USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 23
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Mr. Van Scoy was a regent of Marquette University about ten years prior to his death and served as a member of the board of directors of St. Mary's Hospital. He organized the Americanization Council of Milwaukee and served as executive director for about a year.
Just prior to his death he attended a meeting of the National Chamber of Com- merce at Washington, D. C., being one of the national counsellors of that organiza- tion, and while there attended a meeting of the immigration committee of the chamber that had been appointed to investigate the subject of emigration, he having only two months prior to his death been appointed on that committee. He returned to his home only a day before his death.
Throughout his life Mr. Van Scoy had been most devoted to his family. He was first married June 27, 1877, to Alice L. Huestis, who passed away April 19, 1887. On August 14. 1888, Mr. Van Scoy married L. Estella Warner of Sandwich, Illinois, who departed this life on the 28th of August, 1888. On June 28, 1893, Mr. Van Scoy married Miss Lillian E. Bacon of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, who survives him.
Mr. Van Scoy was a stanch republican but did not seek nor desire political pre- ferment. In fact it was his wish to devote his leisure hours to the interests of his home and he found his greatest happiness at his own fireside. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith but was not a member of any church. He was extremely broad and liberal in his views, willing to assist all denominations and ever ready to connsel and help the young. He had very close friends in all churches and was ever extending a helping hand. At the same time he was a great Bible student. He belonged to no secret organization and no clubs. His activities outside of business centered in those organized interests which look to the benefit and upbuilding of the city, to the ad- vancement of its civic ideals and to the uplift of its citizens. When he passed away the Association of Commerce adopted the following Memorial :
"WHEREAS, A. T. Van Scoy, President of the Milwaukee Association of Com- merce from February, 1918 to February, 1920, has been suddenly called by death :
"RESOLVED: That we. the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, hereby attest our keen regret at the loss of a splendid citizen and, for a period of many years, a painstaking worker in Association activities, concluding with two terms as Director and one term as Vice-President, two terms as President, and during the year just passed, as President Emeritns:
"RESOLVED: That we hereby voice our high appreciation of the services he has rendered the Association, and the potent force and painstaking effort he contributed in bringing it to its present effectiveness as one of the foremost agencies contributing to the prestige and progress of the City of Milwaukee.
"RESOLVED, That we herewith extend to the bereaved members of the family our heartfelt sympathy and the assurance of that consolation which must come with the thought that the deceased completed a useful and honorable career; and that these resolutions be spread npon the minutes and that a copy of the same be conveyed to the members of the bereaved family."
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When he retired from the office of president the Association of Commerce created a testimonial and appreciation reading:
"PREAMBLE: Mr. A. T. Van Scoy served as Director of the Milwaukee Associa- tion of Commerce for a period of five years, as Vice-President one year, and as its President for two years, ending with February 3, 1920.
"During his term of service he was also an active member of several important committees. With his retirement from office, and his elevation to the title of President Emeritus, we offer the following:
"RESOLVED, That we the Board of Directors herewith unanimously voice our highest appreciation for the fine conception A. T. Van Scoy brought to his office as President of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the zeal and fidelity he mani- fested in the arduous task assumed by him, and the efficiency and circumspection with which he performed that task:
"That, we recognize the new standards of service which he has inaugurated, the interpretation he has placed upon the function of American citizenship, and the con- tribution he has made, through his Association activities, to the prestige and progress of the City of Milwaukee.
"That, we bespeak for him a long career of useful service, attended with physical and material well-being, and an abundance of that happiness and contentment he so richly merits."
He was only spared for a few more months of usefulness and activity. If he had been consulted as to his death he would have said: "Let me be active to the last." His life was one of continuous service iu connection with his business and in connection with the public welfare and one is reminded of the words of a modern philosopher who has said: "Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success." Judged by this standard the life of A. T. Van Scoy was a notably successful one.
CLIFFORD LEROY McMILLEN.
