Joe Gigl, Another Wisconsin Original
Joe Gigl was born in 1882 and his family relocated to Fremont, Wisconsin when Joe was in his teens. Joe lived in Fremont for the rest of his life. He…
Wisconsin Decoy Heritage
George J. Hartmann
Another Wisconsin Original George J. Hartmann was born in 1913 and lived most of his life in the Milwaukee, WI area. During the 1930’s, in the wake of the “Great…
Winnebago Lakes Carver Lester Beattie
Lester Beattie was born in 1912 and was raised on a small farm west of Neenah, WI. Les was a sportsman his entire life, hunting, trapping and fishing to put…
Robert “Bob” Swann
Bob was born in 1941 and although he grew up in the city of Chicago, he found out early on in life that his heart belonged to nature and the…
Sibley Decoy Company -Whitehall, Michigan
The Sibley Decoy company was owned by father and son, James A. and George M. Sibley, of Chicago, Illinois. The Sibley Company began producing decoys in 1899 and, according to…
Derelict Decoys
In this month’s Decoy Corner article, I am changing it up a little. Rather than talking about a specific carver, my article talks about a “derelict” decoy. What is a…
Enoch Reindahl
Enoch Reindahl was born on May 18, 1904 on his parents’ farm just outside of Stoughton, Wisconsin. His parents had emigrated from Norway in the 1890’s and settled just outside…
Grayson C Chesser
Master Decoy Carver from Virginia Grayson Chesser was born in 1947 and lived most of his life on his family farm on Virginia’s East Shore. He was the son of…
Collecting Decoys
This month’s Decoy Corner column strays a little from my usual articles highlighting a carver and showcasing his life and style. Since beginning this project, I have received numerous calls,…
Duncan Joseph Ducharme
Manitoba, Canada Decoy Carver Ducharme Canvasback Duncan Joseph Ducharme was born February 14, 1912 in St. Ambrose, Manitoba, Canada. He was the son of Joseph M. Ducharme and Eloiza Lepinee…
Benjamin S. Schmidt
Ben Schmidt Redhead While most of my Decoy Corner articles have focused on Wisconsin’s original carvers, one carver in neighboring Michigan was very well known, and some described his product…
Joe Sieger
Another Wisconsin Original Decoy Carver Joseph Sieger was born in 1871 and lived on his family farm near Tustin, Wisconsin. Tustin is a small rural town located west of Oshkosh…