USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 44
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Wilford F. Rowe was educated in the public schools and in a college at Car- thage and when nineteen years of age, or in 1899, he became a member of the band of the Thirtieth Infantry, United States Volunteers, playing the clarinet. He was on duty in the Philippine Islands for seventeen months, in active service and participated in a few engagements during that time. He acted as sergeant of the band and was mustered out of service in April, 1901. In the same year he became an employe of the Drovers' National Bank of Chicago, filling the position of mes- senger boy for a year, at the end of which time he resigned to become assistant money clerk of the Adams Express Company, with which he remained for two years. Later he was employed by the National Live Stock Bank of Chicago, work- ing in various departments during a period of seven years and then returned to the Drovers' National Bank as assistant cashier, occupying the position for five years. He then resigned to accept the vice presidency of the Neillsville Bank, of Neillsville, Wisconsin, there remaining until he tendered his resignation to become vice president of the Farmers & Merchants Union Bank at Columbus, Wisconsin.
The war coming on at this time Mr. Rowe resigned his position to become associated with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as district representative of the Liberty loan organization under E. J. Kearney, state chairman. In January, 1919, he became associated with the American Exchange Bank of Milwaukee as manager of the Reed & National Avenue Bank, a branch of the American Exchange Bank. In July, 1920, he was elected vice president and removed to the main office as manager of the bank department, remaining in that position until May 1, 1921, when he resigned in order to accept his present position as manager of the bank- ing division of Arthur Young & Company, certified public accountants.
On the 4th of April, 1904, Mr. Rowe was married to Miss Lenore H, Kelley of Chicago, and they have become parents of two daughters: Dorothy L., eleven years of age; and Ruth Virginia, aged eight. Mr. Rowe is a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose, together with other societies which indicate the nature of his interests and his attitude towards mankind, Since starting out in the business world he has made steady progress, his powers developing through the exercise of effort and from each experience in life he has learned the lesson therein contained, so that his capability has continually increased, bringing him to a point of high efficiency in financial circles.
ARTHUR CHARLES KISSLING, M. D.
Dr. Arthur Charles Kissling, a Milwaukee physician and surgeon, now special- izing on the treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat, with offices in the Majestic huilding, was born in Munich, Germany, November 9, 1882. His father, Dr. Charles L. Kissling, also a physician, was born in Milwaukee in February, 1859, and his death occurred January 18, 1917. He obtained his professional degree from the University of Munich and it was while he was studying abroad that his son, Dr. Arthur C. Kissling, was born in that city. The grandfather, Dr. C. Leo- pold Kissling, was a native of Germany and was graduated with the M. D. degree
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from the University of Tübingen in Germany in 1850. Attracted by the oppor- tunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Mil- waukee in 1851. Here he practiced medicine from that date until 1870, when he returned to his native land and there passed away on the 12th of February, 1878. The mother of Dr. Arthur C. Kissling hore the maiden name of Paula Ranz and she is still living in Milwaukee. In the family were two daughters, hoth of whom are married and make their home in this city, namely: Mrs. Helen Schlick and Mrs. Edwine Lemmert.
Dr. A. C. Kissling, the only son in the family, has practically spent his life in Milwaukee, having been but four years of age when his father completed his medical studies in Europe and returned to this city. Having reached school age Dr. Kissling became a pupil in the public schools here and was graduated from the South Division high school, with the class of 1902. He afterward entered the University of Wisconsin, in which he pursued a classical course, winning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1906, while in 1909 he gained his Bachelor of Science degree and in 1911 won his professional degree upon graduation from the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, Maryland. He afterward served as interne for a year at the Jefferson Surgical Hospital at Roanoke, Virginia, and then entered upon general practice in Milwaukee, where he continued for two and a half years. In 1914 he went to Chicago and for fifteen months acted as assistant to Dr. George E. Shambaugh, an ear, nose and throat specialist, greatly benefiting hy that asso- ciation and the experience there acquired. Since 1916 he has practiced in Mil- waukee, giving his attention to the eye, ear, nose and throat, and his ability in this direction is pronounced. He belongs to the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine, the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
On the 11th of June, 1920. Dr. Kissling was married to Miss Florence Edna Prouty, who was horn at Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and they have one son, Arthur Charles, born May 8, 1921. Dr. Kissling and his wife have a wide acquaintance in this city and enjoy the hospitality of many of its hest homes. He belongs to the City Club and when leisure permits turns to fishing for recreation and pleas- ure but his professional interests made steady demand upon his time and energies and he is now serving on the staff of the Children's Hospital and the Columbia Hospital, in addition to caring for an extensive private practice.