Clifford LeRoy McMillen, general agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur- ance Company in Milwaukee has throughout his entire life been actuated by a pro- gressive spirit that has enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties in his path and work his way steadily upward to success. Along many lines he has put forth earnest and effective effort for progress and improvement and when his country needed the aid of all of her loyal sons he joined the army in defense of the principles which caused America to enter the World war.
Mr. McMillen was born at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, November 19, 1889, and is a son of George. Wilhur and Nellie (Gosselin) McMillen, who are still residents of Fort Atkinson. where the mother was born. The father's birth occurred at Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, and throughout much of his life he has engaged in farming and dealing in live stock. He is now conducting a retail meat market at Fort Atkinson. His father was Hiram C. McMillen, who was born in the state of New York, where his parents had settled on coming from Scotland. The mother of Clifford L. McMillen was a daughter of Lee Gosselin, a native of Canada, and his father was likewise born in the land of hills and heather, whence he crossed the Atlantic to Canada.
Clifford L. McMillen began his education in the public schools of his native city, there pursuing his studies to the age of sixteen years, when in 1907 he was graduated from the high school. He afterward attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and won his Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1911. He be- came a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity while a student there. When his text- books were put aside he turned his attention to the life insurance business, becoming connected with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, with which he has since been associated. Steadily he has worked his way upward, thoroughly acquainting himself with every phase of the business, and he is now general agent for the corpora- tion at Milwaukee and in his present responsible position has fifty agents serving under him.
On the 22d of October, 1912, Mr. McMillen was united in marriage to Lorraine Hartman, a daughter of Frank Hartman of Chicago. She, too, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin of the class of 1910. She is much interested in art and is a member of the College Women's Club. It was on the 1st of July, 1919, that Mr. and Mrs. McMillen removed from Madison to Milwaukee, where they have since made their home and in the social circles of the city they have gained a prominent position. Mr. McMillen is a lover of golf and all outdoor sports, greatly enjoys fishing and is also a devotee of music and possesses considerable skill as a violinist.
When the country needed his aid, all other interests and activities of his life sank into insignificance and he joined the army, becoming an infantry captain. He was made adjutant of the Three Hundred and Thirty-fifth Infantry and later brigade adjutant
CLIFFORD L. McMILLEN
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of the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Infantry Brigade. He was graduated from the Second Officers Training Camp at Fort Sheridan in December, 1917, with the rank of first lieutenant, was promoted to a captaincy and sailed for France in July, 1918. There he was engaged on staff duty in various localities and left France in February, 1919, receiving his discharge in the same month.
Politically Mr. McMillen has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise but has never heen a candidate for office nor has he desired political preferment. He holds membership with the Congregational church but at- tends the Catholic church with his wife. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks lodge at Madison, with the Knights of Pythias at Fort Atkinson and with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Madison. He belongs to the Life Underwriters Asso- ciation of Milwaukee and while at Madison was president of that body there and took a very prominent part in its work. He is very widely and favorably known in club circles and was formerly president of the Madison Rotary Club. He now belongs to the Milwaukee Rotary Club, is a member of the University Club, of which he is serving as secretary, and his name is likewise on the membership rolls of the Milwaukee Club, Wisconsin Club, Milwaukee Athletic Club, Milwaukee Country Club, Fox Point Club, Madison Club and the Maple Bluff Golf Club at Madison. He has a very wide acquaint- ance in the capital city and in Milwaukee and the sterling traits of his character have gained for him the warm regard of a very extensive circle of friends in both cities,
WILLIAM KINGMAN PACKMAN.
