HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



how to use to best advantage, as he has a thorough practical knowledge of
farming
in all its branches. He has exercised thrift and good judgment and has made
steady progress in prosperity. His politics are in general those of the Republican
party but he exercises independence in casting his ballot, claiming the right
to
vote for a good candidate regardless of party lines. He and his wife are
the parents
of four children, who were born as follows: Helen A., Feb. 24, 1915; Robert
M.,
Oct. 27, 1916; Marie L., Nov. 18, 1917; and William J., Oct. 5, 1922. The
family
are members of St. Mary's Catholic Congregation at Auburndale.
   Thomas Nash, who played a prominent part as a pioneer in opening up the
rich
agricultural section of Wood County, and who has been for many years a resident
of Sigel Township, was born at Springfield, Mass., Jan. 1, 1854, son of Patrick
and
Margaret Nash. The parents were natives of Ireland, and came to the United
States from Limerick in 1848, settling at Springfield, Mass. They later removed
to Hartford, Conn., from there to Greenfield, Mass., and in 1851 came west.
They
came to Wood County in 1877 and bought 100 acres of land in Sections 13 and
24,
Sigel Township.' Of this tract only 12 acres were broken, the balance being
in
heavy timber; the small log house which was on the land served as a temporary
home, and the family set to work to clear and develop the land. The father
and
Thomas cleared 11 acres the first winter, and so the work went on from year
to
year, each spring seeing a fresh addition to the tillable acreage. The house
was
remodeled and a new barn and other buildings erected, the final result being
the
fine property now owned and operated by the family of Mr. Nash, Sr., he having
passed away in 1913. The mother died in 1903. They were the parents of 11
children, of whom eight are now living, namely: Thomas, James, John, William,
Michael, Richard, Frank, and Catherine. Thomas Nash, coming to Wood County
with his parents in the summer of 1877, helped the family in developing the
farm
and also engaged in other fields of endeavor, working in the lumber woods,
rafting
down the river to St. Louis, doing railroad work, and working in Smith's
Mill for
Larry Ward. In 1893 he took up his permanent residence on the home farm and
has devoted all his subsequent efforts to its -development and operation.
This
property is now owned in partnership by the members of the Nash family, and
is
being operated by Thomas and James Nash, while Catherine Nash is keeping
house
for her three brothers.' The property is equipped with good buildings, including
a silo, and the family is carrying on mixed farming and dairying, having
a herd of
20 Holstein cattle with a pure-bred sire at the head. The Nash family is
very
well known throughout their section of the county, and has been closely associated
with much of its history.
    Joseph Seidl, who passed from this life in the village of Hewitt on May
25,
 1920, was for many years a highly esteemed citizen of that village, one
whose loss
 was sincerely deplored. He was born in Austria, Sept. 2, 1857, and there
after
 attending school he learned the wagon-maker's trade. In 1874 he came to
the
 United States, first settling in Manitowoc County, Wis. Besides working
at his
 trade in the city of Manitowoc, he also did carpenter work in the country.
In
 1878 or 1879 he came to Wood County and located in the village of Hewitt,
where
 he established a wagon shop which he operated until a few months before
his death.
 In addition to operating this shop, Mr. Seidl followed the occupation of
farmer,
 having in 1882 bought 20 acres in the south part of the village, to which
tract he
 later added 60 acres, and still later 20 acres more, making altogether 100
acres of
 wild land, which in course of time he made into a good farm, clearing all
his land
 and erecting a -fine set of buildings. He was proprietor of that place until
1919,
 when he sold it and bui4 a small bungalow of six rooms, in which he made
his sub-
 sequent home. He was a Catholic in religion, a good husband and father and
an
 agreeable neighbor, a man who lived up to his own high sense of duty. Mr.
Seidl
 was married at Marshfield, this county, Aug. 8, 1877, to Agnes Wilhelm,
who was
 born in Sheboygan County, Wis., July 4, 1859, daughter of George and Margaret
 (Holser) Wilhelm. Mr. and Mrs. Seidl have been the parents of six children.
 though death has deprived them of three. Cornelia, born April 30, 1883,
died
 Dec. 30, 1892. George, born May 21, 1885, died Aug. 21, 1892. Joseph, born



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