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 118

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 118

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

year he became a citizen of the United States, and immediately upon receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he came to the Soldiers' Home as assistant surgeon. Successive promotions followed, and in 1903 he was placed in charge of the medical department with the rank of major. He is a member of the American Medical Association, and the Wisconsin State, Milwaukee county, Milwaukee, and Brainard Medical societies. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Alpha Mu Pi Omega college fraternity, and the Episcopal church. In his political affiliations Dr. Chrysler is a Republican, but is liberal in his views on all questions of public policy. On Feb. 18, 1903, Dr. Chrysler married Miss Birdseye McPherson Knox, a daughter of Kilburn and Annette Knox, and to this union have been born three children, viz: Laura Annette, Harriet Louise, and Frederick Knox. Mrs. Chrysler's father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Europe. In the Civil war Kilburn Knox served as an aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. James B. McPherson and was a close friend of that distinguished officer.

Charles Rahn, one of the old and substantial citizens of Mil- waukee, was born in Prussia on Oct. 7, 1829. His parents came to Milwaukee in 1851, but the hardship of the journey was more than the father, who was then an old man, could withstand, and he died a year later. His wife followed him in 1853. Charles Rahn received a somewhat limited education in the schools of his native land, and after working at various occupations for some years came to Milwaukee with his parents in 1851. When twenty-four years of age he secured employment with one of the large railways leading into Milwaukee and was continuously engaged with the corporation for thirteen years. For the several years immediately following he was employed in a hardware store, and since that time has worked at various and sundry oc- cupations to earn a livelihood. Being of an industrious, thrifty nature, with exemplary habits, he managed to accumulate a sum sufficient to purchase the property where he now resides, which at the time had on it a small cottage, now standing in the rear of the fine home which Mr. Rahn built in 1878. He has bought and sold real estate rather extensively and always at an advantage. Within the past few weeks (December, 1908) he has received a handsome offer for his home property, and although it is distasteful to him to part with the house which has been his home for so many years, he may accept the offer and purchase another home in a newer por- tion of the city. Mr. Rahn is distinctively a self-made man, every- thing which he has achieved being directly due to his own individual effort, and the loyal and faithful interest of his wife. He is a Republi- can in his political belief, but never sought to become his party's can- didate for any public office. He and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran church and his children have all been reared in that faith. In January, 1854, Mr. Rahın was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Tietz. a native of Prussia. Seven children were born to bless this union. Gusta died at the age of seven years; Charles died in infancy ; Ernst is a journeyman cigar-maker, is unmarried, and lives with his parents : Robert also makes his home with his parents, and is a litho-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

grapher by vocation : Louis married Miss Elizabeth Fels, and is a bookkeeper at the Trostel tannery; Bertha, the youngest, resides with her parents and is employed in the cloak department of Gimbel Brothers.

Aaron Seymour, a substantial farmer residing near West Allis was born in Ulster county, N. Y., on Aug. 6. 1830, a son of Stephan and Mary Seymour. Both parents were born in Ulster county, and the father managed a farm in that county until his death, which oc- curred in 1856. His widow passed away some two years later. All of Aaron Seymour's educational advantages were received in the dis- trict schools of Ulster county. He was the eighth in order of birth of the ten children born to his parents and when but thirteen years of age he began life as a farm hand. For a year he followed that occu- pation and for the following six months was engaged in work on the Erie Canal. During the two years immediately following he was an employe in a large brick-yard and he gave up the position to become a sailor on an ocean steamship. This work was exceedingly congenial to him and he remained at it for eighteen months, but upon the urgent solicitation of his family he gave it up and returned to work in the brick-yard. After three more years there he determined to remove to the then far West, and in the spring of 1854 arrived in Milwaukee. He secured employment at once in a brickyard of George Burnham. his first month's salary amounting to eighteen dollars. By the end of that period, however. his capacity and ability were recognized and he was accorded a salary during the second month of seventy-five dollars. He was then made foreman and manager of the company at a much more lucrative salary. Later, he located on the farm, where he has since made his residence. Beside the property upon which he resides he is the owner of twenty acres of excellent land half a mile west. twenty acres in Waukesha county, two lots and three houses in West Allis, a lot on Summit avenue, and two lots on Seventy-second avenue. In 1859 Mr. Seymour made some speculation in wheat, purchasing it and raising it from that year until 1864 without selling a bushel. When he did sell in 1864, he realized a large profit by disposing of all he had at three dollars per bushel. While in the employ of Mr. Burn- ham he took direct charge of a schooner load of brick which was being shipped to South Manitou Island and handled every brick that was used in the construction of the lighthouse on that island. When a young man he learned much from the Indians of their medical lore and put it into practical use. Today he makes and sells many medicines from the herbs which he gathers on his farm, and is said by many people to have found the only sure cure for rheumatism. Patients come to him for treatment from all over the state. Although he has strong Republi- can proclivities in his political belief, he has never sought to become a candidate for public office. On March 16. 1859. Mr. Seymour was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Tinkham, who was born on the farm where the Seymours now live in 1839. Her father and two of his brothers came to Milwaukee county from Vermont and were pioneer farmers of the locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Seymour have been born six children : Mary, the eldest. lives at home : Ella is employed in Mil-

