USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 52
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On the 13th of October, 1874, Mr. Conrad was married to Miss Dora Miller, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Litian) Miller, who were pioneers of Milwaukee and natives of Hanover, Germany. They became the parents of five children: Eliza, the wife of Julius P. Heil of this city; Katherine; Joseph P .; Walter A .; and Gertrude. Vol. III-30
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In his political views Mr. Conrad was always an earnest democrat and at one time he was a candidate for the office of assemblyman. He was not ambitions, however, to fill political positions, finding his greatest interest and happiness in his home. At one time he held membership with the Knights of Columbus but did not attend the meet- ings of the order in his later years. He belonged to the Old Settlers' Club and found pleasant association with those who, like himself, had for many years been residents of Milwaukee and contributors to the city's growth, progress and improvement. Few there were who had longer been residents of Milwaukee than had Joseph B. Conrad when he passed away and at all times he enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen.
FRANK SPEWACHEK.
Frank Spewachek, extensively engaged in the manufacture of sansage in Mil- waukee, having developed a business of extensive proportions along this line, was born in Bohemia, December 29, 1873, his parents being James and Mary Spewachek. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country, which he attended to the age of about seventeen years and then crossed the Atlantic, becoming a resident of Milwaukee in 1890. Here through the intervening period of almost a third of a century he has made his home and soon after his arrival he entered the employ of L. Frank & Son, sausage manufacturers, with whom he remained for twenty-five years. He steadily won promotion and for twenty years was foreman with this house. He then resigned in order to engage in business on his own account and in 1916 organized the Milwaukee Sansage Company, establishing his plant on Center street. In November, 1920, a removal was made to No. 652 National avenue, their present location. . In this undertaking Mr. Spewachek is connected with Frank Klement. They began business in a small way but have gradually developed the enterprise until their output is thirty thousand pounds of sausage per week. Their plant has been steadily improved. Purchasing the building, they thoroughly re- modeled it, making it sanitary and modern in every respect, and it is now equipped with the latest improved machinery and every facility for carrying on the business.
In 1896 Mr. Spewachek was married to Miss Louisa Schiller and they have become the parents of five children: Clarence, Hilbert, Elmer, Esolda and Verona. Mr. Spewachek is identified with the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees and is a member of the Association of Commerce. For an extended period he has been an active figure in business circles here and his capability and determination have brought him steadily to the front, so that he is now at the head of a large and profitable enterprise.
CHARLES PECK WETMORE.
The Wetmore Reamer Company, of which Charles Peck Wetmore is vice president, was founded in 1915 and during the six years of its activity has grown to extensive proportions. The company manufactures tools and is widely known for the Wetmore expanding reamer, a high-speed, quantity production tool, made the way a good mechanic likes to see a tool made. Mr. Wetmore has been untiring in bis devotion to the business and a great part of its success is due to his keen business foresight and executive ability.
Charles Peck Wetmore was born December 13, 1862, on his father's farm near Rox- bury, Connecticut, a son of Cyrus Sherman and Silvia (Glover) Wetmore, both de- ceased. For many generations the Wetmore family had resided in Connecticut, the progenitor of the family in this country having come from England to Boston in 1635, later locating in Middletown, Connecticut. His descendants became representative citi- zens of the communities in which they resided and one direct ancestor of Mr. Wetmore's was assistant rector of Trinity church at New York city at the time of the Revolution- ary war. The grandfather was Ephraim Peck Wetmore, a native of Newtown, Con- necticut, where his son, Cyrus Sherman, was born. Cyrus Sherman Wetmore in early life mastered the carpenter and building trades, which he carried on successfully, to- gether with farming. A public-spirited man he was active in all local affairs and held many local offices. His demise occurred in 1899, seven years after the death of his wife. She was a daughter of Charles Glover, a farmer near Newtown, Connecticut, in which vicinity her birth took place.
Charles Peck Wetmore is indebted to the public schools of Roxbury, Connecticut, for his education and he later learned the machinist trade with the J. S. Follansbee Company at Bridgeport, Connecticut. After four years with that company he removed to New York city and was for one year machinist and toolmaker with Charles Harris.
