USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 28
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that he had given comfort and aid to the enemy during the World war. During the same session of congress a resolution was introduced by Congressman Dallinger of Massachusetts, challenging Berger's rights to a seat in the house because he had been convicted of a violation of the espionage act, after which a special committee of the house was appointed to determine the question. Mr. McLogan succeeded in having the Carney-Berger contest merged with the proceedings under the Dallinger resolution and adopt his theory rather than the one upon which the Dallinger resolution was based. The committee engaged Mr. McLogan as attorney for the merged proceedings and Berger was not permitted to take his seat.
On the 18th of November, 1903, Mr. McLogan was married to Miss Margaret O'Keefe of Chicago, and they have two children: Myrtle Marie, born September 6, 1904; and Patrick Henry, born April 12, 1910.
Mr. McLogan is well known in fraternal and social circles. He is president of Milwaukee Aerie of the Fraternal Order of E-gles, and also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and to the Knights of Columbus. He is likewise a member of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and other organizations for public benefit. In 1920 he was appointed court commissioner and had previously served as justice of the peace for six years, in which connection he brought an action that district justices were holding office illegally and carried the case to the supreme court, where he won his suit, so that since then there has been but one justice of the peace for the entire city of Milwaukee. He stands loyally and unfalteringly for any cause which he esponses and the integrity of his belief in a cause is never called into question.
HIEL M. HOLTON.
The life record of Hiel M. Holton covered a period of sixty-seven years and mark his steady advance from the time when he arrived in this state in one of the old time prairie schooners. A farmer, a clerk, a merchant. a traveling salesman, his life was ever one of activity in which he accomplished results, steadily forging forward as the result of his opportunities and expanding powers. He was born July 27, 1850, at Youngstown, Ohio, a son of William and Amanda (Coombs) Holton, who were natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively. When their son, Hiel, was but four years of age they started across the country with their family in a prairie schooner, settling at Rathborn Mills, Wisconsin, where they resided for a few years. They then removed to Missouri, where they remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when they again came to Wisconsin, settling near Reedsburg. There the parents spent their re- maining days.
Hiel M. Holton largely acquired his education in or near Reedsburg, and as his elder brothers enlisted for service in the Civil war it devolved upon him to care for his parents and cultivate the home farm and as opportunity offered he worked for wages. At length he decided to abandon agricultural life and began learning the jeweler's trade in Reedsburg. In 1875 he went to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where he opened a jewelry store, which he conducted with success for several years. Ultimately, how- ever, he sold the business and became a resident of Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he continued for seven years. In 1899 he came to Milwaukee and was a resident of this city to the time of his death, or for a period of twenty-two years. While here living he acted as traveling salesman for Jennison Brothers & Company, flour manufacturers at Janesville, Minnesota. He likewise became the owner of a large stock farm in the town of Richmond, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and he was actively connected with the development of the Turtle creek drainage district, which reclaimed a large tract of marsh land north of Delaware. He likewise owned a valuable farm near Waukesha and thus, as he prospered in his undertakings, he made large investments in property which returned to him a splendid income. He was one of the most popular traveling salesmen of the state, was ever congenial, cordial and kindly, and possessed of great tact, so that he never made the unwarranted mistakes of greeting everyone as a valued friend.
On the 19th of October, 1875, Mr. Holton was married to Miss Helen Agnes Craker, of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, a daughter of Zachariah Craker, who was an own cousin of Charles Dickens, the celebrated English writer. Her mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Delia Marcher and was born in Maryland, while Mr. Craker was a native of Buckinghamshire, England. He came to America with four brothers at an early day, settling first at Spring Prairie, Wisconsin. There he lived for some time and afterward removed to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where he spent his remaining days. Mr. and Mrs. Holton became the parents of a daughter, Florence Mildred, who was born in Elkhorn and who now owns and operates a large dairy farm in the town of Richmond, Walworth county, where she has seventy-five head of cows and other stock. Her property is splendidly improved. There are two large silos upon the place, also a fine dairy barn
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and all modern machinery, including a tractor. Miss Holton makes her home in Mil- waukee, but the work of the farm is carried on under her supervision and she is very successful in its management.
