USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume II > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
HON. MAURICE A. MCCABE.
Hon. Maurice A. McCabe, lawyer and lawmaker, is today the legal representative of many of the important corporation interests of Milwaukee, his standing at the bar being a most enviable one. The city numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred on the 25th of April, 1872, his parents being Patrick and Hannah (Boyle) McCabe. The father is a native of County Cavan, Ireland, while the mother was born in Maine. They came to Milwaukee in the early '60s and the father was one of the old-time railroad engineers on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He is still living, but the mother has passed away.
Maurice A. McCabe was educated in the Marquette University of Milwaukee and in the University of Wisconsin, graduating from the former with the class of 1890, while he is numbered among the State University alumni of 1896. In the same
80
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
year he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his chosen pro- fession. He entered into partnership with Louis Dahlman, an association that was maintained for twenty years, or until May, 1916, since which time Mr. McCabe has practiced alone. Through the intervening years he has had a large clientele and his professional work has heen of a most important character. Step by step he has advanced to a point of leadership among the attorneys of Milwaukee and today he is the legal representative of a number of the leading corporations of the city.
On the 7th of November, 1906, Mr. McCabe was married to Miss Catharine O'Don- nell of Kenosha, and they have become parents of three children: Maurice, John and Mary, who are with them in an attractive home at 3121 Mckinley boulevard- a home that is noted for its warm-hearted and generous hospitality.
In his political views Mr. McCabe has always been a democrat and in 1901 he was called to serve his district in the state legislature, representing what are now known as the second and fourth wards, or the down-town district. He gave thought- ful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement and has ever heen extremely interested in those problems which are a matter of public concern to the commonwealth. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Milwaukee Association of Com- merce and to other organizations which demand high qualities of personal integrity and of public service. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Milwaukee, the Wisconsin State and the American Bar Associations.
ALBERT T. FRIEDMANN.
While Albert T. Friedmann has gained a commanding position as a merchant of Milwaukee, he has at the same time been identified with many interests of public con- cern, especially hearing upon the welfare, the progress and the philanthropic activities of the city. Mr. Friedmann is a native of Austria, his hirth having occurred in Vienna, on the 13th of February, 1865, his parents being Theodore and Bertha Friedmann, the former a native of Burkundstadt, Bavaria, while the latter was horn in Vienna, Austria.
In the public schools of his native city Albert T. Friedmann acquired his early education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school and supplementing that training by study up to the second year college grade. Throughout his active business career he has been identified with mercantile interests. He came to America in 1883 and in 1886 became a junior partner in the firm of Ed Schuster & Company of Milwaukee. Through the intervening period, covering thirty-seven years, he has been identified with its business and more and more largely has assumed responsibility in connection with the management and control of the house. He is now the president of Ed. Schuster & Company, Incorporated, controlling one of the fine mercantile estab- lishments of the city. Most progressive methods are maintained in the conduct of the business and a large and carefully selected line of goods proves most attractive to the patrons, who, moreover, find that the business methods of the house are thorough- ly reliable as well as progressive.
In Milwaukee, on the 10th of January, 1888, Mr. Friedmann was married to Miss Johanna B. Schuster, a daughter of Ed Schuster, founder of the firm of Ed Schuster & Company. They have become parents of two children: Max E., and Ralph T., aged, respectively, thirty and twenty-five years. Mr. Friedmann maintains membership relations with the Milwaukee Athletic, the Wisconsin and the City Clubs. In politics he is an independent voter, casting his hallot according to the dictates of his judgment, but that he is keenly interested in Milwaukee's welfare along many lines is indicated in the fact that he is not only a member but one of the directors of the Association of Commerce, also of the Citizens Bureau of Municipal Efficiency, the Centralized Budget of Philanthropy and the Associated Charities. No good work done in the name of charity or religion seeks his aid in vain and his loy 1 endorsement is given to every plan which is working toward a greater and better city.
WILLIAM GUTENKUNST.