HUGO ZEDLER.
One of the most attractive establishments of this character in Milwaukee is the store of Hugo Zedler, dealer in paints, wall paper, carpets, rugs, draperies and interior decorations and house furnishings. His business history chronicles a steady expansion in his trade directed by the sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise of the owner, who is a native son of Milwaukee, his birth having here occurred on the 17th of October. 1856. His parents were August and Rose (Strang- feld) Zedler, who were natives of Silesia, Germany. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world they left that country in 1849. The father had learned watch- making in his native land and coming to the new world he located on East Water and Johnson streets. For about eight years he engaged in farming and during that time served as school clerk. Later, however, he abandoned agricultural pur- suits and opened a clock and watch repair shop. He also did taxidermist work and cabinet work and thus he lived a life of usefulness and activity, passing away at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years.
Hugo Zedler acquired a public school education in this city and also attended the Spencerian Business College, while through private instruction he was trained in art. He has always remained active in this field and his artistic qualities are pronounced. He first engaged in sign painting and decorating, later took up car- riage painting and along these lines steadily advanced and entered into kindred fields of activity. He hegan dealing in wall paper, in rugs, carpets and draperies and today does a general interior decorating and house furnishings business. In 1880 he opened his store at his present location at No. 771 Third street, where he has built up a splendid trade. His artistic skill enables him to make the most helpful suggestions to his patrons and he has had in charge the interior decorating of many of the attractive homes of the city.
In 1878 Mr. Zedler was united in marriage to Miss Emma Schmidt, a daughter of George J. Schmidt, and they have become the parents of five sons: Paul G., who is actively connected with the Hugo Zedler Company as its vice president; Rudolph, who is secretary of the company; Edwin and Benno A., who are direc- tors of the company; and Lawrence. Rudolph is also secretary of the Rottel Refrigerator Machine Company, while Edwin is secretary of the Wisconsin Casualty
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Company. The sons, like the father, are young men of business ability and enter- prise and are actuated by a most progressive spirit in the conduct of their affairs. In addition to his commercial interests Mr. Zedler became one of the organizers of the Home Savings Bank. He has also been president of the Keystone Mutual Building & Loan Association since its inception eleven years ago. The office of this association is at 158 Fifth street, near Grand avenue. He is likewise the president of the Fish Creek Park Company, which has a tract of one hundred and forty-six acres of land on Lake Michigan and is maintained as a home and pleasure resort for the members. Mr. Zedler belongs to the Natural Museum and he is interested in various forms of art progress in the city. His word has become an authority and his establishment a standard in all that has to do with interior fur- nishings and decorations in Milwaukee and he has the patronage of many of the best families in the city. It has been through the development of his powers along artistic lines as well as an executive that he has reached his present creditable position in business circles where success in large measure is his.
CARROLL G. PEARSE.
