USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 62
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John J. Handley was reared on the old homestead farm and largely acquired his education in the village of Horicon, near which the homestead was situated. He at- tended high school for a period of three years and later he became a pupil in a business college of Milwaukee, pursuing his studies at night sessions in 1900 and 1901. The necessity of providing for his own support caused him to leave school and begin learning the machinist's trade, which he followed for about eleven years in different cities. In 1904 he became business representative of the machinists' organization, continuing in that position until 1910. During the Seidel administration he was appointed superintendent of street sanitation and served in that capacity for two years, at the end of which time he became identified with the banking interests of the city, entering upon the position of cashier of the Union Bank at the time of its organization. For seven years he acceptably and creditably filled that office and in the meantime, or in 1912, he was elected secretary-treasurer of the Wisconsin Federation of Labor. The organization rapidly developed to such proportions as to require his entire time and attention and in 1919 he resigned his position as cashier of the Union Bank in order to concentrate his undivided efforts upon the duties of his position in connection with the Federation of Lahor. In 1918 he was appointed a member of the board of park commissioners and has since served in that capacity, rendering effective aid in advancing the interests of the park system of the city. He is well known throughout the state of Wisconsin and has been identified with the public welfare and steady development of Milwaukee for a number of years. During the period of the World war he was very active in advancing those organized interests and projects which constituted the home support of the soldiers on the western front. He was a member of the state board of United States Employment Service, the principal function of which was to find men to fill positions in order to keep up the necessary war production.
On the 5th of November, 1907, Mr. Handley was married to Miss Edith W. Jones of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of two children, Donald and Katharyn E., aged, respectively, twelve and nine years. Mr. Handley has a wide acquaintance among representative citizens of Milwaukee and the state and enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen to an unusual degree.
LEONARD E. MEYER.
Leonard E. Meyer, who has been identified with journalistic interests in Mil- waukee for the past sixteen years, is the president of the Meyer News Service Company, which was organized as a corporation in 1907 and maintains quarters at 405 Broadway. His birth occurred in Jefferson, Wisconsin, on the 22d of January, 1887, his parents being Louis J. and Minnie (Schwartz) Meyer, both natives of Germany. It was in
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the year 1880 that they came to Wisconsin and took up their abode in the city of Jefferson. The father, who followed the profession of school teaching for a number of years, is now associated with his sons in business.
Leonard E. Meyer completed a high school course at Jefferson by graduation with the class of 1904 and the following year came to Milwaukee, here turning his attention to newspaper work. He was connected with the Evening Wisconsin as state editor for about a year and subsequently spent a similar period as news editor with the Free Press. In 1907 the Meyer News Service Company was organized as a corporation, with Leonard E. Meyer as president, John L. Meyer as vice president and Erick E. Meyer as secretary and treasurer. They are editorial representatives for eighty-five trade and technical publications and operate a press clipping bureau in connection with their other business. The concern was begun by one young man with a typewriter and from small proportions has grown to one of considerable extent and importance, the services of nine employes being now utilized in large quarters at 405 Broadway. Leonard E. Meyer is a member of the Milwaukee Press Club, of which he has served as secretary since 1908.
Fraternally Mr. Meyer is identified with the Masons and belongs to all the Masonic bodies, including Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Mil- waukee Athletic Club and is fond of motoring. A young man of laudable ambition and of marked ability in his line of business, his rise has been rapid and his many friends feel no hesitancy in prophesying his continued success. His brother, Erick E. Meyer, joined the United States army for service in the World war.
ADOLPH CHRISTIAN DICK.
Adolph Christian Dick, senior member of the real estate firm of Dick & Reuteman, is a native of Milwaukee, his birth having occurred on the 28th of September, 1856, and he is a son of John C. and Margaret (Salfner) Dick. His father was born in Bavaria and came to the United States in 1846 at the age of twenty-two years. In 1847 he located in Milwaukee and here engaged in the insurance business, likewise being a notary public. He won prominence and a substantial success in that line of work and passed away in 1910 financially independent. Mrs. Dick was likewise a native of Bavaria, where her marriage occurred. She died on the 7th of May, 1917, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Adolph Christian Dick received his education in the schools of Milwaukee, attend- ing the one on Fifth street near State until he was ten years of age. At that time he enrolled in Engelmann's school, now the Milwaukee University school, and there completed his course in the required time. He made his initial step in the business world as office boy in a law office for two years and then for a like number of years was office assistant for the Fette & Haertel Coal Company. Subsequently he spent two years in the insurance office of F. W. Jacobi; the same length of time in the insur- ance office of Alexander Cohen, and in the spring of 1877, in connection with Louis Auer, engaged in the business on his own account, establishing offices in the old Second Ward Bank building. The business was conducted under the name of Dick & Auer until in 1887, when Mr. Dick withdrew and became a member of the firm of Richter, Schubert & Dick, real estate and insurance, with offices at Second and Grand avenue. At the end of five years Mr. Schubert withdrew from the firm and John G. Reuteman became a member. The three men were then active in the conduct of their business until in 1918 when the death of Mr. Richter occurred. Mr. Dick and Mr. Reuteman remained in partnership, however, and in 1920 they incorporated, Mr. Dick becoming president. They have become one of the most reliable real estate and insurance firms in the city and handle many properties and subdivisions and likewise do a large business in real estate mortgages. Mr. Dick has proved himself to be a man of keen executive ability and, being thoroughly familiar with property values, his judgment is most accurate in placing valuation upon city real estate.
