USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 31
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When America entered the war with Germany, Dr. Martin was designated honor graduate of the University of Wisconsin, which secured for him a commission in the regular army, and he was sent to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he completed his course. He was then assigned to the chemical warfare service, the gas division at Camp Leach, near Washington, D. C. He afterward went to the Baltimore Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, where he served as senior resident physician, and on the 15th of May, 1920, he returned to Milwaukee, where he opened an office in the Majestic building for the treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat. While at Camp Leach he was among those who experimented with the gas to determine the relative toxicity of various gases, determining the amount of gas to be put in shells. The work was of a most difficult and dangerous character.
In 1920 Dr. Martin was married to Miss Grace Waring, a daughter of Frank E. Waring of Washington, D. C. His college fraternities are the Phi Kappa Sigma, the Phi Beta Pi and the Sigma Xi. He won popularity among his college friends and has gained the confidence and good will of professional colleagues and contemporaries in his native city. Already he is forging steadily to the front in his chosen field of labor and what he has thus far accomplished indicates that his future career will be well worth watching.
GEORGE C. DUTCHER.
George C. Dutcher, of the law firm of Fawcett & Dutcher of Milwaukee, was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, November 16, 1884, a son of William and Helen (Gillick) Dutcher, both of whom were natives of Milwaukee county. The Dutcher family came from New York at an early day, while the Gillick family, arriving in this county in 1837, settled in Wauwatosa. The Dutcher family home was established at Granville, Wisconsin, ahout 1840 or 1842. Both families devoted their attention to agricultural pursuits and assisted in the early development of the state along that line.
George C. Dutcher was educated in the public schools of Appleton, Wisconsin, and then became a student in Marquette University at Milwaukee, where he completed his academic course. In 1908 he was graduated on the completion of a law course at Georgetown University in Washington, D. C., winning the LL. B. degree. He coached the college football team at the College of St. Thomas, a military school of St. Paul, Minnesota, for a year and he was admitted to the bar at St. Paul in January, 1909, while in July of the same year he was admitted to practice in the courts of Wisconsin. He started upon his professional work alone and so continued until January, 1912, when he became associated with W. B. Rubin. In 1915 the firm became Rubin, Fawcett & Dutcher and on the Ist of May, 1919, the present firm style of Fawcett & Dutcher
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was assumed and has continued. Mr. Dutcher has been city attorney for Cudahy since 1910, or for a period of twelve years, having six times been elected to this office-a fact indicative of his splendid service and his entire loyalty to the interests which he represents.
On the 27th of June, 1911, Mr. Dutcher was married to Miss Margaret Mabel Meagher of Milwaukee, and they have an enviable place in the social circles of the city. During his college days Mr. Dutcher was a well known football player, from 1905 until 1907 inclusive, being selected by Walter Camp and placed on the All American football team, with which he played for two years. At the time of the World war he enlisted in the Field Artillery as a private and when the armistice was signed had completed his training in the F. A. C. O. T. S. at Camp Zachary Taylor in Kentucky. He is now a member of the American Legion, belongs also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and in professional lines is connected with the Milwaukee County Bar Association.
AUGUST REISWEBER.
Since 1912 August Reisweber has heen president and general manager of the Wright Dental Supply Company. He has been an important factor in business circles and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. A native of Germany, his birth occurred December 9, 1877, and he is a son of Joseph and Anna (Hamm) Reisweber who came to the United States in 1881 and located in Milwaukee in May of that year.
August Reisweber received his education in St. Mary's parochial school at Mil- waukee and after putting his textbooks aside entered the employ of the Wright Dental Supply Company as a messenger on the 28th of May, 1894. In 1858 the company had been founded by I. N. Morton and was conducted under the name of the Northwestern Dental Depot until 1875 when George H. Wright and Arthur Wright became owners and changed the name to the Wright Dental Depot. The name was again changed in 1907 upon incorporation, to the Wright Dental Supply Company. George H. Wright. became president of the concern; A. T. Wright, vice president; S. A. Eckstein, treas- urer; and Arthur Reisweber, manager. The last named had become eligible to that position only through his own determined effort, intelligently directed, and in 1912 he bought out the interest of the former owners and became president and general man- ager. A self-made man, he had the ability to grasp every opportunity offered him and he stood ready to assume new and great responsibilities when in the march of ad- vancement the place was ready for him.
On the 2d of October, 1902, Mr. Reisweber was united in marriage to Miss Anna Benzing, a daughter of John and Kathryn Benzing, and to them three children have been born: Edna, Arthur and Winnifred.
