History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 26

Author: Bruce, William George, 1856-1949; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), b. 1844
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 912

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JOHN E. N. FIGVED.

During the period of Milwaukee's early development the tanning industry came to the fore as one of the strong forces in the upbuilding and commercial progress of the city. It is with this line of business that John E. N. Figved is connected, having for a long period been classed with the leading tanners and prominent business men of the city. He came to America from the land of the Midnight Sun, his birth having occurred at Stavanger, Norway, on the 23d of September, 1865, his parents being Emilus and Johanna (Nyman) Figved, the former born April 9, 1843, and the latter in Novem- her, 1847. They, too, were natives of Stavanger, where they resided until 1870, when they determined to seek the opportunities of the new world and crossed the Atlantic, settling at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

John E. N. Figved was at that time but five years of age. When he was a lad of eight he returned to his native country and was a student in the schools there for a period of seven years. He again came to America in 1881, taking up his abode in Boston, Massachusetts, where he pursued a business course in order to acquaint him- self with business methods in the United States. He then secured a position in a tannery of that city and remained in Boston for eleven years, working along the same lines throughout the period. In 1892 he came to Milwaukee and for a decade was employed in different tanneries, during which time he thoroughly mastered the business in principle and detail. He then established a business of his own and although the beginning was small he has constantly developed his interests until he now has one of the largest fur tanneries in the city.

On the Sth of October, 1898, Mr. Figved was married to Miss Gina Nelson, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Milwaukee and they have become the parents of four children: Lillian, Clara, Harold and Elmer. Mr. Figved has member- ship with the Sons of Norway and has always been interested in the welfare of bis native countrymen. In matters of citizenship, however, he has always loyally supported

JOHN E. N. FIGVED

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those interests which are most necessary in the welfare and progress of his adopted city and he has made for himself a most creditable position as one of Milwaukee's sub- stantial business men.

THOMAS MCMILLAN.

When Thomas McMillan passed away Milwaukee lost one of her representative citizens who had devoted many years of his life to the public service, and at the time of his demise he was the oldest city employe, having been connected with Milwaukee's public interests for a half century. He was born at Campbelltown, in Argyleshire, Scotland, April 1, 1847, a son of John MeMillan, who was a farmer of Argyleshire, where the family had lived for many generations. Thomas MeMillan determined to try his fortune in the new world when a young man of twenty-five years and, bidding adieu to friends and native country, he sailed for the United States in 1872. Making his way to Milwaukee, he became associated with the E. P. Allis Company, which was then engaged in building the large pumping engine of the original water system of the city. Mr. McMillan, on the completion of the construction work, was placed in charge of that engine, first by the Allis Company and afterward by the city, which took over the water system and retained the services of Mr. MeMillan, recognizing his marked capability, loyalty and fidelity. On the 20th of April, 1873, he withdrew from all other interests in order to give his entire time and attention to the service of the city and he remained in charge of the city pumping plant and of all the city power plants until his demise. He was most systematie, thorough and capable in the discharge of his duties and his record was one which afforded the utmost satisfaction to the officials and to the general public.

In the year 1874 Thomas McMillan was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Alexander, who is still living in Milwaukee. She was born in Alexandria, Scotland, March 6, 1848, a daughter of Walter Alexander, and when a young woman of twenty- five years she came with her brother William to the new world, establishing her home in Milwaukee, where in 1874 she became the wife of Thomas MeMillan. They traveled life's journey happily together for forty-six years and were separated by the hand of death when on the 1st day of May, 1920, Mr. McMillan was called to the home beyond, survived not only by his widow but by their six children, namely: John W., mentioned elsewhere in this work: Thomas C .; William A .; Jean; Ruth; and Mrs. Agnes Marsch. There are also eight grandchildren.

