USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 25
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Politically Mr. Wittig maintains an independent course, neither seeking nor de- siring office and voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. In religious faith he is a Catholic, identified with St. Mary's parish. He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to the Milwaukee Lodge of Elks. He greatly enjoys bowling and has been president of the Knights of Columbus Bowling League. When leisure permits he indulges in the game and has developed considerable skill as an amateur player. He is also a fisherman and frequently takes trips to the northern woods. He is also a lover of music and of motoring and these connections indicate the nature of his interests and relaxation. As a business man he is thorough, persistent and energetic and what he attempts he carries forward to successful completion.
FRANK HENRY BERCKER.
Frank Henry Bercker, president of the Munich Statuary & Altar Company of Mil- waukee, has built his success upon the stable foundation of broad experience in busi- ness and thorough training in the field of art. He possesses initiative, enterprise and determination in addition to artistic taste and talent and these qualities have com- bined to make him one of the foremost representatives of his line of business in the Mississippi valley. Mr. Bercker was born in Kevelaer, Germany, April 26, 1880. His father, Franz Herman Bercker, who was also a native of Kevelaer, spent his entire life there, where he became prominently known in connection with the publication and
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binding of Catholic books. He married Madeline Geritzen, who was born in Kevelaer in 1850, continuing her residence in her native city until called to the home beyond.
Acquiring his early education in the elementary schools of his native city, Frank H. Bercker afterward pursued a high school course there and then entered the academy at Telgte iu Westphalia. He next became a student in Charlesbourg, Belgium, and, following a natural tendency, he entered upon a course of study in the Art Institute at Dresden, Saxony, where he continued for two years. He afterward became associated with an art studio in Crefeld, where he gained practical knowledge of the selling de- partment of the business. When a year had passed, or in 1900, he came to the United States, settling first in Buffalo, New York, and there for two years he was connected with the Buffalo Volksfreund as representative of the advertising and circulating de- partment. Through the same period he was engaged in the sale of German almanacs and other publications. After two years devoted to the church supplies and art goods business he entered the employ of the M. H. Wiltzius Company of Milwaukee as eastern representative in the sale of church art goods and supplies. His capability in this field led to his assignment to the territory embraced in northern Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. From Buffalo he removed to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1909 and there remained for a year and a half. It was during that period that Mr. Wiltzius sold the church goods department of his business to the Diederich Schaefer Company, retaining the other branch of his business. Mr. Bercker continued with Mr. Wiltzius and with him came to Milwaukee in 1911, acting as general representative and desiguer for the house until 1913, when the Wiltzius interests in the business were purchased by some former stockholders in the company and the business was reorganized under the name of the Munich Statuary & Altar Company. Mr. Bercker remained as general manager and in 1915 was elected to the presidency, in which position he has since continued. Long experience has well qualified him for the position of executive control which he now occupies. He has had thorough training in every phase of the business-in salesman- ship, in design and directing management-and the passing years have chronicled the successful control of all interests entrusted to his care. As the president of the com- pany he has constantly extended the trade connections of the house until the volume of business is now most gratifying.
On the 22d of May, 1901, Mr. Bercker was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Nemmer, a daughter of Michael Nemmer, who was a landowner in the Bavarian forests. Mrs. Bercker was born in Miltach, Bavaria, and came to the United States in 1892 in company with a brother and two sisters. She became the wife of Mr. Bercker in Buffalo, New York, and four children have been born to them: Agnes, who is now a high school pupil at Janesville, Wisconsin; Bernice, who is attending the Academy of Our Lady in Chicago; Mary, a student in SS. Peter and Paul parochial school; and Francis H., also attending the parochial school.