William Gutenkunst is one who in the battles of life has always come out victor. The plain and undaunted story of his life, nevertheless, reads like a romance by reason of his successful achievement. It is an old adage that opportunity knocks but once. If this is true, William Gutenkunst made immediate response to the call. Throughout his life he has used his talents wisely and well, and today is one of the prominent and wealthy manufacturers and bank directors of his native city. He was born on the 6th of July, 1850, his parents being Jacob and Catherine (Haas)
ALBERT T. FRIEDMANN
Vol. 11-6
83
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
Gutenkunst, who were natives of Baden, Germany. The father was born in 1829, and after spending his minority in his native land he started for America with the hope of bettering his financial conditions on this side the Atlantic. Landing in New York, he there formed the acquaintance of Catherine Haas, who was born July 5, 1815. The young couple arrived in Wisconsin in 1849 and became residents of Milwaukee, then a small town of comparatively little . commercial or industrial importance. Jacob Gutenkunst was then a young man of twenty years, and from that time. forward until his demise he was closely associated with the business development of the city. Moreover, he took active part in promoting public progress along every possible line and became one of the early members of the volunteer fire department. When Company No. 3 of the paid fire department was established, he served as the first driver of its hose cart and many years later his son and namesake, Jacob Gutenkunst, Jr., became engineer of the Milwaukee fire department, with which he has been connected for more than a third of a century. The father passed away September 11, 1869, and was long survived by his widow, who died December 26, 1905, at the notable age of ninety years, their remains being interred in Forest Home cemetery. They were parents of five sons: Two who died in infancy; Jacob, previously men- tioned, who died in June, 1919; William; and Charles A., who is associated with his brother William in various manufacturing enterprises.
Having mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools of Mil- waukee, William Gutenkunst afterward attended Engelmann's School and thus liberally qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He was a pupil in the first public school on the south side of Milwaukee, and he also early learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. On the 3d of May, 1873, when twenty-three years of age, he started out in the business world independently, taking up the task of repairing and rebuilding sewing machines, in the old gas house building on Reed street. He possessed natural mechanical skill and ingenuity and was constantly studying to improve machinery or to produce new devices which would be of practical utility in connection with the world's work. As an inventor he has made for himself a notable name and place and the growth of the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company, of which he is the president has resulted from his inventions of hay tools, corn huskers and others. After a time he admitted his brother, Charles A., to a partnership, under the firm style of William & Charles A. Gutenkunst and the steady development of the business later led to a removal to larger quarters at the corner of Park street and Eighth avenue. With the admission of Adam Loeffelholz to the business the name was changed to the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company, the brothers having pre- viously used the more lengthy business title of the Milwaukee Hay Tool & Manu- facturing Company. The plant was splendidly equipped for the manufacture of hay tools and corn huskers and the business steadily grew and developed, so that it again was necessary to secure more commodious quarters and in 1893 the company purchased a tract of land in Layton Park, whereon was erected a very substantial plant. On the 6th of June, 1899, the officials of the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company established a new enterprise under the style of the Milwaukee Malleable & Grey Iron Works and of this William Gutenkunst was also the founder and promoter and has been president and treasurer thereof from the beginning, just as he has of the Mil- waukee Hay Tool Company. The two concerns have ever maintained the highest standards in the value and workmanship of their output and in their relations to their employes and patrons. That these are two of the mammoth productive in- dustries of Milwaukee is indicated in the fact that they employ between five hundred and six hundred men, many of whom are skilled artisans. The Milwaukee Malleable & Grey Iron Works controls also a large amount of contract work and supplies malleable irons to other important industrial concerns, including the Moline Plow Company of Moline, Illinois. The Milwaukee Hay Tool Company manufactures the Leader litter carrier, the Milwaukee corn huskers and fodder shredders, steel and wood track hay-carriers, improved swivel-sling hay carriers