USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County, Volume II > Part 106
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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
college course he was taken into partnership by his father and the business was incorporated. In the year 1892 he sold out his interest in the company and embarked in the brokerage business. He followed this calling with great success and profit up to the time of his prema- ture death, which took place on Aug. 20, 1901, when he was in his forty-third year. He was a man of genial and likable personality, free and easy in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and extremely popu- lar with all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His early death, while in the prime of life, was sincerely mourned by a large host of warm friends, as well as by his devoted wife. Mr. De Garis was a life- long Democrat in politics, and while he ever stood ready and willing to assist his friends in their political aspirations, he never sought public preferment on his own behalf. He was a sincere Catholic in his reli- gious belief and a faithful attendant on St. John's Catholic Cathedral, Milwaukee. He was the organizer and prime mover in the organiza- tion known as the "Bon Ami." His marriage took place in Milwaukee on June 24, 1891, to Miss Marion MacDonald, daughter of James and Mary (O'Brien) MacDonald, residents of Milwaukee .. Her father, an employe of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, was born in Paris, Ill. ; her mother was a native of County Mead, Ireland, and came to the United States with her parents when she was but three years of age, living first in Boston, Mass., and moving west into the State of Iowa during the early fifties. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald subsequently moved to Milwaukee, where their daughter met and married Mr. De Garis. The widow now makes her home at No. 11712 Fourteenth street, Mil- waukee.
Fred J. Zautcke, R. F. D. No. 11, North Milwaukee, is one of the successful and prosperous farmers of Milwaukee county. He was born in the town of Granville, Milwaukee county, Feb. 20, 1865, the son of Fred A. and Joanna (Stark) Zautcke, who were natives of Germany. His paternal grandfather, Ernst Zautcke, immigrated to this country from the Fatherland in 1841, when his son, Fred A., was only three years old. The grandfather took up eighty acres of gov- ernment land in Milwaukee county, and when Fred A. grew to manhood he bought 170 acres and established himself as a farmer. He took an active part in local politics, was school clerk, chair- man of the town Republican committee, and was elected to the state legislature to represent his district in the state government. In addiion to his political life, he was a prominent figure in church circles, a member of the Lutheran church, of which he was trustee and treasurer for many years. Six children were born and reared on the homestead in Milwaukee county: Fred J., George, Mollie, Ellen, Laura, and Louisa. Fred J., the subject of this sketch, and the oldest child of the family, received his early scholastic disci- pline in the district schools of the town of Granville, and then at- tended the Milwaukee Academy for three years, for higher train- ing. When his studies were finished he secured a position as mes- senger and clerk of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Bank, of Milwaukee, but nine months of the city was enough for this sturdy country boy and he returned to the loved home in the country,
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where he has continued to reside. Mr. Zautcke has improved his farm and introduced modern methods of farming in every branch of the in- dustry. He is regarded as one of the most progressive farmers in the district where he resides. From time to time he has bought land, and to-day he has 250 acres of arable land and thirty acres of wood- land. Mr. Zautcke has ever accorded an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party and been an active worker in the ranks in his town. He is assistant town clerk and has been the able and gracious clerk of the school board for eight years, filling that responsible position to the entire satisfaction of the school board and the residents of the town. He is affiliated with the Lutheran church, of which his family have been members for generations.
