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 111

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1072

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 111

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

terms as alderman from the ward previous to his election in 1908. Mr. Strachota represents the interests of his ward conscientiously and faithfully, and is known in all respects as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, whose success in his calling has been earned by honorable methods and pains-taking work.

Elias Stollenwerk is the senior member of the old and well- known firm of Elias Stollenwerk & Company, contractors and builders, of 952 Aldrich street, Milwaukee. Mr. Stollenwerk has been a successful contractor in Milwaukee and many handsome and substantial buildings have been erected by him. He is the son of Joseph and Mary (Schummel) Stollenwerk, both natives of the Rhine country in Prussia, Germany. Mrs. Stollenwerk was born in Luxemburg. Hubert Stollenwerk, father of Joseph, was a na- tive of Prussia, and in 1846 came to America with his family. They established themselves upon a farm in New Coeln, Milwaukee county, and their prospects for a happy life in the new home seemed of the brightest. The dreadful cholera epidemic of 1850 was, however, fatal to both Mr. and Mrs. Stollenwerk, and their family of two sons and two daughters was left to carry on the work of the farm alone. Joseph, Hubert, Annie M. (wife of John Pfeifer) and Kate (wife of Theodore Frederich), made up the fam- ily, all of whom are living except Mrs. Pfeifer. Joseph, the oldest son, born in 1830, was sixteen years of age when the family came to Milwaukee county and upon him devolved the responsibilities of the farm upon the death of his parents. He continued to operate the parental farm until 1890, when he retired from active business, and has since made his home in Milwaukee. Fourteen children re- ceived their early training upon Joseph Stollenwerk's comfortable farm, of whom ten are living and have become prosperous citizens of Milwaukee. Margaret is the widow of Alois Arnolds. The others are Hubert, Elias, Nicholas, John, Katie, Joseph, Frank, Thomas and Lena, who is the wife of August Schuster. Elias, the subject of this sketch, was born on the farm at New Coelu, Jan. 2, 1857, attended the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years was apprenticed to a carpenter. He worked five years as an ap- prentice and five years as a journeyman, and in 1883 embarked in business as a contractor and builder. His rapidly growing busi- ness soon required him to employ a number of assistants, and in 1893 he found it expedient to take into partnership with him his brother John, also a skilled and experienced carpenter and builder. Their work has not been confined to Milwaukee, and many con- spicuous edifices bear tribute to their success. The St. Louis Roman Catholic church at Caledonia, Racine county, was erected by the Stollenwerk firm; also St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic church at Charlesburg, Fond du Lac county ; St. John's Lutheran church, at New Coelu; St. Mary's Roman Catholic church at Marytown, Fond du Lac county ; the St. Augustin church and school in Milwaukee, and the St. Francis Hospital, Milwaukee county. While Mr. Stollenwerk and his brother have been remark- ably successful in their contracts for public buildings of various

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kinds, they have also built many handsome apartment buildings and residences. Mr. Stollenwerk was married on June 20, 1882, to Miss Mary Loeffler, daughter of Joachim and Gertrude (Uet- hoff) Loeffler, of Milwaukee. The marriage was blessed by nine children, of whom seven are living: George, August, Annie, Caro- line, Elias, Mary and Joseph. The first-born daughter, Mary Kate, and one son, Urban, are deceased. The family are devout members of St. Augustin Roman Catholic church. Mr. Stollenwerk belongs to several Catholic societies: St. Peter's Society, the Knights of St. George, the Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Anthony's Society and also to the South Side Old Settlers' Club and the Liederfreund Singing Society. He is a loyal Democrat and has three times been elected alderman from his ward, serving as a member of the city council from 1894 to 1900.

