USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 15
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Wisconsin, and of the Farmers Exchange Bank of Green Bay, and he is now a director of each of these institutions. He is a director of the Security Loan & Guarantee Company of Seymour. of the Wisconsin Casualty Com- pany of Fond du Lac, of the Cady Land Company of Green Bay, of the Astor Company of Green Bay, of the Badger Protective Association, and is president of the Badger Casualty Company of Green Bay and of the Green Bay Barker Company. His business interests aside from his prac- tice are, therefore, extensive and important, and in their management he displays sound judgment, unfaltering energy and keen discrimination.
In political affairs relative to the city, state and country Mr. Cady is deeply interested and is a republican of the La Follette type. In 1898 he was elected district attorney for Brown county and was reelected in 1900. In 1902 he was a candidate of the republican party for congress but was de- feated. In 1905 he was appointed by Governor La Follette to prosecute the graft cases pending in Green Bay. In 1909 Governor Davidson appointed him to conduct the grand jury investigation of graft in Marinette county. He served as a Wisconsin delegate to the national republican conventions in Chicago in 1908 and 1912 and stands close to the leaders of his party.
On the 11th of May, 1899, in Madison, Wisconsin, Mr. Cady was married to Miss Helen Baker, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. D. Baker, of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Cady have been born three daughters, Helen, Jessie and Alice. The family reside at No. 920 South Madison street, in a residence which was erected by Mr. Sherwood in 1849 and is one of the old land- marks of the city. Mr. Cady holds membership in the blue lodge of Masons, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Delta Epsilon, a college fraternity. He is also a member and trustee of the Union Congregational church and one of the managers of the Deacon- ess Sanitarium. He holds to high ideals in life but there is nothing visionary about him. His ability has carried him into important relations, profes- sional, political and social, and in the city of his residence he is spoken of in terms of high regard.
HENRY CAELWAERTS.
Henry Caelwaerts, a substantial agriculturist and esteemed citizen of Suamico township, is the owner of a farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 30 and is busily engaged in its operation. His birth occurred in Howard township, Brown county, on the 9th of October, 1868, his parents being John and Nettie (Tillie) Caelwaerts, both of whom were natives of Belgium. The father was born in 1833, while the mother's natal year was 1844. John Caelwaerts came to this county about 1860 and took up his abode in the township of Howard, here following genera: agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1905, having for a number of years survived his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1896. The period of his residence in this county covered forty-five years and he gained an enviable reputation as a repre-
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sentative and respected citizen. Unto him and his wife were born five children, namely : William, Henry, Barbara, John and Herman.
Henry Caelwaerts attended the district schools of his native township until thirteen years of age and after putting aside his text-books assisted his father in the operation of the home farm throughout the summer sea- sons, while during the winter months he worked in the woods. In 1894, when a young man of twenty-five years, he purchased eighty acres of land and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. In 1906 he extended the boundaries of his farm by an additional purchase of forty acres and his place now embraces one hundred and twenty acres on section 30, Suamico township. Ninety acres thereof are cleared of stumps and under cultivation. His property is well improved in every particular and is lacking in none of the conveniences and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. In his undertakings as an agriculturist he has been successful, his fields yielding good crops which find a ready sale on the market.
On the 25th of April, 1893, in Howard township, Mr. Caelwaerts was united in marriage to Miss Rose Basteyns, of Suamico township, her par- ents being Phillip and Louisa (Peters) Basteyns, farming people of that township. Our subject and his wife have three children, namely: Louisa, Alphonso and Bessie. In politics Mr. Caelwaerts is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance in the county where his entire life has been spent and has gained the warm esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.
