USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 22
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In fraternal work Mr. Knell is widely known in Masonic circles and in the order of Knights of Pythias and is at present the grand master of exchequer of the grand lodge of Wisconsin, K. P., and a past chancellor of Damon Lodge, No. 102, of Mil- waukee. His Masonic affiliations are with Kilbourn Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M .; Kilbourn Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M .; and Kilbourn Council, No. 9, R. & S. M., being a past presiding officer of each of these bodies. He is also a past commander of Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar, a member of Wisconsin Consistory, A. A. S. R., and Tripoli Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. At the supreme council session in the year 1916 he was crowned an honorary thirty-third degree Mason of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America. He is also active in the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and holds memberships in the Milwaukee Athletic Club, Old Settlers Club and Chamber of Commerce. He is a past state president and a present state director of the Travelers' Protective Association of America and a member of the United Com- mercial Travelers. He possesses qualities that make for strong friendship and he easily wins the high regard of those with whom he is associated, because of the many sterling traits of his character.
SEBASTIAN WALTER.
Sebastian Walter, now living retired in a fine two-story brick residence at No. 809 National avenue, which was built in 1892, is a German by birth and was reared in the fatherland. He was born in March, 1848, near the Rhine, and during his youth- ful days learned the tinsmith's trade in his native country. He was a young man of eighteen years when he came to the United States in 1866, making his way direct to Milwaukee, where he has been a well known and honored resident for fifty-five years. For a period of twenty years he was superintendent of the Kieckhefer Brothers Company, which is now the Kieckhefer Box Company, and his life for many years was one of intense and well directed activity, bringing to him a substantial measure of success as the years passed by.
In 1874 Mr. Walter was married to Miss Henriette Herzbeker and they have now traveled life's journey together for more than forty-seven years. In his political views Mr. Walter is a republican, interested in the success of the party, and for ten years he served as alderman of his ward. He was also a member of the school board for several years and has ever been keenly interested in the welfare and progress of the city along many lines. He has proven his faith in Milwaukee by his investment in real estate, owning considerable improved property here at the present time. He has made six trips back to the fatherland since first coming to the new world, the last trip being in 1914 and was in Germany when the World war broke out and experienced much difficulty in returning home on account of the military restrictions which were imposed. A resident of Milwaukee for more than a half century, he is widely known
SEBASTIAN WALTER
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here and has made many friends as the years have passed by-friends who recognize the sterling worth of his character and who have ever found him faithful to any cause that he has espoused.
JOHN J. NEUBAUER.
Among the enterprising and successful business men in the North avenue district of Milwaukee is John J. Neubauer, druggist at 2825 North avenue. He is a native son of this city, born September 16, 1879, his parents being Anton and Margaret (Zwaska) Neubauer, who were natives of the Rhine province, Germany. They came to Milwaukee about 1867 and the father, who was a brewer hy trade, was associated with the Seltlitz brewery for a number of years. He has now passed away. The mother is living at the age of seventy-two.
John J. Neubauer was educated in St. Francis parochial school and after his school days were over took up pharmacy and now has a diploma as a registered pharmacist. For eight years he had charge of the laboratory for the Milwaukee Drug Company and in 1913 he embarked in business on his own account at No. 2903 North avenue, there opening a drug store which was one of the pioneer commercial establishments of this character in the section of the city in which he located. All around him was vacant property, the streets being paved with blocks and there was little to indicate that the section would develop rapidly. In fact, appearances were quite discouraging but somehow Mr. Neubauer had faith in the future growth of the district, which has developed far beyond his expectations. In 1914 he removed to his present location at No. 2825 North avenue, where he erected a two-story brick building forty by one hundred and twenty feet, one of the Atlantic and Pacific stores occupying a part of the ground floor. He has a well appointed drug store and is accorded a liberal patronage, owing to his progressive methods and his earnest desire to please his customers.
