USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 20
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Harry S. Hadfield, who obtained his early education in the public schools of Waukesha and in the country schools of that locality, afterward attended Carroll College of Waukesha, where he continued his studies to his junior year. He then started out in the business world and soon became connected with hotel management, conducting a hotel when but nineteen years of age. He was associated with F. A. Randall in the ownership and management of the American House at Waukesha and there remained until the fall of 1890, when he opened a new hotel, called the Hotel Walworth at Whitewater, Wisconsin. This was built by the citizens of the town and was conducted by the firm of Randall & Hadfield until October 1, 1892, when they sold out and removed to Milwaukee, where they leased the Hotel Aberdeen, which they conducted jointly for eight years. Mr. Hadfield then took over Mr. Randall's interest and remained proprietor of the hotel until 1913, when he disposed of the business. In the meantime, or in July, 1910, he had opened the Maryland Hotel, newly built, and from 1913 he concentrated his entire attention upon this hostelry, which is one of the attractive modern hotels of Milwaukee, thoroughly up-to-date in every particular and containing one hundred and twenty-five rooms.
On the 28th of June, 1893, Mr. Hadfield was united in marriage to Miss Katherine S. Spear. They are the parents of two children. Lewis S., born September 4, 1896, is now connected with his father in the hotel business. At the outbreak of the World
HARRY S. HADFIELD
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war he was employed in the automobile business at Springfield, Massachusetts, and there enlisted in the Eighty-second Division, serving overseas fourteen months. Frances S., the daughter, was born July 14, 1900, and is today one of the most noted women golf players in the entire country, having won the state championship.
Mr. and Mrs. Hadfield are members of St. James Episcopal church and are inter- ested in all that pertains to public welfare and progress. In politics Mr. Hadfield is a republican and has been active in support of much valuable hotel legislation at Madison, attending every session of the legislature for ten years in order to secure the passage of laws beneficial to hotel interests. He has, however, never been a candidate for political office. He belongs to Lafayette Lodge, No. 265, A. F. & A. M., of Milwaukee; to Calumet Chapter, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 24, K. T .: Wisconsin Consistory, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scot- tish Rite; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership in the Wisconsin, Milwaukee Athletic and Blue Mound Country Clubs and he has been presi- dent of the Wisconsin State Hotel Men's Association. He has also been president of the Milwaukee Hotel Men's Association, and his interest in community affairs in general is shown in the fact that he has been a director of the Citizens Business League and a director of the Association of Commerce. He acted as state chairman of the hotel and restaurant division of the United States food administration under Hoover during the World war, giving practically his entire tinie to the work and was chair- man of the hotel and restaurant division for Milwaukee in all of the big drives to secure financial support for the government and for the maintenance of the welfare - of the soldiers in camp and field. Mr. Hadfield enjoys all manly outdoor and athletic sports and finds great pleasure in a game of golf. Thoroughness and enterprise have characterized his business life, loyalty and progressiveness have been the salient features in his public service, and at all times his social qualities and unfeigned cordiality have won him the friendship as well as the high regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
JACOB KNOERNSCHILD.
Jacob Knoernschild, long prominently known as a merchant and manufacturer of Milwaukee and as a leading figure in connection with the public life of the community, passed away March 17, 1918. He had passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Eberstadt, near Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, September 27, 1841, his parents being Conrad and Susana (Kilian) Knoernschild. In the year 1857 the father came with his family to the new world, settling in Milwaukee. Jacob Knoernschild was then a youth of sixteen years. He had acquired his education in the schools of his native country and in early life worked at the tinner's trade. In 1866, when twenty-five years of age, he embarked in the hardware busi- ness, opening a store at No. 499 Twelfth street, where he remained for several years, continuing in the business until about twenty years prior to his death. He also be- came well known in manufacturing circles and was the inventor of the national gas radiator. He also manufactured metal specialties, among them a metal holder for flowers. In this business he continued to the time of his demise.
