USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 3
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
with his son, Herman, until 1876, when it became the Weise-Holman Com- pany, under which name it was conducted until Mr. Weise's death, when it reverted to the estate. He married Miss Anna Maria Holzknecht, who was born in Prussia and came to America with her uncle in 1843. They had ten children, seven of whom are living: Edward P., of this review; Augusta. the wife of F. A. Holman: Carrie, who married William Suelflohn ; Helena, the wife of F. Jeffrey ; Herman ; Charles ; and Amanda, who married F. L. G. Straubel.
Edward P. Weise attended the public schools of Green Bay and after laying aside his books learned the trades of wagon-making and black- smithing, which he followed until February 29, 1864, in which year he offered his services to the United States government as a member of Com- pany F., Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He joined his regi- ment April 9. 1864, at Decatur, Alabama, and served under Colonel Howe in the Army of the Tennessee. He enlisted for a term of three years but was wounded at Atlanta, August 13, 1864, and was sent to the hospital at Madison, which he left June 3, 1865, being discharged and mustered out of the United States service on that date. He then returned to Green Bay and became active as a wagon maker and blacksmith, following these trades until 1872, when he took up carpentering and millwrighting. He was suc- cessful in both lines of occupation and built up a flourishing business, retiring from active life in 1896. During his career he became interested in the business which his father founded, the Weise-Holman Company. and he retains his identification with this enterprise.
Mr. Weise was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Schwabe, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Weise became the parents of eight children, three of whom are living: May, at home ; F. O .. who is employed as a bookkeeper in North Bend, Washington; and E. A., a resident of Green Bay.
Mr. Weise is a member of the German Lutheran church and has been a devout adherent of its doctrines since his childhood. He is junior vice commander of Howe Post. G. A. R. During the course of a life spent almost entirely in Green Bay he has won a place of honor among his fel- low citizens, who respect and esteem him for his business attainments, for his service in his country's cause and for the upright and straightfor- ward methods by which he has won success.
HENRY WILLART.
Henry Willart, proprietor and manager of the largest wholesale bakery in Green Bay and identified with various other important local enterprises, was born in Hooghlede, province of West Flanders, Belgium, October 18, 1875. He is a son of Desire and Saraphina (Dick) Willart, natives of that section. His paternal grandfather was a farmer in West Flanders and fol- lowed that occupation until his death. His father, however, was a miller by trade and was successful in this line of activity for some time. He died in
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
1902 at the age of sixty-six. His wife survived him for four years, passing away in 1906, when she was sixty-eight years of age. In their family were eight children, besides the subject of this review : Peter, Julius, Louis, Julia, Mary, Leona, and Euphronia, all of whom reside in Belgium, and one who died in infancy.
Henry Willart attended the Catholic schools in his native country and worked on his father's farm and in the mill until he was thirteen years of age. He then began his period of apprenticeship to a baker and after he had learned the trade followed it in Belgium until 1891. In that year he came to America, locating first in Iowa and then in the Dakotas, where he engaged in farming. He traveled over the entire west and finally settled in De Pere, Wisconsin, in 1895. Here he worked at his trade of baker for a year and a half, before coming to Green Bay, where he clerked in the bakery store of his father-in-law, who was one of the oldest bakers in the city. Later, however, Mr. Willart established himself in business inde- pendently, locating on his present place. His business has increased grad- ually until it is one of the largest wholesale baking enterprises in Green Bay. Mr. Willart ships his goods to the markets throughout the central part of Wisconsin and also has customers in Michigan. He is interested in various local enterprises of importance and has shown continually the industry, en- terprise and progressive tendencies, which are the foundation of his com- mercial success and the important elements in his public spirit.
In Green Bay Mr. Willart was united in marriage to Miss Irma Daems, who was born in Belgium in 1876, a daughter of August and Eugenia ( Bee- kaert) Daems, the former one of the oldest bakers in Green Bay, where he is now living retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Willart have been born three chil- dren : Saraphina, fifteen years old; Margaret, aged nine; and Dorothea, seven. The family belong to the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Willart is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has never held public office and yet there is no man in Green Bay more active and influential in promoting the progress and welfare of the city. He directs his energies toward business expansion and has made his public spirit effective in a commercial way.
