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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1
pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919

         [page 326]

         MICHAEL ABTS, a pioneer of Buffalo county, now deceased, was
       a native of Germany, and came to this country when a young man,
       making the voyage on a sailing vessel, which made port in 60
       days. He made his way to Galena, Ill., where he remained for
       awhile and was there married to MARY LEMPER. With one child,
       ADELAIDE, which subsequently died at the age of three years,
       they came up the Mississippi river to Grant county, Wisconsin,
       where MR. ABTS engaged in farming for a while. Then they came
       to Fountain City, where MR. ABTS worked at anything he could
       find to do. This was during Civil War days, and after the war
       he took a homestead of 160 acres in section 23, Cross township,
       to which a road had been grubbed out. It was all wild land, and
       he had to erect a log house, as there were no buildings. It was
       but a one-room dwelling that he put up, and measured only 14 by
       16 feet, being, however, shingled with long oak shingles, but it
       sufficed for a first residence. He had an ox team and one cow,
       and with this stock he began the improvement of his farm. Water
       had to be carried in pails attached to a yoke, for about a mile.
       On going to church to Fountain City, a distance of about eight
       miles, he would walk by the side of the ox team, while the mother
       and children rode in the wagon. He often carried groceries from
       Fountain City on his back. In time MR. ABTS bought 160 acres more
       land, which he cleared as fast as he was able, but progress at
       first was slow. He was obliged to cut his grain with a cradle,
       but later he got a Johnson reaper. He raised good stock and im-
       proved his buildings. A part of the present frame house was
       erected by him, the frame structure being partly built over logs;
       and in 1893 he also built a barn. For several years he served on
       the school board, and he was always a devout member of the Catholic
       church and served one term on its board. About 1901 MR. ABTS gave
       up the farm and removed, with his wife, to Fountain City, where
       he died, June 4, 1906, at the age of 82 years. His wife passed
       away April 6, 1918. They were the parents of 17 children, all of
       whom are now living but four. Their names were respectively as
       follows: ADELAIDE (deceased), HENRY, WILLIAM, JOSEPH, JOHN, ANTON,
       PAUL P., TILLIE, ADELAIDE (second) (deceased), MORITZ, MICHAEL,
       CARRIE, LOUIS, MARY, EDWARD, and FRANK and MARY, who were twins,
       and who are both deceased.

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