USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 2
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WILLIAM M. WORKMAN.
William M. Workman is the senior member of the well known hard- ware firm of W. M. Workman & Company, with offices at No. 353 Main street, De Pere. He was born December 13, 1850, at Ripon, Wisconsin. and is a son of William and Margaret ( Miller) Workman. The father was born in Scotland, June 22, 1822, and was by trade a machinist. He
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
came to the United States in 1842 and settled in Ripon, where he con- tinued to reside until 1873. On the 15th of May of that year he came to West De Pere as superintendent and manager of the West De Pere car shops, and later became superintendent of the West De Pere Agricultural Works. He was president of the village of West De Pere from 1876 to 1882 and was reelected to that office in 1884. He was mayor of West De Pere in 1887 and 1888 and was prominently identified with the general im- provement and upbuilding of that city during the remaining years of his life, which closed January 28, 1900, at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother of our subject was born January 12, 1832, and died October 19, 1907, at the age of seventy-six years. In the family were six children : William M .: Mary P., the wife of David Thomas, of Ripon ; Margaret, deceased ; Annie, the wife of L. Sheldon Wilcox, of De Pere ; and Frank and John, deceased.
William M. Workman was reared in his parents' home and received his elementary education in the public schools of Ripon, later attending Brockway College at that place. At the age of fourteen years he learned the carriage-painter's trade in his father's shop, where he worked for seven years. Being gifted in music and having a fine tenor voice, in De- cember, 1871, he became engaged in concert work and traveled through- out the country in that connection until April 4, 1874. He then returned to De Pere and for two years devoted himself to different occupations. In 1876 he entered the employ of the De Pere Agricultural Works as bookkeeper. He later was made secretary of the company and continued as an active member of that concern until it closed down in 1885. He then purchased a half-interest in the Minerva Stock Farm, located near Ripon, and was there engaged in the breeding and raising of thorough- bred horses, including the Wilkes and Mambrino Patchen stock. He continued to be identified with that enterprise until November, 1893, when he sold out and returned to De Pere, where he engaged in the drug busi- ness until January 1, 1899. He then disposed of his drug stock to E. A. Lange and immediately thereafter in company with Dr. D. H. Gre- gory purchased a hardware store which has since been conducted under the name of W. M. Workman & Company. In 1908 A. W. Turriff was admitted to a partnership in the business but the name of the firm has remained unchanged. In addition to his interest in this company Mr. Workman is also a director of the State Bank of De Pere, a director of the De Pere Electric Light & Power Company, a stockholder in the J. P. Dousman Milling Company and also a stockholder in the Cooperative Coal Company of De Pere.
On October 24, 1878, Mr. Workman was united in marriage to Miss Harriet S. Stewart, a daughter of Theodore and Mary Jane ( Hammond) Stewart, of De Pere, who are among the oldest settlers on the west side of the river. To Mr. and Mrs. Workman four children have been born : Jean, who died in infancy; Stewart, who died at the age of eight and one-half years; Dean M., born June 19, 1888, who is a graduate of the mechanical engineering department of the University of Wisconsin and is now in the employ of the Western United Gas & Electric Company of
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
Aurora, Illinois; and Nan, born in 1893, who is a graduate of the De Pere high school.
Mr. Workman was elected councilman of De Pere in 1895 and since that time has been reelected to that office at different periods for several years. In 1896 he was elected mayor of De Pere and on the completion of his first term was reelected to that office in 1897. In 1902 he was ap- pointed by the judge of the circuit court as circuit court jury commis- sioner, which office he has since continued to fill. Fraternally he is a member of De Pere Lodge, No. 85, F. & A. MI., and has passed through all the chairs, being now a past master of his lodge. He was instru- mental in having the Congregational church society of East De Pere unite with the society of the same denomination at West De Pere and with Dan Kidney was appointed as a committee to supervise the construction of the new church building, which was completed in 1908. Mr. Work- man is one of the prominent men of the city in which he lives and while paying strict attention to his varied business interests he nevertheless finds time to devote to the social affairs of his community, in which he is one of the leading factors. Being gifted with a musical temperament and having enjoyed the benefits of voice culture. he is always at the service of his friends to assist in the entertainments which are intended to contribute to the public enjoyment. He has taken care to preserve the elasticity and quality of his voice and is at present a member of the choir of the Congregational church of De Pere.