Carroll G. Pearse, president of the State Normal School at Milwaukee, is a well known educator. Since 1913 he has been identified with the State Normal School and has been a dominant factor in its continued growth and success. A native of Iowa, he was born near Tabor on his father's farm on the 2d of Novem- ber, 1858. His father, Sherman R. Pearse, passed away in 1885. He was reared
on a farm in Sudbury, Vermont, and left that state in early life. His father was Timothy Pearse and the progenitor of the family in this country was Richard Pearse, who came to the United States from Yorkshire, England, and located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island about 1640. Another ancestor, Nathaniel Pearse, was a member of the Rhode Island general assembly in 1775-76 and was a very promi- nent man. During the Civil war the father, Sherman Pearse, assisted the refugees in their flight through the Underground Railroad. His mother was before her marriage, Miss Sarah Gardner, a daughter of Benjamin F. Gardner, a farmer of Tabor, Jowa. The Gardner family located in Rhode Island in the seventeenth cen- tury and there resided for many years. when some of the family removed to Mas- sachusetts. Mrs. Pearse was born at Great Barrington, that state, while her father was a native of Lee.
In the pursuit of an education Mr. Pearse attended the common schools of Iowa and in due time entered Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, from which he received his normal diploma and subsequently was awarded the LL. D. degree from the New Hampshire State College. He accepted a position as teacher in the Nebraska public schools and was superintendent and principal of schools at Wilber and Beatrice, Nebraska, and in 1895 became superintendent of schools at Omaha. In 1904 he removed to Milwaukee and the nine years following he was superin- tendent of city schools. His ability along educational lines was soon recognized and as the result of laudable ambition and close application to his profession, he was in 1913 appointed president of the Wisconsin State Normal School. Further mention of the school will be found on another page of this work.
On the 25th of November, 1886, occurred the marriage of Mr. Pearse and Miss Ada Hughes, a daughter of Daniel T. Hughes of De Witt, Nebraska. He was a farmer and a preacher in the Disciples church. The Hughes family were promi- nent in Kentucky, in which state Mrs. Pearse's father was born. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pearse seven children have been born, four of them now living: Carroll G., Jr., who is associated with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company at Lincoln, Nebraska, married Alice Anderson of Milwaukee and has one son, Theodore; Ruth; Martha; and Benjamin H., a student in the University of Wis- consin.
Fraternally Mr. Pearse is identified with the Masons, belonging to Kenwood Lodge; Calumet Chapter, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templars; Wisconsin Council; Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine; and he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. For some time while residing in Omaha, Mr. Pearse was high priest of Bellevue Chapter, R. A. M. His social connections are with the Rotary Club and the Milwaukee Athletic Club and as a man of public spirit, ever interested in the development of the community, he holds membership in the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, serving on the educational committee of that organization. The high esteem in which he is held by other eminent educa- tors throughout the country is indicated by his membership in the National Educa- tion Association, of which he has been treasurer and president and is now chairman of the board of trustees. Mr. Pearse is a man of untiring energy and in addition Vol. III-26
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to his manifold duties as president is publisher of a monthly journal called the American School, which has a national circulation.
Since the organization of the Normal School in IS85, with some, fifteen students, the institution has steadily grown and now has an enrollment of over fifteen hun- dred. Mr. Pearse stands as one of those whose study of pedagogy in its broadest sense has resulted in marked improvement in methods of teaching and he has always recognized the fact that there should be an even balance between the phys- ical, intellectual and moral progress and while teaching he endeavored to stimulate an interest in each that would lead to direct and beneficial results.
ALFRED A. LAUN.
Since making his initial step in the business world in 1901. Alfred A. Laun has been continuously connected with the lumber industry or some of its allied activities. He is today an official in a company that ranks as the largest table manufacturers in the United States and is also an official in other important cor- porations which are large contributing factors to the material growth and up- building of the state as well as a source of substantial profit to the stockholders. Occupying the position of secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Kiel Furniture Company, the name of Alfred A. Laun is widely known throughout the length and breadth of the land.