On the 12th of June, 1906, Mr. Neubauer was married to Miss Helen Spies of Milwaukee, and they have one child, Verone. Mr. Neubauer was very active in all the drives during the period of the World war and received honorable mention for his work in that connection, devoting much time thereto, but refusing official recogni- tion for his services. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and to the St. Bonaventure Society, of which he was once vice president for six years. His genial manner and cordiality of address have been factors in winning for him the warm friendship of many with whom he has come into contact.
FREDERICK W. FRIESE.
Frederick W. Friese, journalist and newspaper critic, whose word throughout Milwaukee was considered authority upon any musical performance, passed away December 9, 1913. He was horn in Germany, December 23, 1838, and came to Mil- waukee with his parents in 1849. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country and in the public schools of Milwaukee and early in life entered upon a newspaper career. He was first employed as a reporter on the Milwaukee Sentinel, but at the outbreak of the war he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and rendered active aid in the preservation of the Union, participating in a number of the hotly contested battles.
On his return from the south at the close of hostilities Mr. Friese again entered the newspaper field and made steady advancement in journalistic circles. He became commercial editor of the Sentinel and at the same time had charge of the music department of the paper. Through the latter connection he formed a personal ac- quaintance with many of the famous singers and musical artists of the last third of a century. A critic of the old school, he wrote his review of an opera performance or a recital as the entertainment progressed. About four decades ago, when the present site of the Pabst theatre was occupied by the Grand Opera House, Mr. Friese had for his own the upper left-hand box there and was seen at every opera performance with pad of paper on his knee, writing his impressions of some of the great artists as the performance proceeded. His criticisms were based not only upon a technical knowledge but upon a real love of music and the impressions produced by the singers. All those who understood music recognized how discriminating was his judgment and his opinions always carried great weight in musical circles, About five years prior to his demise Mr. Friese gave up his duties as musical critic and as commercial editor of the paper with which he had for many years been so closely identified and concentrated his entire attention upon the Daily Letter, which he had established several years before. This was a publication issued every afternoon and contained the most vital points of the transactions on Exchange and on Commission Row. This
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paper was delivered to all dealers and traders at the close of the day's business and proved most valuable to those interested.
On the 26th of June, 1860, Mr. Friese was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wheatly, a daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Wheatly of Wheeling, West Virginia. They became parents of three children: William, who is engaged in newspaper work in Chicago; Ada M., at home; and Emma, deceased.
The death of Mr. Friese was the occasion of deep and widespread regret to many friends. He was a member of E. B. Wolcott Post, G. A. R., and one of the oldest members of the Milwaukee Press Club. For more than twenty years he served as secretary of the Milwaukee Musical Society and he was very prominent in church work, having membership in St. Mark's Episcopal church. Profound sorrow was ex- pressed in financial and commercial circles when he passed away and there were many friends who mourned him among the newspaper fraternity and among the musicians and music lovers of Milwaukee. For many years he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was known personally to almost every representative of the Board of Trade or those who visited it during trade operations. His acquaintance was extremely wide because of the capabilities that had made him a forceful factor in so many lines of life. His worth was indeed widely acknowledged and all who knew him were proud to call him friend.
JOHN J. D. MEINCKE.
John J. D. Meincke, long connected with the development and improvement of Milwaukee, was born in Luebsee in the Dukedom of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, July 13, 1834. He acquired a common school education, completing his studies when fifteen years of age, and on the 1st of March, 1849, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the carriage making trade in Guistrow, Germany, under Fred Delpho, a carriage manufacturer. His term of indenture covered three years. He then left home for the purpose of acquiring broader knowledge and experience and traveled through various European countries, obtaining work at Bremen and other points. He remained in Bremen until June 15, 1857, when he gave up his position to return home and arrange his affairs preparatory to coming to the new world.
