USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 9
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On the 25th of October, 1875, Mr. De Both married Miss Johanna Wiers, who was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, September 21, 1859, a daughter of Lawrence and May Johanna (Van Camp) Wiers, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1854. They settled in Sheboygan and the father followed farming in Wilson township during the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. De Both have twelve children: Anton, who married Nettie De Brien, of Brown county, by whom he has eight chil- dren ; Louisa, who is a milliner in De Pere; Albert and Mary, who live at home; Sophia, the wife of Albert Secor, of De Pere, by whom she has one child; John, who resides in Dubuque, Iowa; and August. Helena. Harry, Rosella, Clara and Margaret, all of whom live at home. The fam- ily are devout adherents of the Roman Catholic church. In the capable management of his business interests Mr. De Both demonstrated the quali- ties upon which he founded his success-untiring industry, a comprehen- sive knowledge of business conditions, shrewd discrimination and ready recognition of opportunity.
AUSTIN F. OLMSTED.
Dr. Austin F. Olmsted is one of the oldest and most prominent physi- cians in Green Bay, being actively identified with the medical profession in that city since 1874. In 1902 his son, Dr. Austin O. Olmsted, received his medical degree and joined him in practice. They maintain offices at No. 404 Minahan building and are among the most successful and progressive physi- cians of the city.
The Olmsted family is of Welsh origin but was founded in this country prior to the Revolutionary war and several of its representatives fought in the Continental army. They made their home near Middlebury, Vermont, and it was there that Dr. Austin F. Olmsted was born July 20, 1843. His father, Juba Olmsted, was born August 15, 1807, and was married in 1829 to Miss Sarah K. Huston, by whom he had three children, namely : Wallace J., who became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church; Charles C., a physician ; and Austin F., of this review. It was in 1850 that the father came to Wisconsin and here he died four years later, being buried at Fond
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du Lac. By occupation he was a farmer. The Huston family has been in America for several generations and was represented in the War of 1812 by Robert Huston. Mrs. Juba Olmsted came to Wisconsin with her husband and died in this state in 1899 when she was ninety-two years of age.
Dr. A. F. Olmsted received his early education in the public schools of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and left the high school in that city at the age of fifteen years. He immediately assumed the management of his mother's farm and was also employed in a large grocery store of Fond du Lac until 1871. In that year he determined to take up the study of medicine and entered the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College. He received his medical degree from that institution in 1874 and came at once to Green Bay. He has practiced here continuously since that time and is the oldest physician in the city. He is a doctor of the old school, believing it his duty to give his personal supervision to each individual patient. He regards his medical affairs as weighty responsibilities and has never been found wanting in their fulfillment. He is a constant reader and his medical knowledge is mod- ern and up-to-date. His success is a result of earnest endeavor and innate ability combined with thirty-eight years of constant experience.
On October 21, 1863, Dr. Olmsted was united in marriage to Miss Har- riett Sylvester, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Sylvester, pioneer settlers of Fond du Lac. To Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted were born three children : Min- nie E., who died in 1899 and was buried in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; Clara K., the wife of Henry K. Ericksen, cashier of the Green Bay Bank ; and Austin O., now a practicing physician in Green Bay. The family residence is at No. 212 South Adams street and is a pleasant and comfortable home which has been recently remodeled.
In his political affiliations Dr. Olmsted is a republican but has never taken a very active part in public affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Foresters and gives much of his time and attention to the affairs of the Wisconsin State and the American Homeo- pathic Societies. He holds membership in the Union Congregational church of Green Bay and is a regular attendant.
AUSTIN O. OLMSTED, M. D.
Dr. Austin O. Olmsted, who is now associated with his father in the practice of medicine in Green Bay, was born in this city, January 1, 1881, and received his primary education in the public schools. He was graduated from the Green Bay high school in 1898 and started immediately upon the study of medicine, having determined to make the practice of this profes- sion his life work. He attended Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in Chicago and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1902. Returning to his native city he established his offices with his father at No. 404 Mina- han building, where they are still located. Dr. Austin O. Olmsted has never depended upon his father's distinguished reputation to make his own career successful, but he has himself those qualities which are the foundations of
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prosperity and eminence in the medical profession. His success during his ten years of practice in Green Bay has been well deserved and the number of his patients is constantly increasing as his ability and proficiency become better known. He is prominent in the affairs of the various medical associa- tions with which he is affiliated, holding membership in the Brown County Medical and the Fox River Valley Medical Societies, in the State Medical Association and the State Homeopathic Association.