Walter P. Celichowski is the senior member of the firm of Celichowski & Gapinski, engaged in the clothing, custom tailoring, hats and gents' furnishings business. He was born in the province of Posen, German Poland, June 13, 1877. He is the son of Vin- cent and Hedwig (Ryterski) Celichowski, who immigrated to the United States in 1886, locating in Milwaukee, where the father, being a mason by trade, found work with the Pabst Brewing Com- pany. He remained with this firm one year, and died at the age of forty-nine, leaving a family of eight little children, as follows: Angela ; Michalina, wife of John Malliszewski; Casimir, member of the firm of Celichowski & Gapinski; Prakseda, widow of Dom- inic Gapinski, who was assassinated on April 3, 1908; Rev. Bron- islaus F., pastor of St. Hedwig's Polish Roman Catholic church of Milwaukee; Blanche, wife of Adam Hibner: Walter P., and Leonora, wife of Walter Baranowski. The subject of this sketch came to Milwaukee when nine years old. He was educated in St. Hyacinth's parochial school and at Marquette College. He began his business career as a clerk with T. A. Chapman & Company, with whom he remained three years. He was next employed as clerk in the office of the register of deeds of Milwaukee county for one year. He then served a year in the office of the state treasurer at Madison, Wis. In 1901 he embarked in the gents' furnishing business at the corner of Brady and Warren streets, Milwaukee, and remained there for two years. In 1903 he embarked in busi- ness at the corner of Third and Mitchell streets, in the clothing, hats, and gents' furnishing goods, with Dominic Gapinski, under the firm name of Celichowski & Gapinski, and in this line they have been very successful. They have been located at 476-478 Mitchell street since in February, 1907. He has the leading estab- lishment of its kind on Mitchell street and the second largest on the South Side. Mr. Celichowski was married on Aug. 5, 1903. to Miss Josephine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Barranowski. pioneer Polanders of Milwaukee. By this union he has three chil- dren : Walter, Jr., Stanislaus and Roman. He is a member of St. Hyacinth's Polish Roman Catholic church. He is a member of :St. Angustyn's Benevolent Society, the Polish Association of Amer-

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ica, the Polish Sharpshooters, the Knights of Columbus, the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles and the Catholic Order of Foresters. In a large sense Mr. Celichowski is a self-made man and is entitled to great credit for the success which his industry and sagacity have brought him. He is one of the most promising young busi- ness men of this city, and no one begrudges him his well-earned reward.

William Henry Moore, a retired farmer of the town of Wau- watosa, is a native of New Salem, Mass. His parents, Lorenzo WV. and Miranda (Fisher) Moore-the former born in Wilming- ton, Vt., Oct. 7, 1804, and the latter in Savoy, Mass., Nov. 10, 1810 -came to Wisconsin about 1843, locating on the farm now occu- pied by the family. It was in section 17, town of Wauwatosa, Mil- waukee county, and was purchased at a cost of seven dollars per acre. The parents remained on this place until their deaths, the father passing away on April 9, 1886, and the mother on Dec. 3, 1882. William H. was born on Sept. 6, 1842, and was therefore about nine months of age when the family came to Wisconsin. He attended the public school in district No. 4, town of Wauwatosa, and later the Baptist Academy in Wauwatosa. When he was twenty years of age he enlisted as a private in Company E, Twen- ty-fourth Wisconsin infantry, Aug. 7, 1862, his brother Martin, next younger, also serving in the same regiment, and later he was. colonel in the National Guard, serving in the Third Wisconsin regiment in that capacity through the Spanish-American war. Mr. Moore was in the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862, and of the con- duct of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin in this, its first engagement, the brigade commander said: "The Twenty-fourth Wisconsin went forward with cheers, and soon engaged the enemy's right. pouring in and keeping a cross-fire on their brigade, which was the first to break. Both officers and men behaved with coolness and deliberation, marching to the front with the steadiness of veterans." Mr. Moore was mustered out of the military service on Nov. 29, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn., by reason of surgeon's certificate of disability. He then returned to the farm and remained with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he mar- ried and began for himself on the farm where he now resides, hav- ing devoted his whole life, practically, to agriculture, and he ex- pects to remain on the farm for the rest of his years. On Nov. I8, 1869. Mr. Moore was married to Miss Julia E. Barnes, who was. born in Madison county, New York, Jan. 29, 1838. She is the daughter of Abel and Zila (Jacobs) Barnes, both born in Con- necticut, the former on March 26, 1790, and the latter on Nov. 26, 1798. They came to Wisconsin in 1844, locating in the northwest corner of the town of Wauwatosa, near the present hamlet of Butler. They cleared a farm there and lived on it until about 1854. when, on account of the failure of Mr. Barnes' health, they moved to Wauwatosa, on a small plat of seven acres, and resided there until his death on Dec. 25. 1865. He was a member of the Baptist church and a man greatly loved and respected. When the bell of

