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August Tanck
Death of August Tanck
One of Watertown's Best Known Business Men
Father of Emil Tanck
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.
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Emil Tanck
1877 – 1929
Son of August
08 29 DEATH OF EMIL TANCK
One of Watertown’s Best Citizens
At 4 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, August 25, 1929, Emil Tanck died at his home, 112 Washington Street at the close
of a long illness.
He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. August Tanck,
and was born on February 24, 1877, in this city, and shortly after leaving
school engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business with his father,
and after the death of his father continued in that business on his own account
until several months ago, failing health compelling him to retire from active
business.
When a young man he entered politics as a democrat and remained with
that party faithfully until his death, serving as democratic county and city
chairman at various times, and was chairman of the county committee at the time
of his death. He served the city as
city treasurer many years and finally refused to continue the office. His administration of that office was one of
the most efficient and popular the city has ever had. He held the office of sheriff of this county
one term, and was deputy sheriff several times; was assistant secretary of the Inter-County Fair association of this city, theatrical manager of the Turner society, and was
secretary of the Watertown Building and Loan Association of this city since its
organization up to a few weeks before his death. He was honored some years ago by being
nominated for state treasurer on the democratic ticket, and made a very
creditable run for the office, though defeated in this staunch republican
state. He served as past warden of
Watertown Lodge No 49 F.&A.M., and was also a member of Watertown Chapter
No. 11 R.A.M., and a member of Olivet Commandery No.
18 Knight Templar, was a member of the Elks lodge of this city and of Lincoln
Lodge No. 20 Knights of Pythias and was vice-president of the Wisconsin National Bank of this city at
the time of his death.
His wife, whose maiden name was Laura Higgins, survives him, also one
daughter, Mrs. John Greenwood of Milwaukee, one son, Jack Tanck,
died in May, 1926. Two brothers and two
sisters also survive him, Fred G. Tanck of Delavan,
Al. G. Tanck of this city, Mrs. Willard Davis of
Milwaukee and Mrs. Adolph Jaeger of Beloit.
His funeral was held from his late home yesterday afternoon under the
auspices of the Masonic lodge of this city and his remains were interred in Oak
Hill cemetery.
By the death of Mr. Tanck, Watertown has lost
one of its very best and most valuable citizens. In civic and social affairs
he took great interest and was a booster at all times for Watertown. As a business man he was honorable to a
marked degree, and socially he was a welcome visitor at every occasion;
politically he always “played fair” and as a husband and father there were none
better. The editor of the Gazette had been in close touch with him
in democratic politics for over 80 years, and we have always found it a
pleasure to deal with so honest a politician.
He was reliable and trustworthy and tactful, and never took undue advantage
of anyone. It is to be regretted that
this city has lost so outstanding a citizen- he has been active in civic
affairs of the community, a ready and intelligent advisor, an active worker in
the cause in which he was interested and ready always to lend aid to any civic
affair. We have esteemed it a great
personal privilege to have had an intimate personal friendship with him-his
going leaves us with deep sense of personal loss-his gracious and cordial
manner, his warm sympathy, his spirit of friendliness and goodwill will be
greatly missed.
The large number at his funeral on Wednesday to pay their last token of
their respect for him and sympathy for his afflicted family testified the great
esteem in which he was held by our people.
He has gone, but he will live in the memory of his friends for many a
day-his noble character, his influence for good will survive him.
Among those at the funeral from out of town were George Kispert and Oscar C. Roessler of
Jefferson, Edward Usher of Madison, Frank Higgins of Summit, Edw. Higgins of Oconomowoc,
Wm. Higgins of Waterloo, and many others.
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 |
History of Watertown, Wisconsin