History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 26

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 26

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Dr. A. H. Van Nostrand, dealer in coal, lumber and wood; offices and yards on Washington street, just south of the flouring mills. The premises have a frontage of 180 feet, run to the river 2co feet in the rear and have a dock- age of 200 feet, with eleven feet of navigable water at all seasons of the year. This business was established in 1870, and during the past year sales have aggregated : coal, 2,000 tons: wood, 1,000 cords; lumber, 500,000 feet, and 5,000,- ooo shingles.

Edward C. Kittner, manufacturer of wagons, sleighs, car- riages, and general blacksmith. This business was estab- lished in 1871 on the corner of Washington and Doty streets, riverside, and there continued until destroyed by fire on the 28th of February, 1880. He then purchased the lots Nos. 189 and 191 Washington street now occupied by him, and the same season erected his manufactory 30x 100 feet, two stories, with a blacksmith shop 25x70 one story, all of brick. The past season he gave employment to a force of sixteen men, and his yearly product is from seventy to eighty lumber wagons, forty to fifty light car- riages, twenty road sleighs and cutters, and from fifteen to twenty square box jumpers, besides repairs of which no estimate can be given.

The Green Bay Hide and Leather Company, organized in 1872, have their tannery in Whitney's addition, between East River and Main street. Douville & Basche are the

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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.

oldest boot and shoe manufacturers in the city. Then there are the Green Bay Flour Mills on Washington street near Doty, and the City Mills corner of these two thorough- fares.

John P. Schumacher, manufacturer and dealer in fur- niture, and professional undertaker, Parish's block, north side. This business was established in 1873, in a small way, by the present proprietor, who had previously been engaged in the trade in Chicago and Milwaukee. Several partnerships in the business have been held by other par- ties since its establishment, but since 1879 it has been solely in Mr. Schumacher's hands. His building is 22×100 feet, of brick, three stories high ; office and salesroom on first floor, undertaker's rooms on second floor, and cabinet- maker's, upholsterer's, and finisher's rooms on third floor, the whole giving employment to a force of eight hands and a furniture van. Mr. Schumacher is a native of Luxem- burg ; came to America in his infancy, learned the uphol- sterer's trade in Chicago and then undertaking, of which he makes a specialty. He is treasurer of the Wisconsin State Undertaker's Association and a member of the Cath- olic Knights of America Beneficiary Society.

Lefebere & Co.,cabinet makers, upholsterers, undertakers and dealers in mirrors, etc., Nos. 74 and 76 Washington street. This house was established in 1877, and now gives employment to a force of eight persons. They occupy a two-story brick, fronting forty-four feet on Washington street and running back 100 feet to the alley in the rear. The lower story, occupied exclusively as salesroom and office, has a sixteen-foot ceiling and is admirably adapted to the display of furniture, of which they carry a complete stock, including some elegant chamber sets of modern pattern. In the upper story are the cabinet shops, upholstering and finishing rooms. The office and salesroom is in charge of Edward Lefebere.

East River Brewery. This business was established in 1866 by the present proprietor, Henry Rahr, at which time its annual product was 2,500 barrels, and its working force five men, about one-half of its present force and capacity. His malt cellars are 60x60 feet, two stories in height, a dry- kiln 30x20 feet, a brew-house 30x60 feet two stories in height, ice-houses with a capacity of 1.500 to 1,800 tons, and cellars with a capacity of 3,000 barrels. An artesian well, 150 feet deep, supplies an abundance of excellent water. An engine of twenty-five horse-power supplies power and steam; a force of ten men and three double trucks are constantly employed in the manufacture and de- livery of the product, which averages about 5,000 barrels per annum, and finds market in Brown County almost ex- clusively. Mr. Rahr is a native of Germany, came to Wis- consin in 1853 and to this city five years later, from which time he was a partner with A. Hochgrave in the Bellevue Brewery until establishing the East River Brewery in 1866. Has been constantly engaged in his present business for the past thirty-five years, twenty-eight of this in America and seven in Europe.