Throughout his life Mr. Holton was ever actuated by high and honorable principles, and while living in Elkhorn he served as one of the trustees of the Congregational church and was very active in connection with the building of the house of worship there. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was one of the charter members of the United Commercial Travelers, being numbered among the eighteen men who came from Waukesha to Milwaukee and were active in organizing the order. Death called him May 17, 1917, his demise being deeply regretted wherever he was known through social or business connections. He held friendship inviolable, was loyal to every trust reposed in him and was a most devoted husband and father. Mrs. Holton still makes her home in Milwaukee. She is widely known as the author of many beautiful poems and at the urgent request of friends she has prepared a volume of poems for publication, these being now ready for the press. She is also very prominent in the women's organizations of Milwaukee and has been a leader in support of many civic interests and of many projects which have intellectual, moral and cultural value.
PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MUELLER.
Professor Alexander Mueller, who is at the head of the State School of Art at the State Normal School in Milwaukee, was born in this city, February 29, 1872, and his life stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for in the city of his birth he has risen to prominence and distinction. He is a son of C. Joseph and Clara (Von Cotzhausen) Mueller, natives of Germany and of Milwaukee, respectively.
Having mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools, Professor Mueller went abroad for further study in the academies of Europe, becoming a student in the Fine Arts Academy of Weimar and in the Academy of Fine Arts at Munich. He remained abroad from 1894 until 1899, and his thorough training under some of the most prominent artists of the old world well qualified him for the work to which he has since devoted his life. Returning to Milwaukee, he devoted a year to painting, and in the second year following his return, became identified with the Milwaukee Art Students League. For several years he has conducted the art school of the league and has made valuable contribution to the development of artistic taste in this city. In 1911 the Wisconsin School of Art was reorganized as the State School of Art and through all the intervening years Professor Mueller has been the moving spirit in the art development of the city. He studied under Richard Lorenz of Milwaukee, a western painter, and also under Professor Max Thedy in Weimar. He was a student at the Academy at Munich under Director Carl Marr, who was born in Milwaukee and at one time taught here. He was the close friend and associate of Arthur H. Gallun and through their united efforts they built up the art school, making Milwaukee a great art center. It has been truthfully said that no one in Milwaukee did as much for art as did A. H. Gallun financially, and Professor Mueller professionally. The lahors of the latter still continue and he is accomplishing splendid results in directing the talent of pupils and placing before them higher standards toward which to work.
In August, 1912, Professor Mueller was married to Miss Martha Kaross and they have become parents of two children, Roland Alexander and Carola. Professor Mueller belongs to the Walrus Club, also to the Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors Association and in the latter organization has been president. Trained under some of the most eminent teachers of the old world, he has never deviated from the high standards which he early set up and he has been the means of bringing to hundreds of individuals an understanding and appreciation of art that has greatly beautified and enriched their lives.
OTTO A. HENSEL.
An alert and energetic business man of Milwaukee is Otto A. Hensel, a retail shoe dealer, conducting a store at 3527 North avenue. He was born at Castle Garden in New York city, January 4, 1872, the old Castle Garden which for many years has now heen used as an aquarium. His parents were August and Julia (Schultz) Hensel, natives of Germany, and the father was a veteran of the Austria and Franco-Prussian war. He came to America in 1872, landing at New York city, and the son, Otto A. Hensel, was born during the brief sojourn of his parents in the eastern metropolis. A little later they proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, where the father was connected with the sugar refining business for a number of years. In 1880 he went to Blooming-
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ton, Illinois, and in that locality took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for a considerable period but is now living retired in that city.
Otto A. Hensel was educated in the country schools in the vicinity of Bloomington and in the Evergreen City Business College. For four years he was employed by the J. W. Rodgers Shoe Company of Bloomington and when twenty years of age he decided to leave and removed to Chicago, where he accepted a position with the Rodgers Shoe Company of Toledo and Chicago in the capacity of a salesman on heing assigned to the Chicago territory as city salesman, and later to the state of Illinois. After three years he was transferred to Wisconsin and his territory covered this state and the upper peninsula of Michigan. While thus engaged he spent considerahle time in Mil- waukee and was so impressed with the city and its business prospects and enterprise, combined with its general spirit of progress that on the 1st of April, 1900, he took up his abode here and has since called Milwaukee his home. On the 3d of August, 1901, the Dependable Shoe Store was opened on North avenue, with O. A. Hensel as pro- prietor and manager and there he continued successfully in business for four years, but at the end of that time his original location proved entirely inadequate to the increased trade and he decided to remove to larger quarters. The business continued to grow and the Hensel store soon became one of the leading shoe establishments in the northern business section of Milwaukee. Mr. Hensel was one of the first merchants to locate in that section when the region was almost an unsettled prairie, he and George Baldauf, the latter a prominent druggist, being the first two merchants of this part of the city.
