Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-10-07
DEATH OF ANTON DERN.

AnOUner OLD settler or our city has
passed away-Anton Dern, after an
illness of nearly year with cancer of
the face. While he was able to be
about up to within the past six weeks,
at that time it was evident that he
must submit TO an operation, which
he did. He came out of the hospital
about two weeks ago and his general
condition seemed improving until a
few weeks previous to his death,
when he sank rapidly, dying on
Thursday, at $50 o'clock, Oct. I'd, 1913.
Anton Dern was one of the promi-
nent men of our city and had been for
nearly sixty years, and until taken
down by his last illness his figure was
familiar one on our streets. He has
always been one of our most energetic
and industrious men, and by strict
attention to business had amassed
considerable of a fortune. He was
engaged in many enterprises during
his life, in all of which he was sue
cessful.
Anton Dern was born in Germany
on the 18th of April, 1882. He resid-
ed in the land of his birth until of age,
when he came to America He came
TO Wausau in 1856, and the first work
done here was in the Lyman Barnes
saw mill. He entered into logging
operations on Pine river with G. AL
then for few years, making trips
out of the river in the summer sea-
son. He then commenced in bust
ness which made him known through
out the pinery, that of hauling sup
plies from Berlin and Gill's Landing,
on the Wolf river which he kept up
until the railroad was built here in
1874. Mr.. Dern had the largest line
of heavy wagons and large, strong
horses Of any one in the north, and
he hauled goods for all of our merch-
ants. In this particular line of bust
ness he gained name ana a reputa-
tion. A contract made with him to
bring heavy machinery or large sup
plies of merchandise was a sure guar
antee that everything would be laid
down in Wausau in good order. In
those days his voice and the crack of
his whip could be heard throughout
the village.
When the railroad made it neces-
sary for him to retire from the road,
he built the Hotel Northern on the
grounds where his former stables
were located. This hotel at that
time was one of the most pretentious
in our city, and it stands today as a
monument to his industry. Mr. Dern
conducted this hotel with success I'M
til few years ago when he retired;
the business being taken by his son,
Walter, and George Forcey. Thus
has passed away another of the men
who have taken an active interest in
the upbuilding of Wausau. He was
twice married. First to Miss Anna
Hyer, who died many years ago
Three children were born to them,
the only surviving one being Mrs.
August Klosterman of this city. He
was married again, his choice being
Mrs. Elizabeth Forcey, who died in
December, 1910. To them six chill
dren were born, four of whom sur
viye, Walter, Myrtle and Arthur of
this city, and Mrs. Bert Sieyert of
Lisbon, Ohio.
The funeral services were held from
the home, 4l0 Jackson street, at 200
O'Clock Monday afternoon, and at go
O'Clock from st. Paul's church, of
which he was member and the only
remaining one who organized that
church. The services were conducted
by the pastor, Rev. Il. C.. Grauer.
The pail bearers were Jacob Gems
mann, Anton Mehl, John w. Miller,
Henry Miller, Ernest c. Zimmerman
and Charles Pfeiffer.