USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 74
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On the 5th of October, 1898, Mr. Anger was married to Miss Adele Aude, a daughter of Fred L. Aude, one of the oldest and best known grocers of Milwaukee. He was a
ARTHUR H. ANGER
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native of Germany and died in 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Anger are the parents of one child, Janice, who is now a pupil in the West Side high school.
Mr. Anger maintains an independent course in politics nor has he ever sought political preferment. He attends the Christian Science church and he belongs to the Blue Mound Country Club, the Wisconsin Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Rotary Club, the Association of Commerce, the Milwaukee Zoological Association and the Milwaukee Art Institute. These connections indicate most clearly the nature of his interests and yet do not cover the entire scope of his activity. About 1917 he took up work for the Boy Scouts of America and was first a member of the local council, then scout commissioner and is now president of the local organization. He takes great pride and pleasure in his work, for he believes that one of the safeguards of American public is correct training of the young boys. They feel his friendly interest recognize the wisdom of his instruction and are inspired by his example. He has also been closely connected with the Centralized Budget of Philanthropies and has served on its finance board. In a word he is continually extending a helping hand where he believes his service can be of benefit to the individual and to the community, and all acknowledge that his labors have been far-reaching and resultant.
WILLIAM JAMES FLEMING, M. D.
Dr. William James Fleming has demonstrated his ability to be classed with the competent physicians and surgeons of West Allis, where for a number of years he has successfully practiced. Careful in the diagnosis of his cases, he has proven his ability to cope with many intricate problems of disease and is now accorded a large patronage. Born on a farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, November 15, 1888, he is a son of Michael and Ellen ( Murphy) Fleming, who were also natives of that county, representing old and honored pioneer families there. Michael Fleming was a farmer by occupation and died in the year 1900, at the age of forty-seven, but the mother is still living. Their family numbered seven children, five sons and two daughters, all of whom survive.
Dr. Fleming was reared on the old homestead farm to the age of thirteen years, when he became a student in the Oconomowoc high school, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1906. For three and a half years thereafter he was employed as timekeeper by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company and then followed different business pursuits until 1912, thereby earning the money that enabled him to meet the expenses of his medical course. In that year he matriculated as a student in the Marquette Medical College, from which he was graduated with his professional degree in 1916. For a year he served as interne in the Milwaukee County Hospital and in September, 1917, entered the World war, serving for two years or until August 1, 1919, holding the rank of first lieutenant and afterward of captain in the Medical Corps. During seven months of this period he was overseas, being stationed in France, and he received his discharge at Camp Grant, near Rockford, Illinois, While in the army he spent four months in the Johns Hopkins University and gained valuable knowledge through his experience there. Since his discharge from military service he has practiced at West Allis and already is well established in his profession here.
On the 18th of July, 1918, Dr. Fleming was married at Atlanta, Georgia, to Miss Dorothy Marie Lisius, a Wisconsin girl who was born at Lake Mills. They have two children: William James, born July 12, 1919; and Elaine Marie, born June 8, 1921. Dr. Fleming is fond of sports such as bowling and tennis and these give him needed recreation. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and he belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and to the Owls. He is likewise a member of the American Legion, thus maintaining his comradeship with those with whom he served during the World war,
WILLIAM PFLEGER.
Throughout his entire life William Pfleger has found from the faithful per- formance of each day's duties the courage and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day, and step by step he has advanced since making his initial start in the business world until he is now a conspicuous figure in insurance circles of Milwaukee as the president and treasurer of The Pfleger Agency. Ohio numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in the city of Cincinnati, October 19, 1875. He represents an old German family, his grandfather having been proprietor of a tannery in Germany. His father, Jacob Pfleger, was born in that country and in young man- hood came to the United States, settling first in Cincinnati, whence he removed to Milwaukee in 1876. Here he became proprietor of the Hotel Garnee, which he con-
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ducted until his death. His restaurant was one of the best in the state and he always held to the highest standards in hotel management. He won many friends in this city and among his patrons and his funeral was one of the largest ever held in Milwaukee. In early manhood he had wedded Regina Rack, who is now living at Okauchee Lake, where she is conducting the Hotel Pfleger. She, too, was born in Germany, a daughter of August Rack, who was a native of that country, whence he came with his family to the new world, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in the tailoring business. Jacob Pfleger was called to his final rest in the year 1881.