DAVID ALEXANDER GIBSON.
David Alexander Gibson, commander of T. O. Howe Post, No. 124, G. A. R., at Green Bay, Wisconsin, is exemplifying in his conduct of the affairs of that organization not only his well proved loyalty and patriotism but also a spirit of fellowship and good cheer which make him popular with his comrades. He was born March 4, 1841, in a house located on the present site of the old county office building in Green Bay and is the son of Robert and Esther (Mahon) Gibson, the former a native of Scot- land and the latter of England. The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side was David Gibson, who followed farming through life and died in Scotland. His son, Robert Gibson, was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, October 10, 1817, and was educated in the public schools there. When he was twenty years old he came to America and located near the Green Bay settlement, in what is now Scott township, Brown county. On landing in New York he proceeded up the Hudson river and by the Erie canal and the great lakes to this locality, the journey being entirely made by water. For a time he lived with an uncle, Robert T. Gibson, who had preceded him to Brown county. In early life he served an apprentice- ship to the wagon-maker's trade and followed the same for seven years in his native land, but during the greater part of his life he devoted his time and energies to farming. In 1840 he married Miss Esther Mahon,
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
a native of England, who came to America with her parents, John and Esther Mahon, the family first locating in Menominee, Michigan, and later removing to Green Bay. Mr. Gibson lived to the ripe old age of ninety-two years and passed away on the 12th of January, 1910. His wife had died February 5, 1884, when past sixty-six years of age. To them were born eleven children, of whom six survive, namely: David Alexander, of this review; Robert E., who lives on the old home farm in Scott township; Anderson P., whose home is in the same locality; James H., who is a practicing physician of Green Bay; Thomas R., a resident of Scott township; and William II., of Green Bay.
David A. Gibson was educated in the public schools of this county and made wise use of every opportunity in this direction. Later he taught school in Brown county for four or five years. When the country be- came involved in civil war he enlisted October 1, 1864, in Company B, Forty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under command of William Rousch, and served for eleven months in the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas, as a member of the Fourth Army Corps. He participated in the battle of Nashville and from there went to Paducah, Kentucky. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in September, 1865, and returned to Green Bay. He then resumed his education, attending Ripon College for a year, and dur- ing the following year filled various positions. In 1871 he left home to go to Kewaunee county, Wisconsin, to accept a position as bookkeeper for Schofield & Company, who were engaged in the lumber business and also conducted a general store. He remained with them for seventeen years, two months and twenty days, being a man of general utility, run- ning a sawmill, acting as bookkeeper, etc. He was an expert bookkeeper and accountant. For a short time following the year 1888 he engaged in farming in partnership with his brother but abandoned that field of activity to resume his bookkeeping in the employ of the Menominee River Shingle Company, where for eighteen years he did his usual work in business accounting. Mr. Gibson has a record of thirty-five years as a bookkeeper and during that time was in the service of one man. He re- tired from active life in 1909 and is now making his home in Green Bay, where he has many warm personal friends.
On November 25, 1879, Mr. Gibson was united in marriage to Miss Fannie M. Campbell, a native of Scott township and a daughter of John and Mary (Smith) Campbell. By this union were born two children, one of whom died in infancy. The other, Ward A. Gibson, is now living with his father being by profession an engineer. Mr. Gibson's first wife died August 5, 1888, when she was thirty-five years of age, and some time afterward he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mag- dalena Woelz, a daughter of Anton and Barbara (Bauer) Goetzman, both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Goetzman came to America, settling first in West Bend, Wisconsin, where the father followed the trade of a locksmith, and later removing to Scott township, this county.
In his political views Mr. Gibson is a consistent republican. For nine vears he filled the position of assistant postmaster at Red River. Ke-
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
wannee county, and later became postmaster, an office which he credita- bly filled for many years. He was reared in the Presbyterian religion. while his wife affiliates with the Lutheran church, holding membership in the Ladies Aid Society of that denomination. He has held membership in T. O. Howe Post, No. 124, G. A. R., for many years and is now serv- ing his second term as its commander. He is one of the constantly les- sening band of men who are representing in the present day the great Federal army of 1861-1865. Still hale and hearty, he continues to super- intend his farm in Scott township. He is now in his seventy-second year and his patriotism and loyalty are as firm now as they were fifty years ago and he seeks no greater title than that of an honored veteran of the Civil war.
PATRICK MCCORMICK.
Patrick McCormick is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and since 1885 has been successfully engaged in the wood, coal and hay business at No. 220 South Washington street, Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a native of County West Meath, Ireland, his birth having occurred April 3, 1848, and is a son of John MI. and Anne McCormick. The fa- ther emigrated to America in 1850 and settled near Fond du Lac, Wis- consin, where he engaged in any honorable work at which he could make his living. The mother died in 1862 and the father in 1898. Both par- ents were buried at Taycheedah, Fond du Lac county.
Patrick McCormick was reared in his native land and there received his elementary education. He came to America in 1852 with his grand- mother and settled in Taycheedah, Wisconsin, where he pursued his edu- cation in the public schools until he was sixteen years of age. In 1864 he enlisted in Company K. Thirty-seventh Regiment of Wisconsin Vol- unteers, and was with his command at the siege of Petersburg. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged from service in Septem- ber, 1865. He then returned to his home in Wisconsin and worked in one of the sawmills in Fond du Lac for one year. In 1867 he came to Green Bay, where he clerked in the Fox River House until 1870. He then established himself in the transfer business, in which he was actively engaged for thirteen years. In 1880 he admitted J. Bates to a partner- ship and the business was afterward conducted under the firm name of McCormick & Bates. In 1885 he established a coal and hay business in partnership with D. W. Flatley, continuing together until 1900, since which time he has been the sole owner of the business, which he has continued to carry on with gratifying success. He has a storage warehouse and large dockage on Fox river. He is also agent for a couple of steamboat lines.
Mr. McCormick was united in marriage in Green Bay, November 7. 1872, to Miss Mary Harran, a daughter of John and Sarah Harran. Her father is one of the pioneer merchants of Brown county. To Mr. and
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
Mrs. McCormick twelve children have been born: Rosaline, who died at the age of twelve years and is buried in the Alloucz cemetery; one who died in infancy; John H., who is engaged in the coal business in Green Bay ; William J., assisting his father; Edward J., who is engaged in buy- ing hay at Chicago; May, a teacher in the public schools of Green Bay ; Annie, employed in Chicago as a bookkeeper: Sadie, a graduate of the high school; Genevieve, who is the wife of Frank Flatley, a traveling salesman of Minneapolis; Thomas, who owns a ranch in the state of Oregon ; and James and Clarence, who are in the employ of their father.
Mr. McCormick is affiliated with the republican party and served as alderman of Green Bay for two years at the time this city was consoli- dated with Fort Howard. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and Knights of Columbus. He is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Green Bay and a man who is well and favorably known through this portion of the state. He resides with his family at No. 621 South Monroe street, having purchased the residence shortly after it was built.
BENJAMIN TONNON.
Benjamin Tonnon, a worthy native son and representative agricul- turist of Brown county, follows farming in Howard township and makes a specialty of dairying. His birth occurred in the town of Howard on the 4th of June, 1878, his parents being Leo and Mary Tonnon, both of whom were natives of Belgium, born in the years 1850 and 1855 re- spectively. When a lad of eleven years Leo Tonnon accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States, the family home being established in Howard township, this county. For about five years he worked in a sawmill and engaged in lumbering but his time was mainly devoted to farming here throughout his active business career and he met with success in his undertakings in this connection. In 1908, after a residence of forty-seven years in Brown county, he passed away. His wife was also called to her final rest in 1908. Their children were as fol- lows: Joseph; Benjamin, of this review; Rose; Fred; George; Mary, who died at the age of three years; and Laura, who passed away when seven years old.