On the 6th of August, 1867, Mr. Knoernschild was married to Miss Mary Ruesch, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Nuenlisch) Ruesch, who were natives of Bern, Switzer- land, and came to Milwaukee in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Knoernschild had a family of thirteen children, of whom eight sons and three daughters are yet living, namely: Jacoh L., who wedded Mrs. Mathilda R. Michaelis and has one daughter, Clara; Ella, the wife of Edward Kersting; Joseph H., who married Miss Grace Meyer and has one daughter, Ruth; Edwin C., who wedded Maude Alexander, by whom he has three children, Gladys, Dorothea and Pauline; Alfred A .; Paul W., who wedded Miss Hannah Wilkinson and has four children, Dora, Mary, Paul and Ella; Walter C., who married Miss Margaret Harmeyer, by whom he has two children, Walter and Mary Louise; Clara A., who is the wife of Mathew Graf and they have one daughter, Esther: Bertha, at home; Grover F., who married Florence Anderson and has two sons, Edward and Ralph; and Elmer, at home.
The military record of Mr. Knoernschild consisted of connection with the Light Horse Squadron in an early day. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church, his membership being in St. Elizabeth's parish. He long figured prominently in public affairs as a supporter of the democratic party and was one of the first commissioners of the Milwaukee police and fire department. He served in that position for three years and acted as chairman of the board during his term. In 1880 he was elected a member of the city council, having the honor of being the only democrat chosen at that time. The republicans elected the entire ticket save in the ward which Mr. Knoernschild represented. This was indeed a compliment to his ability and personal worth, for he made no effort to secure the election. He was an exceptionally public-
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spirited man, alive at all times to the best interests of his community, and during his early term as a member of the city council and during the later period in which he was chosen to represent his ward in that body he lent his best efforts toward a wise, economical and progressive city administration. The rigid honesty which al- ways characterized his public actions well entitled him to the confidence of his con- stituents. That he received the support of many of the opposing party was evidenced by the vote given him. Milwaukee ever classed him with her valned and represen- tative men and he was ever highly honored in the community in which he made his home for more than sixty years. He witnessed much of the growth and develop- ment of Milwaukee and took a most active and helpful part in advancing progress and improvement here, ever looking beyond the exigencies of the moment to the opportunities and needs of the future.
GEORGE F. O'NEIL.
Delivering newspapers on the streets of Milwaukee ere he had completed the first decade of his life's journey and working as office boy when a lad of but eleven years, George F. O'Neil, despite his early handicap of a lack of educational advantages, is today accounted one of the leading business men of the city, being president of the O'Neil Oil & Paint Company. Through the steps of an orderly progression he has reached his present position of prominence and success and the story indicates what can be accomplished through thoroughness, close application and ambition.
Mr. O'Neil was born in Milwaukee, September 26, 1864, and is a son of Henry L. and Elizabeth Jane (May) O'Neil. The father was born in the West Indies, where his father, Henry L. O'Neil, Sr., owned a plantation and there lived for many years. The son, Henry L. O'Neil, Jr., leaving the West Indies went to London, England, where he was educated and there he met Miss Elizabeth Jane May, whom he afterward wedded in Canada. They were young people when they emigrated to the Dominion, crossing the Atlantic in one of the old-time sailing vessels, which required several weeks to make the voyage. Following their marriage they established their home in Buffalo, New York, and in 1846 arrived in Milwaukee, at that time a small town with no railroad connections. They resided on Michigan street, then one of the leading residential thor- oughfares. Mr. O'Neil afterward engaged in the wool business, under the firm name of Sellers & O'Neil, continuing his activity along that line for several years. Subse- quently he became associated with the Bradford Brothers Dry Goods Company and con- tinued to make Milwaukee his home until his demise. His wife has also passed away. They were the parents of a large family, of whom George F., of this review, is the twelfth child. Three others of the family are living: Charles H., Annie M. and Eliza- beth G., the last named being the wife of Frank P. Ray and a resident of Merriam Park, Minnesota.