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BIOGRAPHIICAL

his own church was tolling to announce his passing away, his friends of the neighboring Congregational church asked the privi- lege of tolling the bell of that church also. The mother died on July 28, 1878, having spent her later years in the home of her son- in-law, Mr. Moore. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore two children were born. Jennie Estelle is now the wife of Otto Zillmer, and resides on the home farm; they have two children, Ruth Marie, born Feb. 14, 1905, and Eric William, born Dec. 30, 1907. Elsie Marie, the second daughter, is unmarried and resides with her parents. In the Moore family there were eight children: Maria, born in North Adams, Mass., Jan. 31, 1832, died March 13, 1889; Esther, born Jan. 6, 1834, and Orlando, born May 23, 1837, at New Salem, both died in 1838, the dates being but six days apart; Orlando (second), born at New Salem, June 10, 1839. resides in California ; William H. is next in order of birth : Martin, mentioned above, born Aug. 9. 1846, at Wauwatosa, died March 24, 1903, at La Crosse, Wis .; Nellie, born July 3, 1849, died Sept. 21, 1868; Har- vey, born Sept. 24, 1850, resides on the old farm: Jennie, born July 20, 1854, resides in Milwaukee and is the wife of Willis Wat- son, a retired farmer. W. H. Moore is a Republican, but has never cared to hold public office; in religious faith he is a member of the Baptist church.

Thomas Tomkowiak, a prominent citizen and one of the pro- gressive thinkers and leaders among the Polish population of Mil- waukee, was born there on Oct. 10, 1877, the son of Martin and Teckla (Jankowski) Tomkowiak, who immigrated to the United States in 1867 from the province of Posen, German Poland. Not long after landing on the shore of the new country they settled in Milwaukee, where Martin Tomkowiak soon found employment with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and he became one of their loval and trusted employes. After twenty-two years' service with that corporation he resigned to accept a more lucrative posi- tion with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The life of this unselfish, good old man was cut short while he was still hale and hearty. He was struck by a car and killed under the Sixteenthi street viaduct in 1902, in the sixty-third year of his age. His widow still lives in Milwaukee. They reared a family of seven children to maturity: Celia, the wife of John Totski; Thomas ; Anthony, deceased; George; Anastatia; Joseph, and John. Thomas was reared in Milwaukee, where he has always resided. and he received his education at St. Stanislaus parochial school. After finishing his studies at that excellent institution, at the age of fourteen, he started to learn the core-maker's trade, and two years later, during the panic of 1893, went on the lakes and worked as a seaman for five years. Since 1898 he has lived in Milwaukee and followed his trade. In April of that year he joined the Wis- consin National Guard as a member of Company B. Fourth regi- ment, and in May was mustered into the volunteer service as a member of Company K, First Wisconsin infantry, to take part in the Spanish-American war. Mr. Tomkowiak was with his regi-

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ment while it was stationed at Jacksonville, Fla., and was sent home with it and mustered out of the service of the United States on Oct. 19, 1898. Immediately after being mustered out he re- enlisted as a private for two years in the Wisconsin National Guard, Company K, First regiment, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his service. On Aug. 20, 1902, he married Sophia, the daughter of Martin and Veronica (Bunk) Ziarnek, resi- dents of Milwaukee. Four children have been born to this union: Adeline, Martin, Alice and Thomas, Jr. The family are devout Catholics and members and supporters of St. Stanislaus Polish Catholic church. Mr. Tomkowiak is commander of Allyn Capron Camp, No. 19, Spanish-American war veterans, Department of Wisconsin. In politics he is a Socialist.

Robert P. Fitzgerald, deceased, for many years a prominent ship-owner and commission man of Milwaukee, was a native of Ire- land, where he was born on May 10, 1823. He was the son of Wil- liam and Julia (Reil) Fitzgerald, both of whom were natives of Ireland. William was the son of a wealthy Irish landlord, whose social and property qualifications were such that he never pursued any active vo- cation in life, but lived the life of a rich Irish gentleman. William came to America and settled first in New York, and later came west to the state of Michigan where he died. Robert P., the subject of this sketch, came to Michigan with his parents, and lived on a farm for a few years. He received his education in the public schools of that state and then went onto the Great Lakes as a sailor. He rose to be captain of a vessel when only twenty years of age and became thoroughly familiar with the practical branch of the business of navigation. At the age of thirty years he embarked in business on his own behalf, became the owner of a sailing craft, and did an extensive shipping and commis- sion business up to the time of his death. In addition to his extensive shipping interests he represented a large insurance company, and had other large business interests. His death took place on Jan. 9, 1900. Mr. Fitzgerald was a man of unusually strong character, possessed great determination and energy, which brought him wealth and busi- ness success, and he became widely known in shipping and commission circles. The following tribute was adopted by the Lake Carriers' As- sociation on the death of Mr. Fitzgerald: "Robert P. Fitzgerald saw the lake marine rise from insignificant beginnings to the gigantic pro- portions it had assumed last year, when at the ripe age of seventy-five, crowned with honors, he died at Milwaukee, his home, mourned by all classes. He began his career as a vesselman in the forties, when the largest ships of the lakes were mere pigmies, and continued to be active- ly interested in the carrying trade until his death removed his spirit to another world. He was widely known in the lake region, probably no other man having so many personal acquaintances and faithful friends. He was a singularly unobtrusive man-quiet, firm, dignified, yet always cheerful and buoyant. To him integrity was the sesame to business success and his word was as enduring as his bond. He loved his fellows with a broad and chivalrous affection, and his deeds of kindness were countless as the sands on the shore of the lakes. His