No better estimate of the life work and of the character of Mr. McMillan could be given than appeared editorially in one of the local papers as follows: "The death of Thomas McMillan is a deep sorrow to those who knew him. But to all his life has been a real example and in a quiet way an inspiration. Mr. McMillan was the oldest employe of the city in point of service, a service of almost fifty years, and for the last twelve years he had been chief engineer of all the city's power plants. In itself this is an uncommon record. But it is the quality of the service which he rendered, far more than the length of it, which deserves high praise. For his was a service marked in every way by fidelity to his work and fidelity to the public as well as by unquestioned ability and rare conscientiousness. To the interests of the public, his employer, he gave all the devotion that it would be possible for any man to give his own interests. His work engrossed him and in city politics he took no part. City administrations came and went. His worth was so great that if any politician thought of displacing him, which may be doubted, he realized that such an act would be an affront to the public. Of Mr. McMillan one other thing should be said. He was born in a foreign country, but when he became an American citizen, he became an American in the full sense of the word. His loyalty to his adopted country was staneh and unfailing. And in this spirit he reared his children. His community is the better because he lived in it. The uprightness of his life, his wholehearted devotion to duty and his will to serve to the utmost are sterling virtues. It would be well if more would try to emulate them."

HUGO W. SCHNETZKY.

Hugo W. Schnetzky, president and general manager of the Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company, with plant and offices at Burnham and Forty-fourth avenues, was born in Milwaukee, November 17, 1882. His father, Herman P. Schnetzky, was a native of Germany and came to the United States when about twenty years of age, settling in Milwaukee, where he became identified with professional interests as an architect. He wedded Mary Knab, who was born in Milwaukee, a representative of one Vol. III-16

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of the early pioneer families of this city. Her death occurred in 1913, while Mr. Schnetzky survived until 1916.

Hugo W. Schnetzky obtained his early education in the public schools, attending the West Division high school, while later he entered the University of Wisconsin and was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1907. He subsequently pursued a course in Columbia University in New York city, specializing in the study of architecture. Returning to his home, he entered business in connection with his father and thus practiced for three years or until his father's death, after which he carried on the business alone. In May, 1920, he was elected president and general manager of the Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company and is now at the head of this concern. He consolidated his architect business with that of the Henry Horst Company of Rock Island, Illinois, and with them does a general business in contracting, engineering and architecture. They have an office in the Brumder building and their patronage is extensive. The Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company is today engaged in the manufacture of automobile, truck, tractor and marine motors, which they market over the United States, and they also do much export business. During the war the factory was one hundred per cent in war work.

On the 9th of November, 1910, Mr. Schnetzky was married to Miss Belle Wilmanns, a daughter of Hugo Wilmanns, engaged in the lithographing business in Milwaukee, of which city he is a native. Mr. and Mrs. Schnetzky have two children: Hugo P., born October 16, 1913; and Herbert W., born November 26, 1915.

Mr. Schnetzky has long manifested a keen and helpful interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Milwaukee school board, having been elected in 1917, and is now president of the board. A Lutheran in religious faith, he is a member of Grace church. He also has membership in the Wisconsin Club and the Milwaukee Athletic Club and is identified with the Association of Commerce and the Kappa Sigma, a fraternity of the University of Wisconsin. He enjoys all outdoor sports and maintains a summer home at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, while his town residence is at No. 255 Thirty-fourth street.

FREDERICK MAYER.

Frederick Mayer long occupied a prominent position among the representative manufacturers and business men of Milwaukee as head of the F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Company, one of the important manufacturing and commercial interests of the city. He had reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten when called to his final rest on the 16th of March, 1893, his birth having occurred in Nierstein, Germany, September 4, 1823. In his native land he acquired a common school educa- tion and then served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade in the shop of a rela- tive in Nierstein. He afterward worked as a journeyman in various sections of Ger- many and was in the army from 1847 until 1851.