and cable track carriers; hanging hooks for steel and wood tracks, rafter brackets, harpoon forks, grapple forks and derrick hay forks; Standard wagon slings; pulleys and pulley blocks and conveyors; wire stretchers, tackle hoists, cattle stanchions, ornamental iron fence pickets, etc. The major part of these devices manufactured by this company rep- resent the concrete results of the inventive genius of Mr. Gutenkunst and he gives much time to study and experiment which have brought about such valuable results and given him prestige as one of the resourceful and representative business men of Wisconsin. His activities have always been of a character that contributed to public progress and prosperity, as well as to his individual success and thus in a large sense he has been a benefactor of the community. Aside from his manufacturing interests he is a director of the Wisconsin State Bank. In a review of his life it is to be remembered that he is deserving of the greatest credit for what he accom- plished for he started ont in the business world in a humble capacity. In those early days when he was endeavoring to establish his manufacturing interests he showed his initiative and progressive spirit by inaugurating a sprinkling system on Reed
84
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
street, where his place of business was established. He utilized one of the primitive types of street-sprinklers and personally operated the same in the evenings after the completion of his regular day's work. He also took his father's place on the fire department when the latter was ill or unable to attend to his duties. As the years passed on his individual business claimed more and more of his time and attention until at length he could find no leisure for outside interests. His expanding powers, however, have enabled him most wisely and capably to control the mammoth interest which he has huilt up and developed, having long occupied a foremost position as one of the leading manufacturers of the city.
On the 11th of November, 1871, Mr. Gutenkunst was married to Miss Katie Hostadt of Milwaukee, and they became parents of a son and seven daughters: Sitonia, who is the wife of George W. Schubert of Milwaukee; Rose, the wife of Frank W. Fellenz; Alma, the wife of Matthias Scholl; Nettie, the wife of Charles E. Van Sickle; Flora, the wife of Emil A. Prasser; Meta, the wife of Fred C. Seideman, of Kenosha, Wis- consin; Lillian, the wife of Otto R. Winkler; and Edwin William, who is the only son and is associated with his father in business. Of the seven daughters, all of whom are married, five are residing in Milwaukee, one in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and one in Oak Park, Illinois.
Mr. Gutenkunst belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the National Union. He and his wife celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on the 11th of November, 1921, on which occasion their eight children and twelve grandchildren were present. Theirs is a notahle record, inasmuch as the family circle still remains unbroken by the hand of death.
Mr. Gutenkunst's military record covers service as sergeant of the South Side Rifles, Company C, Fifth Battalion, for a period of five years, after which he received his honorable discharge on the 5th of June, 1884. He has served on the Milwaukee civil service hoard, of which he was a memher from 1909 'until 1913, through appoint- ment of Mayor Rose. He did effective work for the city as alderman from the eleventh ward from 1885 until 1891, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many plans and measures for the general good. Since the year following Wisconsin's ad- mission to the Union the name of Gutenkunst has heen associated with the develop- ment of Milwaukee and has ever been a synonym of business enterprise and loyal, progressive citizenship. Honored and respected hy all, there is no man who occupies a more enviahle position in manufacturing and financial circles than William Guten- kunst, not alone by reason of the success which he has achieved but also owing to the honorable straightforward business policy which he has ever followed.
GENERAL LOUIS AUER.
Biography finds its justification in recording the lives of those men whose acts have constituted a valuable contribution to public progress and whose records have heen an inspirational force for good among their fellowmen. Measuring up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship, General Louis Auer was ever an out- standing figure in connection with those who have shaped the annals and controlled the destiny of Milwaukee. He was born in this city ere it entered upon the period of modern commercial progress and development, and with the latter period of substan- tial improvement and advancement he was closely associated. His activities in the real estate field were made a source not only of individual profit but a source of the city's adornment along architectural lines. He made the one supplement and serve the purpose of the other and at the same time his record proved that prosperity and an honored name may he simultaneously won.