ADAM SPUHLER.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in commercial and financial circles than did Adam Spuh- ler, not alone by reason of the success which he achieved but also owing to the straightforward, honorable methods which he ever followed. Along commercial lines he gradually worked his way upward until at the time of his death he was recognized as one of the foremost merchants of Green Bay, owning and conducting an extensive dry-goods store. He was born on a farm in the town of Polk, Washington county, Wisconsin, June 19, 1846, a son of Henry and Sarah (Zepp) Spuhler. The father was born in Bavaria and there remained until after his marriage, when he came with his wife to the new world, taking up his abode upon a farm in Washing- ton county, Wisconsin. There he lived until 1867, when he removed to Beaver Dam, Dodge county, where he passed away three years later or in 1870. His widow survived him for ten years, dying in 1880.
Adam Spuhler spent his youthful days on the old homestead in Wash- ington county, pursuing his education during the winter terms of school, while the summer months were devoted to plowing, planting and harvest- ing. He was thus engaged until fifteen years of age, when in 1861 he
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ADAM SPUHLER
PUBLIC LES !! .
TILDEN Feed 1,2
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left the farmn and spent some time in school at Beaver Dam. He then turned his attention to mercantile interests, entering the dry-goods store of Newton & Willard at Beaver Dam. There he remained and when the business was sold in 1865 to Hebgen & Lehrkund he continued with the latter firm as a clerk until 1867. In that year he embarked in busi- ness on his own account, forming a partnership with a brother-in-law, Andrew Schluckebier, for the sale of dry goods and clothing. The busi- ness was conducted under the firm style of Spuhler & Schluckebier, the firm maintaining its existence until 1873, when the partnership was dis- solved, Mr. Spuhler removing to Wrightstown, Brown county. There he formed a partnership with Charles Mueller, with whom he was engaged in the same line of business from 1873 until 1879 under the firm name of Mueller & Spuhler. In that latter year they transferred their business to Green Bay, where they remained as partners until 1886, when the life labors of Mr. Mueller were terminated in death. Mr. Spuliler then con- tinned the business alone, remaining in the retail trade until 1889, when he extended the scope of his activities by establishing a wholesale depart- ment, then carrying on business under the firm name of A. Spuhler & Company, Limited. The store is still conducted under that style and the business remains one of the foremost mercantile enterprises of this character in the city. Mr. Spuhler was a very successful merchant and built up the leading dry-goods trade on the east side in Green Bay. He always carried a large and well selected line of goods, including all the latest things that the market afforded, and the straightforward policy which he inaugurated and which has always been one of the features of the house is still maintained.
In 1867, in Dodge county, Wisconsin, Mr. Spuhler was married to Miss Jennie Fardell, a native of England and a daughter of Matthew and Sarah (Bishop) Fardell, who on migrating to the United States settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the father died in 1887, while the mother passed away several years later. Mrs. Spuhler was reared in Dodge county, having been brought to this country in her early girlhood. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, namely: Sarah. the wife of John Campbell, of Chicago; Nellie, the wife of D. Lucas, of Havelock, Nebraska; Fred; Alice, the wife of Joseph Frisque, of Ya- kima, Washington ; Mabel, the wife of A. J. Holmes, of Green Bay; and Jennie and Louise, both at home. The Spuhler homestead on South Adams street has been occupied by the family for over thirty-two years and was built by Dr. Ward, one of the old settlers. Mr. Spuhler died on the 31st of December, 1907, at the age of sixty-one years, his death resulting from typhoid fever, followed by pneumonia and heart trouble. He was buried in Woodlawn cemetery. His business is still carried on by his heirs under the old name, his son, Fred, being president and his son-in-law, Mr. Holmes, secretary.