When he had received an honorable discharge, however, he at once availed himself of the opportunity to emigrate to the United States and arrived in Milwaukee on the 8th of May, 1851. retaining his residence here to the time of his death. He was a young man of twenty-eight years when he reached the new world and for a year he was employed as a journeyman shoemaker, after which he established business on his own account, opening a small shoe shop for the manufacture of boots and shoes and also for repair work. His patronage steadily grew and at times he employed as many as five or six shoemakers in addition to an apprentice, making custom-made boots and shoes but gradually adding factory goods in order to have a complete assortment and take care of all classes of trade. He conducted this store until the fall of 1880, when he emharked in the wholesale manufacture of boots and shoes. The invested capital amounted to only about five thousand dollars and the beginning of the business was accordingly small, the factory output being about fifty pairs of shoes daily. From the beginning Mr. Mayer gave the utmost attention to the quality of goods sent out from his establishment and by reason of this and his progressive and reliable methods the busi- ness steadly grew and developed until in 1884 it was incorporated with an authorized capital of fifty thousand dollars, of which thirty thousand dollars was paid in. Mr. Mayer became the president of the company, with his eldest son, George P. Mayer, as secretary and treasurer. During the same year an addition was built to the factory, extending its capacity to five hundred pairs of shoes daily. Still the growth continued, necessitating other buildings from time to time until the plant comprises a group of buildings on Walnut street with a capacity of ten thousand pairs per day. Frederick Slayer continued at the head of the business until his demise, which occurred March 16, 1893, and in the intervening period he had not only established himself in a position as one of the representative manufacturers and business men but also as one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens-one who at all times was ready and willing to aid any project that promised betterment for Milwaukee along the lines cf civic

FREDERICK MAYER

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development and improvement. The period of his residence in this city covered more than four decades and he had gained an extensive circle of warm friends who mourned his passing.

Frederick Mayer married Miss Phillipine Laubenheimer, who was born in Germany on the 18th of July, 1829 Their son, George P. Mayer, who became the father's suc- cessor as the head of the F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Company, was born in Milwaukee, December 14, 1860. He was reared and educated in Milwaukee and his entire business training was received in his father's factory. He was a young man of twenty-three years when at the incorporation of the business in 1884 he was made the secretary and treasurer and from that time forward he has contributed to the success of the business through his thorough understanding of the trade and through his executive control and able management. Not only has the factory in Milwaukee been enlarged eleven times to meet the growing demands of the trade but in addition the company also operates a factory and store in Seattle, Washington, under the name of the Washington Shoe Manufacturing Company and has likewise erected a fine plant at Ludington, Michigan, the capacity of which is two thousand pairs of shoes daily. Another advanced step in the enlargement of the business was made when in 1890 the Mayer interests absorbed the Schoenecker interests and F. J. Mayer and A. J. Mayer, who had been connected with the firm for some time, became officers, The former, who learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, is now the head of the manufacturing department and he has continued to exercise the same care in the purchase of materials and in the manufacture of the goods that made the name of Frederick Mayer, Sr., a synonym for thorough reliability. Since the death of the father in 1893 the three sons have been in charge, the efforts of the one ably supplementing and rounding out the labors of the other, so that the success of the undertaking is attributable to the combined activity of all three. They have surrounded themselves with an able corps of assistants and the business, which was started with a paid in capital of thirty thousand dollars, is now capitalized for two million five hundred thousand dollars. The plant is thoroughly equipped with the latest improved machinery for work of this character and the highest standards have always been maintained in the methods of manufacture.

JOHN WALTER McMILLAN.

John Walter McMillan, who for many years has engaged in law practice in Milwaukee and is one of the well known attorneys of the city, enjoying an enviable reputation through his professional connections, was here born August 4, 1875, his parents being Thomas and Agnes (Alexander) McMillan, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. He is indebted to the public school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed, pursning his studies to the age of fourteen years, after which he started out in the business world, spending five years as a cashier and bookkeeper, the last four years of this period being in the employ of the O'Neil Oil & Paint Company. His desire 10 enter upon a professional career, however, caused him in 1897 to enter the University of Wisconsin. He there pursued a four years' course and was graduated in June, 1901, with the LL. B. degree.