In his political views Mr. Bercker has always been a republican but never an active party worker. He is identified with the Association of Commerce, is also a member of the National Organization of Catholic Publishers and Church Goods Manufacturers and belongs as well to the Catholic Merchants Guild. He and his family are com- municants of SS. Peter and Paul church and Mr. Bercker's name is on the member- ship rolls of Pere Marquette Council of the Knights of Columbus. In his youth he took great pleasure in gymnastics and he has in more recent years gained his recreation largely from motor trips. He and all of his family possess marked musical taste and artistic tendencies and have done much to promote progress along cultural lines in their adopted city. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has found the opportunities which he sought. He stands as a splendid type of the progressive business man who at the outset of his career realized there was no royal road to wealth. He knew that his advancement would depend on individual effort and ability and he has concentrated his labors along the lines that have been most resultant.
STEPHEN J. CASPER.
Milwaukee numbers among her representative business men Stephen J. Casper, president and treasurer of the Western Glass & China Company, dealing in hotel, restaurant, cafeteria, club and lunch room equipment. He is a native son of Milwau- kee, where his birth occurred July 8, 1877, his parents being William and Mary A. (Oster) Casper. The father, a native of Bingen, Germany, came to the United States with his parents when eight years of age, and located with them in Milwaukee. Here he grew to manhood and entered the business world, where he soon became a prominent figure. He was for many years treasurer of the Wisconsin Lake Ice Company, now the Wisconsin Ice & Coal Company, and took an active part in public affairs. He was a district supervisor for some time and as a communicant of the Catholic church stanchly supported all of its activities. His death occurred in 1897 and came as a severe blow
STEPHEN J. CASPER
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to his many friends in the city. Mrs. Casper survives and makes her home in Mil- waukee. She was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, and came to Milwaukee with her parents when but ten years of age.
Stephen J. Casper received his education in St. Mary's parochial school in Mil- waukee and in due time entered Pio Nono College at St. Francis, where he completed a commercial course. For the following ten years he was associated with his father's business in a clerical capacity and then became a partner of Paul Ladwig in the Western Bottlers Supply Company of Milwaukee. In 1920 the demise of Mr. Ladwig occurred, and Mr. Casper took over his interest, incorporating the business under the name of the Western Glass & China Company, with a capital stock of seventy-five thousand dollars. Mr. Casper became president and treasurer, and Henry M. Luedtke is secre- tary. The corporation deals for the most part in china and glassware equipment for hotels. etc. and does extensive business throughout the state. They are also large im- porters of china and glassware for high class family trade. The keen insight and executive ability of Mr. Casper have been dominant factors in the continued growth of the business, and each year he expects to see a substantial increase.
On the 23d of November, 1910, Mr. Casper was united in marriage to Frieda M. Schroeder, a daughter of John Schroeder, of the John Schroeder Lumber Company. He was a native of Hanover. Germany, and passed away about 1908. Four sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Casper: Stephen J., Jr., Robert J., Frederick and James.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Casper has maintained an independent course in politics, and his religious faith is that of the St. Rose Catholic church. He is presi- dent of the Wisconsin Club, to the interests of which he devotes a large portion of his time and is a member of the Rotary Club, the Association of Commerce, and the Milwaukee Athletic Club, in which he takes a very active interest. For recreation Mr. Casper turns to outdoor sports and is particularly fond of motoring. The con- tinned growth of the business shows the results of a thorough knowledge of details and an active personal supervision of its various branches.
NICHOLAS MEUSER.
Nicholas Meuser, president of the Meuser Printing Company of Milwaukee, was born in this city July 31, 1886. His father, Joseph Meuser, was also a native of this city, born in 1860, his father being Jacob Meuser, a native of Nassau, Germany, whence he came to the United States in the '50s, settling in Milwaukee, where he passed away in 1862. He was a carpenter by trade. His son, Joseph Meuser, was a printer by trade and during the last year or more of his life was in partnership with his son in the printing business under the firm style of Wagner & Meuser. His life record covered a period of fifty years, his death occurring in 1910. In early manhood he wedded Mary Weiand, who was horn in this city, where she still makes her home. She is a daughter of Nicholas Weiand, a furniture manufacturer and undertaker, who in early life devoted his attention to car building, although in his later years he conducted an undertaking establishment under the firm style of Nic Weiand & Son.