Mr. Spuhler voted with the democratic party and was interested in its success because of his firm belief in the worth of its principles as fac- tors in good government. From 1883 until 1887 and again from 1891 until 1897 he served as alderman from the first ward. While in that of-
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fice he was a stanch advocate of a better and cleaner city and strict en- forcement of law and order. He was also a member of the county board of supervisors and was chairman of the financial board. During his ser- vice in the council he was chairman or member of the most important committees and acted as president of the council for several years. He was also a trustee of the county asylum for a few years and during his incumbency in office was largely instrumental in placing the Brown county asylum in an enviable position among the institutions of similar character in the state. Fraternally Mr. Spuhler was connected with Washington Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., of Green Bay; Warren Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M .; the Council, No. 13, R. & S. M .; and Palestine Commandery, No. 20, K. T. As a young man he also held membership with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with both the subordinate lodge and the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church which found him a worthy and faithful member, always endeavor- ing to conform every act of his life to the teachings of that denomination. Indeed he was a close follower of the Golden Rule and his name became a synonym of honor and integrity not only in business transactions but in other relations as well. His worth was widely acknowledged and most of all by those who were most familiar with his career. In his passing Brown county lost one of its most valued citizens, but many years will come and go ere he is forgotten by those who were his friends while he was still an active factor in the world's work.
LAWRENCE BASTEN.
Lawrence Basten, who conducts a saloon in Green Bay, was born in Preble township, Brown county, May 10, 1879. His father, John Basten, is a native of Germany, born in Mosel, and he came to America with his parents at the age of seven. Here he grew to maturity and bought land, engaging in general agricultural pursuits in Preble township until his retire- ment. He is living upon the family homestead and has reached the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Catherine Schumacher. They had nine children: Frank, who is farming in Preble township; John, a merchant in New Franken; Hubbard, who is engaged in farming and also conducts a butcher shop and saloon; Peter, who is in the retail liquor business in Scott township; Lawrence, of this review ; Jacob, deceased ; Elizabeth, who lives at home; Joseph, who is engaged in the butcher business; and Catherine, the wife of Henry Boehm, a cooper of Green Bay.
After completing his education in the public schools of his native sec- tion Lawrence Basten engaged in farming and teaming for a number of years. In 1902 he was employed by the Rahr Brewing Company as their agent at Sturgeon Bay and he remained in that capacity for two years. On the Ist of January, 1912, he established himself in the saloon business
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in Green Bay and has since been extremely successful in the conduct of his enterprise.
Mr. Basten married, in Preble township, Miss Elizabeth Kriescher, a daughter of John P. Kriescher, who came in early pioneer times to Brown county, where he followed farming until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Basten have two children: Harry John, aged ten years; and Clayton Jacob, aged eight.
The family are devout adherents of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Basten is identified with the Brewers Benevolent Society of Green Bay and belongs to the Royal Arcanum. He also holds membership in the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Sturgeon Bay. His affairs are capably and systematically managed, for he is a shrewd and discriminating business man and displays unusual resourcefulness in carrying forward his interests.
JOHN BASTEN.
John Basten, well known in the business circles of Green Bay as the former proprietor of the Champion Hotel, while at the present writing he is conducting a saloon, was born in Preble township, Brown county, March 19, 1868. His father, Joseph Basten, was a native of Germany, having been born near the Mosel and the Rhine, in the vicinity of Coblenz, whence he came to America with his parents at the age of eleven years. The grand- father was Frank Basten, who, making his way into the interior of the country with his family, settled in Preble township, where he engaged in farming. Joseph Basten became acquainted with this section of the state during the pioneer epoch in its development, meeting with the usual experi- ences of frontier life. He came to Green Bay when the city was called Three Corners and erected the first building at that location. In it he conducted a saloon and bowling alley and later he carried on general farming in Preble township. However, he afterward returned to Green Bay and conducted a saloon up to the time of his death, which occurred in June, 1908, at the age of sixty-six years. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bins, is still living at the age of seventy-four. In the family were ten children: Gertrude, the wife of Theodore Verhaslt of Antigo, Wisconsin; Joseph, Jr., living in Humboldt township; John; Mrs. Elizabeth Lehan, of Ashland; Anna, the wife of William Adrians, of Preble township; Frank, living in Green Bay; Cecelia, the wife of George Kiescher, of this city; Christina, the wife of William C. Krieser, of Green Bay; Catherine, at home; and Magdalena, the wife of Gus Schneese, of Green Bay.
