History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 48

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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Mr. Bollow has never been an office-holder but has been quite active in politics and was chairman of the tenth ward republican club in 1896. also captain of the marching club during the Mckinley and Roosevelt campaigns, when torchlight processions were a feature of the campaign work. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, connected with Damon Lodge, No. 102, also the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan and the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, of which he was captain from 1911 until 1913. He belongs also to the Association of Commerce and is treasurer of the Mil- wankee Typothetae. A lover of music, he possesses considerable talent in that direction himself and has often sung in public. He is also an artist and has done creditable sketching from nature. During the World war he acted as chairman of the registra- tion board for the twenty-fifth ward. From 1911 until 1918 he was marshal of the doll and baby parade of the sane fourth commission. In a word he is interested in all that has to do with community interests, civic activities and all projects of a public nature which tend to promote a better community spirit and which advance the public wel- fare in any way.

FREDERICK BRUNE.

Frederick Brune, president and treasurer of the Fred Brune Company of Milwaukee, where he has developed an extensive business in connection with the machinist's trade and with sheet metal machinery, was born February 20, 1857, in Witten-am-Ruhr, Germany. His father, Frederick Brune, also a native of Witten, was a coal miner and died in the year 1877. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Elise Plucker, was born in Bochum, Germany, and departed this life in 1906.

Frederick Brune, whose name introduces this record, acquired his education in the public schools of Witten and afterward learned the machinist's trade there. When he had largely mastered the business he came to the United States, in March, 1881, when a young man of twenty-four years, and remained in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until June. He then came to Milwaukee but later went east again. In 1890 he settled

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permanently in this city and continued to work at the machinist's trade until 1910, when he established business on his own account. The Fred Brune Company now manufactures special machinery for sheet metal work and finds a market throughout the United States and Canada. Moreover, the company is now reaching out for Japan and European trade and its business is constantly extending in the Orient as well as in Europe. In May, 1920, the company was incorporated, with Mr. Brune as president and treasurer, while his son-in-law, William H. Jenter, is the secretary.

On the 11th of November, 1884, Mr. Brune was united in marriage to Miss Laura Schlinkmann, a daughter of Gustav Schlinkmann of Germany, in which country Mrs. Brune was born. They were married in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Mrs. Brune crossing the Atlantic for that purpose. They have become parents of three children: Laura Elise is now the wife of William H. Jenter, a son of Herman Jenter, who died in 1917, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he had been a salesman in early life and later was a manufacturer of bedding and mattresses. He was a son of Christian Jenter, a native of Wittenberg, Germany; Clara. the second daughter of the family, is now the wife of Arthur R. Bachmann, who is engaged in the jewelry business in Milwaukee in connection with his father, Emil Bachmann. There is a son of this marriage, Richard Bachmann: Amanda, the third daughter, is the wife of Walter H. Frick, an accountant of Milwaukee, and they have one child, Eunice.

Mr. Brune has never sought to figure prominently in public life, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. He is a member of the G. U. G., a fraternal organization, and also of the Lutheran Evangelical church. He is fond of fishing, outdoor life and nature but concentrates the major part of his time and attention upon his business affairs, which have rapidly developed since he started out independently He is a natural-born mechanic and is the inventor of many special machines along the line of his business. He makes a specialty of design- ing and constructing special sheet metal machinery and tools, and his invention of the Ebow Machine, conductor pipes and eave trough machines, being the most perfect, are his pride. Ninety-five per cent of the trade comes from out of town and has been obtained without advertising of any sort, for the patrons have been so thoroughly satisfied that their good words have served as an advertisement for the house and thus the business has continually grown and expanded.

HENRY F. SEEFELD.

Leaving the farm at the age of twenty-two years to enter business circles in Milwaukee, Henry F. Seefeld spent a number of years in the employ of others and as a partner in a commission house and then, in 1885, became connected with the business of which he is now the head, being prominently known today as the presi- dent of the Suelflohn & Seefeld Company, manufacturers of carriage and heavy hardware. The trade of the house has reached extensive proportions. due in large measure to the enterprise and progressive spirit of the president, whose long con- nection with the business, covering more than a third of a century, has made him familiar with every phase thereof.