Nicholas Meuser obtained his early education in the parochial schools of Mil- waukee and afterward attended the St. Francis parochial school and the Marquette University, pursuing a classical course. He started ont in the business world as assistant bookkeeper with the Milwaukee Building Supply Company, with which he remained for six or seven years. He then took charge of the books and collections of the Reichardt & Devitt Company at 108 Grand avenue and continued to act in that capacity for seven or eight years. In 1909 he turned his attention to the printing husi- ness in connection with his father and George Hartwig, their establishment being situated at No. 744 Third street, where they remained for two or three years. At the end of that time the firm name was changed to Meuser & Hartwig, Mr. Meuser, Sr., having passed away. In 1912 the Mensers purchased the property at 822 Third street and erected thereon their present building. In 1916 Nicholas Meuser purchased the interest of Mr. Hartwig in the business, which was then incorporated under the name of the Meuser Printing Company with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, all of which is owned by members of the family. They do commercial printing, engraving and bookbinding and also conduct a retail stationery store. They have one of the most modern and sanitary plants in the country and are doing a business of very gratifying proportions. They handle all sizes of jobs from cards to catalogues and have one of the most modern shops of the kind that can be found anywhere.
On the 6th of April, 1909, Mr. Meuser was married to Miss Olga Bingenheimer, a daughter of Ferdinand Bingenheimer, a butcher of Milwaukee. Mrs. Meuser was also educated in the St. Francis parochial school. She is a lady of artistic nature and does excellent work with oil and water colors as well as in sketching.
Mr. Meuser votes with the republican party but has never been active in politics He holds membership in the Catholic church, being a member of St. Francis parish.
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Fraternally he is connected with the Elks and also belongs to the Association of Com- merce. He is fond of motoring and bowling, to which he turns for recreation, but allows no outside interest to interfere with the conduct of his business affairs, which have been most wisely and profitably managed.
NORMAN LORNE MACLEAN.
Prominent in the business circles of Milwaukee is Norman Lorne Maclean, con- nected with Klau-Van Pietersom-Dunlap, Incorporated, an extensive advertising con- cern with offices in the Manhattan building. He was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, on the 16th of Angust, 1881, of Scotch and English ancestry, his parents being Archibald and Charlotte ( Perrin) Maclean. The father, who is now living in Chicago retired from active business, was born in Orillia, Ontario, the son of Donald Alex Maclean, a native of the isle of Coll, Scotland. Donald Alex MacLean located in On- tario, Canada, with his parents when but ten years of age and there grew to manhood. His brother, Kaid MacLean, was commander in chief of the Persian forces in the early '70s. Mrs. Maclean was born in Brantford, Ontario, a daughter of Hiram Perrin, a native of Mount Pleasant, Ontario. The grandfather of Mrs. Maclean was William Henry Perrin and the great-grandfather William Perrin, who came to the United States from County Kent, England, and located in Massachusetts. He served as a colonel in the American army during the Revolutionary war, and his name figures prominently in the affairs of the early colonial days. Mrs. Maclean passed away in September, 1920.
In the acquirement of an education Norman Lorne Maclean attended the public schools of Chicago and at an early day put his textbooks aside to enter the business world. He was employed as telegraph messenger boy until he was fifteen years of age, when, having mastered telegraphy in his spare time, he associated with Robert Lindblom & Company as telegraph operator in the brokerage office. During his five years with that concern his ability won him steady promotion and when he left he was in charge of the wire department. He resigned his position with the company to enter the army, and in 1898 he enlisted in Company E of the United States Signal Corps and went to the Philippine Islands. He was in active service two years and received wounds. He was present at the battle of Zapote Bridge, where Colonel Reilly was killed. After receiving his discharge from the army he went to Chicago and entered commercial circles in that city as manager of the country branches of the Weare Com- mission Company and after five years in that connection resigned to become copy writer for the Cattanach Advertising Agency at Winnipeg. After three years with that agency he determined to enter the business on his own account and as a result established an advertising agency in St. Paul, Minnesota, which he conducted with a great amount of success for three years. In 1913, however, disposing of his independent business, he became associated with his present concern.
