USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 29
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During the four years of his connection with the enterprise Mr. Schroeder has shown himself a capable and intelligent business man and one thoroughly acquainted with the details of horticulture and an intense lover of flowers and plants. He was born in Greifswald, Pomerania, Ger- many, April 11, 1880, and is a son of Carl and Caroline Schroeder, the former of whom is a florist in his native country. His mother is deceased and is buried at Berenhoff, Germany.
Mr. Schroeder was educated in the public schools of Germany and served his time as an apprentice in the florist's trade before coming to America. He arrived in this country in April, 1903, immediately after finishing his term of service in the German army and completing an exten- sive course of travel through several European countries. When he arrived in America he came at once to Green Bay and entered the employ of Mr.
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Meier. Ile worked as a clerk for five years and was taken into partner- ship, in charge of the extensive greenhouses, which are located near Wood- lawn cemetery. In this connection he is now working and has attained a remarkable degree of success.
On June 27, 1907, Mr. Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Clara Meier, a daughter of his partner, and to that union three children were born, Elsa, Otto C. T. and Walter, all of whom are living with the parents in the family residence at 1530 south Webster street, Green Bay, where the green houses are located.
Mr. Schroeder, in connection with his partner, Carl Meier, is giving his energies and activities to the upbuilding of a flourishing business, and by his cultivation of flowers and plants, is adding every year beauty to the world.
A. B. FONTAINE.
The most prominent characteristic of A. B. Fontaine is his firm faith in the business future of Green Bay. He takes an active interest in munic- ipal affairs and is in all respects a worthy man and a loyal citizen. He has the degree of LL. B., entitling him to practice law in the state of Wis- consin. For many years he did carry on a general law business and showed himself amply able to make his mark in this line of activity; but he is essentially a business man, a lover of the strife and conflict of the modern commercial world, and he gave up his law practice in 1910 to enter upon his present occupation as a manufacturer. He is now president of the Willow Grass Rug Company, with offices on Velp avenue, and has occupied this position since the organization of the firm in 1910.
A. B. Fontaine was born in Green Bay, January 31, 1876. His parents were Benjamin and Desire Fontaine, the former a prominent hardware merchant in Green Bay for many years. He was one of the founders of the firm of Martin & Fontaine, which concern he carried on by himself until January, 1910, when his death occurred at the age of seventy-two years. During his life he was a widely popular and very prominent man. He served in the Wisconsin state legislature from 1880 until 1882 and always took an active interest in public affairs. Upon his death he left a widow and four children : Raphael, who succeeded to the hardware business which his father founded; Octave, who married T. J. Martin, a general merchant in Escanaba, Michigan: Albert J., now interested with his brother in the Willow Grass Rug Company ; and A. B., of this review.
The last named received his early education in the public schools of his native city and later entered high school, which he left at the age of sixteen years. He went into the offices of Ellis & Merrill, where he read law for a short time, afterward attending the University of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1895. He returned immediately to Green Bay and entered upon the general practice of law in that city. His success was certain from the beginning. He had
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a good education, a knowledge of the law, a shrewd appreciation of values and a sound and discriminating judgment. These qualities were invaluable to him in his legal career and his clients increased in numbers as his reputa- tion grew. Ilowever, Mr. Fontaine, although a brilliant lawyer, was more keenly interested in business life. He saw more opportunities and more rapid advancement in the commercial world and in 1910 he closed his law offices with the intention of entering upon a manufacturing career. His interest was aroused by the new method of making willow grass rugs. He deter- mined to learn the process and set up a factory of his own. He soon mas- tered the details of the making of rugs from the waste products in marsh grass, built his factory and was soon in the midst of a rapidly growing business. The firm of which he is at the head now has a floor space of fifty-six thousand square feet. It has several large brick buildings equipped with all modern conveniences in factory furniture and with every new device on the market along the lines of up-to-date manufacture. The firm employs over two hundred and twenty people at all seasons and is growing with marvelous rapidity every year.
Mr. Fontaine was married on December 20, 1900, to Miss Mayme Brehme, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Brehme, the former a pioneer settler of Green Bay, now living in retirement in that city. Mr. Fontaine and his wife have one son, Berwyn, who lives with his parents in their beautiful home at 710 Hubbard street.
Mr. Fontaine is an active man and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been chair- man of the county committee for two terms. He acted as city attorney for four terms and is well known in political circles of Green Bay. He is prominent also in fraternal circles and is well known and active in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Fontaine brings to his business career the same qualities of shrewd judgment, coolness in an emergency and a discriminating knowledge of men which made him a distinguished and able lawyer. A man with the qualities which make success will be pros- perous in any walk of life, and Mr. Fontaine's career is a conspicuous example of this truth.
ARTHUR JORGENSEN.