On November 4, 1903. Dr. Austin O. Olmsted was united in marriage in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Miss Lillian Hughes, a daughter of Judge E. J. and Mary E. Hughes. To them have been born two daughters, Lillian and Jane, who live with their parents at No. 318 South Jefferson avenue in a beautiful home which Dr. Olmsted purchased some time ago.
Dr. Olmsted has served for three years as a member of the Green Bay board of education. He belongs to Washington Lodge No. 21, F. & A. M .; Warren Chapter, R. A. M. ; and Palestine Commandery. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is prominent in fraternal circles of Green Bay. Like his father he is a firm believer in the principles of homeopathy and has always practiced medicine according to those principles.
WILLIAM PERRY WAGNER.
The banks of a city are a fair index of its commercial prosperity. They are the pulse of the municipality and active factors in public affairs. They direct the policies of corporations and the principles of great business con- cerns. Their financial soundness spreads commerce and upholds our cities. Such institutions require for their direction and management men of ex- ceptional business ability and William Perry Wagner, vice president of the Citizens National Bank of Green Bay, is a man well fitted by nature and at- tainments for the responsible position he fills. He was born in Mount Mor- ris, Illinois, March 5, 1859, a son of Reuben and Leah ( Brubaker ) Wagner. The family is of German lineage but has been in America since prerevolu- tionary times. Our subject's paternal grandfather lived first in Maryland but later went west and located on a farm in Oregon, Ogle county, Illinois. Reuben Wagner, the father of our subject, remained in Illinois during his entire life and for sometime was engaged in the live stock commission busi- ness in Chicago as a member of the firm of Wagoner Brothers & Company. Prior to this he had been in partnership with John R. Bensley under the firm name of Bensley & Wagner, his partner being chairman of the committee which built the present Board of Trade building in Chicago. From that city Mr. Wagner removed to Polo, Illinois, where he engaged in the grain and lumber business. He died at Mount Morris, in October, 1907, at the age of seventy-five years, having survived his wife since 1876. They are both buried at Polo. Illinois. The Brubaker family from which William P. Wag- ner is descended on the maternal side, settled in Pennsylvania at a very early date but removed to Pine creek, Illinois, in 1830. John Brubaker, an uncle of our subject served as lieutenant in the Civil war. Three members of the
WILLIAM P. WAGNER
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON LEMAY 140
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Wagner family were officers in the Federal army. David C. Wagner served during the entire four years as major. Benjamin R. held the position of captain and Nehemiah was a lieutenant.
William Perry Wagner received his early education in the public schools of Polo and later attended business college in Chicago, which he left at the age of eighteen years to accept a position in the office of the general agent of the Charter Oak Life Insurance Company of Chicago, serving in the ca- pacity of clerk for one year. He then spent several years as an employe in various banks of Ogle county, Illinois, and Chicago, where he learned the banking business in all its details and laid the foundations for his success- ful career in Green Bay, to which city he came in 1886. For two years he held the position of teller in the Kellogg National Bank, resigning in 1888 to organize the Citizens National Bank of which he was first elected cashier, holding that office until 1907, when he was made vice president, in which capacity he is still serving. This bank is now the largest in Green Bay, the volume of business transacted over its counter being ex- tensive.
Mr. Wagner is a man of keen discrimination and good business ability. His interests are not confined to the city in which he is residing, although he is loyal and public spirited and a firm believer in the future prosperity of Green Bay. He is vice president of the State Bank of Kiel, Wisconsin, and a director in the National Produce Bank of Chicago. He has invested at dif- ferent times in various local enterprises in which a broad knowledge and faculty for organization have won him a conspicuous place. He is now president of the Northern Paper Mills of Green Bay, which is recognized as one of the most flourishing enterprises of the kind in this section of the country and which employs on an average of one hundred people in its dif- ferent departments. He is president and a director of the Lead Abstract Company of Green Bay and has served two terms on the local school board.
