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 22

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 22

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Harry N. Wilson, manager of the Western Feed Market Bu- reau, was born in Brooklyn. N. Y., Jan. 12. 1870, the son of Henry N. and Emma Julia ( Batchelor) Wilson. The father was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and the mother in London, Eng. They were mar- ried in Hohocas, N. J., and resided in Brooklyn, where he was en- gaged in the stone business with his father, Joseph Wilson, who was a very prominent man in Brooklyn for many years. He served as president of the Board of Aldermen for thirteen years and also served as acting mayor for some time. He with his son, Henry N., carried on a very extensive stone and marble business, being im-

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porters of Italian marble. They put up many monuments in the South before the war, but on account of the inability of the South- erners to pay after the war broke out, they failed. They also had a large general store at Georgetown, S. C., which was confiscated, and from which place Henry barely escaped with his life, he being suspected as a spy. After returning from the South he engaged in the commission business, and in 1875 came to Milwaukee, where he established a commission business and carried it on successfully until 1901, when he retired. lle and wife are the parents of five children, all living. A brother is a captain in the U. S. Navy and another is a major in the U. S. Army, stationed at Oakland, Cal. Harry N. Wilson received his education in the public schools of Milwaukee and in the preparatory department of the Beloit Col- lege. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Milwaukee. Lake Shore & Western Ry. ( since absorbed by the C. & N. W. Ry. ) in the capacity of paymaster's clerk. Later he entered the employ of Chapin & Co., grain dealers, and remained with them four or five years. After severing his connection with that firm he entered into a partnership with his father which lasted for two years. Then he became associated with Charles R. Lull, shipper. In June, 1904. he entered the publishing business, issuing a daily known as the "Daily Feed Report." He is also associated with the Daily Commercial Letter, of which F. W. Friese is publisher. He is also the Mil- waukee correspondent of the "Northwestern Miller" of Minneapo- lis. In politics he is independent, voting for the man who, in his judgment, is best qualified to hold the office. In religion he affili- ates with the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Milwaukee Press Club. In October, 1887, Mr. Wilson was presented by the citizens of Milwaukee with a beautiful gold watch nicely engraved with his initials as a token of their appreciation of his heroic act in leaping from the Oneida street bridge to save a drowning boy. The Light Horse Squadron also presented him with a medal for this brave act. Mr. Wilson is unmarried.

William H. Simpson, the able superintendent of the Northwest- ern Fuel Company of Milwaukee, is a native of the Keystone state. born at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 9. 1846, being the son of William H. and Matilde ( Hood ) Simpson, who were natives of Ireland. They immigrated to America from the Emerald Isle about 1836, and lo- cated in Philadelphia. The elder Simpson was a merchant tailor and followed that trade after locating in this country. In 1852 the family moved to Johnstown, Pa., but remained only two years, when they came west, settling in Chicago, where the father and mother lived the remainder of their days. Mr. Simpson died Feb. 20, 1863, leaving his wife and eleven children to mourn his loss. The brave mother assumed the responsibilities of the family and reared her children alone. The burdens of life were lifted from her in 1880, and on Nov. I of that year she passed to her long rest. When the country was torn by the strife of civil war in the early sixties our subject responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois infantry.

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This regiment was organized at Camp Butler June 18, 1864, and mustered into the United States service on that day for one hundred days' service. It was sent to Memphis and acted as guard along the railroad between that place and Holly Springs. Subsequently it was ordered to Memphis and did guard duty until ordered to Camp Frey, Chicago, and mustered out, Oct. 29, 1864. Mr. Simp- son received his education in the public schools of Chicago and at the age of ten entered the employ of a bookbinding concern as office boy. On June 3, 1861, he entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph Co. as messenger boy. While working in this capacity he learned telegraphy and obtained a position as operator with the Illinois Central Railroad Company and remained with the company

