SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Charles Fleischer, Page 390

CHARLES FLEISCHER, a baker by trade, is now retired from active business and is making his home in Sheboygan.  He was born in Pattersen, Hanover, Germany, January 16, 1816, and is a son of Charles and Caroline (Pfing) Fleischer, both likewise natives of the same place.  The father owned a bakery, and was a thorough business man, fully acquainted with all the various details of the trade.  Both parents died in Germany.  They had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, our subject being the youngest, and the only one who came to America.

    At the age of fourteen years, having mastered the common branches of education, Charles Fleischer began to learn the baker's trade in his father's shop, and after becoming familiar with the business, traveled for some years, working in Copenhagen, Hamburg and Bremen.  For some sixteen years he successfully operated a bakery of his own in his native land.

    In 1837 occurred the marriage of Mr. Fleischer and Miss Eleonora Bloom.  To them were born six children, of whom two died in Germany.  Only one of the number is now living:  Gottlieb, who is captain on a tug in Chicago.  Rosina and Dora are both deceased.  Charles F. served for four years during the late war in Company A, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, and afterward worked in his father's bakery until 1881, when he bought the business.  He died July 16, 1887, leaving five children.

    In the year 1852, our subject, with his wife and four children, sailed from Hamburg to New York City, and was forty-one days on the briny deep.  They came direct to Sheboygan, where our subject opened a bakery, and at first commenced on a very small scale, hauling his bread around in a hand-wagon to his customers.  As his trade increased, he enlarged his facilities, and finally had a large patronage.  He continued actively engaged in business until 1881, when he turned over his affairs to his son.

    Only two weeks after landing in Sheboygan County, the first wife of Mr. Fleischer was called to the better land.  On the 16th of February, 1854, he married Caroline, daughter of Frederick Wurful.  The lady was born September 7, 1827, in Trepto, Pomerania, Germany, and in 1853 emigrated to the United States.  Both our subject and wife are active in the work of the Lutheran Church, and helped to organize the church in Sheboygan.  His competence, which is amply sufficient for his remaining years, has been honestly and industriously earned by our subject, and he is worthy of the respect and confidence which are accorded him in a high measure by all who know him.