Groth Family Store

The next building down also has a unique history here to Cedarburg. As you already know, Business's thrived here ever since the town was founded in the 1840s. But this building gives special merit. Not only is it a family business, there is another Civil War connection here as well.

Ludwig Groth, in 1842, would purchase 120 acres of land that would make up Cedarburg; this purchase is connected to the other founding father of the town as well. Groth would become the area's first realtor as he subdivided the acres into specific blocks and lots in the land purchased. Groth's land is now today; Washington Avenue in downtown Cedarburg where the significant buildings you see are on the original land that Groth bought. William Groth would erect and build the building; after building it, it was established in 1876 for his nephew Henry G. Groth. Henry G. Groth then connected with his uncle's brother-in-law John F. Bruss to cooperate and open and operate a general merchandise and hardware store. During those years, Groth Brothers Hardware store inhabited the building was in operation until 1963. The building itself is a two-story structure covered with limestone. Its roof contains hips that express its inspired Italianate originality that also has a twin-bracketed wooden cornice. Today, this building hosts the business Up The Creek, LLC, a home decor and gift shop.

William Groth, served in the American Civil War with the 9th Wisconsin Infantry regiment, and would enlist in October of 1861 and be assigned to Company I of the regiment. Like the 26th Wisconsin, the 9th Wisconsin consisted of German immigrants and German-Americans. He would fight with his regiment at a place in Arkansas called The Battle Of Prairie Grove in 1862 to take hold of the northwestern part of the state. Strategically, the battle was a Union victory where they secured this part of Arkansas. Groth and the regiment would also take part in Army expeditions into what was called Indian Territory (Today it is Oklahoma), and participated in another battle in Arkansas called Jenkin's Ferry in April of 1864, which was part of The Red River Campaign by the United States Army. At Jenkin's Ferry they, along with the army, would be beat back repeated assualts by Confederate forces. Groth had seen and witnessed African-Americans soldiers of the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment fighting fiercely and not taking any Confederate prisoners, some of them of them even shooting at wounded Confederate soldiers. With this context in mind, African-American soldiers at a place called Poison Springs, Arkansas Confederate soldiers did not recognize African-American's as soldiers. As a result, they didn't take prisoners, and executed them and mangled their bodies without mercy. Groth may have saw this at Jenkin's Ferry in the battles aftermath by the soldiers of the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry.

For reasons we do not know, Groth would come down with a disease. Disease in the Civil War killed more soldiers than combat. Most of these deaths came from Dysentery, Diarreha, Smallpox, Measles, and other deadly diseases that killed Civil War soldiers at a higher rate than the bullets and cannons. Groth before this would be sent home on furlough. He would catch one of these diseases and went to Madison to recover. Sadly, he would not win the battle with the disease, he died on September 18th, 1864. Unlike Roth, Groth would be counted among the 750,000 dead as a result from the aftermath of the war, but by putting a human face on him, with his familial connections to this store. You'd have to imagine the grief the family was experiencing when they heard the news of William's death.

Zimmermann, H. Russell. The Heritage Guidebook: Landmarks And Historical Sites In Southeastern Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Heritage Banks, 1976. 198.

Zimmermann, H. Russell. The Heritage Guidebook: Landmarks And Historical Sites In Southeastern Wisconsin/Highlights Of Historic Cedarburg. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Heritage Banks, 1976.

A Walk Through Yesterday: In Cedarburg Wisconsin. 2005.

Roster Of Wisconsin Volunteers, War Of The Rebellion, 1861-1865. Volume 1. Madison, Wisconsin. Democrat Print. Co., 1886. 640. Wisconsin Historical Society

The 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry At The Battle Of Jenkin's Ferry, Iron Brigader: Civil War Info And Resources. Accessed April 16th 2022. https://ironbrigader.com/2019/04/20/the-2nd-kansas-colored-infantry-at-the-battle-of-jenkins-ferry/.

Quiner, E.B. Military History Of Wisconsin. Chicago, Illinois. Clarke & Co., 1866. 540-547. Wisconsin Historical Society.

Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, Groth's General Store, Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, 13426. Accessed April 16th 2022. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI13426.