USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 43
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The family are Roman Catholics in religious faith, and fraternally Mr. Bodart is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Green Bay Benevo- lent Society and the Eagles. His support in political affairs he accords to the republican party, and is now and has been since 1905 a member of the township board of supervisors and he has also served as a committeeman, while on several occasions he has represented his district at the local con- ventions. The greater portion of Mr. Bodart's life has been passed in this immediate vicinity, where he numbers many friends, the majority of whom he has known since boyhood.
LOUIS J. STURTZ.
Louis J. Sturtz, whose artistic work in the photographic line has demon- strated his right to rank with the leading representatives of the art in this part of the state, located in Green Bay in 1898. He was born in Sterling, Illi- nois, in 1872, a son of Charles and Katherine ( Kennel ) Sturtz. The father was for two years a soldier of the Civil war, serving with a Pennsylvania regiment, and was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. The son pursued his education in the schools of Sterling to his graduation with the class of 1890. His acquaintanceship with the art to which he devotes his life came to him through a two years' apprenticeship at Calumet, Michigan. He then returned to Illinois and was associated with some of the leading studios in America, his training and experience there placing him among the most capable representatives of the profession. In 1898 he removed to Green Bay where he has a fine studio that is most modern in its equipment, sup- plied with everything that tends to produce the finest work. He is skilful and artistic, is very painstaking, and the pictures which he produces rank well in comparison with those of the finest studios of the larger cities. He has a faculty for catching a natural pose or expression, and added to this lias the knowledge of how to produce the best effects with light and shade. Moreover, he employs the latest improved processes of photography and thus merits the liberal patronage accorded him.
In 1896, in Milwaukee, Mr. Sturtz was married to Miss Nettie Cole, a daughter of Horace W. and Maria ( Kelley ) Cole, of Marquette, Michigan. both now deceased. They were prominent citizens there, Mr. Cole being an extensive property owner of Marquette and a well known business man whose investments were in iron mines, a drug store and other enterprises. During the Civil war he did an extensive business in purchasing horses for
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the government. Mr. and Mrs. Sturtz have a son, Travers C. The parents are well known in Green Bay where they have now resided for more than fourteen years, and the hospitality of the best homes is extended them in recognition of their sterling worth.
ALBERT L. NEJEDLO.
The firm of Nejedlo Brothers is conducting one of the most important grocery enterprises in Green Bay and has a well established reputation for the fine quality of the goods handled and for upright and straightforward commercial methods. Albert L. Nejedlo has been connected with this enter- prise since he began his active career and has done much useful work in expanding the business and building it up along modern and progressive lines. He began in an unimportant way and by hard work and perseverance has attained to a partnership in one of the oldest grocery establishments in Green Bay. He is a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Sturgeon Bay, Door county, February 14, 1872, a son of John and Barbara (Wesley) Nejedlo. The father was born near Prague, Bohemia, and came to Amer- ica when he was a young man, locating on a small tract of land near Mani- towoc, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He later became a partner in the ownership and operation of a steam grist mill located at Cooperstown, an enterprise which was one of the first of its kind in Wisconsin. When he disposed of this business he removed to Door county, where he resumed farming and for several years was active and successful as a general agriculturist. In 1872 he removed to Green Bay, where he lived retired until his death. In his boyhood days he had studied for the priesthood but abandoned this for his chosen occupation. He was well known in local politics, adhering to the republican party. He held several important local offices, prominent among which were those of town clerk and town treasurer and during the period of his connection with official life he was ever found faithful and efficient in the discharge of his duties. He and his wife became the parents of nine children: John, who is living in Montpe- lier. Wisconsin; Louis A., of Bayview Beach; Zeph A., who looks back upon thirty years of service with the Northwestern Railroad Company at Green Bay ; Frank; Mitchell R., proprietor of the Bay Beach Hotel in Green Bay ; Godfrey J., a merchant in the same city ; Albert L., the subject of this sketch : Joseph, a pressman living in Chicago ; and James, a traveling sales- man with his residence in Green Bay.