NIC BUR.
The business importance of a city is in direct proportion to the promi- nence of the men who make up its commercial circles. Civic development is a matter of individual effort and any man who promotes his own suc- cess is an active factor in his city's progress. A man of this sort is Nic Bur. prominent along many lines in Green Bay and owner of one of the largest retail groceries in the city. His store is located at Nos. 117 and 119 North Washington street and has been in operation at that place since 1878.
Nic Bur is a native of Germany, having been born in Freisen, Prus-
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
sia, October 10, 1863. His parents were Nic and Katherine Bur, who came to this country in 1871 and settled in Green Bay. Ilere the father followed the trade of a stone-mason and contractor until ten years before his death in 1910 at the age of eighty-six years. He had survived his wife since 1898 and both are buried in the Allonez cemetery.
Nic Bur attended the schools of his native country for two years. When he came to America he went to the public schools of Green Bay and for some time was a student in a private school in this city. He laid aside his books at the age of thirteen and a half years and immediately entered the grocery store of Barkhausen & Bungener as an apprentice. For a' short time he kept up his studies in night school while working during the day. In 1882 the partnership of Barkhausen & Bungener was dis- solved and Mr. Bungener carried on business alone for five years. Dur- ing this period the services of Mr. Bur had become invaluable to his en- ployer and in 1884 he was offered a partnership in the business. The firm name was changed to Bungener & Bur and under that title business was carried on until 1902, when Mr. Bur bought out the interest of his partner and is now carrying on the rapidly growing business by himself. Beside the retail grocery Mr. Bur also conducts a delicatessen department which has gained quite a reputation in Green Bay for the quality and purity of its goods. The business is now the largest of its kind in the city and is growing rapidly every year. Mr. Bur is interested along many different lines of activity in Green Bay. He has many large real-estate holdings, to which he gives his personal attention; is vice president of the Kellogg National Bank; and is director and manager of the Union Building & Loan Association, with offices at Green Bay and De Pere, Wisconsin. He is also connected with several other business interests, factories, manufactories, etc.
On October 6, 1890, Mr. Bur was married in Menominee, Michigan, to Miss Emma Juttner, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Juttner of that city, and they have become the parents of four children: Joseph. who is now a student at the University of Wisconsin; Harold, attending high school in Green Bay; Katherine, also a high school student and Arnold, who is attending a local parochial school. The family reside in the beauti- ful home which Mr. Bur erected at 117 South Van Buren street. They are well known socially in Green Bay for their charming and genial hos- pitality.
Mr. Bur has no definite politics, preferring to keep himself entirely independent on party lines. He, however, takes an active interest in everything relating to public affairs and has served on the jury commis- sion since May, 1897. He was in the city council for seven years and held the position of president of that body for some time. He acted as chairman of the finance committee and was one of the earlier presidents of the Green Bay Commercial Club. His most active interest, outside of his grocery and delicatessen store, is centered in building. He has al- ways been active in the affairs of the Union Building & Loan Association of Green Bay and De Pere and was one of its first presidents. His activi- ties in this direction have helped numbers of citizens to enjoy the com-
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
forts and pleasures of a home of their own. He is in all respects a model citizen, loyal to the city in which he resides and firm in his belief in her future greatness and prosperity. Mr. Bur has ever been ready to respond to the call of public interest and ever ready to contribute his portion toward every public improvement.
MORGAN LEWIS MARTIN.
Morgan Lewis Martin was one of the most conspicuous and distinguished among that band of pioneer settlers who early gave a national reputation to Wisconsin. He was born in Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York, March 31, 1805, a son of Walter Martin and grandson of Adam Martin, founder of that town. He was graduated at Hamilton College, New York, in 1824, following the same by a thorough legal education. In 1826 he removed to Detroit, Michigan, and the next year settled at Green Bay.
In 1831 Judge Martin was elected to the territorial council of Michigan, serving four years, the last two as its president. In 1833, with Solomon Juneau he bought a half interest in the entire east side of Milwaukee, and with Juneau put on record in 1835 the first plat of the village. Judge Mar- tin's activity and liberality gave Milwaukee its real start in life as a business locality.
