History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 41

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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The original society of War Mothers of America was, as stated above, a memorial Vol. 111-24

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society to the first and to all other American boys who fell in the war and was intended to be, as it is, in its nature, a hereditary society, to be continued indefinitely by the women descendants of soldiers. A number of women who had been active in organizing the original Milwaukee County Chapter of War Mothers did not believe that the action taken by the local War Mothers' chapter in leaving the original organization of War Mothers of America and becoming affiliated with the American War Mothers, was either advisable or desirable, and wished to continue as a part of the original War Mothers of America national and state organizations, now known as Service Star Legion. These women organized the Milwaukee Chapter of the Service Star Legion. This society, Milwaukee County Chapter of Service Star Legion, is now one year old and has sent delegates to two Service Star Legion state conventions, one at Oshkosh and one at Fort Atkinson. Mrs. Edwin Van Ostrand, of Madison, is the state president, and Mrs. James Trottman, of Milwaukee, one of the vice presidents of the state organization. The officers of the local chapter of this society are Mrs. Lonis Manegold, president; Mrs. Philip Orth, vice president; Mrs. Max Katz, second vice president: Mrs. George H. Archer, recording secretary; Mrs. Leroy Willoughby, corresponding secretary; Mrs. R. B. Walker, treasurer; Mrs. Margaret Roloff, historian; and Mrs. William C. Kroening, auditor.

Both of these chapters, the Milwaukee County Chapter of Service Star Legion and the Milwaukee County Chapter of American War Mothers were organized to do and are doing the same character of patriotic work. These societies were hrought into existence as a direct result of the storm and stress of war and have reasons for ex- istence very different from former existing societies; for the women who lived through the long days of dread and anxiety, who with valiant courage bade goodbye and God speed to the boys, but who dared not look into the future, must have a sympathy and understanding and a desire to be of service and the opportunity to render service is open to them through work in these chapters.

OTTO FRANK PFEIL.

Otto Frank Pfeil, president of the Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company, belongs to that class of substantial business men whose records are not in the least spec- tacular but who through close application, indefatigable energy and persistency of purpose have made continuous progress in the business world. Wisconsin numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Granville. October 15, 1867, upon his father's farm. He is a son of Christopher and Agnes (Dix) Pfeil. The father, who was born in Darmstadt. Germany, came to the United States when a lad of but fourteen years, crossing the Atlantic in 1838 with an elder brother, Valen- tine Pfeil. He came direct to Wisconsin and in 1840 settled upon his own farm. In the early days he carried his groceries to his home from Juneau's store, and he met many hardships and privations of frontier life but as the years passed on prospered, becoming one of the substantial agriculturists of the community. He was a prom- inent and active member of the Lutheran church and contributed largely to the building of the church which is now standing in West Granville. His wife, who was born in Saxony. Germany, came to Wisconsin with her brother, Richard Dix, when a maiden of sixteen years. The death of Christopher Pfeil occurred in 1909. when he was eighty-five years of age, while his wife departed this life in 1920.

Otto F. Pfeil acquired his early education in the Granville district schools and afterward attended the high school at Port Washington, Wisconsin, where he was graduated in 1883. He later became a student in Mayer's Business College of Mil- waukee and then started out in the commercial world by entering the employ of O. R. Pieper, proprietor of a grocery store, for whom he worked for three years as clerk and bookkeeper. He was afterward bookkeeper for the Gugler Lithographic Company for a year and then because of illness spent a year on the home farm. believing that the outdoor life would he beneficial, as it so proved. During this time he learned telegraphy and later he was employed by the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroad as operator and station agent for a period of five years. He was also relief agent between Oshkosh and Chicago and subsequently left the railroad service to again become connected with the grocery trade, this time spending a few months in the Steinmeyer grocery house. He was afterward associated with Gimbel Broth- ers for a period of ten years, during which decade he worked his way steadily up- ward from the position of carpet salesman to that of advertising manager. Later he returned to Pieper's, with whom he remained for four years as bookkeeper, and then again went to Port Washington, where he established the Enterprise Meat Market in connection with his nephew, Alex Kuhn. This business Mr. Kuhn is still conducting and Mr. Pfeil was associated therewith for five years. At the end of that time, however, he again came to Milwaukee, where he entered the gas lighter business in connection with the Spit Fire Gas Lighter Company as secretary and

