The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-10-11

and In 1870 came To Norfolk.
w. A. Moldenhauer came to- Norfolk
because OF the German colony that
had come from Watcrtown and who
had founded the town. From Herman
}raasch who laid out the townsite,
he bought lot across the street from
the Touring mill. Here he built
home and in this house piled his trade
until eighteen years after, when no
built his store.
Unique site Selection.
The MoldCnhaucr house and the 7.
). McClary house were started the
self same day, within an hour of one
another. Mr.. McClary led by that
margin. Both almost built on Braasch
avenue, but didn't
A man named Marsh conducted the
"Stovepipe" hotel on Braasch avenue.
He declared Braasch avenue would he
the main street of the town and Nc
| Nlary and Moldcnhauer had both Sc.
lected sites on Braasch avenue, ready
to start building next day. Next morn.
| ing Mr. MoldCnhaucr found the Nc
| Clary lot deserted and the lumber
transferred to lot on Norfolk avenue.
He was glad, for he preferred Norfolk
avenue and Immediately transferred
| his deed
For ten years w. A. Moldenhauer
was Norfolk's only shoemaker and
shoe dealer. He took a homestead
north of the Angst Raasch farm, west
of the city, and owns it today. Also
he took a fortyacre presumption half
which he still owns.
w. A. Moldenhauer has been mem
Der of st. Paul's German Lutheran
church from the time he reached Nor.
folk, when the church was small
building, until now, when its new
home is being built as the finest
church in all this northwest and at a
cost of between $40, 900 and $4,000. He
is a member of the school board in
connection with the parochial school.
In 1876 he was elected county commits.
sioner Of Madison county, in which
capacity he served for three years
with credit. Other than that he has
though at times his name has been
prominently mentioned about the city
in connection with councilmanic and
mayoralty Offices. Up until 1896 Mr..
Moldenhauer was democrat but he
voted for Mckinley and has been
republican since that time.
w. A. Mode. hauer was born eight
| milpq from nar1in
Der Is, 1871. His parents came to
America In 1S43 and settled on farm
near Watertown, Wis, having bought
government land at S1.25 per acre. or
ten children. he (who is the youngesD
and his oldest brother are alone alive
today. The father died when this
youngest son was six years of age.
He, with the other children, attended
school in the typical little log school
house in Wisconsin. There was no
regular teacher and the minister
taught four half days during the week
At the age Of fifteen this boy began
learning his trade as shoemaker. In
those days the trades were entered by
more boys than today, since there was
little machinery and hand work was
absolutely essential.
His First Fifty Cents.
The first half dollar earned by w
A. Moldenhauer was in trapping quail
He sold the birds in town for fifty
cents, having caught them in a trap
made by himself With his first half
dollar he left home to make his way
10 i
at wages that look small from the
present day viewpoint. 1t was for fif.
~ cents day that he labored there
at his trade. Then he. worked in the
harvest field at $13 per month and
later made, with four others, 800
building plank road near Lake gu.
perior in Michigan. That was big
money in those days, too. After that
the young man worked bit at his
trade, then worked on farm couple
of winters in order that he might at
tend English school. This was near
GAINESVILLE. And shortly after that he
enlisted in the army.
OF Mr.. Moldenhauer's twelve chill.
dren, seven are living. Besides follow.
ing his trade, he has long conducted a
retail shoe business. He was one Of
Norfolks very first business men and
he is the only one left in business to.
day.
BY virtue of his thrift and upright
methods Mr.. Moldenhauer has had
his share of prosperity, though he
came here, like the balance of the
pioneers, with industry and hope as
his main capital.
Times have changed since those ear.
ly days. He almost saw Norfolk born
and he has seen it grow into a sub
stantial city, the hub OF great terri.
tory In the early days, when the
town was small, everybody knew every
body else and there was a democratic
atmosphere of informality that was as