USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
In the pursuit of an education Sidney James Herzberg attended the public schools of Fort Scott, Kansas, Keokuk, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minnesota, and after leaving school was employed in a shoe factory for a year and a half. He then entered the insurance business but was too young to be a success in that connection and so took up newspaper circulation work which he followed until he was twenty- eight years of age. In that year he again entered the insurance business with his father and he has since been active in that association. During his newspaper career he was assistant circulation manager on the St. Paul Dispatch, furthering the interests of that sheet in the Dakotas, Wyoming and a part of Montana. There is no phase of the insurance business with which Mr. Herzberg is not thoroughly familiar and he has charge of all the agents in the state and of all the offices in the ordinary department. For the past five years his agency has ranked second in the United States for the volume of business transacted and for three years he was president of the Prudential One Hundred Thousand Dollar League Club, meaning that his agency was during that time the largest in the United States.
On the 28th of June, 1901, occurred the marriage of Mr. Herzberg and Miss Josephine Hansen, a daughter of William Hansen of De Pere, Wisconsin. Her father was born in Norway and is an engineer and farmer. One son, Willis, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Herzberg, his birth occurring on the 29th of January, 1903. He is now a student at the University of Wisconsin and upon completing his education expects to take up the work in which his father and grandfather have been so successful.
Although Mr. Herzberg leans toward the republican party he follows an inde- pendent course in politics, giving his support to the man he thinks best fitted for the office. Both Mr. and Mrs. Herzberg are members of the Christian Science church and he is fraternally identified with the Masons, having membership in Kenwood Lodge, No. 303; Kenwood Chapter, No. 90, R. A. M .; Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar; Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine; and he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is likewise a member of the Eastern Star, Milwaukee chapter, and belongs to the Watertown (South Dakota) Lodge of Elks, No. 838. His social connections are with the Milwaukee Athletic and Clty Clubs and the Tripoli Motor Club. Mr. Herzberg is a lover of all outdoor sports and is particularly fond of fishing. For several years he had charge of the skat
.
416
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
tournament of the Tripoli Shrine. During the World war he gave generously of his time and money, doing all in his power to assist his government and he was not only captain for life underwriters in several of the war drives, but served on the draft board in the eighteenth ward. Mr. Herzberg is gifted with a pleasing per- sonality, geniality and marked enterprise and those characteristics, together with his general capability, assure his success and well qualify him for his business.
ST. JOSAPHAT'S CHURCH.
St. Josaphat congregation was organized on the 23d of April, 1888, when ahout three hundred families, with the approval of Archbishop Heiss, decided to separate from St. Stanislaw parish and form a new parish, farther south. Under the direction of the young but zealous and energetic pastor, the Rev. William Grutza, a small building which served as both church and school was erected at First and Lincoln avenues.
In the following year, on May 12th, this structure was entirely destroyed by fire, the Rev. Father Grutza being severely burned about the face and hands while endeav- oring to remove the blessed sacrament from the burning building. Though having suffered a heavy financial loss, the parishioners decided to erect a new church at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, and after many hardships, succeeded in the undertaking. In a short time this hrick building (the present principal school), was found to be too small to accommodate the large numbers of faithful Poles who had settled in this portion of the south side, and in 1898 work was begun on one of the handsomest Catholic churches in the west. Building material for the structure was obtained by the purchase of the former Chicago post office. In 1901 the Rev. Father Grutza, worn out by continuous hard labor, died in Colorado, whither he had gone to regain his shattered health. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Pradzynski, who in turn was followed by the Rev. J. Knitter.
Responding to the invitation of Archbishop Messmer, the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals (Franciscan Fathers) took charge of the parish in January, 1910, the Very Rev. Hyacinth Fridzinski, O. M. C., being appointed pastor.
While the parish has been burdened with a very heavy obligation arising from the original cost of the magnificent new church and a number of unforeseen mishaps, under the present very able administration of affairs, the parish activity is flourishing in every department. The Rev. Felix Baran, second pastor of the parish, is its financial and spiritual guide, having come to Milwaukee in that capacity in 1914.
