USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 83
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On the 25th of March, 1903, Dr. Hankwitz was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Steinbeck, a daughter of John and Mary Steinbeck of Mazomanie, Wisconsin. At one time Mrs. Hankwitz was a school teacher of this city and she is a graduate of the Mil- waukee Normal School. The doctor and his wife have become the parents of three children: Dorothea, who was graduated from the high school in 1922; and Anita and Arthur, who are now attending high school. The two daughters are graduates of the Wisconsin College of Music.
Such in brief is the life record of Dr. Hankwitz and those who have been witnesses of his career have noted his steady progress as step by step he has advanced in his chosen calling. He has made excellent use of his time, his talents and his opportunities and his record proves that the road to success is open to all who care to walk therein. Prompted by a laudable ambition, he has so directed his energy that results in sub- stantial measure have come to him and his life record is crowned with prominence and success.
FREDERICK T. DAY.
The life record of Frederick T. Day eovers a period of seventy-eight years-a period in which he accomplished much in the way of business successes, while at the same time he took a most active and helpful part in promoting public progress along the lines of substantial development and improvement. His opinions concerning matters vital to the community were notably sound and his example in support of any public measure was often followed.
Frederick T. Day was born in Kingston, England, April 7, 1842, his parents being Thomas and Mary Ann (Gould) Day, who maintained their home in the vicinity of Bristol. The father was a minister of the Methodist church and came to America in 1846, crossing the Atlantic on the old-time sailing vessel Cosmos. Frederick T. Day was then but four years of age. The family home was established in Minnesota and the Rev. Day was prominent in the early development of the Methodist church in the west,
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establishing nearly all of the pioneer churches of his denomination in Minnesota. He reached a notable old age and spent his last days in Milwaukee, where after passing the eightieth milestone on life's journey it was his custom to walk a mile or more daily, going from his home to the office of his son.
Frederick T. Day was reared in Minnesota, completing his education in Hamline University at Red Wing. Following the outbreak of the Civil war, when he was a youth of nineteen. Mr. Day enlisted in Brackett's battalion of Minnesota cavalry but later served with the Fifth Iowa, as there were not enough cavalry volunteers in Minnesota to form a regiment. After two years of active duty with the Union army Mr. Day returned to the northwest and engaged in the life insurance business. It was in 1867 that he became a resident of Milwaukee, having in the meantime spent a brief period at Madison, Wisconsin. Again he engaged in the insurance business in Milwaukee but after a few years established a loan department, which soon outstripped the original branch of the business. From that time until his death Mr. Day conducted an extensive general loan business and operated largely in real estate. In fact he had a very wide range of activity, which included the presidency of the Milwaukee Brass and Copper Works, the presidency of the Lawndale Land Company and connection with the Home- stead Land Company as its secretary and treasurer. He afterward became a director for Wisconsin of the Bankers' National Bank of Chicago. His success was the result of close application, thoroughness and enterprise. Industry, while an indispensable element of business advancement, must be supplemented by sound judgment and ready discrimination and these qualities Mr. Day possessed in large measure. It has been said of him that he never failed in any business undertaking and a local publication spoke of him as an aggressive, broad-minded, unassuming and self made man.
Mr. Day was united in marriage to Miss Alcy Jeannette Miner, a daughter of Dr. G. B. Miner, and they became the parents of three danghters and one son. Their home was one of the most beautiful on Grand avenue and was the visible evidence of the success which attended the wisely directed efforts of Frederick T. Day.
Not only did Mr. Day become a leader in business affairs but was also intensively and actively interested in politics and in 1888 became chairman of the republican com- mittee of Milwaukee county. He was a writer on many topics and his views on soldiers' pensions attracted wide attention. He was especially versed in biblical matters and was ever of a studious nature, reading widely and thinking deeply. He delved deeply into ancient history as well as studied thoroughly the problems and questions of the present time. He expressed clearly his views upon any question that interested him and he was a fluent and entertaining writer. His early training in a cultured Christian home left its impress upon his life and character and in every relation he commanded the respect of his fellowmen to an unusual degree. He held friendship inviolable and his life was the expression of the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one."
LEWIS G. NOLTE, M. D.
A city with large industrial and commercial interests also offers a splendid field for the professional man and to Milwaukee have come many prominent and capable representatives of the medical profession, in which connection Dr. Lewis G. Nolte has become widely and favorably known. He was born in this city December 19, 1862, and has spent his entire life here. He is a son of Simon and Paulina ( Esche) Nolte. The father was born in Hanover, Germany, May 10, 1831, and was a son of Conrad Nolte, who served with the rank of captain in the German army and was a witness of the battle of Waterloo, where Wellington and Bluecher defeated Napoleon. Conrad Nolte spent his last years in Milwaukee and was laid to rest in Forest Home cemetery. His son, Simon Nolte, was a student in the University of Goettingen when the revolu- tion of 1848 broke ont in Germany. He was then but seventeen years of age but was obliged to leave Germany on account of his views, for even though but a lad in his teens he expressed pronounced opposition to monarchial rule and sought to bring greater liberty to the German people. Along with Cari Schurz and thousands of others, he was obliged to flee from Germany and first went to Holland, where he remained long enough to earn money with which to go to England. He then continued in the latter country until 1854, when he came to the United States-the ultimate goal of all the liberty-loving German people who participated in the revolution of 1848. He crossed the Atlantic on one of the old-time sailing ships, being seven weeks on the voyage. Cholera was epidemic throughout the world at that time and the disease broke out on shipboard. More than one hundred passengers died. the bodies being then lowered into the sea. Simon Nolte, however, escaped the disease and landed in New York city without a dollar in his pocket. He walked first to Philadelphia and thence to Allentown, Pennsyl- vania, where he found work as an axeman in the woods near Allentown. There he was employed through the winter, working for his board. In the spring of 1855 he made his
DR. LEWIS G. NOLTE
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way westward to Milwaukee, where his remaining days were passed. Here he engaged in merchandising and in hotel keeping and later became a merchant miller, owning the Old Upper Mills on the Old Canal. He was married in this city to Paulina Esche and they became the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living, Dr. Nolte having three brothers and three sisters. His brothers all reside in Milwaukee, namely: Dr. Robert Nolte, who is also a physician; Dr. Henry C. Nolte, an oculist; and Simon, who is a chemist. The three sisters are: Mrs. Louise Thuering of Milwaukee; Mrs. Ida De Claude of New York city; and Mrs. Alvina Matthiesen of Milwaukee. The children were liberally educated, all four sons having become college and university graduates, while the daughters are also graduates of convents and colleges. The mother belonged to a good Saxony family of Germany but, like Simon Nolte, her father, Christian Esche, had to flee from that country at the time of the revolution of 1848. He was a represen- tative of a family of millers and millwrights. In 1849 he came to the United States, but he and his wife contracted malaria while crossing northern Indiana and both died of the disease, being buried in Michigan City, Indiana. The sons of Christian Esche came on to Milwaukee and built one of the first flour mills here, and in connection therewith they also built and conducted a woolen mill. Their property was known as the old Cherry Mills and on the original site now stand the Atlas Mills. The lumber and the timber used in the construction of the Cherry Mills were cut and sawed by the Esche brothers and the family became closely identified with the industrial development and material progress of the city.