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

waukee ; and the others, Nelson, Francis, Gusta and Howard, all make their home with their father. Mr. Seymour is a striking example of that class of men who have won their way to affluence and respect in the community entirely through their own efforts. His thrift, indus- try, and perseverance have made a sucess of every venture he has un- dertaken, and he ranks today as one of the most substantial as well as one of the most respected men of the county.

Louis Kerler, a prosperous farmer residing near West Allis, is a native of Bavaria, where he was born on Nov. 10, 1830, a son of John and Veronica (Herman) Kerler. Both parents were born in Ba- varia in 1800, and the mother died in her native land about 1840. In 1849 the father brought his family to America, coming direct to Mil- waukee county. Milwaukee was then but a small city and the sur- rounding country was unbroken land. He purchased the farm upon which the subject of this review now resides and devoted the balance of his life to cultivating it. His demise occurred in 1880. Louis Kerler received the limited educational advantages afforded by the public schools of his native land and came to this country with his father. He assisted the parent in clearing his new farm, working with him until he was twenty-two years of age. He then purchased forty acres of land from his father, John Kerler, and began his career as a farmer. He gradually added to the farm until he now has some 200 acres, prac- tically all of which is under cultivation. He has a finely-bred herd of cows and does quite an extensive dairy business. Altogether the farm is one of the best equipped and most modern in the county. In 1904 Mr. Kerler built a fine new residence, where he anticipates spending the balance of his eventful life. In his political belief Mr. Kerler is a Republican, but although he takes an active interest in public af- fairs he has never sought to become the candidate of his party for public office. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and is to-day a devout communicant of that church. In 1852 Mr. Kerler uas united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Deeg, who was born in Bavaria in 1840 and came to Milwaukee with her parents in 1855. Mrs. Kerler's father was a pioneer merchant of Milwaukee. To Mr. and Mrs. Kerler were born twelve children. William, the eldest, makes his home with his father; Herman is married and is engaged in the shoe business in Milwaukee, his residence being at Hale's Corners ; August is unmarried and resides at home ; Louis lives with his parents ; Eduard lives in Milwaukee and is a steam- fitter; Louisa is the wife of Andrew Oswald, a shoe merchant of Milwaukee; Veronica is the wife of Henry Muhl, a farmer in the town of Muskego. Waukesha county; Amelia is the wife of Barney Jungbluth, a farmer of the town of Greenfield ; Regina resides with her parents : Clotelia is at home; Maria is the wife of Henry Kroening, an employe of an express company of Milwaukee: and Emma, the youngest. is the wife of Albert Kurtze, a farmer in the town of Muskego, Waukesha county. Mr. Kerler has gained many friends during the course of his residence in Milwaukee county and has won the respect and esteem of all of them.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Herman Kroeger is the president of the Kroeger Brothers Company, dealers in dry goods at 421 National avenne. He is a native of Coesfeldt, in the province of Prussia, Germany, where he was born on Dec. 16, 1831, a son of Henry and Gertrude (Coelm) Kroeger, the former of whom was born in Prussia in 1792 and the latter in the same province in 1799. Mr. Kroeger's early education was very limited, being restricted to the common schools of his native land. He was untutored in the English language, learning it by reading and association with his fellow men after his arrival in this country. In 1844 he came to the United States and located in Milwaukee. Although but thirteen years of age at the time of his coming here he at once sought to earn a livelihood for himself and found employment with a grocer on Market street. He embarked in business for himself in 1853, the firm being com- posed of himself and a brother with the same title it now bears, and doing a general mercantile business. For forty-eight years the firm (lid business on Grove avenue, but at the end of that time the growing demands of the trade necessitated a change to more commodious quar- ters, and the removal was made to the present handsome five-story building on National avenue. Although his time has been largely filled by the demands of his business interests he has found time to devote to the public weal, and his fellow citizens have evidenced their confi- dence in him by electing him to public office on different occasions. "In 1858, as an independent, he was the choice of his neighbors in the aldermanic contest, and he served one term in the common council. In 1888, as the candidate for mayor of the Labor party, he went down to defeat with that party. In the fall of the same year he was elected to the upper house of the state legislature by an over- whelming majority and served in the sessions of 1889 and 1891. On May 10, 1855, Mr. Kroeger was united in marriage to Miss Mary Artus, a daughter of Conrad Artus, of Milwaukee. She died in 1874, after giving birth to her daughter, Regina. To this union were born the following named children : Casper, Henry C., Maria, John S., Dora and Regina. Mr. Kroeger married a second time in 1875 and as the fruit of this union Joseph M. was born on July 2, 1880. Mr. Kroeger and his family are all communicants of the Roman Catholic church.

