HERMAN BOETTGER

(1845 - 1914)

HERMAN BOETTGER, PROMINENT FARMER OF COUNTY, IS DEAD

ILL BUT FEW DAYS,

MR. BOETTGER IS CALLED AS HE PLANNED FOR FUTURE IN A NEW HOME JUST BUILT

Herman Boettger, Sr., a prominent farmer of Kossuth, who settled in the county in 1852 and who for several years was engaged in the hay and grain business at Two Rivers, died last night after an illness of less than one week, his demise occurring at his farm in Kossuth. Mr. Boettger suffered an attack of illness last Sunday and gradually failed until the end came.

Death came to Mr. Boettger as he was planning enjoyment of his declining days and a rest from a life of activity, in a new home which he had just erected on the farm, a large and modern house, just having been completed. He had been prominent in agriculture circles of the county and was the owner of a well improved and well stocked 170 acre form (sic) in Kossuth and of a 240 acre farm in Oconto county and formerly owned considerable real estate and dock property at Two Rivers which is now owned by his son Edward Boettger. The Kossuth and with exception of a brief Boettger to his son-in-law, George Harter.

(Note the above sentence as written)

Mr. Boettger was a native of Germany and was born January 4, 1845. As a boy of seven he came to America with his parents in 1852 and on May 24 that year, the family settled in the town of Liberty where Mr. Boettger was married November 17, 1868 to Alvina Oestrich, the widow who with five children, survives him. In the 80's he located on the farm in Kossuth and with exception of a brief period when he was in business at Two Rivers, had made his home there.

Children surviving Mr. Boettger are H.J. Boettger, Two Rivers; Mrs. H.L. Ortez, Santa Fe, N.M.; Edward Boettger, this city; Mrs. C.P. Winding, Selma, Cal., and Mrs. George Harter, Kossuth.

The funeral will be held from the late home at Kossuth Sunday afternoon with interment there. Mr. Boettger was engaged in business at Two Rivers from 1889 to 1903, retiring in the latter year.

Manitowoc Daily Herald, Wis., Friday, February 6, 1914 P. 1

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A BIG BLAZE AND A BIG LOSS

H. Boettger & Sons' Hay Press and Warehouse Destroyed

About 350 Tons of Hay Consumed. Loss About $5000; Insurance $3800

Last Tuesday night, a few minutes before 12 o'clock, the big haypress and warehouse of H. Boettger & Sons, located on the lake front near the foot of Washington Street, was discovered to be on fire by the patrol from the Life Saving Station and the alarm was immediately sounded. The fire department was somewhat slow in responding, owing to the fact that no teams were in readiness to haul the steamer and apparatus to the fire, the teams had to be procured for the purpose. But it mattered little whether the department was prompt in its action or not,, as there was no possibility of quenching the flames or if saving any portion of the property and as there was no wind and no danger of the fire spreading to other property, the more complete the consumption the better. Indeed, had the firemen stood by, ready to keep the fire from spreading and thrown no water upon the fire, as long as no other property was endangered by it, they would have saved themselves from fatigue, saved coal and the wear and tear of fire apparatus, besides saving Messrs. H. Boettger & Sons much expense in cleaning away the rubbish and debris. But they were not expected to know that the calm weather was to continue and no one will blame them for not wanting to assume the responsibility of letting the fire burn itself out as nearly as possible.

The hay press and warehouse was a large wooden building and the probable value was from $1200 to $1500. On this there was an insurance of $800. Besides the machinery, scales, etc., in the building there was 350 tons of pressed hay and a horse belonging to the firm. The entire value of the contents cannot fall short of $5000, so that the loss will be from two thousand to three thousand dollars. But the loss will not interrupt the business of the firm. They have the hay press and warehouse on River street which will serve them for the present and they will at once begin the work of rebuilding the one destroyed by fire and have it in readiness for the fall trade. H. Boettger & Sons have built up an extensive business in this city in the past few years and are now among the principal dealers in pressed hay and straw in this portion of the state. Last year they branched out into other lines and began buying all kinds of grain and farm products as well as hay and straw. They have, by their energy and ability and fair dealing made of Two Rivers the leading hay market in the state. Of course there are others who have engaged spasmodically in buying hay here, but they came because farmers were hauling their hay here to see and it cannot be denied that the entire city has been benefitted by the trade this firm has attracted.

The heap of half-burned hay that smolders and smokes and stinks were the hay press once stood should have been declared a nuisance and removed the day following the fire. It has been twice necessary to get out the fire department to suppress flames and smoke that have burst forth from the smoldering and decaying heap. The idea that the ruins and debris must be left untouched for the inspection of the insurance adjuster is erroneous. There is no salvage and the heap of smoldering hay has become an offense and menace to the public.

The Chronicle, Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Wis., - Tues., July 16, 1901

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