George F. O'Neil attended the old fourth ward public school, but was only eleven years of age when he was forced to put aside his textbooks and provide for his own support. Even prior to this time he had engaged in delivering newspapers and had thus contributed to the family fund. When a lad of eleven he was employed as office boy by Greene & Button, wholesale druggists, and his capability, loyalty and trustworthi- ness were shown in the fact that he continued with the house for thirteen years. He next became connected with the Wadhams Oil & Grease Company as secretary and was with that concern for five years. In 1893 he organized the O'Neil Oil & Paint Company and established his business at 103 West Water street. In 1895 he sought larger quar- ters by removal to his present location at No. 297 and 299 East Water street. In 1897 he rented the adjoining store at Nos. 301 and 303 Water street, formerly occupied by Ball & Goodrich and later by John R. Goodrich, wholesale grocers. The company now has seventy-seven feet frontage on East Water street, with a depth of one hundred and sixty feet extending to the river and its building is four stories and basement. In addi- tion to this it occupies block No. 60 of the fifth ward on South Water street, having the entire block and the firm likewise has distributing stations at Waukesha, Hartland, Elkhorn, Whitewater, Hartford and West Bend, Wisconsin. The first year the business sales amounted to one hundred and ten thousand dollars and in 1920 reached the most substantial sum of three million. five hundred thousand dollars. Mr. O'Neil has been identified with the business for forty-five years and has built up an enterprise second to none of this character in the country. He has splendid powers of organization and readily discriminates between the essential and the non-essential in all business affairs. His energy is unfaltering and when one avenue of opportunity seems closed he carves out other paths whereby to reach the desired goal. He is truly a self-made man and one who has gained a liberal education through experience and observation, while his labors have brought him substantial wealth. Mr. O'Neil is very fond of domestic animals and has a fine farm at Thiensville, Wisconsin, where he raises high bred Guernsey cattle, which he has imported from the Isle of Guernsey. He is also the
GEORGE F. O'NEIL
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president of the O'Neil Petroleum Company, a corporation prospecting for crude oil in Oklahoma and he is the president of the Georgian Court Company, and the Alabama Investment Company, while of the Fiebing Chemical Company, The Milwaukee Optical Company and the Evinrude Motor Company he is a director. His business judgment is regarded as a valuable asset in all of the corporations with which he has become identified and he is today a dynamic force in the commercial circles of Milwaukee.
Mr. O'Neil married Miss Leila Davidson Quin, daughter of Edward and Catherine Quin, early settlers of Milwaukee. She took a great interest in war activities and translated for the fatherless children of France all of the letters that came from that country to Wisconsin as well as those that were sent to France. The French govern- ment recently recognized her service by the awarding of an appropriate decoration. Mr. O'Neil is a member of the Milwaukee, Town, City, Milwaukee Athletic, and Mil- waukee Country Clubs, and he is a director of the Wisconsin Humane Society, appointed by Governor Philipp. with special police powers to arrest anyone found abusing an animal. Such in brief is the history of a man who in every relation of life measures up to the highest standards of American manhood and chivalry.
CARL F. REINHARD, M. D.
Dr. Carl F. Reinhard, a physician and surgeon of Milwaukee, who passed away January 12, 1914, had rendered valuable service to his fellowmen in the field of pro- fessional labor. He was born July 1, 1847, near Cassel, Germany, and was a son of William and Charlotte Reinhard. He obtained his early education in his native land, attending the schools of Marburg and Berlin, also of Vienna and of Prague. His edu- cation was of a most liberal and comprehensive character and well qualified him for important professional duties. Following his preparation for the practice of medi- cine and surgery he became connected with the Lloyd Steamship Company and spent one year as ship surgeon.
In the year 1876 Dr. Reinhard came to the United States and first settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where he resided until 1877. He then came to Milwaukee, where he opened an office and entered upon the active practice of medicine, in which he continued until two years prior to his death, when on account of illness he re- tired from active professional duties. For an extended period he enjoyed a very large practice of a most important character and was classed with the leading physicians of the city. He always kept informed concerning the latest scientific researches and discoveries and kept apace with the onward march of the profession in the improve- ment of all methods of treating disease.