On the 25th of July, 1837, at Green Bay, Judge Martin was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of the late Col. Melancthon Smith, U. S. A., and granddaughter of Judge Melancthon Smith, who was a delegate from New York in congress in 1782. five years prior to the adoption of the national constitution.
In 1834 Judge Martin procured a charter to enable Daniel Whitney to build a canal at Fort Winnebago from the Fox to the Wisconsin river. In 1838 he was elected to the Wisconsin territorial council, which position he held to and including 1844, and was twice its president. In 1845 he was elected delegate to congress, and in 1846 procured the first grant of lands to Wisconsin to aid in the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. He also introduced the first bill to create the territory of Minnesota, which bill subsequently became a law. In 1847 he was elected delegate to the consti- tutional convention, and as its president his influence was largely exerted in favor of the adoption of its liberal and progressive features.
In 1851-52-53. he entered heartily into the work of having the naviga- tion of Fox river improved and the canal at Portage built : and when the state failed and gave over the work to the Fox & Wisconsin Improvement Company, he devoted his whole energies and all the fortune he had made at Milwaukee and Green Bay to render it a success.
He was elected to the assembly in 1855 and to the senate in 1858, and again to the assembly in 1863. In 1866 he was supported for congress by the democrats, the only time in his whole career when he was defeated at the polls for any office for which he allowed his name to be used.
He entered the army and served four years as paymaster with the rank
-
MORGAN L. MARTIN
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
of major. In 1866 he was appointed United States Indian agent, holding the position until after Grant's inauguration, when he resigned to give place to a regular army officer. In 1875 he was elected county judge, and was reelected at the end of each term, dying in office. From 1875 he ceased to be other than a quiet observer of political events, although never refusing to give his opinion of public men and measures. Judge Martin's death occurred December 10, 1887, at his home in Green Bay.
ANDREW REIS.
To build up has ever been the broad policy which Andrew Reis has fol- lowed in his business career and he attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm. Various business interests have claimed his cooperation and all have profited by his efforts and discernment. Green Bay is proud to num- ber him among her native sons and leading citizens. He was born February 9. 1851, and, as the name indicates, comes of German ancestry. His father, Andrew Reis, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and with his family sailed for the new world, making his way direct to Green Bay. He was a miller by trade but after arriving in this country he followed the occupation of tan- ning, working for a time at the Old Ames tannery, while later he was employed in a similar way at Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The winter months were spent at Oconto, Wisconsin, in lumbering and gradually as the years passed he advanced in his business career, his labors gaining him a fair measure of prosperity that enabled him in 1860 to build the old Reis Hotel, now one of the oldest hostelries of Green Bay. He conducted this for a long period and came to an honored old age, having passed the eighty- seventh milestone on life's journey when called to his final rest. He mar- ried Magdalena Hartung, who died at the age of fifty-four years. In their family were six children, those living being: Barbara, the wife of Dr. J. Farmers; Andrew ; and Leonard and Jacob, both of Green Bay.
Andrew Reis may justly be called a self-made man in the highest and best sense of the term. for he started out to earn his own living when but twelve years of age, working in a sawmill. He had up to that time attended school and later he bought a scholarship in a commercial school of Green Bay. Continuing his education, he further qualified for the practical and responsible duties of life, and experience, reading and observation have con- tinnally broadened his knowledge. He became well known as proprietor of the Reis Hotel, which he has conducted to the present time. He purchased the property in 1878 from his father, and as hotel proprietor has become widely and favorably known, his social qualities and his earnest efforts to please the patrons of the hotel winning him well merited prosperity. He is also connected with his son in the livery and garage business. The old Reis Hotel is one of the landmarks of Green Bay and has sheltered many notable personages. In addition to his hotel interests Mr. Reis has made for him- self an honored and prominent position in financial circles as the president
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
of the Farmers Exchange Bank of Green Bay, which position he occupied for six years. He thoroughly studied the questions of finance while at the head of the bank and inaugurated a safe, conservative business policy which commended the institution to a liberal public support.