Dr. Nolte, as indicated, is a representative of two of the old and honored pioneer families of Wisconsin. He obtained his early education in the Milwaukee parochial schools, attending the old Trinity Lutheran school on Eighth street between State and Prairie. He was afterward graduated from Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, with the class of 1879 and then entered Columbia College of New York, in which he studied for two years. He next became a student in the medical department of that institution, known as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, this being the oldest medical college in America. He was there graduated with the M. D. degree In 1886, after which he returned to Milwaukee and became associated with the late Dr. Nicholas Senn as assistant. Dr. Senn then occupied the offices which are today occupied by Dr. Nolte, who became the successor of Dr. Senn in Milwaukee, the latter removing to Chicago in 1891 to become head professor of the surgical department of Rush Medical College. Dr. Nolte has since occupied the Senn offices in the West Side Bank huilding, better known as the Senn block. Here he has remained for thirty-one years. With his return to Milwaukee, following his graduation from medical college, he became a member of the medical staff of the Milwaukee Hospital, then known as the Passavant Hospital, and after several years he was made a member of the surgical staff, continuing as such until the Milwaukee Medical College was founded, when he was appointed professor of surgery. He continued to act in that capacity in the college and also with its successor, the medical department of Marquette University, for a period of twenty-five years, when he retired. In the meantime he had been made one of the surgeons at Trinity Hospital and later was appointed head surgeon of the Deaconess Hospital of Milwaukee, a position which he filled for ten years, while he is still serving on its surgical staff. Dr. Nolte was also one of the founders of the Johnston Emergency Hospital of this city, an institution organized by a group of young Milwaukee surgeons, among whom he was numbered. It was established in the old abandoned police station, there continuing until John Johnston, a banker, provided a lot for the present Emergency Hospital. Dr. Nolte was in charge of the first surgical case in the Emergency Hospital. Throughout all the years he has continued in surgical practice with notable success and he is now consulting surgeon in the Milwaukee County Hospital in addition to his other professional duties, which are extensive and of a most important character. His ability is pronounced. He has studied closely and his broad experience and research work have heightened his efficiency until he is today recognized as one of the eminent surgeons of this part of the country. Association with fellow practition- ers through the various medical societies has kept him in touch with advanced work done by his colleagues and contemporaries. He is now a member of the Milwaukee Medical Society, the Milwaukee County Medical Society and the Wisconsin State Medical Society and is a fellow of the American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons, the most distinguished body of surgeons in the world. He is likewise a member of the Brainard Medical Society, the Northwestern Medical Society and the Tri-State Medical Society. His opinions are always received attentively in the gatherings of any of these bodies and his writings have elicited wide interest and have proven of educational value to the members of the profession throughout the country. At one time he served as president of the Milwaukee County Medical Society.
Dr. Nolte's membership relations are by no means confined by his professional interests, for he has membership in the American Society for the Advancement of Science, belongs to the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city. also to the Alumni Association of Columbia University and is now president of the Columbia Alumni of the State of Wisconsin. He is a member of the
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Alpha Kappa Kappa and his fraternal relations include the various Masonic bodies, for he has membership in Aurora Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Calumet Chapter, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, K. T .; Wisconsin Consistory, A. A. S. R .; and Tripoli Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His religions faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church. Dr. Nolte has one of the largest private libraries in the state, containing books in many languages and a number of volumes as old as the art of printing. His rare collection includes not only all such works as a physician and surgeon might wish to consult but also many curious and interesting publications, books on travel, exploration. science, philosophy, social and political problems, as well as the standard classics and fiction. During his entire life he has been an active collector of engravings, steel and copper etchings and beautiful and rare paintings and has had keen appreciation for bronze and marble statuary, china and other objects of art. Moreover, he has always manifested a lively interest in athletics and outdoor sports and in his college days played baseball and football. For many years he was president of the Marquette University Auxiliary Athletic Association, which did so much to bring out athletics at that institution. He is also an enthusiastic horseman.