Mr. Hensel is a recognized leader in association work and a splendid organizer and was elected on the 6th of January, 1921, as president of the Milwaukee Shoe Dealers Association. He is also a great booster for the National Retail Shoe Dealers Associa- tion and has done important work in this connection to stabilize and develop trade and promote interests of worth to the business. He was chairman of the reception committee of the Milwaukee convention and won great credit for what he accomplished in this connection, the convention manifesting its keen appreciation for the general thoroughness of the committee in meeting every requirement in connection with the handling of the convention. Mr. Hensel was also first president of the North Avenue Advancement Association for two terms and he has heen a most active and helpful member of the Association of Commerce, serving on two of its most important com- mittees.
Mr. Hensel is married and has four children: Eugenia, Margery, Lucille and Andrew. There are few men better known in Milwaukee and none who deserve more credit for what they have accomplished. Not only has he been the architect of his own fortunes, in which connections he has builded wisely and well, but has also been the promoter of the city's interest and upbuilding along many lines, his labors at all times being practical and effective forces in producing results which are beneficial to the community in promoting trade relations and in upholding those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
ALBERT KELLOGG STEBBINS.
Albert Kellogg Stebbins, engaged in the practice of law in Milwaukee since 1896, or for a period of a quarter of a century, was born in this city June 21, 1875, his parents being Lemuel D. and Georgia A. (Green) Stebbins. The father is a native of Danbury, Connecticut, while the mother's birth occurred in Onondaga county, New York. It was in the year 1874 that Lemuel D. Stebbins removed from New York city to Mil- waukee and for a number of years he was successfully engaged in business in this city as a jeweler but is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
Albert K. Stebbins, after acquiring a public school education, continued his studies in Barker Hall at Michigan City, Indiana, and later became a law student in the old Milwaukee Law School and was graduated with the LL. B. degree from the Marquette Law School. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1896, when he entered into partnership with E. E. Chapin under the style of Chapin & Stebbins, a connection that was maintained until 1904, when he became a partner in the firm of Bloodgood, Kemper & Bloodgood, one of the leading law firms of the city. Mr. Stebbins makes a specialty of trial work and is recognized as one of the best lawyers in this branch of professional activity in the city. The thoroughness and care with which he prepares his cases, the clearness and cogency with which he presents his cause and the soundness and logic of his reasoning are all elements in his success, which is manifest in the many favor- able verdicts which he has won for his clients. He is now a member of the American Bar Association.
On the 1st of September, 1897, Mr. Stebbins was married to Anna Kemper Whitte- more, of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of two children. The elder, Row-
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land Ward, born July 8, 1898, was graduated from St. John's Military Academy as a member of the class of 1916, afterward pursued a collegiate course in the Milwaukee Normal and then entered Harvard University with the Students Army Training Corps as a junior in the fall of 1918. The following year he became a student in the Marquette Law School, where he is now preparing for active practice as an attorney. The younger son, Albert Kellogg, Jr., born December 27, 1899, was graduated from St. John's Mili- tary Academy in 1918 and on the 1st of July of that year enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, with which he served until discharged in March, 1919. He had a post- graduate course at St. John's Academy in mathematics, receiving appointment from this academy to the United States Military Academy at West Point, which he entered as a student in July, 1920, and is now pursuing his course there. Mr. Stebbins has taken the greatest interest in the education of his sons, extending to them every opportunity possible. He is a professor in the Marquette Law School, his subjects being federal courts, jurisdiction and procedure.
Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church and they occupy an enviable social position. He has ever been actuated by a progressive and public-spirited devotion to the general good and that he comes of a family of patriotic ancestors is indicated in the fact that he now holds membership in the Society of Colonial Wars and the Sons of the American Revolution.
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ALFRED B. CARGILL.