Albert L. Nejedlo received a limited education in the public schools of his native section but laid aside his books at the early age of nine and for ten years followed gardening. When he had reached maturity he became asso- ciated with his brother in the grocery business and worked for some years as a delivery boy. However, he advanced rapidly and was soon made a member of the firm of Nejedlo Brothers, and from that time has been active in the direction of its policy and the management of its important interests,
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his shrewd business ability and practical methods guiding and directing his hard work and persevering labor.
Mr. Nejedlo wedded Miss Sarah Anger, of De Pere, a daughter of John and Elsie (Bennett) Anger, pioneers of Brown county, where the father followed lumbering for some time. To Mr. and Mrs. Nejedlo has been born a daughter. Elsie. The family belong to the Episcopal church.
Mr. Nejedlo is active in the affairs of the Equitable Fraternal Union of Green Bay but gives most of his time and attention to his important busi- ness interests. As a partner in one of the oldest and most reliable firms of the city he is ranked among the representative business men.
E. W. LEHMAN.
E. W. Lehman, who has been actively identified with real-estate interests of Green Bay for the past ten years, is a native of this city, his birth having occurred on the 14th of March, 1867. His father, Anton C. Lehman, was one of the early settlers of Brown county, and one of the pioneer teachers in the Green Bay schools.
Practically the entire life of E. W. Lehman has been passed in his native city. In the acquirement of his education he attended the public schools, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1885. Having resolved to identify himself with commercial activities, he then began an apprenticeship at the watchmaker's trade under E. L. Hall, remaining in his service for five years. Feeling that he was fully qualified to establish an enterprise of his own, upon severing his connection with Mr. Hall he opened a store on Washington street. His stock was carefully selected and taste- fully displayed, and his shop became one of the attractive features of the commercial district. He successfully conducted this establishment for ten years, and then disposing of it turned his attention to the real-estate business. He personally owns holdings along the dock and in the commercial and manufacturing districts.
On the 28th of January, 1910, Mr. Lehman was married to Miss Kath- erine Quinn, a native of Providence, Rhode Island. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Masonic order and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
MARTIN YSEBAERT.
Martin Ysebaert, proprietor of one of the leading buffets in Green Bay, was born in Oconto, Wisconsin, February 16, 1882, a son of August and Theresa ( Henevaast) Ysebaert, natives of Belgium. The father removed to America with his family at an early date and located in Oconto, where for some time he worked as a miller. When he came to Green Bay he engaged in lumber scaling and eventually established himself in the truck-gardening business, in which line of activity he was successful and active until 1903-
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It was in that year that he opened the old Green Bay House, which he con- ducted until his death, which occurred on February 16, 1905, when he was fifty-two years of age. His wife survives and makes her home with our sub- ject. She is fifty-three years old. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Angust Ysebaert were six children, five of whom are living: Martin, the subject of this review ; Emil, who is conducting a saloon in Green Bay ; Mary, who lives at home; Louisa, the wife of H. Tulsman, a fireman in Green Bay ; and Ida, who resides at home.
Martin Ysebaert was educated in the public schools of Green Bay and when he laid aside his books associated himself with his father in the con- duct of a truck-gardening enterprise, with which he was actively connected until he was twenty-nine years of age. At that time, however, he aban- doned this occupation and opened his present buffet, which is one of the largest and finest in the city.
In 1902 Mr. Ysebaert was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Wou- ters, who was born in Belgium, a danghter of Felix and Pauline ( Malliett ) Wouters, who came to America in 1881. They settled in Fort Howard and here the father took up gardening, in which occupation he engaged until his death. His wife has also passed away. In their family were eight children, all of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Ysebaert are the parents of two daughters: Gertrude, who is nine years of age ; and Eva, aged seven. The family belong to the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Ysebaert holds mem- bership in St. Joseph's Society. He is well known in business circles of Green Bay and has won prosperity while still a young man because he has worked diligently and intelligently to achieve it.
HON. HENRY J. JANSSEN.