Mr. Reis was married to Miss Anna Kellner, a native of Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, who has now passed away, as have also their two chil- dren. For his second wife Mr. Reis chose her sister, Clara Kellner, and to them was born a son, George, who is proprietor of a livery business in Green Bay and resides with his father. His third marriage was with Elizabeth Burr, a native of this city, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom three are living, Clara, Mildred and Andrew, all at home.
Mr. Reis was reared in the faith of the Catholic church and is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He also belongs to the Elks lodge of Green Bay and to the Turn Verein. In politics he is an earnest democrat and has held several local offices, including that of county treasurer, to which he was elected in 1902. He has also been a trustee of the insane asylum of the county for a number of years. For more than six decades he has resided in Green Bay, which he has seen developed from a small town into a growing and prosperous industrial and commercial center. His cooperation has been always an element in its advancement, for in matters of citizenship as in private life he has manifested the elements of untiring industry, persever- ance and progress.
SOL P. HUNTINGTON.
Sol P. Huntington is engaged in the general practice of law, with of- fices at No. 101 East Washington street. He has followed the profession in Green Bay since 1892 and has made continuous progress in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon individual effort and ability. Moreover, he has other important business interests which class him as one of the representative residents of Green Bay. He was born at Baraboo, Wisconsin, January 26, 1866, and is a son of the Rev. Samuel P. and Elizabeth ( Minot ) Huntington. The family is of English origin and has been represented in America since 1640. Samuel Huntington was gover- nor of Connecticut and was one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence.
The public schools of his native city afforded Sol P. Huntington his early educational privileges. He passed through consecutive grades until graduated from the Baraboo high school with the class of 1885. He after- ward attended the University of Wisconsin in preparation for the practice of law and won his B. L. degree on graduation with the class of 1889. He afterward studied law in Baraboo for some time and, having been ap- pointed register in probate, filled that office for a year. He afterward went to Mankato, Minnesota, and engaged in teaching for a year, during which period he was devoting his spare time to the further study of law.
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
In December, 1891, he took the state bar examination, which he success- fully passed, and immediately afterward came direct to Green Bay, where he has practiced successfully since 1892. Advancement at the bar is pro- verbially slow and yet Mr. Huntington soon proved his capability in the preparation and trial of causes entrusted to his care and has advanced steadily until he now occupies an enviable position, especially in apprecia- tion of legal principles and knowledge of law. In addition to his other interests he is vice president of the G. B. Hess Company and is one of the directors of the New Franklin State Bank.
Mr. Huntington was married at Darlington, Wisconsin, to Miss Car- lotta Bridgman, who died in November, 1906. He makes his home at No. 835 South Jackson street and is widely known socially as well as profes- sionally in Green Bay. He has gained a wide acquaintance through his membership in the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery. In politics he is a progressive republican and for two years served as city attorney, while at the present time he is divorce counsel for Brown county. He is also a member of the Brown County Bar Associa- tion and takes a deep interest in the efforts to raise the professional stand- ard that justice in its highest sense may be conserved and that the inter- ests of the people at large may be carefully safeguarded. The legislature of Wisconsin having provided for the celebration of Commodore Perry's victory on Lake Erie, Mr. Huntington was appointed by Governor Mc- Govern as one of the six commissioners of the state to prepare and ar- range for a fitting celebration and memorial in conjunction with commis- sioners from other states. Ohio originated the idea and extended invita- tions to other states to participate, the celebration to be held on Put in Bay island on the one hundredth anniversary-September 10, 1913-and a permanent memorial to be erected to the heroes of the War of 1812. It is proposed to have a pageant to traverse the lakes, visiting the prominent lake cities, including Green Bay, Milwaukee and others.
EMANUEL F. BRUNETTE.
