436 County Highway F

Summary

Fromm Brothers Fur and Ginseng Farm
436 County Highway F, Hamburg Township, Marathon County
Date of Significance 1904-1964

In 1901 thirteen year old Walter Fromm read aloud from a copy of the magazine “Hunter Trapper” to his brothers John, Edward and Henry. The story was about a silver fox pelt that just sold in London for $1,200. These four brothers came from a family of nine children. Their simple farm life existence offered few extravagances. In wide eyed amazement the four brothers made a pact that they too would breed and raise silver fox. They formed the “Company” and over the next sixty years they made their mark on the world.

Trappers and Native Americans had long gathered the ginseng roots which grew wild in the deep woods. The trappers sold the ginseng to the Chinese for a handsome price. A neighbor showed the boys how to recognize ginseng. This free plant would provide the assets needed to purchase silver fox breeders and to begin the largest fur farm in America. Growing ginseng provided many challenges. It was subject to blight and root rot and you had to wait five years before you could harvest the crop. It was a stubborn plant, only willing to grow once on any plot of land. The Fromms pioneered growing and drying methods, designed machinery to alleviate everything having to be done by hand and marketed all that they could produce in China. For over fifty years they were the largest producer of ginseng in the United States.

With the monies generated by their ginseng operation they began the largest silver fox and mink farm in the United States. In 1915, the boys began to purchase their first silver fox breeding stock. Between the years 1922 and 1928, their silver fox numbers increased to over sixteen thousand. The Company succeeded, with their fur revenues reaching $500,000 in 1926 and $700,000 in 1927. Finally, in 1929, the Fromm brothers received their largest check for silver fox furs in the amount of $1,331,679.35.

The growth of their empire continued through the 1960s. The Fromms made tremendous advancements in growing ginseng and raising fox and mink. Perhaps their most important contribution was the discovery of distemper vaccine. After suffering extreme losses in their breeding pairs of silver foxes, the Fromm brothers sponsored Dr. Robert G. Green to research and discover a vaccine for distemper. One million dollars was spent by the brothers to help to find a cure. Once discovered, the vaccine was modified for use in canines.

A captivating rags-to-riches story, this historic district encompasses the original farm and over 30 buildings, all of which convey the story of this unique Wisconsin enterprise.

This farm is private property. Please respect the privacy of the owners.

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