SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Frank W. Margenau, Page 209

FRANK W. MARGENAU is one of the well-known citizens of Sheboygan.  He held the office of City Comptroller from April, 1891, to April, 1893, and has been a resident of Sheboygan since 1854.  His father, Frank H. Margenau, was born in Westphalia, Germany, August 13, 1823, and when a youth emigrated with his father, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, to America, and settled in St. Louis.  Later the grandfather died in St. Louis.  Frank H. Margenau belonged to a family of six children, four brothers and two sisters, all of whom are living, with one exception.  He was the only member of the family who settled permanently in Sheboygan, though his father resided in the city for a while, going thence to St. Louis, where, as has been stated before, he died.  It was in the year 1847 that the family emigrated to the United States, and in 1851 Frank H. Margenau was married in St. Louis to Catherine Margaret Meyer, a sister of Frederick Meyer, who was an early settler of Sheboygan.  The father of the subject of this sketch was engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years, and later carried on coopering.  His death occurred October 23, 1882.  The wife and mother is yet a resident of Sheboygan.  Frank W. Margenau is one of a family of ten children, consisting of seven sons and three daughters.  There were living in 1893 five sons and two daughters.

    Our subject was born in St. Louis, August 20, 1854, being but three months old when his father came to Sheboygan.  He was educated in the public and parochial schools, and was engaged for some time in the business of clerking.  He finally decided to learn the harness-maker's trade, but while thus engaged met with quite a serious accident, resulting in the loss of three fingers of his left hand.  By this misfortune he was incapacitated for that kind of work.  He began this work in Cascade, but went thence to Plymouth, where the unfortunate accident above mentioned occurred June 7, 1870.  In January, 1871, he went to work with Ernst Clarenbach, who was then Register of Deeds, and was engaged in that office with him for eight years, or until 1879.  At that time he opened a store and saloon, which he conducted for about five years, and then disposed of the former, but continued the latter business two years longer.  He was a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1885 and 1886.  At the fall election in 1886, he was elected Register of Deeds for Sheboygan County, serving from January 1, 1887, till January 1, 1891.  In the spring of 1891 he was elected City Comptroller and served two years.

    On April 13, 1878, Mr. Margenau was united in marriage with Miss Anna S. Zurheide, a daughter of Frederick Zurheide, an early settler, and still a resident of Sheboygan.  the bride is a native of the Evergreen City, born February 5, 1857.  Mr. and Mrs. Margenau have three children, two sons and a daughter:  Francis W., Theckla Anna and Arno Harry.  They lost two children, their eldest and third.  Alfred F. F. Died in his ninth year, and Alma died in her third year.

    In his political affiliations, Mr. Margenau is a Democrat.  He is a well-known and esteemed citizen, and discharged the duties of the various official positions he was called upon to occupy in a creditable manner.  Mr. and Mrs. Margenau have a pleasant home, residing at No. 1126 Superior Avenue.