On the 3d of July, 1857, he hoarded a sailing vessel at Bremen, accompanied by his bride to be, and landed at New York on the 28th of August, while on the 5th of Sep- tember he arrived in Milwaukee. After traveling thus far he had little money remaining and felt the necessity of obtaining immediate employment but on account of the hard times then existing, for the country was in the throes of a financial panic, he could not secure work at any price for seven months. On the 10th of April, 1858, he secured a position with Isaac Ellsworth, a carriage manufacturer, and for two years and seven months remained in that employ, or until October 1, 1860. It was in that year that his father, Frederick Meincke, came to the new world. He was born in Strigo, Germany, in 1800, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Eggert, was born in Vitgest, Germany. The father, who was a carriage maker by trade, arrived in Mil- waukee on the 3d of July, 1860. Here he joined his son, John J. D. Meincke, who on the 1st of October, of that year, established a small carriage manufacturing plant in connection with Chris Krop. Their business was located in a little blacksmith shop at Nos. 303 to 305 Broadway, where they began the manufacture of carriages, buggies and wagons and did all kinds of repair work, Mr. Meincke's father entering the em- ploy of the new firm. On the 1st of April, 1861, Mr. Meincke purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business under his own name. From that time forward the enterprise prospered and grew steadily. In 1862 Mr. Meincke purchased the busi- ness of his former employer, Isaac Ellsworth, and conducted both places until his Broadway lease expired. In the fall of 1863 he entered into partnership with Charles Weber, a blacksmith, who was then in his employ. The Civil war was in progress and many men being at the front it was difficult to obtain good mechanics at that time. The business was carried on under the name of John Meincke & Company. In November, 1865, however, the entire plant was destroyed by fire, causing an almost total loss, after which the firm of Meincke & Weher was dissolved hy mutual consent. Mr. Meincke afterward constructed a temporary building and on Friday of the same week in which the fire occurred three forges were going in full blast on the old site. A store at 300 Broadway was rented for woodworking and storage purposes. On the 1st of July, 1866, Mr. Meincke purchased the northeast corner at No. 294 to 298 Broadway and Detroit streets, the old McCormack Hotel site, held by the United States government as a retreat for disabled soldiers until the close of the war in 1865. On taking over the property Mr. Meincke remodeled the old building and converted the hotel into a carriage factory. In 1869 the level of Broadway and Detroit streets was raised four feet and nine inches which put his old factory building out of service and made it necessary for him to erect a new plant. On the 1st of August, 1871, the old building
JOHN J. D. MEINCKE
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was removed to the northwest corner of Detroit and Milwaukee streets and converted again into a ·hotel, after which a new structure was erected on the old site-a three story and basement brick building, forty by one hundred and twenty feet. Mr. Meincke then employed twenty-five hands. In the fall of 1872 his father, who had been asso- ciated with him in carrying on the business throughout this time, retired on account of old age and passed away on the 11th of September, 1881. As the years passed John J. D. Meincke continued the business, building up an important industrial enterprise and winning well merited success.
It was on the 30th of April, 1858, that Mr. Meincke, after securing employment in Milwaukee was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Preem, who had crossed the Atlantic on the sailing vessel with him. They became the parents of nine children, of whom six died young from the ages of one to six years. Three reached maturity: Ernest, Lilly and Paul. Ernest and Paul after gradnating from school engaged in busi- ness with their father and remained with him until called to the home beyond. The son Ernest died September 11, 1894, leaving a wife and two children; and Paul died December 27, 1897, leaving a wife and one son, John, Jr. Following the death of his sons Mr. Meincke carried on the business alone until the spring of 1899, when he retired, disposing of the stock on hand. He had become the owner of considerahle valuable property in Milwaukee and resided in a splendid home at No. 274 Tenth street, which he willed to his neice, Miss Louise M. Leverenz.
Mr. Meincke was a member of St. John's Lutheran church and he also belonged to the Old Settlers' Club and to the German Immigrants Aid Society, serving as a member of its board of directors. He was most highly respected and a worthy citizen, enjoying the good will and confidence of all who knew him to the time of his death, which occurred December 29, 1919, when he was eighty-five years of age. He had never regretted his determination to come to America, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization made for himself a most creditable position in the business circles of his adopted city.