EMIL HOKANSON.
Emil Hokanson is the president of the Wisconsin-Oakland Company of Mil- waukee and for many years has been identified with the automobile trade in this state. In his present connection he is at the head of an extensive and growing business, having the distribution of Oakland cars in Wisconsin and northern Michi- gan. Mr. Hokanson is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred at Ettebro, Blekinge, on the 29th of July, 1882. He is a brother of Rudolph Hokanson, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work some mention is made of their parents.
Emil Hokanson pursued a public school education in his native town and when his textbooks were put aside he began working on a farm, being thus employed for two years. On the expiration of that period he made his way to the capital city of Stockholm and accepted a position as clerk in a grocery store, where he was employed for three years. In the spring of 1902 he came alone to the United States, believing that he might enjoy better business opportunities on this side the water. He made his way first to Iona, Minnesota, where he worked as a farm hand through two summers, and in the fall of 1903 he came to Milwaukee, where he was employed by the Bates & Odenbrett Automobile Company as a mechanic in their repair shop. A year later, or in the winter of 1904, he went to Madison, Wisconsin, where he joined his brother Rudolph in the establishment of an automobile business on their own account. They became agents for the Winton and the Cadillac cars, and in the fall of 1905 they became the first agents in Wisconsin for the Buick cars. The firm continued the business successfully for twelve years or until the summer of 1917, when Emil Hokanson purchased the interest of his brother and other part- ners in the enterprise. In 1918 he purchased their interests in the Wisconsin- Oakland Company at Milwaukee and removed to this city in the summer of 1920, having in 1919 disposed of his Madison interests. In the following year when he came to Milwaukee, the business was being conducted at No. 525 Jefferson street but soon afterward he supervised the erection of a large building at Oneida and
EMIL HOKANSON
Vol. 111-27
419
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
Jackson streets, into which the business was moved on the 1st of January, 1921. It is a four-story structure, one hundred by one hundred and twenty feet, strictly modern in every respect and entirely fireproof. The company today has the dis- tribution for the Oakland cars in Wisconsin and northern Michigan and is rapidly developing a large and substantial business.
On the 18th of September, 1907, Mr. Hokanson was married to Miss Irma Prie- lipp, a daughter of William Prielipp, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, who was born in Germany and devoted his life to farming. Mrs. Hokanson is a graduate of the public schools of Baraboo, and by her marriage she has become the mother of two sons: Everett, born April 3, 1910; and Emil, Jr., April 27, 1914.
In politics Mr. Hokanson is a republican, supporting the party at the polls, yet not an active party worker. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, his membership being in the church of the Redeemer, of which he is the treasurer. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, to the Ozaukee Country Club and the Wisconsin Club. He is also a member of the National Automobile Dealers Asso- ciation and is a tourist member of the Automobile Club of America. When in Madison he was a director of the Young Men's Christian Association and also a Rotarian. His interest in the welfare of Milwaukee is shown in his membership
in the Association of Commerce. He finds recreation in golf and motoring, being fond of motor tours. He formerly was interested in automobile racing and holds the Milwaukee Sentinel trophy for endurance contest. This had to he won on three occasions in order to become a permanent possession, and his record was perfect in economy. He now gives almost undivided attention to his business affairs, and his close application, thoroughness and enterprise are rapidly developing a business of most gratifying proportions.
BERNARD CANNON.
Bernard Cannon, the president and treasurer of the Cannon Printing Company, has been a resident of Milwaukee from early manhood and a steady progression throughout his business life has brought him to the creditable position which he now occupies as the head of one of the foremost industrial interests of the city. He was born in Maple Park, Illinois, July 4, 1872. His father, Daniel Cannon, who passed away in 1909, was a railroad man, born in County Armaugh, Ireland. He came to the United States in childhood with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Cannon, who first settled in Milwaukee but afterward removed to Janesville, Wisconsin. It was there that Daniel Cannon was married to Miss Ellen Murphy, who was born in Cork, Ireland, and was brought to this state in her childhood days. She died in the year 1912, having for three years survived her husband. They had a family of fifteen children, eight sons and seven daughters, Bernard Cannon, of this review, being the third in order of birth.
