USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 25
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ROBERT F. BRAUN, M. D.
Dr. Robert F. Braun who has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Milwaukee during the past six years, now having a welt appointed office at No. 525 Twelfth street, was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, on the 14th of June, 1884. His parents, William and Johanna (Schulz) Braun, are both natives of Germany and still reside at Wausau.
In the acquirement of an education Robert F. Braun attended the graded and high schools of his native city until he had reached the age of sixteen years and subsequently completed a course in stenography and bookkeeping in the Wausau Business College. He then secured a position as bookkeeper and general office man in a large factory at Wausau and was thus employed for several years. But ambitious to enter upon a professional career, he matriculated in the medical depart- ment of Marquette University, which conferred upon him the degree of M. D. at his graduation in 1915. He pursued the full four years' course, having entered the
institution in 1911. Following his graduation he spent one year as interne in Mount Sinai Hospital, gaining that broad and valuable knowledge and experience which never comes as quickly in any other way as through hospital work. Since 1916 he has been engaged in the general practice of medicine in Milwaukee, where his pronounced ability is attested by the many patients who have come under his care. He keeps in close touch with the constant progress of the profession through his membership in the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is a member of the teaching staff of the Marquette University School of Dentistry. At the time of the World war he entered the Medical Officers Training School at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was there stationed when the armistice was signed.
Dr. Braun is a Lutheran in religious faith, while fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is popular in both professional and social circles of his adopted city, being widely recognized as a young man of marked skill in his chosen field of labor and one who is actuated by high principles in every relation of life.
F. ANTON DROLSHAGEN.
F. Anton Drolshagen, president of the Milwaukee Pattern & Manufacturing Company, was born in Salzkotten, Westphalia, Germany, February 19, 1859, his parents being Ferdinant and Francisca (Schmitz) Drolshagen, whose family num- bered four sons. The father was born in 1819 and the mother in 1820. They spent their entire lives in Germany, Mr. Drolshagen attaining the age of sixty-four years and his wife fifty-nine. He conducted a furniture business and carpenter shop at Salzkotten, Germany, to the time of his death, when the business was taken over by his eldest son and is still being carried on. It was established by a fore- father of Ferdinant Drolshagen about three hundred years ago.
F. Anton Drolshagen was graduated from the common graded schools, after which he entered what might be termed a course in a trade school, thus spending a period of four years at Paderborn, Germany, where upon graduation he was awarded the medal of honor. Upon the completion of this course he followed the line of business similar to that of cabinetmaking in America. After migrating to the new world he entered night school at Milwaukee in order to learn English. He worked at cabinetmaking for three years in the principal cities of Germany, Austria. Switzerland and Italy and thus had had considerable business experience when he came to the United States, where he arrived on the 28th of August, 1883. establishing his home in Milwaukee. He found employment in different cabinet shops for a time and later on worked in the pattern shops. Steadily he advanced
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and at length, ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he entered into partnership with ex-Mayor Emil Seidel in organizing the Milwaukee Pattern & Manufacturing Company in May, 1900. This business is being conducted at Nos. 1195 to 1199 Thirtieth street, and has developed into one of the important manu- facturing enterprises of the city, of which Mr. Drolshagen is the president and principal owner.
On the 10th of September, 1883, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mr. Drolshagen was married to Miss Theresia Riedmeyer, a daughter of Xavier and Monica Riedmeyer. She was born in Munich, Bavaria, March 30, 1858, and is one of a family of four children. Her father conducted a small brewery. Mrs. Drolshagen came to the United States in 1883, and the same year was married in Milwaukee. She has become the mother of six children, four sons and two daughters: Frank F., who married Estella Gruber; Katherine F .; Anthony O .; Theodore F., who married Margaret Boehmer; Albert J., who married Catherine Schumacher; and Elizabeth F., who is now the wife of Alois Fritz.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Drols- hagen is a member of St. Vincent De Paul Charitable Association of St. Ann's Catholic church. In politics he has always held to the belief that the hest candi- date in the field is entitled to his vote, regardless of party affiliation. Coming to the new world as a young man of twenty-four years, he has never had occasion to regret his determination to try his fortune in America, for here he found the business opportunities which he sought and through their utilization has advanced steadily step by step until he is now one of the active and representative business men of his adopted city.
S. A. ECKSTEIN.
Early realizing the fact that application is what counts and that every man has it in him to work' if he wants to, S. A. Eckstein started out in the business world with a strong determination to win success if it could be accomplished by honorable methods and unfaltering perseverance. The qualities which he has displayed have brought him steadily to the front in connection with the commercial interests of Milwaukee, where he is now known as a leading druggist and one whose lahors have heen crowned with a substantial measure of prosperity. Mr. Eckstein was born in the city of New York, October 3, 1858, his parents being Samnel and Anna Eckstein, who were natives of Austria and in early life crossed the Atlantic to the United States, establishing their home in the eastern metropolis. In 1859, however, they left New York and came to Milwaukee, where the father spent his remaining days, passing away in 1897, while the mother died May 29, 1911.