General Auer was born in Milwaukee, October 3, 1857. His father had established a real estate and insurance business here in 1860 and after reaching manhood General Auer was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of Louis Auer & Son. He had previously enjoyed excellent educational opportunities and was a young man of twenty years when he hecame his father's associate in business, the connection between them continuing until the father's death. He then assumed all of the burdens and responsi- hilities in connection with the control and further development of the business and eventually came to he recognized as the foremost real estate dealer of Milwaukee. He negotiated many important realty transfers and he hecame prominently known as a speculative builder, erecting some of the finest structures in the city. It is impossible to separate General Auer's business record from the other interests of his life. His opinions concerning various sociological questions dominated and colored his business activity. He had no sympathy with the landlord who refused to rent his buildings to families with children and after becoming cognizant of the fact that many families were having difficulty in finding suitable habitations because of the fact that there were little children to be considered, he erected the Stuart and Elizabeth flats (named after his children), and his work in this direction brought to him in time the sobriquet
GENERAL LOUIS AUER
87
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
of "The Baby Flat Landlord." In these apartments no expense was spared in making the floors as noiseless as possible and to provide playgrounds, courts and every other facility favorable for the rearing of children. Moreover, he granted a month's rent free whenever a baby was born in one of these apartments. When informed of the arrival of a little one, his letter of answer said: "I should like a picture of the little one for our album, 'Babies of Aner Court.'" The communication was signed, "Believe me, Yours for the Bahies," People who expected to get rental concessions from him be- cause of the fact that there were no children in the family were much disappointed. It was his belief that there should always be from five to seven children in a family or as many as the parents could support in justice and comfort. In all sections of Mil- waukee stand substantial buildings which were erected by General Auer and at length he planned the construction of the Auditorium Court, which he determined to make his last building operation, hoping to retire from business on its completion. He had erected buildings on the entire block bounded by State, Fourteenth, Prairie and Fifteenth streets and as many as fifty other buildings besides. He then undertook the erection, at the corner of Ninth and State streets, of a gigantic apartment building to be called Auditorium Court, containing one hundred and forty-five apartments, with front and rear courts and each room having light and fresh air facilities, Before com- pletion of this building General Auer was called to the home beyond, but many years will have been added to the cycle of the centuries ere the influence of his life and his labors shall cease to be felt in Milwaukee.
On the 26th of February, 1895, at No. 137 Fifty-fifth street in New York city, Gen- eral Auer was married to Miss Jane Holahan, a lady of liberal culture and most pleas- ing personality, a daughter of the late Hon. Maurice F. Holahan, who for a number of years was president of the board of public improvement in New York city. The wed- ding of General and Mrs. Auer was one of the brilliant affairs of the season in the national metropolis and was attended by a large number of the friends of the con- tracting parties. Mrs. Auer had attained distinction in the theatrical profession under the stage name of Jane Stuart and was playing a leading part in the company of Rich- ard Mansfield until a short time prior to her marriage, at which were present promi- nent political leaders, including officials connected with national, state and municipal government, and members of various business exchanges and representatives of the press, the medical, legal, theatrical and other professions. Letters of congratulation were received from President and Mrs. Cleveland, Secretary of War Lamont, Senator Murphy of New York and prominent members of congress. The bride received a most cordial reception in Milwaukee and the city is now endeared to her by many hallowed memories and associations. Mrs. Auer resides here with her daughter, Elizabethi, while her son, Stuart, has established his own home. Extended mention of the latter is made in the sketch below. Louis, the eldest son of Mrs. Auer, was killed by a falling tree at their country home when six and a half years of age and two other children, Angela and Frank, died in infancy. The residence of General and Mrs. Auer was the abode of a charming and gracious hospitality and an equally cordial welcome was ever bestowed upon their friends at their summer home on the shores of Pewaukee lake. Here in his bachelor days he had been in the habit of entertaining many friends and following his marriage the General delighted to surround himself with those whose kindred interests made association most companionable. There he and his friends engaged in ice boating, sailing, fishing and other outdoor sports and he always main- tained a kennel of the best hunting dogs of various blood. He greatly enjoyed the chase and in this sport his wife was his constant companion during the last eight years of his life. On the walls of his "shack" hung many most interesting trophies of his prowess as a huntsman in the northern woods or in the western wildernesses. Among his frequent guests were Engene Field, Horace Fletcher and Julian Ralph, who gathered with him before the great fireplace and exchanged stories of their fishing experiences or discussed questions grave or gay, as the mood held them. The Mil- waukee Press Club was entertained at an annual outing by General Auer, each one leaving with the guests a never-to-be-forgotten memory.
