Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-03-09
kOLTER FAMILY
HOLDS REUNION
OBSERVE SOTH BIRTHDAY
OF MRS. BERTHA
KOLTER


Bertha Kolter was held last Monday
at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Rose Egan, 102 Grant street. The oc-
casion was the eightieth birthday OF
the former, who has for over fifty
years been a we'll known and much
beloved resident of Wausau and who
is the widow of the late Jacob kolter.
A dinner was served at five O'Clock
to eighteen relatives, including the
five sons and daughters of Mrs. kol-'
ter all of whom were in the city for
the occasion. Those present at the
dinner were Mrs. Bertha Kolter, Miss
Emma Kolter, Mrs. Rose Egan and DR..
j. H. Kolter, of this city; Mrs. F. w.
Werhahn, of Chicago, ana George Il.
Kolter of Jersey City, N. j., the lat
ter five the daughters and sons or
Mrs. Kolter; Johnnie Egan, Misses
Elizabeth and Katherine Kolter and
Helene Krueger, of this city, and Otto
T. Kruger of New London, grand
children; and Mrs. ]. H. Kolter, Karl
Mathie, Miss Elizabeth Mathie, the
Rev. F. W. Werhahn, of Chicago, Mrs.
Elizabeth Boettcher, Frank Mathie
and Miss Louise Mueller. all rela-
tives of Mrs. Kolter.
Eighty Candles
The table decorations were most at
tractive, cut flowers, especially car
nations and roses, being used. A
large birthday cake with eighty can
dies made of the affair delightful
and informal family gathering. Grand
mother Kolter, who is active at the
home of her daughter, Miss Emma
Kolter, where she resides, was re-
membered by host of friends who
sent her flowers and other gifts. Mrs.
Kolter lives quietly but refuses to De-
come old and inactive She is MEM
ber of st. Paul's Evangelical church.
On Tuesday and Wednesday several
of the guests from out of the. city re-
turned home. George Kolter, of DER
sey City, N j., had made the trip
west for the first time in eleven years
but was obliged to return on Wednes-
day. The Rev Werhahn returned to
Chicago Monday evening and o. ].
Kruger returned to New Londan
Monday night. Ea
Mrs. Kolter and her husband, the
late Jacob Kolter, have figured prom
inently i'll Wausau's history, Mr.. Kol-
ter was born in Bavaria on August
I5. 1889, came to America in 1855, ar
irving in New York on May 6 and COM
ing to Wausau on August 27, 1857. In
1859 he went to ST. Louis, living there
and at Belleville, Jacksonville, Win
chester and Griggsyille for two years
He then returned to Wausau and in
1852 operated bakery being well in
formed in the culinary art. He then
purchased the property on which the
Winkelman store stands and in 1868
built the Music hall building that
burned in 1869 He then erected
"New Music hall building which
for many years served as the theater
for the village. On the lower floor
Mr.. Kolter opened drug store which
he ran for many years.
Also in Farming
Mr. Kolter later erected another
building on the property west of the
Music hall, which was known as Ma
chinery hall in which he carried on
an extensive business in farm ma
chinery. He was also engaged in
farming and numbering. Jacob kol-
ter was enthusiastic in the belief that
there were vast beds of iron in the
county and was the first to see the
possibilities in crushing and putting
on the market of white quartzite. He
built and operated a cruSnlng mill
adjacent to his farm in the town OF
Stettin
During the late years of his life
he retired, cleared farm, and his
home and grounds were among the
finest in the county. The general
hospitality of Mr.. and Mrs. Koiter
made it stopping place for host of
friends. Mr.. Kolter was united in
marriage with Miss Bertha Janke in
this city on December l, 1867, by the
Rev. Marquardt.
Mrs. Kolters birthday last Mon
day brought to the minds of many
older citizens these delightful MEM
ories of both Mrs. Kolter's and the
late Jacob Kolter's popularity in early
days. Mrs. Kolter received the con-
gratulations of many friends during
the day and very much enjoyed the
family reunion, the first in many
years