William Berger, 530 Galena street, is one of the substantial business men of Milwaukee and is a native of that city. He is the son of Herman and Catherine Berger, the former born in Burgstaedt. Saxony, Germany, Nov. 26, 1840, and the latter at Berghausen, Nassau, Germany, on May 17, 1844. Mr. Berger himself was born on Dec. 28, 1861, and attended the German-English Academy of Milwaukee until he was fifteen years of age. When he abandoned his scholastic pursuits he found employment in a retail dry-goods store for one year. At the end of that time he became associated with the wholesale dry-goods firm of Storm & Hill, and remained with them for a period of five years, the last two years in Chicago, to which city the firm had removed. Upon his return to Milwaukee. in 1883, he became associated with his father in the bedding busi-

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

ness, and upon the death of the parent, in 1886, he assumed charge of the business. The company since then has done business under various titles. In 1887 it was named Herman Berger & Son, which was changed two years later to the Berger Bedding Company, and in 1906, it was given the title under which it is now doing a flourish- ing business, namely, William Berger & Company. Much of the company's excellent standing in the business world, and the growth and increase of its trade can be attributed to Mr. Berger's inher- ent qualities of thrift, industry, and business judgment. Fraternal- ly and socially Mr. Berger is prominent in Masonic circles, having taken the rites of the Thirty-second degree, and he is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Deutscher Club, the Athletic Club, and the Calumet Club. He is also an in- fluential figure in the Bankers' Club and the Merchants' and Man- ufacturers' Association. On Sept. 28, 1887, was solemnized Mr. Berger's union to Miss Mathilda Wagner, a daughter of Julius G. Wagner. One son, Walter J., born Sept. 22, 1891, has been the issue of this marriage.

Armin A. Schlesinger .- In this century of colossal enterprise and marked intellectual energy, the successful men are those whose courage leads them into large undertakings and to assume the re- sponsibilities and labors of leaders in industrial and commercial life. This Twentieth century is also essentially one for the young man, and this is demonstrated in the career of Armin A. Schlesin- ger, who is a prominent figure in the financial circles of Milwau- kee. He is a native of the Cream City, born Sept. 21, 1883, the son of Ferdinand S. Schlesinger, who was born in Germany on Feb. 18, 1850, and Matilda (Stern) Schlesinger, a native of Milwaukee. The father came to the United States at the age of eighteen years and settled in Kilbourn, Wis., where he was a tutor of languages for some years. He saw more of a future in commercial life, how- ever, entered the harvesting machine business as a manufacturer, and he was one of the first to realize the immense wealth of the Michigan iron mines. Mr. Schlesinger became interested in nu- merous mines, and in 1904 he organized the Milwaukee Coke and Gas Company, of which he is president. Four years later he pur- chased the Northwestern Iron Company, of Mayville, Wis., and when the company was reorganized became its president. He has large holdings in the Newport Mining Company, of Ironwood, Mich., and is the president of the company. His interests are not confined to Wisconsin alone, as he is one of the directors of the" Boomer Coal and Coke Company, of Boomer, W. Va. Armin Schlesinger, the subject of this review, received his elementary ed- ucation in the public schools of Milwaukee and afterward finished in the high school. He subsequently graduated from Harvard Uni- versity. Like his father he has great executive ability, and in 1905 organized the Milwaukee Solway Coke Company and was elected its president. He has varied commercial interests ; is secretary and treasurer of the Newport Iron Company, treasurer of the Milwau- kee Coke and Gas Company, and vice-president of the Vera Chem-

