USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 51
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In November, 1892, Mr. Schilling was united in marriage to Mrs. Louise Zilisch of Juneau, Wisconsin, and they became parents of two sons and three daughters: Egon, who is now manager of the Wisconsin Storage Company; Roland, who is liv- ing in Los Angeles, California; Gertrude, the wife of Herbert L. Ebling, a contracting
THEODORE D. SCHILLING
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IIISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
engineer of Milwaukee; and Anna and Irma, both at home. For his second wife Mr. Schilling chose Miss Anna Gregorius, a daughter of J. Gregorius of Blackcreek, Wisconsin, their marriage taking place on the 28th of June, 1920.
Mr. Schilling is well known in Masonic circles, having membership in Inde- pendence Lodge, No. 80, F. & A. M .; Wisconsin Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M .; Kilbourn Council, R. & S. M .; Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; Wisconsin Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Milwaukee Furniture Manufacturers' Association, of which he is the treasurer and also belongs to the National Bedding Manufacturers Association, being most widely and prominently known in trade circles. He has a wide acquaintance among business men not only of this city but throughout this section of the country and the sterling worth of his character and bis genial manner are attested by all with whom he has come into contact. His marked personal qualities and his business ability have steadily advanced him in the high regard of his fellow townsmen and toward the goal of success which is the ultimate objective of all who enter the business world. He is a lover of good books, preferably history, and has a fine library. He is also a coin collector and was for many years a member of the National Numismatic Society. His collection of ancient, medieval and modern coins is possibly the finest collection of its kind in Wisconsin.
JOHN G. SOERGEL.
More than eighty-four years have passed since the Soergel family, of which John G. Soergel is a representative, was established in Milwaukee and throughout the inter- vening period representatives of the name have contributed to the industrial develop- ment and the material upbuilding of the city. John G. Soergel was here born April 22, 1859, and is a son of George and Clara Soergel, who were natives of Germany. Crossing the Atlantic, they established their home in Milwaukee about 1838. The father was a blacksmith by trade and opened a shop, in which he carried on business for many years and ultimately was succeeded by his sons. The old shop is still stand- ing and is one of the interesting landmarks of the city, indicating the great changes which have been brought about through the intervening period.
John G. Soergel obtained his early education in the public schools, which he attended to the age of fourteen years and then entered his father's blacksmith shop, thoroughly acquainting himself with every phase and detail of the business. His remaining days were passed in connection therewith. When twenty-three years of age he took over the shop and continued to carry on the business until his demise. He worked diligently, always realizing the value of industry and perseverance as factors in the attainment of success and he was a familiar figure in his section of the city.
In 1882 John G. Soergel was united in marriage to Miss Louise Hedke, a daughter of Michael Hedke, one of the pioneer residents of Milwaukee and a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Soergel became the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Robert J., who is an employe at the city hall; Arthur M., who is engaged in the plumb- ing business in Milwaukee; and Vera C., to whom we are indebted for the information concerning her father.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when on the 27th of October, 1920, John G. Soergel passed away. His life, covering a period of sixty-one years, had been spent in this city and he was widely known to its residents. He be- longed to the Master Horseshoers Association, was a member of the South Side Turner Society, had membership with the Knights of Pythias and also in the Old Settlers' Club. He greatly enjoyed meeting the friends of his boyhood and youth and in re- counting events of the early days which have left their impress upon Milwaukee's his- tory. He could relate many interesting incidents of pioneer times and many things which are a matter of history to the majority were to him a matter of personal knowledge. He never sought to figure prominently in the public life of the community but as the years passed he gained many friends among Milwaukee's substantial resi- dents.
ELTON F. STREICH.
Among the leading business men of Milwaukee is Elton F. Streich, president of the Milwaukee Brush Manufacturing Company, one of the most important enterprises of its kind in the state. A native of Ohio, he was born at Cincinnati on the 28thi of December, 1879, a son of Rev. Caspar Streich and Katherine (Rife) Streich.
