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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 126-127]
         
         JOHN ADAM RAITZ, one of the early settlers in Fountain City,
       Buffalo county, 	and who was the first district attorney of 
       the county,was born in Germany, where in early manhood he 
       served three years as a soldier. He there married ELIZABETH 
       SAUTER, and in the spring of 1847 they embarked on board a 
       sailing vessel for the United States, with the intention of 
       settling in Illinois. They were accompanied by their two 
       children, CHARLES and GOTTLIEB. After a voyage of forty-eight 
       days they reached New York, and from there proceeded by way 
       of the Erie canal to Buffalo and thence to Chicago. From the 
       latter place they went on to a location seven miles from Free-
       port, in Stephenson county, where they remained for three 
       years. While there their son GOTTLIEB died, and another child, 
       MARY, was born, who is now MRS. CASPAR WOHLWEND, of Barnes-
       ville, Minn. Hearing of the cheap land to be obtained in 
       Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and the surrounding section, MR. 
       RAITZ resolved to try his fortune in this then unsettled terri-
       tory, and in May, 1851, he and his family landed at the old 
       Stone House, about a mile and a half from the settlement of 
       what is now Fountain City, which then consisted of only 
       seven houses, being hardly worthy of the name of a village. 
       MR. RAITZ secured eighty acres of wild land, on which he 
       began operations in pioneer fashion by building a log house, 
       16 by 24 feet in size. He also put up log barns and with an
       ox team entered upon the arduous task of developing a farm. 
       His wagon was home-made, the wheels being cut from the trunk 
       of a tree. There at his original location he spent nearly all 
       the rest of his life, during his active years improving his 
       farm, and also taking a prominent part in public affairs. That 
       he was a man of some education and force of character may be 
       gathered from the fact that he was elected as the first dis-
       trict attorney of Buffalo county, serving in that office from 
       1853 to 1855. He also served as constable and justice of the
       peace. A Lutheran in religion, he helped to found the first 
       church of that denomination in the locality, and in early 
       days religious services were often held in his log house. 
       He and his wife both died at Barnesville, Clay county, Minne-
       sota, the former at the age of 85 years and the latter at 
       that of 90. In addition to the children already mentioned, 
       they had six others, who were born in Buffalo county, namely:
       ELIZABETH, AMELIA, LENA, KATE, SARAH and LYDIA, most of 
       their family being daughters.
       
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