F. Hagemeister, proprietor Union Brewery on Manito- woc road, just outside city limits. This business was estab- lished in 1866 by Messrs. Hagemeister, Whitney, Mertz and Klaus, and became the sole property of F. Hagemeister in 1873 he having successively purchased the interests of his partners. The buildings are a brick malt house 40x80; a brew house 40x60, and a store-room 40x80, three stories each; a refrigerator 32x80, in capacity 1,200 tons, and ice- houses with additional capacity of 840 tons. An artesian well, 140 feet deep, affords an unfailing supply of excellent water. The capacity of the brewery is about 6,500 barrels per annum, and its actual product nearly 5,000 barrels, most of which is marketed in Green Bay and vicinity. The

establishment gives constant employment to a force of ten men, three delivery trucks, and is connected by a private telephone line with their office in the city.

Green Bay Brewery, Mrs. Octavia VanDycke, owner and proprietor, was established in 1872 by Landwehr & Beyer, at which time the present buildings were erected. They are substantial brick structures, rising two stories above their solid stone foundations, and form three sides of a square, 140 feet along the south, 132 feet along the west and 96 feet along the north face. The width of the west and south structures is 40 feet, and that of the north one 32 feet. These do not include the wash house, nor the detached ice- house built last year. The property was purchased by Mr. Louis VanDycke in 1876, completely refitted and stocked at an expense of about $15,000, and operations commenced the following year, when 1,800 barrels of beer were manu- factured. The product last year was 3,200 barrels, one- third the capacity of the brewery, and was mostly marketed in Northern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula, and the force employed was seven men and three delivery trucks. The cellar has storage room for 2,000 barrels, and the ice cut was about 2, 100 tons.

A flourishing brewery is also in operation in the town of Alloiiez, on private claim No. 17, east side of the Fox River. The main building was erected about twenty years ago by Judge Lawe, and is 80x120 feet, two stories. With additions since made, the value of the property has reached $65,000. It manufactures about 450 barrels per month, Christian Kiel having the controlling interest in the establishment.

WHOLESALE HOUSES.

The Butler & Lamb Mercantile Company was organized as a joint stock corporation February 2, 1878, with a cap- ital stock of $25,000, all of which is now paid in. The present officers of the company are D. Butler, president ; WV. S. Butler, secretary, and G. W. Lamb, treasurer. This company is the virtual successor of the dry goods business established by Daniel Butler, president of the present com- pany, in 1840, and is thus one of the very oldest houses doing a dry goods business in this State, and the oldest in Northern Wisconsin. The present company do business at No. 91 Washington street, the location upon which Mr. Butler established his dry goods house forty-one years since, but several changes in location have intervened owing to fires, etc. Their building fronts 22 feet on Washington street, is 100 feet deep, two stories in height, the upper one devoted to carpets and floor cloths, of which they make a specialty, carrying as complete a stock as can be found in Northern Wisconsin. The force of the house is ten persons. Daniel Butler is a native of Massachusetts, came to this city in 1837, and has been prominently identified with its interests ever since. He is a ruling elder of the Presbyte- rian Church in this city, a position held by him for the past forty-two years. George W. Lamb was born in Rome, N. Y., where he was bred to the dry goods trade; came to this city in 1866, and until 1872 was engaged in grocery busi- ness, when he went to Depere as agent of the Goodrich Transportation Company, and so continued until 1880, when he returned to this city and assumed charge of the cashier's desk in the mercantile company of which he had been an officer since 1878. William S. Butler was born in Green Bay, was bred to business in the house of his father, Daniel Butler ; became a member of the firm in 1872, and upon the organization of the joint stock company in 1878, became its secretary.

George Sommers, wholesale and retail dealer in dry goods and carpets, 80 Washington street. This house was

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

established in 1863 in the block south of its present loca- tion, and in 1869 the wholesale department was removed a few doors north of the present number. The wholesale house being destroyed in the great fire of 1872, the retail business was sold out, and the following season Mr. Som- mers erected the building now occupied by him, and of which he took possession the same Fall. The next year, 1874, the retail department was added, and the business has so continued. The house gives employment to a force of six persons. The store is of brick, 2612x100 feet, two stories high, the upper story devoted to carpets and floor cloths.

Skeels & Best, wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods, motions, boots and shoes, No. 94 Washington street. This house was established January 27, 1867, the present pro- prietors succeeding George E. Hoskinson, United States Consul at Kingston, Jamaica. The building is a two-story brick, fronting twenty-four feet on Washington street, 100 feet deep, and the operations of the house give constant employment to a force of ten persons. The members of the firm are M. P. Skeels and T. L. Best.