The home associations of Dr. Nolte have added greatly to the happiness and enjoy- ment of his life. On the 17th of October, 1888, in New York city, he wedded Miss Wilhelmina Widmayer and they have become parents of three sons and a daughter: William Louis; Louis Palmer; Gladys Louise, who is now the wife of Bernhard Miller of Racine; and Reginald Widmayer. The sons are also married and all are business men of Milwaukee. The only daughter is a graduate of Downer College. Mrs. Nolte is an accomplished musician and one of the well known horsewomen of the United States, competing in the big horse shows of the country and winning many blue ribbons in the annual horse shows held in New York, Chicago and Milwaukee. The family occupies a most enviable social position in Milwaukee and Dr. Nolte is always found in those gatherings where men of broad intelligence are met in the discussion of themes of vital interest and value to the public. His professional standards have ever been most high and steady progress has brought him to the foremost rank of the physicians and surgeons in Wisconsin and the middle west.
GEORGE H. CHEYNE.
George H. Cheyne, an enterprising and capable young business man of Milwaukee, has since March, 1921, been identified with Arthur Young & Company, members of the American Institute of Accountants, as a resident partner of the firm. He was born in Southampton, Canada, on the 15th of April, 1889, and in the acquirement of an education attended public and high schools of that country, also pursuing a course of study in the London Collegiate Institute of London, Ontario, from which he was graduated. It was in 1913, when a young man of twenty-four years, that he crossed the border into the United States. He worked as an accountant at Niagara Falls and other places and in 1916 came to Milwaukee and identified himself with the staff of Arthur Young & Com- pany. From 1918 until 1921 he filled the position of assistant secretary-treasurer of the Kearney & Trecker corporation, at the same time acting as secretary and treasurer with the Le Roi Company. In March, 1921, he again became associated with Arthur Yonng & Company, and has since remained as a resident partner of the firm. His skill as an accountant, his indefatigable energy, resourcefulness and enterprise have all been factors in the continued success of the concern, which is accorded a most extensive clientage.
Mr. Cheyne gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church. He also belongs to the Wisconsin Club and has gained many warm friends in both social and business circles of his adopted city.
FRED USINGER.
Fred Usinger, sausage manufacturer of Milwaukee, is regarded as one of the most prominent and progressive business men of the city and in the conduct of his affairs has displayed marked energy and enterprise. He was born in Nassan, Germany, on the 15tb of May. 1860, and is a son of Frederick Usinger. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country and came to America in 1881, reaching Milwaukee on the 14th of October of that year. Here he established business in a small way and through the intervening period has made steady progress. On the 22d of February, 1882, he rented a little space at No. 302 Third street and began the manufacture of the now famous Usinger sausage, The space which he occupied in that building was but nine feet in width. He manufactured his product, which he delivered from a hasket. The excellence of his product, however, soon won recognition and today the Usinger sausage
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is known throughout the entire country. Steadily he has increased his facilities as the years have passed and from time to time the plant has been expanded until he now has a large building of six floors, which he erected at No. 302-304 Third street, while the product of the factory is being shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada. At times the sausage is shipped in carload lots and the business is today one of the most important of the productive industries of the city. In addition to this mammoth enter- prise which he has developed Mr. Usinger owns a large stock ranch in Virginia, com- prising two thousand seven hundred and fifty-six acres of land. On this he keeps and feeds more than three hundred head of high-grade Hereford cattle and is making this one of the finest stock ranches in Virginia. In addition he also owns an excellent farm situated ten miles up the lake shore from Milwaukee and has there a beautiful summer home, where he entertains his many friends and ofttimes extends its hospitality to his employes.
In 1882 Mr. Usinger was united in marriage to Miss Louise Lorense, and they have become parents of two children: Frederick, Jr., who is associated with his father; and Lena. Mr. Usinger belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a loyal and faithful follower of the teachings and high purposes of the craft. He also belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, of which he is a life member, to the Rotary Club, to the Milwaukee Turnverein and to the Association of Commerce. He is keenly interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of this last named organization in its efforts to extend the business connections of the city, to maintain civic standards and to promote progress and improvement along all lines of general advancement. He is widely known and highly respected as one of Milwaukee's most successful business men and one whose efforts have been a potent force in the commercial growth and development of the city. His labors have at all times been most wisely and carefully directed and his suc- cess is the direct outcome of his persistency of purpose, his close application and his sound business judgment.