On the 9th of November, 1882, Dr. Reinhard was married to Miss Elizabeth Toser, a daughter of Herman and Phillipine (Schneider) Toser, who were pioneer settlers of Wisconsin of 1854. They were natives of Germany and after coming to the new world Mr. Toser established the Toser wholesale liquor house of Milwaukee, which became one of the largest business establishments of this kind in the city. Loyal to his adopted country, he served with the Union army in the Civil war. Dr. and Mrs. Reinhard became the parents of two sons: Louis F., an electrical engineer who is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin; and Gustave A., who also follows the same profession. He, too, was graduated from the University of Wisconsin and now resides in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Reinhard gave his political allegiance to the republican party and was well known in club circles, his name being on the membership roll of a number of the leading clubs of Milwaukee. Along strictly professional lines he was connected with the Wisconsin State and American Medical Associations. He served on the staff of the Milwaukee Hospital and enjoyed an extensive private practice and he rendered most valuable service to his fellowmen in the line of professional duty.
GALBRAITH MILLER, JR.
Galbraith Miller, Jr., vice president and treasurer of the Monarch Manufactur- ing Company of Milwaukee, is thus active in control of one of the most extensive and important productive interests of the city. His name has long been an honored and prominent one in manufacturing circles and the business is a source of large revenue to the city in that it furnishes employment to a thousand workmen. The life record of Galbraith Miller is an interesting one, inasmuch as he has worked his way steadily upward, accomplishing his purposes by reason of his determination, close application and unfailing energy. He was born in Milwaukee, September 16, 1879, and is a son of Galbraith and Mattie E. (Goodwin) Miller, the family having been represented in this city since 1838. Judge Andrew Galbraith Miller was the first
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United States judge of the Northwest Territory. He came from Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, to assume his judicial duties in this section of the country and since that time his descendants have resided in Milwaukee. He continued upon the bench until 1873 and his record was one of notable capability and honor in the discharge of his judicial duties. His grandson, Galbraith Miller, is an attorney of Milwaukee and Galbraith Miller, Jr., subject of this review, is the fourth to bear the name and rep- resent the family in the business and professional interests of this city.
Galbraith Miller, Jr., pursued a public school education, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1898. He then started out in the business world as a reporter on the Milwaukee Journal, occupying the position for two years, while for a decade he was connected with the Evening Wisconsin. In the latter office he steadily worked his way upward and had become news editor ere he resigned his position. In 1909 he became associated with the Monarch Manufacturing Company as vice president and treasurer. This business was founded in 1900 by Paul Asch, who was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to America in 1863. He was con- nected in the manufacturing business with Cohen Brothers, one of the pioneer clothing manufacturing firms of the northwest. Mr. Asch departed this life in 1909, at which time his son-in-law, Galbraith Miller, took charge of the business in connection with Sidney M. Cohen. At that time the enterprise was quite small, having but eighty employes. Most progressive business methods have been introduced and the trade has grown to mammoth proportions, so that they now have four plants in Milwaukee, employing one thousand people. The main plant and office is located at Nos. 60 to 88 Chicago street-a four-story brick building two hundred and ten by one hundred and eighty feet. They manufacture sheep-lined coats, Mackinaws and work clothing and sell only to wholesalers, their trade extending, however, throughout the United States and Canada. During the war with Germany Mr. Miller was chairman of the war service committee of the garment industry under the war industries board and was also special procurement officer of the Quartermaster Corps, spending much of his time in Washington and in New York city.