Mead P. Vallier, prominent in Milwaukee horticultural circles as a skilled florist, was born in the town of Lake, Milwaukee county, on Jan. 1, 1870. He is a son of Joseph and Catherine Val- lier, the former of whom was born in Canada and the latter in Ger- many. The father came to Milwaukee while the city was still in its primitive stage and located on a farm in the town of Lake, where he spent the rest of his life, earning his livelihood by doing a general farming business. He died on May 20, 1884, and the mother passed away on Nov. 22, ten years later. They left a fam- ily of seven children, all but one of whom, a daughter, are living. The subject of this review attended the common schools and com- pleted his scholastic training by a course in the Bay View high school. At the age of sixteen years he left school to enter the em- ploy of the Illinois Steel Company as messenger. His capacity and integrity were appreciated by those for whom he worked, and step by step he was promoted until he occupied the position of pay- master and cashier. After serving two years in the latter capacity he removed to Pittsburg, Pa., to become chief clerk in the office of the American Steel & Wire Company. In this latter position he served eight years and then returned to Milwaukee. After pur- chasing a tract of land on the Austin road he erected a large greenhouse, and has since been busy in the management of it. The venture proved a success from the start, and he has done a most profitable business, not alone as a florist but also in raising vegeta- bles for market purposes. In politics he is independent, and the demands of his business enterprise do not allow him the leisure to devote to political activity. He is a liberal in his religious views, not believing that to lead a righteous life a man must necessarily be bound by any creed. Fraternally he is prominent as a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and socially as secretary of the Milwaukee Flower Club. On June 20, 1894, Mr. Vallier was united in marriage to Miss Mary McKivitt, a daughter of William and Mary McKivitt, of the town of Lake. Six children have come to bless this union : Mead, Agnes, John, Joseph, Catherine and Mary.
Edwin Austin, a prominent horticulturist and a member of one of the oldest families in Milwaukee county, was born in the town of Lake, Milwaukee county, on May 16, 1852. He is a son of Isaac and Sarah S. (Fitch) Austin, both natives of Syracuse, N.
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Y. The father as a boy worked on the Erie canal, and continued his labors there until he had served in the capacity of captain for four years. In 1842 he came to Milwaukee, and for two years worked on one of the first tugs that took merchandise off the ves- sels that came into Milwaukee harbor, the river at that time not being navigable. Then he purchased a tract of land just outside of what was then the city limits, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1893. In that year he removed to Nebraska and there suc- cessfully conducted a farm until his death, in 1905. His remains were brought to Milwaukee and interred in Forest Home Ceme- tery. His wife died in 1904. Edwin Austin was one of the ten children in the family, of whom six were sons and four daughters. His scholastic training was limited to the district schools in the town of Lake, and when he had completed the prescribed course of studies he started out to earn his livelihood by clerking in a gen- eral store. He was occupied in this capacity for a number of years, and then embarked in the marine supply business under his name. The labor was not congenial, however, so that he disposed of it by sale and engaged in the horticultural line, raising flowers, plants and hot-house vegetables. This latter venture has proven itself profitable from the start, and it has developed exceptionally well since he undertook it. In his political belief Mr. Austin is a stanch adherent of the tenets of the Republican party, but has never sought public office. In religious matters he is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Austin's wife was formerly Miss Leila P. Austin, a daughter of Clinton and Perone (Howard) Austin, of Milwaukee. Their children, Andrew D., Edward, Perone and La- vina, all make their homes with their parents. Mr. Austin has a beautiful home at Lake Shawano, where the family spend the sum- mer months.
Otto H. Tamms, one of the well-known floriculturists of Mil- waukee county, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on Jan. 24, 1881. He is one of the eight children of Frederick W. and Catherine C. (Hayungs) Tamms, both native Germans. The father was engaged as a coal merchant and a ship captain in his native land, occupations which kept him busy until his removal to the United States, in 1888. He came direct to Milwaukee and located on Jones Island. He became the owner of a fishing tug named the "Arthur," and with two sons was engaged in the fish- eries industry until 1905. In that year he purchased a tract of land in the town of Lake and on it erected a large green house. He still maintains an interest in the Jones Island fisheries, and at one time was president of the Jones Island Protective Association. He retired from an active business life some time ago and is now liv- ing with his wife, a daughter, Emma C., and the subject of this sketch, in the town of Lake. During the war between Germany and Denmark he served as a soldier in the German army. Otto H. Tamms received his scholastic training in the German schools, the public schools of the South Side and the Cream City Business Col- lege. At the age of eighteen years he became an employ of the
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United States government at the Jones Island Life Saving Station. He served in this capacity for three years and then became asso- ciated with his father in the fishing business, shipping smoked fish to all parts of the West. In 1903 he purchased a few acres of land in the town of Lake and established himself in the business which now occupies his time. When his father retired he assumed the active management of the latter's interests, and is now extensively engaged in the culture of flowers and small vegetables. Ever since its inception the enterprise has been a financial success, due in large measure to Mr. Tamms' habits of frugality and industry. In politics he is a Republican and he is affiliated with the German Evangelical church.
