USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 53
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Rae F. Bell obtained his early education in the public schools of Madison, this state, and subsequently entered the University of Wisconsin, from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts upon his graduation in 1912. After leaving college he spent one year as traveling auditor for the International Harvester Com- pany and in 1913 came to Milwaukee, here entering the service of the Kieckhefer Box Vol. II-33
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Company as a salesman, thus representing the concern for three years. On the expiration of that period he went to Kaukauna, Wisconsin, as secretary and. manager of the Kankauna Pulp Company and two years later formed a company for the manu- facture of wooden boxes at Waukesha, known as the Bell-Kieckhefer Company, of which he acted as president. It was in 1919 that he entered upon his present duties as secre- tary of the Kieckhefer Container Company, to the steady and substantial growth of which he has contributed in no inconsiderable degree, while in the conduct of several other companies in which he is interested his cooperation and sound judgment are also regarded as valuable assets. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to the business and his excellent management have brought to him the success which he now enjoys.
On the 7th of January, 1915, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Rose Boyd Crelly of Adrian, Michigan. They have become parents of two sons, Robert Rae and John Stanley. Mr. Bell belongs to the Wisconsin Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club and two Greek letter fraternities-the Beta Theta Pi and the Phi Beta Kappa. He holds friendship inviolable and as true worth may always win his regard he has a very ex- tensive circle of friends and his life demonstrates the truth of Ralph Waldo Emerson's statement that "The way to win a friend is to be one." No plan or movement for the ' beneft of the c'ty along lines of progress and improvement seeks his aid in vain.
EDMOND A. BOUER.
Edmond A. Bouer, prominent in business and social circles of Milwaukee for many years and numbered among the valued residents of the city to the time of his demise, was born October 25, 1855, in Detroit, Michigan, and was a son of Anguste and Margaret Boner, who came to Milwaukee in the early '80s from Alsace Lorraine, France, in which country Auguste Bouer was born. The son obtained his education in the schools of Detroit and was a youth in his teens at the time of the removal of the family to this city. On reaching Milwaukee he started ont in the business world as a salesman with the Standard Paper Company, with which be remained for a few years. He was always identified with that line of business and his early experience brought to him a knowledge that well qualified him for the conduct of a similar enterprise on his own account. In 1893 he opened a wholesale paper house, which he conducted under the name of the E. A. Bouer Company to the time of his demise. His business was carefully systematized, his interests wisely directed and his diligence, industry and sagacity were the crowning features in the attainment of the substantial success which rewarded his labors.
In 1883 Mr. Bouer was united in marriage to Miss Adela J. Booth, a daughter of Cyrus D. and Sarah M. (Bacon) Booth, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. They came to Milwaukee about the year 1850 and the father was engaged for many years in the wholesale hat and cap business, developing one of the large mercantile enterprises of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Bouer became the parents of a daughter, Margaret, who is now the wife of Herbert P. Brumder, and they, too, are residents of Milwaukee.
Mr. Bouer was a Mason of high rank. He belonged to Kilbourn Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M., also to the Wisconsin Commandery, in which he attained the Knight Templar degree, and the Wisconsin Consistory, in which he became a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He likewise crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belonged to the Milwaukee Club, the City Club, the Chicago Athletic Club and the Town Club. In politics he was a republican, always loyal to the principles of the party. He was a member of the Immanuel Presbyterian church and died in that faith March 13, 1915. A self-made man, he had built up a substantial business without outside assistance and had one of the largest paper houses in the city. He occupied a most enviable position in both commercial and social circles and he ever found time to cooperate in those interests and measures which had to do with the intellectual and moral upbuilding of the community and the advancement of its civic standards.
ALFRED NICHOLAS EDWARD MERTEN, M. D.
Among the younger physicians of Milwaukee who have attained creditable position in professional ranks, having already reached a place that many an older representa- tive of the profession might well envy, is Dr. Alfred Nicholas Edward Merten, who has his offices at No. 211 Grand avenue ard who is practicing successfully as a physician and surgeon. He was born in West Bend, Wisconsin, July 16, 1895, and is a son of
EDMOND A. BOUER
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Jacob and Minnie (Grau) Merten. the former a traveling salesman who resides in Milwaukee. In their family were four sons. In the year 1906 the father removed with his family to Milwaukee, leaving West Bend, so that Dr. Merten continued his education in the public schools of this city, being graduated from the North Division high school with the class of 1913. A review of the broad field of business led him to the conclusion that he wished to make the practice of medicine and surgery his life work. Accordingly he spent five years as a student in the Marquette University and the last four years of that period were devoted to the study of medicine, bringing him to his graduation on the 10th of June, 1918, at which time the professional degree was conferred upon him. He afterward spent a year as interne in the Milwaukee Hospital, gaining broad and valuable experience which can never be acquired as quickly in any other way as in hospital practice. He was subsequently in charge of the laboratory of the hospital for about a year. During the World war he was a member of the Medical Reserve Corps, subject to call at any time, but was not asked to give his services to the country in that critical period. He belongs to the Milwaukee Medical Society, the Mil- waukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and he keeps in close touch with what is being done by the most advanced members of the profession through his connection with these different bodies, whose various reports and publications are enlightening to all physicians and surgeons. On the 2d of January, 1922, Dr. Merten was married to Miss Marie Ziarkowski of Milwaukee. They belong to the Roman Catholic church and Dr. Merten is identified with the Knights of Columbus. A resident of Milwaukee since a lad in his teens, he is today well known here and has an extensive circle of friends, while the number of his patients is growing year by year, showing that his powers are continually developing in the field of his chosen life work.