In the same year Mr. McMillan was admitted to the bar and in 1902 he entered upon the active practice of his profession in McAlester, Oklahoma, then Indian Ter- ritory. While a resident there he was active on volunteer committees striving to obtain statehood. From 1904 to 1907 he was connected with the United States court of the central district of the Indian Territory, in the capacity of United States commissioner, but then in the spring of 1908 he returned to Milwaukee, where he has since engaged in the general practice of law. From 1909 until 1912 he was associated with the firm of Miller, Mack & Fairchild and from 1913 until 1915 was a partner in the firm of Kronshage, Hannan & McMillan. In 1912 he served as assistant United States attorney for the eastern district of Wisconsin. He now devotes his attention to the general practice of law, specializing, however, along the lines of land titles and corporation law.

On the 4th of September, 1902, Mr. McMillan was married to Miss Lucretia F. Hinkley of Milwaukee, a daughter of Frank D. Hinkley and a granddaughter of Ahira Rockwell Hinkley, who was one of the first white settlers of Waukesha county, Wis. consin, and a lineal descendant of one of the first governors of the old Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. The family is still largely represented in the eastern state. Frank D. Hinkley, the father of Mrs. McMillan, was born in Eagle, Wisconsin, in 1842 and for many years has made his home in Milwaukee, where he is a member of the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and filled the office of grain inspector therefor until his retire- ment in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. McMillan have one daughter, Elizabeth, who was graduated from the Riverside high school of Milwaukee with the class of 1921 and then entered Beloit College, Mrs. McMillan was also graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1899 with the Bachelor of Arts degree.

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In politics Mr. McMillan has always been a republican and in 1902 he served as president of the first Young Men's Republican Club organized at McAlester, Oklahoma, then the Indian Territory. He takes a keen but quiet interest in politics. He belongs to the Westminster Presbyterian church, in which for nine years he filled the office of trustee, and fraternally he is connected with the Masons and with the Knights of Pythias. He has membership in Kenwood Lodge No. 303, A. F. & A. M., of Milwaukee, and he became a thirtieth degree member of the Scottish Rite at McAlester, Oklahoma. He is likewise a past chancellor commander of Bolander Lodge, K. P., of McAlester. He is identified with the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity of the University of Wisconsin, while his wife belongs to the Phi Beta Phi of the State University and the Phi Beta Kappa, an honorary scholarship fraternity. Mr. McMillan's name is also found on the membership rolls of the City Club and of the Association of Commerce, while along strictly professional lines he is identified with the Milwaukee Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mrs. McMillan is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Association of Col- legiate Alumni. She possesses splendid executive ability and marked musical talent and she is also of a most humanitarian spirit, cooperating largely in philanthropic and benevolent work.

HERMAN W. LADISH.

Herman W. Ladish is an active figure in industrial circles, being president of the Ladish-Stoppenbach Company, also president of the Ladish Drop Forge Company and vice president of the Ladish Milling Company, all of Milwaukee. He was born in this city November 29, 1SS0, and is a son of Herman C. and Augusta (Zahn) Ladish, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to America about 1867, settling in Milwaukee. The father was a lumber inspector and followed that business the greater part of his life. He passed away in 1914.

Herman W. Ladish obtained his initial business experience as an employe of the Hansen Hop & Malt Company, which was afterward the American Malting Company and is now the Ladish Milling Company. He was made superintendent of the American Malting Company and subsequently purchased an interest in the Lytle-Stoppenbach Company. Two years later the name was changed to the Ladish-Stoppenbach Company and Mr. Ladish purchased a controlling interest. In 1905, in association with John Obenberger, he established what is now the Ladish Drop Ferge Company of Cudahy, Wisconsin. of which Mr. Ladish is president. It is one of the largest concerns of the kind in this section of the country, manufacturing forge drops for automobiles, tractors, railroads, etc. Mr. Ladish is also the vice president of the Ladish Milling Company, manufacturers of wheat flour, rye flour and corn goods, also horse, dairy stock, poultry and hog foods. In this enterprise, associated with Mr. Ladish, are L. M. Powell, P. P. Donahue, Harry M. Stratton and Stuart Hyde.

During 1916-17 Mr. Ladish was president of the Chamber of Commerce of Milwau- kee, covering part of the war period. and during the war he looked after the entire grain interests of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Milwaukee Club. the Wisconsin Club and the Blue Mound Country Club.

