USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 46
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JAMES PRINGLE.
James Pringle, president of the Milwaukee Casket Company, was born November 9, 1867, in Ontario, Canada, his parents being James and Mary Jane ( Walker) Pringle. He acquired his education largely in the schools of his native country, pursuing his studies there to the age of thirteen years, when he went to Chicago, where he made his initial step in the business world by securing the position of office boy. He worked his way upward to a clerkship on the Chicago Board of Trade and afterward returned to Ontario, where for ten years he operated a flour mill, developing a business of sub- stantial proportions there. At the end of the decade he disposed of his mill and turned his attention to the manufacture of clothing in Ontario, his output being handled by the ready-made clothing dealers. He devoted about ten years of his life to this business and then, selling his plant, removed to Milwaukee, where he succeeded his brother in the Milwaukee Casket Company on the 2d of January, 1919. His brother, Thomas J., was secretary and manager of the company up to the time of his death in May, 1918, and James Pringle is the president and manager. The business was founded in 1875, has
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since been incorporated and its annual sales now amount to four hundred thousand dol- lars. The founder of the enterprise was D. R. Johnson, who remained as president to the time of his death in 1907. The secretary and treasurer of the company is H. Nauman, who has been associated with the business for more than thirty years, while one of the employes has been with the house for forty-seven years, and a number of others have been in the employ of the concern from twenty to thirty years. There has never been a labor strike during the entire existence of the business. The company insures the lives of its employes and the most harmonious relations have always existed because of the fairness and justice maintained toward those in their service and the fact that a good wage has always been paid. The business is now one of the large industrial interests of Milwaukee and Mr. Pringle is proving himself a splendid executive in control of the enterprise as its president.
Fraternally Mr. Pringle is well known as a Mason, being a loyal follower of the teachings and purposes of the craft. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and his appreciation of the social amenities of life is shown in his connection with the Milwaukee Athletic Club and the Ozaukee Country Club.
CHARLES J. KASTEN
Charles J. Kasten is actively identified with one of Milwaukee's representative business interests as vice president of the Alsted-Kasten Company, jewelers. He was born in Milwaukee in June, 1857, a son of Charles F. and Johanna Kasten. Both parents were born in Bremen, Germany, coming to this country and locating in Milwaukee at an early date.
Mr. Kasten received his education in the Milwaukee public schools and was then apprenticed to John Marr, an engraver, with whom he remained for a period of five years, after which he entered the jewelry business of James H. Hoes. Later, going to Chicago, he associated himself with the jewelry house of S. Hyman Company. In 1880 he returned from Chicago to enter the firm of C. Preusser & Brother. In 1900 he severed his connection with this firm and with his present partners founded the firm of Alsted-Kasten Company, jewelers and silversmiths at 121-123 Wisconsin street.
CARL H. JUERGENS.
Carl H. Juergens, who has been successfully engaged in general law practice in Milwaukee for the past eight years, is numbered among the able representatives of the profession in this city. His birth occurred in Davenport, Iowa, on the 19th of May, 1884, his parents being Charles A. and Minnie H. (Knappe) Juergens. The father, a native of Schleswig-Holstein, emigrated to America when a youth of eighteen years and settled at Davenport, Iowa, where he engaged in the harness business and subsequently turned his attention to the flour jobbing trade.
Carl H. Juergens, who was a little lad of about five years when brought by his parents to Milwaukee, acquired his early education in the public schools and his more advanced training in the University of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1909. Four years later he received the degree of LL. B. from that institution on the completion of a course in law. During the interim he taught in the West Division high school for two years. He was admitted to the bar on the 18th of June, 1913, and entered upon the active work of his profession in Milwaukee. With the exception of the first year, which he spent in association with the firm of Schmitz, Wild & Gross, he has here since practiced independently, with offices at No. 431 Twelfth street. He has been accorded an extensive and important clientage of a general character, largely commercial law cases, and is widely recog- nized as an attorney of pronounced ability and deserved success. He is a director of several corporations and is serving as secretary of the Vliet Street Advancement As- sociation.
In 1919 Mr. Juergens was united in marriage to Miss Nora Toepfer of Madison, Wisconsin, and they have become parents of a son, Richard Carl, whose birth occurred December 3. 1920. The family residence is at No. 535 Fifty-first street.
Mr. Juergens took an active part in all war activities during the recent world conflict, serving as a member of the legal advisory board and doing splendid work in all the drives and also on the County Council of Defense. He was captain of his district in the nineteenth ward. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, holding membership in Park Lodge No. 177, of which he is a past chancellor. He is also a well known member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and in the line of his profession is connected with the Milwaukee County Bar Association. In motoring he finds needed rest and recreation. His record as a lawyer has won him recognition
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among the leading young representatives of the profession in Milwaukee, his course as a citizen has been characterized by public-spirited devotion to the general good and in social circles he has gained the warm regard and friendship of all who know him.