S. A. Eckstein was but a year old when brought to Milwaukee and in the public schools here he obtained his education, being graduated from a high school. He was a youth of sixteen years when in 1874 he began earning his living hy working as an errand boy in the drug store of I. N. Morton, who in 1875 disposed of his business to the firm of George Wright & Brother. Mr. Eckstein continued with the new proprietors and in 1892 the firm was incorporated under the name of Wright Drug Company, with S. A. Eckstein as the secretary. He has been with the business for the past forty-six years. On the 1st of March, 1907, he bought out his partners in the enterprise but is retaining the same firm name. he being president of the company. Emerson said, "An institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man," and the drug store of which he is now the head is but the expression of the enterprise and business ability of S. A. Eckstein, who has been continuously associated therewith since 1874.
On the 12th of September, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Eckstein and Miss Fannie Housman, a daughter of Charles and Hannah Housman of Milwaukee, both of whom have passed away. The only son of the marriage is Charles H., who while still associated in the drug business with his father, is at present manager of the Public Drng Company in Chicago.
With many important trade and fraternal interests Mr. Eckstein is associated. He was at one time grand regent of the Royal Arcanum and supreme representative of Wisconsin, also collector of Allen Council, R. A. He exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit upon which the Masonic order is based, having membership in Mil- waukee Lodge, No. 261, A. F. & A. M., and Kilbourn Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M. He is likewise a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 83, K. P., and at all times is most loyal to the teachings of these different fraternities and the high principles upon which they are based. Mr. Eckstein is now serving his third term as president of the Old Settlers' Club. He is also the president of the Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, president of the Druggists Mutual Fire Insurance Company and is interested in many organizations having to do with the public welfare. He is now serving on the Milwaukee park board, having recently been reappointed for the second term of five years. He is a member
S. A. ECKSTEIN
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of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, of the Wisconsin Club, of the Association of Commerce and the Rotary Club. Politically he is a non-partisan. He is a man of pleasing address and manners and of splendid business qualifications and has made for himself a most creditable position among the merchants of the city, for the integrity and enterprise , of his methods have gained for him high standing.
RUDOLPH CARL TESCHAN, M. D.
Dr. Rudolph Carl Teschan, who devoted his life to kindly ministrations to his fellow- men as a representative of the medical profession, actuated at all times by a desire to render the utmost possible service to those in need of medical or surgical assist- ance, long ranked very high in public regard in Milwaukee, where he engaged in practice. He was born in Reigoldswil, Basel Land, Switzerland, April 9, 1852, and was a son of Mathias and Annie Marie (Grieder) Teschan. He acquired his early education in the city of Basel, supplementing his preliminary studies by a uni- versity course there. It was in that city that he entered upon the study of medicine. On the 27th of July, 1875, he arrived in Buffalo, New York, where he spent one year and later removed to Tonawanda, New York, where he was employed as a teacher in the high school for five years, giving instruction in the languages and science. He afterward became a resident of Detroit, Michigan, where he taught school, and during that time he further studied medicine in the Michigan College of Medicine, from which he was graduated, receiving his diploma. He subsequently obtained a position as sanitary inspector on the bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, this being a government position.
1n 1882 Dr. Teschan went to Winona, Minnesota, where he entered upon the private practice of medicine, there remaining for six years, and during that period he also manifested a keen and helpful interest in public progress and improvement along various lines. He served as a member of the school board of Winona, and the cause of education found in him a stalwart champion. He was also a member of the Minnesota Medical Society.
In October, 1888, Dr. Teschan came to Milwaukee, where he practiced medicine to the time of his death, which occurred on the 1st of February, 1921. For twenty- seven years he was examining physician for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Com- pany, also for the Germania Mutual Benevolent Society, of which he was chief examiner. He belonged to the Wisconsin State Medical Society, to the Milwaukee County Medical Society and he was also very active in the Swiss societies of Mil- waukee. For several years he was a teacher in the Normal College of the North American Gymnastic Union, and for thirty years he was very active in the South Side Gymnastic Society .
On the 3d of May, 1875, Dr. Teschan was married to Miss Carolina Gilbert, a daughter of Carol and Christina ( Haerle) Gilbert, who were natives of Germany, the former of Baden and the latter of Wurtemberg. They became the parents of five children: Hulda, the wife of P. Erik Andersen, a resident of Milwaukee; Dr. Rudolph, of this city; Gertrude W., at home; Walter F .; and Erhard G., who was a captain of Headquarters Company of the Eighty-fifth Division during the World war and served for eight months overseas.