The early education of William Pfleger was acquired in Engelman's school, now the University school, and in the seventh ward public school of Milwaukee, while later he received special training for the commercial world as a student in the Spencerian Business College. He then went to work as office boy for R. G. Dun & Company, with which he remained for two years, and later he was with the Phillips & Rebhan Insurance Agency for several years. He afterward entered the employ of the Milwau- kee Mutual Building & Loan Association, with which he continued for five years and then became associated with the L. Lowe Company in the cutlery business, having charge of the retail store for two years. On the expiration of that period, however, he again became identified with the insurance business in 1902, joining Fred C. Bogk in organizing the Bogk & Pfleger Agency in 1907. About eleven years later or in 1918 the company adopted its present name of the Pfleger Agency, of which Mr. Bogk is the vice president. They conduct a general fire insurance business and also handle other branches of insurance, representing eleven different companies. The business has been steadily developed along substantial lines and this is recognized as one of the strong agencies in Milwaukee, its business under the careful direction of the owners having reached extensive proportions.
On the 3d of October, 1900, Mr. Pfleger was. united in marriage to Miss Anna Bullerjahn, a daughter of Carl Bullerjahn of Milwaukee, who was born in Germany and was a cabinetmaker by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Pfleger have become the parents of two children: Anita, who is a graduate of the Washington high school and is attending the Milwaukee Normal School; and William Pfleger, who is now in the graded schools.
Mr. Pfleger has never sought to figure in politics and maintains an independent course in his voting. He has served as treasurer of the Milwaukee Board of Fire Underwriters. He belongs to Damon Lodge, No. 102, of the Knights of Pythias and is a prominent member of the Turn Verein, serving as financial secretary for seven years and as trustee for four years. He is likewise a member of the Calumet Club and has acted as its financial secretary during the past four years. He greatly enjoys bowling and has taken part in a number of tournaments of this kind. He is also fond of swimming and all outdoor sports and his athletic activities throughout his entire life have undoubtedly been the means of keeping him "physically fit." A lover of music, he plays the piano and in his younger days was identified with orchestras. The interests and activities of his life, as indicated, are well balanced. To play well is next in importance to working well and the latter cannot reach its highest point of efficiency without a due amount of the former to bring about an even adjustment of forces. Mr. Pfleger is a well known resident of Milwaukee, where he has practically spent his entire life, being but a year old when brought to this city, and at all times he has manifested a keen interest in everything that pertains to municipal progress and advancement.
ALBERT WILLIAM FOSTER.
Albert William Foster, attorney at law and supervisor of the eighteenth district- which includes the eighteenth ward, the town of Granville, the town of Milwaukee, the city of North Milwaukee, the village of Whitefish Bay and the village of Sherwood- is manifesting the utmost loyalty to the public welfare in the performance of his official duties. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Fredonia, New York, October 7, 1881, a son of Henry and Sarah (Hedenberg) Foster, the former a native of Fredonia, while the mother was born in Jacksonville, Illincis. The ancestral line can be traced back for more than two centuries, the first representatives of the Foster family in America coming from England in 1642. Representatives of the family served in the Revolutionary war and the grandfather of Albert W. Foster was a soldier of the War of 1812, while his father was numbered among the Boys in Blue of the Civil war. A brother of Mrs. Sarah Foster was in the Mexican war. In days of peace Henry Foster devoted his life to general business interests and was classed among the substantial residents of the community in which he made his home.
