USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 55
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On the 27th of August, 1888, Mr. Bartlett was married to Miss Ellen G. Bingham of Baker City, Oregon, and they are parents of three children: Lucille, the wife of C. E. Meinecke, of Youngstown, Ohio; John Shepard, who is in the office with his father; and Ruth V., who is now Mrs. Stewart Auer of Milwaukee. The son was in the navy as an ensign during the World war. He was located first at the Great Lakes and later in the Brooklyn navy yard. Mr. Bartlett belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, is the vice president of the Milwaukee Optimist Club and is a faithful follower of Masonic teachings. In July, 1920, he conducted a tour of Europe with seventy-five bankers as members. They traveled through France, Switzerland, Belgium, England and Scotland, visiting Paris, Versailles, Geneva, Lucerne, Verdun, Brussels, Ostende, London, Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon, Edinburgh, The Trossachs, Glasgow and the battle fields of Chateau Thierry and Argonne that they might see the districts in which the Americans made such a splendid stand for democracy, checking the advance of the German troops and turning the tide of war. The tour is described as one of the most interesting in the lives of those who went on the trip. Mr. Bartlett is today one of the prominent, influential and honored residents of Wisconsin. His service has been, recognized for the good that he has done for the state and few men are more widely or favorably known than George D. Bartlett.
RUDOLPH M. KOSS.
Rudolph M. Koss, long a well known business man in Milwaukee, was born in this city April 26, 1861, and is a son of Dr. Rudolph A. and Marie (Schuett) Koss, who were natives of New Holstein, Germany, but came to the new world in the early '50s, settling in Milwaukee. They were married in their native land, but all of their children were born in this city, Rudolph M. being the third in order of birth. The father, Dr. Rudolph A. Koss, acquired his medical education in the university of Heidelberg but practiced medicine for only a short time after coming to the United States. He was a man of splendid literary qualities and wrote for the Herold.
Rudolph M. Koss, whose name introduces this review, acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the Milwaukee high school. Later he attended the Spencerian College and after the completion of his commercial course he became identified with the Charles Kiewert Company, manufacturers of brewers' supplies. He traveled as a salesman for this firm for about twenty-five years-a fact indicative of his faithfulness, reliability and the large amount of business which he built up for the house. In 1901, in company with his brothers, Charles and Herman Koss, he began dealing in brewers' supplies, with offices and storage warehouse on West Water street, and continued in the business with marked success to the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th of October, 1916. He was vice president of the company at the time of his demise and from the establishment of the business bent his energies to administrative direction and executive control. The wide acquaintance which he had formed during the period of his service as a traveling salesman enabled him to secure many patrons all over this part of the country.
In the year 1902 Mr. Koss was married to Miss Selma Parpart, a daughter of Albert and Augusta (Weiser) Parpart, who were natives of Germany and came to Milwaukee in 1873, her father here passing away thirty years later or in 1903.
In his political views Mr. Koss was always a stalwart republican. He belonged to the Turnverein and was very popular in that society. He was also a member of the Calumet Club and he held membership in the Wisconsin Club and the Old Settlers Club. He likewise belonged to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and was ever loyal to any cause which he espoused. He enjoyed a national reputation as a skat player and for many years was a prominent member of the Skat League, participating in many state and national tournaments and enjoying an enviable record. The interests and experiences of his life were broad and varied. In young manhood he tramped all the way to California and return, carrying his pack upon his back, sleeping out and roughing it all the way for the purpose of gaining more knowledge con- cerning the country. In later years he and his wife made many trips to Europe and had planned another trip for the year 1916, when death intervened. Mr. Koss through his business connections as vice president and secretary of the Charles Koss &
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Brothers Company was also most widely known and has been greatly missed by his many friends in the brewing business throughout the northwest-men upon whom he had called regularly for the past quarter of a century and who always gladly welcomed him by the name of "Rudie." He was a congenial companion, possessing a happy, sunshiny disposition, and wherever he went won friends who eagerly looked forward to a return visit from him.