A native of Milwaukee, Mr. Seefeld was born September 21, 1858. His father was Joachim Seefeld, a native of Germany, and a son of Peter Seefeld, who came to the new world following the arrival of his son, Joachim, with whom he spent his remaining days. In his native land Joachim Seefeld learned the tailor's trade but did not follow it after becoming an American citizen. He was married in his native country and with his wife and four children made the voyage to the new world, being at that time about thirty-two years of age. After reaching Wisconsin he estah- lished and conducted a dairy business, developing his interests along progressive lines leading to the attainment of substantial success. His wife, a daughter of Carl Tews, hore the maiden name of Dorothy Tews and, like her husband, was born in Germany, as were four of their children. They were consistent members of the German Methodist church and people of deeply religious feeling. The death of Joachim Seefeld occurred November 19, 1911, when he had reached the notahle age of eighty-nine years. He had long survived his wife, who passed away on the 6th of March, 1888.

Having acquired his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee and later studied in a private boarding school at Galena, Illinois, Henry F. Seefeld then entered the Spencerian Business College of Milwaukee, where he received the specific training that qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. Later he worked upon his father's farm in the town of Wauwatosa until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he accepted the position of hookkeeper with the commission house of J. Seefeld & Son, with which firm he was associated for nine years. In the latter part of that period he owned an interest in the business, hav- ing in the meantime gradually worked his way upward through various positions to

HENRY F. SEEFELD

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a partnership relation. He disposed of his interest in 1885 and then joined Suelflohn & Seefeld, of which his elder brother, Gustav August Seefeld, was one of the prin- cipals. Through the intervening period of thirty-seven years he has been asso- ciated with this house, which was founded in 1867 by August F. Suelflohn and Gustav A. Seefeld. The senior partner in the firm passed away in 1886. The business was incorporated about 1917 and is devoted to the sale of carriage and heavy hardware, handled exclusively in connection with the wholesale trade. Their market extends throughout the western and central states and with the incorpora- tion of the business Henry F. Seefeld became the president and has so continued. He early made it his purpose to master the business in principle and detail and has regarded no phase thereof as too unimportant to claim his attention, while at the same time he has given due consideration to all of the most vital features of the business. In all his commercial transactions he has readily discriminated between the essential and the non-essential and has displayed marked initiative as well as enterprise in the conduct of the house.

On the 12th of June, 1887, Mr. Seefeld was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Backus, a daughter of Carl Backus, a farmer of Milwaukee county, who was born in Germany and after reaching adult age came to the new world with his wife and children. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Seefeld have been born two sons and two daughters. Clarence A., born March 26, 1880, was educated in the public schools and the South Side high school of Milwaukee and is now vice president of the Suelflohn & Seefeld Company. He married Charlotte Eggers, a daughter of Carl Eggers of this city. Alma, born March 30, 1883, is now the wife of Benjamin Lee Burdick, president of the Burdick Electric Company of Milwaukee, and they have two children, Irwin and Doris. Clara Louise, born January 29, 1888, is the wife of Balthazar Hoffmann, Jr., president of the B. Hoffmann Manufacturing Company, engaged in the manufacture of plumbers' supplies, and their family numbers two children, Eleanor and Claretta Hoffmann. George A. Seefeld, born September 19, 1890, was educated in the grade schools and West Side high school of Milwaukee and is now secretary of the Suelflohn & Seefeld Company. He married Frances Rhodes of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and their children are two in number, Ruth and Henry G. In addition to his Milwaukee residence Mr. Seefeld maintains a summer home on Pewaukee Lake, where he has six acres of land.