On the 12th of June, 1906, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ruby Asch, daughter of Paul and Carrie Asch, pioneers of Milwaukee. Mr. Miller and his wife are promi- nently known socially and he is identified with many organizations. While in the newspaper business he was president of the Milwaukee Press Club, and from 1913 until 1919 he was president of the International Association of Garment Manufacturers and - has been a most thorough and discriminating student of trade conditions and every- thing that relates to the business. He likewise belongs to the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and to the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, while along more strictly social lines he has connection with the Milwaukee Club, the Milwaukee Ath- letic Club, the Wisconsin Club of Milwaukee and the Lambs Club of New York. He has always manifested sufficient interest in outside affairs to maintain an even balance in his life, never allowing business wholly to monopolize his time and attention, and yet he has accomplished notable results in his career as a manufacturer. Lowell has said: "An institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man," and the Monarch Manufacturing Company, therefore, is but the measurement of the officers who con- trol its development. An increase of from eighty to one thousand employes indicates most clearly how the business has grown and the sound policy that the management has ever followed. Mr. Miller has long been an active factor in this work and the results he has achieved should serve to inspire and encourage others. Mr. Miller is president of Garden Homes Company, the corporation formed to carry out the plan of the city housing commission. The city and county of Milwaukee are financially interested in the corporation. The company started work in August, 1921, on the first unit of seventy-five workingmen's houses and plans for one thousand houses.
JOHN P. HUME.
John P. Hume, directing his efforts to farm and colonization projects as the presi- dent of the Wisconsin Land Holding Company of Milwaukee, has through his resourceful- ness and capability developed a business of substantial proportions. He is numbered among Wisconsin's native sons, his birth having occurred at Chilton, October 21, 1861, his parents being John P. and Margaret (Diack) Hume, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Scotland. The father came to the United States in 1856 and settled temporarily at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, but subsequently removed to Chilton, where he established the Chilton Times, a weekly newspaper, which he continued to publish until his death in 1881. His sons, John, P. and William A., then took charge of the paper and the latter is the present owner thereof.
John P. Hume was educated in the public schools of his native city and also gleaned much valuable knowledge from his experience in the newspaper office. He continued to act as editor of the Chilton Times until 1883, when he went to Washing-
JOHN P. HUME
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ton, D. C., as secretary to Congressman Joseph Rankin and Congressman Thomas R. Hudd. There he continued until 1887, when he was appointed private secretary to William F. Vilas, secretary of the interior, continuing in that responsible position until the change of administration in 1889. His experiences there were of a most interesting and valuable character, bringing him acquaintance with many of the most eminent men of the nation. While in the capital city he was also deputy clerk on Indian affairs and clerk of the committee of the interior department and also acted as correspondent for the Milwaukee Journal, the La Crosse Chronicle and the Madison Democrat.
Returning to his native state in 1889, Mr. Hume established his home in Marshtiek, Wisconsin, where he began the publication of the Marshfield News, continuing to own and edit the paper until 1892. In the meantime he was elected chief clerk of the state senate under Governor Peck and occupied that position during the session. In 1892 he gave up the newspaper business and turned his attention to real estate, loans and insurance at Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1911, when he became manager of the Wisconsin Advancement Association, an organization created for the pur- pose of directing attention to the unoccupied lands of this state. Later he resigned from the position to engage in the colonization of farm lands and removed to Milwau- kee, where he has since carried on business. It was at that time that the Merchants & Manufacturers Association, of which William George Bruce was secretary, took up the question of the development of state lands and many endorsed the project. Mr. Hume organized the Wisconsin Land Holding Company, composed largely of Milwaukee busi- ness men, and created the Milwaukee idea of colonization or what was previously known as the Hume rural credit system, which meant the placing of settlers on land for a term of years, without demanding the payment of principal or interest, in order that they might gain a start in the matter of establishing homes and promoting the agricultural development of the state. The system selected is the best known for settlers cn new ground and Mr. Hume deserves great credit for introducing this plan and putting it into successful operation. The company is the only one known that has been endorsed by a civic association and that has recommended the stock to investors. The land controlled by the company is situated in the northern part of the state and Mr. Hume is winning substantial success through the development and conduct of the business, seeking not alone his own benefit but endeavoring at all times to assist the settlers who buy land. For the past two years he has served as president and manager of the business, which is today one of gratifying proportions.
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