ARNOLD DREXEL, M. D.
Dr. Arnold Drexel, a dermatologist of marked capability, practicing in the Brumder building in Milwaukee, was born in the town of Allenton, in Washington county, Wis- consin, October 28, 1863, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis J. Drexel, who were natives of the Tyrol, Austria. The father died in the year 1898, at the age of eighty- three years, while the mother passed away at the age of seventy-four. In their family were seven sons, five of whom are living, and two of these are residents of Milwaukee: Dr. Arnold Drexel; and Frank B. Drexel, connected with a wholesale drng firm. One of the brothers entered the priesthood, this being Rev, Leopold Drexel, now in charge of the Catholic church at Fox Lake, Wisconsin. The other sons of the family are Edward and Joseph.
Dr. Arnold Drexel, having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, qualified for his chosen calling as a student in the University of Buffalo at Buffalo, New York, and gradnated in 1889. He afterward practiced for a year in the Empire state and later he pursued postgraduate work in the New York Polyclinic, thereby gaining added knowledge in preparation for the responsible duties that devolve upon him in his professional capacity. When he had completed his studies in the eastern metropolis he came to Milwaukee in 1890 and here he has been in active practice throughout the intervening period of almost a third of a century. For some time he engaged in general practice hut during the past eleven years has confined his attention to skin diseases and is recognized as one of the foremost dermatologists of this state. For five years he was professor of skin diseases in the old Milwaukee Medical College. In 1910 he went abroad and did postgraduate work in dermatology in Vienna, where he attended varions hospitals and took private courses in skin diseases, while subsequently he became professor of dermatology in the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons and still later was instructor in dermatology in the Marquette Medical College. He is now serving on the staffs of St. Joseph's Hospital and the Deaconess Hospital of this city and is dermatologist to the Amelianns Orphan Asylum at St. Francis, Wisconsin. He has membership in the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
On the 15th of September, 1904, Dr. Drexel was married to Miss Bertha Pieper of Milwaukee and they have two children, Carl F. and Marion E. He finds his recrea- tion in the summer months in fishing, and rural life, but his professional duties make heavy demands upon his time and energy and he allows nothing to interfere with the obligations that devolve upon him as a member of the medical profession.
CHARLES A. GRANGER.
Milwaukee numbers among her well known citizens, Charles A. Granger, sales agent for the Lehigh Valley Coal Sales Company, with headquarters at 425 East Water street. He is the city's son by adoption, his birth having occurred on the 26th of April, 1875, at Watson, Illinois, and he is a direct descendent, in the ninth generation, of Launcelot Granger, who came to America from England in 1647 and who died and was buried at Suffield, Connecticut, in September, 1689.
His father, James C. Granger, now living retired at Mondovi, Wisconsin, is a native of Nunda, Illinois, his birth occurring in 1844, and he is a son of Augustus Granger. James C. Granger served in the Union army during a part of the Civil war, and several members of the Granger family were engaged in the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject was, before her marriage, Mary MacDonald, a daughter of John MacDonald, of Edgewood, Illinois. She passed away in 1918.
Charles A. Granger received his education in the schools of Robinson, Illinois, until 1882, when he removed with his parents to Janesville, Wisconsin, and, entering the schools there, continued his education, which was completed in the schools of Mil- waukee, to which city he removed in 1888.
After leaving school, Mr. Granger entered the telegraph department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad as clerk and served in various other capacities for nine or ten years, when his faithfulness and the conscientious performance of every duty assigned him, won him promotion to the terminal department as chief clerk.
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For ten years he had charge of the terminal work in Milwaukee, but in 1910 he severed his relations with the railroad and associated with his present company as traffic manager. His promotion with this company was also rapid, and on the 1st of January, 1919, he was made sales agent, the position he now holds. The company handles anthracite coal at wholesale and distributes it through Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and part of Nebraska.
