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 33

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 33

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George M. Sichling was born in Milwaukee May 10, 1857. He is the son of John Sichling, born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 23. 1823, and Margaretha Meier Sichling also born in Germany. The

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father was a baker, having learned his trade in Germany. He came to the United States in 1853, settling in Milwaukee. On July 5, 1865, he opened a bakery at 253 Fourth street, where he conducted a successful business till his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1887. He was buried at Forest Home. He had a family of four children. George, the only son, was educated at the German school and at the German-English Academy. At the early age of sixteen he began to learn the baker's trade with his father and later entered the busi- ness with him. He has succeeded in building up a very large busi- ness by confining his business exclusively to the making of pure rye bread, which he ships to all parts of the United States. His place of business at present is at No. 241 corner Fourth and Cedar streets. On July 19, 1896, he married Miss Emma Suhr. To their union have been born two children, John Henry, born Dec. 15, 1897, and Irma, born Feb. 11, 1899. Mr. Sichling is a member of his church choir ; of the Old Settlers' Club, and of a society for the benefit of German immigrants. In religion he is a member of the Lutheran church and in politics he is a Democrat. He is a good conscientious citizen, of the kind that count for much in the build- ing up of such communities as the Cream City.

Leonard Barnickel was born in New York city, Oct. 6, 1850. His father was John Christian Barnickel and his mother was Eliz- abeth Barnickel, both born in Bavaria, Germany. The father was well connected, claiming his lineage from an aristocratic ancestry who were in the wholesale clothing business in Bavaria. He came to America when quite young, first learning the cigar making trade and simultaneously studying music for which he had decided tal- ents, so much so that he was proficient on and master of nine differ- ent instruments. In 1867 he moved to Jeffersonville. Ind., where he remained three years, and in 1870 he came to Milwaukee, taking a position as superintendent with Strauss, Cohen & Co., cigar manu- facturers. In 1875 he gave up the cigar business and devoted his time to teaching music until he died in 1903. His wife followed him to her final resting place in 1905. Leonard, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of New York city but quit school at the age of fourteen to enter the tobacco busi- ness with his father. He disliked the cigar business and devoted much of his time to athletics. He first joined the West Side Turn- verein and at the age of eighteen he entered the Turner Teacher's Seminary. When he was twenty-five years old he was chosen phys- ical director of the Milwaukee Athletic Association. He held this position for seventeen years. He then took a trip to Mexico and was gone two years. On his return to Milwaukee he was chosen physical director of the Sacred Heart Sanitarium which position he held for four years. On Nov. 1, 1904, he opened a gymnasium at the corner of Fifth street and Grand avenue, which he moved later to the Armory on Broadway. He has charge of the physical examina- tions of the police and fire departments of the city. He has trained many men who hold national amateur records. In politics he is a Republican, and is an honorary member of the West Side Turnve-

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ing in a book store for six years, after which he spent a short time with his brother Frank in the photograph business, which he aban- doned to engage with the Grand Union Tea Company. In 1883, May I, he came to Milwaukee as general manager for this firm at 87 Wis- consin street, where he remained fifteen years. He resigned in 1905 to enter the mining business in 1906 with headquarters in Milwau- kee. On Dec. 4, 1871, he married Miss Sarah R., daughter of Ed- ward Green, of Saginaw, Mich., and they have been blessed with four children : Samuel E., born March 15, 1873; Frank E., born May 30, 1879; Grace W., born Sept. 3, 1884; Ralph W., born June 17, 1890. Frank E. is an engineer for the Wisconsin Telephone Co., Samuel E. is in the insurance business and the others are at home. In religion Mr. Clayton is a Presbyterian ; he is also a Prohibitionist in politics and a member of the Good Templars. He has been very active in Prohibition politics and in 1896 he was elected State Chair- man of that party for Wisconsin, in which capacity he served for ten years. He has been a member of the State Committee for 15 years and of the National Committee for 8 years. The success of this cause has been the dream of his life and the rapid gains the cause is now making all over the country fills his heart with ex- ceeding joy.

