History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 45

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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splendid physique, of wonderful presence and of striking personality. His son, Charles D. Richards, a native of Milwaukee, took up the business of gardening, which he developed to extensive proportions. Like his father, he was interested in public affairs and acceptably served for eight years as a member of the Mil- waukee common council, accepting no pay for his services. His honesty, his public spirit and his devotion to high ideals made him a most respected man. He was extremely charitable and was continually working for the interests of his neigh- bors and the general public. His death occurred in September, 1919, and Mil- waukee thereby lost a most substantial citizen-one whose life record might well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement and as an example of business integrity and of public spirit. He married Eliza Lee, who was born in England and passed away in 1917. Her father, William Lee, came from England to the new world about 1850 and settled in Milwaukee. He was a farmer and carpenter who resided at Stebbinsville, Wisconsin, there making his home to the time of his death. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Richards there were four chil- dren: Frank B., Charles D., Henry B. and William L.

Harry B. Richards acquired his early education in the Milwaukee public schools and after attending the East Side high school continued his studies in the Spen- cerian Business College. He then went upon the road, selling tobacco, and for twenty-nine years devoted much of his time to his duties as a traveling salesman, being connected with the A. S. Goodrich Company throughout this entire period. This company was founded by A. Story Goodrich in 1890 and the business has had a continuous existence since that date. Mr. Goodrich passed away on the 13th of May, 1913, at which time Mr. Richards and two associates purchased the busi- ness, which has been continued under the same name, with Christian L. Heintz as president, Harry B. Richards as vice president and Herbert J. Cordes as secre- tary and treasurer. They conduct a wholesale business in cigars, tobaccos, cigarettes and pipes and their trade covers the state. The business has been coul- tinuously developed through progressive methods, the company winning favor by reason of the excellent line of cigars carried and their reasonable prices and fair dealing.

On the 11th of November, 1900, Mr. Richards was married to Miss Lydia Has- ley of Milwaukee, who died leaving a daughter, Hazel Richards, at home with her father. She was educated in the West Division high school. On the 1st of July, 1909, Mr. Richards was married to Euna L. Page, a daughter of Henry L. Page, an engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad and a native of Utica, New York.

Mr. Richards and his family attend the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Lafayette Lodge No. 265, F. & A. M .: Wisconsin Chapter, R. A. M .; Wisconsin Council No. 4, R. & S. M .; Ivanhoe Com- mandery, K. T .: Wisconsin Consistory, A. A. S. R., of which he is a member of the fall class of 1911 and he was elected class president in 1921; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He has always been deeply and helpfully interested in

HARRY B. RICHARDS

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Masonry, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He votes with the republican party but has never been an active worker in its ranks. He holds membership with the United Commercial Travelers and was senior counselor of Milwaukee Council No. 54 in 1902 and 1903 and grand counselor of the state in 1913. From boyhood he has manifested a love of music and studied piano under Professor Ellmann, developing considerable skill in music. He also enjoys ath- letics of all kinds and finds pleasure in swimming, hunting, fishing and in fact in all outdoor sports. The activities and interests of his lite have been well directed, with due regard to physical, intellectual and moral development and progress, and thus he has maintained an even balance in the growth of his activities and in the development of his character.

EUGENE FRANCIS LE NOIR.

Eugene Francis Le Noir, president of the Union Electric Manufacturing Com- pany, located at 120 Reed street, is one of the representative business men of Milwaukee. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Philadelphia on the 10th of September, 1890, a son of James E. and Mary Atkinson ( Potter) Le Noir. His father, who passed away in 1915, was horn in Philadelphia, and was a manufac- turer and dealer in tobacco, succeeding to the business established in 1832 by his father, also named James E. Le Noir. This establishment is the oldest tobacco concern in the city of Philadelphia and Mrs. Le Noir, the mother of the subject of this review, is now active in its conduct. The grandfather was a native of France and his father was a member of the court of Napoleon and one of his offi- cers. The grandfather was but a young man when his father was compelled to flee from France when Napoleon was overthrown. There were nine male mem- bers of the Le Noir family who came to this country at the same time. They sep- arated upon reaching the United States, one branch of the family locating in South Carolina and founding the town of Le Noir. The name figures prominently in the history of the country and is represented in every war in which America has been a participant. Mrs. Le Noir, who is now actively identified in business in Philadelphia, was horn in Providence, Rhode Island, a daughter of Edward Potter, one of the state officers. The first member of the Potter family came to the United States in the seventeenth century. Mrs. Le Noir's mother was related to Bishop Crammer.