BIOGRAPHICAL

ical Company. Mr. Schlesinger is regarded as one of the most progressive young business men of Milwaukee, is a man of wide social popularity and influence, and though he leads a busy life and has many business cares and responsibilities he has such mental equipoise that away from business he seems as carefree as a boy. He is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in his party. Mr. Schlesinger is one of the popular members of the Milwaukee Country Club, the University Club, and the Milwaukee Athletic Club. On June 18, 1906, Mr. Schlesinger was united in marriage with Kathleen, the daughter of Alan and Katherine (McGregor) McCulloch, of Milwaukee. One child has been born to this union, Katherine. The family are members of the Episcopal church. Armin Schlesinger's brother, Henry, who is associated with his brother and father in business, was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and graduated from Harvard University. He is vice-president of the Milwaukee Solway Coke Company, as well as of the Milwaukee Coke and Gas Company, the North- western Iron Company, and the Newport Iron Company. He is twenty-eight years of age and unmarried.

Anton Asmuth is a prominent member of the firm known as the Milwaukee Malting Company and is an old and highly respect- ed resident of the Cream City. He was born in Germany on Dec. 19, 1851, and is the son of Anton and Elizabeth ( Burgintous) Asmuth, both of whom were also natives of the Fatherland, where they lived out useful lives devoted to agricultural pursuits. The son migrated to America in his boyhood days and he received a very good edu- cation at the German-English Academy in the city of Milwaukee and at the East Side high school. He began life in America by working at anything honorable that he could find to do, and for several years followed no certain occupation. In 1871 he entered the employ of the Philip Best Brewing Company and remained with that concern for five years. In 1876 he became a mem- ber of the firm of Salomon, Asmuth & Company, which engaged in the produce business. In 1878 Mr. Salomon retired from the firm, and the business was thereafter conducted by Asmuth, Grau & Company, till 1879, when the firm of Asmuth & Kraus succeeded to the business. Soon after the inauguration of this industry the firm added grain to the produce line and did a general commission busi- ness in coarse grains, hay and feed, making a specialty of barley. It also had a large feed mill at the foot of Broadway, on Erie street, where the office was located. In 1879 the firm of Asmuth & Kraus commenced the business of malting, and erected a malt- house at the corner of South Water and foot of Park street, in the Fifth ward, with a capacity for the manufacturing of 175,000 bushels of malt annually. In 1881 a barley elevator was erected ad- joining the malt house, with a storage capacity of 250,000 bushels. Some years later the firm name was changed to the Asmuth Malt Grain Company, and in 1898 Mr. Asmuth disposed of his interest in the business. In 1901 the Milwaukee Malting Company was formed, the location of the business being at the corner of Reynolds

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

and South Bay streets. Mr. Asmuth has been twice married, first in 1876, to Miss Johanna Stolz, who died in 1887, leaving no chil- dren. The second marriage occurred in 1889 to Miss Gertrude Stolz, a sister of the deceased wife, and to this union there has been born one child. Anton William Stolz Asmuth. Mrs. Asmuth is a sister of Joseph Stolz, who is also connected with the Milwaukee Malting Company, and who is given a more extensive mention on another page of this volume.