Dr. Teschan during the war volunteered for medical service and was active in other ways. He always stood loyally in support of those interests which had to do with the upbuilding and progress of community, commonwealth and country. The cause of education ever found in him a stalwart champion, and for two terms, from July 7. 1908, until July 6, 1909, and again from the 4th of January, 1910. until July 7, 1911, he was a member of the school board of Milwaukee, lending the weight of his aid and influence to many progressive measures for the benefit of the schools.
HON. WILLIAM HARVEY AUSTIN.
Hon. William Harvey Austin, for forty-two years a member of the Milwaukee bar, came to this city from the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Bing- hamton, New York, October 22, 1859, his parents being Allen and Sarah ( Meigs ) Austin, the former a native of Connecticut, while the latter was born in New York. The father engaged in the practice of law and in commercial business enterprises in the Empire state for a number of years and in March, 1867, came to Milwaukee. The following year, however, he removed to Portage, Wisconsin, but in 1871 returned to this city, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1876. His wife departed this life in 1885.
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William H. Austin was educated in the public schools, which he attended for about two and a half years. The remainder of his education has been acquired in the practical school of experience, in which he has learned many valuable lessons, being today recognized as a man of broad general information, as well as of capability in his professional field. He was but thirteen years of age when he began . work as a clerk with J. B. Shaw, the first salt dealer of Milwaukee, and subse- quently he was with J. B. Durand, a wholesale grocer, for a short time. He after- ward became assistant librarian of the Young Men's Association, the predecessor of the Milwaukee Public Library, and while in this position he was also an employe of the government signal service, working nights for about a year. During this time he likewise read law with Judge Hubbell and Joshua Stark. After occupying these various positions for two or three years he entered the office of Joshua Stark, who directed his reading until his admission to the bar in 1879. Since that time he has been an active follower of the profession. In 1880 and 1881 he served as assistant district attorney, and at various other times he has been called to fill positions of public honor and trust, many of which have been along the line of his profession. In 1889, however, he was a member of the school board. The following year he was assistant city attorney and in 1891-2 filled the office of city attorney. Then his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability and his devotion to the public good, called him to represent them in the general assembly and he was a member of the house in 1893. In 1895 he was elected to the state senate and served for four years. Since that time he has devoted his attention to the practice of law. His first law partner was Judge A. C. Brazee, municipal judge, and afterward he became a partner of George B. Goodwin. Later he was associated with Charles H. Hamilton and afterward with R. N. Austin, who was subsequently superior judge. He was next joined by Herman Fehr, with whom he is still associated, and by the admis- sion of other partners the firm is now Austin, Fehr, Mueller & Gehrz.
While Mr. Austin has long enjoyed an extensive and important practice, he has also done valuable service in connection with municipal affairs. He is the father of the park system, having drawn up the contracts for the purchase of all the city park lands while city attorney. He also drew up the first civil service law and secured its passage while a member of the state legislature. He likewise drew up the resolutions for consolidations for the city and county and secured the passage of these in the general assembly, of which he was a member from 1893 until 1895, serving during that period in the upper house. He has closely studied the ques- tion of Milwaukees' needs and opportunities and has labored untiringly for her welfare.
In June, 1882, Mr. Austin was married to Miss Janet F. McLean of Minnesota, and they have become the parents of four children: William M .; Robert H .; Janet Grace, the wife of Walter C. Carlson; and Allen S., who was graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1921. The latter was a member of the Fifty-fourth Artillery during the World war, volunteering for service, after which he was sent to France, being on duty for a little more than a year.
Mr. Austin was formerly a member of the Calumet Club for a quarter of a century. He is a Knights Templar Mason and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the Wisconsin Consistory. He is likewise a member of the Mystic Shrine and he has membership in the Elks Club and in the Milwaukee Athletic Club.
OSCAR R. PIEPER.
Prominently identified with the commercial interests of Milwaukee is Oscar R. Pieper, who has long been connected with both the retail and wholesale grocery business of the city. He was born October 15, 1861, in Germany, and is a son of William Pieper, editor of the Milwaukee Herold and Seebote, who died in 1891.