Mr. Granger was married on the 24th of January, 1900, to Miss Grace E. Wood, a daughter of James H. Wood, a well known real estate owner of Milwaukee. He was a native of the city and a son of William Wood, who was born in England and came to the United States, locating in Milwaukee about 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Granger have one child, Marjorie, born February 10, 1901. She is an accomplished young woman of charming personality. For a year prior to her marriage on June 25, 1921, to John M. Laflin, son of Herbert N. Laflin, of Milwaukee, she attended Chevy Chase School at Washington, D. C. Her preliminary education was received in the Milwaukee Normal School and Milwaukee Downer Seminary.
Mr. Granger gives his support to the republican party but has never taken an active interest in political affairs. He is a consistent member of St. Mark's Episcopal church and influential in that congregation, having served many years as vestryman and as superintendent of the church school. Since the age of eight years he has sung in various church choirs and for the past nine years has been a member of the St. Mark's choir.
Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Kenwood Lodge No. 303, F. & A. M., and to Kenwood Chapter No. 90, R. A. M. He is a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, in which latter organization he was chairman of the transportation committee for one year and a member for several years. He has been an active participant in the transporta- tion affairs of Milwaukee for a considerable period of time.
Upon the entrance of the United States into the World war, Mr. Granger sub- ordinated his personal interests and gave unselfishly of his time to the promotion of various kinds of war work. He holds a certificate for public service issued to him by the war finance central committee. Mrs. Granger was block captain during the drives and took a very active part in Red Cross work.
Going out into the business world at an early age, he learned his lessons in the school of experience, and the success he has attained is the result of his own effort, intelligently directed. He has many friends throughout the city who recognize him as a man of genuine worth, and who vouch for the hospitality to he found in liis home at 782 Hackett avenue.
HENRY FRANK TRESTER.
Henry Frank Trester, one of Milwaukee's native sons and a leading citizen, is prominently identified with business affairs as president of the Trester Service Electric Company at 47 Oneida street. He was born on the 18th of June, 1872, a son of Frederick and Helen (Agenten) Trester. The father is a native of Ehrenbreitstein, Germany, from which place he came to this country with his mother when but a child. He is still living in Milwaukee, where he was engaged as cigar manufacturer and tobacco dealer for some years but is now living retired. Mrs. Trester passed away in 1884 at the age of thirty-nine years. She was born in Sheboygan, this state, the daughter of a farmer, well known throughout the community in which he lived.
Henry Frank Trester received his education in the schools of Milwaukee until he was twelve years of age, when he secured work as a painter's apprentice and re- mained in that connection for two years. The next two years he engaged in the steamfitting business as helper and then became associated with the Johnson Service Company in the construction department, assisting in the regulating of temperature. He was with that company ten years and during that time so clearly demonstrated his ahility that he was constantly promoted until he reached the position of superintendent of the Detroit branch, where he was stationed for the last fourteen months of his connection with the company. He then returned to Milwaukee and for a year and a half had charge of the electrical work in the Pabst building, subsequently re- signing that position to hecome electrical construction man for the Keelyn Electric Company. In 1909 he started in business on his own account and with William Sorgel engaged in electrical construction, repairing electrical apparatus under the firm name of Trester & Sorgel. The success of the business seemed assured from the start, and in 1916 Mr. Trester hought out his partner, changing the name of the firm to the Trester Service Electric Company. The business is incorporated and although it does considerahle work outside of the state it is for the most part confined to Wisconsin. Mr. Trester does not hesitate to extend his interests as opportunity offers, for his
HENRY F. TRENTER
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initiative spirit and keen insight enable him to carry out his projects to successful completion.
