#52 Ancestors Charles Friedrich Sternitzky

For this next post, I thought I would keep it in the Sternitzky line and write about Charles Sternitzky, Friedrich's son and my 3rd great grandfather!  Thank you for taking the time to read this & please feel free to leave a comment!

            Charles Friedrich Sternitzky, my 3^rd great grandfather, was born 5 May 1832 in Klein Ujeschitz, Silesia, Germany.  He was the first born child of Friedrich and Helena (Vietz or Dietz) Sternitzky.  At the age of eight, his family (which now included three more siblings) came to America and settled in Buffalo, New York.  After spending a year there, the family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Charles received his education at the Milwaukee German School.

            The family spent fifteen years in Milwaukee before making the long voyage to Clark County, Wisconsin.  They were one of the first settlers in the area.  In his biography he noted that in order to get wheat seed they had to go 65 miles away!  Charles was twenty-four when they moved.  He purchased the 280 acres in the Lynn Township that the family settled on.  After a couple years, Charles struck out on his own and purchased 80 acres of his own land.  According to one biography, he would work in the pineries in the winters and in the summer he would work on his farm.  Eventually he expanded his farm to 120 acres. 

            On 25 February 1861 Charles married Kate Miller.  They had four children:  Albert, Wilhelm, Anna, and Phoebe. 

            Charles continued to farm until an opportunity to open a business presented itself in 1889.  That year Charles entered into the general merchandise business with the Ure brothers.  After a year Charles bought out the brothers and kept the business up on his own.  

            Charles also served the public in many ways.  According to his biography he served on the school board, was Town Clerk, served on Town Board – as president and as treasurer, was the Assessor, Notary Public, he served as Postmaster for nineteen years, and was the Justice of the Peace since the town was organized.  He was also an enumerator for the 1880 census.  He was also an organizer of the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1878.  Charles also served on the Clark County Agricultural Society. 

            On 12 January 1900, Charles was in Neillsville (the county seat of Clark County) attending a session of the county board.  That morning he complained of not feeling well.  After breakfast, he wasn’t getting any better so doctors were summoned along with his family.  Later that evening he passed away.  He had long suffered from heart issues.  He was 67 years old.  His obituary in the Clark County Republican Press stated: “The substantial independence and uprightness of his character stand as a perpetual lesson for younger generations and it will be many years before his influence in affairs of his neighborhood is lost.” Charles was buried in the Lynn Cemetery.