Mayors 1933 – 1982
Carl J. Bronsted 1933
Carl Bronsted was born in Grand Rapids, Wis., now known as Wisconsin Rapids, on May 24, 1892. He came to Tomahawk with his parents in 1897. He attended public school and graduated from Tomahawk High School in 1911. He worked as bookkeeper for various local businesses for a few years then he went west to Medicine Hat, Canada and worked for the Bank of Montreal as bookkeeper, teller and accountant. He returned to Tomahawk and was employed as office manager for Frank Theiler Lumber Co. He was married to Julia Johnson on September 17, 1922. She was a native of Tomahawk. He was elected to the city council in 1924 from the 4th ward and served continuously until his election as mayor upon the death of Mayor Frank Theiler in 1933. He served the balance of Theiler’s term as mayor. He died on January 21, 1969 after a long illness.
Mark M. Raymond 1934 – 1936
Mark Raymond was born on August 14, 1874 at Raymondville, Wis., a town named after his father. He attended grade school in a log schoolhouse, graduated from high school after which he attended Oshkosh Norman School. He came to the Spirit Falls area in 1909 and to Tomahawk in 1910. He was married on November 23, 1910 to Ann Roehl of Minneapolis. He purchased the Oelhafen Lumber Co. property and merged with his own lumber business. He also operated a grade planing mill. He manufactured lumber and lath, bought standing timber and logged it off. He operated mills at various points according to demands. He was a leader in civic affairs, being listed in the directories of practically every organization in the city. He entered politics for the first time in 1934 when he was elected mayor, having defeated two opponents. He died on September 10, 1936 after a short illness.
William Steinbach 1936 – 1937
William Steinbach was born on July 23, 1895 in Gaines, Penn. He came to Tomahawk in 1902 at the age of seven. He received his education in Tomahawk public schools. In 1913 he married Irene Martell and after her death he was married to Sarah Roggenbauer. He worked for Owens-Illinois for many years. He served on the City Council for 4 years and in 1936 was elected by the Council to fill out the term of Mayor Mark Raymond, who died in office. Mr Steinbach was Mayor of Tomahawk from September 1936 through 1937. Mr. Steinbach died in February, 1984 at the age of 89.
William J. Draeger 1938 – 1941
William Draeger was born October 8, 1872, on a farm in the town of Wolf River, Winnebago County. At the age of 12 he went with his parents to Antigo, where he finished his schooling. He began railroad work as a waterboy at the age of 16 years and progressed to locomotive engineer by the time he was 21. He came to Tomahawk in 1897 as an engineer in the M.T.& W railway, known as the Bradley railroad, a position he held for 22 years. In 1920 he engaged in the automobile business and was proprietor of the Draeger Garage. He was married in Tomahawk to Cora Hickey in 1900. He was elected mayor in April 1938, a position he held until 1942. William Draeger died in September of 1946 at the age of 73.
Oscar Bloecher 1942 – 1943
Oscar Bloecher was born September 23, 1894 in Wittenberg, Wis. He attended the Wittenberg school system, Oshkosh Teachers College and University of Wisconsin. Mr. Bloecher moved to Tomahawk in August 1926. After moving to Tomahawk, he purchased the Tomahawk Bottling Works and went into business for himself. He was married to Edna Anderson in Mountain, Wis on October 4, 1917. In 1946 he sold out to his brother-in-law, Sievert Anderson. Mr. Bloecher stayed with the business as secretary and treasurer. He was active in city affairs and in April 1942, was elected mayor of the city, serving one term. He passed away at the Holy Cross Hospital in Merrill on May 2, 1960 at the age of 65.
Herman H. Kuehling 1944 – 1945
Herman Kuehling was born in the province of Saxony, Germany, on January 9, 1879. He came to the United States with his parents when he was 9 years old. The family settled on a farm near Unity, in Marathon County. He attended school at Unity and graduated with the class of 1896, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving three years. After his discharge from the army, he spent a short time in Unity and then came to Tomahawk and engaged in the steam laundry business, then established the Tomahawk Bakery and Grocery Co. He then bought 200 acres in the town of King and proceeded to develop the property. In 1913, he was appointed to the position of County Highway Commissioner and continued in that position for years. He was married on February 20, 1909 to Anna Blaine and was married on May 2, 1922 to Minnie Pophal of Merrill. He was elected mayor of the city of Tomahawk in 1944. He died on September 10, 1949 in Tomahawk.
John L. “Cappy” Smith 1946 – 1949
John (Cappy) Smith was born April 24, 1909 in Oakdale, Wis. He came to Tomahawk at the age of 9 with his parents. He attended the public schools in Tomahawk and in 1925 joined the Bradley Bank as a clerk, working his way up to executive vice-president in 1958. He was active in civic affairs. When the city water commission was formed by Mayor Raymond in 1936, Smith was named president of the board and served in that position until 1946, when he was elected mayor. He was elected again in 1948 and when he was defeated by Glen Allen in 1950, the new mayor reappointed him to the water commission. He married Florence Wurl April 7, 1933, and was married to Blanche McCormick on November 22, 1969. He was on the County School Committee and headed the annual Girl Scout and March of Dimes fund drives for many years. Smith died September 7, 1996 in Tomahawk.
Glen Allen 1950 – 1953
Glen Allen was born on October 4, 1900 in Harshaw and attended local schools. He started to work at age 13 in a veneer plant in Tomahawk and by the age of 15 was working on the section and extra gang of the Omaha Railroad. He married Margaret Turgeon on January 7, 1919 in Tomahawk. He established a business selling moss and evergreen to the florist industry. The business did well until the depression when the florist industry was hard hit. He then went to work for the Kraft Paper Co. He left Kraft in 1942 and worked as a steamfitter and welder for power plants across the Midwest, while operating a grocery store in Tomahawk. He was elected mayor of the city in 1950, serving through 1954. Mr. Allen died May, 1982 in Tomahawk.
Martin Loftus 1954 – 1975
Martin Loftus was born in Tomahawk on June 16, 1895 in the house directly east of the Grace Lutheran church. He went through grade school here and graduated high school with the class of 1914. He enlisted in the Army in 1917, with the local company which was part of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry. He served overseas and arrived home at wars end in February, 1919. After arriving home, he assumed ownership of his father’s 80 acre farm and in September of the same year, he married Ruth Allord. In time he was the owner of 400 acres and a herd of blooded Guernseys. In the fall of 1939 he caught his arm in a corn shredder and lost part of his left arm. He continued farming with the use of a mechanical arm. Mr. Loftus never held public office before running for the office of mayor. He was elected in 1954 and served until 1975. He died April 1977 in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Willis A. Gessler 1976 – 1982
Willis A. Gessler was born on August 17th, 1920 in Johnstown Center in Rock County, Wi. He received his education in Hebron, Ill. after which he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married Carol Franco in Reno Nev. in 1943. They lived in Lake Geneva, Wi. before coming to Tomahawk in 1960. They were operators of an upholstery business. Mr. Gessler was active in civic affairs, serving as president of the Lions Club, receiving the prestigious Melvin Jones Award. He was an officer of the Fire Department and served as assistant chief. He was elected mayor of the city in 1976. During his tenure, Sara Park was built, a new water tower was erected and a Senior Center was completed. He served as mayor until 1982. He died on September 25, 2010 at the age of 90.