On the 30th of September, 1893, occurred the marriage of Mr. Trester and Miss Bertha Freitag, a daughter of Frederick Freitag of Milwaukee, superintendent of the Fette & Myer Coal Company. He was born in Germany and came to this country accompanied by his wife in 1870. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Trester five children have been born: Helen, now the wife of Harry Andert of Milwaukee, a salesman, and they have one daughter, Grace; Florence, who is associated with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company; Gertrude and Clara, attending the Riverside high school; and Richard H. Mrs. Trester is a woman of magnetic and charming personality and has many friends in the community. She takes a prominent and active part in the club and social circles of Milwaukee, is past grand of the Rebekahs, and her stanch support may always be counted upon in promoting any movement which she deems of importance to the general welfare.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Trester the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party but has never had any desire for political preferment. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, being a member of Kenwood Lodge, No. 303, of Milwaukee; Kilbourn Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M .; Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1, K. T. and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a Scottish Rite Mason, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree. The other affiliations of Mr. Trester are with Milwaukee Lodge, No. 46, B. P. O. E .; Wisconsin Lodge, No. 1. K. P .; and he is past grand of Taylor Lodge, No. 173, I. O. O. F. His interest in the welfare and progress of his city is indicated by his membership in the Association of Commerce being on the committee of public affairs, and his social connections are with the Calumet Club and the Kiwanis Club. In addition to the conduct of his own business he is secretary and director of the Milwaukee Gear Company, being a domi- nant factor in the continued advancement and growth of that concern. His fad is working out ideas along mechanical and electrical lines. For forty-nine years he has resided in Milwaukee and has seen the work of progress and development carried steadily forward. For many years he lived in a frame building at 225 Grand avenue, the house standing on posts, but now makes his home at 786 Cramer street. His worth as a man and a citizen is widely acknowledged, for he measures up to high standards. The sterling traits of his character are many and all with whom he comes in contact speak of him in terms of warm regard.
JOHN G. HEINL.
John G. Heinl, prominently connected with automobile body manufacturing in Mil- waukee, was born in this city June 22, 1863, and is a son of Joseph Heinl, who was long well known here as a manufacturer of carriages, buggies, sleighs and machinery for mills, tanneries and shipwork, his plant being situated at Nos. 717-719 North Water street. Joseph Heinl was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 2d of December, 1830, and was a young man in his twenty-second year when he came to America in 1852. He settled first in New Jersey hut in 1855 removed to Milwaukee and was employed by the railroad company at joiner's work until 1866. During this period he had care- fully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to engage in business on his own account. He then began manufacturing the line indicated above and in the course of time developed an important industry, giving employment to about a score of men. He remained a factor in the industrial activity of the city until his death, which occurred in 1897.
John G. Heinl pursued his education in St. Mary's parochial school and in 1875, when a lad of but twelve years, entered his father's shop and there learned the trade of carriage and wagon making. He has continued along this and similar lines to the present time, the business having been somewhat transformed to meet the changing conditions of the age, for today the company no longer engages in the manufacture of carriages, buggies, sleighs, etc., but in the building of commercial auto bodies and also conducts a general repairing and painting business. Their plant is well equipped and their trade is of substantial character. John G. Heinl is now the president of the company and as such bends his efforts to administrative direction and executive control.
In 1890 Mr. Heinl was married to Miss Marie Casper, a daughter of William Casper, one of the pioneer settlers of Milwaukee, and they have become the parents of one child, Edna. John G. Heinl and his family are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus and also with the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.
George C. Heinl, brother of John G. Heinl and also his associate in the business of manufacturing auto bodies, was born in Milwaukee in 1861. He, like his brother, obtained his education in the parochial schools and received his business training under his father's direction, gaining thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the building
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of carriages and buggies and of the painting trade as well. In time the two brothers became interested in their father's business as part owners and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the plant, which is now devoted to the building of commercial automobile bodies, while a painting and repair department is also maintained. George C. Heinl is the secretary and treasurer of the company.
In the year 1891 George C. HeinI was married to Miss Catherine Weiand, a daughter of Nicholas Weiand, one of the early residents of Milwaukee. They now have a family of three children: Josela, George and Charles.
Mr. Heinl belongs to the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and his religious faith is indicated in the fact that he is a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic church. The brothers represent one of the old and well known families of the city and for about a half century they have been associated closely with the industrial development and progress here.
