USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 68
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Politically Mr. Otjen is a republican, and prominently known as such throughout the state. His party has honored him frequently by electing him to office. Before the annexation of the village of Bay View to the city he served as village attorney and later represented the Seventeenth ward in the common council of Milwaukee for three successive terms. He was leader among the republican members of the council. He was elected to congress in 1894 and was reelected for six successive terms. Prior to his election to congress the dictrict had heen democratic, returning such men as Senator John L. Mitchell and former Mayor P. J. Summers.
While a member of the common council Mr. Otjen secured the passage of the bill which has made possible the beautiful park system of the city of Milwaukee. Governor Hoard was about to veto the bill because he feared the great expense of the project but he was finally induced to sign it by Mr. Otjen, which fact Gov. Hoard recalled a few years ago in a letter to Mr. Otjen. This work on his part secured for Milwaukee the means of obtaining all its present parks excepting Juneau Park, and stands as a monument to Mr. Otjen's efforts and devotion to public service.
As chairman of the legislative committee of the council he was instrumental in securing the passage of the law authorizing the erection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Museum building, and was a member of the committee that chose the plan of the present building. He also aided in securing for the police and firemen the first aw to give them a pension for injuries sustained in line of duty. As a representative of the council he was on the library and museum board for eight years.
While in congress Mr. Otjen secured appropriations for his district exceeding $1,857,887.00. The government breakwater, which creates the harbor of refuge in Milwaukee's outer harbor, had been commenced before Mr. Otjen went to congress but was being neglected and no steps were being taken to complete it. One of his first acts in congress was to secure the required money to complete this breakwater and to extend it for one thousand feet. He also secured the first appropriation for federal government aid in dredging and establishing turning basins in the inner harbor and thereby committed the federal government to a new policy of assisting municipalities in improving their inner harbors. Prior to this the federal government had confined its aid to outer harbor work exclusively.
He secured the appropriation for and the establishment of the United States light- honse depot at Milwaukee, which is the headquarters for all lighthouse work carried on by the federal government on Lake Michigan.
Speaker Reed appointed Mr. Otjen a member of the United States Industrial Com- mission, which commission gathered data from all parts of the United States in regard to the industrial situation of the country and made a voluminous and valuable report to congress, which was the basis of subsequent industrial legislation.
Mr. Otjen is entitled to the credit for the establishment of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Illinois. It was he who originally introduced in congress the bill to establish a naval training station on the Great Lakes similar to the two training stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards. The records of congress conclusively show that he fathered the project and fought for it single- handed through various congresses until he secured an appropriation and the ap- pointment of a board to study the available sites for such a station. This board's report reached congress on December 13, 1902, and recommended that a naval training station be located on the west shore of Lake Michigan, south of Sheboygan, at a cost of two hundred and fifty thousand dollar. Following this report Mr. Otjen took up the fight again, and on April 27, 1904 (Fifty-eighth congress) his work succeeded,-
a law heing enacted creating a board to locate a station and appropriating the money for its establishment. The recorded facts contained in the official records of congress are so clear and so direct that Mr. Otjen's right cannot be questioned to the credit for the establishment of this station. which during the late war became the largest and most prominent naval training station in this country.
During his congressional career Mr. Otjen appointed men to Annapolis and West Point, who made wonderful records during the last war. Among them were Gen. Arthur McArthur, who was a member of Gen. Pershing's staff and then a brigadier general, and who is now in command of West Point; Lieutenant Commander Haislip, U. S. N., who became a hero off the coast of France by driving his boat between burning ships, which were loaded with explosives and rescuing a large number of the sailors, for which act he received various foreign as well as American decorations. Mr. Otjen was a member of the celebrated Taft party which visited Japan, China and the Philip- pines in 1905.
