Notes for Charles William Neefe: Charles William, better known as Bill, was probably named for his grandfather Charles Frederich. Bill grew up along the Wisconsin River at Riverview. He was a hunter and trapper, perhaps due to his Indian heritage. He trapped moles and sold the feet. He probably was paid 5 or 10 cents for each set of mole feet he turned in. People were paid for trapping moles because they did so much damage to the soil. One rarely sees a mole run now (perhaps they've become extinct.) Bill trapped fox, mink, skunk and muskrat. He dried the pelts on wooden frames and sold the pelts to fur dealers. When trapping skunk, he frequently got sprayed. He would bury his clothes in the garden until the odor left--then they were washed. The odor was probably absorbed into the ground. I'm surprised Grandmother would tolerate the bad odor that came with trapping skunk..or that she'd consider washing his smelly clothes!! (from letter dated January 17, 2002 from Helen (Neefe) Larson, grand-daughter of Charles William Neefe and Mary Seamon Neefe.
More About Charles William Neefe: Burial: Unknown, Button Cemetery, Buena Vista Twnshp,Richland Co., WI. Census: 1860, Richmond Township,Richland Center; age 26.
More About Charles William Neefe and Mary Adele Seamon: Marriage: April 15, 1885
Children of Charles William Neefe and Mary Adele Seamon are:
Charles William Neefe (b. March 31, 1864, d. May 30, 1949)
Notes for Charles William Neefe: