USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume III > Part 90
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Dr. Boerner acquired his early education in the public schools, having been brought to Milwaukee by his parents when only a year old. He pursued bis studies through con- secutive grades until he had completed the high school course and later he was apprenticed to the drug business, which he followed for about five years. In 1893 he entered the old Wisconsin College of Physicians, which was afterward mergel into Mar- quette University, becoming the medical department of that institution. Dr. Boerner was graduated with the class of 1896 and entered upon practice in the same location where he has now remained for a quarter of a century. For some years he was the only physician in his neighborhood, which was then a sparsely settled section of the city. The end of the street car line was then at Twenty-fourth street and Fond du Lac avenue. Dr. Boerner has witnessed the entire growth and development of the neighbor- hood in which he lives and as the years have passed his practice has steadily increased, proportionate to the settlement and development of the ward in which he makes his home. He is today regarded as a man of pronounced professional ability by reason of his comprehensive study and his wide reading, which has kept him in touch with the
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trend of modern professional thought, investigation and research. Aside from his practice he is vice president of the Fidelity Building & Loan Association. He belongs to the Milwaukee County Medical Society and the Wisconsin State Medical Society and for a period of ten years he was the county physician for the west side and was also physician to the House of Correction for four years.
On the 12th of May, 1897, Dr. Boerner was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Graf, a sister of John Graf, a well known soda water manufacturer of Milwaukee and representative of one of the pioneer families of the city. Dr. and Mrs. Boerner have one child, Gladys Marie.
The Doctor is well known through fraternal as well as professional connections, having membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights of Pythias and the Royal League. He is also a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine, loyally following the teachings and purposes of the craft and exemplifying in his life the spirit of brother- hood upon which the order is based. In politics he has ever been an earnest republican but never an aspirant for office, his support of the party being induced by a recognition of the duties and obligations of citizenship.
MAX HOTTELET.
Max Hottelet, president of the Chippewa Sugar Refining Company and also president of The Hottelet Company, grain and feed shippers of Milwaukee, was born in Germany on the 25th of June, 1856, and is a son of Charles William and Louise (Kulow) Hottelet, who were farming people. He acquired his early education in the public schools of his native land and afterward attended the university of Rostock, from which he was graduated with the class of 1874. In accordance with the military ruling of his native country he also served in the German army until 1879 and then sought the land of freedom and opportunity by sailing for the United States. He arrived in Milwaukee on the 4th of July of that year and here initiated his business career by becoming a clerk for the firm of Asmuth & Kraus, grain dealers, with whom he remained for some time. He was subsequently with the firm of F. Kraus & Company for a number of years and steadily acquainted himself with every phase of the grain trade as carried on in the new world. He carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business for himself in 1891. He now has investments in several lines, one of the principal being grain and feed, for he is now at the head of The Hottelet Company, conducting a large business as grain and feed shippers. He has also met substantial success as president of the Chippewa Sugar Refining Company, in which connection he controls a business of gratifying pro- portions. In his business affairs he displays keen sagacity and readily discriminates between the essential and non-essential, so that his labors have been attended with a large measure of success.
In the year 1886 Mr. Hottelet was united in marriage to Miss Anna Huebschmann, a daughter of Dr. Francis Huebschmann, who came to Milwaukee in 1841, Mr. Hottelet was president of all the German military societies of the United States and has also been treasurer of the German Theatre Company of Milwaukee, which has done much to foster a high grade of dramatic entertainment among people of German birth or parentage. Politically he maintains a non-partisan attitude, voting according to the dictates of his judgment in regard to the capability of the candidates seeking office. In 1916, how- ever, he was a delegate to the national democratic convention. He belongs to the Old Fellows Club and also to the Old Settlers Club, For forty-three years he has made his home in Milwaukee and throughout this entire period has been more or less closely con- nected with the grain trade and step by step has advanced to a position of prominence in this field of business.
EDWIN ALLEN OLIVER.
Edwin Allen Oliver, president of the Milwaukee Patent Leather Company and recognized as a forceful factor in the business circles of the city, was born in Mobile, Alabama, June 16, 1876. His father, Samuel White Oliver, was a native of Virginia and became a planter who acquired large interests in Alabama, where he spent the latter part of his life as a cotton raiser and broker. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil war, holding the rank of captain in the first Alabama Regiment, and three times he was wounded in battle, participating in many of the most hotly contested engagements of that long and sanguinary struggle. In business he made for himself a creditable position, his enterprise and intelligently directed efforts winning for him
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substantial success. He married Pauline Sprague Allen, who was born in Mobile, Ala- bama, and died in 1890, eleven years prior to his own demise, which occurred in 1901. Edwin A. Oliver acquired his early education in the public schools of Mobile and after completing his high school course there entered the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Auburn, Alabama, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the year 1897. Soon afterward he came to Milwaukee and turned his attention to the tanning business as an apprentice with the William Becker Leather Company. He continued with that house for eight years and when the business was sold to the American Hide & Leather Company, Mr. Oliver was placed in charge of the old plant as manager and superintendent, occupying the dual position for a period of thirteen years. He then resigned and established the Milwaukee Patent Leather Company, of which he became the first president and has since occupied that position. His long experience in the employ of others had well qualified him to undertake the control of an enterprise of this kind and under his capable guidance the business has steadily de- veloped. The company manufactures shoe leathers for the shoe trade and for the first six years specialized in the manufacture of patent leathers. During the World war the plant was given over to government work and since the war has made a general line of shoe leathers. They market their goods all over the world, including Japan, Russia, France and various South American countries. They have twelve representing agents at various points throughout the world and their business is steadily increasing in both the foreign and domestic trade.
On the Sth of February, 1906, Mr. Oliver was married to Miss Clara Bechtner, a daughter of Paul Bechtner of Milwaukee, who was born in Germany. Coming to the new world, he figured prominently in the public life of Milwaukee for many years, serv- ing as alderman at large, also as comptroller, while on one occasion he was a candidate for the office of mayor. He died in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have a stepdaughter, Clarice Lewis, who was educated in Milwaukee, attending the Milwaukee-Downer Col- lege, and also Wellesley College near Boston, Massachusetts, from which she was gradu- ated in 1919. She was very active in Red Cross work, as was also Mrs. Oliver, who like- wise took part in many other war activities.
In politics Mr. Oliver has always maintained an independent attitude and has never taken an active part in political work, although never remiss in the duties of citizen- ship. He belongs to St. Paul's Episcopal church and is a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and of the Association of Commerce. He greatly enjoys hunting and motor- ing and is interested in all outdoor sports, to which he turns for recreation. His has heen a very active, busy and useful life and through intelligently directed effort he has advanced steadily until he has gained a place among the prominent and representative business men of his adopted city.
JAMES HENRY NIEDECKEN.
James Henry Niedecken, president of the H. Niedecken Company, wholesale stationers of Milwaukee, is identified with a business that was established by his grandfather and later carried on by his father, both of whom bore the name of Henry Niedecken. The grandfather passed away in the year 1888, when seventy-seven years of age. He had removed from Jefferson City, Missouri, to Milwaukee in the year 1847 and soon afterward organized the business which has now developed into one of the most important concerns of the kind in the state. Its address appears in the press of those days as Third street, Kilbourntown, Milwaukee. The Daily Wisconsin of 1849 shows "the bookbinder and blank-book manufacturer, Henry Niedecken, to be located at
375 Third street, second ward." Through the passing years the business steadily grew and developed with the growth of the city and its ramifying trade relations covered also a broad territory as the sales were extended into various other states. The busi- ness was incorporated in the '80s, following which Edward Niedecken became the first president, with Henry Niedecken. Jr., as vice president and treasurer and Charles Niedecken as secretary. Following the death of the president, Henry Niedecken, Jr , became president and James H. Niedecken of this review was elected vice president and treasurer, with Charles Niedecken as secretary.
Henry Niedecken, Jr., was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, March 5, 1843, and his life record covered the intervening years until 1910, when he passed away in Milwau- kee. He was reared and educated in this city, being only four years old when his parents removed to Wisconsin. In young manhood he served in the Union army during the Civil war as a member of the Fifth and of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Regiments, rising to the rank of first lieutenant and becoming captain by brevet. Associated with his father in the wholesale stationery business, he contributed in large measure to the continued success and growth of the undertaking. His brother, Charles Niedecken, the youngest son of Henry Niedecken, Sr., came into the business in the '80s and is the
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present vice president and treasurer. Thus through many years the family has figured most prominently in connection with the commercial interests of Milwaukee.
Henry Niedecken, Jr., was united in marriage to Miss Kate LeRoy Cunningham, a daughter of William M. Cunningham, who died in Lockport, New York, at the age of twenty-eight years, before the birth of his daughter Kate. He was engaged in the drug business, also handling paints and oils, at No. 151 East Water street, in the '40s.
James Henry Niedecken, son of Henry and Kate L. (Cunningham) Niedecken, was horn in Milwaukee on the 7th of December, 1877, and acquired his education in the public schools of this city, in the German-English Academy, in the Milwaukee Academy and in St. Paul's school at Concord, New Hampshire. He next became a student at Yale University in New Haven and was there graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900. Upon his return home Mr. Niedecken entered the business which had been estab- lished by his grandfather and was being carried on by his father and other members of the family. Following his father's death he succeeded to the presidency, having previously filled the office of vice president and treasurer. At that time Charles
Niedecken, who had formerly been secretary, became vice president and treasurer, while Ben Terkel was elected to the position of secretary and still continues in that position. They are manufacturing stationers, importers and jobbers in paper, books and toys. Their business not only extends over Wisconsin and Michigan but also into portions of Jowa and the northwest. In fact their trade covers a very wide territory and they are represented in the wholesale department by ten traveling salesmen. They adver- tise "everything for an office except the machines and the humans." They specialize in labor-saving methods and were the pioneers in developing penless bookkeeping. They have ever maintained the liighest standards in the line of goods carried and the enter- prise and progressiveness of the house has led to the continued growth of the trade.
James H. Niedecken, now president of the company, is well known outside of busi- ness connections. His social, genial nature has won for him personal popularity and he has membership in the University Club and the Milwaukee Athletic Club. He also belongs to the Association of Commerce and he maintains his residence at Pine Lake and in his native city.
WALTER READ.
From office boy to the presidency of the Filer & Stowell Company of Milwaukee is the brief record of the highly progressive and successful business career of Walter Read, who passed away Friday, February 10, 1922. His entire course had been char- acterized by an orderly progression that indicated steadily developing powers and a wise use of time and opportunity. Mr. Read was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 14. 1856, his parents being Charles Augustus and Maria Jane (Downey) Read, the former a native of Ludlow, Vermont, while the latter was born in Maryland. It was in the year 1865 that Charles A. Read came to Milwaukee, where for many years he was connected with the Filer & Stowell Company, remaining a stockholder in the business for an extended period. He also organized the Savings & Investment Asso- ciation, of which he was the manager to the time of his death. He was connected with many mining interests as well and was prominently identified with the upbuilding and progress of the city in which he made his home. Whatever he undertook was well managed and carried forward to successful completion, for obstacles and diffi- culties in his way seemed but to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part.
His son, Walter Read, was but nine years of age when the family home was estab- lished in Milwaukee, so that he obtained his early education in the schools of this city. Later he continued his studies in the Wayland Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and then went to Greencastle, Indiana, where he entered De Pauw University, in which institution he continued his studies for two years, thus completing his education. He was then engaged in business in Indianapolis, Indiana, for two years, after which he returned to Milwaukee, where he entered the employ of the Filer & Stowell Company in 1879, becoming confidential secretary to Mr. Stowell, whose interests he purchased about the year 1893. Gradually he worked his way upward, passing through consecutive positions until he reached the presidency and concentrated his efforts upon administra- tive direction and executive control. He was thus at the head of one of the important business interests of the city and he also extended his efforts into other fields, becoming president of the Savings & Investment Association and also holding the controlling interest in the Beaver Manufacturing Company. One who knew him well said: "He was a successful executive. His very presence seemed to presage strict, brisk obedience to his wishes." Although he was strict in the control of the business, he was also fair- minded in his dealings and his associates say that he was much more charitably inclined than the average business man. Much of the charitable and philanthropic work done by the company was carried out upon lines suggested by him.
On the 12th of June, 1889, Mr. Read was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Marie
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WALTER READ
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Reik, a daughter of John A. and Maria ( Wechselberg) Reik. To this marriage were born seven children: Harold, now deceased; Walter Raymond; Everett Charles; Stuart A .; Helen Louise; Philip Chester; and Kenneth Hugh.
Mr. Read was a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and at one time belonged to the Wisconsin Club. He had social qualities which made him popular with those with whom he came in contact and the circle of his friends was constantly growing. He was a man of marked capacity and power in the business world and his life record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what can be accomplished by individual determination and will when intelligently directed.
GEORGE L. O'DONNELL, D. V. S.
Dr. George L. O'Donnell, engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery in Milwau- kee, was born in this city July 27, 1889, his parents being James and Susan ( Reidy ) O'Donnell. The father was a native of Ireland, born in March, 1844, while the mother's birth occurred in Brandon, Vermont. It was in the year 1850 that James O'Donnell accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, the family settling in Milwaukee, where the grandfather, William O'Donnell, hecame prominent in connection with the building of streets and sewers, taking important contracts of this character. His son, James O'Donnell, acquired his education in the public schools and in early life became identified with contract work in street and sewer construction. He also took grading contracts, being the first to engage in grading work in this city. He devoted his attention to the business throughout his active life and became a prominent and prosperous contractor here. In politics he exerted considerable influence as a supporter of the democratic party and he was untiring in his efforts for its success, yet he never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty. However, he was awarded the garbage contract for the city during the first administration of Mayor Rose and during Dr. Kempster's administration he served as one of the health commissioners of the city. His death occurred November 8, 1906.
George L. O'Donnell acquired his education in the Gesu parochial school and also attended the Chicago University, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1908 on the completion of a course in veterinary surgery. He then became assistant chief veterinarian in Milwaukee and filled the position from 1909 until 1913. He after- ward entered upon the private practice of his profession as a member of the firm of Sullivan & O'Donnell and a later change in the partnership led to the adoption of the firm style of Schultz & O'Donnell, which was continued until 1918. Since that time he has practiced alone and is recognized as a man of power and ability in his chosen calling.
In January, 1918, Dr. O'Donnell was married to Miss Almyra Prescott of Milwaukee and they have become parents of two children, Dorothy and George. Dr. O'Donnell en- listed in May, 1918, as a member of the Veterinary Corps, being assigned to duty with the Fifth Company, Third Replacement Unit. He sailed for France in September of that year and served until July, 1920. He has been somewhat active and prominent in democratic politics in Milwaukee and was candidate for alderman from the fourth ward and was also chairman of the fourth ward democratic committee and chairman of the county central committee. He was likewise the democratic appointee of the county civil service commission and filled the office of vice president of that commission. He has ever been an untiring advocate and supporter of democratic principles and his opinions have long carried weight in the councils of the party.
HERMAN BUECH.
For almost thirty years Herman Buech has been engaged in cigar manufacturing in Milwaukee and now has a well equipped plant and is doing a business of very gratify- ing proportions. He was born in Germany, July 27, 1876, and is a son of William and Caroline Buech. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country and when a youth of sixteen years bade adieu to friends and fatherland and sailed for the new world, having determined to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. He settled in Milwaukee in 1892 and here obtained employment in a planing mill, in which he worked for a short time, when he met with an accident which left him crippled. It was after this that he learned the cigar maker's trade, spending about six months in master- ing the business. At the end of that time, associated with his brother, Robert Buech, he began the manufacture of cigars at No. 899 Mitchell street, where he continued for about two and a half years as a partner of his brother and then became sole owner by the purchase of his brother's interest. Since that time he has conducted the business independently and for the past twenty years the factory has been located at No. 575
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Sixteenth avenue, where he now furnishes employment to about thirty people. He manu- factures only one brand-the celebrated Tampanola Clear Havana cigar-and he has always maintained the highest standards in the methods of manufacture and the quality of the output.
In 1900 Mr. Buech was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Neubauer and they became parents of a son, Herman. The wife and mother passed away in 1904 and in 1905 Mr. Buech was married again, his second union being with Miss Selma Eberling. Their children are four in number: Leona, Mildred, Robert and Lillian. Mr. Buech is a member of the Deutscher Arbeiter Club and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Eagles. He has never felt regret that he determined to come to the new world, for here he found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress. Notwithstanding the handicap which he sustained in early life, his course has been marked by continuous advancement and his highly creditable record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do.
EDWIN WILLIAM STRAUSS.
Edwin William Strauss is numbered among the young business men of Milwaukee who are rapidly forging to the front by reason of intellectual force, farsightedness, in- defatigable energy and unfaltering determination. He is now president and treasurer of the Milwaukee Manufacturing Company and before entering manufacturing circles was identified with educational interests as a teacher in Wisconsin. His birth occurred on his father's farm in Mosel township, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, August 19, 1888. He is a son of William Strauss and a grandson of Moritz Strauss. Both followed farming throughout their lives and were pioneer settlers of Sheboygan county. Moritz Strauss was born in Germany and became the founder of the family in the new world. William Strauss was born at Howard's Grove, Sheboygan county, and his life to a recent date has been spent on a farm, in connection with the cultivation of which he owned and operated a cheese factory for many years. He is now living retired, making his home in Milwaukee, where he is enjoying well earned rest. He wedded Mary Schreiber, who was born in Sheboygan, a daughter of Gottlieb Schreiber, who was one of the pioneer farmers of that county and a native of Germany. Mrs. Strauss passed away in the year 1919.
At the usual age Edwin W. Strauss hecame a pupit in the rural schools of Mosel township, Sheboygan county, and afterward continued his education in the State Busi- ness College in the city of Sheboygan. Later he became a student in Concordia College at Milwaukee and next entered the Lutheran College at New Ulm, Minnesota, where he was graduated with the class of 1910. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in the Bethel School of Milwaukee, a parochial school, for two years and on the expiration of that period he was called to Kenosha, where he taught the upper class branches of the public schools for four years. He likewise tanght music there and later he was teacher of the English language and mathematics in the Kenosha high school. He returned to Milwaukee in 1917 and here purchased a grocery store at Lisbon avenue and Twenty-fifth street, conducting a business at that location for two years. In 1919 he founded his present business, which was incorporated under the name of the Milwaukee Manufacturing Company in the same year. The business has steadily grown and developed, each month marking a steady advance in the trade. They manu- facture the Electric-Boil, an electric immersion heater which consists of a metal cylinder which can be placed in water. Then hy simply switching on the current, by the mere pressing of a button, the water is heated to the boiling point in a comparatively short timė. It costs but two or three cents an hour to operate and is extremely useful in numerous ways. Doctors and dentists, for example, use Electric-Boil in heating water for sterilization of their instruments. For shaving Mr. Man simply puts Electric-Boit in the wash bowl and his water is boiling in a jiffy. Testimonials on hand in the office of the Milwaukee Manufacturing Company praise the Electric-Boil in the highest terms. It has filled a long-felt need. It can be found on sale at department stores and pharma- cies and can also be secured frem the factory direct. It will last a lifetime, is easy to use and there is nothing about it to get out of order. The company also manufactures electric radiators, percolators, tank heaters and other electrical appliances. The Electric- Boil is an invention of Edwin W. Strauss, president of the company.
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