Adams County Wisconsin Genealogy

Transcribed by Robert Schieber

Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Page 651

Wisconsin is indebted to Germany for much of her progress, not only in the arts and sciences, but in her material growth and development. William Brimmer, whose valuable estate, situated in Springville township, Adams county, has furnished to the community in which he lives an example of wholesome thrift and honest industry, and of its results even in a country to which he came a stranger, without means.

William Brimmer was born in Silesia, Germany, March 7, 1838, the son of Gottfried and Mary (Menzel) Brimmer. Gottfried Brimmer was a wagon-maker by trade, and died in Germany. His father, Gottfried Brimmer, lived in Barsdorf, and followed the trade of a tailor. William Brimmer attended school in his native land until he was fourteen years of age, and then for two years worked for a farmer. After this he learned the trade of millwright, and worked at it for about ten years. He then served in the German army, in the light artillery, taking part in the Holstein war in 1864 and the Austrian war in 1866, and did good and heavy service.

In June, 1867, Mr. Brimmer came to the United States, and first located at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Not being able to obtain work at his trade, he did farm work for one year. He then went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade of millwright until 1881. In the meantime he had, during the great fire in Chicago, lost a new house and valuable furniture, all the property he possessed in the world. In 1881 he came to Adams county and secured some property in Springville township, where he has since resided. He now owns a farm of about two hundred and eighty acres, well cultivated, and enhanced by valuable improvements and conveniences for the proper conduct of modern farming. He is engaged in the raising of grain and stock, and has made a success of it. He has in the past kept bees, and his apiary has been a source of profit. The severe cold of the winter of 1898-1899, however, killed them.

Mr. Brimmer was married in June, 1865, to Christine Strum, of Berlin, Germany. To this union five children have been born, four of whom are still living, named in the order of birth as follows: Martha, born January 12, 1868, now a stenographer in Chicago; George, born April 1, 1870, now working for the McCormick Harvester Company in Chicago; William, born in 1873, now in the Klondike; and Otto, born June 8, 1875, now farming on the old homestead farm in Springville township.

In political views Mr. Brimmer is a Republican, and while he takes a lively interest in matters of a public nature, he has never sought office. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Quincy, and also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Harmonia Lodge, No. 21, Chicago. For many years he has been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of the county, and a friend to every enterprise that promised to benefit the community at large. He is a thorough believer in the beneficial results of a practical and liberal education, and his influence has been steadily exerted for the good of his fellow men.