AARON H. SPOOR.
Among the men who for many years were active factors in the business circles of Milwaukee, contributing to the substantial development and progress of the city, was Aaron H. Spoor, who passed away in September, 1919. He had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years, his birth having occurred in East Troy, Walworth county, Wisconsin, in June, 1837. He represented one of the old and well known pioneer families of the state, his parents being Adolphus and Julia (Goodrich) Spoor, who came from Connecticut to the middle west, settling at East Troy about 1836. There they spent their remaining days and contributed to the pioneer development and later progress of the community.
Aaron H. Spoor was reared at the place of his nativity and acquired his early education in the schools of East Troy, while later he hecame a student in the Uni- versity of Wisconsin at Madison, thus receiving liberal training for life's practical and responsible duties. When his education was completed he made his initial step in the business world by becoming identified with a Inmber enterprise at Columbus, Wisconsin. Later he established a casket factory in Berlin, this state, and about 1880 removed to Milwaukee, where he organized the Milwaukee Casket Company, his place of business being at Fifteenth and St. Paul streets. He became president of the company and so continued to the time of his demise, and as the years passed he developed the business to one of substantial proportions owing to the thoroughness of his methods and his reliability in all trade transactions.
In 1871 Mr. Spoor was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Blanchard, a daughter of George W. and Jane (Taylor) Blanchard, who were early settlers of East Troy.
Mr. Spoor was a Mason and loyally followed the teachings and purposes of the craft, which recognizes the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby im- posed. In politics he was a lifelong republican, supporting the party from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He also belonged to the Old Settlers Club and his mind was stored with many interesting reminiscences of pioneer times. He always rejoiced in the progress that was made and in a quiet but neverthe- less helpful way he bore his part in the work of general advancement and improvement, withholding his support from no plan or measure that he believed would prove of public benefit or would constitute a feature in the upbuilding of community, common- wealth or country.
JOHN BETTINGER.
One of the well appointed and attractive mercantile establishments of South Mil- waukee is that owned and controlled by the firm of Bettinger & Sons, who for a number of years have been ranked with the leading merchants of the city. Mr. Bettinger, whose name introduces this review, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 31, 1852, his parents being Lonis and Katharine (Hess) Beitinger, who were also natives of that country. In the spring of 1869 the parents came to the United States with their family, landing at New York city, from which point they traveled westward to Sank county, Wisconsin, where they located on a farm. After a number of years they returned and removed to the town of Spring Green, Wisconsin, where both passed away.
John Bettinger was a youth of seventeen years at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world. He had been educated in the public schools of his native town, attending to the age of sixteen years and following the removal to Wisconsin he worked on the home farm for about a year. He afterward learned the blacksmith's trade and subsequently he established business on his own account, turning his atten- tion to the manufacture of buggies, wagons, sleighs, etc. This he carried on in con- nection with the conduct of a hardware store in Spring Green, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1894 he removed to South Milwaukee and was one of the pioneers of the town, which had recently been started. He erected the building now occupied by the Charles Franke Drug Store and there opened a department store, which he very suc- cessfully conducted, remaining on that corner for ten or twelve years. He afterward erected his present building, a two-story and basement structure sixty by one hundred and twenty feet. In this he opened a department store, handling dry goods, men's furnishings, groceries and other lines. He continues in the business and has the lead- ing store of the kind in the town, carrying a very extensive stock and enjoying a very large patronage. As his business grew and developed he admitted his sons, Carl and
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H. Emil, to a partnership and their interests are carried on under the style of Bettinger & Sons. The father is also a director of the South Milwaukee Bank and is recognized as a man of sound judgment and keen discrimination in carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
In 1878 Mr. Bettinger was married to Miss Louise Zilg, who has passed away. Later he married Mary Knapp of Milwaukee. By his first marriage there were five children: Carl, Lillian, Emil, Leona and Beulah. To the second marriage there were born three children: Ora, Ervin and Viola. Mr. Bettinger has always been commend- ably interested in public affairs and for several years has served as alderman of South Milwaukee, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many plans and measures for the general good. His worth is widely acknowledged and his friends are legion.
JOHN CARL BETTINGER.
John Carl Bettinger is the president of the board of education of South Milwaukee and a member of one of the leading mercantile firms of the city. He was born at Spring Green, Wisconsin, December 21, 1879, and is a son of John and Lonise (Zilg) Bettinger. He was educated in the schools of his native town, passing through consecutive grades to the high school and he also attended the South Milwaukee high school, while still later he became a student in the Whitewater Normal School. For three years he engaged in teaching in South Milwaukee and then embarked in business in connection with his father. This he carries on under the name of Bettinger & Sons, the firm being formed in 1904. Since then the business has been carried on under this style and the enterprise and progressiveness of the sons ably round out and supplement the broad experience and sound judgment of the father.