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knowledge of the lakes was exact and exhaustive. He could pilot a boat through every known channel, and the headlands and range lights along river and shore were as familiar to him as the faces of his friends. As a member of this association he was its dean. We looked to him for council and advice, and it was given with an unselfish frank- ness that endeared him to the hearts of all. He lived the alloted span of life and more, yet we feel that he died all too soon. He so lived that when the summons came to join the innumerable fleet which sails to that mysterious realm where cach shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death, he went, not like the quarry slave at night, scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust he ap- proached his grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams." In politics Mr. Fitzgerald voted with the Republican party, though he never sought or held public office. He was born in the Catholic faith, but forsook the church in after life. He was one of the oldest members of the Milwaukee board of trade, and prior to his marriage belonged to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife, whose maiden name was Emma J. Kavanagh, was a daughter of James and Jane (Bryan) Kavanagh, both of whom were natives of New York city, as was their daughter. She was married to Mr. Fitzgerald on March 16, 1854. Mrs. Fitzgerald is a woman of fine intellectual and social attainments, and received a superior education in her youth at the hands of private tutors. She has long been a zealous and earnest member of the Presbyterian church, and is a liberal supporter of that organization in its many good works. Her father, who was an invalid, was a large New York importer and exporter, and de- parted this life in February, 1849. Thereupon her mother, to- gether with her children, came west to Milwaukee, where J. K. Webster, her half-brother, was engaged in business as a ship chan- dler. Only two members of Mrs. Fitzgerald's family are now liv- ing, one of whom, Pedro L., resides in Chicago, and is now re- tired from active life. Her mother died in Milwaukee in 1874. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald, only one of whom is now living. The eldest child, Julia, died in infancy ; the second child, Charles E., died in early manhood at the age of twen- ty-seven ; Jennie, the third child, married William Moultrie White, who died, leaving one child, Emily, surviving, now a student at Milwaukee-Downer College: both daughter and granddaughter make their home with Mrs. Fitzgerald; a fifth child, Henry Philip, died in infancy, when only eight months old, and Frederick died in young manhood, at the age of twenty-six years.

Lucas Braun, retired, who for many years was one of the lead- ing dairymen of Milwaukee county, with a farm near West Allis, was born in Baden, Germany, on Oct. 18, 1830. He is a son of Raphael and Elizabeth Braum, both of which parents lived their entire lives in the old country, where the father was a farmer. Mr. Braun attended school in his native land and served for two years as a member of the German army. With the exception of his term in the army he lived with his parents until he was twenty-

