Early Life and Education

Emil Baensch was a lawyer, newspaperman, politician and businessman born in Manitowoc. He attended the University of Wisconsin from 1877 until 1880, studied law and was then admitted to the bar in 1882. He practiced law in Manitowoc, was admitted to practice before the supreme court in 1887 and served as county judge of Manitowoc County from 1888 from 1894.

Political Career

He rose rapidly in the ranks of the Stalwart Republican party and was especially popular with German-language groups. He was lieutenant governor of Wisconsin from 1895 until 1899, and was the Stalwart contender against Robert M. La Follette, Sr. for the gubernatorial nomination in 1904.

Press Career

He began his newspaper career in 1881 when he founded the Manitowoc Lake Shore Times in partnership with Fred Haukohl. The two men published this paper until 1884. In 1896 he became co-owner of the Manitowoc Post, a German-language weekly. He was co-publisher of this paper until 1909 and served as its editor until 1922. He was president of the Wisconsin Press Association from 1905 until 1908.

Business Endeavors

Active in many business enterprises, he was one of the organizers and president of the Manitowoc Building and Loan Association in 1890 and the East Wisconsin Trustee Company in 1908. He helped promote the Manitowoc Advancement Association which encouraged new industries in Manitowoc, and was an organizer of the Chamber of Commerce. Baensch was a student of the history of the German people in the U.S. and was a member of several historical associations and German societies in Wisconsin.

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Emil Baensch

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]