WALTER A. JOHN.
Walter A. John, attorney at law, who has engaged in practice in Milwaukee since 1916, was born in this city August 24, 1892, his parents being Ernest and Catharine (Kalb) John, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born in Milwaukee. The father was a merchant for a number of years, actively identified with the business interests of this city but is now living retired. His wife's people were very early settlers of Milwaukee.
At the usual age Walter A. John entered the public schools, passing through con- secutive grades to the high school and following the completion of his course there he entered the University of Wisconsin for the study of law and was graduated from the law department in the class of 1916. In June of the same year he was admitted to the bar and immediately opened a law office in Milwaukee, located in the Railway Exchange building during the first two and a half years. He then removed to the First Wis- consin National Bank building, where he still maintains his offices. He follows a conservative method but is building up a substantial practice and has won for himself a most creditable position at the Milwaukee bar. He belongs to the Milwaukee Bar Association and also to the American Bar Association.
Socially Mr. John is connected with the Milwaukee Athletic Club and he belongs to the Phi Alpha Delta, a legal fraternity, and the Sigma Phi Epsilon. Politically he maintains an independent course, nor has he sought office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon the upbuilding of his professional interests.
DANIEL T. LEISK.
Daniel T. Leisk, cashier of the Union Bank of Milwaukee, is a man who in the pursuit of a persistent purpose has gained a most satisfactory reward. He has never dissipated his energies over a broad field but has concentrated his efforts and atten- tion upon banking since making his initial step in the business world and thus gradually he has advanced to the important position which he now fills, and his labors have been a contributing factor to the growing success of the Union Bank since he became its cashier.
Mr. Leisk was born in this city September 6, 1879, a son of James and Martha (Tainsh) Leisk, the former a native of the Shetland Islands, while the mother was born in Milwaukee. They were married ir. this city, the father having come to the new world in 1871. at which time he took up his abode in Milwaukee, where seven years later he wedded Miss Martha Tainsh. He was for some years a captain on the Great Lakes, commanding the largest vessels that sailed the inland sea, and made a notable record in handling cargoes. His death occurred in 1909 and his widow is still living.
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Daniel T. Leisk obtained his education in the public schools and when his text- books were put aside he took up office work, in which he engaged for a time but in 1899 entered the Milwaukee National Bank as an employe, remaining with that institution for twelve years, during which period he worked his way upward through various promotions. He was later cashier of the Red Granite State Bank of Red Granite, Wisconsin, for a period of three years and in 1915 he became connected with the Union Bank of Milwaukee as assistant cashier and in 1916 was promoted to his present position as cashier. During the period of his incumbency in the office the deposits of the bank have tripled in amount and the business of the institution has steadily grown in every department. Mr. Leisk has been a most ardent and earnest worker for the success of the hank and has made the institution a strong place for deposits. He was one of the first graduates of the American Institute of Banking, an educational branch of the American Bankers Association.
On the 24th of February, 1904, Mr. Leisk was married to Miss May B. Oliver of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and they have one son, James Henry, who was born November 10, 1906. During the World war Mr. Leisk was connected with the Company L Booster Club of the Three Hundred and Fortieth Infantry and was instrumental in securing and raising money to pay the expenses of the regiment on its visit to Milwaukee on the 30th of May, 1918. He is identified with several fraternal organizations, including the Masons, the Elks, the Eagles and the Knights of Pythias, and he is also a member of the City Club. With the exception of the brief period of three years he has always resided in Milwaukee and there has come to him definite recognition of his worth as a man and as a citizen. Capability has advanced him to his present position in banking circles and his sterling worth has been attested by all with whom he has been brought into contact.
WILLIAM R. CALLAHAN.