John Beth, wholesale and retail grocer and dealer in crockery and glassware, No. 83 Washington street. This business was established in 1870 as a crockery store, to which the grocery department was added in 1878, and now gives constant employment to a home force of five persons, sales extending to Northern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula. His store, 22x100 feet, two stories in height, with an elevator for porting goods, and a two-story ware- house, 22x32, barely afford accommodation for his growing trade. Mr. Beth is a native of Germany, came to Milwau- kee in 1852 and to this city three years later. In 1861 he enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, served three years and then returned to Green Bay, where he was prin- cipally employed in clerking in grocery and crockery stores until he engaged in business for himself. Has served for two years as member of the County Board of Supervisors, and is a member of the Green Bay Turnverein.

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Joannes Brothers, wholesale and retail dealers in grocer- ies, corner of Washington and Cherry streets. Their build- ing fronts fifty feet on Washington, is two stories high, one- half the upper story, and a warehouse on the dock in the rear, 30x95, devoted to storage. They have also a building 15x30, in which is their apparatus for steam roasting. This house was established in 1872 as a retail grocery, and so

continued until 1877, when the wholesale branch was added. They carry a large stock of staple and fancy gro- ceries, keep two traveling salesmen on the road, a force of thirteen persons in the house and four teams for freight and delivery. The members of the firm are Charles Mitchell and Thomas Joannes, and their sales the past season aggre- gated $250,000. The Joannes brothers are natives of Bel- gium, came to America with their father in 1856 and settled on a farm in Brown County near DePere, but the family became separated shortly after the death of their father, the same year.

A. Weise & Holman, wholesale and retail dealers in china, crockery, cutlery, glass and plated ware, Nos. 93 and 95 Washington street. This house was established in Jan- uary, 1870, as successors by purchase to the firm of Pool & Sommers. The retail salesroom, on the first floor, is 22x80 ; the wholesale department 44x80 is up stairs; and they have a three story brick warehouse 35x44. The operations of the firm give employment to a home force of eight persons and two traveling salesmen.

Watson & McLeod, general grocers, wholesale and retail, Nos. 32 and 34 Pine street. Their business was established May 1, 1880. They occupy the lower story and half the upper of a two story brick, 44x80, give constant employment to a force of six hands and one delivery wagon for city trade-carriage of shipments being otherwise pro- vided for.

Cargill & Van Valkenburgh, grain and produce dealers. The members of this firm are W. W. Cargill, S. D. Cargill and B. J. Van Valkenburgh, and their operations consist in han- dling grain and produce at various stations along the line of Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul Railway, both in Northern Wis- consin and Minnesota. The firm was established in 1871, and operations commenced at this point in 1878, at which time they bought out the interests of Elmore & Kelly in the forwarding and commission business at this point, and leased their elevator and warehouses which had become the prop- erty of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company. This elevator stands on the railway dock, west side Fox River, and has a capacity of 250,000 bush- els. The adjoining warehouses cover 25,000 square feet of flooring surface, and both elevator and warehouses are admirably adapted for receiving and discharging freight. The entire structure rests on piles. A double railway track extends along the west side, and on the east the largest lake ves- sels find ample water along 1,000 feet of dock. There are also 200 feet of sunken track within the warehouses, for the receipt and discharge of freight, and all these are connected by switch with the tracks of the Chicago & Northwestern, the Wiscon- sin Central and the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul Railway lines. The company also own and occupy a warehouse on the east side of the river, with a capacity of 30,000 bushels, principally used for local business. The amounts of grain received by this company at this point for the year ending May 1, 1881, were : Wheat, 471,475 bushels ; bar- ley, 84,788 bushels; oats, 40,000 bushels : rye, 25,000 bushels. These figures are for an excep- tionally short crop, and scarcely reached 50 per cent. of the receipts of the previous year. The amount of provisions handled it is not necessary to particularize, but of fish alone the receipts were about 100 tons the past season. The entire force employed at this point averages fifteen hands and a small tug for handling local freights.

John Robinson, wholesale and retail dealer in drugs, medicines, paints, oils and fancy and toilet goods, southeast corner of Washington and Pine streets. This house was

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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY.