Wisconsin is proud to number him among her native sons. His birth occurred upon his father's farm at Mill Home, this state, January 19, 1880. He comes of German ancestry, his grandfather, Bernhard Lann, having been born in Germany, whence he came to the United States during the middle part of the nineteenth cen- tury. He was the father of John Henry Laun, also a native of Germany, who came with his parents to the new world when a youth of eighteen years, the family home being established upon a farm at Thiensville, Wisconsin. John H. Laun was early trained to cabinet-making and with the development of his business interests he became proprietor of a sawmill at Mill Home. His wife, Mrs. Catherine ( Zaun) Laun, was born at Thiensville and was a daughter of Jacob Zaun, a farmer, who was a native of Germany and emigrated to the new world in early life. Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Laun resided for many years at Mill Home and the father passed away in 1902. The mother, however, survives and makes her home in Kiel, Wisconsin.
The early educational training of Alfred A. Laun was received in the public schools of Mill Home and of Wausaukee, Wisconsin, while later he attended St. John's Military Academy at Delafield. When his textbooks were put aside he be- came associated with his brothers in a mercantile and sawmill enterprise at Wau- saukee, where he remained until 1901. In that year he removed to New Holstein, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of A. A. Laun & Company. This was later incorporated in 1917 as the A. A. Laun Com- pany, of which he became the president. He bent his energies to administrative direction and executive management until 1916, when he withdrew from that enter- prise and removed to Milwaukee. Here he became purchasing agent for the Kiel Furniture Company and was elected one of the directors. In the following year he was made secretary and treasurer and he still holds that official connection with the corporation, of which he is likewise general manager. For four years therefore he has largely directed the operations of the plant and in the steady growth of the business this concern has become the largest table manufacturing industry in the entire country. From the beginning the company has held to the highest standards in the line of goods manufactured, employing expert designers and woodworkers, and today the tables from the Kiel Furniture Company are recog- nized as a standard product throughout the length and breadth of the land. In addition to the two plants, one at Milwaukee and one at Kiel, owned by the Kiel Furniture Company, they maintain warehouses in Chicago and New York. The business was established at Kiel in 1892 and the Milwaukee plant was founded in 1909. They make high-grade library, living room and dining room tables, pedes- tals and tabourets and are the largest exclusive table manufacturers in the world, their market covering the entire United States and Canada. Extensive as are the demands made upon Mr. Laun as secretary, treasurer and general manager of the business, he is also actively identified with other important interests. In 1910 he founded the Elkhart Sand & Gravel Company at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and has since been the president, while in 1921 he became one of the founders of the Wis- consin Rapids Sand & Gravel Company, of which he is vice president, while his brother. Louis Laun, is the president. Mr. Laun is also interested in several other enterprises with his other brothers. Jacob B. and Henry G. Laun.
On the 25th of June, 1902, Mr. Laun was united in marriage to Miss Bertha
.
ALFRED A. LAUN
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Rodenbaeck, a daughter of Tjark Rodenbaeck, who was born in Germany and when a lad came to Wisconsin. He conducted a furniture store at New Holstein, this state, for many years but is now living retired. Mr. and Mrs. Laun have become parents of four children: Donald D., who is now a student in the University of Wisconsin; Alfred A., a junior in the West Division high school of Milwaukee; and Margaret and John H., both public school pupils.
In politics Mr. Laun has always been a stalwart republican but never an active party worker. However, he served as president of the village of New Holstein for four terms and has held other local positions, to which he has been called by the desire and vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognize his splendid qualifica- tions as a leader in connection with public affairs. He is a member of the Grand Avenue Congregational church, as are his wife and their children. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Chilton Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M .; Chilton Chapter, R. A. M .; Sheboygan Commandery, K. T .; Kenwood Council, R. & S. M., of Mil- waukee; Wisconsin Consistory, A. A. S. R .; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has membership in the Milwaukee Athletic Club and is much inter- ested in various forms of athletics. Another source of pleasure to him is motor- ing. His connection with the Association of Commerce manifests his constant interest in affairs of public moment and of general benefit. Though his business interests have constantly increased in volume and importance, he has continually recognized his duties and obligations in citizenship. His industrial and commercial interests have placed him among the leading business men of this section of the country and he is today numbered among those captains of industry whose initia- tive and power possess a dynamic force in the world of trade.
