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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 370-371]
         
         ANDREW BAERTSCH, SR., one of the pioneer settlers of Buffalo
       county, now deceased, was born at Trimis, in the canton of 
       Grisons, Switzerland, in 1824. In 1844 he married MARY BERRY, a
       native of the same country, born October 18, 1818, and while 
       still residing in his native land had a daughter born to him, 
       who died, however, at the age of nine months. In 1846 he and 
       his wife set out for America, landing in New Orleans after a 
       long voyage of three months. From the Crescent City they came 
       up the river to Galena, Illinois, where they remained for a 
       while, in the fall of 1847 continuing their northern pilgrim-
       age to Holmes Landing (now Fountain City), which they reached 
       October 28. There MR. BAERTSCH found employment chopping wood 
       for the steamboats, and in company with three other men became 
       the owner of a flatboat. In the spring of 1853 he changed his 
       occupation, locating on a tract of land in what was afterwards 
       known as Baertsch Valley, a side valley of the Eagle Creek 
       Valley, in Cross township. There he built a log cabin on the 
       side hill and began the improvement of his land with a yoke 
       of oxen. Like other pioneers he and his family endured hard-
       ships, but when short of meat he could generally get a fresh 
       supply by shooting the wild deer which were then numerous in 
       the vicinity. Later he built a second log house across the 
       road, after the road was constructed, and at a still later 
       period he erected the residence now standing on the farm, 
       in which his grandson, OSCAR BAERTSCH, now lives. In time he 
       became the owner of 355 acres of land, which he entered from 
       the government, and was successful as a farmer. He also took 
       a prominent part in town affairs, serving at times as town 
       treasurer and supervisor and as justice of the peace. His 
       death, which occurred January 29, 1894, deprived the commun-
       ity of a useful and worthy citizen who was widely known and 
       universally respected. His wife died in 1890. They had in 
       all twelve children, the first born of whom, as already 
       mentioned, died in Switzerland. The others were: MARY. who 
       married ROBERT LEES, of Alma; DOROTHY, now MRS. ALEXANDER 
       LEES; ANTON, said by the local historian, L. KESSINGER, to 
       have been the first male child born of white parents in the 
       county; and GEORGE, ANDREW, CHRISTIAN, CHARLES, KATE, EMMA, 
       ELSBETH and EDWARD.
       
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