In the acquirement of an education Elton F. Streich attended the public schools of Cincinnati and after graduating from a high school there went to Cleveland, where he
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became connected with the Osborn Manufacturing Company, a brush-making business. For fifteen years he was associated with that company and then organized his own business, which was shortly afterward purchased by the Cleveland company, for which he had worked. Subsequently he established a plant at Milwaukee, which was known as the Colonial Brush Manufacturing Company, being a branch of the Cleveland house, but in 1916 he handed in his resignation again to enter business on his own account. He then founded the Milwaukee Brush Manufacturing Company with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, which has since been increased to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The products of the plant are brooms and brushes of the kind used in large industrial plants and wire brushes and brooms are a specialty. Mr. Streich installed in the plant the best equipment obtainable and it is not surpassed in the country, or for that matter, throughout the world. As the result of the capably executed system the business has grown to extensive and important proportions and the products of the plant are sent all over the United States, Canada, and into foreign countries.
On the 2d of August, 1909, occurred the marriage of Mr. Streich and Miss Hilma Mary Griesheimer, daughter of John C. Griesheimer of Muncie, Indiana. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Streich: Mary Jane and Elton F., both attending the Shorewood schools. Mrs. Streich is well known in the club and social circles of Mil- waukee and is a woman of charming personality.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Streich has been a supporter of the republican party but has never taken a particularly active interest in political affairs and has never sought nor desired public office as a reward for party fealty. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Forest City Lodge, No. 388, of Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and the Rotary Club and for recreation turns to the great outdoors. He is a fisherman of ability and enjoys motoring and baseball. Dur- ing the World war he devoted a great part of his time to war activities and took a prominent part in all drives. Mr. Streich is a self made man and his advance in the business world has been the steady advance of the man with a definite aim and strong- ly concentrated forces-the essential factors for success in any career. The Streich family reside at 1497 Stowell avenue, Shorewood.
WALTER C. CARLSON.
The individual interest of Walter C. Carlson is centered in the Milwaukee Paper Box Company, of which he is the president and treasurer, while as a factor in the public life of the community he is doing important service as the president of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce, to which he was elected in February, 1920 and reelected in 1921. Under his guidance the membership of this organization has grown greatly and its activities have correspondingly increased as an effective force in the welfare and upbuilding of the city.
Walter C. Carlson has his nativity in that city the growth of which has been regarded as one of the wonders of the age, for he is a native Chicagoan, born October 27, 1875. He was about three years of age when his parents removed to Racine, Wisconsin, and he was left an orphan before he had reached the age of five years. There were no relatives to care for him and he was placed in the Taylor Orphan Asylum, situated about three miles from Racine. There he remained for about nine years, receiving an education equivalent to the eighth grade work of the public school. Moreover, he worked on the farm, for surrounding the Home, which was built and supported by Mr. Taylor, is a tract of forty acres and in assisting in the work of the fields Mr. Carlson gained considerable knowledge concerning the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He also milked six cows every morning and night, cleaned out the stables and took care of the horses. Industry, therefore, became a habit with him and the quality has remained one of his valuable assets through the intervening years. About the time that he left the Orphan Asy- lum he had the opportunity to become a pupil in the Racine Military College, but preferred learning a trade, for he was always handy with tools and found pleasure in mechanical pursuits. He turned his attention to cabinetmaking, a position being secured for him with a large firm in Racine, where about four hundred men were employed. His weekly wage of six dollars was given to him in return for his labors as floor sweeper and errand boy. Gradually, however, he was advanced in respon- sibility as well as in earnings and during the six years spent in that establishment he became an expert cabinetmaker. However, the firm by which he was employed failed during the widespread financial panic of 1893 and as he could not find other employment in cabinetmaking he was forced to seek a position along another line. Diligent search brought him the position of cutter with the Vanfalkenberg Paper Box Company of Racine, at a salary of seven dollars and a half per week. At the beginning he knew nothing of the business but with the thoroughness that has
WALTER C. CARLSON
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always characterized him he applied himself to the tasks assigned him and after two years had reached the superintendency of the factory. The failure of his employers again left him without a situation and he removed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he took charge of the hox plant of the Black Cat Hosiery Company and acted as fore- man during the illness of the regular incumbent in that position.