until he enlisted in the army in 1864. After returning from the war he was again employed by the company and given charge of the Illinois Central station at Dunleith, now East Dubuque. He re- mained there until 1867, when he became a clerk on a Mississippi river steamboat between St. Louis and St. Paul. Mr. Simpson liked the life and as his work was congenial, remained in the service of the boat company for ten years. In 1877 he came to Milwaukee and started in business with the Northwestern Fuel Company and his services proved so efficient that within three years he was made su- perintendent of the concern, which position he has since continued to hold to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Simpson is independent in his politics, with a strong belief in the policies of the Democratic party, but in local affairs exercises his privilege of franchise as his conscience dictates. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having served as Junior Vice-Commander of E. B. Wolcott Post, Milwaukee, for one year. On Dec. 23, 1869, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage with Sarah M., the daughter of John and Hannah Cheetham, natives of England, who came to America and settled in Rome, N. Y. Subsequently they came west and located at Dubuque, about 1857, and lived there until the close of their days. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson became the parents of three children : Joseph W., president of the J. W. Simpson Coal Com- pany ; George C., the manager of The Royal Insurance Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and William Burt, who is secretary and treasurer of the J. W. Simpson Coal Co.

Abram Nicholas Lucas, the efficient and popular general fore- man of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad shops, is a na- tive of Wisconsin, born at Green Bay, May 22, 1862. His father was Abraham Lucas, born in Madison county, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1836, and his mother was Mary Van Delor, born in Holland, Feb. 29, 1844. The father moved from Ohio to Wisconsin about 1854 and located in Fort Howard. Mary Van Delor came to America the same year and also located in Fort Howard, where she met and married Abraham Lucas, who was engaged in the saw mill busi- ness. In 1871 or 1872 Abraham Lucas was City Marshal of that city and after his term of office expired he followed the tinsmith's trade until 1893. when he retired. For the last five years he has been street commissioner of Green Bay. Mr. Lucas always takes

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an active part in politics and has had the honor of representing his party as alderman for four years. Three sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, of whom five are still living. Mr. Lucas enlisted at Lincoln's last call for volunteers during the war of the Rebellion and served until mustered out of the service. Abram, the subject of this review, received a practical education in the pub- lic schools of Green Bay and after leaving school worked with his father one year before entering the employ of D. M. Burns, who ran a machine shop and foundry. Six months later he entered the boiler shops of D. M. Burns, where he remained two years learning the boilermaker's trade. Subsequently he finished learning the trade with Larry Brothers, of Green Bay. In 1881 Mr. Lucas went to Escanaba, Mich., and worked for the C. & N. W. R. R. until Decem- ber, 1882. A month later, in January, 1883, he entered the employ of the Milwaukee Northern Railroad, as journeyman boilermaker and shortly after was made foreman of the shops, where he re- mained until 1901. At that time he was transferred to Dubuque and placed in charge of the boiler works. Mr. Lucas' services proved so efficient at Dubuque that in April, 1904, he came to Mil- waukee to take charge of the boiler shops for the Milwaukee rail- road. In three years he was promoted to general foreman, which responsible position he still holds. Mr. Lucas has earned his pro- motions by his strict attention to duty, thorough knowledge of his subject and his personal attention to all parts of the business. Mr. Lucas is a Republican, and although he has never aspired to office, always takes an active interest in politics, and has at various times had the honor of introducing noted speakers at railroad men's meet- ings. In 1896 he was active in organizing a Railroad Men's Sound Money Club at Green Bay, Wis. Mr. Lucas is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees, and in the last two societies has held all the offices of honor. He is also a member of the International Boilermakers' Association, of which he is third vice-president. On Dec. 25, 1883, Mr. Lucas was united in marriage with Ella Colista, the daughter of Captain C. A. and Fran- ces Freeman. Mrs. Lucas was born in Oconto, Wis., where her parents were old settlers. For many years Mr. Freeman was cap- tain and owner of a lake steamer. His wife died in 1905 and since her death he has lived very quietly. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas: Fred A., engaged in the signal department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad ; Ninabel, a graduate of the Dubuque high school ; Irene, a student in the Milwaukee high school : William D., and two children who died in infancy. The family are members of the Presbyterian church of Green Bay, Wis.