Hon. Henry J. Janssen in his business connections and in his public service stands for all that is meant in the term "progressive citizenship." Throughout his entire life he has been actuated by a spirit of advance- ment that has resulted in the attainment of success in business circles and of prominence and honor in public life. His labors have been of a character that have contributed to the general welfare as well as to his individual interest. At the present writing he is representing his district as a member of the state legislature and is accounted one of the leaders of the demo- cratic party in Brown county ; in business he is concentrating his energies upon real estate and insurance and has secured a large clientage in this field.
A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Janssen was born in West De Pere, on the 6th of November, 1876, a son of William Janssen, whose birth occurred in the province of Gelderland, Holland, October 8, 1844. William Jans- sen lived in his native country until eight years of age and then came with his parents and their family to America, settling in Little Chute, Wiscon- sin. He attended school there and after putting aside his text-books devoted the summer months to farm work and during the winter seasons
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was employed in the lumber camps. After his marriage he took up farm- ing on his own account and met with a substantial measure of success in the cultivation of the soil. After two years, however, he established him- self in the hotel business in Little Chute and a year and a half later came to West De Pere where he opened a saloon. He was prominently connected with the business interests of this place for more than a quarter of a cen- tury as proprietor of a general store, carrying a large and well selected line of goods and meeting with a liberal patronage. He made for himself a creditable name and place in commercial circles and in February, 1908, retired from mercantile life, establishing his home upon a farm in Oconto county. Finally, however, he once more became connected with active business affairs in the conduct of a store at Mosling, Oconto county, where he still remains. He married Miss Wilhelmina Geenen, who was born in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, in March, 1854, a daughter of Henry Geenen, a well known farmer of that district. In their family were twelve children. ten of whom are living. Those beside our subject are: Anna, the wife of W. A. Rupiper, of West De Pere; Jacob, of De Perc; Agatha, the wife of A. Beauregard; Edward, who is filling the office of city clerk at De Pere ; Mamie, the wife of R. Hughes, of West De Pere ; William Mosling, who is associated with his father in business; Minnie, at home; Louis, of Mosling and Francis, who resides at home.
After completing his education in the public schools of West De Pere Henry J. Janssen became associated with his father in general merchandis- ing. Henry J. Janssen next opened a grocery, flour and feed store. in West De Pere, conducting it successfully until 1908, when he sold out and accepted a position in the contracting department of the Wisconsin Tele- phone Company. He is now devoting his entire time and attention to the real-estate and insurance business and in each connection he has secured a gratifying clientage. He has handled much property, negotiating many realty transfers, and he is well informed concerning valuation of property and knows what is upon the market for purchase or sale.
On January 7, 1902, Mr. Janssen married Miss Ida Rupiper, who was born in Waterford, Wisconsin, August 2. 1866, a daughter of Julius and Henrietta (Alby) Rupiper. They are the parents of a daughter, Vida Fidelia, who is seven years of age. The family belong to the Roman Cath- olic church and Mr. Janssen is also a member of the Knights of Colum- bus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. In politics he is a progressive democrat and votes the party ticket. He has always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day so that he is able to support his position by intelligent and logical argument. His fellow townsmen, appre- ciative of his worth and his fidelity to the best interests of town, county and state, have selected him to serve in various public offices. For eight years he was an alderman of De Pere and exercised his official prerogative in support of many progressive movements for the general good. For one term he was city assessor and was also called to the office of justice of the peace, in which he served for three years. On the Ist of October, 1911, he was appointed deputy register of deeds for Brown county, in which position he remained until the Ist of December, 1912, when he resigned in order to
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concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. In 1910 he was elected to the state legislature, in which he is still serving. He regards a public office as a public trust-and no trust reposed in Mr. Janssen has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. He is prompt and faithful in the execu- tion of his official duties, seeking ever to promote the interests of his con- stituents and the community at large without regard to personal aggrandize- ment. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and makes effective use of the opportunities which have come to him both for his own advancement in business and for the promotion of progress along public lines.
PETER H. SAYLOR.
