Phillip Klimek, Sr.

KLIMEK, Philip

The following article was printed in the Independence News Wave on 08 Jun 1923:

Golden Wedding Anniversary was Celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Klimek

He was born in Poppeleau Germany May 1, 1842. He served in the German army for 2 years from 1866.

Prior to entry in the army, he was married to Mary Pietrek in 1862. Two children were born to them, Philip and John.

He and his family came to America in 1870. They came by railroad as far as La Crosse, thence by boat to Trempealeau. From there he set out by foot so that he might find desireable land to homestead. He first located in Wickham Valley, filing on 160 acres, between Independence and Arcadia.

Three years later his wife died. In 1873, he married Mary Kampa. Four children were born to this union; Mary, Jacob, Joe and Anna.

For a time Philip Klimek worked on the farm of George H. Markham at $15.00 per month, a big wage then.

After a number of years of hard work, he purchased an additional 80 acres making his farm a 240 acre tract, now owned by his son, Philip Jr. A few years later he bought the old Andrew Wickham farm of 160 acres, now owned by his son John. Later he bought the Henry Hotman place of 192 acres which is now owned by Joe Klimek. He then bought the 170 acres Crane farm which is now owned by Jacob Klimek. At one time, Philip Klimek Sr. owned 762 acres of Trempealeau County land.

In 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Klimek retired farming and moved to Independence. Mr. Klimek is 81 years old and his wife is 84.

(Comment by Clarence J. Gamroth - In Independence, the Klimek home stood just a few feet south of the present home of August Mish, his son-in-law. Klimek's house was originally a rectory for the priest of SS Peter and Paul congregation. The frame rectory stood west of Hwy. 93 almost opposite the church. From it a broad view was had of the Elk Creek to the west, and a view of the village to the south. When a brick parsonage was erected east of the Hwy. 93, the frame house became the house of the nuns teaching in the parochial school. Eventually the house was sold to Philip Klimek who moved it down the hill to use it as his home. This was, as stated above, just south of the present August Mish house. Eventually the old frame parsonage which became a sister's house, was moved again about 75 to 100 feet further south. it is now occupied by Joe Jaszewski.

Philip Klimek, after his retirement from the farm, served as janitor in the Catholic Church.

In the news article, it was stated that Mr. Klimek served 2 years in the German army. He told me that he was in combat but although he was forced to fire at the enemy, he did not want to kill anybody. Surreptitiously, he buried some of the bullets under him while lying prone facing the enemy. I believe that it was during the war between Prussia (Germany) and Austria.

August Mish, son-in-law of Philip Klimek Sr., said that Philip died February 26, 1925.

First wife, Mary Pietrek, died ___ 18, 1873

Second wife, Mary Kampa, died Dec. 1924.)

Additional information -

According to SS Peter and Paul Church death records Philip Klimek died February 20, 1925 (#983), Mary Kampa Klimek died January 4, 1924 (#956).