Bernard Cannon acquired his early education in the public schools of Maple Park, Illinois, and afterward studied in the high school at Geneva, that state. His more specifically commercial training was received in the Spencerian Business College of Milwaukee and when his course there was completed he started out in the business world as an apprentice to the printing trade with the Young Churchman Company. He was with that house for three years and later spent a similar period in the employ of J. H. Yewdale & Company. He afterward returned to the Young Churchman Com- pany and occupied the position of foreman for three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a half interest in the printing business of Adrian Houtkamp & Son, at which time the name was changed to Houtkamp & Cannon. The partnership was continued for ten years and in 1892 Mr. Cannon purchased the interest of his business associate and incorporated under the name of the Cannon Printing Company, of which he has since been the president and treasurer. Associated with him in the undertaking are his two brothers, John D. and Joseph Cannon. They conduct a general job printing business and specialize on publications. Their trade comes to them from throughout the neighboring states as well as Wisconsin and theirs is one of the largest and most modern printing plants of the city. They have always gained their trade through the fact that their workmanship is of the highest quality and their business methods are the expression of an impregnable integrity.
On the 21st of April, 1908, Mr. Cannon was united in marriage to Miss Mary D. Buchanan, a daughter of John Buchanan of Detroit, Michigan, and a representative of one of the prominent families of that state. Mrs. Margaret Buchanan Sullivan, well known authoress, is an aunt of Mrs. Cannon. The latter was born in Marquette, Michi- gan, and by her marriage has become the mother of three children: Jane, Alexander and James, all students in the Milwaukee schools.
The parents are members of the Catholic church, identified with St. Rose's parish and Mr. Cannon belongs to Pere Marquette Lodge, No. 524, Knights of Columbus. In
420
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
politics he is a democrat, active in support of the party. He belongs to the United Typothetae of America and is well known in local organizations, having membership in the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Wisconsin Club, the Blue Mound Country Club, the City Club and the Association of Commerce. He is fond of golf and bowling and likewise obtains much pleasure from hunting and fishing trips. Almost his entire life has been passed in Milwaukee, where he is well known. Enterprise and diligence have constituted the foundation on which he has built the superstructure of success. What he has accomplished in business places him with the representative residents of the city, while his social qualities have made for warm friendship and gained him the high regard of all with whom he has been brought into contact.
CHARLES H. STEHLING.
Prominent and well known among the energetic, farsighted and capable business men of Milwaukee, is Charles H. Stehling, who is the president of the Charles H. Stehling Company, designers and builders of tanneries, hide and leather working machinery. In this connection the company has developed an extensive trade, having a main office and factory on Fourth street in Milwaukee and a foundry at Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Mr. Stehling, active as the head of the enterprise, was born August 18, 1849. His mother died when he was three years of age and Charles H. Stehling was then placed in St. Amelianus Orphan Asylum at St. Francis, where he continued until 1863, or until he had reached the age of fourteen years. He afterward attended St. Mary's school on Broadway street and when school hours were over he was a student in the architectural studio of Charles Holz, taking up the study of both archi- tecture and engineering. He afterward became interested in the tanning business in association with his father and followed that enterprise for several years. He then established business on his own account, designing and building tanneries and hide and leather working machinery. In this undertaking he was very successful and eventually he organized the Charles H. Stehling Company, of which he is president, while with him are associated his four sons, George, Joe, Louis and Hugo. The company now does a large business as designers and builders of tanneries, hide and leather working machinery. Charles 'H. Stehling has designed and supervised the construction of most of the tanneries in Milwaukee and the machinery which the com- pany manufactures is used in all of these. There is perhaps not a tannery in the United States where the product of this company cannot be found, for it has gained leadership in its line and its output is sent into all sections of the American continent. It has the largest factory in Wisconsin manufacturing hide and leather machinery and not only does it ship throughout the United States but its goods are also sent to England and various parts of the Orient.
