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 113
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associated with the Milwaukee and Calumet clubs, the Deutscher Club, and the board of immigration called the Deutscher Gesell- schaft. Throughout his life he was a Republican of pronounced convictions. Following the promotion of Hon. Peter J. Somers, from the mayoralty to a seat in Congress, in June, 1893, Mr. Koch, at the urgent solicitation of his many friends, became the Republican candidate to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Somers, and although it seemed a hopeless task to attempt to overcome the Democratic plurality of 3,201, given Mr. Somers, Mr. Koch's per- sonal popularity and the confidence the business interests had in his ability brought victory to the Republican nominee by a majority of 3,269 votes. Again, in 1894, Mr. Koch was elected to fill a full term by a greatly increased majority. It was during his term that the great financial crisis of 1893 swept the country and it called out in Milwaukee the need of a fearless, able and competent official to save the city's credit. That Mr. Koch was the man of the hour is best evinced by the fact that during that fearful financial depression never was a city better governed, its credit better maintained, and confidence kept by its citizens, than in the administration of Mr. Koch. Early in his life he became a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church, and for many years was a member of its board of vestrymen. He was always active in the councils of the society, and took a deep interest in its many educational institu- tions. The present prosperous condition of Concordia College can be largely accredited to his foresight and administrative ability as a trustee, and in its early days he frequently advanced large sums of money in order to secure needed real estate for the institution. It was largely through his influence and financial support that the Lutheran Home for the Aged was organized. In 1864 Mr. Koch was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Pritzlaff, the daughter of John Pritzlaff, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Six sons and three daughters, all of whom are living, were born to bless this union. Mr. Koch's demise occurred on Nov. 8, 1907, and his passing was a distinct loss to the whole community, which had come to regard him as an exemplary citizen in every way.
Edward Dierolf, the capable manager of the Rohn Swimming School on the Milwaukee river, was born in Milwaukee on May 29, 1882, a son of Diedrich and Mary (Oeschstricker) Dierolf. Both parents were born in Germany but came to the United States early in their lives, and the father served throughout the Civil war as a private in the Federal army. Edward Dierolf's primary education was limited to the courses to be obtained in the Milwaukee public schools. When it became necessary for him to go to work to earn a livelihood, he left school and became a swimming instructor in the Bechstein Swimming School. In 1902 he became associated with the Rohn School, and his natural ability and capacity as a teacher soon made him the superior of any in the institution. A year later, as a recognition of his superiority. he was made manager, and he has since filled that position with credit to himself and to the school. Mr. Dierolf is a stanch member of the Republican party,
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but the pressure of business affairs has never allowed him to seek public office, despite the earnest solicitation of his many friends. In religious matters he is identified with the German Lutheran church. Mr. Dierolf is not married.
Joseph H. McGinn, the efficient and popular clerk of the county court of Milwaukee, was born in the Cream City on May 17, 1884, a son of James and Anna (McGrath) McGinn. The father was born in Detroit, Mich., in 1846, and the mother in Ohio in 1852. The paternal grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Monney) Mc- Ginn, were natives of County Monaghan, Ireland, and came to this country early in their lives. The grandfather was a prominent carpenter-contractor of Chicago for many years. Of his six children four-Edward J., James A., Frances J., and Joseph H .- are living, and Thomas and Anne are deceased. The father, James A. McGinn, has been a vessel captain ever since he was eighteen years of age. In 1873 he was the means of rescuing a schooner off Lincoln Park, Chicago, and saving many lives. In 1889, when the city decided to add fire tugs to the equipment for fighting fires, Mr. McGinn was made the captain of the first boat, the Cataract. The mother was a finely educated, literary person. and before marriage served as a teacher in the Third, Fourth and Ninth ward schools, for a time be- ing principal of the first named. She passed away on Nov. 2, 1907, leaving besides her husband, four sons. Two daughters died pre- vious to her demise. Joseph H. McGinn, the subject of this memoir, received the fine scholastic training afforded by the public and parochial schools of his native city, and in 1904 was graduated at Marquette College. His first employment after leaving college was with the Wisconsin Woodwork Company. Then for two years he was engaged in pedagogic work at Wauwatosa, Milwaukee county, butt resigned that position to accept a clerkship in the county court. This position he has been filling, with credit to himself and the wisdom of his superiors in appointing him to the position. He is very popular with all who have been fortunate enough to make his acquaintance, evidenced by the fact of his election to the presidency of the Eighth Ward Alumni Association, and vice-presidency of the Holy Name Society. He is also prominently identified with the Jefferson Club and the Northwestern Mutual Association. In his political belief he is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, but has never sought public office. His religious relations are with the Roman Catholic church. Mr. McGinn is not married. It is an interesting fact, brought out by his connection with the county court, that Mr. McGinn's maternal grandfather was the first crier of the Supreme Court of the state.
Philip H. Murphy, son of Patrick and Mary Murphy, was born in Saugerties, N. Y., in 1841, and came to Milwaukee with his parents in 1846. He attended the first public school built in Mil- waukee and graduated at the Third Ward school, then taught by F. C. Pomeroy, who was later superintendent of schools of the then fast-growing city. Mr. Murphy entered the first Milwaukee high school at its opening, and later attended the Spencerian College,
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then on East Water street. After various occupations he learned the plumbing trade in Chicago, and returned to his home in Mil- waukee in 1877, and there he is now engaged in the plumbing business at 320 Grove street. He has frequently been honored by the members of his profession by election to their various offices, and at present is secretary of the Milwaukee Master Plumbers' Association ; secretary of the Wisconsin Master Plumbers' Associa- tion, and secretary of the National Association of Master Plumbers. He is a member of the Old Settlers' Club, the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus, and he resides at 311 Greenbush street.
Herman O. Neidner is one of the typical German-Americans who has not only contributed to the material prosperity of the great city, but has developed one of the finest industries and he has been an important factor in shaping the artistic tastes of the com- munity. Of artistic temperament he has established a business in harmony with his tastes and built up an establishment that is the result of culture and unresting industry. Herman Neidner is a native of Milwaukee, born there on July 26, 1857. His father was Herman O. Neidner, born in Saxony, Germany, in 1830, and his mother was Theresa (Wolf) Neidner, also born and reared in the old kingdom of Saxony. The elder Neidner immigrated to America and located in Philadelphia, where he engaged in work as a carpet weaver, the trade he had learned in the old country. He was a man of fine mind and a genius along mechanical lines, and as a re- sult of his natural ability and strict attention to duty he became foreman of the largest weaving concern in Philadelphia at that time. After remaining there for some time he moved to Milwaukee and established a weaving factory of his own on East Water street, which he conducted with great success for twenty-five years. Sub- sequently he moved to Chicago, where he conducted a still larger weaving business and remained in active life until his death. Herman received an excellent education in the public schools of Milwaukee, then attended Engleman's Academy, and he took a course in the Spencerian Business College to fit himself for the affairs of life. After finishing his studies he worked from 1873 to 1876 with David- son & Sons, learning the art of marble sculpturing. Subsequently he spent one year in the East, 'tending bar, and while there met some English workmen in New York city, who were experts in laying floor tile, and through them Mr. Neidner became in- terested in such work. He bought the tools for tile-laying while in Philadelphia and he spent one year with the firm of Shoppers & Watson in Philadelphia, perfecting himself in the manufacture and laying of various kinds of fine tile. In 1878 he had become so proficient that he worked two years for Henry Dibbley at 268 Wabash avenue and received a salary of $1,800 a year, a large amount at that time. Mr. Neidner came to Milwaukee in 1882 and began to work for the Matthew Brothers at $1.500 a year, and he re- mained with the firm until it failed in 1889 and was bought out by Lapham. That same year he began business for himself in small
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quarters on East Water street, in the Lavey building, but in two years his trade increased so rapidly that he was forced to find larger rooms, and in 1891 he located on Milwaukee street on the site of the present new Wells building. When that property was bought for the erection of a large office building, Mr. Neidner moved to his present quarters, at 59 Oneida street, where he has the first floor and basement and carries over twenty thousand feet of tile in stock. The concern employs about fourteen men and is one of five such establishments in Milwaukee. Mr. Neidner fills contracts all over the state, and his artistic ability has become so well known that he is called upon to design and execute many fine and difficult pieces of work. In politics Mr. Neidner is a Republican, and he is also a member of the Builder's and Trader' Exchange and of the Knights of Pythias. On Nov. 2, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Neidner and Henrietta, the daughter of Peter Wittig, a well-known tailor of Milwaukee. Seven children have been born to bless this union: Tillie, a stenographer in her father's office; Lena, a stenographer in the Germania building; Herbert, who is managing a fruit farm in the state of Washington ; Francis, Ollie, Eddie and William. The family are members of the Luth- eran church.
Dr. Silas J. Sawyer, C. S. D., deccased, a successful dental practitioner for many years, and later a pioneer Christian Science worker in Wisconsin, was a resident of Milwaukee for some thirty years prior to his death. He was born in Brockport, N. Y., Oct. 1. 1842, the son of Horace and Nancy ( Hardy) Sawyer, also natives of the Empire State. Both of the parents lived all their lives in New York, and eventually died there without ever coming west. His father was a carriage manufacturer by trade, and also operated a hotel for three years. Our subject was the second child of a family. of three children. His older brother, Charles Sawyer, had an honorable record as a volunteer soldier in the Civil war. He en- listed in one of the New York regiments immediately after the outbreak of hostilities and upon the completion of his three years' term of service re-enlisted as a veteran for another three years, and served with credit until the close of the war. He died before the expiration of his second term. Dr. Sawyer received his early edu- cation in the public schools of New York state, and supplemented the same with an academic course at Clarkson, N. Y. He then decided upon the profession of dentistry as his life calling, and thoroughly prepared himself at Rochester, N. Y., for the work, be- coming an efficient and prosperous practitioner. He first practiced at Rochester for a time and in August, 1861, came west to Delavan, Wis., and later practiced for a number of years at both Aurora and Rockford, Ill. In 1875 he located in Milwaukee, where he con- tinued to reside until his death, on Aug. 21, 1905. He followed his chosen profession with success for a number of years in Milwaukee, and then became engrossed in the new faith of Christian Science. His attention was first directed to this faith in 1883, when he be- came deeply impressed by Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy's book,
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"Science and Health," which seemed to him to promise relief to suffer- ing humanity, and particularly to a member of his family who had been a chronic sufferer for many years, and for whom the medical pro- fession could only promise temporary relief through a surgical op- eration. He therefore went to Boston, and after a personal inter- view with Mrs. Eddy, was so favorably impressed that he entered her class of instruction in December, 1883, and fitted himself to im- part the knowledge thus gained to others. Returning to Milwaukee he began holding public meetings on Sunday afternoons and Friday evenings, and at once became active as a healer and teacher. He met with opposition and antagonism, but he endured unflinchingly all false accusations and persecutions, and was only too glad to sur- render his lucrative dental practice in order to do his whole duty toward God and man as he saw it. Out of these early pioneer meet- ings of his grew the First Church of Christ (Scientist), which was organized and chartered in 1889, the church edifice on Van Buren street being erected in 1902. He persevered in his noble and un- selfish work until his spirit took its flight in 1905, and in tribute to his memory it may truthfully be said that many lives were made better for his having lived. Dr. Sawyer had early inclined toward a religious life. He had been an active member of the Congrega- tional denomination, and in Milwaukee was a faithful attendant of the Grand Avenue Congregational church; he had successfully filled the offices of teacher, superintendent of Sunday school, and deacon of the church, and was particularly adept at imparting his thought and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures to others. His previous religious training was of immense service to him when he embraced the faith of Christian Science, and it enabled him to impart it to his listeners in the light of a practical demonstrable faith. He worked hard and untiringly, and achieved a marked suc- cess in his lectures and healing work. In the matter of politics Dr. Sawyer was always allied with the Republican party, though he never sought public preferment on his own behalf. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Wisconsin Dental Association, and the Curling Club. His marriage occurred on Oct. 30, 1867, to Miss Jennie E., daughter of George and Alta M. (Davidson) Passage, of Delavan. Mr. Passage was the son of John and Eleanor (Correll) Passage, and was born in Duanesburg, Schenectady county, N. Y., on Feb. 5, 1817. At the age of twenty- one he went to Castile, N. Y., and for four years acted as manager of a hotel. He was married to Miss Davidson at Gainesville, Wy- oming county, N. Y., on Feb. 26, 1840, and came to Delavan in June, 1842. He at once built a brick store, the first of its kind in the village, and began business in the mercantile line, in which he was continuously engaged for nearly forty-five years, up to the time of his death, as the result of a stroke of apoplexy, on May 27, 1887, which constituted him the oldest dry-goods merchant in Walworth county. He had other large and flourishing interests, farm lands, and grain elevators ; and was considered one of the wealthiest men in the southern part of the state. Six children-one son and five
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daughters-were born to him by his first marriage, and one son by his second marriage, which was to Miss Anna Vanderpool, of Albany, N. Y., in November, 1867. Mr. Passage was a man of generous impulses and a great lover of music. He had the credit of bringing to Wisconsin some of the finest carriage horses, shipped overland at the time of his coming, in 1842. He endured all a pioneer must of hardship and privation, often living in a few rooms that other early settlers might share his home, which was one of the most commodious in the village, until they could build tempo- rary quarters for themselves. At the time of the erection of his first building all the material was hauled across the country by team from Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer had no children; she was a devoted and loving helpmate to her husband throughout their married life, and still survives him, making her home at 497 La- fayette place, Milwaukee.
Cassius Miller Noyes, deceased, for many years a prominent figure in the mercantile circles of Milwaukee, was born at McLane, N. Y., May 19, 1845, the son of John and Mary (Miller) Noyes. The father was a native of New York state who came west in 1855, and he was one of the pioneer settlers at Delafield, Wis., where he continued to reside. Some years before his death he retired from active life and lived very quietly. Mrs. Noyes was a native of Pittsfield, Mass., and was one of the brave women who came into the new western country, where she reared a family of seven children. Her death occurred in Milwaukee. Cassius, our subject, was the third child, and he was ten years old when his parents moved west. He attended the parochial school at Delafield, Wis., and after finishing his studies went to Oconomowoc, where he secured a position in a hardware store. In 1864 he came to Mil- waukee and was associated with the Shepard Hardware Company for five years; then went to Chicago for a short time and became traveling salesman for Pierce & Whaling. His services were so efficient that he was offered a much better position with Jones & Laughlin, of Pittsburg, Pa., and accepted it. He remained with this firm until he established himself in the commission, real-estate, and iron business, with an office in the Loan & Trust building in Mil- waukee. Mr. Noyes was very successful and continued to conduct his business until his demise, which occurred on July 5, 1906, after a life devoted to his family and the interests of his friends and as- sociates ; unselfish, upright and kind. His death was a distinct loss to the whole community. In politics he was allied with the Repub- lican party, and while stanch in his adherence to its principles, he was not of a nature to seek public office of any kind. St. James Episcopal church sustained in the death of Mr. Noyes, a severe loss, as he was a loyal and earnest member and worker in that or- ganization. He was also identified with the Knights of Pythias. On Nov. 19, 1872, he married Dora, the daugter of Edgar C. and Abby (Warren) Jennings, of Milwaukee. The issue of this union were two children: Harry, connected with Wadham's Oil Com- pany ; and May. Mrs. Noyes' parents were both natives of Connec-
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ticut, and after her father came west he was connected with the La Crosse railroad for ten years as auditor. He then resigned to accept a better position as cashier of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and remained with the firm in this responsible position for thirty years. He was one of the oldest residents of Milwaukee and belonged to the West Side Old Settlers' Club. His death occurred on Feb. 17, 1897, and his widow lives in Chicago, Ili. Charles Anthem Chapin, deceased, was prominently identified throughout his business career with the business interests of the city of Milwaukee, and that his energetic efforts were fully ap- preciated is evidenced by the fact that for a period of twenty-five years he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was twice honored by being elected its president. He was descended from a long line of American ancestry, and more remotely his fore- bears were undoubtedly French Huguenots, who moved from France to England. From England, Deacon Samuel Chapin re- moved to America, where, in 1641, he took the freeman's oath. His wife's name was Cicilia Chapin, which is an old French-Huguenot name, and their descendants in a direct line to the subject of this review are : Josiah, Seth, Samuel, Ephraim, Artimus, David J. and Charles Anthem. These ancestors, as far as can be learned, were all strong characters, and representative men in their respective communities, and they were among the primitive aristocracy of New England, which was an aristocracy of intellect and moral worth, and not of blood or riches. "Her peerage and her knight- hood were honors direct from the creative hand of God and not from the touch of a monarch. In Stearns Park, Springfield, Mass., stands a striking statue modeled by Augustus St. Gaudens, the late eminent American sculptor. It is the picture of a tall, stalwart man, past middle life and clad in the Puritan garb of 250 years ago -a broad-brimmed, steeple-crowned hat, a long close-fitting doublet, bagged breeches fastened at the knees, and over all the enormous cloak of that period. The thrown-back folds of this cloak reveal in