In his youthful days John Basten assisted his father in the work of the home farm until twenty years of age, when he started out to earn his own . living, being employed for some time by others. At the age of twenty- three years he was married and afterward spent two years as an employe in a furniture factory, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until he had a sum sufficient to enable him to engage in business on his own
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account. He then opened the Chicago Saloon and when he sold that busi- ness he became proprietor of the Champion Hotel on Main street, which he conducted successfully for sixteen years. In 1912 he came to his present place of business, conducting a well equipped and modern saloon which is enjoying a good trade.
Mr. Basten married Paulina Mathys, who was born in Preble town- ship, Brown county, and is a daughter of Andrew and Catherine Mathys, both of whom were natives of Belgium. Mr. and Mrs. Basten have become parents of seven children: Andrew, Catherina, Antony, Florence, Arthur, Clarence and Irene, all yet at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and the fraternal relations of Mr. Basten are with the Order of Moose. He takes no active part in politics, having always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and his close application and industry have been the foundation of his success.
J. J. HELBY.
Mere success has never, except in rare instances, been the reason for any man's holding a position of honor and trust among his fellow citizens. It is rather the qualities of mind and heart of which this success is a result which entitles a man to respect and esteem. A life lived according to the standards of honesty, industry and intelligence almost invariably results in success. A man goes through the world reverencing big things and scorning petty ones, has attained a goal which very few reach. J. J. Helby, secretary of the Badger Protective Association which he organized over ten years ago and of which he has since been secretary and manager, is an example of the truth of these statements. The company in which he holds this responsible position has offices in this city at No. 311-312 Minahan building, and is doing business as a mutual organization. Mr. Helby holds the same position in relation to the Badger Casualty Com- pany, the largest exclusive accident and health company in the state of Wisconsin, which was organized June 11, 1912. with a capital of one hun- dred thousand dollars.
J. J. Helby was born at Sandy Bay, Kewaunee county, Wisconsin, October 24, 1871, and is a son of Joseph and Katie Helby, natives of Ger- many and Bohemia, who left their respective fatherlands in the spring of 1870, and settled on a farm in Carlton township, where they made their permanent home. Katie Helby died there and is buried at Carlton, Wiscon- sin, but the father still resides on the home farm. Our subject is the oldest of four children born to his parents, of whom three are still living, namely : J. J .; Mary. the wife of August Kleiman ; and James, who resides on the home farm. Until he reached the age of seventeen years Mr. J. J. Helby attended the district schools of his section of the country but even during that period he was obliged to assist in the hard work of the farm and con- tinued to help around the old homestead for one year after leaving school. He then went to the northern part of Wisconsin and spent some time in
J. J. FEELBY
THE NA? "CH PUBLIC LIENT.
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working in a lumber camp, for a homesteader, remaining in wintertime in the woods, and receiving a salary of sixteen dollars per month. He next found employment in a sawmill but soon met with an accident in which he lost two of his fingers. This caused him to return to the home farm for a time but on recovery he returned to the northern woods where he passed the next winter in various employments. In 1891 he went to Appleton and engaged in various occupations in that city and there found employment in a meat market to learn the trade and for about two years followed this business off and on. There was no kind of work offered to him which he refused. Nothing was too humble and no position too low in which he could earn his money honestly. He also spent some time as a hay presser. In 1892 he left Appleton for Superior, where he remained until the spring of 1893, when he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, where he worked at fitting cylinder heads for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, which occupa- tion he continued for five months until the business was closed on account of the great financial panic. His next removal was to Evanston, Illinois, where he again took up the butcher trade, working at this until July of 1894. In August, 1894, he entered the insurance business, starting as an agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company at Evanston. He was transferred to Elgin, Illinois, in February, 1895, and remained in that position for five months, when he went upon the road as a traveling salesman dealing in vari- ous articles. A severe illness lasting for some time disabled him for a time but when he had regained his health he came to Green Bay, Wisconsin, Janu- ary 10, 1897, and entered the employ of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He remained in this capacity only a short time, abandoning it to act as district agent for the National Protective Society of Bay City, Mich- igan, which position he held until June 1, 1902. In that year he started in business for himself, organizing the Badger Protective Association, which in the ten years of its existence has attained a gratifying degree of success and is now doing an extensive business. Encouraged by his prosperity in this line of activity, Mr. Helby secured control, with a partner, of the Wis- consin Casualty Company of Fond du Lac, of which he became president and treasurer. After a time, however, he severed his connection with this company and soon after organized the Badger Casualty Company, of which he has been elected secretary and manager. The organization has recently been capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and has before it a future of certain success, as its business is already expanding into various other states. Mr. Helby keeps himself entirely independent of political alliances. He only considers the man and his qualifications. He is active in every movement looking toward municipal development. He attends the 'Roman Catholic church of this city and holds membership in the order of Elks and in the Knights of Pythias.
