He sailed from Roterdam in April, 1852, and after a long and tedious voyage of fifty-eight days landed in New York, June 17, whence he proceeded at once to Buffalo, N.Y. In that city he worked at his trade for two years before coming to Wisconsin. In 1854, at the land office in Mineral Point, Wis., he entered a tract of land in Cassville township, Grant county, and immediately located thereon, devoting his time and energies to its improvement and cultivation until his removal to Cassville in 1855. Since then he has made his home on the block where he now resides. Erecting a shop he successfully engaged in blacksmithing and wagonmaking for many years, but has now laid aside the cares and responsibilities of business life, and is living retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil. Besides the property he owns in Cassville, he still has a good farm in Cassville township, which he rents.
In 1855, at Cassville, Mr. BEILHARZ was united in marriage with Miss Mary MUNCH, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (RIETZ) MUNCH, who, on coming to this country, first located in Hoboken, N.J., and in 1855 became residents of Cassville, Wis. Later Mr. MUNCH, who was a farmer by occupation, moved to Emmetsburg, Iowa, where both he and his wife died at an advanced age, she being nearly ninety-two at the time of her death. Their children were Mrs. Mary BEILHARZ; Mrs. Elizabeth ENGLAS and Mrs. Catharine ADRAIN, both residents of Emmetsburg, Iowa; Lizzie, who died in that State; and Henry, who died in Whittemore, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. BEILHARZ have four children: (1) Mrs. Lusetta EISENAGGERICH, of Dubuque, Iowa, has three children, Freddie, Lucy and Arthur. (2) Fritz, a blacksmith of Cassville, married Lucy BISHOP, and they have two children, Fred and Emma. (3) Mrs. Mary SHATKIN, whose husband is a merchant of Minneapolis, Minn., has four children, Henry, Arnold, Edwin and Fred. (4) Henry, also a blacksmith of Cassville, married Lizzie GELLEBRANT, and they have three children, Ray, Mabel and Blanche.
In his political affiliations Mr. BEILHARZ is a Republican, having always voted with that party since its organization, and he is now efficiently serving as a member of the city council. He is one of the prominent pioneers of Cassville, and is still one of its leading and influential citizens. Social he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and religiously is a member of the Lutheran Church.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck