USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 48
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Vol. II-30
ISAIAH BOORSE
ENSIGN ARTHUR LEE BOORSE
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
On the 2d of November, 1880, Mr. Boorse was married to Miss Clara Willett, a daughter of Jobn and Elizabeth Willett of Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Their marriage was blessed with five children but only one daughter is now living, Jessica, who is the wife of Hampton H. Thomas, assistant manager of the Fidelity Deposit Company of Mary- land, and they have one daughter, Jessica Lee, The son, Arthur Lee, who was a member of the naval reserve in the World war, was killed in action in a seaplane accident at Brest, France. He was born in 1892 and was graduated from the East Side high school of Milwaukee, after which he attended the University of Wisconsin at Madi- son. When war was declared he entered the Curtis School of Aviation at Newport News, Virginia, and after finishing the course he enlisted in the Naval Reserve Corps on the 1st of June, 1917. Immediately upon the receipt of his diploma he entered that branch of the service. He was one of the first to fly from the naval base at Hampton Roads. He sailed on the 7th of March, 1918, for France and was in two train- ing schools in that country, being one of the first naval officers to train with the American officers on the large bombing machines. He was afterward transferred to Brest, France, where he was flying in seaplanes for several months. Ensign Boorse met his death in a seaplane accident at Brest at two o'clock in the afternoon on the 21st of August, 1918. He had been married in 1916 to Miss Evelyn Glass, a daughter of Frank P. Glass, editor of the Birmingham News of Birmingham, Alabama, and president of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. Ensign Boorse and his wife had one child, Evelyn.
Fraternally Isaiah Boorse was a Mason of high rank, having attained the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite. He was a member of the Old Settlers Club and greatly enjoyed the meetings of that organization. Isaiah Boorse spent practically his entire life here, for he was but an infant when brought to Wisconsin. In the years that followed he took active interest in all that had to do with the city's growth and development and his enterprise was manifest not only in business affairs but in public relations as well. Thus it was that his death was the occasion of deep regret because of his worth as a man and as a citizen.
FRANK CLEVELAND,
Frank Cleveland is actively associated with the study of problems which have to do with organized efforts for city development.
He is now the secretary-manager of the bureau of conventions of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and is also secretary-manager of the advertising council of the association. He is constantly alert to any opportunity that is offered for the city's improvement, the extension of its trade relations and the maintenance of its civic standards. His labors are constituting an important element in the promotion of public welfare.
Mr. Cleveland was born in a lumber camp on the headwaters of the west branch of the Muskegon river in Missaukee county, Michigan, February 2, 1877, and is a son of Charles L. and Sarah A. (Underhill) Cleveland, both of whom were natives of New York and both representatives of early colonial families. The progenitor of the Cleveland family in the new world came to America in 1635, while the Underhill family was founded in America a few years later, both families settling in Boston, Massachu- setts. Their representatives participated in the early wars of the country, General Moses Cleveland being a soldier of the American Revolution. He removed westward, becoming the founder of the city of Cleveland, Ohio.
Charles L. Cleveland, father of Frank Cleveland, was a lumberman, sawmill man and a master mechanic. In his youth he came west to follow his chosen vocation and subsequently engaged in the lumber business. He has been a resident of Michigan since 1868 and is now seventy-nine years of age, yet is hale and hearty.
Frank Cleveland attended the high school at Bellaire, Michigan, and afterward be- came a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he prepared for teaching and for journalistic work. After leaving college he engaged in the newspaper business and has gone through the whole curriculum of newspaper activity and adver- tising. For nine years he was in the editorial department and for six years in the advertising department, being connected with the Chicago Record-Herald, the Mil- waukee Sentinel, the Old Evening Wisconsin, and later the Milwaukee Journal. He came to this city on the 5th of April, 1910, and after a number of years of active identification with newspaper publications he became connected with the Milwaukee Association of Commerce on the 1st of June, 1918. He has since heen identified with the organization and has built up the convention bureau and organized the advertising council. He has done most effective and resultant work in these connections, the city greatly benefiting hy his labors.
Mr. Cleveland volunteered his services for the Spanish-American war and the experiences of his lite have been interesting and daring. He deserves great credit for
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
what he has accomplished, for he earned all the money to put himself through school by working in the lumber woods and mills, being employed in some of the largest camps of the country. He never lived in a town that had a railroad until he was fifteen years of age and when but fourteen years of age he was driving a team in the lumber woods. He may well be proud of his record, which indicates the elemental strength of his character and his developing capacity, bringing him to a point among the forceful and resourceful business men and representatives of the Cream city.
Fraternally Mr. Cleveland is connected with the Masons, Knights of Pythias and the Elks and he belongs to the Kiwanis Club, the City Club and the Press Club. He has always greatly enjoyed music and athletics.' He had two years of conservatory training in music and, as an avocation, played in some of the best bands of the country and in two regimental bands. He taught school for a short time, but found that he could not make money enough to satisfy himself in that profession and did not resume teaching after completing his university course. Turning to journalism it proved the initial step that has brought him to his present responsible position. He has been a close and constant student in the school of experience and has learned many valuable lessons which he has put to practical account in the advancement of his own and of public interests.
MARK L. PATEK.
In a history of business enterprise in Milwaukee mention should be made of Mark L. Patek, who for a long period was prominently associated with commercial activity here. He was born in this city in 1864, his parents being Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Hirschberg) Patek, both of whom were natives of Austria. Attracted by the opportu- nities of the new world they came to the United States about 1850 and immediately made their way to Milwaukee, where the family home was established. For an ex- tended period the father engaged in the business of handling net and twine. He had reached a ripe old age when in 1915 he was called to his final rest, having at that time passed the eighity-fourth milestone on life's journey. His wife died several years before.
Mark L. Patek was the eldest in their family of four children. He enjoyed the educational advantages offered by the public schools and afterward became a student in the University of Wisconsin, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He received his initial business training under his father's direction and for some time was engaged in the net and twine business, but eventually became associated with his younger brother, George W. Patek, in organizing the firm of Patek Brothers for the manufacture of paints and the jobbing of plate and window glass. While they started out in a modest way their patronage developed rapidly and it was not long before they were compelled to seek more commodious quarters, in order to meet the growing de- mand for their products. It was in 1916 that they removed to Water street, where they secured a large building with extensive storage and warehouse facilities. Mark L. Patek concentrated his efforts and attention in very large measure upon the develop- ment of the trade and was an important factor in the steady and substantial growth of the business, with which he continued his connection to the time of his demise.
Mr. Patek was united in marriage to Miss Retta Shroder, a daughter of Judge Shroder of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they became the parents of two sons: John, born in 1902, who is now in his twentieth year; and Richard, born in 1905, who is in his seventeenth year. The family circle was broken by the hand of death in 1920, the husband and father departing this life on the 6th of October. He had long been a faithful follower of the Masonic fraternity and was well known as a member of the University Club and other prominent social organizations. The sterling worth of his character was attested by all who had business relations with him or came within the close circle of his friendship. He had always lived in Milwaukee and his life ever measured up to high and creditable standards, so that his passing was a matter of deep regret to many friends as well as to his immediate family.
GEORGE W. PATEK.
George W. Patek has for twenty-six years been an active factor in the business development of Milwaukee as a member of the firm of Patek Brothers, manufacturers of paints and johhers of plate and window glass, their business being conducted at Nos. 232 to 238 East Water street. Mr. Patek is a native son of Milwaukee, his birth having occurred in October, 1867, his parents being Gottlieb and Elizabeth ( Hirschherg) Patek, hoth of whom were natives of Austria. They came to the United States about the year 1850 and settled in Milwaukee, where the father was engaged in the net and twine business for a number of years. He departed this life in 1915, at
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the advanced age of eighty-four years, having tor several years survived his wife. They were the parents of four children, namely: Mark L., who died October 6, 1920; Mrs. Philip Ettenheim of Milwaukee; George W., of this review; and Dr. A. J. Patek, also of this city.
George W. Patek, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, attended the public schools and also a private school of this city and when his textbooks were put aside he engaged in the carpet business. He nas thus long been an active figure in the commercial circles of the city and when he at length severed his connection with these mercantile lines he turned to his present business, becoming associated with his elder brother. Mark L. Patek, in organizing the firm of Patek Brothers in 1895. Their first location was at 319 East Water street, where they started in a small way, but their business grew very rapidly, forcing them soon to seek larger quarters and better facilities. They removed to their present location at No. 232 to 238 East Water street in 1916, where a large building is utilized in the conduct of their business. They have an extensive storage warehouse and the factory of the firm is one of the most thoroughly modern and up-to-date of the kind in this part of the country, while they have the finest offices of any paint company in the west. Their trade reaches out all over the country except to the Pacific coast district and their brand of paint is well established. They manufacture a high grade product and in addition to selling paints they are ex- tensive jobbers of plate and window glass. Since the removal to the present location the business has increased in very notable and gratifying measure.
On the 24th of February, 1896, George W. Patek was married to Miss Pearl Cohen cf Milwaukee. and they have a danghter, Gertrude, who is a graduate of Girton College. Mr. Patek is a member of the Woodlawn Country Club, also of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Wisconsin Club, the Rotary Club and the City Club. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and loyally follows the teachings and purposes of the craft.
GEORGE F. BREITBACH.
Numbered among the capable and energetic business men of South Milwaukee is George F. Breitbach, an automobile dealer who has built up an extensive trade, his methods at all times in keeping with the progressiveness that is the dominating factor in business life today. He was born in South Dakota, July 4, 1884, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Willman) Breitbach. The father, a native of Germany, came to the United States with his parents about 1879 and settled in South Dakota, where the family took up a claim. In this country he married Elizabeth Willman, a native of New York. In 1890 they removed to Milwaukee and in 1892 became residents of South Milwaukee, where Mr. Breitbach conducted business as a carpenter and contractor. He died in the year 1913. The mother is still living in South Milwaukee.
George F. Breitbach pursued his education in the public schools of Milwaukee and of South Milwaukee and also attended the McDonald Business College for a year. He has enjoyed varied experience in life and in that school has learned many valnable lessons. In early days he carried newspapers in South Milwaukee while still a school- boy and he afterward worked for W. W. Wallis in a pawnbroker's shop in Milwaukee. There he obtained a valuable experience in the study of human nature and learned to judge readily the character of the individual with whom he came into contact. He con- tinned in that position for eighteen months and then became associated with E. C. Reed in a meat market in South Milwaukee. Later he took a trip through the west and upon his return entered the employ of the United States Glue Company at Carroll- ville. Wisconsin, while afterward he became an employe of the T. M. & E. Railway & Light Company in the power house, where he continued for three years. . On the expiration of that period he removed to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, as engineer of the State Normal School but after some time returned to South Milwaukee and began working in the machine shop of the Bucyrus Company. While thus employed he took up insurance as a side line and on the 15th of October, 1915, he signed a contract with the Buick Automobile Company and has since represented this car in the sales line. He started with a three-car contract for one year and in 1921 contracted for one hun- dred and twenty-five cars, his sales covering a large territory, taking in all of the small towns around Milwaukee. On the 1st of March, 1919, he secured a Chevrolet contract and from that date to August 1, 1919, delivered one hundred and eight cars and canceled sixty contracts, due to the Buick making an exclusive contract for the handling of their cars. During 1919 Mr. Breitbach sold over three hundred Buick and Chevrolet cars. He has two salesmen employed all of the time and is rapidly building up his business. In 1916 he erected a modern building and in 1917 built an addition thereto. On the 11th of December, 1917, however, this building and its contents were destroyed by fire, burning to the ground, amounting to a big loss for Mr. Breitbach. In the spring of 1918 he erected another building, sixty by ninety feet, a brick structure which is equipped with all modern conveniences for the conduct of a business of this
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character. He also has a storehouse on Tenth avenue and another building in Wauwatosa.