Eugene Francis Le Noir is indebted to the schools of Philadelphia for his early education and after graduating from the high school there entered Temple Uni- versity for a time. Subsequently he enrolled in the Drexel Institute and was graduated therefrom in electrical engineering with the class of 1907. He then learned the practical part of the electrical trade as an employe of the American Electrical & Maintenance Company of Philadelphia two years and then resigned to enter the sales engineering department of the Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company, a position he retained for five years. At the termination of that time he determined to enter the business world on his own account and established a concern which is still in operation and of which he is president. In August, 1918, he removed to Milwaukee and there entered the employ of the Union Electric Manufacturing Company as president and sales manager. This company was organ- ized in 1910 and engages in the manufacture of motor controlling devices, its market covering the world. Since 1916 the company's business has shown a marked increase and under Mr. Le Noir's management is assured continued advancement. On the 12th of June, 1912, Mr. Le Noir was united in marriage to Miss Lelia M. Basford, a daughter of John F. Basford. Her father is a native of Scotland and is a prominent lawyer in Philadelphia. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Le Noir one daughter, Jeanette, has been born.

Although Mr. Le Noir follows an independent course in politics for the most part, he leans toward the republican party. He is well versed on all the leading questions and issues of the day but does not take an active part along political lines. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and both he and his wife are members of the Blockley Baptist church of Philadelphia. Fraternally Mr. Le Noir is a Mason and holds membership in Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 449, of Philadelphia. He is known as a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and the Association of Commerce and in line with his business is a member of the Association of Iron & Steel Mill Electrical Engineers, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Power Club. Since early childhood he has been very fond of music and studied the piano under some of the best known teachers in the country. He has often appeared in public concerts and recita's as soloist and has won prominence in the musical circles of Philadelphia. Mrs. Le Noir is a woman of much personal charm and intellect and is interested in everything pertaining to good literature.

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At one time she studied law in preparation for admittance to the bar but her mar- riage interrupted her career. Mr. Le Noir's record in business circles is a most commendable one and he has shown himself to be a man of resourceful ability, unabating energy and keen discrimination.

EDWARD P. HOYER.

Edward P. Hoyer, president of the E. P. Hoyer Company, printers, doing busi- ness at 400 Florida street in Milwaukee, was born December 11, 1876, in this city, his parents being Morris and Katharine ( Schuetz) Hoyer, both of whom are natives of Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, born about fifteen miles from Milwaukee. They were of German descent. When twenty years of age the father took up his abode in Milwaukee and has since resided here, being identified with the E. P. Hoyer Company.

Edward P. Hoyer, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the St. Francis parochial school to the age of thirteen years, when he began learning the printer's trade. He was employed by Julius Auerbach, printer, his first job being that of errand boy, and later he worked for the Riverside Printing Company and for other firms. In 1904 he established himself in business by opening a small job office in the Montgomery building. He worked there first for Francis Morriette & Company and at the death of Mr. Morriette he conducted the office for the family and two years later purchased the plant. In the meantime he had taken the civil service examination for the government printing office and passed with ninety-six per cent. He received his appointment on Christmas morning of 1898 but did not accept the position, as his father wished him to remain in Milwaukee and take over the little plant. He continued the business for about six months in the Mont- gomery building, when he removed to the old public library building on Fourth and Grand avenue, occupying the second floor and there remaining for five years. On the expiration of that period he removed to 19 Erie street, where he continued in business for five years and then established business at his present location at 400 Florida street, where the company has a thoroughly modern plant, sup- plied with the latest improved machinery and all facilities necessary for carrying on the work according to the most progressive methods.