On April 16, 1895, Mr. Helby was married in Elgin, Illinois, to Miss Minnie Quandt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Quandt, who are retired farmers, living in Elgin. Mr. and Mrs. Helby are the parents of two daughters, Ellen, a student of Green Bay high school and Lillian. The family reside at No. 227 South Monroe avenue, this city.
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Mr. Helby has had a hard fight in his upward climb. He laid the plans of his business success and persevered against all obstacles and opposition, overcoming all discouragements and-he has made good. The success he has attained is a result of his own unaided efforts and its secret lies in his rare qualities of industry and concentration. He has done the thing which Abraham Lincoln was accustomed to say is much better than making a living, "He has made a life."
JOHN JOSEPH BASTEN.
A power of business organization intelligently directed, a faculty for recognizing every opportunity, a shrewd discrimination and a well balanced judgment have placed John Joseph Basten in the front ranks of the pro- gressive men of New Franken. Starting out with no extraordinary advan- tages he has steadily pushed forward until he has attained a prosperity which is altogether unusual. He was born July 22, 1871, and is a son and grandson of Wisconsin pioneers. His grandparents, Frank and Margaret Basten, came from their native country of Germany at an early day and settled on a tract of wild land in Preble township, this county. This prop- erty Frank Basten set about improving and developing and built a rude log cabin, in which he resided for a number of years. He and his wife died upon the farm. The father of our subject, John Basten, was born in Prussia and came to the United States with his parents when he was only seven years of age. He grew to manhood upon the homestead and from his childhood took an active part in the arduous labor of clearing and developing the property. When he grew to maturity he purchased the farm and still maintains his residence upon it. He married Miss Catherine Schumacher and to them were born nine children.
John J. Basten of this review was born in the log cabin which his grand- father erected upon the homestead and at the usual age entered the district schools of his native township. He studied during the winter months and in summers worked upon the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he went to Green Bay in order to begin his independent career. His first position was as a carpenter at a dollar and a quarter per day. He worked for others until 1900, when he began taking contracts. Gradually his business expanded as his skill and straightforward methods became better known and since coming to New Franken he has erected many of the important buildings in the village. He was also the builder of the Schiller church and parsonage at Luxemburg. In 1909 he erected a fine store building eighty feet long by thirty-one feet wide in New Franken and in this he put a stock of general merchandise. His patronage increased rapidly and he was soon obliged to build an addition sixteen and one-half by sixty-five feet and now has one of the most important stores in the city. His success, however, is not limited to this one enterprise.
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His ability has received widespread recognition and he has been drawn into other important relations. He owns a large grain elevator in New Franken and is a stockholder in the bank and in the local telephone com- pany. He was one of the organizers and is now the president of the New Franken Creamery Company and has various other profitable connections. Some idea of his rapid rise in the business world may be gained from the fact that the income from his combined interests amounted in 1903 to twenty-seven hundred dollars and in 1911 to one hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars.
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