On the 6th of February, 1915, Mr. Breitbach was married to Miss Margaret Haley of South Milwaukee, and they have a family of seven children: Margaret, Raymond, Eleanor, Francis, Catharine, Dorothy and George. The family residence is at 1218 Michigan avenue in South Milwaukee. Mr. Breitbach takes no interest in politics or in social life in the usually accepted sense of the term. His whole interest centers in his business and he is truly a self-made man in the best sense of that term. Concentra- tion, close application and determination have been the definite and salient factors in his life work and have bought him a substantial measure of prosperity.
FRANK CHARLES BUNDE.
In the passing of Frank Charles Bunde, Milwaukee lost one of her well known and representative business men. He was the vice president of the Bunde & Upmeyer Com- pany, extensive manufacturing jewelers, who also conducted a large retail jewelry establishment in the city. Mr. Bunde spent his entire life in Milwaukee, his birth hav ing here occurred on the 22d of July, 1865. His parents were Charles and Henrietta (Bolt) Bunde, both of whom were natives of Pomerania, Germany. Determining to make their home in the new world, they crossed the Atlantic about 1858 and became residents of this city. Here their son, Frank C., was born and reared, his education being acquired in the public schools and in the German-English Academy.
Mr. Bunde turned his attention to the jewelry business, learning the trade, and, finding it a congenial occupation in which he believed he might win success, he after- ward became one of the organizers of the Bunde & Upmeyer Company, which developed a business of large and gratifying proportions. As the years passed their patronage steadily increased until they ranked with the leading jewelry manufacturers and retail jewelers of the city. Frank C. Bunde held the office of vice president, with Louis Bunde as president and William Upmeyer as secretary and treasurer. They worked in the utmost harmony in the conduct and development of the business and the labors of the one ably supplemented and rounded out the efforts of the other, so that splendid results were achieved.
On the 17th of October, 1889, Mr. Bunde was united in marriage to Miss Alma Dieterich, a daughter of Herman and Alma ( Viegend) Dieterich, both of whom were natives of Germany. Coming to the United States, they settled in Omaha, where Mr. Dieterich passed way. The mother afterward came to Milwaukee and died when seventy-nine years of age.
The death of Mr. Bunde occurred February 1, 1921, and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He had always given his political allegiance to the republican party and was a stalwart advocate of its principles. Fraternally he was a thirty-second degree Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft, and for twenty-five years he was a well known and popular member of the Calumet Club. His social qualities endeared him to his friends, while his business ability gained him high rank in com- mercial circles. Those who knew him socially valued his frendship and in his home he ever displayed his best qualities.
FRED C. BARKOW.
Fred C. Barkow, secretary and treasurer of the H. Barkow Company, manufacturers of automobile bodies and tops, was born in Milwaukee, September 17, 1876, his parents being Herman and Minnie (Schmidt) Barkow, who were natives of Germany. The mother arrived in Milwaukee in 1858. It was a decade later when Herman Barkow took up his abode in this city, where he was afterward connected with industrial activity. In 1879 he established the Barkow wagon shop at No. 195 Milwaukee street and this constituted the nucleus of the present enterprise, of which Fred C. Barkow is one of the owners. The father began business in a small way but was making gratify- ing and substantial progress when in 1892 his establishment was destroyed in the great third ward fire. This left him with comparatively little capital, so that he was again forced to begin business in a restricted way, but he gradually built up the enterprise and continued its further development, eventually transforming the output from wagons to that of automobile tops and bodies. In 1914 the business was incorporated under the name of the H. Barkow Company and as such has since been continued. The father, however, died October 26, 1919.