Alfred B. Cargill, advertising manager of the Milwaukee Sentinel, was born Feb- ruary 17, 1877, in the city which is still his home, being a representative of one of its old pioneer families. While spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Henry and Catherine Cargill, he attended the public schools, from which he was grad- uated on the completion of the work in the grades, and later he pursued a partial course in the old East Division high school. After starting out in the business world he con- tinued his high school course by attending night sessions and he also became a student in the old Milwaukee Law Class, which afterward became the Marquette College of Law .. He did not complete his law course, however, and after a few years devoted to the conduct of a collection agency he entered the newspaper business as a reporter on the old Milwaukee Free Press. There he was employed for three years and later he became a reporter on the Sentinel. He was next associated with the Milwaukee Journal, acting as political correspondent for the three years from 1906 until 1909, covering state politics during the period of the troublesome factional contests in the republican party which resulted in the split in the party, with two gubernatorial tickets in the field. During the spring of 1906 Mr. Cargill took active part in the municipal cam- paign which resulted in the election of Sherburn M. Becker as mayor over David S. Rose, and later he accepted the position of secretary of the health department, in which capacity he continued to serve until December, 1910. At that date he resigned to become circulation manager of the Sentinel and in the following March he was made adver- tising manager of that newspaper, which is his present connection.
In 1903 Mr. Cargill was married to Miss Rosa E. Wilson of St. Louis, and they have one daughter, Rosalind. Mr. Cargill belongs to the Masonic fraternity, his mem- bership being in Kilbourn Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M., of which he was master in 1915, and in Kilbourn Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M. He has membership in the Milwaukee Press Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Kiwanis Club and in the Association of Com- merce. He has been particularly active in his work in the last named as a member of the advertising council.
WILLIAM L. KRANSTOVER.
One of the important and growing business interests of Milwaukee is that con- ducted under the name of the Badger Dye Works, of which William L. Kranstover is the secretary and treasurer. He is a native son of Milwaukee, his birth having here occurred in 1879. His parents were Ernest and Louise Kranstover, the former a native of Germany, whence he came to America at an early day, settling in Milwaukee, where he established the Badger Dye Works, conducting the business to the time of his death. This was incorporated in 1913, with Ernest Kranstover as the president, Julius E. Kranstover as vice president and William L. Kranstover as secretary and treasurer. At the time of the father's death in 1918, J. E. Kranstover became the president, while William L. remains as secretary and treasurer. This business was established on a small scale, the dye works being opened with one helper, but through the intervening period the trade has steadily grown and the plant has been constantly expanded and enlarged until today the company employs one hundred people. They took over the
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business of the Fischer Cleaning Company and of the Chaintron French Dyeing Com- pany several years ago, merging these into the Badger Dye Works. Their patronage covers a considerable portion of the middle states and is being constantly developed. In 1917 they established a complete laundry department and they occupy three floors and a basement in their new structure and also the buildings on the adjoining fifty feet, while their out-of-town receiving and shipping department is situated in the next block and the chemical cleaning rooms are in a separate building. They have most splendid machinery and equipment in every particular for the conduct of both the dyeing and laundry business and their thoroughness, their reliability and their excellent work constitute the elements which are leading to the continued growth and success of the business.
PHILIP GUZZETTA, M. D.
Dr. Philip Guzzetta, physician and surgeon, who specializes in the treatment of rheumatism in Milwaukee, was born in Sicily, Italy, February 19, 1871. He was reared and educated in his native country, where his parents spent their lives, although the mother visited him in America in 1909. The father, Dionisio Guzzetta, who was a teacher by profession, had previously passed away, after which the mother came to the new world to visit her son but returned to the island of Sicily, where her last days were passed.
Dr. Guzzetta was graduated from the University of Palermo in Sicily with the M. D. degree on the 23d of November, 1896. He then practiced his profession in his native town of Piana de Greci until 1903, or for a period of seven years. In 1904 he came to the United States, where four months later he was joined by his wife in New York city. He spent ten months in the eastern metropolis, studying the English language, for he was totally unacquainted with the English tongue when he came to the new world. In 1905 he made his way to Milwaukee, where he has since resided and has been very active in the practice of his profession from the time of his arrival until the present. He is specializing in the treatment of rheumatism and has effected some marvelous cures along that line. He lived and practiced for nine years in the . third ward and afterward removed to his present location at No. 200 North avenue, where he owns a beautiful home and office combined, having erected the building sev- eral years ago.
Dr. Guzzetta was united in marriage in Sicily to Miss Antonina La Piana and they have become parents of six living children, five sons and a daughter. The three eldest were born in Sicily and the three youngest in Milwaukee. The children are: Josephine, Denis Philip, Marcus, Vincent, Columbus and Philip, Jr. The eldest son, Denis Philip Guzzetta, is now a senior in Harvard College, and although but twenty years of age, he has distinguished himself for his high scholarship and has won a number of college honors. He was graduated from the North Division high school of Milwaukee at the age of sixteen years and at that time won high honors in his class. He has been a student at Harvard for four years, pursuing an academic course, and after its completion he will enter upon the medical course of Harvard.