The demands of a mammoth business or the delights of hospitality and entertain- ment, however, did not comprise the full scope of General Auer's activities. His mili- tary title was won through a most interesting service in connection with the Wiscon- sin National Guard. As a young man he joined the state militia, belonging to the Light Horse Squadron, and from that time until his death he manifested the keenest and most helpful interest in all that advanced the standards of the National Guard in this state, of which he was one of the original founders. In 1880 he joined the Light Horse Squadron, now known as Troop A, and rose to the rank of first lieutenant under Captain George Schoeffel, the command winning a merited reputation as one of the finest volunteer cavalry organizations in the country. This absolute priority was won not less through the means of competitive contests than by reason of the admirable personnel of its members. In 1886 Lieutenant Auer was promoted to the rank of major and given command of the four regiments known as the Fourth Battalion and later incorporated in the First Wisconsin Infantry. He subsequently became colonel
88
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
of his command and he retained this rank until the election of Hon. George W. Peck to the position of governor of the state, when Colonel Auer was appointed by the gov- ernor to the position of quartermaster general of the Wisconsin National Guard, an incumbency which he held until the close of Governor Peck's term in January, 1895. After his retirement from office General Auer did not abate his interest in the Wis- consin National Guard, and in its history his name has a conspicuous and' honored place.
'General Auer was insistently loyal and public-spirited, and his noble qualities of mind and heart found exemplification in all of the relations of life. Though not animated with desire for public office, he was ever willing to give ready cooperation in the support of measures and enterprises projected for the good of his home city and state and his political allegiance was accorded to the democratic party. When the ori- ginal decisive action was taken for the improving and extending of the public park system of Milwaukee, General Auer was appointed a member of the first board of park commissioners, of which body he served for a time as secretary, the late Christian Wah, the late John Bentley and Calvin E. Lewis, and Charles Manegold, Jr., having heen members of the board at that time. After giving seven years to earnest and effective service as a member of this department of the municipal government General Auer retired from office. He was a zealous worker in connection with every worthy civic movement and assumed many heavy responsibilities in this connection, including the organization and management of civic and industrial parades pertinent to public cele- brations. He brought to hear the same vitality and enthusiasm that characterized him in business and social life, and his last appearance as marshal of a great civic and military parade was on the occasion of a notable homecoming celebration in Milwaukee. He was a citizen-soldier and a genial host. Few citizens of Milwaukee were hetter known, had done more for the city or were more uniformly popular than this kindly and noble man, and concerning him and his attitude the following pertinent statements have been made: "For a quarter of a century there was not a movement of any civic importance and having for its object the advancement of Milwaukee which he did not support heart and soul, giving his time and energy freely and gladly to promote its success. General Auer's creed was 'Milwaukee first.' He did not approve of buying outside of his native city anything that could be purchased or manufactured here. No matter what it was, he always bought it in Milwaukee rather than in Chicago or New York, and this loyal and progressive policy he urged upon others, in season and out. Though essentially liberal, General Auer preferred to dispense his charities and henevo- Iences in a private way rather than to avoid this responsibility by giving donations to institutions or organized charities. He was mindful of the poor and needy and 'remem- bered those who were forgotten.' On many an occasion he left his desk at the appeal of some poor unfortunate, whom he aided in securing food, or work or other needed support and encouragement, his heart heing ever attuned to sympathy and this being manifested in a direct and practical way, without ostentation and with no thought that he was doing other than his simple duty. By his example, advice, moral support and financial aid he did much for others, and his memory is revered by many whom he thus aided."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.