Fred C. Barkow obtained his early education in the parochial schools of Milwaukee but put aside his textbooks when only thirteen years of age and entered his father's shop. There he learned the carriage making trade and since that time he has been
FRANK C. BUNDE
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
continuously connected with the business. At the time of the incorporation in 1914, under the name of the H. Barkow Company, he became secretary and treasurer and has since occupied this official connection with the enterprise. The company has a large plant, two hundred and forty by one hundred and twenty feet, supplied with the latest improved machinery tor the building of automobile bodies, and the business is capitalized for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Their output is sold to auto- mobile and truck manufacturers and in this way reaches to all parts of the United States, Canada and various sections of the world. The vice president of the company is John A. Giebish. who has been superintendent of the paint department for eighteen years. He learned his trade with the house and became vice president at the death of Herman Barkow.
It was in the year 1905 that Fred C. Barkow was united in marriage to Miss. Alvina Rose, a daughter of August Rose of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of five children: Alvin, August, Elizabeth, Minnetta and Herman. The parents are members of the Bethany Lutheran Evangelical church. Mr. Barkow votes with the republican party and on the whole endorses its principles yet does not consider him- self bound by party ties. He is ready at all times to support any project of progressive citizenship and stands loyally in support of those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
WILLIAM J. MURPHY, M. D.
Dr. William J. Murphy, physician and surgeon of Milwaukee, with offices in the Matthews building at 307 Grand avenue, is a native son of this city, his birth having here occurred April 3, 1886. His father, William J. Murphy, Sr., is now living retired here at the age of sixty-nine years. He, too, was born in Milwaukee, while his father was a native of Ireland and became the founder of the family in the new world. The mother of Dr. Murphy is also living and has now attained the age of sixty-four. She bore the maiden name of Mary Haley and is well known in this city, in which she has spent her life. By her marriage she became the mother of three living children: Owen D., who is an accountant; Mrs. William J. Mclaughlin of Milwaukee; and William J., of this review. The father has been quite prominent in public affairs of the city and served for eighteen years on the Milwaukee board of aldermen, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many plans and measures for the general good.
Dr. Murphy, like his parents, has spent his life in Milwaukee and in 1905 was graduated from the East Side high school. Later he was for four years a student in the Marquette Medical College and was graduated with the M. D. degree in the class of 1909. He afterward hecame an interne in the City Hospital and was on Blackwell's Island, New York, in his professional capacity for fourteen months. Subsequently he spent two years and four months as a physician in the service of the United States government, being stationed at the National Soldiers Home in Dayton, Ohio, for four months, and at Leavenworth, Kansas, for two years. Since 1912 he has practiced medicine and surgery in Milwaukee, occupying throughout the period his present offices in the Matthews building. He is serving on the staffs of Trinity and Misericordia Hospitals and he belongs to the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Association of Mili- tary Surgeons of the United States. During the World war he joined the Medical Corps and served for nine months as a lieutenant and captain at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, and at Newport News, Virginia. He has ever heen ready to respond to any call of duty in connection with his country or in the line of his profession and has made his service of great benefit to his fellowmen.
In religious faith Dr. Murphy is a Roman Catholic and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He also has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he finds his recreation through the summer seasons in hunting and fishing, greatly enjoying a trip into the wilds. His professional career as well as his personal characteristics commend him to the confidence and respect of his fellowmen and he has an extensive circle of warm friends in his native city.
JOHN A. GIEBISH.
John A. Giebish is the vice president of the H. Barkow Company, builders of auto- mobile hodies in Milwaukee. He was well trained for the duties and responsibilities which now devolve upon him, for in his youth he learned the carriage painting trade and has gradually advanced with the increase of his powers and experience. He was horn in Milwaukee on the 8th of June, 1879, and is a son of Frank and Theresa (Thoman) Giebish, the former a native of Austria, while the latter was born in Mil-
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