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OTTO F. PFEIL

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treasurer. He has since continued in this position, and in 1914 the company con- solidated with the Rutz Gas Specialty Company, forming the Milwaukee Gas Spe- cialty Company. From the beginning Mr. Pfeil has been active in the conduct of its affairs and since the Ist of May, 1921, has been the president. They manufacture gas stove lighters, gas irons and also cigar lighters and find a market for their output all over the United States but mainly in the east. They sell in every town of any size in the United States and Mr. Pfeil has been an official of the Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company and its predecessors since 1914, when he became secretary and treasurer, and since 1921 has been the chief executive officer, bending his energy and attention to constructive efforts and to administrative direction of the affairs of a constantly increasing business.

On the 24th of April, 1889, Mr. Pfeil was united in marriage to Miss Adele Constance Bostwick, a daughter of John M. Bostwick, a jeweler of Port Washing- ton, Wisconsin, who is now living at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeil have become the parents of three children: Elmer, who is connected with the City Bank in Milwaukee and who served in the navy during the World war with the rank of ensign. He married Ruth Holmes, of Milwaukee, a daughter of Frederick Holmes. Lucille, the second of the family, is now the wife of Orren Wayne Can- right, of Toledo, Ohio, who is cashier of the Paragon Oil Refining Company. They have two children: Marion Adele and Warren Wayne Canright. John Myron, the third member of the family, is a student in the technical high school.

Mr. Pfeil has never aspired to political office but at the polls gives his support to the republican party, for he is a firm believer in its principles. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Lafayette Lodge, No. 265, and is now going through the chairs. He also has membership in Calumet Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M .; Kilbourn Council, No. 9; Ivanhoe Commandery, K. T .; Wisconsin Consistory, A. A. S. R .; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His name is also on the membership rolls of the Modern Woodmen of America, of the Association of Commerce and of the Amer- ican Gas Association, and in addition to his other interests he is the vice president of the Evertite Belt Company. He finds time not only for business but for activities of various characters contributing to the development, progress and improvement of the community. He is a lover of music and has frequently been a member of church choirs. He is a fisherman and enjoys all manly outdoor sports. Horses and dogs are his hobby, and he has owned some very fine animals. He recognizes the value of recreation as well as the value of diligence in the affairs of life and gives to each its due proportion of time. In a business way he has steadily pro- gressed, and the sterling traits of his character have been manifest in what he has accomplished and the methods that he has pursued.

OLAF I. ROVE.

Milwaukee numbers among her citizens many men of Norwegian birth and prominent among these is Olaf 1. Rove, vice consul of Norway and examiner of titles for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was born at Fredrikshald, Norway, on the 15th of April, 1864, a son of Severin and Azora (Olsen) Rove, his father's people being for generations seafaring men, while on the maternal side they were officeholders of prominence. Severin Rove passed away in 1879. He spent his life in Norway, where he was connected with the customs service, as was also his father, Andreas Rove. Mrs. Rove, who passed away in 1889, was a daughter of Hans Olsen, an officer in the Norwegian army, having charge of the veterinary service for a corps of cavalry. Hans Olsen was the first of his family to take up residence in a city.