Fred S. Schmeling .- Among the prominent florists and suc- cessful business men of the Cream City, none have been more conspicu- ous for honest business methods than Fred S. Schmeling. Although he is not a native of this country, and was unacquainted with the Eng- lish language when he landed on the shores of the new world, by patient industry and ceaseless devotion to business, he has outstripped thousands in the race for wealth who were better equipped than he for the battle of life. Mr. Schmeling was born in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 22, 1859, the son of Charles and Mary Schmeling, both natives of the same place. His father was educated in his native country, and after he grew to manhood was employed on a great country estate, where he was superintendent of the training stables. He continued in this vocation until his death in 1875. He was survived by his widow and four children. Mrs. Schmeling lived until 1906, when she was called on her last long journey and was buried on Easter Sunday of that vear. One of her children died some years ago; Frank is the super- intendent of a large estate in Germany, and the daughter lives in Mil- waukee. Fred S., the subject of this sketch, was an ambitious young man and determined to make his way in the world : he was only sixteen years of age when his father died, and as greater opportunities were offered in America he bade adieu to his old home and family and sailed for the new world. His first labors in this country were with his uncle, who was a florist in Ottawa, Ill .. but within a short time he came to Milwaukee and entered school. When he had acquired the rudiments of a practical English education he was employed by Dr. Emis, on Mitchell street. When he left that position he was associated with Currie Brothers in the florist's business for seven years. During the years he was in the service of these men, Mr. Schmeling was pru- dent, and by 1886 had accumulated sufficient capital to buy a piece of land in the town of Wauwautosa, where he erected a green-house. Since that time he has built up a large trade through honest dealing and a determination to please his customers. To-day he is one of the leading florists of the Cream City. Mr. Schmeling has made a spe- cialty of carnations, roses, and Japanese lilies, with which he has met with great success. He belongs to no party and pays allegiance to no party's principles, exercising his privilege of franchise as his con- science dictates. He believes in voting for the best man for the place in the city and national government. He is married to Mary, the
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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Meier) Brise, residents of Mil- waukee. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmeling: Rosie. Edward, Mamie, Hugo, and Lillie. All the children are living at home, the boys being interested in the florist's business with their father. Mr. Schmeling belongs to no secret societies, being a do- mestic man, but he is a member of the National Florists' Associa- tion, and with his family is a member of the German Catholic church, in which he was reared.
Peter Joseph Deuster, one of the old and honored residents and influential citizens of Wauwatosa, is a native of Germany, born at Cologne, in the beautiful valley of the Rhine, Feb. 13, 1841, the son of John and Catherine (Cornelius) Deuster, both natives of the same place. The father was a well-educated man who learned the tailor's trade and worked at that vocation until he came to America, in 1844. After coming to Wisconsin he worked for a short time on a farm, but within a short time bought a lot in Milwaukee and opened up a tailor shop at the corner of Cass and Lyon streets. It was one of the first establishments in the city and Mr. Deuster continued to occupy the same building until his death, in 1897. His wife survived him ten years. They had a family of seven children, of whom only two are now living. Peter J. received his educational advantages at St. Mary's parochial school until he was fifteen years old, when he started to learn the tailor's trade with his father. Subsequently he established himself in the tailoring business on West Water street. Two years later he moved to East Water street, but was there only a short time when he sold out and moved to the Blue Mound Road, where he opened a saloon which he conducted with great success for fourteen years. After disposing of his saloon, Mr. Deuster engaged in the florist's business, but was able to dispose of that some years ago and has since been enjoying a well-earned respite from active life at his home on the corner of Blue Mound and Deuster streets, town of Wauwatosa. Mr. Deuster is a Democrat in politics, and while he is interested in the policies of the party has never taken an active part. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Baggler, the daughter of Theo- dore and Anna Marie ( Dederichs) Baggler, residents of Milwaukee. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Deuster : Catherine, deceased ; Theodore : Anna : Alexius ; Lillian, deceased ; Frank : Marion ; Alexander ; Eleanor, the wife of Peter Megas ; Joel, and Dillman. Mr. Deuster is a very domestic man and devoted to his family, who are members of the Roman Catholic church. He is a member of the St. Francis Society.