RUDOLPH BERNARD HOERMANN, M. D.
Few physicians have a comprehensive and thorough training such as Dr. Rudolph Bernard Hoermann of Milwaukee has achieved, for he is a graduate of both the alapathic and homeopathic schools of medicine and in his practice is now specializing on diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, for which he received special training, his practice indicating his thorough capability and success in this department. Dr. Hoermann is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, born August 11, 1872. His father was Dr. Ferdinand Bernard Hoermann, a physician who in 1881 became a resident of Watertown, Wisconsin, where he continued in active practice to the time of his death in 1918. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline Frentel, is still residing in Watertown. They were the parents of a family of five sons and five daughters, all of whom have reached adult age.
Dr. Rudolph B. Hoermann, the third in order of birth, has one brother who is a physician and two are members of the dental profession, the latter being Dr. Alfred Hoermann, a dentist of Milwaukee, and Dr. Ernst Hoermann, who is practicing his profession in Watertown, Wisconsin. One brother and three sisters reside in Honolulu, Hawaii, the former being the Rev. Arthur Hoermann, D. D., a prominent Lutheran clergyman. All of the sons are professional men and one of the daughters is the wife of a physician, Dr. T. F. Shinnick of Beloit, Wisconsin.
Dr. Rudolph B. Hoermann was chiefly reared in Watertown, Wisconsin, and there obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree on the completion of a course in the Northwestern College, a Lutheran school at that place. He afterward spent four years as a student in the medical department of the University of Michigan and was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1897. Through the succeeding'period of four months he was identified with the outdoor poor department of Bellevue Hospital of New York and later he studied in Berlin and Vienna, pursuing postgraduate work in the year 1898, thus becoming splendidly qualified for the work of his profession. He located at Water- town, Wisconsin, where he opened an office and continued in general practice from 1899 until 1912. In the latter year he came to Milwaukee, where he has remained and for four years his attention has been concentrated npon diseases of the eye, ear. nose and throat. He has gained a high degree of proficiency in his specialty, having largely come to be regarded as an authority upon this branch of practice in Wisconsin. He belongs to the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Wisconsin Surgical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a constant student, continually reading along lines that promote his knowledge and advance his efficiency in coping with disease and restoring the human body to normal conditions.
On the 28th of July, 1903, Dr. Hoermann was married to Miss Renata Mueller.
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They had one son, Harold Mueller, who was killed in an automobile accident at the age of ten years. Following this the city put policemen on all corners near the schools,' for the lad was returning home from school when struck by the machine, causing his death.
During the World war Dr. Hoermann served on local board, No. 3, of Milwaukee. He is a member of the Lutheran church and he helongs to the Wisconsin Club, which is indicative of his appreciation of the social amenities of life. He has gained many friends during the years of his residence in Milwaukee and he enjoys the respect and confidence of his colleagues and contemporaries in the profession.
A. T. VAN SCOY.
A .T. Van Scoy filled an important function in the commercial life of the city long before he commanded public attention. He had been connected with the Mil- waukee Harvester Company in an important executive capacity and when this com- pany was merged into the International Harvester Company, his position was enlarged both in scope and authority. He was possessed of a rare power and discrimination in the formulation of executive and financial policies and was assigned to many of the more important problems and operations of his company. When in later years his duties became less exacting, he gave a liberal portion of his time to general civic and charitable movements. He was induced to accept the presidency of the Milwau- kee Association of Commerce and in that capacity led a most strenuous life and rendered a remarkable service. He manifested the most untiring zeal in numberless projects designed to promote the material and moral well-being of the community.
Mr. Van Scoy was born in Wainscott, Long Island, New York, August 7, 1855, a son of Henry Lewis and Mary T. (Barnes) Van Scoy, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. No special advantages came to A. T. Van Scoy in his youthful days. His early education was acquired in the Clinton Academy at East Hampton, New York, and he was graduated from Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio, in June, 1876. Im- mediately afterward he went to Sandwich, Illinois, learning that there was a vacancy among the teachers in one of the grammar schools of that city. He passed the examina- tion and secured the position, teaching in connection with George Patton, a member of the prominent Chicago Patton family. He taught in that school for about four years and then became principal, occupying the position for two years. On the expiration of that period he was elected superintendent of schools, which position he filled until he resigned after ten years of school work.