Arthur Jorgensen is a native of New Denmark and a son of a pioneer in the settlement of Brown county. He is one of the representative farmers of this district, cultivating a fine property of eighty-one acres along mod- ern lines. He was born in the section where he now resides in 1870 and is a son of Hans and Elsia (Christenson) Jorgensen. His father left his native country, Denmark, in the early '6os and settled immediately in Brown county. The country was then entirely covered with a thick growth of timber in which there was still an abundance of wild game. The father of our subject cleared his tract of land and cultivated the soil successfully
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until his death which occurred in 1893. His wife is still living and makes her home in New Denmark about four miles from the farm owned by the subject of this review.
Arthur Jorgensen was reared at home and was educated in the public schools of Brown county. In his childhood he aided his father in the work of the farm and thus early gained a valuable knowledge of practical methods of soil cultivation. When he grew to maturity he purchased the farm upon which he now resides and has gradually brought it from an undeveloped state to its present excellent condition. At the time of his purchase it was covered with stumps and brush which Mr. Jorgensen was obliged to clear before he could begin the work of development. Upon the property he erected barns and other necessary outbuildings and gradually by hard and persistent work made it a model agricultural enterprise.
Mr. Jorgensen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rasmussen, a daughter of Nels P. Rasmussen, and they have three children: Ervin, who is eleven years of age : Mildred, aged eight; and Harold, aged four. The family belong to the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Jorgensen is independent in his political views and while not active as an office seeker is intelligently interested in the welfare and progress of his native section. He has many friends in New Denmark, most of whom have known him since childhood and he has gained their respect and esteem by reason of a useful and worthy life.
JAMES P. HANSEN.
James P. Hansen owns an excellent farmi of eighty-two acres in New Denmark and has brought it to a productive and highly developed state by intelligent care and labor. He is one of the many sturdy sons of Den- mark who are doing valuable work in soil cultivation in this section and his individual activities are a useful and worthy factor in the general progress. He was born in Denmark in 1873, and is a son of Peter and Sophia Hansen, natives of that country. His parents remained in Denmark, where the father passed away in 1905, while the mother is still residing in her native section.
James P. Hansen was reared at home and received his education in the public schools of Denmark. When he was twenty years of age he came to America, settling in Green Bay, where for some time he was employed by Judge Hastings. By strict economy he saved from his wages a sufficient sum to purchase his present farm of eighty-two acres which he has cul- tivated and developed since that time. Fine improvements, new barns and outbuildings, fenced fields and abundant harvests are evidences of his unremitting and intelligent work and make his property one of the finest in this section of Brown county.
Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jorgensen, and they became the parents of five children, James, Lillie, Floyd, Reuben, and May. The family are members of the Danish Lutheran church.
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Mr. Hansen gives his allegiance to the republican party but has never been active as an office seeker, although he takes an interest in all matters of a public nature. He is entirely responsible for his own success, and has won for himself a place of prominence among his adopted countrymen, who respect him for his upright and straightforward methods of dealing and his unquestioned integrity.
JOHN A. SNAVELY.
John A. Snavely is at the head of one of the largest livery and transfer lines in Green Bay and has offices at 215 North Adams street since 1911. He is one of the prominent citizens and active in commercial and fraternal circles. He was born in Green Bay, November 19, 1880, and his parents were George A. and Sarah Snavely. The former came to Green Bay in 1850 with his parents and has been one of the foremost citizens of the city for over a half century. John Snavely, the grandfather of our subject, was a lieutenant in the United States army during the Mexican war. His son George was born under a tent and came to Green Bay with his parents when he was only one year old. Here John Snavely bought the Bay City House and conducted it for a short time, until his death, when his son was only fourteen months old. His wife soon married again, and George A. Snavely, the father of our subject, was taken from school and put to work at the age of eight years. On account of dissensions in the family the little boy, then hardly more than a child, left his home and worked for his living in various capacities until he was sixteen years of age, when he went into the lumber woods around Green Bay and engaged in clearing timber. He later worked on the Sturgeon Bay canal, leaving this position to go to Lake Superior, where with his carefully saved money he built a hotel and was active in its management for three years. In 1875 he returned to Green Bay and managed the Adams House for eight years. He gave up the hotel business in 1884 and bought an interest in the Green Bay Car- riage Company, in which connection he remained for three years, when he sold out his holdings and formed a partnership with J. McComb in a livery business. In 1890 he again took up the management of the Adams House for a short time, selling out his interests to start the livery concern. of which his son is proprietor today. In conjunction with this he carried on a lumber business and hardware store for a short time. He was prominent in local affairs and held the position of alderman for some time and served several terms as supervisor. He is the father of five children by his first marriage: L. Charles, engaged in the paper business in Green Bay; Georgia A., who died March 30, 1911, formerly the wife of William Bent : John A., of this review ; and two who died when young. George A., who is secretary of and treasurer of the West De Pere Steel Works, is the son of a second marriage contracted by Mr. Snavely.
