EARLY HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF KEWASKUM
(from History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881, pp. 437-8)

   In 1852, J. H, Myer built the first log house on the bank of the Milwaukee River, in the then prospective village of Kewaskum. In the fall of the same year he build a saw-mill, and commenced a grist-mill in 1854, which he finished in 1856.
   The first frame house in the village and in the town was built by Henry P. Eames. It was near the river, on the south side of what is now Main street, opposite West Water. It was what was called a "story and a half house." The nearest settler was William Pickel, a half mile away.
   The first store, built by William Spicer, was a frame building, now called "the old store."
   In 1852, F. W. Buchtel started the first blacksmith-shop.
   In the spring of 1854, the first religious society was organized--the Dutch REformed--Rev. M. Davenport, Pastor. There were four attendants at the first meeting.
   The first church ediface was built by the Catholics.
   The first Sunday school was organized in 1855, with Mrs. Eames as Superintendent. The school was very successful, and under various Superintendents was maintained until 1879.
   The village has grown to be the thriving trade center of the surrounding country. The Chicago & North-Western Railway passes through the town and village. The village population at present (1881) exceeds five hundred. I[t] has six hotels--the Eagle, the American House, S. Witzig's Hotel, Central Hotel and the Madison House. It has three general stores. The largest is owned and run by the Rosenheimer Brothers, Moritz and Adolph, under the family firm name of L. Rosenheimer & Sons. They have an elevator and do a large grain-shipping business in connection with their merchandising. Their annual grain shipments aggregated 125,000 bushels. The other two stores are run by Henry Backhaus and Charles Lobeisky. Both do a thriving business.
   Remmell Bros. & Co. have just completed the most complete establishment for the manufacture and repair of all kinds of wood and iron work, between Fond du Lac and Milwaukee.
   It embraces a machine-shop, with engine lathe, a planing-mill, a wagon-shop and a black-smith's shop. Here carriages and agricultural machinery are manufactured and repaired in the best style of mechanical art. The Remmell Brothers are practical workmen of rare merit, and possessed of inventive talents of a high order.
   There are also four grain elevators, all doing a grain-shipping business during the season.
   The flouring-mill, built by Mr. Myer in 1852, was enlarged and partially rebuilt in 1878. It is now run by Guth & Backhaus.
   The lumber-yard is run by N. Guth & Son.
   There are two schools, a public school, and a parish school connected with the Catholic Church.
   There are three churches--the Catholic, built in 1862; the Lutheran, built in 1868; the Methodist, built in 1866.
   The village has also a hardware store, a stove and tinware establishment, and shoemakers, blacksmiths, painters and other artisans, which go to make up the population of a thriving and growing village.
   The charitable and secret societies are represented as follows:
   Kewaskum Turnverein, organized June 2, 1878. First officers were: First Speaker, Charles Flicheman; Second Speaker, Peter Heip; First Turnwart, Frank Brown; Second Turnwart, Adaolph Rosenheimer; Secretary, Fred Stork; Assistant Secretary, Nic Marks; Treasurer, Nic Guth; Steward, Henry Backhaus; Trustees, John Stroegel, Pat McLaughlin, Mattice Louis.
   The present officers are: First Speaker, Fred Stork; Second Speaker, Valentine Dreher; First Turnwart, Lewis Guth; Secretary, Nic Marks; Assistant Secretary, Lawrence Guth; Treasurer, Charles Kiehn; Steward, William Fillbert; Trustees, Joseph Remmel, Pat McLaughlin, N. Guth, Sr. Present Membership is twenty-eight. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month.
   Kewaskum Lodge, No. 101, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 4, 1860. It was first started in the English language, then changed to a German lodge. After a few years it ceased active work, and lay dormant for several years. February 2, 1876, it was resuscitated, and has existed as an American lodge, so far as its work is carried on in the English language, though its membership is largely made up of Germans. The present officers are: H. J. Ebenreiter, N. G.; L. A. Clark, V. G.; C. P. Moore, R. S.; Charles Miller, P. S.; N. Guth, Treasurer. The present membership numbers twenty. Meetings are held weekly, on Saturday evenings.