ANDREW BAETZ

Notes from Two Rivers:
Andrew Baetz, our oldest and most highly respected citizen, died last
Sunday. He was over 90 years of age and resided in Two Rivers 67 years.
Mr. Baetz was born August 22, 1828 at Stockhausen near Lautenbach,
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. He came to this country when 24 years of age
and landed in Two Rivers on July 25, 1852. In 1853 he was married to
Sophia Depping. He erected his present home the same year and had lived
therin continuously ever since. He engaged in the wagon and blacksmith
business in 1853 and with the exception of the few years in the early
sixties continued therein until his death. Mr. Baetz was endowed with
good health all of his life and worked at his bench until 80 years of
age when he retired from active business life. During the past twenty
years the business was conducted by his son, Conrad, who was a partner
in the business for several years. Mr. Baetz took a deep interest in
civic affairs and as early as 1859 was a member of the village board. He
was president of the village board in 1870 and served as Mayor of the
city in 1882 and 1883. His wife died 28 years ago. He leaves seven
children, three sons, Henry of St. Louis, Conrad and Arthur of this
city, the latter being publisher of the Reporter and four daughters,
Augusta, Lizzie, Amelia and Mrs. Joseph Streeter of Two Rivers. The
funeral was held Wednesday afternoon from the home.
Manitowoc Pilot, Thurs., Apr. 3, 1919
============

Henry Baetz and family of St. Louis who were at Two Rivers to attend the
funeral of Mr. Baetz father, the late Andrew Baetz, have returned to their
home.
Manitowoc Herald News, April 5, 1919 P.3
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OLD TIMERS - (photo with article)
Having received encouraging reports from a brother who had preceded him
to America, Andrew Baetz left his native land, Germany in early April
1852 for Two Rivers.
He embarked on a sailing vessel at Hamburg. There were 92 passengers on
board the ship. The journey was very tedious requiring seventy days. For
a period of two weeks not a sail was sighted.
Arriving in New York he went by rail part of the way and the balance of
the journey was made to Manitowoc by steamer.
He took up his journey to Two Rivers on foot but as the country was then
a great wilderness he lost his way and went back to Manitowoc.
Having received instructions as to the correct route he set out again
and followed the lake shore. He met no one on the way except two Indians
on ponies who had their faces painted. They were friendly.
Upon arriving at Two Rivers at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on June 25th
1852, the first person he met was Christian Johannes who was then about
17 years of age. This young man gave him proper direction to find the
place where he wished to stop.
Of late years, when still engaged in his work, it has been the Mr. Baetz's
custom to stop work for a short time on the 25th of June each year to
smoke a cigar and relate about his coming to town, what his first
experience was here, etc, to refresh his memory of the olden time.
The only houses he found here upon his arrival were as follows, the
house in which W.F. Nash now resides, Deacon Smith's home, then a small
residence now occupied by Mr. John Schultz, a house just east of the
Union House until lately a chinese laundry, the building which is now
the Union House, the building now gone, near the Washington Street
bridge which was the Winkelmiller Tannery, Aldrich and Smith's saw
mill, a house where the Niquette property stands and two or three others
scattered about including the old Gebhardt property which has been
replaced by the Waverly Hotel, and the Boldus house.
The Berger building on the corner of 16th and Jefferson was just being
built and a barn stood where the Lake House is today.
Immediately upon his arrival Mr. Baetz obtained work with Mr. Krause,
father of the late Chas. Krause. They built a store on the corner of
15th and Jefferson Street fronting the harbor. This was later moved
away and is now a part of the Lake House.
He also worked for a time as carpenter for Aldrich Smith and Company
with wages at $1 per day which was considered good pay.
Having learned the trade of wagon maker in Germany, Mr. Baetz
commenced building wagon as a business in 1853.
The first wagon he built was made from timber which he chopped down
in the forest surrounding the town. A short time later toe spokes,
hubs, and fellows for the wheels were made in a factory in Sheboygan
Falls. But for the first wagons he built he made all these by hand.
Mr. Baetz worked continuously at his business of wagon and carriage
making with the exception of two years in the Mercantile and fishing
business. When 80 years of age his health gave out. He gave up
working and has not gone back to his bench since. He worked fifty
years making wagons here and was healthy and happy all the time.
His health has returned and at the age of 85 he is in possession
of all his faculties. He reads much in English and German.
His memory of old times is vivid and he can relate many interesting
anecdotes of the former days in Two Rivers.
He served as mayor of the city for two terms and during his term of
office Washington Street bridge, the first iron bridge in the city
was constructed.
Two Rivers Reporter, Saturday June 7, 1913
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ANDREW BAETZ
Wagon maker and blacksmith, Two Rivers, was born August 22, 1828, in
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; July, 1852, he came to Two Rivers, and has
since followed this business, which he learned with his father when
a boy; married, in 1853, to Sophia Depping, of Lippe-Detmold, Germany;
they have seven children, three sons and four daughters; his brother
Henry entered the army of the rebellion, and was soon afterward
promoted to major; was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg; there
received his discharge; he has been four years State Treasurer, and is
now a resident of Milwaukee.
The History of Northern Wisconsin, Vol II. Chicago: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1881, p. 538
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CAST IRON AND OTHER METALS WELDED
We have just installed the necessary apparatus to do welding by the
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Broken parts of Castings made as good as new. Bring them to us and
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A. Baetz & Son
Two Rivers Reporter, Saturday, June 27, 1914:
********
DIDN'T STAND THE TEST
A severe explosion occurred at the blacksmith shop of A. Baetz & Son,
Monday that broke most of the windows in the building, ripped a big
hole in the ceiling and didn't hurt anybody.
There were three men in the room at the time. George Feistel was
operating the apparatus which is a welding machine. He turned a valve
and moved back two steps when the tank, 6 feet high, containing
Oxycitilene, exploded and shot straight upward through the ceiling.
The machine had been installed to give it a thirty days trial, but
it only lasted about thirty minutes after it was set to work. It
has been returned with thanks.
Two Rivers Reporter, Saturday, July 4, 1914:
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