USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 58
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Joseph is a member of the Elks, K. of C., F. R. A. and Moose lodges. Peter Frisch is affiliated with the Loyal Order of Moose. Both proprietors attend St. John's Catholic church.
The Frisch Brothers are known over a wide area because of their well conducted business. In the spring of 1922 they installed an ideal water tube sys- tem to heat their plant, now one of the best in upper Wisconsin.
W. J. SCHERF. Among the pioneer manufactur- ers and early settlers of Langlade County, W. J. Scherf holds a rightful place. He was born in Man- itowoc County, Wisconsin, on October 17, 1879, the son of Joseph and Mary Scherf. When but two months old he moved with his father and mother and the children of the family to Melnik, Neva township. The Scherf family was one of the first in Melnik vil- lage, then a wilderness. W. J. Scherf attended the Melnik schools and in the time intervening aided his father on the farm. He started in saw mill work when a youth and has since been employed at Melnik, Neva, Koepenick, Elcho, and Washburn, Wisconsin, in large saw mills. He rose to the important posi-
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tion of carriage rider, setter and also learned the filing business. Mr. Scherf operated a general store and cheese factory at Melnik or Star Neva. He ran the store two years alone before becoming associated with his brother, Louis W. Between them they con- ducted the store, cheese factory and blacksmith shop and for four years operated the saw mill. (This mill was the original Duchac mill, the first one in Neva township).
Mr. Scherf is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Antigo, Wis. His mother is still living, and at present is with her son, Stephen Scherf, of Neva township.
Mr. Scherf secured a United States patent on Aug- ust 30, 1920, on an excellent fumigating container called "The Essence of Health", which destroys germs and is an excellent remedy against influenza. He is now manufacturing and distributing the product which can be easily carried in the vest pocket.
Reared in Langlade Courty from infancy Mr. Scherf has witnessed its steady and surprising growth for the past forty-two years.
OTTO KLESSIG. A prominent Ackley township farmer, who has been a resident of Langlade County for the past thirty-two years, is Otto Klessig, who was born on June 11, 1859, the son of Louis Klessig. When nine years of age he moved with his parents from the town of Mosel, Sheboygan County, Wiscon- sin, his birthplace, to Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The Klessigs stayed there for almost twenty years and then in February, 1890, moved to Antigo, Lang- lade County, Wisconsin. Otto Klessig took over the branch office of the Pabst Brewing Company, with which organization he was affiliated for thirteen years. He then went farming and after three years became a valued employee of the Citizens Brewing Company, where he remained for six years. He then took up farming in Ackley township and followed that occu- pation for seven years. He sold his farm in 1919 and moved to Antigo, now residing at 224 Tenth Avenue.
Mr. Klessig was united in marriage on May 28, 1895, to Miss Eleanore Berner. To this union four child- ren, Max, Earl, Linda and Harold, were born. Mr. Klessig and family attend the Unity Evangelical church of Antigo. Fraternally he is a member of the Beavers Reserve Fund Fraternity.
EDWIN HENRY MARSH, Nurseryman, was born at Bonus, Boone County, Illinois, December 26, 1869. Moved with his father, H. F. Marsh, to Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1871. Here he attended school until fifteen years of age. Moved then with parents to Faulkton, Falk County, South Dakota, in 1886. Worked on his father's farm until February, 1889, when, with his parents, moved to Antigo. He worked in the old Badger saw mill; summer of 1889 delivered for Hessel & Leykom Hardware Company. In 1890 went to Cedar Rapids, Michigan. Worked in saw mills of Jesse Spaulding Lumber Company. Oc-
tober, 1890, went with Herman, Becklinger & Herman to Duluth, Minnesota, to aid in erecting mill and fac- tory. December 11, 1890, fell with a staging and four men from elevation of twenty-five feet. In hos- pital, unable to work, eight months. Worked in har- vest fields Grand Forks, N. D., in 1881, returning to Antigo in November. Worked then for Marsh Bros. & Chase, (C. O. Marsh, W. H. Marsh and G. E. Chase). Served as Night Police under Mayors J. F. Albers and Geo. W. Hill. Was Deputy Sheriff and Turn- Key under ex-Sheriff Chas. Thompson. From 1900 to 1906 was freight conductor on B. & O. February 23, 1906, had misfortune of having left thumb ampu- tated in accident on that road. Mr. Marsh engaged in the restaurant business at Cumberland, N. D., 1906- 1909; shipping clerk in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1909-1913. After illness returned to Antigo in July, 1915. As- sociated with his father, rioneer nurseryman, for years. Father died in January. 1917. Mr. Marsh received Republican nomination for Register of Deeds in 1918, 1920 and 1922. He is residing at 923 Arctic street, Antigo, Wis.