On the 14th of September, 1920, Mr. Bettinger was married to Miss Hilda M. Lins of Spring Green, Wisconsin, and they occupy an enviable position in the social circles of South Milwaukee. Mr. Bettinger is a member of the Knights of Columbus and during the World war he took a most active interest in all that pertained to the sup- port of the Federal government and the welfare of the soldiers. He therefore aided in promoting many drives in South Milwaukee and was chairman of several of the war committees. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion and he has done everything in his power to promote the interests of the schools, serving now as president of the school board. In this connection he lent his aid and support to every plan for advancing the standards of efficiency in the schools and his work has been far-reaching and resultant.
GUSTAV W. GROSSENBACH.
For more than a half century Gustav W. Grossenbach has been associated with the Milwaukee Mechanic's Insurance Company, in which he has risen to the vice presidency. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. They have resulted from close application, thoroughness and efficiency-qualities which any may cultivate and which always leads to desired results. Mr. Grossenbach was born at Kirn, Germany, September 8, 1851, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Kreutzer) Grossen- bach. He obtained his education in the schools of his native place, his training being such as the common and high school system afforded and when fourteen and a half years of age he was graduated. The following year, or in 1866, he sailed for the United States, landing in New York city after a voyage of sixty-six days on one of the old-time sailing vessels. It was the hope of enjoying better business opportunities that led him to sever his connection with the fatherland and come to the new world. He made his way direct to Milwaukee and was for three years connected with a manufacturing jewelry establishment, learning the trade. At the expiration of that period the shop was closed and the young man had to seek other employment. In June, 1870, he entered the employ of the Milwaukee Mechanic's Insurance Company and celebrated his fiftieth anniversary with the company in June, 1920. Steadily he worked his way upward through various positions, promotion coming to him in recog- nition of his trustworthiness, his unfailing industry and his increasing ability. He was made assistant secretary on the 21st of October, 1889, and became secretary July 18, 1898. On the 21st of January, 1901, he was made the second vice president of the company and also elected one of its directors and eighteen years later, or on the 20th of January, 1919, he was elected to the vice presidency.
The occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his connection with the company was made an important event, being fittingly celebrated by the officials, field men and local officers, who held a banquet in his honor at the Pfister hotel as "a manifestation of
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their high appreciation and esteem." The program booklet issued on that occasion had the following appropriate quotation from Longfellow:
"Ah me! the fifty years since first we met, Seem to me fifty folios, bound and set By Time, the great transcriber, on his shelves, Wherein are written the histories of ourselves."
About eighty-five guests were present and the gathering was made a most memorable one in every particular and many toasts were given which bore testimony to the efficient service of Mr. Grossenbach to the company and the high regard in which he is held by all. The agents of the company presented Mr. Grossenbach, as vice presi- dent, with new fire premiums amounting to over forty thousand dollars.
On the 8th of February, 1877, Mr. Grossenbach was married to Miss Emma Kas- suba of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of three daughters: Lydia, the wife of Howard A. Mullett, assistant general manager of the The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; Bertha; and Marguerite. Mr. Grossenbach is a member of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and is deeply interested in all of the plans and projects of that organization tor the city's benefit and upbuilding, the extension of its trade relations and the maintenance of high civic standards. He belongs to the Wisconsin Club and several musical societies, taking deep interest in the musical progress of the city. A resident of Milwaukee from the age of fifteen years, his interests have been most closely interwoven with the upbuilding of the city and his name is an honored one in business, social and musical circles, while the sterling worth of his character is manifest in the fact that he has the stanch friend- ship of many of the leading men of the city who have long numbered him among their peers.
BRUCE WHITNEY.
Bruce Whitney, manager at Milwaukee for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, is recognized as a capable, forceful and resourceful business man, who has made for himself a creditable position in insurance circles. He was born in Buffalo, New York, April 5, 1860, and is a son of Orlando and Mary Charlotte (Lemon) Whitney. The father, who passed away in Detroit in 1885, was also a native of the Empire state and for some time engaged in the insurance business with the Traders Insurance Com- pany of Chicago. He married Mary Charlotte Lemon, a daughter of Colonel Lemon, who commanded a New York regiment in the Revolutionary war.