If a successful life means one which has been spent in lasting, useful and honorable things, in the conscientious fulfillment of every personal and public obligation, and in constant work along progressive lines, then the career of Peter H. Saylor must be pronounced successful. He has been closely connected with business and agricultural interests in many of the middle western states, served his country loyally in the Civil war and is now living in retirement in Green Bay, where he is one of the most promi- nent men in fraternal circles. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Saylor was born in Lebanon county, March 14, 1843, a son of Rev. Joseph Saylor, a minister of the Evangelical church. The father of our subject went to Naperville, Illinois, in 1851 and established himself in the cheese business. Later in connection with this he engaged in the lumber business, in which he was active until his death, which occurred in 1899, when he was ninety- three years of age. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Priscilla Hoff- man, also a native of Pennsylvania. In their family were eleven children, six of whom are still living.
After completing his education Peter H. Saylor learned the wagon- making trade and followed it in Naperville, Illinois, until the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861. In that year he enlisted in Company I, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteers, in the state service. In July of the following year he enlisted in Company D, one hundredth regiment, and served until July 25, 1865. He was with the western army under General Rosecrans and Gen- eral Buell, and was elected division scout of the Fifth Army Corps. Nine months before the close of hostilities Mr. Saylor lost his voice and was sent to the field hospital, where he aided in the care of the sick and injured until he was mustered out on June 25, 1865. He was one of six brothers who enlisted in the Federal army, all of whom served until the end of their periods of enlistment.
After his discharge Mr. Saylor returned to Naperville and there became associated with his father in the lumber business for six years. In 1871 he went to Crown Point, Indiana, and established an independent enterprise until 1877 but met with business reverses and was obliged to give up this business and became foreman of the Isaac Stephenson Company. Later Vol. II-23
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he became connected with the Adams-Hastings Company of Oconto, Wis- consin, and in 1896 came to Green Bay, entering the employ of A. L. Adams & Company, remaining in this connection for eight years. He then spent four years with the Diamond Match Company, after which he left Wiscon- sin and went to Iowa. From 1908 to 1910 he lived in Fort Dodge but in the latter year went to Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim of six hundred and forty acres. He is now living in retirement at his old home in Green Bay.
Mr. Saylor married Miss Emmeline Beidelman, who was born in Evans- ville. Illinois, a daughter of J. and Ann (Butz) Beidelman, the former a contractor in Evansville. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor became the parents of five children : Herbert, a resident of Everett, Washington, who is married and has three children ; Dora May, the wife of D. F. Townsend, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, by whom she has one child: Rev. Frank A., of Honolulu, Hawaii. who is married and has one child: Ida, who married Dr. Leslie G. Derrick, a dentist in Green Bay, by whom she has one child : and Eugene, of Oska- loosa, Iowa, who is married and has one child.
Mr. Saylor gives his allegiance to the republican party and since casting his first vote has always loyally supported its aims and measures. From 1875 to 1878 he was county commissioner of Lake county, Indiana, but has never sought public office. He is a devout adherent of the Evangelical church. He has been interested in fraternal organizations during his entire active life and has become a prominent figure in various orders. He is one of the oldest members of the Green Bay Masonic Lodge and holds mem- bership in the chapter, council and commandery at Crown Point, Indiana, and at Valparaiso, in the same state. He and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America and is active in the affairs of the Equitable Fraternal Union, of Neenah, Wisconsin, in which he was the first state commander and later was representative to the supreme assembly. He was the founder of the National Fraternal League and still takes an important part in the affairs of the organization. He keeps in touch with his comrades of fifty years ago through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and is past state junior vice commander of Wisconsin. He is also past commander of the Green Bay post and belongs to the relief corps. In all the relations of his life he has ever adhered to high principles of honor and integrity and his retirement is a well-earned rest after useful labor.
FRANK E. MURPHY.