GEORGE SEELMAN.

George Seelman, president of the Milwaukee Envelope Manufacturing Company and of the George Seelman & Sons Company, has been actuated by a most progressive spirit in all that he undertakes and step by step he has advanced in his business career until he now occupies a prominent and enviable position in the commercial circles of Milwaukee. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, March 29, 1850, and is a son of Ernst Seelman, who was born in Celle, Hanover, August 29, 1817, and who passed away in Hamburg, Germany, in 1899. His wife bore the maiden name of Sophia Koltze and was born in Hamburg, January 20, 1821, while her death occurred in that city April 10, 1910.

Their son, George Seelman, came to the United States in 1867, landing at New York on the 17th of April of that year. On the 25th of June following he enlisted in the United States army as a member of Company M, Second Artillery Regiment, from which he was honorably discharged June 25, 1870. He came to Milwaukee from San Francisco on the 5th of July of the same year, and now through a period of more than a half century he has been closely associated with the business interests and com- mercial development of this city.

HERMAN W. LADISH

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On the 27th of April, 1872, at Port Washington, Mr. Seelman was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Delles, who was born October 29, 1851. She is a daughter of John Delles, whose birth occurred in Canach, a village in Luxembourg, and who came to the United States in 1848, settling in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where he followed the occupation of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Seelman have become the parents of four sons and a daughter. Henry, who is vice president of the George Seelman & Sons Company and treasurer of the Milwaukee Envelope Manufacturing Company, married Meta Hoffman of Milwaukee on the 6th of June, 1900. Henry Seelman was at that time in the twenty-seventh year of his age, his birth having occurred September 14, 1873. He and his wife have become the parents of a son, Ralph, who was born January 27, 1902, and is now a student in the University of Wisconsin. Helen is the wife of William H. Howard, of Milwaukee, who is connected with her father's business, and they have one daughter, Kathryn. John J. Seelman, M. D., the third of the family, is president of the Milwaukee County Medical Association (in 1921) and a prominent physician of this city. He was born November 12, 1877, and was married on the 20th of June, 1905, to Mary Elizabeth Reynolds. They have two children, Mar- garet and Eleonore. Dr. Seelman served with the rank of major in the Medical Corps, U. S. A., during the World war. George Seelman, Jr., born June 6, 1880, was married March 26, 1913, to Clara Wegener and is now engaged in business with his father. Ernest C. Seelman, horn September 5, 1886, was educated at the University of Wisconsin and was married June 29, 1910, to Miss Elsie Franke. They have two children: Alvin, born July 23, 1912; and Eulalia, born August 28, 1917.

The family record of Mr. Seelman is an interesting one and equally so is that of his business career, for he is a self-made man whose steady progress has resulted from individual capability and worth. His first position in connection with insurance interests in Milwaukee was with the firm of J. O. Myers & Company, with whom he remained for a year. He then went upon the road selling sewing machines and devoted two years to that business. He afterward continued upon the road as a traveling salesman, handling nursery stock for several years, after which he returned to Mil- waukee in 1880 and engaged in the bookbinding business in connection with Herman Voss, with whom he continued until July 1, 1890. At that date he established the Mil- wankee Blank Book Manufacturing Company and in 1906 he organized the Milwaukee Envelope Manufacturing Company and also the George Seelman & Sons Company. These concerns have developed largely under his able management and careful direction and have become two of the important business interests of the city.

Mr. Seelman has never been active in politics and has usually sided with the minority as a matter of principle. His religions faith is that of the Catholic church and he is a communicant of Saints Peter and Paul parish. He belongs to the Old Settlers Club, to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Wisconsin Club and the Association of Commerce. It is said that every man has a hobby, and if this be true, Mr. Seelman's hobby is his children and his grandchildren. His interest has always centered in his home. He has ever been a great reader and has a fine library of German and English works. He resides at 385 Cambridge avenue, in an attractive residence which he erected in 1900.

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History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 26

Author: Bruce, William George, 1856-1949; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), b. 1844 Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 912

Author: Bruce, William George, 1856-1949; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), b. 1844
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 912