144 Washington street. This house was established in 1863 and has been continuously engaged in trade since then. They also occupy the building just across the street, owned by W. Parish, and a warehouse in the rear of No. 144. Their fur business has much decreased of late years, but there has been an increase in their receipts of hides and wool. Business during the past season has aggregated from $75,000 to $100,000.

Duchateau & Bro., wholesale dealers in wines, liquors and cigars, southwest corner Washington and Main streets. Trade was established in this city in 1870 on the northeast corner of Main, and removed to their present location in 1874, in which year they erected their building, a two story

103 COLLEGE 105

Durch

GREEN BAY BUSINESS COLLEGE.

established as a retail drug house by Drs. Bruins & Burkart, in 1858, and the following year came into possession of Dr. Henry Rhodes of this city, who conducted the business until 1865. After some further changes the present propri- etor purchased the stock in 1866, and increased the business from year to year until the necessities of his trade led to a removal from the old stand on the opposite corner of Pine street to the present location. This property he purchased, and, after thoroughly refitting, took possession June 1, 1881. The building is 22x90 feet, two stories high, all occupied by the operations of the house, which employs a force of three hands at home and one traveling salesman. Mr. Robinson is a native of Shropshire, England, acquired a knowledge of the drug business there, in 1857 came to America and entered into business at Manitowoc, Wis., with his brother who had established a drug house there in 1853. In 1866, as before stated, he succeeded by purchase to the old drug house of Bruins & Burkart in this city, and removed from Manitowoc, still retaining his interest in the business there. Mr. Robinson is one of the vice-presidents of the State Pharmaceutical Society, and was a member of the Green Bay City council in 1878-9.

Parish & Fox, dealers in hides, pelts, furs and wool, No.

brick, 22x100, with warehouses on the dock in the rear. The members of the firm are L. Duchateau and A. Ducha- teau, and they do a jobbing trade exclusively.

Joseph Nadeau, inventor and manufacturer of the Na- deau washing machine, is a native of Quebec, where he was engaged in lumbering until he came to Florence, Marinette Co. in 1880. From there he removed in the Spring of 1881 to Fort Howard, leased the old Novelty Iron Works, and commenced the manufacture of his machines, in which business he is now engaged. His letters-patent, bearing date May, 1881, were issued only for the United States; but a later application has been made for Canada. His present facilities enable him to put thirty dozen machines a month upon the market, but the demand is greater than his capacity. He keeps constantly employed a force of twenty- five men in the shop, and six traveling salesmen on the road. His testimonials and trade demonstrate that he has a wash- ing machine of genuine merit daily commending itself to the favorable consideration of the public.

Kurtz and Manthey, marble works, Walnut street near bridge, Green Bay. The works were established by Mr. Kurtz in 1877, and conducted by him until 1880, when Mr. Manthey bought an interest, and they are now prepared to

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

do all kinds of marble work, monuments, head stones, etc., etc. It gives employment to three men. Mr. Kurtz is a native of Weiler, Germany, and came to this country 1863, at the age of twenty-four; he stopped at Ripon two years ; lived eight years at Eureka, after which he came here 1874. Mr. Manthey is a native of Stettin, Prussia, and came to this country 1869, at the age of eighteen years ; after hay- ing stopped in Chicago, Morrison and Fond du Lac during eight years, he came here, worked at the business which he finally engaged in. We find the firm an enterprising one, and deserving the patronage of the public generally.

C. A Murch, principal and proprietor of Green Bay Busi- ness College, was born in Appleton, Wis., August 18, 1855,

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his parents having settled in that vicinity two years before the city was platted. They were from Essex County, N. Y., in which they were both born and educated. Young Murch entered Lawrence University in 1871, and left it in 1876, having during that time attended four full college years, devoting the balance of the time to teaching. April 28 1877, he married Miss Marcia J. Southmayd, of Appleton, and until 1879 was engaged in looking after the interests of the home farm, of which he had assumed charge. In the Fall of that year, 1879, he entered Green Bay Business Col- lege, graduated in the Spring of 1880, when he became principal, and after conducting the institution successfully for one year, purchased the good will and fixtures of the former proprietor, and established himself in the business, which is gradually increasing in members and efficiency under his management. The college is located at the corner of Washington and Pine streets, Green Bay, and was estab- lished by G. M. Devlin, in 1868, and was one link in the