Fraternally Mr. Reisweber is a member of the Knights of Columbus, in which he is grand knight, and the family attend St. Sebastian church. Mr. Reisweber is chairman of its board of counsellors and president of the school board of the St. Sebastian school. He is a director of the Columbus Institute of Milwaukee and in line with his work is vice president of the American Retail Dental Trade Association. He is likewise chairman of the nineteenth ward Good Government League organization. Starting out in the business world at an early age, he learned his lessons in the school of experience, and his life illustrates that it is under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of necessity that the strongest and best in men is brought out and developed. In the conduct of his business he has ever followed progressive and constructive methods, and he takes a keen and active interest in civic affairs, his cooperation at all times being counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good.
SAMUEL GEORGE HIGGINS, M. D.
Dr. Samuel George Higgins, an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, practicing suc- cessfully in Milwaukee, with offices in the Wells building, was born in Wausau, Wis- .consin, May 14, 1880, and is the only son of Dr. Samuel G. and Tealie M. (Beatty) Higgins. The father was born in Sligo, Ireland, and for many years engaged in medical practice at Wausau following his graduation from the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan. He died in 1886, at the age of forty-six years, and was long survived hy his wife, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and who departed this life in 1905. There was one daughter in the family, who is now Mrs. Mary Hilgerman of Minneapolis.
Dr. S. G. Higgins of this review was reared in Wausau and in Rhinelander, Wis-
VILMAUNE:
AUGUST REISWEBER
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consin, and was graduated from the high school of the latter city in 1898. His more advanced education was acquired in the University of Wisconsin which con- ferred upon him the Bachelor of Science degree in 1902. He then studied in the medical department of the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his course by graduation in June, 1905. He afterward spent a year as interne in St. Ann's Hospital of Chicago and then turned his attention to his specialty-the treat- ment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He practiced along that line in Chicago for a year, being assistant to Drs. Casey Wood and Frank Allport, and since 1907 has been located in Milwaukee. Here he was first associated with Dr. H. V. Wurdemann for a year and later became a partner of Dr. Nelson M. Black, the two being thus associated until 1917. Since that time Dr. Higgins has maintained a sep- arate office on the eleventh floor of the Wells building and has continued in practice with marked success. He has taken postgraduate work in London and Vienna, where he studied in 1913. During the World war he became a member of the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States navy, being made a lieutenant senior grade. He belongs to the Milwaukee Medical Society, the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryngology. He is likewise a member of the American Academy of Medicine and he is widely known as the author of many treatises on the eye, ear, nose and throat, which have appeared in the leading medical journals. He also belongs to the Milwaukee Oto-Ophthalmic Society and he has utilized every available means to promote his efficiency and broaden his knowledge concerning the most scientific methods of medical treatment in the field of his specialty. He is now on the teaching staff of Marquette University as assistant professor of the eye, ear, nose and throat and is serving on the staff of the Milwaukee County Hospital. He is likewise visiting surgeon of the northwest branch of the National Soldiers Home at Milwaukee. At one time he served as president of the Milwaukee Oto-Ophthalmic Society and he is chairman of the eye, ear, nose and throat section of the Wisconsin State Medical Society. He utilizes every opportunity to advance the work of the pro- fession through the proceedings of its various societies and he is continually advancing his own standards in practice.
On the 26th of June, 1918, Dr. Higgins was married to Miss Frances Laacke of Detroit. He is well known in club circles, having membership in the University Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Wisconsin Club and the Milwaukee Country Club. He also belongs to the Milwaukee Rotary Club. He greatly enjoys golf and fishing and turns to outdoor sports of this character for his recreation. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church, while fraternally he is iden- tified with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine.
MAX GRUNEWALD.
Max Grunewald, member of the A. Grunewald & Sons Company, was born in Mil- waukee, May 23, 1886, and is a son of Albert Grunewald, a native of Germany, born in 1858. The father came to America when a young man of twenty-six years and settled in Milwaukee, where his remaining days were passed. He had but one hundred dollars when he started in business and received assistance from John Pritzlaff, the well known hardware dealer, who aided him in making a start in business. Mr. Grunewald continued in the business for thirty-six years and was one of the most highly respected and progressive merchants of the city. It was in 1885 that he established the business that is now carried on under the style of the A. Grunewald & Sons Company at Nos. 4727 and 4729 North avenue. This was the first blacksmithing shop on the avenue and the only one for a distance of two miles. He not only carried on blacksmithing but dealt in farm implements, buggies and hardware special- ties and his became one of the best known places in the north end. In 1912 the present store was huilt- a two-story brick structure and today an extensive line of hardware is carried and a good business is enjoyed. Albert Grunewald continued in active connection with the trade for many years. He also served as a school director in school District No. 6, now the Washington Park school, and he was the treasurer of the Von Steuben Monument Committee. He took an active and helpful interest in all that pertained to the upbuilding and development of his section of the city and his worth was widely acknowledged. In 1885 he married Alvina Sylvester and they became the parents of four children: Max G., Arthur A., Clara and Otto C. The father departed this life in April, 1916, having for about a year survived his wife, who died in April, 1915.