On the 21st of November, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dick and Miss Annie F. Paul, a daughter of Jacob Paul of Milwaukee. Her demise occurred May 10, 1918, and came as a severe blow to her family and many friends in the city. She was the mother of two children: Martha and Gretchen. Gretchen is now the wife of Paul O. Hilmers of Milwaukee and they have two children, Doris and Dick A.
Mr. Dick supports the progressive party but has never taken a particularly active part in any but local affairs. He was at one time a candidate for the democratic nomination for state treasurer and at various times he has served as delegate to con- ventions. He was recently appointed by Governor Blaine, one of the three members of the state board of public affairs, the others being eligible by virtue of holding certain state offices. Mr. Dick was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, having membership in Richard Wagner Lodge, No. 42, in which he has served as master of finance. He is likewise a
ADOLPH C. DICK
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member of the National Union. In the club circles of Milwaukee he takes a prominent and active part, belonging to the Wisconsin and Calumet Clubs and in the line of his business maintains membership in the Real Estate Board and the Fire Underwriters, having been secretary of the latter organization for several years. In years past Mr. Dick was a great hunter but now he enjoys above all else good literature, in which he finds his greatest diversion and recreation. He is well known in this city and his home, at 2710 Highland boulevard, is always open to a circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
SYLVESTER W. KOSZEWSKI.
Sylvester W. Koszewski, a member of the civil service commission of Milwaukee and sole owner of the business conducted under the name of the Prentice Drug Com- pany at 1000 Kinnickinuic avenue, was born in Milwaukee, June 15, 1880, and is a son of Michael and Tekla (Klimek) Koszewski, both of whom were natives of Poland. In 1872, however, they came to Milwaukee, where they still reside. For a number of years the father conducted business as a merchant but is now retired.
Sylvester W. Koszewski was educated in the parochial and public schools of this city and afterward pursued a pharmaceutical course, covering a year in Marquette University. In 1911 he became actively identified with the drug business as an employe of the Spiegel Company and remained with that house for sixteen years, steadily working his way upward and acting for some time as merchandise buyer. In 1917 he purchased the store conducted under the name of the Prentice Drug Company and has remained at his present location, winning substantial success as the years have passed, by reason of his thorough understanding of the business, his earnest desire to please his customers and his thorough reliability in all trade transactions. The building which he occupies is a three story structure, one hundred and forty by thirty feet and he employs five men in the store. In addition to his drug business he is well known in banking circles, being one of the organizers and directors of the Central State Bank located at Second avenue and Mitchell street.
On the 15th of November, 1912, Mr. Koszewski was married to Miss Hattie Kubal of Milwaukee, and they are well known in the city, having an extensive circle of warm friends here. Mr. Koszewski has been quite prominent in public life. He is a member of the civil service commission, having been elected fire and police com- missioner, serving under Mayor Bading for a period of five years. In 1920 he was appointed jury commissioner for a term of two years. He has been very active in politics and is a stanch republican. He has served the city faithfully and well in all public positions and is ever loyal to all trusts reposed in him. During the World war he was active in the sale of Liberty bonds and War Savings Stamps. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Sons of Polish Pioneers. He finds his recreation in motoring and hunting but never allows these interests to interfere with the faithful performance of his duties as a public official or the careful management of his business affairs. He is regarded as one of the thoroughly reliable citizens of Milwaukee, a man of strong and commend- able purposes and his energy and enterprise have brought him prominently to the front.
JOHN G. WOLLAEGER.
John G. Wollaeger, president of the Jolin G. Wollaeger Company, automobile dealers of Milwaukee, is a native of the city in which he makes his home, his birth having occurred July 30, 1883, his parents heing Gustav and Henrietta (Thomas) Wollaeger, who were natives of Germany. The father was born in Plathe, Germany, April 6, 1836, and was a young man of twenty-one years when in 1857 he came to the new world, establishing his home in Milwaukee. For nine years he was the minister of St. Paul's Lutheran church but on account of throat trouble was obliged to give up public speaking and organized the Concordia Fire Insurance Company. For the first two years he conducted the business alone, after which he employed Frank Damkoehler as clerk. The latter is still an active member of the company. Mr. Wollaeger re- mained at the head of the business to the time of his death, which occurred in 1899. He was serving at that time as regent of the Normal School and was succeeded by his son, Gustav, in that position. He was also a prominent figure in politics in the state and served as an elector at large when Cleveland was a candidate for the presidency. On one occasion Mr. Wollaeger was urged to become the republican candidate for mayor but declined, preferring that his public service should be done as a private citizen. In church work he took a most active and helpful part and his aid and in- fluence were ever on the side of progress and improvement.