Mr. Wagner was twice married. On January 12, 1881, he wedded Miss Emma Whitcomb, of Freeport, Illinois, a daughter of Dr. Whitcomb, a prominent physician of that city. She died December 29th of the same year leaving one son, Paul W. Wagner, now treasurer and manager of the Kiel (Wisconsin) Cheese & Butter Company, and holding the same positions in the Plymouth Cheese Company at Plymouth, Wisconsin. Mr. Wagner's second marriage occurred October 17, 1888, at Polo, Illinois, when he wed- ced Miss Anna Shumway, a daughter of Romanzo G. and Eugenia ( Palmer) Shumway. Her father was a prominent banker with many business inter- ests in northern Illinois. His death occurred in March, 1908. and that of his wife two months later, both being buried in the cemetery at Polo, Illinois. Mr. Wagner has two children by his second marriage; Perry, who was a student at the Evans School for Boys at Mesa, Arizona, and the Wisconsin State University and now a salesman for the Northern Paper Mills ; and Eugenia, a graduate of the preparatory school of Stanley Hall, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mr. Wagner is one of the leading citizens in Green Bay at the present time, being prominent in business, educational and social circles. He is a
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member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a charter mem- ber of the Green Bay Country Club. In 1906 he erected the beautiful home at No. 1030 South Monroe avenue in which he is now living. His citizen- ship is of a high order and is founded upon qualities of progressive industry, honorable business methods, keen discrimination and an upright character. Men of this type are rare in any city and the future of Green Bay will be promoted as a result of the life and work of William Perry Wagner.
MICHAEL J. COUGHLIN.
Michael J. Coughlin is superintendent of the Northwestern Quarry, located on Duck creek, in Howard township, and has held this position since 1903. He has shown not only a familiarity with the details of quarrying and a general business ability but also a power of management and control, a temperate judgment and a fine discrimination which make him an ideal man in his position and equal to his important duties.
Mr. Coughlin is a native of Minnesota, born in Mankato, October 12, 1870. His father, Patrick Coughlin, was born in Ireland, March 17, 1826, and came to America when he was twenty-six years of age, settling in New York, where he remained for twelve years. He then journeyed westward, locating in La Crosse, Wisconsin, whence he traveled by train to St. Paul, Minnesota, and by boat to Mankato, where he took up government land and began its clearing and cultivation. He was one of the factors in the develop- ment of Minnesota and was a splendid type of the sturdy and rugged pioneer. He always strove to do his duty in every aspect of his life and was not only a good business man and farmer but also an honored veteran of the Civil war. When hostilities broke out he enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served for three and one-half years, taking part in most of the important engagements and serving with distinction and ability until his discharge. He then resumed farming and from the timber which he felled upon his property he built a log cabin in which the subject of this sketch was born. He gradually brought his land to a high state of improvement and development. When he became interested in the stone quarry business he showed the same resourcefulness and busi- ness ability which marked his farming operations and soon gained a gratify- ing success. He opened the first stone quarry in Mankato, working in the interests of the Mayfield Battie Company, and became prominent and well known in that line of activity. Later he was interested in contracting and building, doing important construction work throughout the west. He died March 17. 1912. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Eliza Whalen and was born in Lee county, Virginia, in 1829. She died December 4, 1903. In their family were eight children, Sarah, Mary, James, Lucille, Michael J., Catherine, Agnes and Jennie.
Michael J. Coughlin was educated in the public schools of his native city and was later graduated from the Mankato high school. He took a course in St. Peter & Paul's College, pursuing his studies through the winter
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months and working during the summer. At this time he turned his atten- tion to learning bricklaying and stone-cutting, and was active in both lines for three years. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with his father, which relation continued for five years, and he then worked as fore- man and inspector for different railroad companies, having charge of their construction gangs. For twenty-two years he followed that occupation and only abandoned it in order to accept the position of superintendent of the Northwestern Quarry in Howard township, this county. He entered upon his duties in 1903 and has since served in that capacity, meeting with a degree of success which is the natural result of his ability and efficiency. He has invested in property in Texas, Minneapolis and Mankato, the income from which is an important addition to his resources.