Max Grunewald, whose name introduces this review, pursued his education in the public schools of Milwaukee, passing through consecutive grades to the high school,
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and after completing his course there he attended business college. He initiated his business career with five years' service in the employ of Wallace Smith, a wholesale harness dealer, and then entered the Wisconsin National Bank in the capacity of bookkeeper. He continued in that institution for six years, on the expiration of which period he entered his father's store in order to take charge of the business, which has continued to grow and develop until it is one of the most important com- mercial interests of North avenue. Mr. Grunewald is a member of the North Avenue Advancement Association and he takes an active part in promoting progress in the city along many lines.
Max Grunewald was married and has one child, Elmer. He belongs to the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks and he took an active and prominent part in all war drives. At the same time he is a thoroughgoing and progressive business man and his energy has brought splendid results in the conduct of the business.
Arthur A. Grunewald, also a partner in the A. Grunewald & Sons Company, was born September 17, 1887, and acquired a public school education. In 1910 he married Miss Emma Weber and they are parents of two children, Loraine and Harold.
MICHAEL JOSEPH CLEARY.
Michael Joseph Cleary, vice president of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, occupies a most prominent and honored position in business and financial circles not only by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business policy which he has ever followed, his life at all times measur- ing up to high standards. A native son of Wisconsin, he was born on his father's farm in Iowa county, September 23, 1876, and has always lived in this state. His parents were Michael and Bridget (Ducey) Cleary. The father was born in County Sligo, Ireland, in 1823 and came to the United States with his father, James Cleary, and the other members of the family when a youth of seventeen years. James Cleary settled first at Troy, New York, and afterward removed to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in 1848, taking up his abode upon a farm in Iowa county which is still in possession of the family, being cultivated by Thomas Cleary, a brother of Michael J. Cleary of this review. Two brothers of Michael Cleary, John and Thomas, served in the Union army during the Civil war and both were killed in action. Michael Cleary was a highly respected resident of the community in which he made his home and held a number of the local offices. He passed away in 1897. His wife, who is now living in Blanchard- ville, Wisconsin, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, a daughter of Maurice Ducey, whose family emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm at Shullsburg, Wisconsin.
Michael Joseph Cleary obtained his early education in the common schools of his native county, remaining at home to the age of seventeen years, when he hecame a student in the Wisconsin Academy at Madison, now a part of the University of Wiscon- sin. He completed his course in the academy in 1897 and then became a university student, devoting two years to a classical course, after which he became a pupil in the law school of the State University and there won his LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of June, 1902. During his student days there he hecame a member of the Delta Tau Delta. He was admitted to the bar the same year-1902-and began practice at Blanchardville, Wisconsin, in connection with Carl Chandler, with whom he was thus associated until January 1, 1915, under the firm style of Chandler & Cleary. He made steady progress at the bar, gaining a good clientage of a representative char- acter.
Moreover, his ability and his devotion to the public welfare suggested him for legislative service and in 1907 Mr. Cleary was elected a member of the general assembly from Lafayette county on the republican ticket, serving for a period of four years, during which he gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement and was a recognized leader in republican circles. He was made a member of the committee on insurance and while acting in that capacity the insurance investigations and resulting legislation all came before him, and thus he gained intimate knowledge of the insurance business. It constituted his initial step toward the business career which now claims his attention. On the 1st of January, 1915, Mr. Cleary was appointed as executive counsel to Governor Philipp and served until July 1, 1915. He was then appointed commissioner of insurance for the state of Wisconsin and occupied that office until the 1st of May, 1919, when he was elected to the vice presidency of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, in which official connection with the corporation he has since continued. His service in the legislature and as state commissioner of insurance have been of marked value to him in taking up the duties of his present executive position.
On the 16th of November, 1915, Mr. Cleary was married to Miss Bonnie Blanchard, a daughter of James Blanchard, of Blanchard, Wisconsin, the latter a son of Alvin
MICHAEL J. CLEARY
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Blanchard, who about 1845 founded the town that bears the family name. Alvin Blanchard was horn in the state of New York and the family has long been represented in America, members thereof serving in the Revolutionary war, so that Mrs. Cleary is now a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and also has mem- bership with the Daughters of 1812. Mrs. Cleary is a graduate of Downer College, from which she received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1913. By her marriage she has hecome the mother of two children, Catherine and Mary Elizabeth.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and both Mr. and Mrs. Cleary are identified with St. Robert's parish in Shorewood. Mr. Cleary be- longs to Darlington Council, No. 1080, Knights of Columbus, at Darlington, Wisconsin. He is well known in the club circles of the city, having membership in the Milwaukee. Wisconsin, Milwaukee Athletic and Milwaukee Country Clubs, also in. the Association of Commerce, in which he is serving on the legislative and insurance committees, and he is likewise a member of the insurance committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce. He is keenly interested in all that has to do with public progress and improvement and at the same time he has been a most close and thorough student of insurance problems and is today largely recognized as an authority upon questions relative thereto.