William R. Callahan, who occupies the position of purchasing agent of the city of Milwaukee, in which connection he is making a most creditable and commendable record, was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, on the 31st of August, 1885. His parents were John M. and Margaret ( McCraley) Callahan, the former a native of Menasha, Wis- consin, while the mother's birth occurred in the state of New York. The grandparents had emigrated to this country from Ireland.
William R. Callahan attended the parochial schools in the acquirement of an education and when he put aside his textbooks entered the office of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway as an accountant, continuing in that capacity for a period of twelve years. In 1912 he was appointed chief clerk of the purchasing department in Milwaukee, which was then under the board of public works. Five years later the office of purchasing department was created and Mr. Callahan was appointed to the position of purchasing agent, which he has since filled in a most acceptable and satisfactory manner.
On the 14th of June, 1911, Mr. Callahan was united in marriage to Miss Grace Dorr of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of two children, John Anthony and Mar- garet Sarah. The family residence is at No. 718 Maryland avenne. Politically Mr. Callahan is a democrat, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He finds comparatively little leisure for social activity, his time being largely demanded by his official duties, the faithful discharge of which have won him the approval of all concerned.
WALTER HUBERT KEENAN.
Walter Hubert Keenan, the progressive and enterprising manager of the Plankin- ton Hotel, one of the most up-to-date and popular hostelries of Milwaukee, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of May, 1893, a son of Hugh J. and Mary E. (Moffat) Keenan, both natives of the Keystone state. The father was born in Scran- ton and in early life entered the hotel business, becoming a prominent and well known hotel operator, owning a chain of hotels in Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. His death occurred in 1918 after a long and useful life. The Keenan family is of Irish descent, the grandfather of our subject, John Keenan, having been born in that country. Mrs. Mary E. Keenan was likewise a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Anthony Moffat, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States at an early day. Mrs. Keenan survives her husband and makes her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the acquirement of an education Walter Hubert Keenan attended the public and parochial schools of Scranton and at the age of seventeen entered the Bethlehem Preparatory School. After putting his textbooks aside he commenced to work for his
WALTER H. KEENAN
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father in a hotel at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He desired to learn the business from the ground up and as a result started in as bell boy, in which capacity he remained for some time and then, constantly winning promotion as a result of his ability, he was in 1915 made manager of the Julian Hotel at Dubuque, Iowa, in the conduct of which hostelry he was successfully engaged until February 1, 1920. He then came to Mil- waukee as manager of the Plankinton Hotel and under his able management the husi- ness has assumed extensive proportions. His father purchased the stock of the Plankinton Hotel Company in January, 1917, taking over the business in April of that year. The hotel is one of the most modern and up-to-date hostelries in Milwaukee, con- tains three hundred well appointed rooms of various prices and has excellent sample rooms. The personality of Mr. Keenan is such as to win for him many friends, and the guests at his hotel find him a genial host.
During the World war Mr. Keenan did everything in his power to assist the gov- ernment in its immense undertaking. He took an active part in the various drives and was food administrator of Dubuque. Mr. Keenan is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is not active in politics and his endorsement is not given to any particular party, for he maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. He has always been actuated by a laudable ambition that has prompted the development of his innate powers and talents, and the utilization of every opportunity that has come to him has brought him into the front ranks of hotel men in Milwaukee and vicinity.
JOSEPH ROMBERGER.
Industrial activity in Milwaukee finds a prominent representative in Joseph Rom- berger, whose sheet metal works are one of the important productive industries of the city. Mr. Romberger still remains an active factor in the world's work notwithstanding the fact that he has reached the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. He was born in Germany, April 26, 1847, and was brought to Milwaukee by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Romberger, in 1851, when a little lad of but four years. His father and mother spent their remaining days in this city and here Joseph Romberger was reared and educated, pursuing his studies in St. Mary's school. When quite young, however, he started out to provide for his own support and was employed in various ways, working at anything that would yield him an honest living and enable him to advance toward the goal of success.
In 1871 Mr. Romberger was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Smith, a daughter of James Smith, a native of Ireland. It was after his marriage that he learned the trade of cornice making and this led eventually to the establishment of the Romberger Sheet Metal Works about the year 1892. Through the intervening period of thirty years he has continued in this business and his patronage has steadily grown and developed by reason of the excellence of his work. During his long years of connec- tion with Milwaukee he has worked on some of the highest steeples and buildings of the city and he has had many big contracts in the way of sheet metal work throughout the state.
To Mr. and Mrs. Romberger have been born seven children: Louis, Frank and George, who are now active in the conduct of the business; Katherine, who is the wife of Joseph Loomer of Milwaukee: Daisy; Johanna; and Ellen, the wife of G. J. Henry of Wilmette, Illinois. Mr. Romberger and his family are well known in Milwaukee and he has long occupied an enviable position in the public regard owing to what he has accomplished in business and the straightforward methods which he has ever followed in all of his business dealings.