This company does thor- oughly up-to-date work of all descriptions, making a specialty of color work, and its output is of as high class as can be secured in the city. Something of the continued growth and development of the business is indicated in the fact that the firm today employs from eighteen to twenty people. It has all of the latest automatic machines and its work has reached the highest standards of excellence. Mr. Hoyer has associated with him his father and two brothers, thus organizing the E. P. Hoyer Company, of which he remains the president. Starting out in the busi- ness world a poor lad without special educational advantages, he has climbed steadily step by step until he has reached the plane of affluence and is today in com- mand of one of the large business enterprises of this character in Milwaukee.

In 1902 Mr. Hoyer was married to Miss Louise Helweg, a native of Germany, whence she came to the new world when thirteen years of age. They have two children, Percival and Marguerite. Mr. Hoyer is identified with a number of lead- ing clubs and social and business organizations. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, to the Kiwanis Club, the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, in which he is serving on the executive membership committee, and the Knights of Columbus. He was likewise the president of the Graphic Arts Bureau for one term and was president of the Franklin Club for a term. He is now the vice president of the Milwaukee Typothetae and he was captain of a team of the Cen- tralized Budget of Philanthropies. While the United States was in hostilities with Germany he was active in all the war drives and at all times he has given earnest aid and cooperation to those plans and projects which are looking to the upbuild- ing of the city and the advancement of local welfare.

JOHN CLARENCE PARTRIDGE.

John Clarence Partridge, vice president of the First Wisconsin Company and accounted one of the substantial business men of Milwaukee, was born in White- water, Wisconsin, June 1, 1878, a son of Clarence J. and Stella M. Partridge. In the acquirement of his education he attended the State Normal School at White- water, Wisconsin, and then in preparation for a legal career he matriculated in the Albany Law School at Albany, New York, and in due time was graduated from that institution.

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He has for a long period been connected with banking and financial interests. For a time he was located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then attended law school. After graduation he went to Walworth, Wisconsin, and became cashier of the Wal- worth State Bank, where he served from September, 1903, to July, 1907, when he went to Minneapolis as a member of the mortgage and bond department of the Minnesota Loan & Trust Company. In May, 1911, he entered the hond department of the First Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee in which connection he has been advanced in recognition of his increasing ability to the position of vice presi- dent. Eighteen years' experience with the banking and bond business has well qualified him for the duties and responsibilities that rest upon him in this con- nection and the department under his control has become one of the paying inter- ests of the institution. He is also a director of the First Wisconsin Company.

On the 8th of April, 1911, Mr. Partridge was united in marriage to Miss Grace Salisbury of Whitewater, Wisconsin, and they are well known in the social circles of Milwaukee, having many warm friends here. Their home is at No. 495 Lake Bluff boulevard in Shorewood and they are esteemed and helpful members of the Grand Avenue Congregational church, contributing generously to its support. In politics Mr. Partridge has always been a republican since attaining his majority and while living in Walworth he served as president of the village for one term. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club and to the City Club. During the World war he was active in the various drives and at all times has stood for those interests and principles which are matters of loyal and progressive citizenship.

LEWIS AUGUST SEYMER, M. D.

Dr. Lewis August Seymer, enjoying an extensive practice at Wauwatosa, was born in South Milwaukee, February 23, 1885, and is a member of one of the old pioneer families of this place. His father, August Seymer, was also born in Mil- waukee connty, where he is still living. He is a son of Anton Seymer, who came with his parents to this county at the age of fourteen years. His father was Michael Seymer, who left Germany in the '40s and with his wife and children came to the new world, thus founding the family in America.