In 1914 the administration of the city proposed to establish an extravagant sewerage disposal system. Mr. Otjen saw the danger to the city if this plan was carried out and with the support of the civic societies of the south side started a fight before the legislature to stop it. Realizing that the citizens did not fully understand Vol. II-42
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the situation, Mr. Otjen ran for mayor for the purpose of calling the voters' attention to the problem. Although he was not elected, his work resulted in educating the com- munity to the danger of the plan, which in turn resulted in the adoption of a very much modified plan closely following along the lines suggested by Mr. Otjen. These plans were to establish a sewerage disposal plant on Jones Island, so that the same might not be obnoxious to any of the residential sections of the city, and that before any practical plan of sewerage disposal be adopted engineers in the employ of the city experiment with the various methods to determine the one best suited to Milwaukee's needs. The wisdom of this plan has been proven. The experiments have determined positively that the plan urged upon the city originally was not adequate or scien- tifically proper, and to have adopted it would have meant the waste of millions of dollars of public money. A system has been developed which will be efficient and which is being installed upon Jones Island at a great saving over the other plans which were proposed. Mr. Otjen's service in this connection means a saving of several millions of dollars to the city of Milwaukee.
Since leaving the public service, Mr. Otjen has continued to be interested in public matters and to help in the development of his community. The location of South Shore Park was primarily due to his efforts. He, assisted by Col. Dan B. Starkey, secured for the public the great bulk of that park, even to advancing money to enable the park board to secure the lands. He has done much to help in the development of Bay View, which is the community in which he lives, and there has been no important undertaking there in which he has not taken an active and leading part. He was one of the leaders in securing the erection of the building owned by Lake Lodge-the first blue lodge in Milwaukee to own its own building. He was active in securing the location of Humboldt Park. It was through his efforts that the Llewellyn family were induced to dedicate the site for the Llewellyn Public Library. He was active in securing the location of the Bay View high school and increasing the land for that building. For twelve years he was president of the South Division Civic Asso- ciation and actively led the affairs of the organization, which did so much to secure the separation of street grades and the elevation of railroad tracks on the south side.
During the war Mr. Otjen was chairman of the local draft board and led public spirit in that community, so that every group of boys that left for service was given a banquet and rousing farewell.
For twenty years Mr. Otjen has been trustee of Lawrence College at Appleton. He has been a member of the Milwaukee Sane Fourth Commission from its organiza- tion. Mr. Otjen's life has been one of active, unselfish devotion and service to his locality and country and he is now receiving the respect and honor that naturally flow from a life so spent.
WILLIAM JEROME CRONYN, M. D. LL. B.
".Dr. William Jerome Cronyn, a distinguished representative of the medical pro- fession, whose contribution to scientific achievement in the world's work was real and valuable, was born in Tecumseh, in the province of Ontario, Canada, November 15, 1848, a son of Robert and Margaret Cronyn. In the history of Ireland as far back as the Cronyn family can be traced it was always opposed to England and English rule. David Cronyn, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Cronyn, was a large land owner in County Cork, Ireland, and his son Robert, father of Dr. Cronyn, was a graduate of Dublin University. a fine classical scholar and a Scottish Rite Mason. His widow, Margaret Cronyn, was a native of Bandon, Ireland, and died in Ontario, Canada, in 1882.
William Jerome Cronyn was educated in the monks' schools of his native province. In 1864, at fifteen years of age, he enlisted in Company A, Thirtieth Michigan Infantry, in which he served until honorably' discharged at the close of the war. In 1867 he commenced to read medicine with his uncle, Professor John Cronyn, later president for many years of Niagara University, and entered the medical department of the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated in 1870. His diploma bears the signature of ex-President Millard Fillmore as chancellor
Dr. Cronyn practiced medicine in Dunkirk, New York, and was health com- missioner of that port when the American flag was fired upon by a Spanish gunboat in 1873 and Captain Ryan and his filibusters were captured and shot in Cuba, in what is known as the Virginius affair. War seemed inevitable and Dr. Cronyn volunteered for the navy. Passing his examination at Washington, he was assigned to duty at the Boston navy yard. While there he attended lectures at Harvard University. In 1874 he was ordered to the Naval Hospital at Norfolk, Virginia, and thence transferred to the Annapolis Naval Academy and assigned to duty on the United States frigate Con- stellation. He was next ordered to Florida and for some months had full medical charge of the iron clad fleet off Pensacola, Florida, in 1875 and 1876. Returning to
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Dunkirk in 1876 Dr. Cronyn established and edited the Dunkirk Tribune for one year. In politics he was a republican and served as a member of the common council there, as a member of the board of education, as supervisor and as delegate to county and state conventions. He also served as secretary and treasurer of the C'hautanqua County Medical Society and was chairman of the board of censors of that body. He became interested in Masonry at that place and was initiated into Dunkirk Lodge, No. 767, A. F. & A. M., and attained the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry in Rochester Consistory. He was likewise a member of Ismalia Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Buffalo, New York, and became an honorary thirty-third degree Mason, in recognition of splendid service rendered to the order. He was also elected the first commander of Stevens Post, G. A. R., in Dunkirk and during 1885 was surgeon general of the New York department of the Grand Army of the Republic, while in 1886 he received appointment of aide-de-camp on the national staff under Commander-in-chief Burdette. The next year he was commissioned as aid to General Fairchild, (Wis.) commander-in-chief.
Dr. Cronyn was twice married. His first marriage, to Miss Jennie Finkel of Dunkirk, took place in 1871. She died in 1873, leaving a son who passed away in 1874. In 1893 Dr. Cronyn was married to Levara C. Cate, a daughter of Judge George W. Cate, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, a native of Vermont and of Revolutionary war ancestry. In the summer of 1893 Dr. Cronyn took up his residence in Milwaukee.
Although throughout his life Dr. Cronyn gave unremitting study to the science of medicine and achieved an enviable standing in his profession, his mind inclined strongly toward military matters and he felt a lively interest in the National Guard and its destiny in case of war. In 1895, having entered the Light Horse Squadron the previous year as a private, he was commissioned by Governor Upham as captain and assistant surgeon in the National Guard and assigned to duty in Troop A, First Wis- consin Cavalry, previously known as the Light Horse Squadron by General Charles King. Dr. Cronyn was an earnest advocate of preparedness and was tireless in his efforts to awaken the personnel of the state guard to a realization that it was at any time likely to he called upon to defend home and country. His prophecy was unpopular but time has shown the clarity of his vision. Some years ago congress presented a bronze medal, bearing the bust of Lincoln in relief, to all Civil war veterans serving in the National Guard. One medal only came to Wisconsin and that to Dr. Cronyn. He possessed also the state medal for long and faithful service, the G. A. R. badge and the decoration of the Association of Military Surgeons. In 1911 he was appointed to serve as aid on the staff of Governor Francis E. McGovern with the rank of colonel.
At the commencement exercises of the Milwaukee Medical College on the Ist of June, 1906, Dr. Cronyn, a member of the faculty, in an after dinner address advanced the idea that Marquette College and the Milwaukee Medical College unite to form a University. The proposition was well received and loudly cheered. There were obstacles. It was necessary to have the legislature enact a law granting the college university powers. It was necessary to submit the plan to the provincial of the order of Jesuits in St. Louis and likewise to the general of the order at Rome, but at last all obstacles were brushed away and the union was effected, while less than a year from the time of Dr. Cronyn's inspiration a class was graduated from Marquette Uni- versity. Dr. Cronyn lectured in the medical college from 1903 to 1907 and continued with Marquette University until his death, giving his last lecture on the last day he was able to be away from his home. His subjects were Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Military Hygiene. Dr. Cronyn was graduated from the law department of Marquette in June, 1908, having previously heen a student in the old Milwaukee Law school.
In 1901 Dr. Cronyn was appointed house physician of the Hotel Plankinton by William Plankinton and remained in that capacity until the historic hostelry was razed in 1916. In 1902 the Doctor became surgeon with the Wisconsin Central Railroad and served for a long term of years.
On the declaration of a state of war by congress in 1917, Dr. Cronyn was restored to the active list of the National Guard and was busy to the limit of his strength with the draft, making patriotic addresses and assisting with parades, etc. In this connection it may be noted that Dr. Cronyn rode in the great parades that were organized in the early days of the Grand Army of the Republic, one during the national encampment in San Francisco in 1886 and another in Washington at the time of the inauguration of President Harrison in 1889. In Milwaukee he participated in the Semi-Centennial parade of 1895, Home Coming parade of 1909, the Sane Fourth parade of 1913, the Perry Centennial in 1913, Memorial Day in 1914 and many others, often acting as chief marshal. The Doctor was a notable horseman and his commanding figure impressed all who witnessed the Liberty Loan parade a few months before his death, which occurred on the 20th day of February, 1918.
At the time of his demise Dr. Cronyn was president of the General Pershing Chap- ter, Wisconsin Loyal Legion of the second and fourth wards. He was a member of E. B. Wolcott Post. G. A. R., and had been president for many years of the union
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pension board of pension examiners. He was likewise long a member of the Milwau- kee County Medical Society and was a member of the council of the Boy Scouts of America and next to his love for the flag came his enthusiasm and belief in that move- ment. Dr. Cronyn was a man of striking personality, very handsome, with black hair and Irish hlue eyes. Loyalty was his strongest characteristic, loyalty to country, friends and family. A man of hroad culture, a lover of the best literature in prose and poetry, a fine practitioner, a courteous gentleman and above all a stanch patriot-American to the core.
H. A. DIGMAN.
H. A. Digman, cashier of the Wauwatosa State Bank, was born in a logging camp near Wausau, Wisconsin, March 14, 1886, and is a son of Hubert and Mary (Sporleder) Digman. The father was a native of Minnesota and the mother of Milwau- kee and the father engaged in the logging business in early life, but for about thirty years has been a resident of Wauwatosa.
The son, Henry A. Digman, attended the Wauwatosa schools from kindergarten days on through high school and never missed a day's attendance in that time-a most unusual record for a pupil. He was employed in the First Wisconsin National Bank soon after leaving school and filled various capacities in that institution, being in the office of assistant auditor of the bank when be resigned after twenty years of service given thereto and again he has a notable record of never missing a day in all that period. In July, 1920, he organized the Wauwatosa State Bank, selling most of the stock and hecoming cashier at the time the hank was opened. The institution is enjoying remarkable progress, having close to a half million dollars in deposits. In 1920 he was president of the Milwaukee chapter of the American Institute of Banking, the national organization of the American Institute of Banking being a hranch of the American Bankers Association. He attended the bankers convention held in San Francisco and also in New Orleans. His entire business career has been spent in connection with the hanking business and he well deserves the place which he has attained in financial circles. He is likewise on the board of directors of the Midland Casualty Company of Milwaukee and of Chicago.
On the 16th of June, 1908, Mr. Digman was married to Miss Erna Eriksen of Wau watosa, and they have become parents of five children: Donald, Raymond, Lois, Arthur and Ralph.
Mr. Digman has always been greatly interested in military affairs and at the present time holds the commission of captain of infantry in the Wisconsin National Guard. He has held other commissions and he organized the last National Guard Company of Milwaukee, which was the last one mustered into service. He has heen considered an authority on military affairs in this section of the country and has acted as judge during military week at St. John's Military Academy, this week con- stituting a part of the commencement exercises of the school. Mr. Digman belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a loyal follower of the teachings and purposes of the craft. He belongs to and is a trustee of the Underwood Memorial Baptist church. He organized and was the first president of the Wisconsin National Bank Employes Association. He has acted as toastmaster on many unusual occasions, one of the most unique of these heing at the hanquet held at the consolidation of the First National and Wisconsin National Banks in Milwaukee. He is always ready with a word-and the right word. He possesses tact, wit and humor and always seems to have an apt illustration. These qualities make him an ideal toastmaster and through his exten- sive social connections, as well as in business circles, Mr. Digman has become one of the most popular young men of Milwaukee county.
ALBERT H. MACHLEITH, M. D.
This is an age of specialization. The tendency is toward the attainment of perfec- tion along a given line rather than mediocre accomplishment in a broad field. The advantage of such a system is no more clearly shown in any line of business or pro- fession than in the practice of medicine and surgery, where men have developed their powers to a high point of efficiency withont attempting to cover the entire scope of medical practice. In accordance with this modern-day method Dr. Albert H. Machleith limits his attention to diseases of the stomach and has become recognized as an authority upon this branch, while his writings on the subject have made him known from coast to coast.