William F. Bringe, a prominent manufacturing jeweler of Mil- waukee, was born in Chicago, Sept. 30, 1878, son of August and Matilda (Fromm) Bringe, both natives of Germany, where the father learned the watchmaker's trade and then came to the United States, first remaining a while at Chicago and then coming to Milwaukee in 1879, working for Bloedel & Co. for fourteen years. In 1893 he started a jewelry store at 552 Twelfth street, in which he was active till the time of his death, Nov. 3, 1898. His family consisted of seven children. William, August, Edward, Otto, Emma, Mary and Charles, the last named now deceased. August and Edward are in the jewelry business, Otto is an electric engineer and Emma is a music teacher. Our subject, William F., went to the public schools until he was fifteen, when he began learning the jeweler's trade of E. H. Warnke & Co., where he worked for four years, when he went to Fond du Lac, Wis., and continued his trade with A. H. Furstnow & Co., but returning to Milwaukee he entered the employ of R. Seidel & Co. for a short time. At the death of his father he entered the business with his brothers August and Edward when they moved to 547 Twelfth street. They run a store and repair shop and have a shop for manufacturing jewelry in the rear of their store. On Aug. 16, 1899, he married Julia, daughter of Edward and Fredericka Thomas, of Milwaukee, and this union has been blessed with two children, Lorraine, born Feb. 1, 1901, and Dorothy, born Aug. 22, 1905. In politics he casts his vote for the man or men that he thinks are best to suit his idea, being thus an independ- ent practically. He is a painstaking, conscientious business man who, by strict attention to his affairs is bound to attain more than ordinary success.

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his beautiful home at 4014 Grand avenue. He is independent in politics but never held a public office. Adam W. Freis was educated in the public schools and also partly at St. John's Miltary Academy at Delafield, Wis., from which he graduated in 19oo with honors. Af- ter leaving school he entered the hardware business with the firm of Philip Gross & Co .. remaining with this firm for four years. In 1906 he started a wholesale grocery at 413 and 415 Fifth street. His trade is quite extensive with the retail trade of this city. He han- dles all kinds of groceries and employs about ten men all of the time. Mr. Freis is yet a single man ; is independent in politics and is a member of the Grace Lutheran church. He is blessed with the qualities that foreshadow a greatly successful career for him in the business world.

Samuel Vose Adams, president and treasurer of the Domestic Laundry Company of Milwaukee, was born Oct. 16, 1863 at that city, being a son of James N. and Bessie S. Bothwick Adams, both born in Albany, N. Y., the former June 30, 1826, and the latter June IO, 1825. The father came to Milwaukee in August, 1859, engaging in the manufacture of stoves and casting specialties, under the firm name of Dutcher, Vose & Adams, which was the most prominent firm in its line in the west for many years, but the junior member of the above firm retired in 1876 and died June 22, 1883, leaving a widow and two children, Mary E. Adams and Samuel Vose Adams, the mother dying March 16, 1908, aged 83 years. Our subject enter- tered the employ of the Goodrich Trans. Co. and became assistant to the general-manager, when in 1892 he was appointed general agent of the Hurson Trans. Company of Chicago, which position he held until 1896 when he returned to Milwaukee and founded the Do- mestic Laundry, of which he is president and treasurer. On Sept. 20, 1897, he married Miss Elizabeth V. Faust, of Milwaukee, and they have two children, M. Adalyne and James Nathaniel. In reli- gion Mr. Adams is a Presbyterian and in politics a Republican. He is a member of the Merchants & Manufacturers Association and of the Deutscher Club. Mr. Adams is blessed with the faculty of making things count for success when his energies are aroused, for he is a hustler in the truest sense of the term, and he mixes brains with his business ventures which accounts for his success.