Thinking to find better opportunities along commercial lines, Mr. Van Scoy then entered the office of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company, with which he con- tinned until March, 1889, when he came to Milwaukee and entered into active associa- tion with the Milwaukee Harvester Company in the capacity of collection manager, which position he continued to fill until August, 1898, when he was elected second vice president and treasurer, and from this time on he was carrying many of the duties of general manager. When he took this position the concern was a compar- atively small one, but the business quickly felt the power of his energy and personality and grew rapidly. It was with the financial end of the business that Mr. Van Scoy made a reputation as a financier. Perhaps comparatively few men in Milwaukee realized his great ability in this direction, as the business was done with farm operators in all parts of the country, rather than with local concerns. Mr. Van Scoy's duty was to finance the business and, in addition, he had general supervision over all depart- ments of the business. He continued to serve in that capacity until August, 1902, at which time the Milwaukee Harvester Company became a part of the International Harvester Company. Mr. Van Scoy then became collection manager for Wisconsin and upper Michigan and assistant secretary of the company. No one realized his great worth better than did Cyrus H. McCormick, head of that great concern, and his friendship and confidence Mr. Van Scoy enjoyed to an unusual degree.
While the International Harvester Company was being organized, Mr. Van Scoy visited many of the branch houses in the United States and Canada, installing their credit and collection systems. He remained as assistant secretary and collection man- ager for Wisconsin and upper Michigan of the International Harvester Company until January 1, 1920, at which time he was elected one of the vice presidents of the com- pany, in which capacity he served until his sudden and untimely death on the 3d of February, 1921.
It was in 1907 that Mr. Van Scoy became a director of the Merchants & Manu- facturers Bank of Milwaukee and later was elected vice president and made chairman of the discount committee. He remained with the bank until his duties with the Harvester Company forced him to resign in 1909.
For twenty-four years Miss Elizabeth J. Campbell was private secretary to Mr. Van Scoy and since his demise has had full charge of his estate. Her close association
A. T. VAN SCOY
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with him in all business affairs made her thoroughly familiar with his commercial and financial interests and qualified her to take up the burden of responsibility which is now hers in the management of the estate left by Mr. Van Scoy.
Not only did Mr. Van Scoy contribute largely to the success of the important business interests mentioned but was also a most prominent figure in connection with the Association of Commerce. In 1910 he became actively identified therewith and served as director for five years. He filled the position of vice president for one year and was president from 1918 until 1920. At the completion of his second term the Association of Commerce elected him to the honorary position of president emeritus. During all these years in which he had been an official he had served on most of the important committees and gave great assistance to the legislative and transporta- tion committees. During his term as president he had a record of attending more meetings than any president the association had ever had. Mr. Van Scoy also took a very active and helpful part in all war work; was appointed by Governor Philipp a member of the State Council of Defense, which was the first Council of Defense organized in the United States, and in this connection represented the mannfacturers of Wis- consin. He also served as food administrator for Milwaukee county during the entire period of the war. He was most helpful in promoting all the Liberty Loan drives and in fact was on the executive and finance committees of practically all of the different drives held in Milwaukee. He took a most prominent part in the drive for Associated Colleges in 1919 and did very effective organization work, assisting in organizing such cities as Racine, Kenosha, Wankesha and others. His last work along those lines was done in November, 1920, when he became state chairman of the advisory board of the Salvation Army, which meant that he organized the state of Wisconsin to promote the interests of the Salvation Army, appointing advisory boards in each county. This was his last public service. The Salvation Army and its leaders in Milwaukee have made the statement that it was he who recognized their work and made it possible for them to accomplish in Milwaukee what they have done.
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