The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-04-29
INBUSINEsSOvER FORTY YEARS
Had Been Leader Among the Progress
sive Retail Merchants Of the City
Active in the Affairs of the German
Lutheran Church in Kenosha.

Charles Pfennig, pioneer Market
street grocer and man actively con-
nected with the business interests Of
Kenosha for more than forty years,
died at the family residence on Mar
ket street just before six O'Clock
Monday evening at the age of eighty
years. Mr.. Pfennig had been in fee
BILE health for many months and for
the past two months his condition had
been considered critical. He suffered
from complication of diseases due to
advancing years. A little while ago
he went out to the Pennoyer SAM
tarium in hopes that change Of scene
and complete rest would bring re-
turn of health, but he remained at the
sanitarium only short time and
since his return to his home he had
been growing weaker. For more than
two weeks he had been confined to his
bed and for the past week he had been
unconscious much Of the time.
The death of Mr.. Pfennig marks the
passing Of a man who had been very
active in the development of the re-
tail business interests of the city and
man who for business honesty had
the respect Of everyone with whom he
had come in contact.
Christopher Charles Pfennig was
born in West Prussia, October Is,
1884. He was educated in the schools
of Germany and grew to manhood near
the place where he was born. In 1860
he came to America and for a number
Of years he resided in Canada. Forty
nine years ago he was married to Miss
Barbara Fettick at Woodstock, On
tario, and few years after their mar
riage they came to Kenosha to make
their home. In 1873 Mr. Pfennig
started his career as a grocer in the
old Isermann building on Market St.,
but shortly afterward his business was
practically wiped out by a fire and he
started in business a second time in
room on the site of the Rhode Opera
House. In 1875 he moved into the
business house on Market street which
the company of which he had been the
head still occupied at the time of his
death. Mr.. Pfennig was progressive
in his business methods and his store
was always a leader in the adoption of
new and better trade methods. He was
one of the leading members and one
of the most active workers in the Ger
man Lutheran church of Kenosha and
for many years he served in the capa-
city of trustee and treasurer of the
church. He was an ardent supporter
of the republican party, but had never
sought q political Office.
In the later years of his life Mr..
Pfennig had made several visits to his
old home in Prussia and he had plan
ned only short time ago to make
another trip to the old home during
the present year.
He had many strong personal friend
ships and to the older Germans who
had known him in his home life his
death will come as personal sorrow.
He is survived by his widow and
two children, Charles H. Pfennig.
formerly mayor of the city and more
recently member of the Wisconsin
state legislature, and Mrs. Helen Pfen-
mig Raiman, the wife of Fred Raiman.
His two children are associated with
him in the management of the Market
street business, a company having been
formed some time ago to take over
the business when Mr.. Pfennig felt
that advancing years made the care
of so large a business too much of a
tax on his energies.
The funeral services will be held
from the German Lutheran church on
Thursday afternoon and interment will
be at the family plot at the Kenosha
City cemtery.