JOHN E. MALTBY was born December 30, 1859, in the town of Clay, N. Y .. He attended the McClean, N. Y., public schools and then moved to Wisconsin with his parents when six years old, settling at Stock- bridge, Calumet County. He worked as a farm hand until twenty-one, went to Kirkland County, Illinois, to farm, worked in lumber industry near Merrill, Lin- coln County, operated a hotel at Gravesville, Calu- met County, and then moved to Peck township, Lang- lade County, where he settled on a farm. He re- turned to Stockbridge but came back to Peck, settling on Section 30. Here he stayed until 1892, when he came to Antigo. He now is a member of the Maltby & Maltby firm. Mr. Maltby was married to Annie Foley, a public school teacher, March 25, 1884. To this union ten children, eight of whom are living, were born. Those living are: Arthur, residing at 1227 Fifth Avenue; Mrs. Myrtle Bean, Mable, Amos, John, Lewis, James and Evelyn .. Mrs. Maltby passed away October 1, 1919. Her remains were interred in the Antigo cemetery.
ROBERT W. ZOBEL, prominent merchant, was born in the city of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, the son of Louise and Robert Zobel, June 9, 1881. He lived at Oshkosh during his school days and early youth, coming to Antigo on August 5, 1901, to accept a position as law stenographer with Henry Hay, At- torney. A year later, in December, 1902, Mr. Zobel formed a co-partnership with George O. Palmiter, en- gaging in the retail furniture and undertaking busi- ness under the firm name of Palmiter & Zobel, taking over the business previously known as Palmiter & Son. In 1904 Edward McCandless purchased the in- terest of George O. Palmiter in the firm and it has since been known as McCandless & Zobel Furniture & Undertaking Company, 717 Fifth Avenue. The business was incorporated March 6, 1916 under the
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laws of Wisconsin. Mr. Zobel was married on No- vember 4, 1907, to Meda Lewins. The Zobel resi- dence is at 929 Clermont street. Robert W. Zobel, in twenty years, has served successfully in various ca- pacities. He was the first official Municipal Court Reporter of Langlade County, serving under Judge John E. Martin. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Langlade National Bank since February 10, 1919. Mr. Zobel is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and is treasurer of the church organization.
IZZE COHEN. Perhaps it is true that each indi- vidual is born with one natural gift, but not every one seeks to discover it, or, finding it, has the oppor- tunity to nurture or develop it. History and biog- raphy prove, however, that many of the most success- ful and brilliant careers in the direction of law, medi- cine, church, commerce or literature, have felt the natural bent for their life work in youth. Here and there are found those, who, at the open door of man- hood, find also the door open to their chosen field of effort. In this connection respectful attention is call- ed to Izze Cohen, who has gained a prominent place among the business and commercial leaders of the county. Mr. Cohen was born in Russia, the son of David and Fannie Cohen, on March 18, 1887. When sixteen years of age he imigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago. Here he began his life work. He entered as an apprentice in a ladies' tailoring es- tablishment, following which he rose to the position of manager of Friend Brothers store at State and Mad- ison streets. He stayed in Chicago until 1913 when he came to Antigo and opened up The Style Shop, in the McDonald building. Harry Aberman was his associate in this business from 1913 to 1916, when Mr. Cohen then purchased his interest, thus being sole proprietor of the business, which he since has been very successful with.
Mr. Cohen was married on October 21, 1911, in Chicago, to Miss Fannie Kaplan, to which union three children were born: Martin H., age 9; Benjamin, age 6; Irvin, age 18 months. The Cohen family re- sides at 433 Clermont street. Mr. Cohen is a member of the B'nae Breth, the Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose fraternities.
CHRIS ADRAKTAS. America has ever been look- ed upon as the land of opportunity. Among the thousands of Europeans who have crossed the Atlan- tic ocean to become citizens of America a lad nineteen years of age one day walked from the gangplank of an oceanic steamer to seek his fortune in a new world. This lad, ambitious and thrifty, in time became fully absorbed in American ideals and customs. He was a native of Agoralecha, Greece, where in 1885 he was born, the son of George and Anastasia Adraktas. For six months he stayed in New York and then mov- ed westward to Chicago where he was employed in some of the best known of United States
hotels, including the Congress Hotel. He spent seven years (1905-1912) in Chicago, and on May 12, 1912, started a confectionery and ice cream parlor at Oconto, Wisconsin. In 1913 he erected a modern structure to house his business there and on June 20, 1915, fire, which came from an adjacent building, was respons- ible for his business being burned to the ground. Mr. Adraktas then visited Antigo, decided to locate here, and on June 19, 1915, with $200 as his only capital, except much energy and grit, he opened the Adraktas Sweet Shop, which since has been very successful. Two years later he purchased the Daskam block, a splendid two-story brick structure in which he has his business, flats, office rooms and a lodge room and dance hall. This business is at 805-07 Fifth avenue. Mr. Adraktas employes seven to eight employees on an average annually.
He was married on August 9, 1916, to Charlotte Nelson, of Chicago, Illinois. They reside at 1230 Superior street, which residence was purchased from F. Kester in 1921.
Fraternally Mr. Adraktas is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.
ERNEST ADRAKTAS was born on April 10, 1892, the son of George and Anastasia Adraktas, of Agoral- echa, Greece. He came to the United States when sixteen years of age, settling in Chicago, where he was employed five to six years. He moved to Oconto to be in the employ of his brother Chris Adraktas, whom he is now with. He has been employed also at numerous places, including Fond du Lac, and places in North Dakota, Indiana and Minnesota, as well as Antigo.
He enlisted May 25, 1918, in Co. A, 243rd Infantry and served at Camp Logan, Texas. He was honor- ably discharged from service on December 3, 1918, and resumed his employment in Antigo, as candy- maker for the Adraktas Sweet Shop.
VERNON J. McHALE, a prominent young Attor- ney-at-Law, son of James and Katherine (Byrne) Mc- Hale, well known Antigo residents, was born on Aug- ust 25, 1897. As a boy and youth he attended the parochial schools of Antigo and the Antigo High School, from which he graduated in 1917. He then entered Marquette University where he took up the law course, which he completed in 1921. He re- turned to Antigo and on September 12, 1921, began the practice of law, opening up an office in the Lewis building, where he is now located.
During his short career as an attorney he has made numerous friends and has won many cases of import- ance. He is a member of Delta Theta Phi, National legal fraternity. In 1922 he was urged by many of his friends and neighbors to become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for District Attorney of Langlade County and in a close race defeated T. J. Reinert, then District Attorney. The race Attorney McHale made was the biggest surprise of the elec- tion. He is now a candidate, at this writing, for that
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office of responsibility and trust, and is making a strenuous campaign to be elected.
Fraternally Attorney McHale is a member of An- tigo Council No. 1002, Knights of Columbus.
One of the youngest practicing attorneys in Wis- consin, his future is bright and full of promise for an unusual success, as he is now rapidly building up a substantial practice.
JOSEPH BOLL. A well-known Antigo lumberman, who has been a resident of Langlade County since 1882 is Joseph Boll, who was born on August 16, 1878, at Clark's Mills, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. When four years of age he moved with his parents to Antigo, then a small village. Here he grew to man- hood, having during his boyhood attended the par- ochial schools and the Antigo High School.
From his youth he has followed the lumbering busi- ness, working at one time with the late B. F. Dorr, first civil engineer of the city, as a surveyor and cruis- er, for six years. He was twelve years associated with the Kingsbury & Henshaw lumber company as their foreman and since the reorganization of the Hen- shaw Lumber Company has remained as foreman of the plant.
Mr. Boll was married in November, 1899, to Mary Yentz. To this union six children were born. They are Roy, born on June 25; Lila, born August 4; Iola, born January 9; Clayton born July 17; Marie, born May 4, and Chester, born September 4.
Fraternally Mr. Boll is a member of the Eagles, and Antigo lodge No. 662 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Boll residence is at 206 South Clermont street.
Mr. Boll takes a keen interest in sports, is a lover of the great out-of-doors, and delights in spending a day or two at a good trout stream or a week in the tall timber during the deer hunting season.
MATHEW E. PERSON. Price township has many influential and thrifty citizens among whom the name of Mathew E. Person is respected and held in esteem. Mr. Person, who is proprietor of the Bryant Garage, was born in Littlesand, Norway, the son of Anna and Thorwald Person. When two years of age he came to America with his parents, who settled in Price township. Here Mr. Person grew to manhood. He attended the Bryant graded schools and engaged in the occupation of farmer until he was nineteen years old. He then entered Greer College of Motoring, Chicago, Ill., from which he graduated in 1917. He then was employed for nine months by the Four Wheel Drive Truck Company, of Clintonville, follow- ing which he returned to Bryant just before entering the services of the United States during the World War. While at Bryant he engaged in automobile repair work. He enlisted on September 2, 1918, and serv- ed in the 1st Ordnance Company, attached to the 85th Division and was stationed at Penniman, Va. He received his honorable discharge on March 14, 1919.
Mr. Person was married on June 15, 1921, to Miss Florence Lambrechts. They make their home in Bryant, where, in 1920, Mr. Person erected the Bryant Garage, a prosperous business of which he can feel proud. Besides a general repairing of automobiles the garage is an authorized Ford Service Station.
Mr. Person's mother passed away on November 4, 1912, and is at rest in the Bent cemetery, Price town- ship. His father, Thorwald Person, still resides in Price, which he has aided materially in developing.
The Persons are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
GEORGE JOHN MANTHEY. Leaders, it is said, are ordinary persons, with extraordinary determina- tion. Among the leaders in the commercial field in Antigo is George John Manthey, better known as The Farmer Boy, who has the distinction of producing a splendid business in flour, feed, grains, groceries and general farm produce on the site of the first store in Antigo. He was born at Ripon, Wisconsin, on March 20, 1884, the son of Anna (Rutkoski) and F. E. Man- they, the first of eight children. When but an infant he came to Antigo with his parents, his father estab- lishing himself in business as a tailor, the second in Antigo. As soon as the new settlers arrived F. E. Manthey, with his characteristic determination, set about to find a place to reside. A little frame build- ing was used as their first home in Antigo. The
Greisch building now covers the place where it stood.
Young George attended the parochial schools of Antigo and after receiving an elementary education started out into the world to seek his own fortune. He engaged in various occupations, including agri- culture, having owned a farm for three years in An- tigo township. He was also employed in railroad shops and manufacturing institutions.
He started to work for the Antigo Cash Grocery in 1916 and three years later started a flour and feed and grocery business for himself. On September 16, 1919, he purchased the property of A. N. Anderson at 610 Superior street and in October, 1919, was es- tablished in business there. (A. N. Anderson is a son of Niels Anderson, first Antigo merchant). This business he originally opened up on Fifth Ave- nue but a short time before purchasing the Anderson property.
George Manthey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Cherf on August 15, 1911, to which union four children were born. They are Bernardine, born May 20, 1913; Georgia, born January 18, 1915; John, born April 8, 1919 and Richard, born December 28, 1921.
Mr. and Mrs. Manthey and children are members of St. Mary's church. Fraternally Mr. Manthey is a member of the Mystic Workers of the World. He is a great believer in optimism and an enthusiastic booster of practical progress in Antigo. While An- tigo should be generally advertised to the outside world, Mr. Manthey believes also that the city and county should be better advertised to the citizens within its borders.
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Rev. John Cherf, a brother of Mrs. George Man- they, was ordained on November 15, 1918. Rev. Cherf belongs to the Order of St. Benedict. He is now teaching theology and philosophy in St. Proco- pius College, Lisle, Illinois. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University.
SAM B. ULLMAN, prominent citizen, identified with many business enterprises, was born May 16, 1881, at Appleton, Wisconsin, the son of Pauline and Joseph Ullman. He attended the public schools and in 1899 graduated from the Appleton High School.
is a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank, with which he has been connected for four years, is Treasurer of the Northern Timber Cor- poration, Big Bay, Michigan, the owner of several of the largest and best farms in Langlade County, as well as several large blocks of cut-over land. Mr. Ullman owned the Metcalf, Humble and Ogden farms but is now in possession of only the Humble farm. He is the owner of the Ullman building, intersection of Fifth Avenue and Superior street. During the war he acted as Vice President of the Antigo Red Cross Chapter, was a member of the Antigo Militia League
SAM B. ULLMAN resident of Antigo for nearly twenty-five years, who has been in charge of the J. U'llman & Company business since 1900, is a member of the directorate of the First National Bank, an extensive real estate owner and has been often suggested as the logical citizen for Mayor of Antigo.
In 1900 Mr. Ullman came to Antigo where he took charge of the J. Ullman & Company business, which is one of the pioneer Langlade County enterprises, having been established in 1882. Offices are located at 721 Fourth Avenue. Sam B Ullman was married to Lucile Stein of Chicago, Ill., in September, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Ullman have two children, Frederick and Tom. Mr. Ullman is a member of the B. P. O. E. of which he has been Exalted Ruler for eight terms, and is a member of the Masonic lodge. He has been actively connected with many business organizations ;
of which he was an officer and actively participated in all campaigns for war funds including the Victory Loan. He was urged several times in the public press and through petitions presented to him by ad- miring citizens to become a candidate for Mayor of Antigo. This honor he has declined. The Ullman family reside at 1223 Superior street, Antigo, Wis.
FRANK AUGUSTINE. One of the well known residents of Antigo, who has been engaged in the re- tail liquor and soft drink business for many years, is
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Frank Augustine, who came to Antigo in May, 1910. Mr. Augustine was born in the town of Kossuth, Man- itowoc County, Wisconsin, the son of Anna and Peter Augustine, on August 20, 1877. He attended the rural schools of his native township and then engaged in agricultural work until twenty-six years of age. He left home at seventeen and purchased a farm in the township, which he sold later to engage in the retail liquor business in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He traded the saloon for another farm in Kossuth town- ship where he farmed two and a half years, return- ing then to Sheboygan from where he moved to Mer- rill. He farmed in Lincoln County for two years and then came to Antigo in May, 1910. He rented forty acres of land in Antigo township, then worked for W. J. Mattek for over four years, and a short time for William Reader. He then entered the employ of An- ton Kraus and in 1920 purchased the Jos. J. Du- quette soft drink parlor in Antigo, which he conducted until July 3, 1922, when he sold out.
Mr. Augustine was married to Mary Stuck on Dec- ember 30, 1901, to which union nine children were born. Mr. Augustine is a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and the family attends St. John's church, Antigo, Wisconsin.
The Augustine residence is at 320 Elm street, An- tigo. Mr. Augustine is a graduate of the College of Agriculture Dairy School, University of Wisconsin, from which he received his diploma in 1900.
THOMAS E. CAVANAUGH. The trials of the pioneers of Langlade County were discouraging, thus only settlers of a courageous spirit weathered the storms and hardships of the new settlers' life. Among the early settlers in Antigo township was the Edward Cavanaugh family. Thomas Cavanaugh, the subject of this sketch, was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on August 30, 1866, the son of Edward and Margaret (Kevin) Cavanaugh, and was the oldest child in the family. When a boy of fourteen years he moved to the town of Antigo with his parents, arriving in that township on November 1, 1881. Previously, in 1879, Edward Cavanaugh had purchased a farm in section 6 of Antigo township, then called Springbrook town- ship. For eight years young Thomas lived on the farm, clearing the forests, cutting wood, cultivating the crops and doing other work necessary. Then the family moved into Antigo, a growing little city. Thomas had but a meagre education, having attended the Third Ward School, Appleton, Wis., and spent one winter in an Ackley township rural school. He worked in the woods, on farms, sawmills, one winter with Val. P. Rath, veteran County Clerk, and was employed on a M. L. S. & W. work train in 1885. In 1886 he began his career as a railroad brakeman, be- ginning that work in November, 1886. Three years later, 1889, he was promoted to Night Yard Master and in June, 1891, received another promotion, being transferred to Milwaukee, where he was until Febru- ary 2, 1906, when he was returned to Antigo to as- sume full charge as Yard Master of the Antigo yards
of the C. & N. W. R. R. Co., which position he has maintained as a reward for responsibility and service.
Mr. Cavanaugh was married on February 20, 1895, to Ellen Buckley, then of Milwaukee, but a native of Canada. Six children were born, four of whom are now living. Marie and Ileen are deceased. The other children are Edward, James, Alice and Kath- leen. The devoted wife of Mr. Cavanaugh passed away on February 4, 1912. The Cavanaugh resi- dence is at 622 Lincoln street.
Fraternally Mr. Cavanaugh is a member of Antigo Council, No. 1002, Knights of Columbus, the B. of R. E., and the Mystic Workers of the World; he is also a member of the Yardmasters' Association of Amer- ica. The family attends St. John's Catholic church.
During the World War Thomas Cavanaugh was an active war worker, taking a leading part in the Red Cross, Liberty Loan Drives, and in the success of the Victory Fund.
Edward and Margaret Cavanaugh, his father and mother, and pioneers of Langlade County, lived to see Antigo and the county at large grow into a thriv- ing and progressive community. Edward Cavanaugh died in 1913, two years after the death of his wife, Margaret. Both are at rest in Appleton, Wisconsin.
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