FRANK FREDERICK HASE.
Frank Frederick Hase is a representative of one of Milwaukee's leading pioneer business interests, as president of the C. H. & E. Manufacturing Company, located at 382-88 Clinton street. He is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred at Wauwatosa on the 18th of March, 1877. His father, Henry Hase, was born in 1847, in Port Washington, this state, and is now residing in Mil- waukee, where he is a prominent citizen. For many years he has been associated with the Pabst Brewing Company and has also engaged in contracting, mostly along the line of street pavements. He has served as alderman and for some time was president of the Milwaukee common council. He was a northern sympa- thizer during the Civil war and saw active service as a corporal, and was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea. His wife was before her marriage, Minnie Bergler. She is now living in Milwaukee. She was born in Germany, a daughter of Johan Bergler, who came to this country and located in Milwaukee in 1852.
Frank Frederick Hase received his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee and after graduating from the South Side high school made his initial step into the business world. For three years he was employed in the office of the Pabst Brewing Company and then resigned to enter the insurance business as state representative of the United States Casualty Company. After three years in that connection he entered the seed business as secretary of the Wisconsin Seed Company and two years later engaged in the business of manufacturing machin- ery for contractors. That work was first carried on as the Standard Iron Works and subsequently Mr. Hase, with two other men, organized the C. H. & E. Manu- facturing Company, continuing in the same line of business but on a larger scale. The company specializes in the manufacture of machinery for contractors, such as portable saw rigs, mortar mixers, hoists, pumps, elevators and engines. The business has reached extensive proportions, its products being sold all over the world. The C. H. & E. Manufacturing Company is a pioneer concern in this line and is the largest, with each year seeing a substantial increase.
On the 14th of June, 1905, Mr. Hase was united in marriage to Miss Aurelia Gutsch, a daughter of Adolph Gutsch of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a prominent brewer. To their union one son has been horn, John Henry, his natal day be- ing the 24th of May, 1910.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Hase has given his support to the republican party but has never taken an active part in its interests. His religious faith is evidenced by his membership in St. Peter's Lutheran church and his social con- nections are with the Milwaukee Athletic and Wisconsin Clubs. He is always interested in any movement for the betterment of the general welfare and as a result figures prominently in the Association of Commerce. Mr. Hase's fad is fishing and he has a summer home at Pine Lake. Both he and his wife are of artistic nature, she being an elocutionist of merit. He is particularly fond of
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motoring and has toured from his home to the Atlantic coast several times. The development of Mr. Hase's business career has been marked by the orderly and permanent progression characteristic of the efficiency and enterprise he has at all times evidenced in his undertakings. He has sought no success beyond attain- ment in a purely business field and he is public-spirited and straightforward, in- te. es.ed in the development of his community and a resident of whom Milwaukee h: s every reason to be proud.
HARRY BURR RICHARDS.
Harry Burr Richards, one of the wholesale tobacconists of Milwaukee, who is carrying on business under the name of the A. S. Goodrich Company, of which he is vice president, was born in this city May 16, 1874. He is a son of Charles Daniel Richards and a grandson of Daniel Il. Richards, who was born in the state of New York and came to Milwaukee in 1836. For some time he was paymaster on the St. Paul Railroad and associated with Alexander Mitchell and others he built the section of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road from Milwaukee to Horicon. lle was also a farm owner and was the first editor of the first daily newspaper of Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Advertiser, a journal that developed into the paper now published under the name of the Wisconsin Evening News. He had firm belief in the fact that all men were essentially honest by nature and he was constantly striving to bring out the good in each individual. His kindliness of purpose and his helpfulness to all made him a man greatly beloved. He served for a term in the general assembly with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents and at all times his labors and efforts constituted a forceful factor in the npbuilding of his community and the commonwealth. He was a man of
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