Walter G. Souders, manager of the bond department of the Mil- waukee Trust Company, is a native of New Jersey, born at Salem, Salem county, Dec. 29. 1871, being the son of George and Sarah C. Souders, who were born at Glassboro, N. J., in 1835 and 1842, re- spectively. When this nation was rent asunder by the strife of civil war George Souders responded to the call for volunteers and served his country during the four years of strife. Walter, the sub-

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ject of this review, received his elementary education in his native state and subsequently entered Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1898. During his college course he had studied theology and after graduation served as pastor of the Con- gregational churches at Elmwood, Ill., and Blue Island, Ill., but gave up the ministry to engage in commercial pursuits and came to Milwaukee. For four years he was the Milwaukee representative of the Trowbridge & Nivek Bond Company, but a little over a year ago he severed his connection with this firm to accept a better one with the Milwaukee Trust Company, and assumed the management of the bond department. In America this twentieth century is es- sentially an age of the young man in business, and there is no limit set to the heights which may be accessible to the self-reliant and ambitious young man. Mr. Souders has demonstrated this and stands among the prominent representatives of the younger element of business men in the city. He is a member of the Republican party, but his busy life leaves him no time to seek political honors. On March 24, 1899, Mr. Souders was united in marriage with Mar- tha J., the daughter of John and Maria Zeitler, who were residents of Peenasutawney, Pa. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Souders: Beulah Grace, born June 5, 1900, and John Paul, born March 15, 1902. Mr. Souders is a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and is a member of the Milwaukee Club, Univer- sity Club, Town Club, Milwaukee Country Club, the Chicago Uni- versity Club and the Press Club of Chicago. He is also a member of the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce.

Henry W. Schwab, the owner and manager of one of the promi- nent grocery houses of the West Side, Milwaukee, located at 2207 Wells street, is a native of the Cream City, born there Nov. 8, 1863, being the son of John M. and Ottilia (Heeg) Schwab, both of whom were born in Germany, 1830 being the birth year of each. John M. Schwab, the father of our subject, was a wood worker in the old country. He heard of the great opportunities open to a young man in America and immigrated to this country in 1854, and soon after landing located in Milwaukee. When the call to arms came at the outbreak of the Civil war he responded and served under the flag of his adopted country. Henry received his educational training in the public school of Milwaukee, and when his studies were finished began to work in a grocery store as a clerk. Like so many of the second generation he was ambitious and bound to make his way in the world. When only twenty-two years of age he established him- self in the grocery business on State street near Fifteenth street. There he built up a good trade by honesty, fair dealing and a deter- mined effort to please his customers. Thirteen years ago the trade outgrew its quarters and Mr. Schwab moved to his present location, where his trade is still larger. At the new store more branches were added, and it is one of the largest and most prosperous retail houses in the city. Mr. Schwab belongs to no party, believing it better to vote as his conscience dictates rather than be bound by party rule. He is a member of the Congregational church, a di-

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rector in the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Bank, president of The Loose Shotola Commission Co., treasurer of the National Associa- tion of Retail Grocers and is president of the Milwaukee Retail Grocers' Association. On Sept. 24, 1885, Mr. Schwab was united in marriage with Emma, the daughter of Yocham and Mary (Stucker) Speich, residents of Milwaukee. Two children were born to this union : Walter H., who is associated with the Merchants' and Man- ufacturers' Bank, and Emma.