Benjamin Tonnon attended district school No. 2 until fifteen years of age and subsequently assisted his father in the operation of the home farm during the summer months, while for five winter seasons he worked in the woods. After his father's demise he purchased the homestead in association with his brothers. Joseph and George, and has since had en- tire charge of the place. The success which has attended him in the work of the fields is attributable to his industry and energy and to his com- prehensive knowledge of progressive and practical methods of agricul- ture. He farms seventy-two acres of land and has three horses and
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
eight head of cattle. As above stated, he makes a specialty of dairying and disposes of his products in the local market.
On the 6th of July, 1908, at Duck Creek, Mr. Tonnon was united in marriage to Miss Emily Gegare, her parents being Frank and Lizzie (Fel- lon ) Gegare, who were natives of Canada and Belgium respectively. Mr. Gegare is a farmer of Howard, but his wife is deceased, having passed away in 1908 at the age of fifty-six. Our subject and his wife have one child, Donald, who was born in 1910.
In politics Mr. Tonnon is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. During his lifelong residence in the community he has gained many warm friends, who hold him in high regard because of his true worth and sterling traits of character.
ROBERT E. MINAHAN, M. D.
Dr. Robert E. Minahan, successfully engaged in the practice of medi- cine and surgery since 1898, has ever been actuated by high ideals in his profession and his intelligently directed efforts have brought him far toward realizing these ideals. Constantly studying along broadening lines, he is promoting his usefulness day by day and from the experiences of one year gains inspiration and encouragement for the labors of the succeeding year. He was born in Howard, New York, January 27, 1858, a son of William B. and Mary Minahan. The father was a native of Ireland and was brought to America by his parents in 1840, the family home being established on a farm in the state of New York, where William Minahan remained until 1860, when he came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in Calumet county. He became very prominent in that district, was superintendent of schools for eighteen years and was also a leader in republican ranks. William Min- ahan was a man of conspicuous talents, broad culture and wonderful versatility. He was gifted as a poet and ably wrote on various subjects. For many years he contributed to a local paper, The Newsboys' Appeal, which appeared anonymously each New Year's day year after year. Many wondered who was the author and the source whence these contributions came was not disclosed for a long time. In his later years he collected many of his poems, some of them having been dedicated to members of his family, and published them in connection with family portraits in a memorial booklet. The scope of the subjects he covered was broad, treat- ing on political and other matters, and one of his poems was devoted to the resolute stand which his son, Robert, the subject of this sketch, took as mayor of Green Bay, when he collected and destroyed all of the gamblers' paraphernalia unlawfully used in the city, as is hereafter related. William Minahan died in 1906, at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife passed away in 1902, at the age of sixty-three.
Robert E. Minahan acquired his education in the public schools and afterward entered the State Normal, from which he was graduated in 1880. The desire to make the practice of medicine his life work led him
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
to enter Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he completed a course in 1886, winning his degree of M. D. He afterward took up the study of law and was graduated from the law department of the Michigan University in 1894. In the meantime he practiced medicine from 1886 to 1892 at Calumet Harbor, Wisconsin, before his matriculation in the State University of Michigan. After his course there he practiced both law and medicine at Kewaunee from 1895 until 1898. In the latter year he came to Green Bay, where he has since practiced with his brother, Dr. J. R. Minalian. They are specializing in surgical work and have their own rooms in which to perform operations in the St. Vincent Hospital. No other profession perhaps has shown such radical changes and such marked advancement as has the profession of surgery during the past quarter of a century. Opera- tions that prior to that time were regarded as utterly impossible are now performed almost daily. Dr. Minahan, whose name introduces this review possesses the keen sagacity, the steady nerve and the cool hand so neces- sary in successful surgical work and his labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. He keeps in touch with the advanced work that is being done by other members of the profession through his mem- bership in the Fox River Valley, the Brown County and the Wisconsin State Medical Associations.