In the pursuit of an education Olaf I. Rove attended the public and high schools of Frederikshald and when putting his textbooks aside he entered into the wholesale hardware business in Christiania with an uncle, Olaf I. Olsen. He was active in that association for about five years and during that time was office manager and salesman, having charge of the city sales department. In September of the year 1884 he left his native land and for nearly three years made New York city his home, heing there engaged in the marine adjusting busi- ness. At the termination of that time he removed to Wisconsin and entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1890 and admitted to the bar soon after. He made his own way through the university, working in a title abstract office and thereby became familiar with the work in which he was to engage in later life. After receiving his degree he obtained a partnership in the business in which he had been employed and subsequently made Madison his home until 1892, when he went to Edgerton, Wisconsin, and opened a law office. He was soon a prominent member of the legal profession there and held the office of city attorney for some

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time. His popularity won for him the office of city judge but he did not qualify for the position. After one year in Edgerton he associated with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and as a result removed to Milwaukee, where he has since heen active in the abstract division of the legal department. In 1906 Mr. Rove was appointed vice consul for Norway, the consul residing in Chicago and in 1912 he was knighted by the King of Norway, being made a Knight of St. Olaf in recognition of his work in the consular service. In 1921 he was made commander of the Order of St. Olaf and in 1920, upon the resignation of the Norwegian consul general at New York was slated for that position, the result of petitions from Norwegians throughout the United States. Although receiving the appointment he could not qualify for the position, being a citizen of the United States instead of Norway. For four years he was president of the Sons of Norway and as such was sent to Norway in 1914 to represent the Norwegians of the United States at the one hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the Norway constitution.

On the 16th of July, 1890, Mr. Rove was united in marriage to Miss Emma Norberg, a daughter of Sven P. Norberg, who was a well known business man in Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Rove was born in Sweden and came to this coun- try with her parents in 1870. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rove three children have been born: Louis Claude; Olaf Norberg; and Alma Evelyn, who died at the age of four and one-half years. The elder son graduated from the University of Wisconsin, with the class of 1918 and is now engaged as a mechanical engineer in Milwaukee, with the Nordberg Manufacturing Company. Upon the outbreak of the World war he offered his services and became a lieutenant in the Aviation Corps, serving in that capacity until he received his discharge in February, 1919. Louis Claude was born on the 5th of November, 1895, and Olaf Norberg was born February 11, 1898. Like his brother, Olaf attended the University of Wisconsin, specializing in civil engineering and geology, and he was a member of the Stu- dents Army Training Corps of that institution.

In politics Mr. Rove follows an independent course, supporting the man he thinks best fitted for the office without regard to party principles. Mrs. Rove is a member of the English Lutheran church. Fraternally Mr. Rove belongs to the Masons, having membership in Hiram Lodge, No. 50, and he is likewise a member of the Sons of Norway and the Association of Commerce. His patriotism and love for America was manifested during the World war, when he quickly subordinated all personal interests to take a prominent part in all war activities. He was likewise a member of the legal advisory board. Mr. Rove is deeply in- terested in the activities of his people in this country and is one of the directors of the Scandinavian-American Old Peoples' Home at Milwaukee. He is intensely fond of music and reading and his home at 70 Thirty-second street contains a library abounding in the best literature.

ARTHUR JOHN GOETSCHI.

Milwaukee numbers among her prominent and progressive young business men, Arthur John Goetsch, district manager of the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company with offices at 912-14 Railroad Exchange building. He was born in Mil- waukee on the Ist of September, 1894, a son of Gustave and Augusta ( Reiner) Goetsch. both residing in this city, where they are respected and representative citi- zens. Gustave Goetsch was born in Germany and when he was a child his parents came to the United States and located in Milwaukee. In later life he became connected with the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company and is still identi- fied with that business. Since 1887 he has been a resident of Milwaukee and has made many friends who appreciate his many sterling traits of character and his true personal worth. Mrs. Goetsch was also born in Germany and came to Milwaukee with her parents in 1885.