After a time, however, Mr. Carlson again became a resident of Racine, where he established a business on his own account as proprietor of a cahinetmaking, pat- tern-making and furniture repair shop, hoping thus to earn a living until he could find permanent employment. In the meantime he sent out applications to a number of paper hox manufacturers in the largest cities of the country and six months after opening his little cabinet shop he obtained work with the A. George Schulz Company of Milwaukee, who gave him the position of foreman and he entered upon a ten years' engagement with that house. It was in 1905 that he felt justified in establishing business on his own account and organized and promoted the Milwaukee Paper Box Company, of which he has since been the president and treasurer. The success of the enterprise is indicated in the fact that the concern now employs nearly six hundred people and occupies about one hundred and fifty thousand square feet of floor space, making this one of the most important productive industries of Mil- waukee. Mr. Carlson has had more than a quarter of a century's experience in the paper box line, which he knows thoroughly in every department, from the unloading of cars, mixing glues, hundling, cutting, scoring, to the superintending and manage- ment of the business. In his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. Throughout his life when one avenue of opportunity has been closed he has carved out other paths whereby to reach the desired goal. His methods have always been construc- tive and he has never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose.
In 1910 Mr. Carlson was united in marriage to Miss Janet Grace Austin, a daughter of William H. Austin, a former state senator of Milwaukee, and they have become the parents of two daughters and one son: Janet H., nine years of age; Ruth E., aged six; and Walter A., a lad of three summers.
Fraternally Mr. Carlson is a Mason and also a Knight of Pythias. He likewise belongs to the Rotary Club, to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Milwaukee Auto- mobile Club, the Elks Club, the Wisconsin Club, the Milwaukee Yacht Club, the Association of Commerce. He has served on nearly every committee in the Western Paper Box Association and for two years was president. For two years he served as president of the National Paper Box Association. His election to the presidency of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce occurred in February, 1920, and was the logical outcome of his active and effective work for the organization in previous years. He has served on the city affairs committee and on the membership com- mittee and during his administration as president the membership of the association has increased from thirty-five hundred to five thousand. He has heen a most ardent and enthusiastic worker for Milwaukee's good and his activities have been mnost resultant. Such a life record should serve as an inspiration to all who know aught of his history. Mr. Carlson, when not yet five years of age, facing life without the guidance or assistance of a relative, has from his early teens been dependent entirely upon his own resources and an analyzation of his career shows that courage, earn- estness and determination have been the salient features in winning his advance- ment. Today he is not only one of the leading and prosperous manufacturers of Milwaukee but one of its most representative citizens, to whom opportunity has ever heen a call to action.
WILLIAM CARL BLIEDUNG.
For twenty-one years William Carl Bliedung has been connected with the O. C. Hansen Manufacturing Company, of which he is now vice president and treasurer and bis splendid business foresight and untiring energy have been dominant factors in the continued advancement of the business. A native of Wisconsin, his birth occurred in Green Bay on the 17th of May, 1872, a son of Carl William and Marie (Wolfmeyer) Bliedung. The father was born in Germany and came to the United States when about thirty-eight years of age, with his wife. He established a drug busi- ness in Green Bay, Wisconsin, achieving more than a substantial success in the venture and there resided until his death. Mrs. Bliedung was born in Helenville, Wisconsin, and is still living, making her home in Milwaukee.