Mr. Stehling was reared in the Catholic faith and is a member of St. Francis parish. Three of his sons, George T., Joseph J. and Hugo J. are members of the Knights of Columbus. The family is widely known, father and sons having made for themselves a most creditable place in the business circles of the Cream city, where Mr. Stehling has practically spent his life, while his sons have known no other home. Their activities have been most wisely directed and their united efforts have resulted in the upbuilding of one of the big business concerns of the city.
HERMAN F. WOLF.
In the field of banking and in other business connections Herman F. Wolf has steadily worked his way upward, his developing powers and ability bringing him into prominence as a representative of financial interests, for he is now vice president of the First Wisconsin National Bank. He was born in Milwaukee, June 18, 1857, and is a son of Jacob and Julia (Schmidt) Wolf. His education was acquired in public and private schools and on the 1st of October, 1872, when a youth of fifteen years, he started out in the business world by entering the employ of Houghton, McCord & Company. He afterward became a clerk in the Bank of Houghton Brothers & Company and when he severed his connection with that institution after a number of years, he had risen to the position of confidential clerk. Throughout his business career his course has been characterized by steady advancement. In 1891 he was elected cashier of the Central National Bank and seven years later, when that financial institution was merged with the Wisconsin National, he was made assistant cashier of the combined banks. Subsequently he was chosen cashier by the directors of the institution and filled the position in a manner which reflected quite as much credit upon the bank as upon himself. On the 11th of January, 1912, he was elected a vice president and one of the directors of the Wisconsin National Bank. Since the merger of the First
421
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
National and Wisconsin National Banks his position has been that of vice president. He is thoroughly acquainted with the various phases of the banking business and his efficiency and capability have constantly increased with the passing years, as shown in his promotion from time to time. In financial circles he is recognized as a shrewd, careful business man, whose knowledge of financial matters can be depended upon absolutely. He is also a director of the Cream City Products Company, the successor to the Cream City Brewing Company.
On the 20th of January. 1885, Mr. Wolf was united in marriage to Miss Julia Gerlach, a cultured lady of Milwaukee and a daughter of William Gerlach, a promi- nent brewer and maltster. They have become the parents of three children: Alice, deceased; and Elva and Gertrude, both married.
Mr. Wolf votes with the republican party and is well informed concerning the vital questions and issues of the day but has never sought nor desired public office. The nature of his interests is shown in his membership connections. In a social and professional way he is identified with the Wisconsin and Milwaukee Athletic Clubs and with the Bankers' Club. His membership in the Association of Commerce is proof of his interest in all those things which have to do with the city's upbuilding, the extension of its trade relations and the maintenance of its high civic standards.
PETER C. KOLINSKI.
Among the members of the Milwaukee bar who have attained substantial success is Peter C. Kolinski, a member of the firm of Cochems, Wolfe & Kolinski, attorneys at law, with offices at 425 E. Water street. A native of this state, Mr. Kolinski was born at Racine on the 18th of May, 1890, a son of Michael and Margaret (Gill) Kolinski. The former passed away in 1918; the latter is now residing in Racine. Peter C. Kolinski's parents were born in German Poland and came to the United States in 1875.
Peter C. Kolinski received his education in the public and high schools of Racine county and later, deciding upon the legal profession as a life work, he entered the universities of Wisconsin and Columbia. After receiving his B. A. and LL. B. degrees and being admitted to the bar, he commenced the practice of his profession with H. F. Cochems and H. O. Wolfe, prominent and successful attorneys of Milwaukee, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. He became a member of the firm in June, 1914, and has built up a growing practice, which has connected him with much important litigation.
Mr. Kolinski was married in 1915, at Racine, Wisconsin, to Grace Ramsey, daughter of Charles J. Ramsey, agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway at that place. To their union two children have been born: James, five years of age; and Jean, three years of age.
