362HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



Mrs. F. Jagoditsh of Wisconsin Rapids; Russell, deceased; Lillian, now Mrs.
L. J.
Eron, of Wisconsin Rapids; and Mamie, deceased.
   Lewis J. Eron, of Wisconsin Rapids, who has established a successful plumbing
business in this city, was born in Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 1, 1890, son of
Anthony
and Catherine (Bruckner) Eron. The father was a native of Alsace, until recently
belonging to Germany but now to France, and the mother of New York State.
The former, who was a tailor by trade, came to America in 1867, and, as that
was
three years before Alsace became German territory, he was a Frenchman by
birth.
For several years after arriving in this country he traveled about from place
to
place working at his trade, which he subsequently followed in Milwaukee after
he
had made that place his permanent home. He and his wife, who are both living,
were married in 1889. They have had a family of five children: Lewis J.,
of Wis-
consin Rapids; Phillip A., who works for his brother Lewis; Edwin F., who
is
secretary of the Mitchell Manufacturing Co. of Milwaukee; and Marie and Joseph,
who reside at home with their parents. LewisJ. Eronwhenyoungattendedaparochial
school in Milwaukee, conducted under the auspices of the Catholic church,
and
was later a student at Marquette University, in addition to which he took
some
short courses designed for outside students by Wisconsin University. In Milwau-
kee he worked for some time as a postal telegraph messenger. He then entered
the employ of P. F. Kenney of that city to learn the plumber's trade, subsequemtly
worked at it in Milwaukee and elsewhere, spending some time in travel. In
1912
he came to Grand (now Wisconsin) Rapids and for a short time worked for the
L. M. Nash Hardware Co. In May, 1913, he established his present plumbing
shop at No. 106 First Avenue North, which he has since conducted, being the
sole
owner. He carries on business under the style of "Eron, the Plumber,"
handles
everything in the line of his trade and has met with good success. He is
a mem-
ber of the Catholic Church and has attained the fourth degree in the Knights
of
Columbus. Mr. Eron was married in Grand Rapids, in 1913, to Lillian Hansen,
daughter of Benjamin and Mattie (Van Slate) Hansen. He and his wife have
two children: Robert E., born Aug. 4, 1914, and A. Harold, born Feb. 22,
1916.
Mrs. Eron is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and of the Lady Foresters.
   Ole Natwick, a pioneer lumberman of Wood County, now deceased, was born
in Norway about 1823, of hardy stock, and came to the United States when
a young
man. About 1854 he made his appearance on the site of Centralia, and with
his
brothers established a sawmill five miles west of that settlement, and from
the
latter point they drew their lumber to Centralia and then rafted it and ran
it down
the Wisconsin River. This occupation he followed for the rest of his active
career,
finally retiring and taking up his residence in Seneca, this county, where
he died
in the fall of 1892. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia Johnson, and who,
like himself was a native of Norway, some years after his death moved to
Grand
Rapids (now Wisconsin Rapids), on account of ill health, and finally passed
away
in this city. They were the parents of ten children: Mary, Anna, Carrie,
Alice,
James, Andrew, Henry, John, Joseph and Charles, of whom John and Alice are
now deceased.
   James Natwick, now retired from active business, whose record in Wisconsin
Rapids is that of a successful business man and honorable public official,
was born
in Dane County, Wisconsin, June 29, 1857, son of Ole and Julia (Johnson)
Nat-
wick. His early years were spent in pioneer lumbering activities, his home
being
in Sigel Township, where his parents had brought him in 1858 and where they
had
made their permanent home. His educational opportunities were meagre. After
attending the public schools he completed a course in the La Crosse Business
College. He became a resident of Centralia (now a part of Wisconsin Rapids)
and
for six years worked for Nels Johnson & Co. as bookkeeper, also as assistant
post-
master. Then, in company with Chris Nisson, he engaged in the furniture busi-
ness, building a store on the west bank of the river, back of what is now
the Mac-
Kinnon Block. After one year Mr. Natwick bought out his partner and at the
same time was appointed postmaster by President Harrison. In 1893 he built
a
larger store on Grand Avenue, to which he moved, and where he continued in
the



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