Dr. Machleith is a native of Thiensville, Wisconsin, born March 8, 1874. His father, Henry Machleith, a native of Saxony, Germany, came to Wisconsin with his
H. A. DIGMAN
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parents when a youth of eighteen years, arriving in 1854. He was a son of Phillip Machleith, also a native of Saxony, and a piano-maker by trade. Henry Machleith became a carpenter contractor and during the Civil war was at the front with the Wis- consin troops. He married Therese Ehley, who was born in Ozaukee county, Wiscon- sin, a daughter of Adam Ehley, a native of Germany and a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Machleith passed away in the year 1909, while Henry Machleith survived his wife to 1913.
In the Mequon public schools Dr. Machleith acquired his early education and after- ward attended the Lake Forest ( Ill.) Academy, while subsequently he prepared for his professional career as a student in the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons, which has since become the Milwaukee Medical College, being graduated therefrom in 1896 with the M. D. degree. He then began practice in Milwaukee, where he has re- mained and as the years have passed he has concentrated his attention more and more largely upon diseases of the stomach, until he now gives his entire time to practice of that character. He is the author of several treatises pertaining to the stomach, which have appeared in various medical journals and he is the originator of what is known as Dr. Machleith's Immunity Secretion-a contribution of great value to the medical profession.
On the 23d of October. 1898, Dr. Machleith was united in marriage to Miss Mary Gabriels, a danghter of John Gabriels, a cooper of Milwaukee, who was born in Germany. Dr. and Mrs. Machleith have three children: Leonarda, the wife of William Prescott Allen, manager for the Daily News of Little Rock, Arkansas, and they have one child, William Prescott Allen, Jr .; Aloysius, who is studying pharmacy in Milwaukee; and Irene, a pupil in the Holy Angels' Academy.
Politically Dr. Machleith has always maintained an independent course. In re- ligious faith he is a Catholic, belonging to Gesu parish. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. A lover of music and of art, he is a violin player of considerable ability, having studied under most capable masters. His interest in art is manifest in the many beautiful art works which adorn his home and which he has bought from all parts of the United States. He has specialized in religious paintings, especially the works of the old masters. His home collection is very complete and valuable. He is likewise a possessor of a fine library, containing many scientific works and he devotes much time to medical research work, giving lectures in his own Health- torium, an auditorium in which the gospel of health is preached. His interest in the welfare of humankind is thus manifest. This might be regarded as poor business policy on the part of Dr. Machleith but at all times he is actuated by a spirit of helpfulness and humanitarianism that prompts him to do the utmost possible for his fellowmen and thus he is constantly endeavoring to spread the gospel of health and happiness in obedience to the laws of nature and right living.
JOSEPH T. STEINER.
Joseph T. Steiner, of the firm of J. & M. Steiner, wholesale grocers of Milwaukee, was born in Albtal, near Einzittel, Switzerland, December 29, 1866. He was a son of Martin Steiner, who passed away in 1893. The father was born in the same Swiss town as the son and came to the United States in 1875 with his family, settling at once in Milwaukee. He was employed for a time in a tannery and then established a milk business. In 1877 he removed with his family to Centralia, now Little Wisconsin, Wisconsin, and settled on a farm. Following his death his family returned to Mil- waukee. He was one of the aldermen and also held other local offices. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Marie Waldvogel, was also born in Albtal, Switzerland, and surviving her husband for almost two decades, she passed away in 1912.
Joseph T. Steiner was educated in the St. Francis school at Milwaukee and after- ward accompanied his parents on their removal to the farm. He returned to this city, however, in 1883 and continued his education in the evening schools. He started out in the business world here in his uncle's grocery store, in which he was employed as a general clerk and salesman until 1891. In that year he embarked in the commission business on his own account in connection with his brother, Melchoir Steiner, organiz- ing the firm of J. & M. Steiner with a commission house on East Water and Martin streets. Three years later they removed to East Water and Juneau avenue, where they continued until July, 1908, and then established their business at their present location at Nos. 517 and 519 Poplar street The firm has purchased this property, which it still owns and here it conducts a wholesale grocery business, selling largely to mer- chants of this city and nearby towns. While on the farm Joseph T. Steiner held the championship over all the cranberry pickers in the Wisconsin cranberry market. He was an "all-around boy," ccoked and did almost all kinds of work ahout the farm. His general adaptability and usefulness have been among his marked characteristics,
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