A republican in his political views, Mr. Seefeld has always voted with the party but has never taken active part in political work nor sought to figure to any extent in connection with public office. However, he has served as supervisor of the town of Wauwatosa and for twelve years as a member of the Milwaukee county civil serv- ice commission, acting as chairman of the board through much of that period. In office he has proven his loyalty to the public welfare by his prompt and faithful performance of duty and his effective effort to bring about improved conditions. He is a member of the German Methodist church, in which he is serving as a trus- tee, and he is also interested in the Masonic fraternity as a member of Independence Lodge No. 80, A. F. & A. M., and Wisconsin Chapter, R. A. M. He belongs to the Wisconsin Club and to the Association of Commerce. He is a lover of music and he finds interest and recreation in hunting, fishing and outdoor sports. He has hunted big game in American wilds and he is also fond of motoring. Mrs. Seefeld, like her husband, is active in all church work and both are deeply and helpfully interested in all good work done in the name of charity or religion. The family is highly esteemed in Milwaukee, where four generations of the name of Seefeld have borne active part in the social and business life of the city.

HERMAN ALFRED UIHLEIN.

Since 1911 Herman Alfred Uihlein has been an outstanding figure in commercial circles in Milwaukee as president of the Lavine Gear Company, located at 60-80 Keefe avenue. He is a native son of Milwaukee, born on the 15th of April, 1886, a son of Henry Uihlein who was born in Wertheim, Germany, and came to the United States in 1861, with his parents. He was for forty-two years president of the Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee and is now residing retired, enjoying the fruits of his success. His wife, who was before her marriage Helena Kreutzer, passed away on the 31st of January, 1921. She was born in Bonn, Germany, and came to Milwaukee in 1862.

Herman Alfred Uihlein is indebted to the German-English Academy and the West Division high school of Milwaukee for his education and after graduating from the latter school with the class of 1904, he enrolled as a student in Cornell University, graduating from that institution in 1908 with the degree of M. E. He attended Columbia University Law School for two years. His first step into the business world was as a member of the Lavine Gear Company, and in 1911 he became its president. He has since been active in that capacity and his keen executive ability and untiring energy

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have been dominant factors in the continued advancement of the company's interests. When the concern was first organized it had a capital stock of forty thousand dollars and in 1918 it was increased to one million dollars. The plant manufactures steering gears for a great number of truck manufacturers in the United States. During the World war Mr. Uihlein subordinated his personal interests and turned over his plant to the government, manufacturing different war materials and steering gears for the ordnance trucks.

On the 25th of February, 1911, occurred the marriage of Mr. Uihlein and Miss Claudia Holt of Salt Lake City, a daughter of John Holt. Her father was born in Dorset, England, and came to this country at an early day, where he won prominence as a railroad contractor. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Uililein: Helen, Mary Nash, Herman Alfred, Jr., Claudia, Virginia Louise, and John Holt and Henry Holt, twins.

The political allegiance of Mr. Uihlein is given to the republican party, although he has never taken a very active part in politics, preferring to devote his entire time to the promotion of his business interests. He holds membership in the Milwaukee Club and the Milwaukee Country Club and is also a member of Chi Psi of Cornell University, a national college fraternity, and the Quill and Dagger, an honorary society of that college, Mr. Uihlein is likewise a member of the Phi Delta Phi law society at Columbia University.

REV. J. W. O'KEEFE.

Rev. J. W. O'Keefe, pastor of St. Gall's church of Milwaukee, was born December 1, 1865, at West Port, Dane county, Wisconsin, and is a son of William and Mary (Tirney) O'Keefe, both of whom were natives of Ireland. In the year 1848 Mr. O'Keefe left the Emerald isle and crossed the Atlantic to the new world, while in 1850 the mother made the voyage to the United States. The former devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was closely associated with farming interests until his death.

Rev. J. W. O'Keefe obtained his education in public and parochial schools until he had mastered the elementary branches of learning. while later he became a student in St. Francis Seminary of Milwaukee and after qualifying for the priesthood was ordained on the 21st of June, 1891, He was then assigned to duty at St. Martin's church, where he remained as pastor for four years and later was transferred to Cedarburg, Wisconsin, where he continued until 1905. The following year he organized the present parish known as St. Gall's and he has thoroughly organized and developed the work, there being now a substantial church, parochial school and priest residence. The church has a membership of about three hundred and fifty families but there are two hundred and thirty pupils in the school.