On the 17th of August, 1908, Mr. Machean was united in marriage to Bargie Burger, a daughter of Holbrook Burger of St. Charles, Iowa. He was a native of Holland and came to the United States with his father when but a boy and located in New York state. Mrs. MacLean's mother was a second cousin of the noted James G. Blaine of Maine and was before her marriage a Miss Gillespie.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. MacLean has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, in the interests of which he takes an active part, although he has neither sought nor desired public office as a reward for party fealty. His religions faith is that of the Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to Garfield Lodge, No. 83. He is known in club circles but devotes the greater part of his time to his family and business interests. In literary circles Mr. MacLean is well known and has contributed several stories and articles to various publications. In 1918 his intense patriotism resulted in his enlist- ment in the Canadian army as wireless operator and for six months he saw active service in that connection in Europe.
EDWARD R. WAGNER.
Edward R. Wagner, secretary, treasurer and manager of the E. R. Wagner Manu- facturing Company, established his present business in 1900. He has since devoted his attention to the manufacture of vehicle hardware and sheet metal stampings and the steady development of the enterprise has made it one of the substantial productive concerns of the city.
Mr. Wagner was born in Milwaukee on the 3d of August, 1873. He is a son of Charles H. Wagner, a native of Germany, who came to the United States when about
EDWARD R. WAGNER
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eighteen years of age. Charles H. Wagner resided for a time in New York and then settled in Milwaukee. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and conducted a picture frame establishment on Mason street. He also figured prominently in connection with public affairs, serving as supervisor and assessor of his ward for several terms. He was a conscientious, hard-working man, devoted to his family and loyal at all times to the interests of the community. He was one of the early and active members of the Mil- waukee Musical Society. His demise occurred in 1914. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Johanna Munk, was a daughter of Dr. Emanucl Munk, one of the old-time physicians of Thiensville, who was born and educated in Germany and came to the United States in 1848 at the time of the German revolution, desiring to enjoy the free- dom and liberty of the new world. He was a surgeon in the northern army during the Civil war and was one of the early champions of the republican party in Wisconsin. He died in 1902, at the venerable age of ninety-three years.
Edward R. Wagner pursued his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee and completed his studies in the East Side high school. He then started out in the business world and for five years was employed in the office of the Shadbolt & Boyd Iron Company. Later he was connected with the C. J. Smith & Sons Company for a period of five years hut was ambitious to engage in business on his own account and in 1900 he organized and incorporated the E. R. Wagner Manufacturing Company. They manufacture vehicle hardware and sheet metal stampings and their market covers a large part of this country. They started in 'a small way with a capital of hut a few thousand dollars, but today their capitalization is five hundred thousand dol- lars and the plant has been developed to large proportions. They have five acres of ground upon which stand substantial buildings, splendidly equipped for the line in which they are engaged. Their specialty is the production of sheet metal parts in large quantities, requiring special tools and machinery, many of them being of their own design and invention. The plant is thoroughly modern in every particular. The buildings were constructed on the one-story plan, with a liberal amount of daylight and thoroughly fireproof in every particular.
On the 2d of December, 1905, Mr. Wagner was married to Miss Ellen Solberg, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Solberg of Milwaukee, who were horn in Norway. Mr. Solberg came to the United States as a young man after acquiring a college education in the old conntry. He took an active interest in American politics and held office while in Minnesota. He later published a newspaper at Madison, WIsconsin, and for a period he was Danish consul at Milwaukee. He is now with the New York Life Insurance Company and is still active, although eighty-nine years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are the parents of four children: Robert S., who attends the Milwaukee University School; Jane E. and Frederick E., twins, who are also students in the Milwaukee University School; and Marion C.
Mr. Wagner belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Rotary Club, the City Club, the Wisconsin Club, the Blue Mound Country Club and the Association of Com- merce. He is much interested in public affairs and is a director of the Centralized Budget of Philanthropies. He is also a director of Columbia Hospital and of the Mil- waukee University School and thus he gives his aid and influence to many forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community at large.