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On the 27th of August, 1867, Gustav Wollaeger was married to Miss Henrietta Thomas, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Godfried Thomas, who came from Germany to the United States in the year 1850 and settled in Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Wollaeger became the parents of seven children, namely: Lydia; Alma, the wife of August Schwarm; Paul, who resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he is engaged in the insurance business; Gustav, deceased; Emilie, the wife of Gerhart Becker, who is engaged in the tanning business in Europe; Thekla, the wife of George F. Brumder of Milwaukee; and John G.
The last named was educated in the Lutheran parochial schools and in the Mil- waukee Academy, from which he was graduated. He next entered the University of Wisconsin for the study of law and in 1906 the LL. B. degree was conferred upon him. He was then admitted to practice at the Wisconsin bar and in 1906 was admitted to practice in the United States courts. He was associated for two years in the active work of the profession with James A. Sheridan. He then engaged in the manu- facture of brass and iron beds for four years, being president of the Milwaukee Metal Bed Company, but at the end of that time sold out to the Simmons Manufacturing Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1912 he engaged in the automobile business at No. 417 Wells street, becoming distributor of the Studebaker cars. He has an excellent showroom and is planning to erect a building at Twenty-eighth street and Grand avenue. He has won very substantial success in the sale of the Studebaker cars, ranking fifth in the state in the amount of sales. He is likewise a director of the Concordia Fire Insurance Company, which was established by his father.
On the 17th of June, 1911, Mr. Wollaeger was married to Miss Florence Wharton of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of two children: Kenneth and Virginia. Mr. Wollaeger is a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, also of the Wisconsin Club and the Blue Mound Country Club. He belongs to the Sigma Chi, a college fraternity, and he was very active in all the war drives, particularly promoting the sale of Liberty bonds in the automobile division. His interests center in those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number and throughout his life he has so directed his efforts that his labors have been a potent force in Milwaukee's advancement and in the upholding of her high civic standards.
HERBERT N. LAFLIN.
Herbert N. Laflin, assistant counsel of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and vice president of the Rotary Club, is a man who in his life exemplifies the dominant spirit of the age-that spirit which is accomplishing results through well defined purpose and careful improvements of ever legitimate opportunity. Mr. Laflin is a native son of Wisconsin. His birth occurred in New Lisbon, September 23, 1869. his parents being John Warren and Ellen M. (Daniels) Laflin, the former a native of Hartford, Connecticut, while the latter was born in Boston, Massachusetts. The grand- parents in the Laflin line came from Ireland and settled in Connecticut, while later a removal was made to Wisconsin, at which time they took up their abode near Water- town, where the grandfather followed the occupation of farming. The mother's people were of an old New England family, coming from Vermont on her father's side and from Maine in the line of maternal descent. The ancestors of the Daniels family came from England in 1617 and settled at Jamestown, Virginia, but afterward removed to New England. Representatives of the family participated in the Colonial and Revolu- tionary wars and agriculture formed their chief occupation. John Warren Laflin was a soldier of the Civil war, serving throughout the period of hostilities as a member of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. When mustered out of the service he engaged in merchandising at New Lisbon, Wisconsin, and in 1872 removed to Osh- kosh, where he conducted a grocery store. In 1883 he was elected secretary of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Wisconsin and removed to Milwaukee, continuing to occupy that position for seventeen years, or until his death in 1900. He was made an honorary thirty-third degree Mason and was prominently known to the representatives of the craft throughout the country. His widow survives and still makes her home in Mil- waukee.
Herbert N. Laflin pursued his education in the public schools of Oshkosh and of Milwaukee and in the University of Wisconsin at Madison, there taking up the study of law, which he completed in 1893, the LL. B. degree being conferred upon him at that time. The same year he was admitted to the bar and located at Mineral Point, Wis- consin, where he opened an office and engaged in practice for three years, serving for one term during that time as city attorney. In 1896 he returned to Milwaukee and has since been associated with the law department of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, his position being that of assistant counsel since 1910. Through- out almost his entire professional career he has been with this company and thoroughly understands the law relating to insurance organizations and corporations in general.
HERBERT N. LAFLIN
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He belongs to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin State and American Bar Associations and is a member of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel.
On the 4th of June, 1895, Mr. Lafiin was married to Miss Etta M. Smith of Mineral Point, and they have two children: ltelen, now the wife of Frederick H. Linley of Duluth; and Jolin N., who served in the navy during the World war and is now engaged as an insurance solicitor for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany. Mr. Laflin is prominently known in many connections outside of business. He is a popular member of the City Club and of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and he be- longs also to the Rotary Club, which elected him to the vice presidency in May, 1921. He is chairman of the Voters League, a fact indicative of his deep interest in municipal welfare, prompting the most earnest effort to place the business of the city in safe, reliable hands. He is likewise a member of the Episcopal church and was deputy to the triennial national convention in 1906 and has been continued in the office. Like his father, he is extremely active in Masonic circles and has presided over most of the Masonic bodies, while the honorary thirty-third degree was conferred upon him at Buffalo, New York, in 1908, in recognition of the marked value of his service to the order. He belongs to Lafayette Lodge, No. 265, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master; to Mineral Point Chapter, R. A. M .; to Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 24, K. T., of which he is past eminent commander; and to the various Scottish Rite bodies of Milwaukee. He likewise belongs to Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine and he is a past president of the Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Dur- ing the World war period he was prevailed upon by his friends to become a candidate for congress but was defeated. He has never had political aspirations, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and civic interests out- side of politics, and steadily along both these lines he has accomplished substantial results.
JACOB H. WEBER.
Jacob H. Weber, president of the Kilbourn State Bank and president and owner of the J. H. Weber Hardware Company, belongs to that class of men in whose career there are no spectacular phases, but whose steadfastness of purpose and carefully defined plans have led to the continuous and substantial upbuilding and improvement of the city. Mr. Weber is a native son of Wisconsin, born in Sheboygan county, May 10, 1864. His parents, John and Mary (Schecher) Weber, were natives of Luxemburg, Germany, and crossed the Atlantic in 1850, making their way to Sheboygan county, where they settled on a farm, which continued to be their place of residence throughout their remaining days. Mr. Weber departed this life in 1907, while his wife passed away in 1909 and both were in their eighty-third year when called to the home beyond. Jacob H. Weher was reared on the old homestead farm, working in the fields through the summer months, while the winter seasons were devoted to study in the country schools and later in the Oshkosh Normal School, from which he graduated in 1886. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for four years and later he was employed by Michael O'Grady, a hardware merchant of Random Lake, with whom he continued for two years. In 1887 he came to Milwaukee and here engaged in carriage manufacturing under the name of the Milwaukee Buggy Company, his connection with that concern covering the period until 1895. Iu the latter year he became associated with the Chicago Carriage Company of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and was with that firm for two years when they sold out. He was afterward with the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company until it was absorbed by the International Harvester Company and he continued with the latter corporation until 1909, when he purchased what was known as the Schoeesow Hardware .Company at 2709 Fond du Lac avenue in Milwaukee. Since that time he has continued in business at the same location and has built up an extensive trade. He is today the sole owner of the busi- ness and carries a complete stock of hardware and building material, occupying a two-story and basement building, thirty-five by one hundred and six feet. Nor has he confined his attention solely to the development of his trade in this connection, for he entered the field of banking and organized the Kilbourn State Bauk in September, 1916. Of this he was elected president in 1919 and remains the executive head of the busi- ness, having in the interim served as first vice president. The bank has steadily grown, its patronage increasing year by year and is today recognized as one of the strong financial institutions of the city. Mr. Weber is keenly interested in all that pertains to business conditions and is a member of the Retail Men's Hardware Asso- ciation, of which he served three years as president. He likewise was a member of the executive committee of the State Hardware Association.
On the 25th of September, 1888, Mr. Weber was married to Miss Mary Majerus of Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, and they became parents of eight children who are living: Margaret, the wife of Frank J. Zuern of Milwaukee; Nicholas, who is in the Vol. 11-39
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store with his father, having charge of the sheet metal department; Joseph, a student in a business college; Mamie, who is an instructor in a telephone office; Anna, the wife of Clarence Runte of Milwaukee; Celia, who is with the firm of DeWolf & Com- pany; Dorothy, who is employed in her father's store; and Verna, at home. There were also two children who died in youth. The family are communicants of St. Leo's Catholic church. The two sons were in the service during the World war. Nicholas was located at. Camp Grant and went overseas in July, 1917, participating in several battles on the western front. His regiment was broken up over there, there being only abont twelve left and he was assigned to an Ohio regiment, with which he remained until after the signing of the armistice, returning home in May, 1919. The son, Joseph, was also in the service, located at Camp Custer and afterward in a South Carolina camp. He went overseas in July, 1917, and was with the regiment that broke the Hindenberg line. On the 29th of September, 1918, he was wounded by shrapnel. He was then transferred to England and placed in a hospital, where he remained until December 1, 1917, when he was sent home, arriving in New York city on the 23d of December, while in April, 1918, he reached Milwaukee.
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