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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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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 157]
         
         JACOB BOTZET, SR., one of the earliest settlers in Buffalo
       township, Buffalo county, long since passed away, was born in
       the village of Elizer, near the River Rhine, in Germany, March
       27, 1827, and came to the United States by sailing vessel in
       the early fifties, landing in this country after a voyage of
       42 days. He located first at Galena, Ill., from which place he
       came in the fall of 1854 to Holmes Landing (now Fountain City),
       Buffalo county, and in October, that year, secured a homestead
       of 160 acres of wild land in Buffalo township. The same fall he
       returned to Galena, where he remained during the winter, and in
       the following spring came back to Buffalo county by boat, bring-
       ing with him a yoke of oxen and two cows. When he reached his
       claim he found that a man, named PEPERS, had settled on it and
       built a log cabin. On proving his ownership MR. PEPERS (after
       whom the valley was named) gave up possession and moved his log
       shanty to another location, and MR. BOTZET, began the work of
       clearing his land. About three years later he was married to
       ELIZABETH KRITZENTHALER, who was born in Truppach, Germany, in
       1831, and who came to this country in 1857, her trip across
       the ocean taking 72 days. She located at once in Fountain City,
       Buffalo county. MR. BOTZET was one of the organizers of Buf-
       falo township, and was otherwise noted as an active and enter-
       prising citizen, though he held no public office. In time he
       increased the size of his farm to 210 acres, erecting good
       buildings on it. He was a Catholic in religion and in early
       days mass was often celebrated in his log cabin. He also helped
       to build the Catholic church at Fountain City. His first wife,
       ELIZABETH, died at the age of 42 years, having been the mother
       of six children: MAT, JACOB, JR., MARY, ELIZABETH, and ANNA,
       the last mentioned of whom is deceased. MR. BOTZET married
       for his second wife, ANNA INGEL, who is still living, being
       a resident of Fountain City. Of this union there were two
       children that grew to maturity, ANNA and CHRISTINE. MR. JACOB
       BOTZET, SR., died at the age of 52 years. Though he had not
       attained old age, he had performed much useful work and was
       one of the men who helped civilize ad develop Buffalo county.
       
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