John Edward Clayton was born in Newburg, N. Y., being the son of Isaac and Harriet (Lucas) Clayton, both natives of England The father came to the United States and located in Newburg, N. Y., working for the celebrated nursery man, Charles Downing, for six years, going thence to New York Mills, where he continued in nursery work until he moved with his family to Saginaw, Mich., where he was a farmer for several years and here he died in 1868, leaving a family of seven children, all of whom are deceased now except Sarah E., now living at Detroit, and our subject. The mother died May 6, 1905. Our subject was educated in the public schools of New York Mills and also at Saginaw until 17 years of age when he enlisted in the Civil war. On returning from the war he went to school a while and then taught school near Saginaw, later work-

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rein. He is a married man the father of two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Barnickel's wonderful powers as an all-round athlete have made his name known not only in the United States but also in Germany, England and France as he has met and van- quished representatives of each of these countries in international competitions. He is rather short in stature, but what he lacks in height is counterbalanced in his splendid physique and muscular development. In 1861 he received his first gold medal for the all- around junior championship for the state of New York. Later on he won two first prizes at Louisville, Ky., and diplomas or gold medals at Milwaukee, Watertown, LaCrosse, Oshkosh, Cincinnati and New York. In 1886 he received a massive gold medal from the Sons of St. George for fencing in an open exhibition given in Schlitz Park. He beat his first five competitors pointless. A celebrated French swordsman entered the lists. He determined to humiliate Mr. Barnickel but it required only five minutes to prove 'that the Frenchman was outclassed by Barnickel in every feature of the contest. Mr. Barnickel is held in high esteem by his many admir- ing friends in Milwaukee, and particularly by the army of men who have received the great benefits of his training. He seems to have learned the secret of perpetual youth for while he is well past the meridian of life in appearance he is many years younger.

Emil Benesch was born in Vienna, Austria, Dec. 2, 1882. His father was Adolph and his mother was Theresa Benesch, both born in Austria. The father was a merchant in his native country. In 1888 he came to the United States with his family and settled in Milwaukee .. Himself and his son, Joseph, started in the junk busi- ness on a small scale at 1718 Vliet street, in which they were suc- cessful, and in which he continued until 1900, when he retired to the quiet of his home and much deserved rest at 1716 Vliet street. His family consists of five children, one girl and four boys, all living in Milwaukee. Emil was educated at the Ninth Ward public school in this city. At the early age of fourteen years he began working for his father and when the latter retired he went into business with his brother Joseph. He does the buying and selling for the com- pany and has helped to build up the largest business of its kind in the city. On March 30, 1907, he married Miss Minne Kunst, daughter of Cornelius and Anna Kunst of Grand Rapids, Mich. In religion Mr. Benesch is an Israelite and in politics he votes the Re- publican ticket. He is a very worthy progressive man and de- serves to succeed.

Adam W. Freis was born in Milwaukee Oct. 17, 1880. He is the son of Adam and Louise Rechlein Freis the former born in Germany and the latter in Milwaukee. His father came to Mil- waukee with his parents direct from Germany in 1850. He was ed- ucated in the city public schools. He started active life in the milk and grain business which he conducted with marked success. His family was composed of five children, two boys and three girls, all living in Milwaukee. He retired in 1890 to a merited comfort to

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the tomb.

Hon. Christian Widule, a well-known and popular citizen of Milwaukee, was born at Tarominitz, Province of Silesia, Germany, July 19, 1845, being the son of Gottlieb and Johanna ( Wiegenauke) Widule, both natives of Germany. The father was a tailor by trade and came to the United States and to Milwaukee with his family in 1849, where he first worked for the old Galena R. R. and in 1851 was appointed sexton of Gruenhagen Cemetery which he held un- til 1855 after which he returned to the tailoring business in which he continued until 1878, when he retired from business and lived with his son Christian, dying at the age of seventy-two years and his body was buried at the Union Cemetery. He was the father of four children, two boys and two girls, both the latter having died, while our subject and his brother Gottlieb are living. Our subjet was educated in the public and parochial schools of this city until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to C. H. Gar- dener in a drug store, where his salary for the first year was fifty cents a week and for the second year one dollar per week. He next