William Kingman Packman, of Packman, Nohle & Company, general accounting service at Milwaukee, was born on his father's farm in the town of Bristol, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, February 27, 1857, and is thus a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this state. The Packmans are of Dutch descent. The grand- father, Peter Packman, was born in Columbia county, New York, and became a highly successful farmer, owning and cultivating more than four hundred acres of rich and productive land. His son, Martin Packman, was born at Kinderhook, Columbia county, New York, in 1831, and he, too, followed the occupation of farming in the Empire state, where in early life he served as school clerk of his town. He was married in New York to Miss Catherine E. Kingman, whose birth occurred at Kinder- hook in 1834, her father being William Kingman, who was a farmer of Columbia county, where he was born, the family being of English lineage. It was about the year 1855 that Mr. and Mrs. Martin Packman left the Empire state, where their mar- riage was celebrated, and came to Wisconsin, settling on a farm in Kenosha county, where the father died in 1865. The mother died in 1897.
William Kingman Packman was only eight years of age at the time of his father's demise. He pursued a public school education in his native county to the age of fourteen years and afterward attended the Kenosha high school, while still later he became a pupil in Beloit College at Beloit, Wisconsin. He then went east to Chatham, New York, where he completed his course by study in the Chatham Acad- emy, after which he returned to the home farm and conducted it until he reached the age of twenty-three years. Thinking to find other pursnits more congenial than agriculture, however, he at that time turned his attention to general merchandising at Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, in partnership with H. C. Torrey. This business he conducted until 1889, when he sold his interest in the store and removed to Milwau- kee. For a year he acted as cashier and bookkeeper for the McElroy Transportation Company and then became connected with the Northwestern Iron Company, which he represented for eighteen years, starting out in the employ of that corporation in the capacity of bookkeeper and working his way steadily upward until he became gen- eral manager. The company is engaged in the manufacture of pig iron and Mr. Packman thus gained considerable knowledge of the iron industry, so that in 1908 he embarked in the foundry business on his own account at Mayville, where he re- mained for four years. In the meantime he had been studying accountancy and obtained much practical experience along that line until at length he opened an office for expert accounting under the name of the Cream City Accounting Company. In 1916 he admitted Joseph E. Noble to a partnership and in 1920 the business was reorganized and incorporated under the name of Packman, Noble & Company, with Mr. Packman as the president. They handle audits of every description, open, close and keep monthly accounts of books and do a regular systems and general accounting service. The business is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and they have at least a hundred regular clients and many others who call them in for special work. Aside from the accounting business Mr. Packman is also interested in the Winter Piano Company, dealers in pianos and musical instruments, operating two stores in Milwaukee. The company is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Packman being president and treasurer.
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Mr. Packman was married to Miss Mabel L. Johnson of Bristol, Wisconsin, who passed away three years later, in 1883, leaving a son, Martin J., who is now a farmer of Bristol and who is married and has four children. For his second wife William K. Packman chose Miss Mary G. Bohan, whom he wedded on the 1st of October, 1890. She is a daughter of the Hon. John R. Bohan of Port Washington, Wisconsin, who was state senator from his district and was a prominent and influential resident there, well known as the proprietor and editor of the Ozaukee County Advocate. He died in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Packman have four children. Frances is now the wife of George W. Moore, a farmer living near Janesville, Wisconsin, who was graduated from the agricultural department of the State University and is now scientifically following farming. He and his wife have one child, Gertrude. Clarence E., the second of the family, is now associated in business with his father. He wedded Mary Wilson, of Madison, a daughter of S. A. Wilson, who is connected with the L. L. Olds Seed Company. Dorothy E. is now the wife of Albert M. Ryser, of Milwaukee, repre- sentative of the Winter Piano Company. Gertrude, the youngest of the family, is a student in the West Division high school of this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Packman attend the Methodist Episcopal church, contribute to its support and take an interest in its growth and upbuilding. Politically Mr. Packman is a republican who stanchly supports party principles but has never been ambitious to hold office. He is a Mason, belonging to Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M., of Mayville, Wisconsin, of which he was worshipful master for three years. He likewise has membership in Horicon Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M .; in Fond du Lac Commandery, No. 5, K. T .; and in the Eastern Star, of which he has heen patron. His wife likewise belongs to Oakwood Chapter of the Eastern Star and was active in behalf of woman suffrage and of prohibition, being identified with the societies back of these movements. Mr. Packman is likewise a member of the Association of Commerce and cooperates with the organized efforts of the association to promote. city improvement, to uphold civic standards and to extend trade relations. At all times he stands for progress and advancement and his labors have been an effective force along those lines for the public welfare as well as for the benefit of his indi- vidual fortunes.