Dr. Seymer obtained his early education in South Milwaukee, where he was reared, and later, having determined upon the medical profession as his life work, became a student in the medical department of the University of Illinois at Chi- cago. There he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1913, after which he spent a year as an interne in the Swedish Convenant Hospital of that city. He also prac- ticed for a short time in Chicago but since 1916 has continuously made his home in Wauwatosa, where he enjoys an extensive practice of an important character. He is a member of the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. For one year he was medical director of the Milwaukee County Hospital but his attention is now given to his private practice, which makes heavy demands upon his time and energy.

On the 4th of February, 1914, Dr. Seymer was married to Miss May Eaton, a representative of one of the old families of Milwaukee, her father being the HIon. Barney Eaton, formerly state senator and now residing in Cudahy. Mrs. Seymer is a graduate of the Milwaukee Normal and taught several terms of school prior to her marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Seymer have one daughter, Marion, born April 29, 1918. Dr. Seymer finds his chief recreation in fishing and in the outdoor sport gains the needed rest from onerous professional labors. He is a Royal Arch Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft, and he and his wife are consistent members of the Congregational church in Wauwatosa, where they have many warm friends, enjoying the hospitality of the best homes of this interesting and beautiful little city.

HILMAR EIRING.

Through a period of more than a decade Hilmar Eiring has been prominently connected with manufacturing interests in Milwaukee and is contributing in large measure to the substantial results achieved by the manufacturers of this city, who are thus aiding much in the promotion of Milwaukee's commercial greatness. Mr. Eiring is devoting his attention to the manufacture of children's and misses' dresses and has built up an enterprise of large and gratifying proportions. A native son of the Cream city, he was born in 1879 and is a son of B. H. and Doris Eiring, who were also natives of Milwaukee. Spending his youthful days here he acquired his education in the public schools and started out in the business world in con-

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nection with his father as a representative of the Friend Brothers Clothing Com- pany. Since that time he has been closely associated with the clothing trade in one form or another and in 1910 he entered manufacturing circles by opening a factory at 917 Third street for the manufacture of children's and misses' dresses. He turns out most attractive garments, holding to high standards in the me hod of manufacture and something of the growing success of the undertaking is indicated in the fact that he began with only ten machines and today has one hundred. The constant swirl and swish indicates that the trade of the house is being constantly maintained and that his business is one of most gratifying proportions.

In 1909 Mr. Eiring was united in marriage to Miss Adalaide Mueller, a daugh- ter of Rudolph and Rose Mueller. Five children have been born of this marriage: Hilmar, Jr., Rosalie, Robert, John and Walter. Mr. Eiring is a member of the Wisconsin Club and in the organization as well as out of it has many warm friends, who esteem him highly for his personal worth as well as respect him for what he has accomplished in a business way.

EDWARD ANTON BERGWALL.

One of the representative business interests of Milwaukee is the Day-Bergwall Company, of which Edward Anton Bergwall is president. A native of Wisconsin he was born near North Lake, Waukesha county, on his father's farm on the 25th of October, 1862. His father, George E. Bergwall, passed away in 1873. He was born in Gottenberg, Sweden, where he remained until he was forty years of age, when he came to America and located on his farm near North Lake, Wisconsin. During his residence in Sweden he was revenue collector for the locality around Gottenberg and he proved of great value in that capacity. In Wisconsin he took up farming, gaining substantial success, and for one term he held the office of treasurer of Waukesha county. His religious faith was that of the Episcopal church and he was one of the wardens of the church at North Lake. He became a Mason in Sweden and was a charter member of Bark River Lodge at Hartland. His wife, who is also deceased, was before her marriage Ebba S. Peterson, also a native of Sweden, who came to this country with her parents in 1840.