FRANK SPEWACHEK
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The following fifteen years he was associated with the Blake & Johnson Manufacturing Company at Waterbury, Connecticut, and rose from the position of machinist to super- intendent of the plant. Severing his relations with that concern he went to New Haven, Connecticut, and for one year was identified with the F. B. Schuster Company as super- intendent. Then for two years he was mechanical engineer for the Russell-Erwin Com- pany of New Britain, Connecticut, and then removed to Chicago, where for six years he was superintendent and factory manager of the Comptograph Company. He spent seven years perfecting an adding machine of his own invention and in 1915 organized the Wetmore Mechanical Laboratory Company, which name was later changed to the Wetmore Reamer Company, with Paul B. Rogers as president and Mr. Wetmore as vice president. The company manufactures tools of various kinds and does an ex- tensive business throughout the United States, having branch offices in New York city; Detroit, Michigan; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; Newark, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Cleve- land, Ohio. It also has representatives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Osaka, Japan; Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America; Toronto, Canada; and Clerkenwell, London, E. C.
On the 14th of October, ISSS, Mr. Wetmore was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Mercia Warner, a daughter of Marshall Warner of Waterhury, Connecticut. He was born in New Haven and in later life removed to Waterbury, where he was widely known as a prominent and highly successful business man. His death occurred in 1896. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore, Sylvia, who is living at home.
Although Mr. Wetmore belongs to the republican party he reserves the right to give his support to any man he thinks best fitted for holding public office, without regard to party principles. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore are communicants of the Immanuel Presbyterian church of Milwaukee and he is fraternally identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Townsend Lodge of Waterbury, Connecti- cut. He is socially connected with the City Club and along the line of his business main- tains membership in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. For recreation Mr. Wetmore turns to motoring and reading and in the library at his home, 511 Maryland avenue, may be found many volumes on mechanical works. Starting out into the commercial world at an early day he learned his lessons in the school of experience and made steady advance as the result of untiring energy, keen business ability, and in- telligently directed effort. He is readily conceded to he a representative citizen and business man and has many friends who appreciate him as a man of genuine personal worth.
BENJAMIN DAVID ZIMMERMAN.
One of the foremost men in business circles in Milwaukee is Benjamin David Zimmerman, president of the Milwaukee Auto Engine & Supply Company, located at 760-64 Thirtieth street. A native of Minnesota, he was born at Minneapolis on the 17th of March, 1886, a son of Isaac and Pesel (Pesel) Zimmerman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Russia. In 1858 the father came to the United States and locating in Minneapolis, became a merchant of prominence. His death occurred in 1919 and in his passing the community in which he had for so many years made his home lost a representative citizen. Mrs. Zimmerman survives her husband and is making her home with her son, Benjamin D., in Milwaukee. She came to this country with her husband soon after their marriage.
Benjamin David Zimmerman received his education in the public schools of Min- neapolis and after graduating from the high school there took a course in a business college, after which he made his initial step into the business world as clerk of the Haynes Automobile Company. During the four years of his activity with that con- cern, from 1906 to 1910, he won constant promotion until he reached the position of office manager and was active in that capacity when he resigned to go into business on his own account. In 1910 he organized the Western Motor Supply Company at Minneapolis, hecoming general manager as well as secretary and treasurer, and he conducted that business until 1912, when he sold out and removed to Chicago. He became president of the Overland Sales Company in that city and ably discharged the duties of that office until the Ist of November, 1916. He then came to Milwaukee and entered the business of which he is now president, as general manager. Some time Jater Mr. Zimmerman was made president of the business, the development of which is being marked by a steady, permanent growth. The Milwaukee Auto Engine & Supply Company was incorporated in 1905. The main products of the com- pany are commutators for Ford cars, other ignition devices and automobile parts and equipment. The firm's market is an extensive one, extending throughout the United States and all over the world.
Mr. Zimmerman is a member of B'nai Jeshurun Temple and fraternally he is
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affiliated with the Masons, belonging to Covenant Lodge, No. 526, of Chicago and Corinthian Chapter, No. 69, R. A. M. He is an outstanding figure in the activities of the Association of Commerce, being one of the legislation committee and socially he is known as a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, Woodmont Country Club and City Club. For recreation Mr. Zimmerman turns to golf and motoring. He re- sides at 550 Eastwood place, Shorewood. He is an enterprising man of sound judg- ment and practical ideas and has always applied himself closely to his business, giving his personal supervision to every department. He is a man of high standards and good principles, whose method of conducting his transactions commends him to the support and confidence of all with whom he has dealings.