ARTHUR H. VOGEL.
Arthur H. Vogel is a native son of Milwaukee, born in May, 1865. In the acquire- ment of his education he attended the second ward high school, also the Engelman school and the Spencerian Business College. He was a young man of twenty years when in 1885 he became associated with his father F. Ludwig Vogel, and brothers William H. and Edwin Vogel, in the carpenter and general contracting firm operating under the name of F. L. Vogel Sons. In 1895 he became connected as an officer with the Sheboygan Dredge & Dock Company and was thus associated when in 1900 the Sheboygan Company consolidated with the C. H. Starke Dredge & Dock Company. In 1903 he was elected an officer of the latter corporation and retained that position until the consolidation of the C. H. Starke Dredge & Dock Company with the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company. When this merger was effected he became manager for the Milwaukee district and has retained this position to the present time. His place is one of large responsibility in this connection and he is splendidly qualified for the dnties that devolve upon him.
The Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company was organized and incorporated in 1905 for the purpose of engaging in the business of contracting for all kinds of marine work in dredging, the construction of breakwater, wharves, bridges, submerged pipes for water iutakes, pile foundations for buildings, cofferdams, etc. In 1914 the C. H. Starke Dredge & Dock Company of Milwaukee, which had been a big factor in the marine business not only in Milwaukee but throughout the Great Lakes district, united its personnel and equipment with that of the Great Lakes Company. This organiza- tion brought together the largest of the independent companies then engaged in that line of work on the Great Lakes and it has continued to grow in magnitude up to the present time. The headquarters of the company is in the Monroe building at Chicago, Illinois. The company also maintains district offices and equipment in South Chicago, Milwaukee, Sault Ste. Marie, Duluth, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York and Philadelphia.
Some of the work which the company and its predecessors have been doing has been of a most important character. The company has been connected with the con- struction of the submerged pipe water intakes of most all the cities on the west side of Lake Michigan. Miles of rubble mound, timber crib and pile pier breakwater have been constructed, also many miles of reinforced concrete docks and quay walls, to- gether with the substructures of most of the bascule bridges, as well as many other works of public importance. The more recent of these are the rubble mound break-
ARTHUR H. VOGEL
Vol. II-15
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water from Wisconsin street to the north harbor pier in Milwaukee, the bulkhe id protection for the Milwaukee sewerage commission at Jones Island, the bulkhead terminal development for the harbor commission on the east side of Jones Island and the pile and timber revetment on the river side of Jones Island for the harhor commission. They were also builders of the Michigan Avenue bridge in Chicago, one of the notable structures of this character, displaying not only marked engineering skill but great beauty, so that the bridge is admired by ail. It is a notable structure inasmuch as the two sides were constructed separately and not until lowered in position, ready for traffic, was it tested whether the two sides would meet perfectly, but such was the engineering skill and efficient construction back of the project that the two sides of the bridge swuug into position with absolute perfection. The Milwaukee yards and shops are located at 491 Canal street, where they have over a thousand feet of dockage for the storage of equipment, supplies, etc. The Milwaukee offices are located at 817 to 820 of the Merchants & Manufacturers Bank building. The Milwaukee dis- trict management is under the personal direction of Arthur H. Vogel, who has had many years of experience in the handling of this line of work and whose knowledge of the business is a guarantee that any work undertaken by him will he promptly and faithfully performed.