John A. Snavely received his early education in the public schools of
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Green Bay. Hc laid aside his books at the age of fourteen years and then spent one year in the grocery business. In October, 1896, our subject, when only sixteen years of age, took entire charge of the livery business which his father had previously purchased and continued at its head for eight years, at the end of which time W. A. Gaurke came into the business as a partner but remained in that connection only eighteen months, when George A. Snavely again entered into partnership with his son. From that time until 1911 John Snavely was in business with his father along the same line. After five years this partnership was dissolved and John Snavely now carries on the growing livery and transfer business by himself. He has been very successful and his upright business methods have brought him a constantly growing clientage.
Mr. Snavely was married in Green Bay, February 14, 1902, to Miss Mary Quatsoe, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Desire Quatsoe, and they have two children, Nellie and George, both students in the public schools of Green Bay. The family reside at 418 Cherry street, in a pleasant home which John Snavely purchased some time ago.
John A. Snavely gives his political affiliations to the republican party and is a stanch upholder of its principles. He is serving at the present time as alderman from the second ward in his native city and has always taken an intelligent and practical interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Modern Woodmen of America and the National Fraternal League. He belongs to the Green Bay Turn Verein and is prominent in the affairs of the Green Bay Commercial Club. His faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Snavely has many friends in his native city who are glad to acknowledge his growing success and his well deserved prosperity.
OTTO BRENDLER.
Otto Brendler is trainmaster of the Superior division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and is regarded as one of the most reliable railroad men in Green Bay, where he makes his headquarters. He has been identified with this line of business all during his active career and has achieved success by reason of his unfaltering industry, his faithfulness and his detailed knowledge. He is a native son of Wisconsin, having been born in Merrimac, this state, in 1862. His parents were Michael and Elinora (Brendler) Brendler, the former for many years a leading hotelkeeper of Cross Plains, Wisconsin, whither he had removed a short time before the birth of our subject.
Otto Brendler attended the public schools of Cross Plains but his educational advantages were extremely limited. At an early age he laid aside his text-books and immediately became identified with railroad activi- ties and in this line has risen through various positions to one of responsi- bility and importance. His railroad career began with his employment as helper to the railroad agent at Cross Plains. He was ambitious for further
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success in this field and in pursuance of this idea he studied telegraphy, showing an aptness and alertness of mind which gained him a position in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He was appointed operator and held this position on the Prairie du Chien and Mineral Point division. During his identification with this branch of the service Mr. Brendler received well-earned commendation for his con- sistent and always accurate work. He was known as an operator who could be depended upon in an emergency, and his initiative and resource, although often called upon, were never found wanting. On May 1, 1880. his work was recognized in the general offices of the company and he was called to Milwaukee to accept a position in the train dispatcher's office as assistant. His promotion was rapid and founded upon his undoubted qualities of energy, ability and general trustworthiness. On December 21, 1891, he was appointed chief despatcher of the Prairie du Chien and Mineral Point division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and on April 1, seven years later, was promoted to the position of trainmaster on the Superior division. He is now acting in this capacity and has his headquarters at Green Bay, where he has many friends in business and social circles.
In 1898 Mr. Brendler was united in marriage in Milwaukee to Miss Elizabeth Minsterman, of that city, and they reside in a comfortable and commodious home at No. 326 South Quincy avenue, Green Bay. Mr. Brendler is one of the veterans in the service of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He has been in their employ since his boyhood and has advanced to his present position by reason of his long-continued and faithful service. He is widely and favorably known in his chosen field of activity, where he is judged by what he has accomplished and by the force and energy which he brings to the performance of his duties.
HON. FRANK B. DESNOYERS.
The city of Green Bay has been noted for many years for the quality and attainments of the men who have been its mayors at various periods in its municipal existence. Political life is peculiar in that honest men are not always the most prominent ones and the city which can boast of a long line of honorable and worthy public officials is indeed fortunate. Hon. Frank B. Desnoyers has been prominent in political affairs in this city for a number of years, is an ex-mayor and has held the position of county treas- urer of Brown county since January, 1908. He is a native of Green Bay, where his birth occurred on the 7th of August, 1859. His parents were Francis X. and Louise A. ( Beard) Desnoyers. His father, a native of Michigan, came to this city from Detroit in 1850 and carried on a general mercantile business here until his death in 1868. In addition thereto he was active in the real-estate business and built a number of important buildings in Green Bay. In 1865 he erected what is known as "Uncle Frank" block and ten stores on Washington street. His wife survived him until 1894,
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and they were buried side by side in Allouez cemetery. He was a republi- can and prominent in local politics, serving several times as alderman, and had the distinction of being the second mayor of Green Bay, and a member of the state legislature. On the mother's side the family is an old Penn- sylvania one and was prominent in this country. During the Civil war sev- eral of its members were soldiers in the Federal army during the entire four years of the conflict. The father of Mrs. Louise A. Desnoyers was Captain Thomas Beard, United States Army, and she was a niece of the late Judge Henry S. Beard of Green Bay. Another uncle was Henry Carey of the publishing house of Lea & Carey, a prominent man and writer, who wrote several books on political economy. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Desnoyers Marie L., Elizabeth and Frank B. The paternal branch of the family is of French extraction, but has been in this country for many generations.