William Carl Bliedung is indebted to the public schools of Green Bay for his early education and after graduating from the high school there he entered a business college, where he completed a short course. He then spent about three years learning the jeweler's trade and watchmaking in Milwaukee and Chicago and at the termination of that time secured a position with a wholesale jewelry and supply house in Chicago, traveling for them from 1892 to 1900. In the latter year he hecame associated with
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hiis present concern and was for some time active as treasurer of the business, later becoming vice president, a position in which he is now active. The company has had a wonderful growth in the past twenty odd years and is represented in every state in the union. It is said to be the finest glove factory in the United States and its products are motoring, dress and work gloves of leather and also leather mittens. Two hundred and fifty employes are constantly needed to keep the business running in a smooth and efficient manner and a floor space of one hundred and thirty thousand feet is utilized.
On October 16, 1900, Mr. Bliedung was married to Miss Claire Hansen, a daughter of Oscar C. Hansen, a prominent business man of Milwaukee. He was born in Schles- wig-Holstein and came to this country at an early day, becoming one of the most repre- sentative business men and citizens of Milwaukee. His demise occurred in May, 1912. To Mr. and Mrs. Bliedung three children have been born: Eleanor, a graduate of Mil- waukee-Downer College; and Carlton W. and Walter Robert, both attending the Mil- waukee University school.
Although Mr. Bliedung is a republican he reserves the right to give his support to the man he thinks best fitted for the office whether he he a candidate of that party or not. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife is an Episcopalian, and be is fraternally identified with the Masons, belonging to Lafayette Lodge, to the Royal Arch Masons and to the Knights Templar. Socially he is connected with the Wisconsin, Milwaukee Athletic and City Clubs and in the Association of Commerce he is a member of the advertising council and the industrial art committee. He is active in the Citizens Bureau of Municipal Efficiency and is one of the trustees. Mr. Bliedung finds recreation in golfing and motoring and a great deal of his spare time is spent on the golf links of the Blue Mound Country Club, of which he is likewise a member. Mr. Blicdung is known as a steady, reliable, persevering man and whatever he under. takes he carries forward to successful completion. This reputation has made him a person on whom his associates can always depend and he has many friends who appre- ciate his many sterling traits of character and genuine personal worth.
VALENTIN BLATZ, JR.
Milwaukee numbers among her most prominent and representative business men, Valentin Blatz. Jr., who is president and treasurer. of the Val Blatz, Jr., Candy Company, located at 244-46 East Water street. He is a native son of Milwaukee, his birth occurring on the 30th of May, 1892, a son of Valentin and Minna (Kletzsch) Błatz, both prominent and highly respected citizens of Milwaukee. The father was born in Milwaukee and was the son of Valentin Blatz, a native of Germany. Mrs. Blatz was born in Newburg, Wisconsin, and was a daughter of Charles F. Kletzsch.
Valentin Blatz, Jr., was educated in the German-English Academy of this city, now the University School, and the East Side high school, now the Riverside high school, enrolled in the University of Wisconsin and was graduated from that institution in 1915. with the degree of B. S. During his college days he became a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and was active in all of its affairs on the campus. Upon the completion of his schooling Mr. Blatz made his initial step into the business world in connection with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was cashier in the Milwaukee office for a few months and then, deciding to go into business on his own account, he founded the candy business which he is now so successfully conducting. In January, 1916, the company was incorporated under the name of the Val Blatz, Jr., Candy Company and was first located at 1623 Wells street. The steady increase in the business necessitated a removat to larger quarters, however, and in February, 1919, the firm removed to its present location. The products of the concern are a line of high-grade package goods, chocolates, etc., and it does an extensive business through- out the United States, having about twenty salesmen always on the road.
On the 12th of September, 1916, Mr. Blatz was united in marriage to Miss Vera Kayser, a daughter of Adolph Kayser of Madison, Wisconsin. He is a native of Ger- many and came to Wisconsin with his parents at an early day. He is residing in Madi- son, this state. For many years he engaged in the wholesale lumber business, gaining prominence in that connection and he is now engaged in farming, having five hundred acres of valuable land under cultivation. He has been prominent in the public life of Madison and was one of the most competent mayors that town has ever had. Mr. Kayser is seventy years of age and is enjoying splendid health. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Blatz two children have been born: Vera and Val (IV).