Henry Hoerl, for many years a prominent figure in the brewing circles of Milwaukee, has achieved his prominence through untiring energetic effort. He is of German descent and was born at Altdorf, Bavaria, Germany, April 26, 1854, the son of George and Anna (Funck) Hoerl, natives of the famous old city of Nuremberg. Henry, the subject of this review, received his education in the ele- mentary schools of his native city and then took a course in the high school. After finishing his studies he was employed in breweries in Germany for several years. He served with distinction in the Ger- man army as sergeant of artillery of a Munich regiment. Ambi- tious to rise in the world and recognizing the greater possibilities and advantages offered in this country to young men of energy and determination, he left his home in 1878, when twenty-four years of age, and set out for the new world, entering upon a career in the course of which he encountered many disappointments, to ultimate- ly reap the reward of honest efforts in abundant prosperity. Soon after landing in New York he found employment in the breweries there and took the brewmaster's course in the New York Brewing Academy, winning the first prize in 1886. This brought him into prominence among the brewing men of the city and he secured an excellent position. In 1892 he moved to Milwaukee to become su- perintendent of the Valentine Blatz Brewing Company and has made their beer famous. On June 4, 1878, Mr. Hoerl married Kath- erine, the daughter of Michael and Katherine (Neuner) Strobel, of Albany, N. Y. Four children have come to bless this union: Emil, who is the proprietor of the Germania brewery of Altoona, Pa .; Jenny, John M., who resides in Milwaukee, and Annie, the wife of George Schott, who runs a cooperage works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hoerl are communicants of the Lutheran church, to which their ancestors have belonged for many generations. Mr. Hoerl is affiliated with the Masonic Order, having taken the Blue Lodge. the Chapter. Knights Templar and Consistory degrees, and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is a popular member of the Deutscher Club, the Millioki Club, the Milwaukee Music Ve- rein and the West Side Turn Verein.

Alexander E. Raffauf, the efficient treasurer of the American Automobile Company, at 187 Wisconsin street, was born at Mil- waukee on June 9, 1875. He is a son of Jacob Raffauf, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Raffauf attended the public schools of Milwaukee to receive his primary educational ad- vantages and laid the foundation of a business career at the Spen- cerian Business College. For a period of twelve years he was asso-

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ciated in a clerical capacity with the Second Ward Bank, and when he severed that connection it was to enter the automobile business with his father. For more than four years now he has been most successfully engaged, and his thorough knowledge of the trade, if such it might be called, and his inherent ability as a mechanic have won for him an excellent reputation among automobilists in the state and city. He now holds the responsible position of treasurer of the American Automobile Company, which is doing a large and flourishing business. In his political relations Mr. Raffauf is a Re- publican, but has never sought to become a public office holder. He is liberal in his religious views, believing that the highest standard of right living is obtained by individual effort, not by the blind fol- lowing of creed or sect. Mr. Raffauf is unmarried. He has a host of friends, who predict for him a brilliant future in the commercial field.

Oscar A. Kaiser, the genial proprietor of Kaiser's Hair Bazaar, at the corner of Mason and Milwaukee streets, is a son of Adam and Amelia (Schultz) Kaiser, and was born in this city on March 8, 1876. The father was born in Germany in 1839 and the mother in Milwaukee in 1846, and the former is one of the oldest cigarmakers in the city, now conducting factory No. 134 in this city in the same place that he has had for thirty-one years. Oscar A. Kaiser re- ceived his primary education in the public schools of Milwaukee and laid the foundation for a business career by a course in the Spencerian Business College. At the age of fifteen years he en- tered the Merchants' Exchange Bank as a messenger and clerk and was afterward employed in a similar capacity in the First National Bank. In 1900 he purchased the business which now occupies him, which was established in 1888. His enterprise, thrift and sterling integrity have built up for him a large and lucrative business, which is increasing in size from year to year. In politics Mr. Kaiser is in- dependent of any political affiliation, preferring to exercise his right of suffrage as his conscience and judgment dictate rather than be hampered by party allegiance. In a business and social way he is identified with the Milwaukee Musical Society, the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association and the Milwaukee Concertina Club. His religious relations are with Trinity German Lutheran church, of which he is a devout and loyal member. On Sept. 5, 1900, Mr. Kaiser was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Emma Hahn, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Maas) Hahn, of Mil- waukee. For the past twenty-five years Mr. Hahn has conducted one of the largest bakeries in the city at Seventeenth and Chestnut streets. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser was born, in 1908, a son, Arthur Oscar.