Dr. Guzzetta is a Roman Catholic iu religious faith. He has never sought to figure prominently in club or other social organizations, finding his greatest happiness at his own fireside, where he delights to entertain his friends and enjoy the companionship of the members of his own household.
WILLIAM BOEPPLER.
One of the most active and prominent musicians in the country today is William Boeppler, director of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and conductor of the Milwaukee A Capella Chorus, also of the Singverein, the chorus of the First National Bank and other musical organizations of Chicago. Mr. Boeppler was born on the 21st of February, 1863, in Pferdsfeld, near Kreuznach, Germany, a son of Karl and Elizabeth (Pauly) Boeppler. He was reared and educated in his native land and at an early age displayed such musical talent that he was placed under such eminent masters as Enzian of Kreuznach, Reinecke, Fiedler and Langer of Leipzig, and Arnold Mendelssohn of Bonn.
In the winter of 1894, shortly before Christmas, William Boeppler arrived in Milwaukee with letters of introduction to a number of well known Milwaukeeans. The letters spoke highly of his musical achievements and readily secured for him a warm welcome. He was introduced into the musical circles of Milwaukee by the late John H. Frank, and he immediately launched into a successful career. Previous to the ar- rival of Mr. Boeppler the subject of organizing a large chorus, with the fundamental
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object to cherish certain musical ideals not being stressed by the two choral societies already in existence in this city, had been rather extensively discussed. The aim of the new organization was to be, to cultivate the study and presentation of unaccom- panied sacred music of both old and modern masters, and the rendition of the best gems of secular music. Serious-minded music lovers of Milwaukee had made sev- eral attempts to create better musical conditions in church circles but had failed on account of the absence of clearly defined aims and also because of the apparent lack of an available musical director to whom might be entrusted the leadership in furthering the objects contemplated. For seven years Mr. Boeppler had conducted a large church choir in Crefeld and had attained results, recognized as of the highest degree of merit by the best known musical authorities in Germany. It was only natural that soon after his arrival he should desire to organize a similar choir in Milwaukee, and with Mr. Frank, who was well acquainted with musical conditions in church circles, the organization of the new large choir was discussed and deter- mined upon. The execution of the plan was not long delayed, due to the energetic temperament of Mr. Boeppler. A preliminary meeting was called for January 18, 1895, the meeting being held in the office of Dr. Louis Frank in the Colhy & Abbott building. Among those present at that meeting were: Dr. Frank, John H. Frank, H. O. Frank, Ferdinand Kieckhefer, Hugo Maercker and William H. Upmeyer. A committee was appointed to draft a prospectus which was to be presented at a larger subsequent meeting. The next meeting was held on the 8th of February, 1895, F. C. Bowitz, A. F. Bues, Dr. L. Frank, John H. Frank, H. O. Frank, O. Grieb- ling, W. H. Graehner, William Imbusch, Ferdinand Kieckhefer, G. E. G. Kuechle, William C. Meyer, Hugo Maercker, C. M. Noerenberg, G. P. Plischke, Otto Streis- guth, Charles H. Strohmeyer and William H. Upmeyer being in attendance. After some time spent in thorough deliberation and weighing the project from every point of view, the unanimous opinion of all present was that the proposed new choir should be organized forthwith. On the 28th of February, 1895, the first general meeting was called and took place in the Rehearsal Hall of the Musical Society, one hun- dred and thirty-six people being present. A constitution was submitted. discussed and approved, and it was emphasized that the new organization was not to be confined in its membership to persons affiliated with any religious denomination but was open to any lover of the best in choral music. The Milwaukee A Capella Chorus was chosen as the name for the new organization, with Mr. Boeppler as its conductor. On June 19, 1895, the first concert was given in the old Academy of Music, now Shubert Theatre. It was an instantaneous success. And from that first concert throughout the succeeding period of twenty-six years the history of the Milwaukee A Capella Chorus has been a steady rise to a degree of perfection in choral singing which has made the chorus famous as one of the best singing societies in the country. The A Capella Chorus today is one of Milwaukee's leading musical and educational institutions, in truth a credit to this city, one of its most important cultural factors.
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