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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
JOHN A. SEMRO is at the present
time operating a first class hotel in Wilsoncreek. Although not classed
as one of the earliest pioneers of the Big Bend country, still, Mr. Semro
has manifested such energy and zeal in the building up of the country since
coming that he is entitled to the rank with the leading citizens of Douglas
county. He was born in West Prussia, Germany, on March 1, 1855, the
son of David and Henrietta (Reston) Semro, also natives of Prussia.
His education was received in his native land and there he resided until
1882, when he shipped for the United States, landing in Brooklyn.
After a short service there, he came west to Milwaukee and did general
work in that city for some time. Then he went to Ripon, Wisconsin,
and engaged in farming. Two years later, he journeyed to Redwood
county, Minnesota, and after two years in general work, he bought a farm.
That was his home until 1901 when he sold and came to Washington.
He first settled on a ranch near Wilsoncreek which he later sold.
After that, he moved to Wilsoncreek and bought a hotel which he is now
operating. In addition to this, he has erected a fine dwelling house
and he also owns other property. He has improved the hotel until
it is now a very pleasant and convenient stopping place and Mr. Semro has
the happy faculty of making his guests comfortable and entirely at home.
Mr. Semro has one brother, Julius, who also lives in Douglas.
In Green Lake county, Wisconsin, in November,
1883, Mr. Semro married Miss Ida Schmidlock, who was born in Green Lake
county, in 1866. To this union nine children have been born, named
as follows, Sarah, Arthur, Agnes, Harrison, Augusta, Alice, Lenora, Grace
and Ralph. Mr. Semro is a man of reliability and integrity and has
won many friends since coming here. He keeps a fine hotel and is
popular with the traveling public.
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