John Biersack (1862-1898), also known as John Biersach or John Prearshek, was working on the Capitol construction as a laborer when he was injured and killed as a result of a 40 foot fall from a derrick on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 15, 1898 and died on Oct. 20 at St. Joseph's Hospital.  His cause of death was a skull fracture, according to newspaper accounts.

His body was sent home and he was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, West Bend, Washington County, Wisconsin.

The following information was written by Marg McEuen, a relative of the Biersack family for "Find A Grave," Memorial # 83753677:

John Biersack was born on Apri 5, 1862, the 6th child of 7 and 3rd son of Joseph and Anna Maria Melzer Biersack. He was born on the Homestead in Barton Town, WI where his parents and two oldest sisters settled after immigrating from near Regensberg, Bavaria about 1850. According to his probate, he left no wife or children.