Frank B. Desnoyers received his early education in the public schools of Green Bay and was graduated from the local high school at the age of eighteen years. He removed immediately to Milwaukee and engaged for eight months in the mercantile business in that city, returning at the expira- tion of that period to Green Bay. Here he entered upon the gentlemens furnishing goods business, abandoning this later for real estate, which line of activity he still follows and he is at present engaged in looking after the family estate. Politically he is a republican and ever an active factor in local affairs. The weight of his political influence is always on the side of right and good government and he has gained a reputation in this city for honesty and fair dealing in the line of activity in which these qualities are too seldom found. He served for three terms, 1896. 97 and 98, as mayor of the city and was a member of the city council for four years, 1891, 92, 93 and 94, two years of which he was chairman of the finance committee. He was second mayor of greater Green Bay. In 1908 Mr. Desnoyers was elected to the important office of county treasurer and that he has made himself well worthy of the confidence his constituents placed in him is evi- dent by the fact that he was reelected in 1910 and is now ably filling that office.
In 1882 Mr. Desnoyers was married in this city to Miss Lelia E. Linds- ley, a native of Green Bay and a daughter of Myron P. and Frances (Ingalls) Lindsley, the former of whom came to Brown county from Lock- port, New York, and became a pioneer real-estate agent and a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization he held the office of state lecturer for a number of years. He served in the capacity of county clerk for some time and died in 1881. He also was mayor of Green Bay. His wife survived him until 1907 and they are buried in adjoining graves in the Woodlawn cemetery, where to his memory a monument has recently been erected by his fellow members of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Desnoyers and his wife are the parents of four children: Frank L., who is city editor of the Green Bay Gazette ; Marie E., the wife of Edgar J. McEachron, a superintendent of the Fuller- Johnson Manufacturing Company of this city; Harry B., clerk in the employ of the Pittsburg & Ohio Mining Company ; and Philip P., a gradu-
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ate of the Green Bay high school. The family residence at 315 South Mon- roe street is a popular and hospitable home, in which the many friends of Frank B. Desnoyers and his family are always welcome. He is prominent in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is a devoted member of St. Willebrod's Catholic church in this city. His religious faith is a working force in his life, influencing his actions and dominating his career and has given to a man naturally public-spirited and worthy, the added qualities of a true Christian gentleman.
JOSEPH F. NOVITSKI.
Prominently known in educational circles in Wisconsin is Professor Joseph F. Novitski, superintendent of schools of Brown county, to which position he was elected in the spring of 1909. He is a young man imbued with the spirit of progress, and his interest in public education is deep and sincere. He is accordingly continually studying out new methods which will work for the benefit of the schools, and his labors in this direction have been resultant. He was born in the town of Eaton, Brown county, Wiscon- sin, July 10, 1884, and is a son of Anton and Emilia Novitski. The father came from Poland in 1882, and in April of 1884 brought his family to the new world. Here he has followed the occupation of farming. and both he and his wife still reside on the old homestead in the town of Eaton.
While spending his youthful days under the parental roof Joseph F. Novitski attended the district school near by, spending three years there. He afterward entered the State Normal School at Oslikosh, in which he remained for seven and a half months. He displayed special aptitude in his studies, closely applying himself to the mastery of the branches which he pursued, and at the end of that time he passed the county examination for teachers. He then secured the school in which he had formerly been a pupil, and successfully conducted it for two years, after which he returned to the State Normal School, where he remained for two years, at the end of which time he was engaged by the school board of joint district No. 6, towns of Humboldt and Preble, to organize a state graded school, of which he became principal for one year. He was then offered a much larger salary to become a principal of the state graded school of district No. I, Forestville, Door county, Wisconsin, which position he accepted, but before the end of the year he became a candidate for the office of county superintendent. He entered the race at the eleventh hour as a "dark horse." secured the required number of signatures for nomination papers and filed them on the day the nominations were closed. That he was popular with the people, and that they had confidence in his ability was evidenced by the fact that without long preliminary campaigning or canvassing he carried two thousand, four hun- dred seventy-two votes against one thousand, one hundred eighty-four cast for John F. Evraets, and in the spring of 1911 he was reelected without oppo- sition, a fact which indicates clearly that his work during his first term was entirely satisfactory, and that the schools showed progress in methods
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