WALTER H. BENDFELT.
Walter Hl. Bendfelt, president of the Bendfelt lee Cream Company of Milwaukee, was born in Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 1891, a son of August and Louise (Kranse) Bendielt, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to America in 1863, settling in Chicago, where the father was superintendent of a large manufacturing plant. In 1921 he removed to Milwaukee, where he and his wife now reside.
Walter H. Bendfelt was educated in the public schools of his native city and started out in the business world as an employe of the Western Electric Company with which he remained for six years. He was afterward sales manager for the Klaxon Company in Newark, New Jersey, for a period of four years and in 1917 he came to Milwaukee, where he took over the business of the Standard Ice Cream Company, then located at No. 121 Fourteenth street. From that time forward he has been identified with the manufacture of ice cream in Milwaukee and thoroughness, close application and intense energy have constituted the foundation upon which he has built the super- structure of success. In 1918 he erected the present building, the new plant being located at No. 2302 to 2312 Clybourn street. The company has a two-story brick build- ing with basement and equipped with all new and modern machinery used in manu- facturing ice cream. A very satisfactory business has been developed and is increasing all the time. Their product is of the higbest quality and finds a ready sale.
On the 26th of July, 1915, Mr. Bendfelt was married to Miss Pauline M. Valerius, a native of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and they have one child Walter H. Mr. Bendfelt is a member of the Masonic fraternity, has become a Knight Templar and belongs to Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership in the Milwaukee Athletic Club. While he is one of the more recent acquisitions to the business ranks of Milwaukee he has already forged to the front here and he is an enthusiastic supporter of his adopted city. He has traveled from coast to coast and in all of his travels has found no city which he likes as well as a place of residence and as a center of his business activity.
GEORGE ERNEST MUSEBECK.
George Ernest Museheck is one of the representative business men of Milwau- kee, being officially connected with the Edmonds Shoe Company, at Bremen and Concordia avenues, as vice president and general manager. He comes to the Cream city from the Empire state, his birth having occurred on his father's farm at Naples, New York, September 25, 1887. He is a son of Frank Musebeck and a grandson of William Musebeck, who was at one time assistant postmaster at Stettin, Germany. The father was born in Stettin, Germany, and came to the United States when a lad of fifteen years. He took up his abode at Atlanta, New York, which place was then called Blood. In early manhood he devoted his attention to the occupation of farm- ing and at the present time he is engaged in the garage livery business at Rochester. New York. He married Emilie Hanggie, who was horn in Zurich, Switzerland, a daughter of Samuel H. Hanggie, who was a shoemaker. Mrs. Musebeck departed this life in 1902.
George E. Musebeck acquired his education in the public schools of Naples and of Rochester, New York, and started out in the business world as an employe of the Foot-Schutze Shoe Company at St. Paul, Minnesota. His ready adaptability and in- dustry soon won him promotion and when twenty years of age he became foreman. A year later he entered the employ of the United Shoe Machinery Company at Chi- cago as machine representative in the work of repairing machines and his connec- tion with that house covered a period of eight years, during which time he won advancement, serving as special representative when he severed his connection with the company. He was afterward with the firm of Harsh & Edmonds of Milwaukee as superintendent and when Edmonds withdrew from that business Mr. Musebeck
GEORGE E. MUSEBECK
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went with him to Huntington, Indiana, where he continued for a year as superin- tendent of the business which Mr. Edmonds established. In May, 1918, he accom- panied Mr. Edmonds to Milwaukee and became one of the organizers of the Edmonds Shoe Company of this city, of which he is now the vice president and general manager. There is no phase of shoe manufacturing with which Mr. Musebeck is not thoroughly familiar and his capability and resourcefulness make him a valued factor in connection with the successful conduct of enterprises of this character. The Edmonds Shoe Company today specializes in a single line, being the first concern to do so. The firm makes just one style of shoe, which is called the Edmonds Foot Fitter and its market covers every state in the Union. The company sells exclu- sively to retailers and its business has become one of very gratifying and substantial proportions. It has the only shoe manufactory in the world that does all of its work on one floor and it is the only factory in the world with a special arrangement of machinery. Mr. Musebeck has become recognized as an expert in designing factory layouts and also in quality shoemaking and his capability has been one of the potent forces in winning the success which is now crowning the efforts of the Edmonds Shoe Company.