On June 28. 1906, Mr. Coughilin was united in marriage to Miss Nellie De Lonn, a daughter of Adolph and Eliza De Lonn, who were early settlers in Howard township. Here her father died in 1904 when he was fifty-eight years of age, but her mother is still living at the age of sixty. Mr. and Mrs. Coughlin have two children, Eliza and Catherine.
In his political views Mr. Coughlin is a consistent democrat but has never, sought public office. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church and is a charter member of Mankato Lodge. No. 225, B. P. O. E. Ambitious and energetic, he seeks his success in a business way and is well equipped by experience and efficiency for his present responsible position. He is still in the prime of life with many years of forceful and vital work before him, although the success he has already gained entitles him to rank among the prosperous and representative men of his community.
ROBERT LAMBIE JACKSON.
Robert L. Jackson, a well known blacksmith of West De Pere, his na- tive city, was born April 6, 1870. His father, Thomas Jackson, is a native of Scotland, born in Ayrshire, and is still living at the age of eighty years. He came to America at the age of twenty-one and settled in De Pere, Brown county, Wisconsin, where he followed the blacksmith trade until his retirement. He married Miss Janet Lambie and they have three chil- dren still living: Anna, the wife of M. Bomier, of Proctor, Minnesota ; Margaret, now Mrs. James Ogilvie, of Appleton; and Robert L., of this review.
Robert Jackson attended the public schools of West De Pere and im- mediately after laying aside his books, joined his father in blacksmithing, which he has followed since that time. Upon his father's retirement he assumed ownership and management of the shop and is today an expert workman, his skill in his chosen calling having brought him a liberal pat- ronage.
Mr. Jackson has been twice married. His first wife was in her maiden- hood Miss Evelyn Sheehan, who was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, a daughter of Daniel Sheehan. By this union was born one son, Thomas.
L
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Mr. Jackson's second marriage was with Miss Millie Houle, who was born in Lawrence township about the year 1874.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Jackson has always been identified with his present line of work and is well known and highly esteemed as a man of strict integrity and undoubted ability. He is a supporter of the republican party as is also his father.
JOHN BROGAN.
Perhaps in this volume there is no history which indicates more clearly what is meant by the term self-made man than does the life record of John Brogan. It is such a record as everywhere commands admiration, respect and honor, for he has been both the architect and builder of his own for- tunes and has come to rank with the foremost business men and citizens of Green Bay. He is now senior partner of the firm of John Brogan & Com- pany, engaged in railroad construction. and is also at the head of several allied companies. He established his offices in Green Bay in 1907, now occu- pying a well appointed suite of rooms in the Minahan building.
Mr. Brogan was born in the township of Holland, Brown county, Feb- ruary 8, 1865, and is a son of John and Ann Brogan. The father came from Ireland in 1852, first settling in Pennsylvania, and later he took up his abode in Holland township. Brown county, in 1858, there following the occupation of farming. His wife died in October, 19to, and was laid to rest in St. Patrick's cemetery in Eskeaton. The father is still living on the old farm.