Bruce Whitney obtained his early education in the public schools of Waukegan, Illinois, the family home being there established during his youth. He was graduated from the high school and started out in the business world by entering the employ of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, occupying the position of book- keeper in the Detroit office. On leaving Detroit he removed to Milwaukee in 1893, continuing, however, with the Mutual Life Insurance Company, which he still repre- sents. Here he became office manager and occupied that position until 1900, when he was made manager at Peoria, Illinois, his territory covering all Illinois outside of Chicago. There he remained for about eight months when he was made assistant superintendent of agencies for the same company in New York city, continuing his resi- dence in the east for two years. He was next appointed to the position of manager for Wisconsin in 1903 and has remained in this position of trust and responsibility through- out the intervening period of eighteen years. For about two or three years from 1897 to 1899, he was also engaged in reporting dramatic work for the Milwaukee Sentinel, but has always continued in the insurance business and has made notahle progress in this field. His work has been particularly resultant, the company benefiting much hy his labors and the business of the corporation has more than quadrupled under his man- agement since he was appointed at the head of the interests of the Mutual Life in Wisconsin.
On the 27th of August, 1907, Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Amanda H. Reichow, a daughter of Fred Reichow of this city, who has been with the Allis-Chalmers Com- pany for thirty years but was born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have one daughter, June, who is now in the Lake school at Milwaukee.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church, their membership being in St. Paul's church, Mr. Whitney is also a Mason, belonging to Edgewater Lodge, No. 901, A. F. & A. M., of Chicago. Politically he is a republican but has never been an active party worker. During the World war, however, he served on the official board of every drive and did much toward securing the cooperation of Milwaukeeans in all the aid that the country needed in the prosecution of the war. He belongs to the Milwaukee Club and the Milwaukee Athletic Club, to the Association of Commerce and
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to the Milwaukee Life Underwriters Association, of which he served as the first presi- dent in 1916. His cooperation is recognized as a valuable asset to any cause which he espouses, for he attacks every duty and task with a contagious enthusiasm that produces results. At the same time his labors are most wisely and intelligently directed, his course being marked by steady progress that ultimately reaches the desired goal.
WILLIAM J. KLUMB.
William J. Klumb, manager of the North Side Branch of the Second Ward Bank, was born at Elmore, Wisconsin, March 20, 1894, a son of William and Catharine, (Senn) Klumb, who are also natives of that state, the father devoting his life to merchandising.
The son, William J. Klumb, was educated in the country schools and in the public schools of Milwaukee, where he passed through consecutive grades to the high school. Since starting out in the business world he has been identified with banking and has made steady progress through close application, unfaltering energy and fidelity to duty. He first entered the Second Ward Bank, when that institution occupied its old quarters. His initial position was that of messenger boy but steadily he worked up through various positions to that of teller and became utility man of the North Side Branch. He was next made manager of the North Side Branch on the 1st of June, 1920, and has since occupied this position. While he is a young man of but twenty-six years, he is credited with being perfectly competent to discharge the important and responsible duties that devolve upon him. He has had long and thorough experience in banking, qualifying him for his present work and, moreover, he possesses that initiative and enterprise which enables him to meet every situation with the consciousness and courage that comes from a right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activity.
In September, 1920, Mr. Klumb was married to Miss Florence Villnow of Mil- waukee, and they have many friends in the city, enjoying the warm regard of all who know them. Mr. Klumb is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Palmer Lodge and also has membership in Prospect Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He is the secretary of the Upper Street Commerce Association and he was appointed by Mrs. Pfeil on the committee through the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, to formulate plans by which to raise money to purchase the silver service for the cruiser Milwaukee, which was launched at Tacoma, Washington. He manifests great civic pride and keen interests in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of Mil- waukee and his labors have been far-reaching and resultant.
WILLIAM F. BARKOW.
William F. Barkow is engaged in the manufacture of automobile bodies in Mil- waukee and his business is the outgrowth of one of the old-time enterprises of the city, a wagon manufacturing concern that was established in 1879. Mr. Barkow has always been a resident of Milwaukee, his birth having here occurred February 10, 1873, his parents being Herman and Minnie (Schmidt) Barkow, both of whom were natives of Germany. The mother arrived in Milwaukee in 1858. It was a decade later when Herman Barkow came to this city and here he established a wagon shop in 1879 at No. 195 Milwaukee street. He began the business in a small way, owing to his limited capital, but was progressing nicely when the third ward fire occurred and destroyed his plant. This was in 1892 and his losses were so heavy that he was again forced to establish his business on a small scale. Gradually, however, he built up the trade and the nature of the business was changed to meet the demands along the lines of automobile sales rather than wagons. In 1914 the business was incorpo- rated under the name of the H. Barkow Company, builders of automobile bodies, with Herman Barkow as president; William F. Barkow as vice president; and Fred C. Barkow as secretary and treasurer. Upon the death of Herman Barkow, October 26, 1919, William F. Barkow became president. Their plant covers a ground space two hundred and forty by one hundred and twenty feet and they are enjoying a notable trade, their sales having rapidly increased year by year. The business is capitalized for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and their output is sent to all parts of the United States and Canada and to various sections of the world through the auto- mobile and truck manufacturers.
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