WILLIAM E. BURKE.
William E. Burke has engaged in law practice in Milwaukee during the past twenty-three years and enjoys an enviable reputation as an attorney of ability and power. His birth occurred in the village of Richwood, Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 25th of May, 1874, his parents heing John and Mary (Nolan) Burke, both of whom were natives of Ireland and are now deceased. They emigrated to the United States about the year 1850, settling in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the father devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits.
William E. Burke was reared on a farm and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. Subsequently he hecame an instructor in a country school hut regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, having determined to make the practice of law his life work. With this end in view he matriculated in the Northern Illinois College of Law at Dixon, Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1898, while the same year he was admitted to practice at the Wis- consin har. He at once opened an office in Milwaukee and later became associated with his brother, Frank P. Burke, under the firm style of Burke & Burke, a relation that was maintained for about three years. At the end of that time the firm hecame Burke, Alexander & Burke and William E. Burke practiced his profession as a member thereof until 1912, since which year he has been alone. His fidelity to the interests of his clients is proverbial, yet he never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. His diligence and energy in the preparation of his cases, as well as the earnestness, tenacity and courage with which he defends the right, as he understands it, challenge the highest admiration of his associates. He invariably seeks to present his argument in the strong, clear light of common reason and sound logical principle.
On the 15th of February, 1906, Mr. Burke was united in marriage to Miss Gene- vieve Hickey of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of three children: Mary, Ruth and June. Fraternally Mr. Burke is identified with the Knights of Columbus. He commands the respect of his professional colleagues and contemporaries and in social circles inspires personal friendships of unusual strength, by reason of his many good qualities of heart and mind.
CHRISTIAN GLAUS.
Christian Glaus, active in the financial circles of Milwaukee and enjoying a most creditable and enviable record hy reason of the success which he has attained in the upbuilding and promotion of the Wisconsin State Bank, of which he is the president, was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, June 12, 1868, and is a son of Kasper and Magdelina (Bodimer) Glaus, hoth of whom were natives of the land of the Alps. The father was a school teacher in his native country and both he and his wife passed away there.
Christian Glaus was educated in the public schools and in the Agricultural and Dairy School in Ruetti, near Bern. He was there graduated in 1891, receiving a diploma in recognition of work completed. He afterward went to Zurich, Switzerland, where he occupied the position of foreman in a dairy but in 1892, thinking to hetter his opportunities in the new world, he sailed for America and landed at New York. He did not tarry in the eastern metropolis, however, hut made his way directly west- ward and hecame a resident of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, where he had charge of a cheese and butter factory, remaining in that position for several months during the cheese manufacturing season. He next accepted the management of a butter factory at Muskego Center, Wisconsin, where he continued for about a year. He then entered
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upon a partnership relation as proprietor of a butter factory at Tess Corners and continued successfully in the business there for several years. A few years later several other factories were added to the business and Mr. Glaus became sole proprietor, managing and directing the enterprise with notahle success. He continued in the business for about twenty-two years and contributed in large measure to the splendid reputation which Wisconsin enjoys as a dairy state. He finally sold his creameries, however, and hecame one of the organizers of the Wisconsin State Bank, which opened its doors for business on the 1st of May, 1912. He was elected the first president of the bank and has since devoted his entire time and attention to the upbuilding of the institution, which has enjoyed steady growth from the beginning. The bank started with a capital of seventy-five thousand dollars and a surplus of seventy-five hundred dollars. Today the capital stock is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the surplus amounts to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The hank is located at 508 Eleventh avenue, where they occupy a nice building with modern equipment and a new bank building is now being erected on Eleventh 'avenue and Greenfield, with dimensions fifty by eighty feet. This is to be exclusively a banking building of the most modern type. The Wisconsin State Bank has enjoyed a wonderful growth since its organization and the new quarters were needed to accommodate the constantly increasing business.
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