History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918

ANDREW BRENNER, a prosperous member of the agricultural community of Thorp Township, was born in Buffalo County, Wis., April 8, 1866, son of Anthony and Agnes Brenner. His parents were born and married in Germany and came to America in 1850, settling in Buffalo County. During the Civil War the father served in a Wisconsin regiment on the lower Mississippi River, and was slightly wounded. He died in 1913, at the age of 87 years, and his wife in the same year, at the age of 88. They were the parents of eight children: Andrew Brenner resided at home until he was 20 years old. He then went to Tower, Minn., where he worked as a butcher and was there fourteen years. At the end of that time he came to Clark County-this being in 1900, and entering the employ of Herman Freiss, at Thorp, was engaged in the meat business for six years. During that time he bought his present place, moving here in 1908. Four acres of it had already been cleared and he now has forty acres under the plow. He raises corn, oats, barley and potatoes as his usual crops, and in his stock operations breeds Durham cattle, owning a full-blooded bull and milking seventeen cows.

In 1908 he built his present residence and in 1913 erected his barn, which is 36 by 80 feet, a modern structure with stone basement. In 1910 he built a silo of seventy tons capacity. Mr. Brenner has prospered as a farmer and has also taken more or less part in public affairs. He served two years on the school board, from 1909 to 1911, and in 1910 he was elected to the township board and is still serving. On Oct. 2,1892, Mr. Brenner was married to Alma Wieland, who was born in Minnesota, Sept. 17, 1873, daughter of Christ and Louisa (Kegler) Wieland. Her parents were natives of Germany, her father being a carpenter and farmer, who died at the age of 75 years, in November, 1914. Her mother died in June, 1916. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Brenner have a family of twelve children: Walter, born 1893, residing in Clark County: Alfred, born 1895, residing at home George, born 1897, who lives in Madison, Wis. Evelyn, born 1899 Edith, 1901 Willis, 1903 Floyd, 1905 Louisa, 1907 Florence, 1909 Clara, 1911 Freddie, 1913, and Ross, 1915, all of whom reside at home. Walter is married and has one child, Norma, born July 7, 1914.