William Schlinkert
History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

WILLIAM SCHLINKERT, a pioneer of Weston Township, now deceased, was born in Germany and was 18 years of age when he came to the United States, which he did on a sailing vessel, landing in this country after a long voyage. Locating in Wisconsin, he worked in various parts of the state, and finally came to Clark County and began the life of a pioneer farmer on 160 acres of wild land in section 7, Weston Township. There were then no roads to the place. Building a log house and barn, he started with nothing but his hands, being just able to pay for the land. He had no team and no cow, but got a cow about a year later. He had been married in Wisconsin to Augusta Floerke, and his wife proved a good helpmate for him. Mr. Schlinkert worked in the woods in the winter time, clearing his farm in the summer. In time he increased the size of his farm by buying forty acres more. He helped to chop a road through to his place, built a good brick house, and cleared up his land, finally becoming a prosperous citizen. He also helped to build the old structure in which the Lutheran congregation worshipped at an early date, and contributed to the new church, of which he was a member. On his farm he made considerable use of oxen.

Mr. Schlinkert died in May, 1897, at the age of 47. His wife is still living, being now 58 years old. Six of their children are also living, and two are dead, a list of their family being as follows: Emma, now Mrs. Erick Schoenherr, of Weston Township Fred, now proprietor of the old homestead in Weston Township William, who lives in Pine Valley Township, this county Robert, of Weston Township Elsie, who is now Mrs. John Pazenkopf Erick and Paul, who are deceased, and Theodore, residing in Weston Township.