In the acquirement of an education Arthur John Goetsch attended the public and parochial schools of Milwaukee and then put his textbooks aside for a time, assisting his father in the grocery business for a period of one and one-half years. Subsequently he enrolled in Hoffman's Business College where he took a commercial course, and then accepted a position as city salesman for Pieper-Turow Company, wholesale grocers, for two years. At the end of that time he identified himself with the insurance business and was special agent of the Wisconsin National Life Insur- ance Company at Milwaukee until he enlisted for service in the World war on the 22d of May, 1918. He was first attached to the medical department but later was assigned to the duties of interpreter. For four and one-half months he was sta- tioned at Camp Grant and for five months at Camp Upton, where he was commis- sioned sergeant. On receiving his discharge on the 13th of January, 1919, he

ARTHUR J. GOETSCH

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returned to Milwaukee and for two years was traveling and city salesman for the A. Schwartz & Son Box Company. He resigned that position in 1920, however, to again enter the service of the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company and in November of that year was appointed to his present position as district manager. Mr. Goetsch is a high type of the enterprising, honorable, progressive young busi- ness man, and his efforts, foresight and energy assure his continued success.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Goetsch has given his support to the republican party but has never taken an active part in political affairs. His religious faith is that of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and he holds membership in the Wiscon- sin Automobile Association. In line with his work he is a member of the Life Under- writers of Milwaukee and also of the national and state associations. For recreation Mr. Goetsch turns to outdoor sports and is particularly interested in baseball. He is fond of motoring and has made many trips throughout the country. Although but twenty-seven years of age he is well qualified for the position he now holds, and he can look forward to still greater achievement in the coming years.

REV. SEBASTIAN BERNARD.

The Catholic clergy has a strong representative in Rev. Sebastian Bernard, who is pastor of St. Michael's church. He was born at Mount Calvary, in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, February 28, 1871, and is a son of Anthony and Elizabeth (Gillis) Bernard, the former a native of Luxembourg, while the latter was born at Johnsburg, Wisconsin. The father arrived in this state in young manhood and spent his remaining days within its borders, residing in Fond du Lac county until his death, which was occasioned by accident when he was forty-five years of age. Ilis son, Sebastian Bernard, acquired his early education in the parish school of Holy Cross parish and St. Lawrence College at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin. He next became a student in St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee and was ordained to the priesthood in 1893. He was then made assistant at St. Michael's, where he remained from 1893 until 1896 and then had charge of St. Mary's church at Lomira, Wisconsin, until 1903. He was next given charge of St. John's church at Johnsburg, Wisconsin, where he continued until 1909 and in August of the latter year he took charge of St. Michael's church in Milwaukee, where he has since been stationed, covering a period of twelve years. Since becoming pastor of this church he has managed to wipe out an indebtedness of forty-seven thousand dollars and has raised a building fund of fifty thousand dollars for the erection of a new parish building. There are today over one thousand families who are communicants of the church, this being the largest German parish in the state. The school is at- tended by about eleven hundred pupils with twenty-three teachers in charge and the pupils are turned out well equipped to meet the highest educational test in the work which they have undertaken. The various lines of church work have been carefully organized and systematized under Rev. Father Bernard, who is regarded as one of the strongest representatives of the Catholic ministry in this state.

JAMES W. CAMPBELL.

It was in 1910 that James W. Campbell came to Milwaukee and entered the line of business in which he has continued, being now president of the Milwaukee Scale & Supply Company. Of Canadian nativity, his birth occurred in Toronto in 1860 and he remained a resident of that city until 1884, when at the age of twenty-four years he crossed the border into the United States, settling first at Buffalo, New York, where he remained for three years. He then removed to Cleveland, Ohio, there residing for thirteen years, and next located at Detroit, Michigan, where he lived for eight years, working at his trade in connection with scale work in all these different cities. His identification with Milwaukee dates from 1910, at which time he began the work of scale manufacturing here and was also sales agent for various lines of scales, refrigerators and store fixtures. At length be organized the Milwaukee Scale Company and in 1920 incorporated his business under the name of the Milwaukee Scale & Supply Con- pany, of which he became the president, with E. R. Campbell as vice president: Roy F. Campbell as secretary and treasurer; and Fred Campbell, also associated with the business. James W. Campbell is likewise the president of the Campbell & Shirk Refrigerator Company, which has recently been organized with every indication of a successful future. The scale company was one of the first of the kind established in Milwaukee and the profitahle career of this enterprise is due to the thoroughness and capability of Mr. Campbell, whose previous ex-

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perience had well qualified him for work of this character, while his enterprise and diligence have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path. He is now a member of the National Scale Men's Association of Chicago and he keeps in close touch with the trade in every particular, so that he is thoroughly able to direct his sales as well as the operation of the plant.