LEANDER LLEWELLYN GRIDLEY.

Leander Llewellyn Gridley, real estate broker, banker and builder, was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, July 27, 1883. His father, Lysander R. Gridley, was also a native of Wauwatosa and a son of Leander Lott Gridley, who was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1817 aud who located in 1839 on what is now the Ludington farm within the boundary limits of Wauwatosa. There he took up three hundred and sixty acres of government land, upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made, and throughout his remaining days gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits. His son Lysander R. Gridley is still living in Wauwa- tosa, where he is engaged in the insurance business. He married Elizabeth Jane Thickens, a daughter of John Thickens, who published the first city directory of Milwaukee, which eventually lead to the foundation of the Wright Directory Com- pany. Mr. Thickens was a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil wars.

Leander L. Gridley acquired his early education in the Wauwatosa public schools, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1902. He after- ward engaged in the life insurance business with the Northwestern Mutual Life In- surance Company for a period of two years and subsequently he took two years' work at the University of Wisconsin, becoming a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and taking active part in college athletics during his student days. Since then he has been engaged in the real estate business, carrying on real estate activity of a general character. He also handles first mortgage city loans and is engaged in building and selling houses. His labors in this field have been a contributing factor to the improvement and benefit of the city. He also figures in financial circles, for he was one of the organizers of the Wauwatosa State Bank, of which he is still a

LEANDER L. GRIDLEY

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director, and also one of the organizers of the Wauwatosa Building & Loan Associa- tion, of which he is now president.

On the 3d of August, 1918, Mr. Gridley was united in marriage to Miss Helen Stickney, of Wauwatosa, a daughter of Charles Stickney, a large property owner here, who has also owned and controlled extensive farming interests. Mr. and Mrs. Gridley have one son, James Gregory Gridley, born August 11, 1921.

Mr. Gridley was active in all war work. He belongs to Wauwatosa Lodge, No. 267, A. F. & A. M .; Wauwatosa Chapter, No. 92, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, K. T .; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the City Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Men's Club of Wauwatosa and was for several years chairman of its board of governors. He finds recreation in motoring and is ex- tremely fond of music. His wife is a musician of ability who has often appeared in public as a singer, being trained in Milwaukee and Chicago. Their social position is an enviable one, while in business life Mr. Gridley has accomplished much, wisely directing his efforts in a profitable field where his labors have been far-reach- ing and resultant.

REV. WACLAW KRUSZKA.

Rev. Waclaw Kruszka, pastor of St. Adelbert's Catholic church of Milwaukee, was born in Slabomierz, Poland, March 2, 1868, a son of John and Josephine Kruszka. Having obtained his early education in Poland he afterward went to Rome, where he studied until 1893, when he came to Milwaukee and here entered St. Francis Seminary, in which he remained a student for two years. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1895 and was then assigned to duty as assistant in St. Josaphat's parish, with which he was connected for nine months. On the 5th of March, 1896, he was appointed pastor of a parish to be organized at Ripon, Wisconsin. There he formulated and developed the work, building a church, a residence and a parochial school. When in 1906 the house of worship was destroyed by fire he immediately began raising funds for the erection of another building and he continued his labors most success- fully there until September 18, 1909. While at Ripon he also organized and built St. Josaphat's church in Oshkosh, in 1897 and acted as its pastor for fifteen months. In 1898 he organized a Polish parisb in Kenosha. From 1898 to 1900 he attended the Ripon Irish mission at Springvale and Eldorado.

In 1901 Rev. Father Kruszka was a delegate to the Polish Catholic congress held in Buffalo, New York, and was there elected a delegate to go to Rome for the purpose of appealing to the pope to appoint a Polish bishop for the United States. In 1903 he went to Rome as a delegate on that mission and remained in the Eternal city until May, 1904, the purpose of his labor there being crowned with success, when on the 15th of April, 1904, Pope Pius X, at a private audience, informed Father Kruszka of his decision to appoint a Polish bishop according to his wishes.