PETER JOSEPH MERTEN, M. D.
It has often been said that many of the strongest men in the professions have been drawn from the farm. There is something in the early rising, the daily tasks and the necessary discipline and rigors of the farm that makes for the upbuilding of strong character, with forcefulness in meeting and overcoming obstacles and difficulties such as every individual confronts in the journey of life. Dr. Peter Joseph Merten, now successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Milwaukee, was born on a farm in the town of Polk, Washington county, Wisconsin, August 17, 1879, his parents being Phillip and Anna (Fronhaefer ) Merten, both of whom were natives of Germany but were married in Wisconsin. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and both he and his wife have now passed away.
Dr. Merten is the youngest of a family of nine children, six of whom are yet living. Upon the farm where he was born he was reared to the age of nineteen years, early becoming familiar with the work of the fields and meadows, while to the age of sixteen years he acquired his education through attendance at the country schools. He after- ward attended a parochial school at Schleisingerville, Washington county, and was likewise a public school pupil there. He next attended high school at West Bend, the county seat of Washington county, and when his textbooks were put aside he started out upon his business career as clerk in a store at that place. There he was engaged in mercantile business on his own account for a time and in 1902 he removed to Milwaukee, where for two years he occupied a position as bookkeeper in a wholesale and retail establishment. He then again entered upon a period of study, this time matriculating in the Valparaiso University of Indiana, in which he continued for three years. He was graduated on the completion of a pharmaceutical course there in 1907 with the degree of Ph. G. Owing to impaired health he spent one summer on the Merten farm-the old family homestead-and later he took up the study of medicine in the Illinois University Medical School at Chicago and likewise studied for a time in the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, being graduated from the latter institution with the M. D. degree in 1909. He afterward served as an interne for six months in Chicago hospitals and subsequently came to Milwaukee, where he entered upon the active practice of his profession, to which he has since devoted his time and energies, remaining one of the well known physicians and surgeons of this city from May, 1909, to the present time. While he engages in general practice, he gives much of his attention to surgery and is particularly skillful in that field. He is serving on the staffs of the Milwaukee Maternity Hospital, the General Hospital and the Misericordia Hospital and he belongs to the Milwaukee County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. It is said that every man has a hobby and Dr. Merten's, perhaps, is the breeding of pure bred chickens and homing pigeons an interest in which he takes great delight.
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On the 15th of July, 1919, Dr. Merten was married to Miss Rose Buehler, a graduate nurse, who was born and reared in Milwaukee. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. He is a veteran of the World war, having served at Fort Riley, Kansas, and at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, for four months with the rank of first lieutenant in the Medical Corps. His entire life has been actnated by a progressive spirit that has brought him steadily to the front in professional connections and it has ever been his purpose to make his services of the greatest possible benefit to his fellowmen.
GORDON MINER DAY.
Gordon Miner Day, engaged in the conduct of a general mannfacturing business, his output including many household lines, is a native son of Milwaukee, his birth having here occurred January 12, 1884, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Frederick T. Day, men- tioned at length on another page of this work. He acquired his early education in the public schools, afterward attended normal school and also Dr. Pratt's School for Boys. Ill health, however, at length obliged him to put aside his studies when he was com- paratively young. He later entered the business world in connection with the mannfac- ture of starch, in which business he continned for several years. Subsequently he established a general manufacturing concern for the mannfacture of specialty goods for the home. He today has one of the largest factories of this kind in the city. He manu- factures perfume, starch, bluing, extracts of all kinds and ammonia. The plant is located on East Water and Buffalo streets. It is splendidly equipped with the latest improved machinery for carrying on work of this character and the business is steadily growing, having already become one of the profitable productive industries of the city and is the largest in the state of Wisconsin.
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