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- HERMAN BUCHHOLZ, a pioneer carriage maker, of Janesville,
- of 1860, now senior partner of the firm of H. BUCHHOLZ &
Co., the leading carriage and vehicle factory in Rock County,
was born in the town of Elbing, in Eastern Prussia, on the 15th
day of April, 1839, and is a son of Ernst and Justina (HORN)
BUCHHOLZ. He was educated in his native town and learned the
trade of carriage maker, of the wood department, in his father's
shop. In 1856 he emigrated to America, arriving in Janesville
on the 17th day of July, after which he worked as a journeyman
at his trade in the employ of Robert HODGE, carriage maker, until
1860, when, having saved up some money, he bought an interest
in the business, and the firm became HODGE & BUCHHOLZ. That
connection continued for twenty-one years, or until the death
of Mr. HODGE, in 1882. Mr. BUCHHOLZ then carried on the business
alone until May, 1887, when Clarence W. JACKMAN was admitted
into partnership under the firm name of H. BUCHHOLZ & Co.
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- They manufacture omnibuses, wagonettes, carriages, carts,
and deal in all sorts of wheel vehicles, sleighs and cutters.
The plant of this company costs upwards of $25,000, and consists
of one L shaped brick building, three stories high, 46x57 feet
and 46x70 feet; one building, two stories high, 30x70 feet; another,
30x100 feet, one story; and one, 32x60 feet, two stories high.
About thirty hands are employed, and the work they turn out is
not excelled in any establishment of the kind in the West. During
the year 1888 the business amounted to more than $60,000.
- Mr. BUCHHOLZ was married at Janesville on the 16th day of
January, 1863, to Miss
- Dorothea POSSEN, a daughter of Martin and Sophia (JANEIKE)
POSSEN. Mrs. BUCHHOLZ was born in the city of Berlin, Prussia,
on the 19th day of March, 1842, and came to America with her
parents in 1847, when five years old. The family settled in the
town of Theresa, Dodge Co., Wis. In the forest her father made
a farm, which he improved and where he now lives in comfort,
having reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years. His wife
also lived to a good old age, and died July 7, 1881.
- Mr. and Mrs. BUCHHOLZ have five children, three sons and
two daughters: William, the
- eldest, born June 3, 1865, is now employed at his trade of
carriage trimmer, in Salt Lake City, Utah; Eda Francisco was
born May 22, 1867; George Otto and Carl Alexander, twins, were
born May 20, 1875; the youngest child, Gertrude Alma, was born
March 15, 1883, in Janesville, the birthplace of all the other
children. Mr. and Mrs. BUCHHOLZ and their older children are
members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. BUCHHOLZ is a Republican
in politics and has held the offices of Supervisor and Alderman.
He is a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A.F & A.M.;
Janesville Chapter, No. 5, R.A.M.; of Oriental Lodge, No. 22,
K. of P.; of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 36, A.O.U.W.; and of the
Concordia Singing Society. Mr. BUCHHOLZ is recognized as one
of the active and enterprising business men of Janesville, who
by persevering industry and the exercise of good business ability,
has achieved marked success. He began in Janesville with no other
capital than skill in his trade and habits of industry and economy.
He has worked hard and managed prudently and gradually grew into
a prosperous business and good property, and today the establishment
of which he is the head is one of the important industries of
the city.
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-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 795-796; lithograph from
same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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