"The BIOGRAPHICAL History of Clark County, Wisconsin"

Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, Chicago and Winona, H. C. Cooper Jr., & Co. in 1918.

EDWARD F. WOLLENBERG, cashier of the Greenwood State Bank, was born in Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1873, son of Christian, Jr., and Albertine (Wendt) Wollenberg. When a young child, in 1879, he accompanied his parents from New York state to Valley Creek, Minn., and later to Knapp, Wis. In 1884, at the age of 11, he came with them to Greenwood and here attended the public schools, after which he became his father's assistant in the meat business in this village, being thus engaged for fifteen years, except for a period of three years-1890, 1891 and 1892-when they carried on the same business in Spencer, Wis., subsequently resuming it in Greenwood. After this long experience in that line of industry Mr. Wollenberg entered the Wisconsin Business University at La Crosse, and after finishing the course returned to Greenwood, where he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the Greenwood State Bank. In the following year he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier and in July, 1906, was elected cashier, a position he has since filled with ability and fidelity to the interests of the institution. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Greenwood Roller Mills and treasurer of the Greenwood Telephone Company. His fraternal society affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Equitable Fraternal Union, Greenwood Lodge No. 249, A. F. A. M., and the Order of the Eastern Star, of Greenwood.

On Aug. 28, 1901, Mr. Wollenberg was united in marriage with Fanny Frances, of Thorp, Wis. He and his wife have-one child, Phyllis, who was born June 19, 1902, and who is now a student in the Greenwood high school. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Family Stories

Edward Wollenberg is said to have killed himself.  Frances Baker Riber told that Ed was the banker and embezzled funds and killed himself in the basement.  Dr. Karl Baker was called and he covered up the death, on the records.  It was listed as a accident with a gun. anonymously contributed.

One of Edward Wollenberg's granddaughters was once a stand in for Greer Garson, the actress. She was Maryette, the daughter of Henry and Pearl, who was born about 1912 in Illinois.  When this cousin died in the Motion Picture Home, about 1988, she left her estate to her 13 cousins. The Baker children were included in the 13. My Mother in law, Fran, inherited a small amount of money. Maybe around 10 thousand dollars or so. I don’t remember for sure.  Another of the cousins, Lincoln Harold Wollenberg, was executor of the estate. He went around and visited all the cousins, telling them what they were going to inherit I always figured he charged this to the estate. At that time he denied the story about Ed Wollenberg having killed himself, but I'm not sure why.

Albertine Wollenberg’s death certificate indicated that she died of liver problems and Dr. Julian Baker was her doctor.

Albertine and Frankie Wollenberg

                 (1882, ca.)
 

Contributors

Barbara Riber & Janet Schwarze.