WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
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Biography transcribed & donated to Wabasha County, MN Bios by
Barbara Koska Timm.  For more information, please check
out her site "Biographies and Historical Sketches of Wabasha County,
Minnesota" at <http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio>.
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		    "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY MINNESOTA"
                               COMPILED BY
                         FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE
                                AND OTHERS

                                ILLUSTRATED

                               WINONA, MINN.
                          H. C. COOPER, JR., & CO.
                                   1920


Bartz, Robert W. (p. 771), proprietor of an up to date plumbing establishment in Elgin village, was born in 
 Elgin, August 4, 1886, son of Julius and Amelia (Radle) Bartz. The father, born in Germany, came with his 
 parents to the United States when eight years old, locating in Potsdam, Minn. After his marriage here he and 
 his wife took a farm in Elgin Township, Wabasha County, on which they spent 20 years of their lives. Julius 
 Bartz died in 1914 and his widow is now living in the village of Elgin. They had twelve children, all of whom 
 are now living, namely: Herman, August, Julius, Edward, Alfred, Robert, Emma, Alvina, Amelia, Bertha, 
 Otellia and Luella. The father was a Civil War veteran, having enlisted at the age of 15 years and served 
 two years. Robert W. Bartz was reared on the home farm, attending the district school and the Elgin high 
 school. He remained at home until 24 years old, and then for five years operated a rented farm on his own 
 account. Coming to Elgin at the end of that period, he engaged in the plumbing business with his brother 
 Herman. This was in 1915, and in 1918 Robert purchased his brother's interest and has since conducted the 
 business alone. He handles a full line of plumbing and heating equipment, employing a journeyman assistant, 
 and enjoys a monopoly of the trade here, his place being the only plumbing establishment in town. Mr. Bartz 
 was married in 1911 at Pine Island, Minn., to Anna Radke whose parents came from Germany, locating on 
 their farm in Pin Island in 1900. Their children, four daughters and two sons, are all now living. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bartz are members of the Lutheran church, and industrious and useful members of the community. Mr. 
 Bartz's brother Alfred served 28 months in the U. S. navy during the recent World War.