PETER F. BREY, M. D.
Dr. Peter F. Brey, physician and surgeon, engaged in general practice in Milwau- kee, was born on a farm in Kewaunee county, Wisconsin, February 3, 1879. His father, George Brey, deceased, was a native of Austria and came to the United States in young manhood just after the Civil war. He passed away October 13, 1920, at the very advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Marit, was horn in Bohemia and came to the United States at the age of seventeen years. She died August 9, 1921, after passing the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey. They were married in Wisconsin and reared a large family, seven of whom are living.
Dr. Brey spent his boyhood and youth on the old home farm and attended the district schools. He afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for two years, and he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1906, while in 1908 Marquette University conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. He pursued his medical studies in Marquette University and won his professional degree in 1910. Since that time he has continuously practiced medicine in Milwaukee, covering a period of twelve years, and for seven years of this time he was a teacher in the medical and dental departments of his Alma Mater. His knowledge of modern methods is comprehensive and exact and his ability in the application of the principles of medicine to the needs of suffering humanity is marked. He has membership in the Milwaukee Medical Society, the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and the sterling worth of his character, as well as his professional ability, is attested by his associates in these organizations. He is now examining surgeon for the New York Life Insurance Company and also for the Aetna Life Insurance Company. In addition to his practice he has other interests, owning a good home of the bungalow type, which he has recently completed, at No. 676 Thirty-fourth street.
On the 1st of August, 1918, Dr. Brey was married to Miss Leocadia Schmidt, an accomplished and skilled musician who has developed her talent as a pianist and was formerly a teacher in the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and Wisconsin Col- lege of Music. Dr. and Mrs. Brey have a daughter, Eugenia Leocadia, who was born April 11, 1920. They are of the Roman Catholic faith and the Doctor belongs also to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. During the twelve years of his connection with Milwaukee he has become well established in practice and was also recognized as one of the popular and efficient instructors in Marquette University.
WALTER DREW.
Walter Drew, a well known and successful attorney of Milwaukee, is a native son of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Winnebago county, July 24, 1882, his parents being James B. C. and Gwen (Ellis) Drew, the former a native of New Hampshire, while the latter was born in the little rock-ribbed country of Wales. The father was a lawyer and in his professional footsteps Walter Drew has followed. The latter was educated in the public schools of this state, attending the high school of Berlin, Wis- Vol. II-20
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consin, until graduated with the class of 1900. He then entered the University of Wisconsin and was a member of the class of 1904. He next entered the law department of Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., and took up the study of law, having previously laid hroad and deep the foundation upon which to build the superstructure of his professional learning. He gained his LL. B. degree in 1909, and in September of the same year was admitted to practice at the Wisconsin bar.
Mr. Drew entered upon active practice in Madison, where he continuously and successfully followed his profession until 1913, when he was appointed deputy attorney general of the state. He served as the deputy attorney general of Wisconsin from 1913 to 1917, inclusive, at the end of which term he retired to reenter private law practice and has since been thus actively and successfully engaged at Milwaukee. Mr. Drew has handled much important litigation, including several cases in the supreme court of the United States. At the conclusion of his service as deputy attorney general of Wisconsin, the chief justice of the Wisconsin supreme court prepared a written com- mendation of Mr. Drew's services in that office, which was subscribed to by the chief justice and all of the associate justices of the state supreme court and by several other state and Federal judges, heads of state departments, boards and commissions and a large number of the leading lawyers of the state, in which, among other things, it is stated : "Mr. Drew has filled the last named office nearly five years and has, during that time, borne the direct burden of and the immediate responsibility for, the more important of the litigations in which the state has been involved. He has discharged the duties of that office with marked ability and success. The interests of the state have been fully and ably protected as the results have demonstrated." He has given his attention to general law practice and has won a substantial measure of success, proving on many occasions his capability in handling involved, intricate and complex law problems.
On the 10th of June, 1903, Mr. Drew was married to Miss Emily Brabant of Madi- son, and to them have been born two children: Robert H., who was born May 31, 1905; and Gwen Ellen, born February 15, 1907.
Mr. Drew has always taken a great interest in politics and keeps thoroughly informed concerning the vital questions and problems of the day. He turns to golf and motoring for recreation and diversion, but at no time is neglectful of the duties devolv- ing upon him in a professional way and at all times he keeps in touch with the trend of professional thought and progress through the proceedings of the Milwaukee County, Wisconsin State and American Bar Associations, to all of which he belongs.
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