C. Columbus Owens, manager of the R. G. Owens estate, in Milwaukee, was born in this city on June 22, 1851, a son of Richard G. Owens, a brief review of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume, in the sketch of another son, Richard G. Owens. Mr. Owens attended the public schools of the city and the Milwaukee Academy, and laid the foundation for a business career in the

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Spencerian Business College of Milwaukee. For several years he was a member of the firm of Bechtner, Gersting & Company, mann- facturers of vinegar, and afterward engaged in the same business at East Saginaw, Mich. From there he went to Milbank, Dakota Ter- ritory, and with a brother established the general mercantile busi- ness of Owens Brothers. The firm did a flourishing business for a number of years, but after the death of his father Mr. Owens dis- posed of his interests and returned to Milwaukee to share with his brother, Richard G., the management of the large estate left by his father. This work, and the sale of realty, has kept him oc- cupied ever since. He is a Republican in his political belief, but has never aspired to hold offices of public trust. In his religious relations he is associated with the Grand Avenue Congregational church and is one of the most loyal and devout workers in that society. On Feb. 3. 1881, Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Purdy, a daughter of Nathaniel and Susan J. (Reamer) Purdy, of this city. Although Mr. Purdy has passed the four-score milestone he is actively engaged as superintendent of the Milwaukee Spoke & Bending Company. He is the patentec of a process used in wood bending by the firm and has the reputation of being the best judge of lumber in the state. He is also the in- ventor of many different kinds of woodworking machinery used all over the country. He was in the employ of the government at Louisville, Ky., during the Civil war, building and repairing rail- way coaches on the L. & N. Mr. and Mrs. Owens are the parents of two sons, John Purdy and George James, aged fifteen and ten years, respectively, both of whom are students in the city schools. Through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Owens the Congregational church at Milbank was built, Mr. Owens being the first Sunday school superintendent; Mrs. Owens being the secretary of the Sunday school, also the church organist.

James Leedom, a leading salesman of the Cudahy Packing Company, is a native of the Emerald Isle, having been born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 29, 1841, a son of Hampton and Erina (O'Connor) Leedom, of Dublin. His educational advantages he received in the public schools of Dublin and London, England, and when but nineteen years of age came to the United States. In 1861, a year after his arrival in this country, he came to Milwaukee. His father was engaged in the making of lard oil, and until 1866 Mr. Leedom served in his employ. Then he removed to Chicago, and later engaged in the making of tow from flax, first in Kankakee. Ill., and afterward in Decatur. He returned to Milwaukee in 1876 and has since made this city his home. He became associated with the late John Plankinton in the packing industry, and when the Cudahy Company purchased Mr. Plankinton's interest he continued his association with the firm. His natural ability and his inherent traits of enterprise, thrift and integrity have made him valuable to the firm and his excellent qualities are recognized by the whole community. Mr. Leedom is allied with no party or faction, but casts his vote for the men and principles which in his judgment

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make for the best welfare of the community as a whole. His church relations are with the Unitarian society, and for many years he has been one of the pillars of the faith. On June 30, 1869, Mr. Leedom was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Blayney, a daughter of Thomas W. Blayney, of Chicago. Five children have been the issue of this union, James B., Hampton, Mary E., Eliza- beth and Louisa, now Mrs. G. F. Bartlett, of Denver, Colo.

Albert C. Elser, the efficient bookkeeper and cashier of the Elser Meat Company, on East Water street, was born in Milwaukee on Aug. 31, 1871. He is a son of John Elser, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. His education was obtained in the pub- lic schools of Milwaukee, and in a course of study at the German- English Academy of the same city. When seventeen years of age he began his business career as a clerk in the office of the North- western Mutual Life Insurance Company. Three years of serv- ice with that corporation made him thoroughly conversant with modern methods of bookkeeping, and at the end of that time he severed his connection with the insurance company to become as- sociated with his father in the meat business. In his relations with the company as cashier and bookkeeper he has established a mod- ern system, which greatly expedites the large business of the con- cern. He is allied with no political organization and exercises his right of franchise for men and measures that he thinks will best help the public weal. His leisure time he devotes to the Mil- waukee Athletic and the Deutscher clubs. Mr. Elser has three children, Gertrude, Elizabeth and Alfred, whose ages are seven, five and three years, respectively. Although a comparatively young man he has risen to a position of prominence in the commercial circles, and is much esteemed by all who know him.

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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 22

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