FRANK J. BOEHM.
Frank J. Boehm, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer of The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, is a native of the city in which he resides, his birth having here occurred August 11, 1866. His parents, Frank and Katharine (Beringer) Boehm, were natives of Germany and the latter came with her parents to the United States from Luxemburg in 1856, the family home heing established on a farm in Washington county, Wisconsin, where they resided for a number of years. Frank Boehm crossed the Atlantic when a youth of eighteen years, his parents coming to the United States about 1860. The son, however, was obliged to remain in his native land to serve out an apprenticeship as a weaver and when this was completed he followed his father and mother to the new world, joining them in Milwaukee. Here he found it impossible to obtain employment as a weaver and chose for another
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calling the cigar trade, working for Nic Simon in the old St. Charles Hotel. He re- mained with Mr. Simon for eighteen years and on the expiration of that period engaged in business on his own account as a cigar manufacturer, continuing active in that field until his death, which occurred in 1906.
Frank J. Boehm was educated in St. Anthony's School, from which he graduated with the class of 1879. He then entered upon and concluded an apprenticeship in his father's shop in order to learn the cigar business. On the 6th of February, 1882, he secured a position with the Milwaukee City Railway Company as office boy and has been in the service of the corporation ever since, or for a period of forty consecutive years, there being no break in his service in all this time. He is one of the oldest active employes of the corporation today and has always been in the accounting and financial department, having served as clerk, bookkeeper, and in other capacities. In 1906 he was appointed assistant secretary and assistant treasurer, which position he has since filled with entire satisfaction to the company. There have been various changes in the name of the company since Mr. Boehm entered upon his initial con- nection with the enterprise, but through all the changes in name and ownership he has remained, contributing of his time, service and ability to the upbuilding of the company, and his faithfulness and his integrity, as well as his capability, have ever stood as unquestioned facts in his career. He hecame the first president of the Veterans Association of the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company and Associated Com- panies. Members of this organization must have had at least twenty years of service to hecome identified therewith. Mr. Boehm is also the secretary and treasurer of the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, an associated company of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, which owns the gas works in Racine and Watertown and does an electric lighting business in the city of Kenosha and in the rural districts of Racine and Kenosha, and various other municipalities in the State of Wisconsin. He is today one of the prominent figures in connection with the electrification of transportation lines and business interests in southern Wisconsin.
In 1914 Mr. Boehm was married to Miss Cecelia Broenen of Milwaukee, and they are parents of a daughter, Catharine Dolores. . For a period of fifty-five years Mr. Boehm has lived in the city of his nativity, watching with interest its development and progress and contributing in many substantial ways to its growth and improve- ment. That his has been a well spent life is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his hoyhood to the present time.
CALEB E. JOHNSON.
Caleb E. Johnson is the president of the Palmolive Company of Milwaukee, which has one of the most splendidly built and well equipped factories of the city. The business has been conducted along most progressive lines and is the expression of the enterprise, determination, energy and executive ability of Mr. Johnson and his associate officers. His life story, by reason of what he has accomplished, is a most interesting one. He was born in Buffalo, New York, June 7, 1857, his parents being Burdette J. and Lucy P. (Elliott) Johnson, who were natives of New York. In 1864 the parents came to Milwaukee and the father established the soap manufacturing business, which at the time of his death was conducted under the name of the B. J. Johnson Soap Company and which had been carried on under several different names prior to that time. Burdette J. Johnson had been employed in a soap factory in Buffalo, that of D. C. Beard, who had a son George, and who loaned to this son and to Mr. Johnson the sum of six thousand dollars with which to establish the soap business in Milwaukee. They started their manufacturing on a small scale, but the business continued to grow until they bought out the Plankinton & Armour soap plant, which was then located at 78-80 West Water street. In 1887 a removal was made to the present location at Nos. 42 to 62 Fourth street, where there is today a very large plant, one building being six stories in height. The structure is thoroughly modern in every particular and in addition to this building on Fourth street there is also a six story building on Fifth street, where they have two sidetracks and there the oil which they use is placed in large storage tanks. Connecting the two buildings is a tunnel, six feet in height and six feet in width, through which pass the pipes, the oil heing thus pumped from one building to the other. This plant now has an output which brings the sale up to about seventeen million dollars annually. The company also has another plant in Toronto, Canada, which is doing a business amounting to about two million dollars per year. The concern has nineteen storage houses located in various large cities throughout the country and also offices in many places, where separate accounts are kept of the business done. Its employes number altogether about fifteen hundred.
Caleb Johnson was brought up in the soap business and has concentrated his efforts and attention upon the enterprise since leaving school. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee, passing through consecutive grades to
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