Theodore Van Beck, a substantial farmer of the town of Lake, and the town treasurer, was born at Cleves, Germany, on Jan. 18, 1844. a son of Gerhardt and Mary (Kuepper) Van Beck. The father was a farmer in his native land and was highly successful. He came to America in September, 1854. and made his way directly to Milwau- kee. Here he worked for a few years as a laborer until he had secured a sufficient competence to enable him to purchase a farm in the town of Lake, on which he did general farming and truck gardening until the time of his death. in 1878. The mother passed away a few years
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later, leaving a family of four children. Theodore Van Beck was the first child born to his parents. He began his educational training in the schools of his native country, and continued it after coming to this country, in the Trinity parochial and the Fifth district schools. When but fourteen years of age he left school and began work in the brick-yards of George Burnham. After a period of service with Mr. Burnham, he leased a farm on the Oconomowoc road. but conducted it for one season only. He then removed to Bay View and for seven years raised crops on shares for Mann Brothers. When he severed that connection it was to go to New Berlin to learn the trade of Cooper, and when he had become a journeyman he removed to Chicago and worked at his trade. He was soon offered a similar position in Milwaukee and returned to work in this city. For seven years he was employed in the capacity of cooper here, and by the end of that time had accumulated a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase the prop- erty on which he now resides. His success can best be measured by the excellent income which the property now yields him. The first money he earned after leaving home he gave to his father, who pur- chased for him the first piece of land on which he farmed. In his po- litical relations Mr. Van Beck is a staunch Republican, and his popu- larity among his neighbors may be judged from the fact that he has served his town as supervisor and is now for the second time the in- cumbent of the office of town treasurer. In his earlier life Mr. Van Beck was a Democrat, but broke away from that party when it advo- cated the free-silver issue. He was reared in the Roman Catholic faith and is to-day a devout communicant of the German Catholic church. On July 5, 1865, Mr. Van Beck was united in marriage to Miss Minnie von Vonderen, a daughter of William and Mary von Vonderen, of Milwaukee. To this union were born eight children, two of whom, Ida and Joseph, are deceased. All the others-Elizabeth, Anna. William, George, John, and Mary-are married and the sons are all farmers.
Christ Gomber, a prosperous market gardener of the town of Lake, Milwaukee county, was born on Oct. 20, 1855, a son of Christ Gomber, who was born in France in 1830. The father was reared and received his early educational advantages in the schools of France. At the age of ten years he came to Milwaukee direct from France with his brother, Fred, and secured employment of Alex Douglas in the town of Lake. He remained in Mr. Douglas' employ until his mar- riage, and then he purchased a forty-acre tract of land and sent for his parents. He erected a log house on his property, which was a part of one of the school sections, and he carried on a general farm- ing business until the time of his death, which occurred on June 22. 1895. Beside his agricultural interests the father had considerable money invested in land in California, where three of his children re- side. The mother died on April 7, 1880. Of the eleven children born to the parents, eight are living. All of Christ Gomber's educational advantages were received in the brick schoolhouse in the town of Lake. When sixteen years of age he left school and entered the employ of his father, with whom he worked until he had reached his twenty-fifth
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vear. Soon after his marriage he purchased twenty acres of his father's property and started business as a truck gardener, an occupation which has since furnished him with plenty to do and a lucrative in- come. A few years ago he built the beautiful home where he now re- sides. His success has been contributed to in large measure by his ca- pacity for hard work, his attention to details, and his scrupulous hon- esty. In his political belief Mr. Gomber has always been a member of the Democratic party, and as the successful candidate of that organi- zation, served as a member of the county board of supervisors for two terms, his first election occurring in 1898, and in 1907 he was elected to fill the same office. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is to-day one of the most devout communicants of that church. On Jan. 16, 1883, Mr. Gombers was united in marriage to Miss Carolina Hundt, a daughter of Adolph and Berna D. (Cordes) Hundt, of Mil- waukee. The children born to this union, and the dates of their birth, follow : Clara, Dec. 15, 1884; Matthew, Jan. 18, 1886; Edward, Feb. 29, 1888; and Julius, April, 1895. Two others died in infancy.