On the 25th of May, 1916, Mr. Musebeck was married to Miss Etlie Howie, a daughter of George B. Howie of Chicago, who was born in Scotland and on crossing the Atlantic settled first in Canada, after which he removed to Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Musebeck are of the Presbyterian faith. He belongs to the Mil- waukee Athletic Club and to the Association of Commerce. He is fond of outdoor sports, especially fishing and to these he turns for rest and recreation when leisure permits. His talent has all been manifested along mechanical lines and he possesses expert power of that kind. He has brought forth several inventions, having to do with shoe manuacturing and factory layout and he is the vice president of the Con- way, Wadsworth Pattern Company, which makes designs and patterns for shoes. The business of the Edmonds Shoe Company has steadily grown until it is now one of very gratifying proportions and Mr. Musebeck is an outstanding figure in con- nection with the manufacturing interests of Milwaukee. He has made each day mark off a full-faithed attempt to know more and to grow more. Each hour he has used wisely and well and the intelligent direction of his labors has placed him among the foremost representatives of business interests in southern Wisconsin.
THOMAS A. FITZSIMMONS.
Thomas A. Fitzsimmons, senior partner of the firm of Fitzsimmons & Harrington, conducting a real estate and insurance agency in North Milwaukee, was born in Scot- land, August 31, 1860, his parents being Henry and Mary ( McIntyre) Fitzsimmons, both of whom were natives of Ireland but removed to Scotland, where they lived for some years before coming to the United States in 1874. They were not located permanently at any point until 1879, when they took up their abode at Newark, Ohio, where they spent their remaining days.
Thomas A. Fitzsimmons acquired his education in the schools of Scotland, Eng- land, Canada and the United States. He attended private schools in the first two countries and became a public school pupil after crossing the Atlantic. He was only fourteen years of age when he came to this country and after putting aside his text- books he began learning the trade of structural steel working. In 1896 he came to Milwaukee and was department foreman for the Milwaukee Bridge & Iron Works, while later he became inspector for the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee. For eighteen years he was superintendent of the Milwaukee Bridge Com- pany of this city. In February, 1921, he engaged in the real estate and insurance business in North Milwaukee and has done a very satisfactory business. Here he has built up a reputation for honesty and reliability in all business transactions and he has come to be recognized as an authority on real estate values and the opportunities offered in the real estate market. His public service, too, has been of a very important character. He removed to North Milwaukee in 1900 and was elected president of the village in 1904, serving for a term of two years, and then after a period of non- connection with the office he was reelected for the term of 1908-09. He has also been a member of the North Milwaukee library board for a period of twenty years and secretary of the school board for nine years. In politics he is a democrat and has served as a member of the state central committee. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, to the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of Hibernians and has a wide acquaintance in these lodges.
On the 4th of September, 1882, Mr. Fitzsimmons was married to Miss Sarah Fitzgibbon of Newark, Ohio, and they have become parents of eight children, six of whom are living: William Henry, Helen, May, Joseph E., James R. and Rose. The sons, Joseph Emmett and James Robert, were in the service during the World war.
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James R. became a captain of the Three Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment of the Eighty-fifth Division and took part in the Northern Russian expedition through the Archangel district. He was wounded on the 4th of February, 1919, and was in the hos- pital for two months. Later he returned to his native land and was mustered out at Camp Custer. Joseph Emmett was a sergeant in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty- seventh Regiment of the Thirty-second Division, and went overseas. He served with this regiment until early in August, 1918, when he was slightly wounded in action. Later he was transferred to the Third Army Corps after leaving the hospital and went into Germany with the Army of Occupation, being mustered out at Camp Grant. James Robert Fitzsimmons is now special agent for the Travelers Insurance Company, while Emmett is employed by the Wisconsin Bridge Company.