the statue's left hand a large Bible with brass nails and iron clasps, and in its right hand a ponderous oak staff planted firmly on the ground as the statue seems to be moving forward. The face is massive, the nose straight and prominent, the chin broad and determined, the mouth large and compressed, and so much as can be seen of the forehead is bold and protruding. He clutches tightly his oaken staff, and as he strides forward there is a fixed resolute look in his face and downcast eyes as if the weight of the colony were on his shoulders, but he felt fully able to support it. This statue is intended to represent Deacon Samuel Chapin, who immigrated to New England prior to 1636, and settled at Agawam, now Springfield, in 1641, and from whom Charles A. Chapin was descended. Artimus Chapin, the grandfather of our subject, was a man of great force of character, who followed the plow in early life, but who later on became a well-known Baptist minister. He possessed great energy and considerable education and refinement, and he did much good work and had an influence for good that
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extended over a large territory. He reached the good old age of eighty-four years. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Jewett, who, like himself, was a native of Massachusetts. They were the parents of five sons and one daughter, and of these David Jewett Chapin, the father of Charles A., was born in Spring- field, Mass., in 1802. He was reared on a farm and possessed con- siderable literary and biblical education, being an earnest Christian but not united with any church. He removed to Oncida county, N. Y., in early manhood, and there followed farming until 1863, when he came to Wisconsin and purchased a farm near West Salem, La Crosse county. Later he removed to Clear Lake, Iowa, where he lived in retirement until his death in 1876. He was prosperous in business, and reared a family of five sons and one daughter that reached maturity. Their names are: Emery D., deceased, George L., John M., Eliza J., Charles A., and Albert L., the last two named being deceased. The mother of these children was Alice Glazier, who was born in Worcester, Mass., where she was reared and educated, and she died in 1865, at the age of sixty- six years. She was a noble type of true womanhood and possessed great physical and mental vigor, with which she endowed her off- spring. Charles A. Chapin, to whom this sketch is more particu- larly dedicated, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., May 24, 1841. He was reared on the farm, where his muscles were hardened by daily toil in forest and field, which probably accounted in no small degree for his fine physique and bodily vigor. At the district school he made rapid progress, not on account of his brilliant scholarship, but by his perseverance and tenacity, and because he did all his work well, and left nothing for to-morrow that could be done to- day. At the early age of fifteen he was enabled to enter the Alford University in Allegany county, N. Y., in 1856. After one year of absence from study he again attended in 1858, and continued un- interruptedly till April, 1861. Then the wave of patriotism which rolled from ocean to ocean struck the university and Charles A. Chapin laid aside his books at the call of his country and enlisted as a private in Company K, of the Twenty-third New York infantry. This regiment was mustered into the United States service at Elmira on July 2, 1861, for a two year's term, and left the state for Washington on the 5th. For two weeks it was encamped at Merid- ian Hill, but moved on July 23, to Fort Runyon and on Aug. 5, 10 Arlington Heights, where it remained until Sept. 28. On Aug. 4 it was assigned to Hunter's brigade; on Oct. 15, to Wadsworth's brigade, McDowell's division, and in March, 1862, to the Second brigade, Third division, First corps, Army of the Potomac. Its first encounters with the enemy were at Fall's Church, Ball's Crossroads, and Munson's Hill, and on March 10, 1862, the regiment moved to Centerville. but returned after five days to Upton's Hill. proceeded to Bristoe Station and Falmouth and undertook several expeditions with Falmouth as a base of operations. On June 26, 1862, the regiment was attached to the Third brigade, First division, Third corps, Army of Virginia, with which it shared in General
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