Charles Zarnke
Encyclopedia
Charles F. Zarnke was a farmer
, janitor
and Socialist
state legislator from Wisconsin
.
(later Rib Mountain) for 28 years. He served as Town Chairman from 1904–1909 and as town treasurer from 1914-1917.
in 1918 to represent the first district of Marathon County
for the 1919–1920 session, defeating incumbent Republican
Herman Hedrich by 1763 (56.2%) votes to 1374 (43.8%). He served on the Committees on Fish and Game and Enrolled Bills.
In 1920, he was defeated for re-election by Republican Joseph Weix, who received 3717 votes, to 2296 for Zarnke and 915 for Democrat
Jerry Bradley.
, and worked as a janitor at the Wausau School District
Central School Building.
) to Nora Smart. They had twelve children.
Zarnke died on May 16, 1931. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau.
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, janitor
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
and Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
state legislator from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Background
Zarnke was born in Germany on July 19, 1868. He immigrated to America at age fourteen and farmed in the town of FliethWeston, Wisconsin
Weston is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census.- History :...
(later Rib Mountain) for 28 years. He served as Town Chairman from 1904–1909 and as town treasurer from 1914-1917.
Elected office
Zarnke was elected to the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1918 to represent the first district of Marathon County
Marathon County, Wisconsin
Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 134,063. Its county seat is Wausau.-Geography:...
for the 1919–1920 session, defeating incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Herman Hedrich by 1763 (56.2%) votes to 1374 (43.8%). He served on the Committees on Fish and Game and Enrolled Bills.
In 1920, he was defeated for re-election by Republican Joseph Weix, who received 3717 votes, to 2296 for Zarnke and 915 for Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Jerry Bradley.
Move to Wausau
When he retired from farming in 1923, he moved to WausauWausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
, and worked as a janitor at the Wausau School District
Wausau School District
The Wausau School District is a public school district serving the Wausau metropolitan area, including the City of Wausau and the Towns of Rib Mountain, Wausau, Stettin, and Texas...
Central School Building.
Personal life
On June 27, 1891, he was married (at Colby, WisconsinColby, Wisconsin
Colby is a city in Clark and Marathon counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,616 at the 2000 census...
) to Nora Smart. They had twelve children.
Zarnke died on May 16, 1931. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau.