USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 19
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WILLIAM C. F. WITTE, M. D.
Dr. William C. F. Witte, who concentrates his professional activities upon surgery, is well known in this connection in Milwaukee. He was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, August 26, 1869, and is a son of Richard E. Witte, a farmer by occupation, who was born in Berlin, Germany, and came to the United States in young manhood, making his way at once across the country to Milwaukee. He died in 1886 and was long sur- vived by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Frances Margaret Stewart and who was born in the state of New York, being of Scotch descent. She died in 1920, In their family were four children, all living. One son, Richard Sinclair Witte, is a law- yer of Milwaukee,
Dr. Witte obtained his early education in the country schools of Wisconsin, being reared on a farm and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for five years, thus earning the money with which he later paid his tuition in acquir- ing his more advanced education. He spent two years in the University of Wisconsin studying pharmacy and kindred subjects and then entered upon the study of medicine in Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1896. He afterward spent twenty months as interne in the Presbyterian Hospital of Chicago and entered upon the general practice of medicine and surgery in Milwaukee, devoting his attention thereto until 1911. Since then he has specialized in surgery and has promoted his knowledge and capability through postgraduate work in Vienna and Berlin in 1903 and again in 1921. He served on the examining board at Milwaukee during the World war and he is now a director of surgery in Marquette University. He has taught surgery constantly in the Milwaukee Medical schools since 1898.
On the 5th of Angust, 1908, Dr. Witte was united in marriage to Miss Ethel R. Bennett, who was born in Ontario, Canada, and they have become parents of a daughter, Frances Evelyn, born August 31, 1914. Dr. Witte and his wife are members
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of the Episcopal church and he is a Mason of high rank, having attained the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite, the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and has also become a Mystic Shriner. He finds great pleasure in hunting and fishing and duck-shooting and is fond of travel and golf. He belongs to the Milwaukee Ath- letic Club, also the Blue Mound Country Club, while his professional associations are with the Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, the Wisconsin State, the Tri-State and the American Medical Associations, and he hecame a fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1917. His efficiency has constantly developed with the passing years as the result of his broad experience, his close study and his thorough research, and today be is recognized as one of the skilled surgeons of his native state.
HON. ALBERT CHARLES EHLMAN.
Hon. Albert Charles Ehlman, representative of the Milwaukee bar, has made steady progress in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ahility. Wealth and influence avail little or nought in the attainment of prom- inence as a practitioner of law, but thoroughness, industry and intellectual force are the necessary concomitants for progress in this field. Well equipped in these direc- tions, Albert Charles Ehlman has made steady progress. He was born in Milwaukee, November 10, 1876, a son of William A. and Frances G. (Graham) Ehlman, the former a native of New York, while the latter was born in Wisconsin. The father came to Milwaukee with his parents in his youth and for many years he was a teacher, and for a long time superintendent of music in the Milwaukee public schools.
Albert C. Ehlman obtained his early education in the Milwaukee schools and after completing the high school course later attended the University of Wisconsin. In the meantime he had studied law and passed the bar examination in 1898. He also taught in the State Normal School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for some time. Later he became a member of the Chicago har, where he continued for a brief period, and in 1903 he returned to Milwaukee, where he has since maintained a law office and has been accorded a liberal clientage. He began practice with Gilson G. Glasier, now state librarian, and William A. Klatte, now clerk of the civil court, under the firm name of Glasier, Klatte & Ehlman. The present firm of Kiefer & Ehlman has been in existence since 1917. The firm's practice has constantly grown in volume and importance and its name is associated with much notable litigation tried in the courts of the district. On the 26th of December, 1901, Mr. Ehlman was married to Miss Ruby D. Bell of Concord, Wisconsin, and they have two children: Neal LeRoy and Beatrice Lucille.
Politically Mr. Ehlman is a socialist and in 1919 he was elected to the state legis- lature, serving for one term. He was instrumental in securing the passage of the bill for the no par stock, permitting companies to issue stock of no par value. This was an issue of great importance and the law was passed after a hard fight. Mr. Ehlman also introduced the resolution memorializing congress to pass a bill in the release of political prisoners and likewise introduced other resolutions and bills. He was chair- man of the first registration board of the twenty-second ward during the World war. He has been very active in all civic affairs and for three years was chairman of the Christmas Tree Committee, which has in charge a public Christmas celebration with a municipal Christmas tree.
JOHN McDILL FOX.
John McDill Fox, professor of law in Marquette University, was born in Milwaukee, January 3, 1891. He is a son of Dr. William Fox and a grandnephew of William Fox, who was one of the signers of the first constitution of the state. Dr. William Fox was born in Oregon, Dane county, Wisconsin, and became one of the prominent physicians of his time, steadily advancing to a position of leadership in connection with the practice of medicine and surgery in this state. He died in April, 1897, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Narcissa McDill, was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Alexander S. McDill, former member of con- gress from Wisconsin. He was also superintendent of the institution for the insane at Madison both before and after his term in congress. As a physician he specialized in nervous diseases and was one of the first alienists in this country. His daughter, Mrs. Fox, passed away November 12, 1920.
John McDill Fox was a pupil in the public schools of Milwaukee to the age of nine years, when he went to Notre Dame University, entering the preparatory school, and when fourteen years of age became a university student there. He was graduated in 1909 with the Bachelor of Arts degree and afterward taught in St. Edward's College in Austin, Texas, for a year or more. Entering the Harvard Law School, he was there
JOHN McDILL FOX
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graduated in 1914 but prior to his graduation was admitted upon examination to the Massachusetts bar. He belonged to the John Marshall Law Club at Harvard and he was one of the organizers and the secretary of the Wisconsin Club at Harvard Uni- versity.
In the fall of 1914 Mr. Fox entered the office of Whipple, Sears & Ogden in Boston and there remained for a year. He left that firm to engage in admiralty practice alone in Boston and in 1916 he returned to Milwaukee, after which he was admitted to practice at the Wisconsin bar in the month of July. Here he took up the active work of the profession and has since specialized in admiralty law. In the spring of 1919 he was made special lecturer on maritime law at the Marquette University, being the first instructor to give a full course of maritime law in Wisconsin. In the fall of 1919 he was made a full professor of law in Marquette.
In June, 1914, Mr. Fox was married to Miss Elsa Sonnemann, a daughter of Richard Sonnemann, a tobacco manufacturer of Neenah, Wisconsin, who was born in Germany, as was his daughter, Mrs. Fox. She came to Wisconsin with her parents when a young girl of twelve or thirteen years. Her maternal grandfather was at one time postmaster general of Berlin, Mr. and Mrs. Fox have become parents of three children: Narcissa, Elinor and Eileen.
In politics Mr. Fox maintains an independent course but votes in the republican primaries. He has not been active in political work nor has he ever been a candidate for office. His religious belief is that of the Catholic church and he attends the cathedral, while Mrs. Fox is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Fox has member- ship in Pere Marquette Council, No. 52, of the Knights of Columbus of Milwaukee and he also belongs to the Harvard Club of Milwaukee. He is greatly interested in the question of public water improvements and he keeps well informed on all the vital civic problems of the day, giving his support at all times to those questions which he deems a matter of value to the community at large.
NORTH AVENUE STATE BANK.
The North Avenue State Bank of Milwaukee was organized in 1911 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and opened for business at No. 2920 North avenue. in September of that year, the officers being William F. Coerper, president; George Klippel, vice president; and George J. Neth, cashier. In 1913 Mr. Neth resigned his position and Joseph M. Wolf was elected cashier and one of the directors of the bank. The business grew rapidly and in December, 1918, this bank consolidated with the Wisconsin State Savings Bank, located at 3506 North avenue, of which George L. Baldauf was president and F. A. Lochner, cashier, The business of the North Avenue State Bank was removed to the latter location, retaining the old name, how- ever. The combined capital of the merged institution was one hundred thousand dollars. This was increased to two hundred thousand dollars on March 1, 1920. At the time of the consolidation the bank had resources of one million three hundred and thirty-eight thousand dollars, while in 1921 its resources were nearly three million dollars, The bank is housed in an attractive brick and stone structure, one story in height, modern in every particular of bank equipment. With the consolidation all of the officers and employes of both banks were retained. The officers then were and are now: William F. Coerper, president; George L. Baldauf. A. J. Langholff and J. M. Wolf, vice presidents; Frederick A. Lochner, cashier; J. A. Chivas and E. O. Perschbacher, assistant cashiers, Fifteen years ago the locality in which the bank stands was in the woods amid farm land but today is one of the busiest and best retail sections of the city. When Thirty-fifth street is widened the bank will be on the corner. This section of the city has some of the best buildings and stores in the outlying districts of Milwaukee. The North Avenue State Bank has made marvellous strides and has shown perhaps as small a percentage of loss as any bank- ing institution in the city, It is an enterprise of which Milwaukeeans have every reason to be proud and is today recognized as one of the strong financial concerns of southern Wisconsin.
CARMELITE FATHERS OF MILWAUKEE.
In the year 1907 the Rev. Francis Berndt came to Wisconsin. He is a native of Bavaria and was educated and ordained to the priesthood in his native country. Crossing the Atlantic, he made his way to Wisconsin and after spending four years at Fond du Lac returned to Germany, where he remained for three years. On the expiration of that period he was called to take charge of St. Florian's parish at Thirty- ninth avenue and Scott street in Milwaukee. Here he has remained since his arrival
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in July, 1913, the year the St. Florian church and school were completed. His as- sistants in the work are the Rev. Kilian Gutmann, Rev. Bernhard Gerlh, Rev. August Harnmers, Rev. Cyril Baumsesler and Rev. Joseph Aichner, all of whom are natives of Bavaria.
The Rev. Kilian Gutmann purchased the property which constitutes the site for the church and school. The latter is owned and was built by the St. Agnes Sisters of Fond du Lac.
Father Kilian Gutmann was born in Bavaria on the 26th of March, 1863, and there he acquired his education, which was directed with the intention of ultimately taking orders. When he had completed his course of study he was ordained to the priesthood in the year 1886. He continued his labors for the church in his native land for a number of years and in 1905 he came to Wisconsin, being stationed at Holy Hill in Washington county until 1913, or for a period of eight years. He then was transferred to Milwaukee and took charge of St. Florian's church, which at that time had a little frame structure on Fortieth and Scott streets. The Carmelite Fathers now have a parish of about one hundred and ninety-five families and there are about one hundred and ninety-three pupils in the school. They are working zealously and untiringly toward the upbuilding of the Catholic church and their influence is far- reaching.
JACOB WELLAUER.
Jacoh Wellauer, of Wauwatosa, was for many years ranked with the prosperous and substantial business men of Milwaukee, and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret among his many friends. He was born in the Canton of Thurgau, Switzerland, November 6, 1840, his parents being Henry and Anna (Vetterle) Wellauer, who were also natives of that place, the former born March 15, 1797, and the latter in 1799. They came to America July 3, 1849, settling at Brookfield, Wisconsin, where Mr. Wellauer purchased a farm of eighty acres, and devoted his attention to its cultiva- tion and improvement until 1862. He then retired from active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of the ease and comfort which his former labors permitted. His death occurred March 30, 1883, while his wife passed away in June, 1872. They were the parents of seven children: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of John Hoffman; Catharine, the deceased wife of William Nass; Henry, who has also passed away; Mary, the wife of Henry Breu, of Brookfield, Wisconsin; Salome, the deceased wife of Henry Kuhn; and Anna, the wife of John Ryf, residing at Oshkosh.
Jacob Wellauer, who was the seventh child of this family and whose name introduces this review, passed away January 10, 1916, when he had reached the age of seventy-five years. He acquired his education in the public schools of Brookfield and of Milwaukee, and his youthful training was that of the farm. He continued to assist his father in the development of the fields until he attained his majority and then went to Oshkosh, where he spent two years learning the dairy business. In 1863 he returned to Mil- waukee and here established business as a dealer in fancy groceries. He continued in the trade until 1872 and built up a business of substantial proportions, accumulating a considerable fortune in that way. In the latter part of the year 1872 he discontinued the retail department of his business to confine his attention exclusively to the whole- sale trade and became one of the prominent and prosperous wholesale merchants of the city. Nor did he confine his attention solely to this line. On the contrary, he extended his efforts into various fields and his sound judgment and enterprise were considered most valuable assets in the conduct of business affairs. He served for ten years as secretary and vice president of the Northwestern Woolen Mills, which were developed into one of the largest and important industries of the city under his skillful manage- ment and as the result of his sound judgment. He was also interested in sausage manu- facturing for a number of years. In 1897, however, he retired altogether from active business, having acquired a comfortable fortune. About 1872 he had purchased a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, now in the town of Wauwatosa, and on this prop- erty his widow still resides. He there spent his remaining days and lavished a large amount of money in beautifying the home and grounds. He devoted a goodly portion of his time to his grape arbor and to the care of his fruit trees, and produced the finest kind of fruits and grapes upon his place. His home life gave to him everything that made life worth living, and the prosperity which he had attained through his various commercial business enterprises enabled him to surround his family with all comforts.
On the 6th of November, 1867, Mr. Wellauer was married to Miss Anna Hahn, who passed away. On the 11th of May, 1892, he wedded Miss Lena Offermann, a daughter of Paul and Catherine (Kaldscheidt) Offermann, of Sauk City, Wisconsin, who were natives of Cologne, Germany, and became residents of Sauk City in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Wellaner became the parents of three children, a daughter and two sons: Anna, who is now the wife of Dr. Addison Dorr and who resides in the first home built on the Wel-
JACOB WELLAUER
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lauer addition, the place being a part of the one-hundred-and-sixty-acre tract, which has since been laid out in town lots; and Jacob Henry and Henry Conrad, who are gradu- ates of Madison University and are both at home,
Mr. and Mrs. Wellauer traveled extensively. in 1872 he made a trip to his native country of Switzerland, which he again visited in 1882 and 1892. His wife accompanied him on the latter trip and they again made the journey in 1907. They also toured old Mexico, the West Indies and Central America and in 1911 again visited Europe. On most of these trips his bosom friend and companion, Dr. Nicholas Senn, the eminent surgeon, accompanied him, the latter being also a native of Switzerland. Mr. Wellauer was a man of very high standing. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias, to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Sons of Hermann and to the Swiss Club. He was an affable, genial and courteous gentleman, who enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. In religions matters he was a Protestant, while his wife holds mem- bership in the Roman Catholic church. He passed away January 10, 1916, and thus a life of great usefulness was ended. He justly won the proud American title of a self- made man, for all he achieved and enjoyed was gained through his own efforts. Brought to the new world in early life he made good use of his time, talents and opportunities, nor was his career actuated by any selfish spirit. He ever recognized and met his duty and obligations to his fellowmen, and his was an honest name, rather to be chosen than great riches.
F. OTTO STRECKEWALD.
F. Otto Streckewald is the secretary of The Layton Company, meat packers of Milwaukee, an organization that has been built up along substantial lines and that now controls a very gratifying trade. Mr. Streckewald was born in Hanover, Ger- many, May 12, 1854, and is a son of August Streckewald. He was educated in the Gymnasium of his native land, an institution of learning equivalent to the high school, and he came to America in 1871, when seventeen years of age. For a time he was with his cousin in the seed business and in 1873 he accepted a position in the Herald office as assistant bookkeeper, there remaining for six years, or until 1879. In the latter year he became connected with The Layton Company in the capacity of book- keeper and various other duties also devolved upon him in connection with the man- agement and conduct of the business. He thus thoroughly learned the business in every phase and in 1903 he became secretary of the company and has since held the position, although he had become a stockholder some time before, His association with the business now covers forty-one years and The Layton Company is one of the old packing concerns of the country.
On the 5th of September, 1877, Mr. Streckewald was married to Miss Susan L. Dawson, a daughter of James Dawson, and to them have been horn four children, three of whom are living: Mrs. Eleanor S. Burdick, residing at La Grange, Illinois; Fred. O., of Woodlawn court; and Alice. Mr. Streckewald is a member of the City Club, the Royal League and the Old Settlers Club of Milwaukee, having since 1871 made his home in this city, now covering a period of half a century.
JESSE CAPPON.
Jesse Cappon, president of the Park Savings Bank, also president of the West Side Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, is one of the alert, energetic and pro- gressive business men whose activities contribute not only to individual success but also to public prosperity and advancement. He was born in Milwaukee county, Janu- ary 11, 1865, and is a son of John and Mattie ( VanFleet ) Cappon. The family came from Holland, the father being about four years of age when his parents crossed the Atlantic to the new world and settled in Wisconsin. However, the grandfather first located in the state of New York and thence came across the country to Milwaukee with ox team and wagon. They located near Fox Point on a farm and the grand- father continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death. By trade, however, he was a wagon maker. His son, John Cappon, followed farming as a life work and continued a resident of Milwaukee county until his death, which occurred in 1920. For several years he had survived his wife who passed away in 1911.
Jesse Cappon was educated in the country schools and was reared on the home farm, where he remained until reaching the age of twenty years, when he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade and eventually became engaged in the contracting business. In 1893 he became identified with milling interests, establishing a factory of small size on the same ground occupied by his present plant. His first building was forty by sixty feet and two stories in height. To this he made several additions
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as his business increased and in 1905 the present plant was erected, covering about two acres of ground and three stories in height. There are also sheds and a ware- house of two stories, sixty by one hundred and twenty feet. The main building is one hundred and two by one hundred and four feet. The company manufactures sash, doors, interior finish and general millwork and employs about one hundred people in normal times. The enterprise has steadily grown under the wise management and capable control of Mr. Cappon, who has ever closely studied trade conditions and has huilt up his business on a sound principle that success is the result of maximum effort accomplished through minimum expenditure of time, labor and material. More- over, he has never sacrificed quality for quantity and his patrons recognize that the best can be obtained from his factory. In December, 1915, Mr. Cappon assisted in organizing the Park Savings Bank and was elected its first president, since which time he has been at the head of the institution. He is likewise the president of the Badger Sash & Door Company and vice president of the Pine Lumber Company, as well as president of the West Side Manufacturing Company. His business interests are thus extensive and important and his enterprise has made for the attainment of large success.
In 1890 Mr. Cappon was married to Miss Mary E. Geisinger of Milwaukee, and to them have been born two children, but only one is living, Lester, now a student in the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Cappon was a member of Group No. 19 in all of the war activities and ever stands for those interests which are of greatest value and worth to the community, commonwealth and country. He is a member of the various Masonic bodies, being a Knights Templar of the Commandery, while in the Consistory he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and with the Nobles of Tripoli Temple has crossed the sands of the desert to the Mystic Shrine. He is ever loyal to any cause which he espouses and his worth as a man and citizen mark him as a representative leader in Milwaukee.
HARRY SIDNEY HADFIELD.
Harry Sidney Hadfield, a thoroughgoing business man, possessing, too, the genial social qualities so necessary in the successful hotel proprietor, is now at the head of the Maryland Hotel of Milwaukee and has made it a popular hostelry, well pat- ronized. A native son of Wisconsin, Mr. Hadfield was born on his father's farm in the town of Brookfield, Waukesha county, October 18, 1868. His father, Samuel Had- field, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1841, and died on Thanksgiving day of 1916. He came to the United States when a youth of eighteen years and settled in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he worked for his elder brother, Joseph Had- field, for a time, and then took up farming on his own account. He served with the Union army during the Civil war and was with Sherman on the celebrated march from Atlanta to the sea, which proved the weakness of the southern defense, showing that the troops had been drawn from the interior to protect the borders. He was wounded in battle but continued to serve until the close of hostilities, when victory crowned the Union arms. He married Eunice Putney, who passed away April 12, 1917. She was born in Waukesha county, a daughter of Aaron S. Putney, a farmer and merchant, who made his home in Waukesha, where the store of which he was formerly owner is still conducted under the name of Putney Brothers. Mrs. Had- field was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, one of her ancestors having served under the direct command of Washington in the war for independence.
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