What he has accomplished in this connection would alone entitle Dr. Minahan to prominent representation among Brown county's leading citi- zens. His· labors, however, in other directions have been equally effective, far- reaching and beneficial. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and his public spirit, called him to the office of mayor of Green Bay in 1904 and he served as the chief executive of the city for four years, during which time his administration was characterized by various needed reforms and improve- ments. He was especially active in putting down gambling in his term of office and, although the lawbreakers threatened to shoot him, lie never hesitated in the performance of his duty. The gamblers of the city had long held in contempt the law and many places were being run openly and doing an extensive business. Under former administrations an effort was inade to suppress this lawlessness but, although gamblers' devices were taken out of the saloons, they soon found their way back and things were running as before. Dr. Minahan when mayor decided to adopt more heroic measures to put down this social evil. He quietly arranged to have drays ready on a certain morning and to bring from the various places to the city hall grounds every piece of apparatus used for gambling in the city. At this point the gamblers made no resistance, as they felt sure that, as in the past. the machines would soon be returned to them. They cautioned the movers to have a care in handling the highly polished cases, magnificently fashioned and expensive roulette wheels and other apparatus. These were carefully conveyed to the city hall but instead of being put into the basement, as had been done before, they were piled upon the ground in front of the build- ing. When all of the devices had been gathered Dr. Minahan appeared in his shirt sleeves, carrying an axe, with which he began to demolish the gamblers' property. After this work of destruction had been completed the properly coached janitor appeared upon the scene with a five gallon Vol. II-2
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
jug of kerosene oil, which was poured over the debris and the whole was set on fire. A large crowd had gathered and looked on in astonishment, while the gamblers were literally awe-struck and threats of personal vio- lence were flying wild and loose. The strenuous act of the determined mayor, however, won at last in the cause of righteousness and nothing happened, and in that manner was put a stop to open gambling in Green Bay forever. He is a republican, strong and earnest in his support of the party, yet opposing anything like misrule in public office. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
On the 28th of December, 1880, Dr. Minahan was united in marriage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Miss Nellie Mulcahy, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Mulcahy. Her father is a pioneer farmer of Calumet county. Dr. and Mrs. Minahan have one son, Eben R., a prominent lawyer of Green Bay. They reside at No. 840 South Monroe street and they have a circle of friends almost coextenisve with the circle of their acquaintance. Dr. Minahan's life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor. While he has won success and promi- nence in his practice, his interests have also been thoroughly identified with those of Brown county and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
EDWARD P. WEISE.
Edward P. Weise, living retired in Green Bay, has many claims to respect and esteem among his fellow citizens. He is one of the pioneer business men, an honored veteran of the Civil war, and for many years occupied a leading place in business circles of Green Bay. A native of this city, he was born May 7, 1845. in the family homestead, which stood opposite the local power house. The father, Albert Weise, was born in Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Germany, and remained in the little Thuringian principality until 1842. Crossing the Atlantic in that year, he settled in Green Bay, coming to this city with Judge Arndt in pioneer times. For three or four years he worked at carpentering and shipbuilding and then established a wagon-making and blacksmithing shop on Cherry street. between Washington and Adams. The shop was later moved to the corner of Adams and Stewart streets and here the enterprise throve well, its owner being an expert workman and an able business man. He was one of the oldest wagonmakers in Brown county as well as one of its pioneer settlers, and his activities were one. of the greatest forces in promoting business. He was one of the founders of what is now the Weise-Holman Company, which was established under the name of Sommers & Poole. Later Albert Weise purchased Mr. Sommers' interest and conducted the business in part- nership with Mr. Poole until he bought out the latter, managing the enter- prise alone. When the Green Bay & Western Railroad was constructed he established a branch store at Winona and conducted it in partnership
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