Oscar R. Pieper was a lad of about ten years when brought to the new world by his parents, who settled first in Detroit, Michigan, in 1872, and in 1876 removed to Milwaukee. In that year he secured the position of office boy in the Daily Herold and later took up typesetting, thus making his initial start in the business world. In 1878 he became a clerk for the New York Tea Company of Milwaukee, engaged in retailing of tea and coffee, and the ability and enterprise which he displayed in that connection led to his assignment to the position of manager of a branch store in 1880 In 1885, in association with A. Roebke, he opened a retail store on Division street, now Juneau avenue, conducting the enterprise independently after the withdrawal of Mr. Roebke a year and a half later. Steadily his business grew and developed and after thirteen years he removed to West Water street, where he secured larger quarters and successfully conducted his store for ten years. His lease having then expired, he discontinued a profitable retail grocery business and opened a wholesale
OSCAR R. PIEPER
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house at Nos. 192 to 196 Broadway, supplying hotels, hospitals and institutions. This was first carried on under the name of O. R. Pieper, but in 1918 he incorporated his interests under the firm style of the O. R. Pieper Company, wholesale grocers, and has since been associated with his two sons, who are active in the enterprise, his brother, H. J. Pieper, A. P. Malek and Frank Treis, the two last named having served Mr. Pieper as trusted employes for many years. The business has been developed to very sub- stantial proportions. Mr. Pieper's life has practically been devoted to mercantile pursuits and the thoroughness and enterprise with which he conducts his affairs, his progressive methods, his close application and his sound judgment have been salient features in the attainment of the present-day success of the company. One of the principal factors in this success is the fact that Mr. Pieper has always carried goods of the highest quality-goods known for their superiority and excellence, handling nothing of inferior quality even if greater profits might thus be secured.
In Milwaukee, on the 10th of June, 1885, Mr. Pieper was married to Miss Emma Bach, a daughter of Professor Christian Bach, the most prominent pioneer musical director of his day, the family all possessing notable musical talent. Mr. and Mrs. Pieper have become parents of three sons: Walter E. wedded Elsie Borgwardt and now has three children: Walter, Jr., Richard and Gene; Carl G., who wedded Clara Hoffman, has one child, Peggy; and Robert O. is attending the Milwaukee Country Day School.
In his political views Mr. Pieper is a republican and fraternally he has been connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks for a quarter of a century and with the Masons for twenty years. He has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and for eight years has been a member of Tripoli Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He likewise has membership in the Association of Commerce and the Wis- consin Club and belongs to a number of local societies. He is a great lover of out- door sports, including fishing. When he goes into the open all business thought is put aside and he plays hard, just as he works hard. As the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well and is today one of the representative merchants of the city, having achieved notable success through his intelligently directed efforts.
GEORGE FRANCIS MARKHAM.
The history of any community or city is not the effort of a single individual but the story of the combined efforts of many enterprising citizens who are active in directing business, professional and public affairs of a varied nature, all contributing to the result which must figure in the progress and prosperity of any modern city. In this connection mention should be made of George Francis Markham, president of the Federal Pressed Steel Company of Milwaukee, who is numbered among the native sons of Wisconsin's metropolis. He was born on the 25th of February, 1878. his parents being George C. and Rose S. (Smith) Markham, who were natives of the state of New York. Removing westward they came to Milwaukee in the '60s, where the father was well known for a number of years as the president of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of this city.
George F. Markham was educated in public and private schools of Milwaukee and attended the University of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated in 1902. with the degree of Bachelor of Letters. He next turned his attention to manufac- turing interests as a representative of the Pressed Steel Tank Company of West Allis, of which corporation he was the vice president for about three years. He then became identified with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company as a special loan agent and was active in that position for about five years. Later he was promoted to the superintendency of loan agencies and served in that connection for about two years. While still employed in that way he organized the Federal Pressed Steel Company in 1909 and was elected its first president, while in 1911 he became the active head of the business and has since been the controlling factor in its management. The plant was erected in 1911 on five and a quarter acres of land at Keefe avenue and North Pierce streets, for the purpose of manufacturing heavy pressed steel specialties. It has become one of the mammoth enterprises and productive industries of the state, normally giving employment to five hundred men. It is splendidly equipped with the latest improved machinery for work of this character and the business has been thoroughly systematized, while in its man- agement Mr. Markham displays keen discernment and marked business enterprise. He remains as president and treasurer of the corporation, with E. M. Simon as vice president and general manager, James G. Cowling as vice president, and Fred D. Hansen as secretary. The enterprise under Mr. Markham's direction has met with notable success. The business was originally capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, and today it represents an investment of more than a million dollars, indicative of the splendid growth of the undertaking. The plant ran one hundred per cent in
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the manufacture of war products while America was associated with the allies in the efforts to subdue German militaristic ambition. The plant also sent a number of its employes to the front for active duty.
On the 6th of February, 1915, Mr. Markham was married to Miss Ruby Chandler of Chicago, and to them have been born three children: George F., John Grigsby and Virginia. The family have an attractive summer home at Oconomowoc Lake, and Mr. Markham belongs to the Oconomowoc Lake Club, to the Oconomowoc Country Club, also to the University Club of Chicago, while in Milwaukee he has membership with the University Club, the Town Club, the City Club, Country Club and the Milwaukee Club. Always appreciative of the social amenities of life, he finds pleasure in his friendships, which he holds inviolable, and at the same time he most wisely and carefully directs his important and growing business affairs, having been the founder and promoter of what is today one of the most extensive and valu- able productive industries of the city.
WILLIAM TODD.
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