Zwicky Casper10

Waupaca County Post

Prime Time

March 30, 2006

When Waupaca Was Young

By Dan Nerhaugen

Waupaca County’s ‘First White Baby’ Died of Heart Attack

A century ago this week, Waupaca County said goodbye to one of its historic celebrities.

Two weeks after his death, the Waupaca Post carried a large portrait of a middle-aged man accompanied by an article that began, “With the passing of Casper Conrad Zwicky, Waupaca county loses one if its most valued citizens.”

The Post continued, “The sudden death of Mr. Zwicky, March 28, 1906, came as a shock to his family and t his very wide circle of friends. Death was caused by heart failure, and was not preceded by illness. A few days before death Mr. Zwicky was a well man, apparently enjoying the best of health. Later he complained of feeling a pain in the region of his heart. Neither he, nor his family thought the matter serious.

“A few hours before death came Mr. Zwicky spoke of the pain becoming more intense, and messengers were dispatched for medical assistance. They physician did not consider his condition critical at that time, but in less than an hour later he had passed away.

“Deceased was 54 years of age and was the first white baby born in Waupaca County. He was the son of Casper J. Zwicky, who was a pioneer settler of Waupaca County, and who also died of heart failure in almost the same manner.

“The elder Mr. Zwicky had gone to the home of his daughter, Mrs. H.B.B. Poppe, who at that time resided in Waupaca. Death came while he was visiting. This occurred some 19 years ago, and in the same house now occupied by J.L. Sturtevant, editor of the Waupaca Post.

“Mr. Zwicky for more than 19 years was a member of the school board in his town, having succeeded his father, who served in the same capacity from the organization of the board to the time of his death. The deceased was also a stockholder and one of the directors of the Bank of Scandinavia.

“He will be greatly missed in the community where he took an active part in everything that was for the upbuilding and betterment of man and the existing conditions.

“On account of his kindly nature and companionable ways he made many friends wherever he went, and it is safe to say that he never had an enemy.

“The high esteem in which he was held was well attested by the very large attendance at the obsequies. The funeral was the largest of any ever held in the old church at Scandinavia, of which church he was a member all his life.

“The Bank of Scandinavia, and the pubic school, both of which he served so long and faithfully, closed the day of the funeral.”