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August Tanck
Death of August Tanck
One of Watertown's Best Known Business Men
Watertown Gazette, 07 13 1911
Monday evening, July 10, 1911, August Tanck, Sr., died at his home, 118 North Third Street, at the close of a brief illness, the cause of his death being general debility. Mr. Tanck had been feeling unwell for several weeks, but was able to attend to business up to within a short time of his death, hence the news of his death was a great surprise to most of our citizens.
Deceased was born in Cismar, Holstein, Germany, April 22, 1832, hence was in his 80th year when he died. He was educated in the public schools of that place and after leaving school was employed for a short time as clerk in the custom house in Holstein. In 1852 he came to America, landing in New York, where he learned cigar making.
In 1854 he came west and located in this city, finding employment in the cigar factory of the late Ernest Grossmann for about three years; for two years after he was engaged in the grocery business, and in 1863 formed a partnership with F. Miller in manufacturing cigars; two years later he retired from the firm and continued in that line of business on his own account till 1867 when he and Ernest Grossmann formed a partnership for the manufacture of cigars under the firm name of Grossmann & Tanck.
In a few years he retired from that line of work and engaged in the real estate, loan, conveyancing and probate business, which he continued till his death. He was one of the best-known men in Wisconsin in the latter business and hundreds of thousands of dollars were entrusted to him for investment.
He was strictly honest in all his business transactions and the people had unlimited confidence in his integrity and judgment, hence he always did a large business, and no one who gave him their confidence, ever had cause to complain.
During his long residence here he held many offices of trust and
always fulfilled them with credit to all concerned. In 1858 he was
elected city marshal and served two years; in 1860 he was appointed deputy
sheriff of Jefferson County and served two years; he was city assessor two
years, Justice of the Peace two years, in 1866 and 1867 served as alderman of
the 5th ward; in 1873 was elected city treasurer to fill a vacancy and was
re-elected to the office in 1875 and 1876; in 1887 he was elected county
treasurer and served two years; and during the Peck administration in this
state was appointed state oil inspector, and in all of these important offices
he performed his duties intelligently, honestly and to the great satisfaction
of the public.
Mr. Tanck was a life-long democrat and up to the time of his death took an active interest in the politics in the city, county, state and nation. He was a kind, indulgent father and a man whose friendship everybody prized.
His wife and seven children by two previous marriages survive him, his children being August Tanck, Jr., Watertown; Wm. Tanck, Lowell; Mrs. Elizabeth Jaeger, Beloit; Mrs. Wm. Davies, Milwaukee; Fred. G. Tanck, Los Angeles, Cal.; Emil Tanck, Watertown's city treasurer; Alex Tanck, Nelson, B.C.
This afternoon his funeral was held from his late
home. The interment
was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Emil Tanck
1909c, but pre 1935, 202 E
Main, insurance agent
1913, 202 W Main, insurance agent, notary public
1908, Democratic Bryan and Kern club
1908, Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M
1909, Homecoming celebration, officer
1910
Watertown Gazette, 01 21 1910
Candidate For Treasurer
Emil Tanck says he is in the field for re-election to the office of city treasurer. His many friends say he has fulfilled the duties of the office so efficiently that they would be pleased to see him once more elected to the office. He is a most excellent city official and his official record is A, No. 1.
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Tanck, August |
1850s and 60s, Cigar manufactory established |
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Tanck, August |
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Tanck, August |
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Tanck, August |
1909, 202 W Main, real estate |
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Tanck, August, Mrs nee Otto |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
1909c, but pre 1935, 202 E Main, insurance agent |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
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Tanck, Emil |
1913, 202 W Main, insurance agent, notary public |
