Bio: Rosplock, Albert (1923)

 
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Surnames: Rosplock, Milodjick, Shear, Thiemke, Berry, Manthei, Villwork, Becker, Kowalchyk

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 546-547

Albert Rosplock, a well remembered pioneer of Arpin Township who passed from this life some years ago, was born April 19, 1857, in the Province of Posen, Germany. He received his education in that country and worked for his parents there until 1873, when he came to the.United States and located in Milwaukee, Wis., in which city he learned the undertaking business, subsequently following that line there until August, 1893. At that time he traded his undertaking business and the furniture store he had established in connection to the John Arpin Lumber Co. for 80 acres of wild land in Section 24, Arpin Township, and came here to live. For the first two years of his residence here he was in the employ of the Arpin Lumber Co., in their wagon and blacksmith shop. In 1895 he settled on his land and proceeded to build up the property. He lived for several years in an old logging shack, and his first barn was built from logs cut on the property; in this structure he kept his live stock, which consisted of a team of horses and one cow. Later he built a good set of buildings, doing all the work with his own hands; he was possessed of exceptional ability in this line of work, and erected many houses and barns throughout Arpin Township. As time went on his constant efforts brought his property to a fine point of development; he added to his holdings, at one time owning 320 acres but later selling 200 acres to the new settlers as they came in. He cleared 80 acres of the land, and built up a splendid farm, on which he carried on general farming and dairying until his death, which occurred Feb. 7, 1911, and was caused by a falling tree while he was working in the woods with his son Joseph. He will long be remembered for his works here. He was constantly active in the interests of the community, and, being a very able man, his efforts were a most potent factor in its development. He was an ardent church worker, and it was largely through his efforts that the Catholic Church at Vesper was erected; he was also active in securing educational advantages for the children of the settlers, and he served on the school board for some time. Mr. Rosplock was married June 6, 1877, to Julia Milodjick. Mrs. Rosplock was a fitting mate for such a man, and was loved by all who knew her. She was born June 22, 1861, and died Feb. 1, 1922, a passing which brought sorrow to the entire community. She and Mr. Rosplock were the parents of ten children: Stella, Anthony, Hattie, Joseph, Helen, Nellie, Rose, Martha, Josephine, and Frank. Stella is now Mrs. John Shear, of Vesper, Wis. Hattie is Mrs. Frank Thiemke, of Arpin Township, Wood County. Anthony lives in Portland, Ore. Helen is now Mrs. Phillip Berry, of Minneapolis. Nellie is Mrs. George Manthei, of Arpin Township. Rose is the wife of Herman Villwock, of Millston, Wis. Martha is Mrs. Henry Becker, of Arpin Township. Josephine married Anthony Kowalchyk, and lives at Minneapolis. Frank and Joseph bought the home property April 10, 1922, and are now operating it in partnership. They specialize in raising pure-bred big type Poland China hogs, having 70 head at present. Their place is known as the A. Rosplock farm. Previous to that time Joseph had been managing it since the death of the father. Joseph served as an ambulance driver during the World War; he entered the military service Aug. 13, 1918, from Wis. Rapids, and was sent to a motor school at Indianapolis, Ind. From this school he went to the medical camp at Allentown, Pa., as a motor ambulance driver with the 250th Medical Corps, with which organization he sailed for Europe, Oct. 22, 1918, landing at Liverpool, Nov. 2. Later he went to La Havre, and from there to Base Hospital No. 2, where he remained for seven months. He returned to the United States June 24, 1919, and was discharged at Rockford, Ill., June 30, 1919.