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four years of age, and then he determined to seek his fortune in the New World. After his arrival in New York, late in 1854, he went to Zanesville, Ohio, and there worked as a gardener for eighteen months. At the end of that period he came to Milwaukee, and for five and a half years was employed as a teamster by a firm con- ducting a brick yard. He then rented a piece of land in the town of Greenfield, and for two years managed a farm. By that time, because of his industry and thrift, he had secured a sufficient com- petence to enable him to purchase six acres of land in the same town. Two years later he sold the property at a good advance over what he had paid for it and purchased the forty acres where he now resides. He devoted himself to general farming and dairy- ing, and most successfully conducted the business until 1898. In that year he retired from active participation in business, and al- though he still resides on the homestead the conduct and man- agement of it is left to one of his sons, and he is enjoying a well- earned respite from the daily duties of a busy career. In his polit- ical relations he is absolutely independent of party affiliations, pre- ferring to exercise his right of franchise as conscience and judg- ment dictate rather than at the will of party leaders. He is one of the most devout communicants of St. Matthew's Catholic church of the town of Greenfield. On Nov. 12, 1856, Mr. Braun was nuited in marriage to Miss Katharine Schoenberger, a native of Germany, who came to America and Milwaukee in 1854. Until the time of her marriage she worked as a domestic. Her mother and two sisters came to Milwaukee in 1864, after the father's death, and the mother passed away six months after her arrival. Eight children came to bless the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Braun. Caro- line, the eldest, born Aug. 18, 1857, is the wife of Anton Trem- borne, a pattern-maker in the Allis-Chalmers works at West Allis, where they reside. Lucas, Jr., was born on Aug. 14, 1858, and married Anna Kau. He is now conducting the dairy business for- merly managed by his father. Herman, born Aug. 13, 1864. married Mary Miller. He is at present unemployed on account of ill health. Rosa, born May 31, 1866, is the wife of George Heckel, a blacksmith, employed in the railroad shops of Milwaukee. Mary, born Oct. 6, 1867, is the wife of John Kern, a teacher in St. Joseph's school. Elizabeth, born Oct. 19, 1870, lives with her father ; Joseph, born Sept. 18, 1872, married Christine Palmershein, and is now a resident of the town of Greenfield. August, the youngest, was born on March 17, 1875, and died Nov. 1, 1901. Mrs. Braun passed away on July 31, 1902. She was a kindly, lovable character, whose death was a distinct loss to the whole community.

Carlton Holland, deceased, for more than thirty years chief grain-inspector for the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, was born in Otsego county, New York, July 16, 1816. He was the son of Ivory and Polly Holland, the former of whom was born in Con- necticut on Oct. 12. 1777, and died on Oct. 7, 1862, and the mother was born on July 18. 1784. Paternally he is the descendant of a distinguished line. The grandfather, Capt. Ivory Holland, raised

CARLTON HOLLAND

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a company for service in the Revolutionary war, and during that struggle was its commander in the regiment of Col. Israel Putnam. An uncle, Park Holland, was one of the pioneers of Maine and spent a goodly share of his life in surveying and laying out property in what is now that state, and was known as a man of great mental power and undaunted courage. The father was a major in the American army during the war of 1812, and was captured by the English and sent to a Canadian prison. An uncle, also, was a major in the same struggle, but served in another regiment. Dr. J. G. Holland, who achieved fame as a writer and poet, was first cousin of the subject of this review. Carlton Holland came west when a boy, and was for several years located in Chicago. In 1852 he re- moved to Milwaukee, and in this city he maintained his residence during the balance of his life. During the first six years he was here he was engaged as a grain buyer for mills and warehouses, and in 1858, upon the organization of the Chamber of Commerce, he was selected as grain inspector. He established the first grades and kept samples of his various standards at the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce. When he first assumed the position he personally inspected all grain that entered the Milwaukee elevators and ware- houses, but as the size of the city grew and the business increased it became necessary to employ assistants, although during the more than thirty years in which he held the office he was personally re- sponsible for all the work. His certificates were known and recog- nized in every wheat market in the world. A few years before his death he retired from active participation in the affairs of the busi- ness world to enjoy a well-earned respite. His demise occurred on June 1I, 1896, and he left to mourn his loss a widow and two daughters, Helen Irene and Kate Carlton.

John G. Bettinger is one of the prominent citizens and business men who has played an important part in the development of the Cream City. He was born in Milwaukee on June 21, 1852, the son of Nicholas and Angeline (Brauckman) Bettinger, who were both born in Prussia. Nicholas Bettinger was born in Germany on March 2, 1822, and his wife on Feb. 17, 1832. The elder Bet- tinger immigrated to America in 1840 and landed in Buffalo, N. Y. He remained there a year and then, in company with five cousins, walked to Milwaukee, landing in the city in 1842. For a time he worked for a Mr. Cooper as a trapper and hunter. He was one of the early settlers and also worked for Solomon Juneau. Subse- quently he became foreman of George Burnham's brick-yard, which at that early day was located on Grand avenue. Mr. Bettinger was a fine workman, knew how to handle men, and he remained with this firm for twenty-eight years, being in their employ altogether thirty-two years. At the end of that time he determined to go into business for himself, bought some teams and engaged in the con- tracting business for about eight years. After retiring from busi- ness, he spent the last years of his life on South Pierce street. Mrs. Bettinger passed to her last rest in 1897 and was followed by her husband in six months. John was reared in Milwaukee and re-

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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 111

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association Number of Pages: 1072

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1072