Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-22
A TYPICAL AMERICAN.
BRIEF STORY OF AN EVENTFUL
LIFE.
Col. Frambach, of Kaukauna, the Re-
publican Nominee for Congress.


by the Republican convention of the
Eighth District, in Green Bay, on
Wednesday Of this week, was born
November %, 1910, at Syracuse, Onon-
dago county, New York. His parents
were born in Germany, his fathers
birthplace being Frankfort-on-the-
Rhine.
Deprived of a mothers love and care
by her death when he was six years of
age, eight years later the subject of this
sketch was left alone in the world by
the death of his father. There lay
before this boy years of hard toll and
privations, which did not mar him but
fitted him the better to conquer fate
and win for himself position in the
world, creating for him economical and
industrious habits and developing his
natural traits of character. His career
is an interesting one, and it is revealed
that the rule Of his has been to shoulder
its burden lightly and to pursue what
ever occupation that in turn profered
him a means of gaining an honest liveli
hood. For three years after his fathers
death he went to school in the winter,
working for his board, and during the
summer he worked on farm, and a
portion of this time was driver Oh q
stage route. In 1886 young Frambach
engaged himself as an OK driver on one
of no frnip of
which were fitted out to cross the
plains to Salt Lake City, carrying mer-
chandise to that city. This proved to
have been a fortunate move for him
| capacity of Wagon-master Of the train.
Having accumulated some money by
this venture, he bought fat-boat for
the transportation of freight on the
Mississippi river and he continued in
this line of business until the breaking
out of the war of the rebellion. In
October, 1861, he enlisted in the 61st
Illinois Infantry, Company G. There
is a story told of the early months Of
his services, which is worthy Of repeti-
ton here He enlisted at Carrolton,
Green Co., III. His regiment passed
the winter of 1862 in quarters and the
first battle of note in which it was en-
gagged was at Shiloh. where having been
detailed for the support of a battery,
was driven back. The story goes that
the young man, whose life we are
briefly narrating, "seeing the imm1-
nence Of the peril of the moment,
snatched the cOlors from the wounded
bearer, rushed forward to the battery
with them, rallied his company and
entire command and defended the guns
until help arrived" In recognition of
this deed he was assigned to the secret
service and detailed as scout. The
columns of this newspaper would not
contain the many incidents of bravery
Of his life as a soldier, which have
come to the knowledge of the narrator,
but there is given through it all evidence
| of the qualities Of bravery and ready
resource which are summed up in his
character. 1t is timely to note-now
that so much has been given publicity
concerning the organization of the
Knights of the Golden Circle, since the
opening of the National campaign-a
little reminiscence of this organization
in which the Colonel figures. Their
field of operation during the war was
in that part Of Illinois known as Egypt.
The service of Col. Frambach rendered
at this time is considered by all who
know of the labor and foresight involv-
ed and dangers which had to be
encountered, as one of the most difficult
and dangerous connections which he
found in the whole course of his service
He discovered the plans of the traitors
and was, it is stated, mainly instru-
mental at their dismemberment. He
was wounded, taken prisoner more
than once and had innumberable hair
breadth escapes, while in service
During this service under General
Steele he was chef of the scouting SER
vice with the rank of Colonel. He was
mustered out in the fall of 1863
Col. Frambach for the next eight
years made his home at st. Louis, being
engaged in turn in the real estate and
mercantile business. In 1873 be went
to kaukauna and during the years that
have since intervened he has bv hard
work accumulated considerable means
and while building up h1s own fortune
has aided materially in building I'D
kaukauna and promoting the interests
of the Fox River Valley, which are
proving of so gigantic character and
of so great an Importance to the cities
that are included in its scope. He has
been member of the County Board
of Supervisors and has the honor of
having been the first mayor of Kau-
kauna, being elected to that position in
1885. He is one of the propmetors of
the immense paper manufacturing
establishment of that city, known as
| the Badger Mills" pronounced one of
the most extensive and best equipped
of its kind on the Fox River. Having
been directly interested III the growth
and advancement of kaukauna he has
been and is connected with many of its
leading projects which tend to its up
building and continued prosperity
! This much of Colonel Frambach's pub
| lie and buSjnpSS carpar yOuId he ipcon1-