In Barrie, Ontario, in 1883, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Jean Farqu- harson, a daughter of James Farquharson, a representative of an old Scotch fam- ily that was established in the United States when Mrs. Campbell was about six- teen years of age. Mrs. Campbell passed away, February 13, 1922. She had become the mother of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are: Frederick, who married Violet Carmichael; Ruby, who became the wife of Daniel MacDonald and died in 1917; Ronald F., who married Eleida Feebury: and Earl R., who wedded Elsie Mayer. There are also ten grandchildren.

In his political views Mr. Campbell has always been a stalwart republican since becoming a naturalized American citizen and his interest in public affairs is shown by his thorough knowledge of the vital questions and issues of the day and his readiness to support any plan or measure which he believes will prove of public benefit. With his advent into the United States he started on an up- ward path which he has steadily climbed until he now occupies an enviable posi- tion in manufacturing and commercial circles in Milwaukee, for as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well.

JOHN AND HENRY C. VOLKMAN.

It is always interesting to review the life of the old settlers, those whose long connection with the community has made them familiar with its history, while their memory constitutes a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. Such a one is Henry C. Volkman, who is identified with black- smithing in Milwaukee and who. as the years passed, by reason of his industry and careful management, won a substantial measure of success. He was born April 11, 1857, on the south side of Milwaukee and has resided in this section of the city throughout his life. He is the only living son of John and Caroline ( Meier ) Volkman, both of whom have passed away, the mother dying in 1898 and the father in 1900. He was born in Hanover, Germany, where he lived to the age of eighteen years, learning the blacksmith's trade prior to that time under the direction of his father, who, as well as the grandfather and the great-grandfather of Henry C. Volkman, devoted his life to blacksmithing. Thus the subject of this review is, as it were, "to the manner born." He, too, learned blacksmithing under his father's direction in the old shop at the corner of National and Eleventh avenues. The father had come to the United States in 1842, when a youth of eighteen years. Bidding adieu to friends and his native country he sailed for the United States and was sixteen weeks in crossing the Atlantic on one of the old-time sailing vessels. He then spent a year in Buffalo, New York, and another year in the vicinity of Waukesha, Wisconsin, after which he took up his abode in Milwaukee in 1844. Here he established a blacksmith shop on the south side of the city and since 1847 the Volkman shop has been located either on or near the corner of National and Eleventh avenues.

Henry C. Volkman, as stated, learned the trade under his father and after a time was admitted to a partnership in the business, under the firm style of John Volkman & Son. Since 1895 Henry C. Volkman has owned and conducted the business and has carried on his interests in such a way as to make his shop one of the well known places of business on the south side. Through his industry, close application and capable management he has built up a very substantial busi- business.

Henry C. Volkman was one of a family of seven children, but only two are living, the daughter being Mrs. Fred Sheldrup, also a resident of Milwaukee.

In 1896 Henry C. Volkman was married to Miss Rose Hammer, who was born in Beaver Dam. Wisconsin, of German parentage. They are the parents of two children: Mabel, now the wife of Paul Milbrath; and Mildred, who has recently graduated from high school and from a business college.

Mr. Volkman is a Lutheran in religious faith, while his wife and two daugh- ters belong to the Presbyterian church. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and he has membership in the South Side Old Settlers' Club. For more than thirty years he was a member of the South Side Turner Society and was very active in the organization for a quarter of a century. Notwithstanding his various connections expressive of his social nature, he has nevertheless concentrated the major part of his time and attention upon his business affairs, which under his direction have grown steadily. He now has a large plant with many departments

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History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 41

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