[1916/age 85 yrs.]
~~~~~~~~~

JACOB TROSSEN

Notes from Two Rivers:
Jacob Trossen, who has been living a retired life in this city, died on Saturday.
He was for many years one of the leading farmers in the Town of Mishicot. He was
born on April 23, 1830 in Germany and in 1847 came with his parents to this
country.
In September, 1863, Mr. Trossen was married to Barbara Wenner who was also a native
of Germany. He is survived by a wife and ten children, who are Mrs. Fred Claussen
of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. M. Goeler, Peter, George and Clara Trossen of this city,
Mrs. Chas Schmidt, Milwaukee, Mrs. August Fehrman of Whitelaw, Mrs. Albert Stechmesser
of Chicago and Joseph and Louis Trossen of Marshfield. The funeral took place Tuesday
afternoon from the residence.
Manitowoc Pilot, Thurs., Feb. 10, 1916
*********

JACOB TROSSEN additional info

MISHICOT PIONEER CALLED
Jacob Trossen, Pioneer of the Town of Mishicot Died Friday at the Age of 86
The weaknesses and ailments incident to old age had been telling upon
him severely for several weeks. He was born April 23, 1830 at Crov,
Germany and is a son of Jacob Trossen Sr. Jacob Trossen Sr. was the
owner of a vineyard in Germany and in 1847 brought his wife and five
children, Jacob, Nicholas, Kate, Emma and Mary to the United States. The
family came to Two Rivers by way of Milwaukee, arriving on the sailboat
Henderson on the 20th of July. For three or four days they resided at
the home of Deacon Smith and went up the Mishicot River seeking land
finally locating on a tract in Section 8 where the father erected a log
cabin. During the early days at that time, when there were roads cut
through, the boys made many trips to Two Rivers returning with flour and
other provisions which they received in exchange for the oats, potatoes
and rutabaga that they raised on the farm and they also made a trip to
Milwaukee and bought an ox team.
In September, 1856, Mr. Trossen was married to Catherine Herges who was
also a native of Germany and came to the United States to join her
brother, Peter. She died in 1862 at the age of thirty-two years, having
been the mother of four children: Anna, Nicholas, Jacob and Catherine,
of whom the sons are deceased. In 1863 Mr. Trossen was married to
Barbara Wenner, a native of Germany who came to the United States with
her parents, old settlers of Denmark. To this union there were born the
following children: Peter, Lizzie, Joseph, Louis, May, Rose, Clara and
George. Pre-eminently courageous and resourceful, these struggling
settlers on the raw farms of the Town of Mishicot, displayed a wonderful
readiness in adapting themselves to conditions and on meeting
emergencies and the hardihood and energy displayed in upbuilding and
preserving a comfortable home has had its reward in the knowledge that
their lives have not been lived in vain and that their community is the
better for their having lived in it.
Jacob Trossen was reared to the life of an agriculturist and although
his chances for an education were not very extensive he made most of his
opportunities and became a well informed man. He was continuously
engaged in farming up to the time of his retirement. He is survived by a
wife and ten children, who are Mrs. Fred Claussen of Los Angeles,
Calif., Mrs. M. Goeler, Peter, George, Clara Trossen, of this city; Mrs.
Chas Schmidt, Milwaukee; Mrs. August Fehrman of Whitelaw; Mrs. Albert
Stechmesser of Chicago and Joseph and Louis Trossen of Marshfield. The
funeral took place Tuesday afternoon from the home, Rev. Morris officiating.
The Reporter, Fri., Feb. 11, 1916
*********
(The Old Timers column will be continued as long as we find the persons who have a vivid recollection of the early days and who are entitled to recognition as Old Timers by having lived in this vicinity previous to 1856.)
OLD TIMERS
When in the spring of 1847, the Trossen family came to Two Rivers, they found
here a half dozen Germans among whom were, Henry Hempke and Robert Boldus, father
of Frank Boldus and a half dozen French Canadians among whom were Martill, Bunker,
LaFond and Sanville. Deacon Smith was here also and Jacob Trossen, the subject of
this sketch says that was all.
A new school house had just been erected and as there were seven in the family,
they accepted the suggestions of the Deacon to lodge in the school house and here
they slept every night for one week and got their meals. Jacob, who was 17 years
of age then set out with his father and two others in search of a site for the farm
which was the father's ambition to possess. They followed the trail northward through
the almost unbroken forest on foot. On the present site of Mishicot, they found four
families settled close together, Jaeckel, Houser, Cooper and Bartelme, who was an
uncle of Peter Bartelme of Two Rivers. The newcomers were received with open arms by
these few settlers and they soon selected the piece of land which suited their liking
in Section 8 of Two Rivers Township. Here with the help of the other settlers they now
set to work erecting a log house of three rooms and after a few weeks work were snugly
quartered in their new home and brought the other members of the family up from Two
Rivers.
They brought their household goods up the Mishicot River in a scow, camping at night
on the ?? of the river, one keeping watch with a loaded gun and replenishing the fire
while the others of the party slept. Bears were numerous. They often would steal a pig
quite close to the house. Herds of deer were frequently seen. They sometimes mingled
with the cattle grazing in the stumpage. Wolves howled almost invariably at night.
Indians called frequently, sometimes a score or more with large quantities of venison
to trade for tobacco or whiskey. When they held their great "pow wows" and dances at
Two Rivers, a hundred or more passed through Mishicot. Mr. Trossen's father and Mr.