The religious faith of the family is Catholic and they attend St. Rohert's church in Shorewood. Fraternally Mr. Blatz is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Milwaukee Lodge and Marquette Council, Knights of Columbus. His social connections are with the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Ozaukee Country and Golf Club and the Optimist Club. He is always interested in any movement for the development and improvement of the community and to that end is an active member of the Asso-
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ciation of Commerce. The success that Mr. Blatz has attained in the conduct of his business is the result of the intelligent application of modern business principles to the management of a large and growing commercial enterprise. It shows a thorough knowledge of the details of the business and an active personal supervision of its vari- cus branches.
ROBERT NOWELL WILLIAMS.
Robert Nowell Williams, manager of the Milwaukee office for A. B. Leach & Com- pany, Incorporated, was born in this city March 6, 1893, and is a son of Franklin J. and Elvira (Nowell) Williams, both of whom are natives of Wisconsin. The grand- father in the maternal line was Winslow A. Nowell, who came to Milwaukee in the late '50s or early '60s and served as postmaster of the city at one time. He was also a mem- ber of the state legislature and took prominent part in shaping public affairs. The paternal grandfather, Robert W. Williams, came to Milwaukee in the '60s and engaged in business as an architect and builder.
Robert N. Williams pursued a public school education in his native city and later attended the University of Wisconsin. After leaving school he engaged in the invest- ment security business and in the spring of 1914 he became manager of the Milwaukee office for A. B. Leach & Company, Incorporated, his territory including Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha counties. He has been the head of this office for about eight years and under his direction the business has steadily developed.
In March, 1917, Mr. Williams enlisted as a member of Troop A, First Wisconsin Cavalry, and later was assigned to Troop D of the same regiment, which he accom- panied to Camp Douglas, where he was in training for a time, while later the regiment was sent to Waco, Texas, as a unit of the Thirty-second Division. He went over. seas with his regiment early in March, 1918, and was sent to the artillery school at Saumur, France, where he obtained a commission as second lieutenant. He was then assigned to the One Hundred and First Field Artillery of the Twenty-sixth Division and was with that command at the front from early in July until the signing of the armistice. He returned home with his division and was discharged at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, April 17, 1919.
On returning to Milwaukee, Mr. Williams resumed the management of the office of A. B. Leach & Company, again taking up his duties on the 1st of May, 1919.
On the 15th of October following Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Constance Miller, the youngest daughter of William H. Miller, and they have one son, Franklin Charles, named for Mr. Williams' brotner, who died in Liverpool, England, of pneumonia while serving in the World war. Robert N. Williams belongs to the Fox Point Club, the Town Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club and to Chi Psi, a college fra- ternity.
JOSEPH B. CONRAD.
Joseph B. Conrad, who was a contracting builder and established business interests of large importance in Milwaukee, passed away on the 9th of November, 1921. He had traveled life's journey for three quarters of a century, his birth having occurred on the Hawley Road, in Milwaukee, on the 3d of February, 1846. He had always made his home here and his life was as an open book which all might read. His parents were Nicholas and Magdalene (Rengeisen) Conrad, both of whom were natives of Alsace Lorraine. Coming to the United States. they settled in Milwaukee in 1831 and were among the earliest of the pioneers here, the city having not yet emerged from village- hood at that period.
Joseph B. Conrad was reared to adult age in this city and acquired his education in the public schools. In early life he worked for his father for several years and afterward hecame identified with building operations, eventually taking up contract work on his own account. As he progressed in this undertaking he was accorded some of the important contracts of the city, erecting a number of the large buildings here, including the St. Lawrence church and chapel, St. Peter's church, the convent at Corliss, a number of the large breweries and still other important structures, including the remodeling of the Boston Store and the Merrill building. He continued in the busi- ness throughout his life and his contract work made heavy demands upon his time and energy and enabled him to give employment to many workmen.
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