Reinhart Jensen, a thrifty truck-gardener of the town of Lake, was born on a farm in that town on Jan. 27, 1867, a son of Andrew and Adelaide (Cross) Jensen, the former of whom was born in Christiana, Norway, and the latter in the state of New York. The father was a sailor on the high seas until about 1860, in which year he settled in New York. During the four years following he made short trips out from New York harbor, and in 1864 he removed to Milwaukee. During the early years of his residence here he made his home with his father-in-law and earned a livelihood as a sailor on the Great Lakes. Finally he purchased a small tract of land in the town of Lake, and is today engaged there in general garden- ing. Reinhart Jensen, the subject of this review, attended the com- mon schools in his native town and also completed a course in the
high school at Bay View. He was but eighteen years of age when he finished his course, and during the next few years he assisted his
father in the cultivating and managing of his property. When he left the parental home it was to go to work in the shops of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. After several years of employment there he returned to again assist his father, and remained with him until 1896. In that year he erected a beau- tiful little home on ten acres of ground which had been bequeathed him by his grandmother, and he has since that year done general gardening on the property. He has met with well-merited success. In his political belief Mr. Jensen has Republican proclivities, but does not take an active interest in the campaigns. He has been for a number of years one of the inspectors of election in his district. In religious matters he is extremely liberal, believing that to live rightly a man must not necessarily be bound by creed or sect. On Oct. 6, 1886, Mr. Jensen was united in marriage to Miss Louise Wynobl, a daughter of Cornelius and Emilia Wynobl, of the town of Lake. They have no children.
Gustav Adolph Budzien, one of the prominent gardeners in the town of Lake, was born at Milwaukee on Feb. 28, 1861, a son of Jacob and Eva (Koss) Budzein, both natives of Prussia, Germany.
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The father lived in his native country until he had attained his majority, and shortly afterward married and emigrated to Amer- ica. He came direct to Milwaukee and for a period was engaged at anything which would bring him a livelihood. He finally en- tered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company in the building of their yards. When the work was com- pleted he purchased a few acres of land on Oklahoma avenue and embarked in the general gardening business. He prospered to such an extent that within a few years he was enabled to acquire more land and extend the field of his operations. Up to the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1874, he was actively engaged in the management of the place. His widow still makes her home on the property. The father's remains are interred in Forest Home Cemetery. All the seven children born to the parents survive. Gustav A. Budzien, the subject of this review, received his educa- tional training in the public and German schools of the South Side of the city. His father's death when he was but thirteen years of age necessitated his leaving school to take up the duties and re- sponsibilities of the oldest member of the fatherless family. He remained with his mother until he was married, and then purchased a tract of land in section twenty of the town of Lake. He erected on this property a hot-house and a home and has since been very successful in the conduct of the place. His patronage now consists largely of commission houses, with which he does a large amount of business. Reared in the school of hardship and privation, he early learned the details of business and has brought to bear all those qualities of thrift and industry which make so much for suc- cess. In his political belief he is allied with the Republican party, but aside from conscientiously exercising his right of franchise he takes little interest in the campaigns of his party. On Oct. 17, 1886, Mr. Budzien was united in marriage to Miss Ernestina Burmeister, a daughter of John and Sophia (Trost) Burmeister, of Milwaukee. Seven children, all living at home, have been the issue of this union. Their names and the dates of birth follow: Meta, Aug. 21, 1887; Emma, Aug. 27, 1890; Bertha, Sept. 10, 1892; Amanda, Nov. 3, 1894; Hugo, Feb. 18, 1896; John, Sept. 25, 1898, and Archie, June 28, 1903.
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