Mr. Kolinski is widely recognized as a representative member of the legal profes- sion and one who owes his success to his own intelligently directed effort. With no backing except his natural ability, stanch courage and untiring energy, Mr. Kolinski worked his way through school, gaining the respect of all of his classmates, and now that he has attained a position of prominence in Milwaukee legal circles he cannot but feel proud that he is a self-made man. He possesses a genial nature, which makes him popular, while his laudable ambition and earnest efforts have gained him success in the profession where advancement depends solely upon merit.
DAVID WILLIAM WEISS.
David William Weiss, who for fourteen years prior to his death was secretary of the Alliance Investment Company of Milwaukee, was born in New York city, March 4, 1858, and is a son of David William and Emily M. (Lindquist) Weiss, who were natives of Stockholm, Sweden. The parents came to America in childhood and seitled in New York, where they were reared and married.
David W. Weiss, whose name introduces this review, came to the west in 1896, settling in Milwaukee. He had acquired his education in New York and in Freehold, New Jersey, and later he was tutored by Cutler White, as was President Roosevelt. He afterward started out in the business world, entering the employ of the firm of Manning, Maxwell & Moore, one of the largest machine companies in the east.
With his removal to Milwaukee in 1896 Mr. Weiss became identified with the Krause Merkel Malting Company, which later became the American Malting Company. Subsequently he was with the Pabst Brewing Company and afterward with the Alliance Investment Company. His connection with the last mentioned concern covered a period of fourteen years and he became secretary of the company, occupying that position of administrative direction and executive control up to the time of his death, which
422
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
occurred on the 23d of September, 1919. He made a close study of everything that had to do with the real estate market. thoroughly informed himself concerning property values and negotiated many important realty transfers. His prominence in business circles is indicated in the fact that he was elected president of the Milwaukee real estate board and was reelected unanimously for a second term.
On the 9th of April, 1890, Mr. Weiss was married to Miss Cora E. Joeckel, a daugh- ter of William H. and Sarah (Jacobs) Joeckel, the former a native of Nassau, Germany, born in 1835, while the latter was born in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss became parents of a son, David William Weiss (III), who, during the World war was with the Milwaukee Base Hospital, No. 22, and as a high private sailed for France in January, 1918, there remaining until the armistice was signed. He was located at Bordeaux, in Hospital Beau Desert and continued overseas until the country no longer needed his military aid, when he returned home. He is now a representative of the Morris Fox Bond Company. Mr. Weiss, Sr., was also very prominent and active in connection with war work, stanchly promoting and supporting the many drives that were made. Both he and his son had a record of loyalty, receiving a tribute from the government for aid rendered. Mr. Weiss met a tragic death, being hit by an automo- bile truck and dying from the injuries soon afterward. He always took a deep and help- ful interest in public affairs. While he usually voted with the republican party he always considered the capability of the candidate in local offices when no party issue was involved. He belonged to the Chamber of Commerce and in many ways was closely identified with the welfare and upbuilding of the city. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to a New Jersey lodge, of which he was a past master. He also be- longed to the Wisconsin Club. He made many friends during the period of his resi- dence in this state and enjoyed in full measure the high regard of all with whom he came into contact.
CHARLES WILLIAM PENDOCK.
For eight years Charles William Pendock has been a resident of Milwaukee and since October, 1916, has been president of the Le Roi Company, manufacturers of gas engines for automobiles, trucks, tractors, and industrial and agricultural equipment. He was born in Bristol, England, on the 3d of January, 1890, a son of Frank H. and Kate (Collins) Pendock, now residents of Victoria, Australia. The father was also born in Bristol, England, but has spent the past fifteen years in Australia, where he is successfully engaged in farming. His father was Charles Pendock, a native of Gloucester, England, and the family can trace their ancestry back to the fourteenth century, the records being found in the archives of Glou- cester. The Pendocks have been prominent as land owners and farmers. Mrs. Pendock was born in Thornbury, England, and is a daughter of William Collins of that place, a malster.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.