Third Generation

5. Philip H. "Phil" GRUETZMACHER was born on 15 April 1869 in Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, WI.^5,9,10,11,12 (The 1910 Census, conducted in June 1900, listed his birth date as April 1870 and his age as 30.)

(The 1930 Census, for which he was an enumerator, listed his middle initial as "C.")

. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, WI.⁸ He appeared in the census in 1880 in West Kewaunee Township, Kewaunee County, WI.⁶ Phil graduated on 6 June 1888 in Watertown, Jefferson County, WI.⁵ from Northwestern University. From 1889 to 1893 he was a school teacher and principal in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^5,9,13

Monroe County Heritage Book Article #33: "At age 15, Philip was admitted into the Northwestern University at Watertown, WI. He spent four years studying there and graduated June 6, 1888. The following year, he came to Tomah and took charge of the Saint Paul's Lutheran School. Philip had a natural aptitude for teaching and taught at the Lutheran School until 1893."

In 1916, he was the Treasurer of the Tomah Board of Education.

. From 1893 to 1944 he was a Civil Servant in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹

Monroe County Heritage Book Article #33: "After leaving Saint Paul's Lutheran School, Philip served for a number of years on the city's police force. He worked as a night policeman .... Phil was a very strict policeman, always enforcing the law. Some of the young boys would play tricks on him, but to no avail. Philip was also a fireman with the fire department and served as an alderman from the third ward. Politically he was identified with the Democratic Party, always supporting those men and measures that brought good to the masses."

. Phil appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.² His occupation was listed as "Night Watch." He appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ His occupation was listed as "Carpenter." He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ His occupation was listed as "Rural Carrier, County." Phil appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² He served as the census enumerator for the 3rd Ward of Tomah Village. He appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ He was a "Lodger" in the household of Henry Gerke at 511 Clark Street and his occupation was "Justice of the Peace, Tomah City." His total wages in 1939 were $200. He died in 1944 at the age of 75 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹

Monroe County Heritage Book Article #33: "In 1944, while Phil was trimming trees in front of his property on Stoughton Avenue, a heavy limb that he had just cut off, swung down and knocked the ladder from underneath him, causing him to fall a considerable distance, alighting on his side on a concrete walk. He suffered a double fracture of the thigh and pelvis and a head injury. He was taken immediately to the Sparta Hospital and died the next day at 10 o'clock in the evening. Mr. Gruetzmacher was serving his third term as Justice of the Peace at the time of his death."

. Phil was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,9 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Philip H. "Phil" GRUETZMACHER and Johanna "Antonia" BUSS were married on 20 October 1892 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^9,15

. Johanna "Antonia" BUSS, daughter of Herman BUSS and Wilhelmine UNKNOWN (BUSS), was born in June 1874 in Pommern (Pomerania) Province, Preussen (Prussia).^2,10 She emigrated in 1880 from Pommern (Pomerania) Province, Preussen (Prussia).¹⁰ (The 1910 Census listed her emigration year as 1882, but the same page listed her mother's emigration year as 1880.) She appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.² Antonia appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² Antonia died in 1936 at the age of 62 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ She was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Philip H. "Phil" GRUETZMACHER and Johanna "Antonia" BUSS had the following children:

Philip H. "Phil" GRUETZMACHER and Bertha Mary BUROW were married on 22 February 1941 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^9,16 at the Saint Paul's Lutheran Church Parsonage. Bertha Mary BUROW, daughter of Gottlieb BUROW and Ernestine PREHN, was born on 22 March 1877 in Germany.^2,17 She emigrated in 1884 from Germany.¹⁰ She was confirmed on 22 March 1891 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁷ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Bertha appeared in the census in 1900 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.² She appeared in the census in 1910 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ She appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ In 1925 Bertha was a Clerk in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Monroe County Heritage Book Article #28: The year after her husband, Henry, was killed "Bertha and the children sold the farm and moved to Tomah and bought a house. The years following, Bertha worked at the Post Office and managed the Butterfly Cafe in Tomah."

"Bertha was the family historian, enlightening her grandchildren with stories of the past. Throughout her life, she had many friends and was a inspiration to all." She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² She was a widow and she and her three sons lived at 1305 (?) Stoughton Avenue in the 2nd Ward. She died on 21 January 1971 at the age of 93 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^9,16 Bertha was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁸ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.