Albert W. Foster attended the public schools of his native city to the age of twelve years, when the family home was established in Milwaukee and here he continued his education in the city schools, attending the school situated on what is now Mineral street in Milwaukee and afterward the East Side high school. Still later he became
ALBERT W. FOSTER
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a student in the University of Wisconsin, in which he pursued a four years' course, being graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1905. When his college days were over he returned to Milwaukee and entered upon the study of law. Eventually he took the bar examination and was admitted to practice in September, 1908. He has since been graduated in law from Marquette University, completing his course in 1909, with the LL. B. degree. He then entered upon the practice of law in this city and has continued an active representative of the bar, giving his attention almost exclu- sively to his professional interests until the time of his election to the office of super- visor of the eighteenth district. He is a member of the City, County and State Bar Associations and enjoys the high respect and goodwill of his brethren of the profession because of his close conformity to the highest ethical standards in his practice.
On the 20th of August, 1908, Mr. Foster was married to Miss Agnes Armitage of Milwaukee, and to them have been born two children: David A., whose birth occurred April 29, 1909; and June A., who was born September 15, 1917.
Mr. Foster is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Kenwood Lodge, No. 303. A. F. & A. M .: and to Palmer Chapter, No. 87, R. A. M. He is likewise a mem- ber of Prospect Lodge, No. 135, K. P .; and he is a member of the City Club and the Milwaukee Association of Commerce. He does not hesitate to endorse any measure which he believes beneficial to the community or to the commonwealth and his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one.
JOHN JAMES McCOY.
John James McCoy, president of the Wisconsin Face & Fire Brick Company, one of the large industrial enterprises of Milwaukee, came of the sturdy stock which paved the way for and was active in the civilization of many eastern states of this country. He was born on his father's farm near Chicago Heights, Illinois, September 4, 1890, the son of Ira C. and Nettie Elizabeth McCoy, both of whom are still living.
The name indicates the Scotch origin of his ancestry. It was changed in 1793 from the original MacKoy to McCoy. The first ancestor of this name came to America about 1700 with two brothers, one of whom settled in Pennsylvania and the other in Virginia, while he settled in the north. John James McCoy's paternal grandparents were John McCoy and Sabra Clark McCoy, who were both born in the state of Vermont in 1793 and 1799, respectively. Sabra Clark McCoy's father, Andrew Clark, and grand- father were veterans of the Revolutionary war and both fought in the battle of Ben- nington. The grandfather was an officer under General Stark in the French and Indian wars. John McCoy was a veteran of the War of 1812. John and Sabra McCoy were pioneers of southern Cook county, Illinois, moving overland by ox team from Pennsyl- vania in 1834. For years before the Civil war the McCoy home, which is now a part of .the Cook county forest preserve on the Sauk Trail road, was a part of the underground railroad.
John James McCoy's maternal grandparents were James F. D. Elliott (or Elliot) and Harriet Chiville Elliott of Chicago, Illinois. James F. D. Elliott was born in Bombay, Franklin county, New York. He went to Chicago in 1847 and engaged in the lumber business. He was an intimate friend of Stephen A. Douglas. Harriet Chiville Elliott was born in Boscastle, Cornwall, England, in 1831. Her parents in 1832 located in Chicago when that city was nothing more than a small frontier post with a population of a few hundred.
John J. McCoy obtained his early education in the public schools of Chicago Heights and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1909. He next became a student in the University of Illinois, where he pursued a course in ceramic engineering the field of labor in which he is now active. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity during his college days and played football while a student at Champaign. When his course was completed he went upon the road as a traveling salesman, selling brick and tile through the central states for the Streator Brick Company, until 1916, when he removed to Milwaukee and in connection with Emil M. Kraetz and Robert J. Steele organized and incorporated the Wisconsin Face & Fire Brick Company. They sell to both the wholesale and retail trade and represent twenty-five or thirty manufacturers, finding a market for their product throughout Wisconsin. The business has been developed along substantial lines and their trade has now reached gratifying proportions.
On the 17th of October, 1917, Mr. McCoy was married to Miss Laura Feller, a daughter of Samuel Feller, an active member of the bar. of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have become the parents of a son, John J., Jr., born December 21, 1919.
Mr. McCoy has never taken an active part in politics and his membership relations do not include fraternal organizations. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Kiwanis Club, and to the Association of Commerce and is interested in all of
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the plans and projects of the latter for the city's civic development. He is fond of hunting and fishing, also finds pleasure in motoring, these claiming his attention during his leisure hours, while his days are devoted to business, and his close appli- cation and thoroughness are the hasic elements of a constantly expanding success.
SIDNEY M. SIESEL.
Among the contingent of enterprising young business men in Milwaukee is Sidney M. Siesel, civil and constructing engineer with offices in the Brumder huilding. He was born in Macon, Georgia, on the 20th of August, 1889, a son of Jacob and Clementine (Wolf) Siesel. The father, whose death occurred in 1907, was a native of Germany and came to the United States when about twenty-five years of age. He located in Macon, Georgia, where he resided for many years and then removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his demise occurred. He won prominence there as a merchant. His widow is making her home in Pittsburgh. She was also horn in Germany and came to this country with her parents when but a child. Her father, Herman Wolf, was a merchant in Pittsburgh to which place he removed in 1873. He was active in the Franco-Prussian war, having served as quartermaster.
In the acquirement of an education Sidney M. Siesel attended the public schools of Pittsburgh and in due time entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated in 1908 with the degree of C. E. He took a postgraduate course at the Technical high school in Charlottenburg, Germany, and subsequently entered the business world. He was sent to Milwaukee as a representative of the Pittshurgh Testing Laboratory, spending two years in that capacity, part of the time in Pitts- hurgh, and at the termination of that time he hecame associated with James L. Stuart of Pittsburgh as constructing engineer and remained with him for a like number of years. He then returned to Milwaukee as president of the O. H. Bossert Company, contractors, and was executive of that concern for three and one-half years. His success along that line assured, in 1918 he went into business for himself and is at present maintaining offices at 105 Wells street. He specializes in the construction of engineering and industrial projects and among the many buildings in Milwaukee that testify to his ability and initiative are the Ford Motor Company Assembling Plant, the Boston Store and the new plant of the Chain Belt Company. Mr. Siesel is also secretary and treasurer of the Metropolitan Construction Company, which constructs, operates and trades in improved real estate.
On the 24th of June, 1915, occurred the marriage of Mr. Siesel and Miss Dorothea Jacobs, a daughter of I. W. Jacobs of London, England. He is a successful and well known merchant and is now making his home in Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Siesel was horn in Cambridge, England, and received a good education in the schools of her native country. She is of a literary turn of mind, the talent being inherited, several members of her family having won prominence along that line. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Siesel: John Jacob and Barhara.
Mr. Siesel gives his political endorsement to the republican party but has never taken an active interest in its affairs. The religious faith of the family is Jewish and they attend the Temple Emanu-El. Fraternally Mr. Siesel is identified with the Masons, belonging to Kenwood Lodge, No. 303, and he likewise holds membership in the Associa- tion of Commerce, heing a member of the industrial committee, the Milwaukee Athletic Club and the Woodmont Country Cluh. He finds his greatest pleasure in traveling and turns to golf and other outdoor sports for recreation in his spare time. The work of Mr. Siesel is ever characterized by thoroughness and energy and quickly grasping the fundamentals of the work in hand, nothing can cause him to lose sight of these fundamentals until the object is accomplished. Mr. and Mrs. Siesel and family reside at 1280 Stowell place.
EDMUND GRASSLER.
Definite recognition of the value of persistency of purpose in a business career is manifest in the life record of Edmund Grassler, a partner in the firm of Grassler & Gezelschap, contractors in plumhing, heating and lighting fixtures. Throughout his entire business career he has continued in this line, mastering every phase and detail of the business, and his thoroughness and capability have brought him to the enviahle position which he now occupies in the commercial circles of his native city.
Mr. Grassler was born in Milwaukee, February 29, 1860, a son of Manigild Grassler, whose birth occurred in Austria and who came to the United States in 1848. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast hut made his way at once into the interior of the country, with Milwaukee as his destination, and became a costumer on West Water
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street. He was prominent also in amateur theatricals and was a great traveler. He wedded Mary Bielfeld, a native of New York city and a daughter of August Bielfeld, a native of Germany. The death of Mr. Grassler occurred in 1901, while his widow is still living in Milwaukee at the age of eighty-eight years.