chain of similar institutions established some twelve or fifteen years since throughout Northwest Wisconsin, and known as Parson's Chain of Business Colleges. This insti- tution, in 1871, passed into the hands of A. C. Blackman, who sold to Mr. Murch ten years later. The curriculum includes, besides the usual business college course, thorough instruction in the common English branches, including algebra, geometry, philosophy, also phonography and teleg- raphy. Instructions are given the year round, and from October to April night sessions are held, offering the same advantages as the day school. There has been a very marked increase in the attendance the past year, and the average enrollment has been seventy-five. Mr. Murch is a young gentleman of quiet and affable manners, and well equipped intellectually. His first year gives promise of success in the field of educational effort he has chosen.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

W. J. ABRAMS, Mayor of the city of Green Bay, was born at Cam- bridge, Washington Co., N. Y., March 19, 1829. Receiving an academic education, he entered the theological school at Williamstown, Mass., but ill health prevented his completing the course, and he spent several years in foreign travel and continuing his studies, confining them, how- ever, to history, the arts and general literature. In the field of litera- ture he gained considerable celebrity as an essayist, under various nom- de-plumes; but, confinement necessary to such work not agreeing with his health, it had to be abandoned as a profession. Coming to Green Bay in May, 1856, he took part in the railroad surveys from the lake shore to Ontonagon, and settled in the city permanently in 1861. Mr. Abrams became connected with the Collingwood, Sarnia and Buf- falo lines of steamers, and was most prominent until 1870 in developing the transportation facilities of this port-its life and hope. In that year he continued his labors in a new direction. Having obtained the charter of the Lake Pepin Railroad in 1866, while serving as a member of the Assembly, he soon discovered the possibilities and probabilities of the great enterprise of constructing a line to the Mississippi River, and in 1870 withdrew from the transportation business, and gave him- self, body and mind, to the interests of the railroad. He was instru- mental in securing the completion of the road to Winona, and is still actively interested, and under its new organization is officially con- nected with it. Mr. Abrams has served in the State Assembly during the years 1864-5-6-7, being elected to the Senate in 1868-9. During the rebellion he was a war Democrat of the most uncompromising type, and was the leader of the so-called war Democrats in the Legislature. and was mainly instrumental in securing a part of the vote of the Demo- crats for the several constitutional amendments, "making some of the ablest speeches in their advocacy." In fact, he has always been an active, progressive. public-spirited man-one of the foremost in works of practical utility, or of private and public charity. Mr. Abrams was married at Canajoharie, N. Y., in 1854, to Miss Henrietta T. Alton. His family consists of three children-two daughters, Kate and Ruth, and one son, Winford.

H. H. ALBRIGHT, insurance and real estate agent, is a native of Pennsylvania, from which State he came direct to this city in 1836, where he was early employed in the Indian trade and river transportation. In 1847 he embarked in business on his own account, first engaging in gen- eral merchandise, to which was afterward added the agency for the river, bay and lake steamers trading at this point. This business he continued down to the breaking out of the war, when he was appointed Deputy Pro- vost Marshal for the Fifth District, and served in that capacity until the war closed, when he again engaged in merchandising and lumbering, from which he retired in 1872. He then organized the Green Bay Mining Company at Negaunee, and was so interested when the financial panic of 1873 caused a suspension of operations. In 1876 he assumed charge of the shoe business of S. C. Albright, and continued its management until May, 1880. Mr. Albright has had charge, as resident agent, of some of the heaviest real estate interests in this region, some of which he still retains. He has served two terms as Treasurer of the city.

E. K. ANSORGE, notary public, insurance, foreign collection and passage agency. This business, in which Mr. Ansorge has been engaged since 1868, was established by him in this city in 1873; since which time he has given special attention to European collections and insurance, in which he represents the leading companies of America, Great Britain and the Continent. He is a native of Germany; came to Wisconsin in 1855; settled in Manitowoc County ; served with the 45th Wis. I. during the late war, and was in business in Oconto prior to his removal to this city. He represents the Second Ward in the City Council ; is a mem- ber of Harmony lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Green Bay Turn Verein.

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Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052