John Brogan acquired his education in the schools of his native town- ship, pursuing his studies to the age of fifteen years, yet during that time assisting his father on the farm. He afterward began work as a laborer on the Milwaukee Northern Railroad, which is now a part of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad. When the season had passed he went to Ford River, Michigan, in the employ of the Ford River Lumber Company, going into the woods as cook's helper. He there became acquainted with the duties of such a position and afterward cooked in lumber camps and boarding houses. He was thus engaged until September, 1893, when he took up the boarding business upon a different system of railroad boarding and eating houses, maintaining boarding cars on railroads, especially on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. The business grew to large proportions, becoming a thoroughly organized and systematized enterprise, which he conducted successfully until 1910. During that period, in 1903, he took up railroad contracting and street paving work and has developed his business into logging, railroad construction, concrete dam work, bridge work and sewer building. During the summer of 1911 he built a dam, pulp mill and power house at Flat Rock river, near Escanaba, Michigan, for the Escanaba Trac- tion Company. He formed a partnership under the firm name of Brogan & White in 1904, conducting business under the style of the Western Board-
JOHN BROGAN
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ADIDA, LEANX AND TILDER FOUNDATIONE
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ing & Supply Company, with offices at No. 125 La Salle street, Chicago. Under this company the business was enlarged and expanded so as to run boarding cars on other railroads, including the New York Central Railroad, Lake Shore & Michigan Central Railroad. Chicago & Alton Railroad, Indi- ana Harbor and the Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Line. This business and company existed until February, 1910, when Mr. Brogan sold his interest therein. He then became president of the White Construction Company, of which he was the organizer. He was also the vice president of the National Construction Company of Fond du Lac in 1909 and 1910. He is now senior partner of the firm of Brogan, Calnan & Riley, engaged in railroad con-
struction work ; of Brogan & Rich, doing concrete construction, dam and bridge work ; and Brogan & Boland, logging jobbers, dealers in timber lands, logs and pulp wood. All these are allied interests, which contribute to the sum total of his success, whereby he has become recognized as one of the foremost business men of Green Bay and his section of the state. He is also a director of the McCartney National Bank.
On the 27th of September, 1893, at Stark, Wisconsin, Mr. Brogan was united in marriage to Miss Mary Burns, of Cooperstown, Wisconsin, a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Hayden) Burns. The father came from Ireland in 1852 and purchased government land at Chilton, Wisconsin. There he followed farming and lumbering but he and his wife are now residents of Stark, Manitowoc county. Mr. and Mrs. Brogan are the parents of six children: Mary, a graduate of St. Joseph's Academy; Hugh, who is attending school; and John, Rosella, Bridget and Margaret, all at home. Mr. Brogan is now erecting the finest residence in Green Bay at the corner of Dousman and Ashland avenue.
In politics he is independent, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He has served as chairman of the town of Lac du Flambeau and has been a member of the county board of Vilas county. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Catholic Knights of Wis- consin. His has been a very active life. He has never faltered in the per- formance of any duty that has devolved upon him and his energy has enabled him to overcome various difficulties and obstacles. Gradually he has worked his way upward to success and the course that he has followed commands the highest respect, indicating what may be accomplished when determination and energy lead the way.
WILLIAM LARSEN.
Among the men who are prominent factors in the business activity of Green Bay is William Larsen, who since 1897 has been president of the Green Bay Water Works. He has various commercial and financial inter- ests, being for years one of the most extensive shippers of the county, and he is recognized as one of the most progressive leaders in business affairs of Green Bay. He became a resident of this city in 1857, being then a little lad
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of about seven years, his birth having occurred in Buffalo, New York, May 29, 1850. His parents were Ole and Rachel Larsen, the former a native of Norway, whence he came to the new world in 1845, settling first in Buffalo, New York. In 1857 he made his way to Green Bay, where he embarked in general merchandising, continuing active in business circles of this city until his life's labors were ended in death in 1873. His wife survived him for about nineteen years and passed away in 1892, when she was laid by his side in a cemetery in Door county.
William Larsen attended the country schools until fifteen years of age and then spent one year at Appleton College. He began his business career as head clerk in the general store of M. E. Tremble & Company at Suamico, with full charge of the store and books, filling that position for four years. At the age of twenty he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Krouse and settled in Fort Howard, where, having saved seven hundred dollars. he opened a grocery store in partnership with M. C. Johnson. At the end of seven years they sold out and Mr. Larsen next engaged in the general ship- ping business, handling fruit, produce, hay, etc., which enterprise gradually expanded until it amounted in 1897 to over five hundred thousand dollars per annum, and during the busy season his pay roll amounted to over seven thousand dollars per month. In 1892 he established a canning business. which is now the largest in the city, constituting one of the important pro- ductive industries of Green Bay, its output being sent over a wide territory, and by reason of the extent of its patronage it furnishes employment to many operatives. On the organization of the McCartney National Bank Mr. Larsen became its first vice president and a director and was subse- quently made president, but finally resigned that position and again accepted the office of vice president.
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