Father Kruszka then returned to Ripon, Wisconsin, and in 1905 Archbishop Symon was sent to the United States by the Pope as visitator of the various Polish churches. In 1907 Archbishop Weber came over from Poland and in 1908 Father Paul Rhode of Chicago, was made Bishop of Chicago, while later he was sent to Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 1913 Father Edward Kozlowski was made Bishop of Milwaukee.

It was on the 18th of September, 1909, that Rev. Father Kruszka was appointed pastor of St. Adelbert's Catholic church in Milwaukee. The parish had just been organized that year and the work was still largely unsystematized. In 1911 he built the Sisters' house and in 1913 he built an addition to the school containing six class

rooms. In 1917 an addition was made providing eight more class rooms. He like- wise enlarged the Sisters' house one-half and there are now twenty-six sisters in attendance as teachers at the school. In 1909 there were three hundred children and something of the rapid growth and development of the school is indicated in the fact that there are now sixteen hundred pupils in attendance. During the period of his ministry in St. Adelbert's parish Father Kruszka has baptized fifty-one hundred and has performed twelve hundred and sixty-six marriage ceremonies.

J. FREDERICK PALMER.

J. Frederick Palmer, president of the Associated Manufacturers' Company and also president of the J. Frederick Palmer Manufacturing Company, has by reason of his well directed and effective activities become a vital force in the husiness circles of Milwaukee. A native of Michigan, he was born in the city of Niles, February 15, 1886, and is a son of Edward H. Palmer, who was also a native of Michigan and now resides at Marion, Indiana. The mother bore the maiden name of Ella Couch, and was

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born in Hannibal, Missouri, a daughter of Frederick Couch. She became the wife of Edward H. Palmer and after living for some time in Michigan they removed to Indiana, so that J. Frederick Palmer was educated in the public schools of Marion. After his school days were over he initiated his business career by securing employ- ment in a chair factory at Marion, spending a year in that connection. He afterward occupied a position in a department store for a year and a half and then left Marion, removing to Indianapolis, where for a similar period he was employed in a depart- ment store. He next went to La Fayette, Indiana, where he was again in a department store and in 1906 he went on the road as a traveling salesman, following the business for five years. In 1911 he established his present business with two partners and became vice president, while in 1915 he was elected to the presidency of the Associated Manufacturers' Company. This corporation is engaged in the manufacture of school and sanitary supplies and its sales cover the entire country. The firm makes brushes, blackboard erasers, paper fixtures, disinfectants, liquid soap and equipment and also other sanitary appliances. Mr. Palmer is also president of the J. Frederick Palmer Manufacturing Company and is proprietor of the Palmer Company, which deals in school paper, writing and drawing papers and other similar lines. The various business interests with which he is connected are proving profitable, for his capable manage- ment has resulted in a steady growth of the trade.

On the 30th of November, 1905, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Emma Mai Higgins, a daughter of William H. Higgins at Indianapolis, Indiana. Mrs. Palmer was born in Nashville, Tennessee, The parents now reside in Los Angeles, California. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have one child, Mary Mai Isabel Palmer, who is now a student in the Milwaukee-Downer College.

Mr. Palmer has never been active in politics but always votes with the republican party. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Milwaukee. Fraternally Mr. Palmer is a Mason, belonging to Kenwood Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M. He also has membership in the United Commercial Travelers' Association, the Asso- ciation of Commerce, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Rotary Club and the Ozaukee Country Club. He enjoys hunting and fishing, is a well known motorist and makes extensive trips. He loves music and all forms of art and at the same time he is a natural mechanic and has taken out patents on several of his inventions along the line of his business. His powers are thus manifold in nature and his varied talents have brought him prominently to the front in many relations. He has social qualities which make for popularity wherever he is known and at the same time his forcefulness and resourcefulness have been felt along many lines and with well defined plans he lias steadily pushed forward to his objective, the results being beneficial to the community at large as well as to himself.

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History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III, Part 48

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