In 1893 Mr. Vogel was married to Miss Ada Starke, only daughter of Conrad Starke, and they are the parents of three children: Arthur L., who is now engaged in the insurance business in Milwaukee, enlisted for active duty in the World war and served in France with Troop A of the Light Horse Squadron of this city, which be- came the One Hundred and Twentieth Field Artillery. He was transferred to the quartermaster's division at Bordeaux, France, and was mustered out six months after the signing of the armistice. He married Gladys Larson of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in 1916; Veronica A. married Robert M. Parr of Madison, Wisconsin, in 1920, Mr. Parr is a veteran of the World war, having served in France and is now engaged in the insurance business at Madison, Wisconsin; Dorothy E., the youngest of the family, is a pupit in the Madison high school.
In Masonry Mr. Vogel has attained high rank, belonging to Lafayette Lodge, No. 265, A. F. & A. M .; Calumet Chapter, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 24, K. T .; Wisconsin Consistory. A. & A. S. R .; And Tripoli Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also identified with the Milwaukee Athletic Club and the Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
GEORGE C. BLOMMER.
George C. Blommer, secretary of the Blommer Ice Cream Company of Milwaukee, one of the important commercial interests of the city, was born here on the 9th of July, 1887. He is a son of Conrad Blommer, who was born in Milwaukee in 1851 and is still one of the highly respected residents of this city, well known in connection with his business affairs and public interest. He yet remains the president of the Blommer Ice Cream Company, which was established in 1909 and has its plant at Fifteenth street and North avenue. the other officers heing: Aloys Blommer, vice president; William C. Blommer, treasurer; and George C. Blommer, secretary. The business is a close corporation and is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. The father was engaged in the retail ice cream business at 1001 Walnut street for about thirty-seven years and as a result of his activity in that connection the present corporation was formed. The buildings now used by the company were erected in 1910, covering a ground space of one hundred and fifty by one hundred and twenty-seven feet and the site of the present plant was once a farm owned by the Blommer family, who had settled in Milwaukee in pioneer times. The present plant comprises five buildings all occupied by the company and utilized solely for the manufacture of ice cream, for its trade is now very extensive, its product heing shipped throughout the state. It also has two hranch establishments. one located at Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the other at Wisconsin Rapids, these supplying the local trade in their sections of the state. The company ranks with the best known manufacturers of ice cream in Wisconsin and the quality of its product is attested by all. The firm has built up its business entirely on the reputation won by its output and today it is among the most prominent and successful ice cream manufacturers in the upper Mississippi valley. The father, Conrad Blommer, is still actively identified with the business, save through the sum- mer season when he retires to his summer home at Fox Point, He is greatly respected here and enjoys the warm esteem and goodwill of all who know him. He married Frances Traeger, also a native of Milwaukee, and to them were born nine children. all horn at the old family home at Tenth and Walnut streets, which property is still in possession of Conrad Blommer. These children are: Katharine, the wife of George Stehling of Milwaukee; William, who is the vice president of the Ambrosia Chocolate Company; John, who is superintendent of the Milwaukee plaut of the
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Blommer Ice Cream Company; Aloys, manager of the plant at Wisconsin Rapids; Wally, at home; George C., manager of the Milwaukee plant; Anna, the wife of Dr. Taugher of Marathon, Wisconsin; Theresa, the wife of Louis Kamerek; and Marie, at home.
George C. Blommer was reared and educated in Milwaukee, attending the paro- chial schools of this city, and his entire business activity has heen concentrated upon the development of the ice cream trade. As secretary of the company he has largely directed its affairs and his enterprise and progressiveness have heen valuable factors in the successful conduct of the business.
On the 4th of October, 1911, Mr. Blommer was married to Miss Lillian E. Dey of Milwaukee; and they have two children: William G. and Irene M. Mr. Blommer took an active interest in the various drives during the World war. He belongs to the Kiwanis Club, also to the Elks' Club and the Optimist Club and it is characteristic of him that he looks upon the bright side of life, recognizes the opportunities offered and utilizes them not only for his own benefit but in connection with the upbuilding and progress of the city in many ways.
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