Edmund Grassler obtained his early education in the Engelman school and his first work was as a plumber's helper. He learned the trades of plumbing, heating and ventilating and in this connection traveled all over the country, working in various places for a period of six years. For a year he was in the employ of the H. Mooers Heating Company and in 1883 he embarked in the same line of business on his own account on West Water street. In 1885 he was joined by Charles Gezelschap and they liave since been associated in a partnership relation. They do a plumbing, heating and ventilating business and carry a large line of lighting fixtures, which they sell to both the wholesale and retail trade. Their patronage is now extensive, making the business one of the profitable commercial interests of the city, and that they fully merit their patronage is indicated in the large and attractive line which they carry, in the excellent work which they do as plumbing, heating and ventilating contraetors and the reasonable prices which are always charged.
In June, 1886, Mr. Grassler was married to Miss Minnie Wagner of Milwaukee and they have become parents of two children: Ralph Grassler, who is engaged in the art goods business at the Drake Hotel in Chicago; and Mrs. Irma Shaw, who has one child, Edward Shaw.
Mr. Grassler has been active and prominent in the public life of the community, giving his aid and support to all those measures which he deems of real value and worth in the upbuilding of the city. He filled the office of civil service commissioner for four years, hut though a stanch republican in politics, actively interested in the success of his party, he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. Fraternally he is an Elk, belonging to Milwaukee Lodge No. 46, of which he has been exalted ruler, and he is also a member of Richard Wagner Lodge No. 42, K. P. In elub circles, too, he is well known, having membership in the Wisconsin Club, the Calumet Club, the Optimist Club and the Old Settlers Club and also in the Association of Commerce. He is fond of outdoor life and has always been active and interested in athletics, being a member of the Milwaukee Turn Verein for forty-three years. He is also associated with a number of business organizations, having membership in the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, in the National Association of Heating and Piping Contractors, of which he was president in 1918, and in the Wis- consin Master Plumbers Association, of which he has also been the president. Called to the highest executive office in these organizations, his elections have been the expression of the confidence reposed in him as a business man of broad vision and sound judgment. His initiative and enterprise have carried him into important rela- tions and an analyzation of his career shows that the simple weight of his character and ability has placed him in the front rank in the field in which he has labored.
RENE VON SCHLEINITZ.
René von Schleinitz, secretary of the Pawling & Harnischfeger Company of Mil- waukee, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, May 5, 1890, his parents being Emil and Johanna (Willrich) von Schleinitz, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in early life, however, and were married in St. Paul. The mother is living in Milwaukee. The father passed away in June, 1920. He was identified with newspaper publication in several cities and became editor in chief of the Milwaukee Herold, formerly the Germania-Herold, in 1896. He was long an active factor in the ranks of the republican party and he was ever a man of conscientious purpose, de- fending the right as he saw it and holding steadfastly to his honest convictions.
René von Schleinitz pursued his early education in the Milwaukee public schools and was graduated from the West Side high school, with the class of 1909. He after- ward became a student in the University of Wisconsin, where he pursued a commercial course and during his college days he became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Returning to Milwaukee, he initiated his business experience by entering the employ of A. F. Gallun & Sons Company, to learn the leather trade and remained with that house for a year, serving in different departments of the plant as a workman. He was afterward employed by Albert Trostel & Sons as city salesman and also traveled for them throughout Wisconsin and the middle west for a period of four years. He then opened a hranch office at Cincinnati, of which he had charge through the succeeding year and in 1916 he returned to Milwaukee, where he became identified with the Pawling & Harnischfeger Company, with which he has since been associated. Steadily in this connection he has worked his way upward, winning merited promotion until in 1917 he was called to official position, being made assistant secretary and director of the company, while on the 1st of February, 1921, he was elected secretary.
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