Mr. Fitzsimmons was a member of the local Red Cross committee and was elected chairman of the North Milwaukee branch of the Milwaukee Chapter. He took part in all the war drives and has a service card showing nine stripes. Fidelity to principle has always been one of his marked characteristics and his patriotic loyalty has long been recognized by all who know him.
CHARLES W. HOLT.
Charles W. Holt, president of the Holt Electric Company of Milwaukee, was born in Ellsworth, Maine, May 2, 1859, and is a son of Jones Wesley and Carsilla (Murch) Holt, who were likewise natives of the Pine Tree state, the former born in Kenne- bunk, and the latter in Ellsworth. Mrs. Holt was of English lineage.
Charles W. Holt spent the days of his boyhood and youth in New England and in October, 1885, sought to enjoy the opportunities of the growing west by removing to Minneapolis. There he remained until 1898, when he came to Milwaukee, where he has made his home for almost a quarter of a century. For several years he was here associated with the Milwaukee Electric Company and also with the Westinghouse National Brake Company for a year. In 1906 he established business for himself by opening the present shop of the Holt Electric Company, which is devoted to the building of direct electric motors, while general repair and contract work are also done. The business has grown steadily and is now one of the important industrial enterprises of the city.
In March. 1888, Mr. Holt was united in marriage, in Minneapolis, to Miss Hattie B. Saunders, a daughter of Robert James and Emma Saunders, of Eastport, Maine, the Saunders family being founded in America in 1622. Mrs. Holt was born in the house in which occurred her mother's birth and the family is of English descent. By her marriage she has become the mother of two sons: Deane S. who is the presi- dent and manager of the Electric Equipment Company of Milwaukee; and Frank M., who is the secretary of the Holt Electric Company, while Mrs. Holt occupies the position of treasurer and Mr. Holt has from the beginning been president of the company. While in Minneapolis he was associated with the Minneapolis & St. Paul Railway Company. He has always devoted his life to mechanical and electrical pursuits and his thorough efficiency and skill in this direction have been strong elements in the attainment of the company's success. His son, Frank M., withdrew from the business through the period of the World war and was a corporal in the Thirty-second Division, in which he served for eighteen months. He was at the front, was twice wounded, received a French Croix de Guerre and also the Distinguished Service Cross conferred by the United States.
Fraternally Mr. Holt is a Mason, belonging to Lafayette Lodge and in his political views he is a republican. He likewise has membership in the Congregational church and his life has been characterized by principles that will bear the closest investiga- tion and scrutiny.
HENRY SULLIVAN.
An energetic business man whose success in life has been on a parity with his well directed endeavors, is Henry Sullivan, president of the Henry Sullivan Engrav- ing Company, located at 111 Wisconsin street. A native of Illinois, he was born in Chicago on the 5th of November, 1864, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Dunne) Sullivan. both deceased. The father, a native of Ireland, came to the United States in 1850 and locating in Milwaukee, worked at his trade as a mason for some time. Later he removed to Chicago and there resided until his death in 1893. Mrs. Sullivan passed away in 1906. She was a daughter of Jeremiah Dunne of Milwaukee, also a native of Ireland.
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In the pursuit of an education Henry Sullivan attended the public schools of Chicago and upon putting his textbooks aside made his initial step into the business world as an employe of the Birmingham Engraving Company of Chicago. He was but thirteen years of age when he identified himself with that company as an apprentice and when he left, after a period of eleven years, he was an expert steel and copper plate engraver. He had won constant promotion as the result of his ability, untiring energy and the conscientious performance of every duty assigned him. In 1886 he located in Milwaukee and for six years held the position as engraver for Des Farges & Company, resigning at the termination of that time to enter business on his own account. He founded his present business in 1891 and in 1908 incorporated it under the name of the Henry Sullivan Engraving Company, making high-grade steel and copper plate engraving and embossing. For the past ten years the company has been in its present location and has become one of the important business interests of Milwaukee. Mr. Sullivan has built up an ever-increasing patronage and his work is known throughout the United States. Associated with him in the conduct of the business are his brothers, Frank Sullivan, secretary of the corporation, and Ambrose H. Sullivan, vice president.
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