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Ernest Off

Capt Civil War, Co K 3rd Regt

Died 03 16 1874

Among the most substantial citizens of which the United States can boast are those of German birth who have sought a home for themselves of the free soil of America. Prominent among this number may be mentioned Ernest Off, who was born at Lowenstein, Germany, being one of five children born to a successful physician of the Old Country, who served as a surgeon in the French army.

Ernest received a good collegiate education while growing up, and upon reaching manhood entered the French army, in which he held the rank of lieutenant. During this time he was in Algiers two years.

In 1848 he decided to come to America to seek his fortune, and upon landing on our shores made his way direct to Watertown, Wis., two miles west of which place he entered 160 acres of land. After a short time he opened a cigar store in the town, but sold out in 1856 to enter the office of deputy sheriff of Jefferson County.

When the Civil War came up he responded to the first call for troops, raised Company K of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, of which he became captain, and with which he served in Missouri and Arkansas. He was injured by his horse falling upon him, and was in the hospital in St. Louis for some time. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war, and returned home to engage in the restaurant business, which he carried on for a short time.

He was made city marshal of Watertown, was later elected deputy sheriff, and while discharging the duties of sheriff was called from this life, leaving a wife and three children, two sons and one daughter. Socially he was a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M.

Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Reference:

Portion derived from Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago; Goodspeed Brothers, 1894.

Cross-References:

Ernest Off: Forty-Eighter, Civil War vet, Watertown marshal, sheriff of Jeff Cty

Ernest Off, property gift, First Church of Christ Scientists, 500 S. Fifth