Brasch, a neighbor went to Milwaukee by boat from Two Rivers and there purchased each
a dozen barrels of flour and other provisions and a wagon and oxen. Their main work was
in clearing away the heavy timber. Oak, elm and maple abounded from two to four feet in
thickness. This was done with the axe and an ox team. The stump puller did not come in
use until fifteen years later. The second year they raised a crop of 320 bushels of
potatoes, 130 bushels of oats and 200 bushels of rutabagas. The potatoes netted them
50 cents per bushel.
Their farm comprised 160 acres which was bought from the government at the Green Bay
land office. After the death of his father, Jacob came in possession of the farm which
he conducted until a few years ago when he moved his family to this city where he now
resides at 1606 20th Street.
Preeminently courageous and resourceful, these struggling settlers on the raw farms of
the town of Mishicot displayed a wonderful readiness on adapting themselves to conditions
and in meeting emergencies and the hardihood and energy displayed in up-building and
preserving a comfortable home has had its reward in the knowledge that their lives have
not been lived in vain and that their community is the better for their having lived
in it.
Mr. Trossen served on the Town board two years and as assessor one year. He was
continuously engaged in farming up to the time of his retirement and is known as an
authority on matters agricultural.
The Reporter, Sat., Sept. 13, 1913
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Article Jacob Trossen

OLD TIMERS
When in the spring of 1847, the Trossen family came to Two Rivers, they found here a half dozen Germans among whom were, Henry Hempke and Robert Boldus, father of Frank Boldus and a half dozen French Canadians among whom were Martill, Bunker, LaFond and Sanville. Deacon Smith was here also and Jacob Trossen, the subject of this sketch says that was all.
A new school house had just been erected and as there were seven in the family, they accepted the suggestions of the Deacon to lodge in the school house and here they slept every night for one week and got their meals. Jacob, who was 17 years of age then set out with his father and two others in search of a site for the farm which was the father's ambition to possess. They followed the trail northward through the almost unbroken forest on foot. On the present site of Mishicot, they found four families settled close together, Jaeckel, Houser, Cooper and Bartelme, who was an uncle of Peter Bartelme of Two Rivers. The newcomers were received with open arms by these few settlers and they soon selected the piece of land which suited their liking in Section 8 of Two Rivers Township. Here with the help of the other settlers they now set to work erecting a log house of three rooms and after a few weeks work were snugly quartered in their new home and brought the other members of the family up from Two Rivers.
They brought their household goods up the Mishicot River in a scow, camping at night on the ?? of the river, one keeping watch with a loaded gun and replenishing the fire while the others of the party slept. Bears were numerous. They often would steal a pig quite close to the house. Herds of deer were frequently seen. They sometimes mingled with the cattle grazing in the stumpage. Wolves howled almost invariably at night.
Indians called frequently, sometimes a score or more with large quantities of venison to trade for tobacco or whiskey. When they held their great "pow wows" and dances at Two Rivers, a hundred or more passed through Mishicot. Mr. Trossen's father and Mr. Brasch, a neighbor went to Milwaukee by boat from Two Rivers and there purchased each a dozen barrels of flour and other provisions and a wagon and oxen. Their main work was in clearing away the heavy timber. Oak, elm and maple abounded from two to four feet in thickness. This was done with the axe and an ox team. The stump puller did not come in use until fifteen years later. The second year they raised a crop of 320 bushels of potatoes, 130 bushels of oats and 200 bushels of rutabagas. The potatoes netted them 50 cents per bushel.
Their farm comprised 160 acres which was bought from the government at the Green Bay land office. After the death of his father, Jacob came in possession of the farm which he conducted until a few years ago when he moved his family to this city where he now resides at 1606 20th Street.
Preeminently courageous and resourceful, these struggling settlers on the raw farms of the town of Mishicot displayed a wonderful readiness on adapting themselves to conditions and in meeting emergencies and the hardihood and energy displayed in up-building and preserving a comfortable home has had its reward in the knowledge that their lives have not been lived in vain and that their community is the better for their having lived in it.
Mr. Trossen served on the Town board two years and as assessor one year. He was continuously engaged in farming up to the time of his retirement and is known as an authority on matters agricultural.
The Reporter, Sat., Sept. 13, 1913
~~~~~~~~~~'
50th Wedding anniversary of Jacob and Barbara Trossen

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
A joyous celebration took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Trossen on 20th Street Wednesday, it being the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. The venerable couple were surrounded by their sons, daughters and grandchildren.
Those who were present are as follows: Mrs. Fred Claussen and daughter, Dora of Los Angeles, California; Michael Goeler and family of this city; Mrs. Chas Schmidt of Milwaukee; Peter Trossen and family of this city; Joseph Trossen of Pittsville,, Mr. and Mrs. August Fehrman and daughter, Esther of Whitelaw; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Trossen of Marshfield; Mrs. Adelbert Stechmesser of Chicago; George Trossen of Two Creeks and Miss Clara who resides at home.
The home was beautifully adorned for the occasion in green and gold, ferns, golden rod and roses being used for decorations. The music was furnished by one of Mrs. Trossen's grandchildren, Miss Catherine Goeler of this city. It was a rare and happy gathering of the old family circle and the spirit that prevaded was expressed in the good old german song which all sang together, “Wir Sitzen so Froelich by Sommen”, the old couple joining in the singing.
Mr. Jacob Trossen is one of the pioneers of this section and has seen the county develop from a wild waste of timber land to a flourishing farming and commercial center. He was born at Crov, Germany, April 23, 1830 and came to this country in 1847 settling on a farm at Mishicot. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Christine Herges also a native of Germany who died in 1863. In 1864 he was married to his present wife, nee Barbara Werner. Her husband had also passed away a few years before. The wedding ceremony was performed at the court house at Manitowoc by then County Judge Wrighter. Mrs. Trossen came to America in 1857.
The Reporter, Sat., Sept. 26, 1914