Emanuel F. Brunette, one of the enterprising and prosperous young citizens of Howard township, has for the past five years acted as manager of the stone quarry at Duck Creek. His birth occurred in the town of Howard on the 16th of January, 1880, his parents being Emanuel and Theresa (Walker) Brunette. The father was born at Green Bay on the 5th of June, 1842, while the mother's birth occurred in the town of How- ard on the 31st of May, 1848. Emanuel Brunette is a prosperous and progressive agriculturist, owning two hundred and thirty acres of land and also a quarry of lime rock at Duck Creek, which was opened by the government many years ago. Both he and his wife have spent their entire lives in Brown county and are well known and highly esteemed within its borders. Unto them were born the following children: Minnie L .; Sarah
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
E .; George A., who died at the age of fourteen years ; Lemuel, who passed away when twenty-six years of age; Margaret G .: Roland S .; Emanuel F., of this review; Abigail G .; Royal J .; Norine, who died at the age of eighteen years; Mary, who died in infancy ; Albert ; and James.
Emanuel F. Brunette obtained his early education in the district schools of his native town, later attended public school at Green Bay and after- ward entered the State Normal School at Oshkosh, leaving that institu- tion at the age of twenty years. He did not consider his education com- pleted, however, when his textbooks were laid aside but still studies at home during the evening hours and has constantly augmented his knowl- edge through reading, experience and observation. He worked for his father until 1905 and then opened a grocery store, conducting the same until 1907, when he abandoned the business to enter a more profitable field of endeavor. For the past five years he has been in charge of the quarry at Duck Creek and in this connection has met with success, being well qualified for the responsible duties that devolve upon him.
On the 26th of June, 1905, at Fond du Lac, Mr. Brunette was united in marriage to Miss Alice Jane Haven, her parents being Isaac and Mary ( Brennan ) Haven, who live on a farm in Fond du Lac county. Our sub- ject and his wife have one son, Emanuel.
Mr. Brunette is independent in politics and has served in the capacity of supervisor for two years. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Reserve Association of Oshkosh, while in religious faith he is a Catholic. His salient characteristics are such as have won him the unqualified respect, esteem and good-will of his fellowmen and he has gained a large circle of friends in the county where he has resided from his birth to the present time.
JOSEPH H. TAYLER.
Joseph H. Tayler is president of The McCartney National Bank of this city and by virtue of his position as well as by his many splendid qualities, has become a prominent citizen of Green Bay. The office which he holds is a responsible one. It calls for broad intelligence, keen knowledge of men and a discriminating sense of financial values. Mr. Tayler is a native of this city, his birth having occurred here, February 7, 1859. He is a son of Joseph and Melissa V. (Kennan) Tayler. His father, a descendant of a very ancient English family, came from Gosport, England, in 1830, landing in New York and settling in St. Lawrence county, that state, coming to Neenah, Wisconsin, in 1852 and to Green Bay two years afterward. He en- gaged in general merchandising much of his life and established a store in Green Bay upon his arrival in 1854. He was postmaster of Fort Howard for twenty years and also served several years as city treasurer of Fort Howard, and died in 1898, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. His wife survived him until 1902, dying when she was eighty-five years old and they are both buried in the Fort Howard cemetery. Melissa V. Tayler, the mother of the
J. H. TAYLER
THEN AWAY PUBLIC LIFEJAYI
FILMEN
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
subject of this review, was a descendant of William Brewster, who came to America on the Mayflower. Representatives of Joseph Tayler's family have figured prominently in most of the American wars. An ancestor of his fought in the Revolution and one of the later generations served in the Federal army during the Civil war. Their names are entered in the Blue Books of the various states.
Joseph H. Tayler attended the public schools of Green Bay but left them at the early age of thirteen years to accept a position as clerk in the Fort Howard postoffice. He remained in this connection for eleven years and on his resignation held the office of assistant postmaster. He began his career as a banker in 1882 when he took the position of cashier in the McCartney Exchange Bank, an institution which afterward became The McCartney Na- tional Bank, of which he is now president. The name was changed to the title which it now bears in 1892. Mr. Tayler retained his position as cashier until 1907, when he was elected vice president, holding this office until his recent election to the office of president. Besides this connection with The McCartney National Bank he is also president of the Farmers & Traders Bank of Wrightstown and vice president of the New Franken State Bank. He holds the position of secretary of the Green Bay Water Company. He is prominently identified with almost every phase of public life in local affairs. He has been mayor and city treasurer of Fort Howard and also served as mayor of Green Bay. He is a member and chairman of the board of trustees of the First Baptist church of this city.
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