HISTORY OF MANITOWOC COUNTY


Henry Vits was born in Rheydt, Rhine Province, Prussia, Germany, Janu-
ary 2I, I842, and is a son of William H. and Henrietta (Laufs) Vits, the
lat-
ter of whom died in the fatherland. William H. Vits brought his family to
the United States in I855, having been here in 1854 on a visit tentative
to defi-
nitely locating, buying land in Meeme township, Manitowoc county, where he
built one of the first gristmills in the county, which he later sold. In
I858 he
went to Kansas, where one of his daughters resided with her husband, but
in
I870 returned to this county and for three years resided on the old home
farm. In i873 Henry Vits moved to the city of Manitowoc, and went into
business, and his father resided with him until a few months prior to his
death, when he again went to Kansas and there died. William H. Vits brought
four children to the United States: Annie, who married Christian Weyer and
moved to Kansas, where both died; Mary, who died in i864, the wife of
Jacob Bierhaus, engaged in the butchering business in Manitowoc'; Henry;
and
Minnie, deceased, who was the wife of John Norton, a resident of Kansas.
Henry Vits was thirteen years of age when he came to the United States,
and about i86o served an apprenticeship of three years in the tanning business.
In i868 he moved on a farm in Newton township until i873, when he came to
Manitowoc and entered business with Martin Vollendorf, and carried on a tan-
ning business until i876, when they dissolved partnership. He was then asso-
ciated in the same line with Louis Sherman for four years, after which he
bought the tanning plant of Mr. Vollendorf and until i898 was engaged in
busi-
ness on his own account, in that year entering the aluminum manufacturing
busi-
ness which formed the nucleus for the present large concern.
On April 28, i866, he married Mary Hockemeyer, daughter of Fred Hocke-
meyer, one of Manitowoc's early settlers, and to this union there were born
nine children, of whom five now survive, namely: ' Albert, George and Hugo,
all connected with the business founded by their father; Hattie, who married
John Topic and resides in Detroit, Michigan; and Emma, who married William
F. Pflueger, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. From' 1894 until i898 Mr. Vits served
as postmaster of Manitowoc and he also served in the state legislature and
as
a member of the board of supervisors and the city council. He is now a mem-
ber of the jury commission of the school board and the park commission and
is
a prominent member of the Odd Fellows.
JACOB ROEMER.
In the death of Jacob Roemer Manitowoc lost one of the representative busi-
ness men and public-spirited citizens who was long well established in the
regard.
of his fellow townsmen. He was born August 26, 1839, in Germany, and was
twelve years of age when brought by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Roemer,
to the new world, the family home being established in Manitowoc. The father
spent his remaining days here. He was a cooper by trade and engaged in busi-
ness along that line, becoming a prominent factor in commercial circles.
His wife,
Mrs. Catherine Roemer, died in this city on the i8th of March, I902.




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