Francis Daniels Hinkley, chief grain inspector of the Milwau- kee Chamber of Commerce, was born at Eagle, Waukesha county. Wis .. on Oct. 18, 1842. He is a son of Ahira Rockwell and Mary (Daniels) Hinkley, the former a native of Lebanon, and the latter of Plainfield, N. H. His ancestors were immigrants from County Kent, England, who came to Plymouth Colony in the "Hercules," settling later in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Ahira Rockwell Hinkley came to Wisconsin first in 1836, by way of Detroit, arriving at Milwaukee on Aug. 18. He entered a claim for land at what is now Eagle, Waukesha county, and spent the winter of 1836 and 1837 in Milwaukee and in the fall of the last named year returned to Lebanon, where he was married. In 1838 he returned with his wife to their claim in Waukesha county with a few household goods, and there they spent the bal- ance of their lives, both living to advanced ages. Both parents were from families members of which took prominent parts in the Revo- lutionary and other early wars of the nation, the grandfathers on each side having been enrolled in the Continental army in the struggle for independence. Through the marriage of earlier Hink- leys the father was descended from the Lathrops, Breeds, Palmers and Capt. George Dennison, all of good Colonial stock. Thomas Hinkley was governor of Plymouth colony the greater part of the time from 1681 to 1692, was the son of the immigrants-Samuel and Sarah Hinckley-and brother of Ensign John Hinckley, from whom this branch of the family is descended. All the earlier Hinck- leys used the "c" in the spelling of the name, but it was dropped by Ahira R., who considered it superfluous. Ahira R. Hinkley was one of the original directors of the old Milwaukee & Mississippi railroad and aided the project materially. He and his family have always had the privilege of free transportation over what is now the Prairie du Chien division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road, under the terms of the contract made at the time the original Milwaukee & Mississippi road obtained right-of-way through the farm. He was an ardent Whig in his political belief, and later was an equally strong Republican, and he and his wife were life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Francis D. Hinkley, to whom this review is dedicated. received his early education in district schools in Waukesha county and finished with a year at Milton Academy. Shortly after he had attained his majority he be- gan his career by teaching school at Monticello, Green county, and in April, 1864, went to Monona, Clayton county, Iowa, to engage in the grain and shipping business. Ten years later he removed to

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BIOGRAPILICAL

Milwaukee and became a member of the Chamber of Commerce, with which he has been variously associated since, engaged at dif- ferent periods in the general business of the board, as director and vice-president. In 1880 he was selected chief grain-inspector and has since filled the position to the eminent satisfaction of all con- cerned. His standards are recognized in every grain market of the world. Besides these interests he has a large wheat farm near Aberdeen, S. D., and is also recognized as a leading breeder of high- grade Jersey cattle and a fine class of horses. On Oct. 8, 1873. was solemnized Mr. Hinkley's marriage to Miss Sarah Anna Dean, a daughter of Charles A. and Lucretia ( French ) Dean. Five children were the issue of this union, namely : Lucretia French, Anna Dean. Marie Gardiner, Cora Case and Ahira Rockwell.

Edmund K. Swigart, secretary and treasure of the Bucyrus Company, of South Milwaukee, and one of the prominent men in the business circles of the Cream City, was born at Bucyrus, Ohio. April 16, 1867. His parents were Joseph R. and Augusta M. (Sweeny) Swigart. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1840. and his mother was a native of Bucyrus, Ohio, born there in 1841. Joseph Swigart was carried by the tide of western migration to Bucyrus, where he met and married Augusta M. Sweeny. When the call to arms was made by the Union. Joseph R. Swigart was one of the first to offer himself as a soldier, and he enlisted in the Eighth Ohio, which was organized at Camp Dennison in June, 1861. and he served with that gallant organization of men at the battles of Romney, Winchester, Front Royal, and Antietam, where he was seriously wounded. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered he re- turned to active duty in the field and was promoted for gallantry in action, receiving a commission as major. For some time he served on General Kimball's staff and took part in the many hard battles toward the close of the war. When the regiment was mustered out, after leaving the trenches before Petersburg, it had only seventy-two officers and men fit for duty. After the close of the war. Mr. Swigart lived in Ohio for a few years, and in 1870 moved with his family to Toledo, Ohio, where he engaged in the active practice of his profession and was soon recognized as one of the leading lawyers of that city. Both he and his wife were called from the cares of life in 1891. Edmund. the subject of this sketch, received his scholastic training in the public schools of To- ledo, and soon after finishing his studies entered the service of the government in the postoffice at Toledo. In 1800 he resigned from the service to accept a position with the Bucyrus Company of Bucyrus, Ohio, and when that company moved to Milwaukee. in 1893, came to the Cream City with the other members of the firm. When first associated with the company. Mr. Swigart acted as an accountant, in 1898 was made assistant secretary and treasurer, and in 1901 became secretary and treasurer of the company. During the fifteen years he has resided in Milwaukee he has been associated with some of its leading manufacturers. He is interested in ditfer- ent construction companies and at present is vice-president and

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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 118

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