In the acquirement of an education Edward Anton Bergwall attended the com- mon schools of Waukesha county and the Milwaukee public schools. After put- ting his textbooks aside he made his initial step into the business world as clerk in a drug store at Maquoketa, Iowa, and spent his spare time in the study of phar- macy. For a year he was active in that connection but at the end of that time returned to Milwaukee, where he associated with F. Dohmen & Company, first as clerk and later as traveling salesman. Subsequently, after being in the employ of that concern for seven years, he became a member of A. J. Hilbert & Company, manufacturers of perfumes and flavoring extracts, but two years later the firm of Bergwall & Collins was formed and subsequently the E. A. Bergwall Company, operating successfully under the last name for seven years. For twelve years the company was known as the Meissner-Bergwall Company, and in 1907 it was incor- porated as the Day-Bergwall Company under which name it is now being conducted. Mr. Bergwall has been president since its organization, his associate, Gordon Day, being a business man of much ability. The company engages in the manufacture of flavoring extracts, bluing and joh grocery specialties, and their territory covers the district around Milwaukee and the neighboring states. The business has made rapid advancement and is now twenty times its size the first year, giving steady employment to a large factory and office force with fifteen traveling salesmen in the field. The annual business now approaches the million mark. Mr. Bergwall is an indefatigable worker, a man of marked capacity, quick and decisive in his methods, keenly alive to any business proposition and its possibilities, and the company of which he is chief executive is assured continued prosperity.

On the 22d of April, 1884, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bergwall and Miss Jennie B. Brown, a daughter of Frank Brown of Milwaukee, a well known shoe manufacturer. He was born in Massachusetts and passed away about 1882. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bergwall the following children have heen born: Emily, Dr. Robert P., Charlotte J. and Louise A. The eldest daughter is the wife of Frank Jeffery, a farmer, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, and they are the parents of two chil- dren: Charlotte Jean and David Bergwall. Dr. Robert P. Bergwall received his education in the public schools of Hartland and later entered the Howe Military School. In due time he enrolled in Marquette University and in 1915 graduated from that institution with the degree of A. B. He had decided to devote his life to the medical profession and as a result entered the medical department of the University of St. Louis, where he received his M. D. degree in 1920. He is now practicing in Milwaukee and is fast becoming recognized as one of the leading

EDWARD A. BERGWALL

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young members of the medical profession in the city. Charlotte J. is a graduate of the State Normal School and she is now doing welfare work in Milwaukee. The youngest member of the family, Louise A., is taking an art course in the State Normal School.

Mr. Bergwall follows an independent course in politics, although slightly favor- ing the republican party, and he has never sought nor desired political preferment, although he has held various local offices in Hartland. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Hartland Lodge, No. 128. His social connection is with the Optimist Club, which he has served as one of its board of governors, and he takes a promi- nent and active part in the affairs of the Association of Commerce. Mr. Bergwall is fond of all outdoor sports and spends a great deal of his spare time in fishing and gardening. His home is in Hartland. He gives his time and his best ener- gies to the business which he has established and believes in the doctrine of hard work as the foundation of success.

SIDNEY JAMES HERZBERG.

Milwaukee numbers among her representative citizens Sidney James Herzberg, Wisconsin manager for the ordinary department of the Prudential Life Insurance Company. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, he was born in that city on the 21st of September, 1880, a son of Joseph and Anna (Methven) Herzberg. Joseph Herz- berg is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Frankfort in 1859. At the age of seventeen years he came to the United States alone and located first in New York, where he remained for a short time and then removed to Pana, Illinois, where he entered the merchandise business. He likewise resided in St. Louis, Mis- souri, Salina, Kansas, and Keokuk, Iowa, and in 1875 entered the life insurance business at Fort Scott, Kansas, as executive agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He remained in that connection until 1899, when he severed his relations and became manager of the Prudential at Milwaukee, remov- ing to that city from St. Paul, Minnesota. He and his son are still managers for the company there. Mrs. Herzberg was born in Scotland, a member of a prominent and well known family. She came to this country with her parents at an early day and settled with them in Pana, where she was married. Her father, James Methven, was one of Pana's representative citizens and business men. Mrs. Herz- berg was born in 1853 and passed away in 1889, her demise coming as a severe blow to her family and many friends.

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History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 45

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