ADOLPH F. SAUER.
Adolph F. Sauer is the president of the A. F. Sauer Company, dealers in tailors' trimmings at 353 East Water street, Milwaukee. The business was established in 1895 and has been in existence for more than a quarter of a century, wisely guided by Mr. Sauer, who is a man of sound business judgment and readily recognizes and utilizes the opportunities that open up in the field of trade.
Mr. Sauer was born in Baden, Germany, July 15, 1842. His father, Joseph A, Saner, whose birth occurred in 1808, passed away about 1868, at the age of sixty years. He, too, was born in Baden and came to Milwaukee in 1854 with his family, consisting of wife and three children. He conducted a notion and furnishing goods store on East Water street, near Juneau, and was one of the early, enterprising and successful mer- chants of the city. He married Margaret Neninger, who was born in Neuwitte, Ger- many, the wedding being celebrated, however, in Baden, to which place her family had removed. She was born in 1808 and died in 1880.
Adolph F. Sauer obtained his education in the schools of Germany and after com- ing to Milwaukee worked for the dry goods firm of W. S. Candee & Company in the position of errand boy at a salary of two dollars per week. He continued with the house for two years and then went to New York city, where he remained until 1861. when he returned to Milwaukee, where he was in the employ of Hoffman Brothers until 1863. He then again entered the employ of Candee & Company, the firm having m
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the meantime removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, where Mr. Sauer worked for a year, returning to Milwaukee in the fall of 1865. He was afterward with the firm of Love & Tichenor in the dry goods business for two. years and subsequently was for three years with the firm of Zimmerman Brothers in the clothing business. His next connection was with A. W. Rich & Company, whom he represented in the position of floor walker for four years. Later he was with the firm of Storm & Hill, owners of a wholesale dry goods house, and continued as one of their representatives upon the road for a period of fourteen years. On giving up his position as traveling salesman in 1892 he bought out the tailoring business of Peter Lehman and conducted the enterprise alone for a year. At the end of that time he admitted Daniel Lowrie to a partnership and two years later sold his interest to Mr. Lowrie. It was in 1895 that he founded his present business, which was established under the firm style of Sauer & Guttelman, and in 1900 he became sole proprietor by acquiring the interest of the junior partner. Since that time he has been the sole owner of the business, which was incorporated in December, 1903, under the present name. Mr. Sauer remains at the head of the com- pany as president, while his son, Edward A. Sauer, is now the secretary and treasurer. The company handles trimmings for tailors and furriers and their trade covers Wiscon- sin and the neighboring states and extends as far west as Nebraska, Kansas and North and South Dakota. They have the most extensive trade of any house in their line of business in Milwaukee.
Mr. Sauer has been married twice. He first wedded Elizabeth Mayer of Muscoda, Wisconsin, and they became parents of three children. Edward A., the eldest, now in business with his father, married Ella Juhre and they have two children, Frederick and Elizabeth. Ilma is the second of the family. Delphina became the wife of James S. Wright, of Chicago, and died in 1917, leaving two sons, Stewart and James S. Wright, Jr. The first wife of Mr. Sauer passed away in 1882 and on the 28th of September, 1887, Mr. Sauer wedded Miss Minnie Feldman of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and they have become parents of two children, Vera and Margaret, the latter now the wife of George Allen Wallace of River Forest, Illinois. They have two children, Janette and Thomas A. Wallace.
Mr. Sauer has always supported the democratic party until 1920 but has never been active as a politician. He belongs to Kilbourn Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M .; Kil- bourn Chapter, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, K. T .; and Wisconsin Consistory, A. & A. S. R. He has membership in the Old Settlers Club and has long been an interested witness of the growth and progress of this city. He was but twelve years of age when he arrived in Milwaukee and for more than two-thirds of a century has here made his home. He has used his time wisely and well since starting out in the business world and his enterprise and energy have brought him prominently to the front as a successful merchant.
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