That Green Bay justifies its reputation as a growing. enterprising and progressive city is due to the efforts of such business men as Frank E. Murphy, vice president of the Morley-Murphy Hardware Company, own- ing a well appointed store at Nos. 202 and 204 South Washington street. He was one of the organizers of the business on the Ist of October, 1904. and his official connection has been that of vice president since its inception. He
FRANK E. MURPHY
THỊ NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENDY ANE TILDENADANTONE
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was born at Bangor, Maine, September 18. 1862, and is a son of Simon Jones and Ann Montgomery (Dorr) Murphy. His paternal grandfather was Ed- mund Murphy, a son of James MacMurphy, born in the north of Ireland and who dropped the prefix Mac of his name on coming to America. Ed- mund Murphy was born in the Kennebec valley, Maine, was a farmer by occupation and a man of strong personality. The father of our subject was born in the same state in April, 1815, and was reared by his maternal grand- father. George Jones, until eighteen years of age, when he became a lumber- man on the Penobscot river. He soon acquired an excellent knowledge of that occupation and began business on his own account along that line, carry- ing on operations at different times in Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin. For many years he lived in Detroit, Michigan, but owned and operated a saw- mill at Green Bay, which was erected in 1886 and burned in 1895 but was rebuilt and at length sold to the North Land Lumber Company in 1906. Simon J. Murphy was married in his native state to Miss Ann Montgomery Door, a representative of a prominent family of Maine, and in 1866 they re- moved to Detroit, where Mr. Murphy passed away in 1905 and his wife in 1903, both being laid to rest in Woodmere cemetery, Detroit. To them were born twelve children, of whom six grew to maturity, namely : Charles E., Simon J., Jr., Albert M., William H., Anna D. and Frank E. Of these two are now residents of Green Bay, Frank E. of this review and Albert M. The latter was born in Milton, Maine, December 25, 1852, and was engaged in the wholesale grocery business in Detroit from 1874 to 1879. At the end of that time he again turned his attention to the lumber business, with which he had become familiar during his boyhood. He is married and has ten chil- dren, one son being now a resident of California and a son and daughter of New York, while the others make their home in Green Bay.
Frank E. Murphy acquired his primary education in the schools of De- troit and completed a high-school course by graduation with the class of 188I. He made his initial step in the business world by entering the employ of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad Company as lumber and tie inspector and subsequently was sent by his father with his brother Simon J., Jr., to Green Bay in 1886 to keep the books and act as secretary for the lumber company. He filled the offices of secretary and treasurer until 1894, when ill health caused him to resign, his brother, Albert M., taking his place. In that year our subject became interested in the Green Bay Electric Rail- road, purchasing bonds to make a success of the enterprise and thus help the town. Later this company was merged with others and the name was changed to the Green Bay Gas, Electric & Traction Company and finally sold in 1912 to the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. On the Ist of October, 1904, Mr. Murphy entered into his present connection as vice presi- dent of the Morley-Murphy Hardware Company, opening a well appointed establishment on South Washington street. At one time he was also presi- dent of the Murphy Supply Company, engaged in plumbing, gas and steam fitting, but in 1912 sold out to his nephew Elbridge Murphy, who now con- ducts it.
Mr. Murphy was married here in 1887 to Miss Emma Harris, a daughter of Theodore E. and Jessie Harris, the former a pioneer hardware merchant
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of Green Bay and the first man to sell a kerosene lamp in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy became the parents of a daughter, Emily, who is a graduate of the high school here and who resides with her father at No. 912 South Mad- ison street. The wife and mother died October 15, 1889, and was laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery. She left behind her a large circle of warm friends. Mrs. Harris, the mother of Mrs. Murphy, was widely and prom- inently known throughout the state as the regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution for Wisconsin.
Mr. Murphy belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the Knights of Pythias and is in hearty sympathy with the purposes of those organizations, which recognize that man owes a duty and obliga- tion to his fellowmen which each member is pledged to meet. In April, 1907, in connection with others, he purchased the old Green Bay Baseball Associa- tion, which they reorganized, Mr. Murphy becoming its president and still serving in that capacity. This association is a member of the Wisconsin- Illinois League. Mr. Murphy served for four terms as alderman of Green Bay, from 1888 to 1894 inclusive and from 1902 to 1904. Throughout the period of his residence in Green Bay his record has been one which has com- manded high regard and respect. He is honored by all, not alone by reason of the success which he has achieved, but owing to the straightforward busi- ness methods which he has ever followed, by reason of his fidelity to all that is worth while in community affairs, by his fidelity in friendship and his loyalty in citizenship.
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