Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Reedsburg:

William Stolte, merchant, Reedsburg; was born in Hanover, Germany, March 2, 1833; he learned the tailors trade before coming to America; he came to this country and direct to Reedsburg, Wis., in the spring of 1860; in the fall of that year he went to Madison, Wis., where he remained for two years, working at his trade; he then went to Kilbourn and opened a tailor-shop, remaining in this business until 1865, when he returned to Reedsburg and opened a general dry-goods store with Mr. Schwekee, the firm being known as Schwekee & Stolte; in 1869, his partner, Mr. Schwekee, died, since which time he has carried on the business alone. Mr. Stolte married Miss Dora Myer; they have a family of eight living children - Dora, Willie, Ada, Nana, Louise, George, Leda an Lena; they have lost on son Henry. Mr. and Mrs. S. belong to the Lutheran Church. Mr. S. is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge; he has filled the office of past Grand and is now Treasurer; he also belongs to the Turners. He is now on the Village Board, and has been on the Town Board for several years. His father, George Stolte, is still living on a farm near Reedsburg; his mother, Dora, is dead; Mrs. Stolte's father was in the Russian war, and was for three years a prisoner.

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