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

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BIOGRAPILICAL

Willard Parker Beckwith, deceased, was born Feb. 7. 1849, be- ing the son of Justin and Mary Ann Beckwith, both natives of Lyme, Conn. The father after attending school for a time while quite young worked at the shipbuilding business in New London, Conn., which he followed for several years, when he bought a farm and continued in this pursuit until his death. He was the father of four children, Elizabeth, Esther, Willard P. and Jacob, the last of whom is living at Niantic, Conn., engaged in the grain and feed busi- ness, while Elizabeth is married and Esther is dead. The mother died at the age of eighty-three. Our subject after leaving the com- mon schools learned the carpenter's trade which he followed until he was twenty-three years old when he began the mercantile busi- ness, being at the same time for fifteen years postmaster of East Lyme, Conn. About 1888 he came to Milwaukee and took up the cement business with the Northwestern Tile Co. and after remain- ing with that company about eight years he started for himself building cement sidewalks in the fall of 1907. He died Feb. 25, 1908, and is buried at East Lyme, Conn. His wife, who is a lady of unusual business talents, is conducting the business which he left most successfully at 712 29th street. On June 18, 1893, he married Gertrude M., daughter of Henry M. and Emily Mixer Todd, of Mil- waukee, by whom he had three children, Frank L., born May 7, 1895 : Henry T., born Nov. 23, 1896; and Virginia May, born Sept. 8, 1903, all now living and attending the public schools. In religion our subject was a Baptist and in his political preferences he was a Republican. Mr. Beckwith was a very worthy gentleman, an af- fectionate husband and father and an upright American citizen who accomplished the labors that came to his hands with scrupulous care and honesty. He was one of the great number of solid men who make but little or no noise or bustle in the world, and who are in reality the backbone and mainstay of the Republic, and when such men depart this life the nation can ill afford to see them consigned to the tomb.

Hon. Christian Widule, a well-known and popular citizen of Milwaukee, was born at Tarominitz, Province of Silesia, Germany, July 19, 1845, being the son of Gottlieb and Johanna ( Wiegenatike) Widule, both natives of Germany. The father was a tailor by trade and came to the United States and to Milwaukee with his family in 1849, where he first worked for the old Galena R. R. and in 1851 was appointed sexton of Gruenhagen Cemetery which he held un- til 1855 after which he returned to the tailoring business in which he continued until 1878, when he retired from business and lived with his son Christian, dying at the age of seventy-two years and his body was buried at the Union Cemetery. He was the father of four children, two boys and two girls, both the latter having died, while our subject and his brother Gottlieb are living. Our subjet was educated in the public and parochial schools of this city until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to C. H. Gar- dener in a drug store, where his salary for the first year was fifty cents a week and for the second year one dollar per week. He next

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served as office boy and clerk to a Justice of the Peace, working in the day time and attending school at night, he paid for his tuition by posting bills during the few spare hours he could spare from his leisure. After two years more we find him engaging in the drug business with Henry Fess, Jr., where he remained five years then he went with J. H. Fesch in the same business for several years when he went to St. Louis, Mo., remaining two years and then he finally returned to Milwaukee, where he established a drug busi- ness at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets, his present loca- tion. On Jan. 19, 1868, he married Miss Emelia, daughter of Henry and Christina Huck, of Milwaukee, by whom he is the father of ten children, six living and four dead. Those living are Emma, now Mrs. E. C. Meske: Oscar C .; William H .: Rosa; Anna, now the wife of Theodore Schaefer; and Charles, now of Chicago. Mr. WVidule has been honored by his party many times as a delegate to various conventions and he is proud of the fact that he was a delegate to the convention that nominated William E. Smith for governor. In 1898 President Mckinley appointed him Assistant- Postmaster of Milwaukee, which position he filled with such signal ability and success that he was re-appointed to the same place un- der the present postmaster in 1906. In politics he is a stalwart Republican. In 1876 he was defeated for the General Assembly but he was triumphantly elected to that position in 1878, serving one term. In 1886 he was elected State Senator and at the session his special qualifications fitted him for the Chairmanship of the Com- mittee on Education, and that committee reported favorably the now famous statute known as the Bennett Law. In religion he is a Lutheran and a lifelong member of the Trinity Lutheran church, of which he has been an officer for years and a member of its choir. He has been complimented for his great services, with an honorary membership in the Concordia Young Men's Society of the church of which he was one of the original founders. He is also a member of the Milwaukee Mutual Aid Society, being president one term and secretary-treasurer for seventeen years. He is also a member of the Old Settlers' Club, the West Side Club, the Wisconsin Drug- gists' Association, the Postmasters' Association, of which he is now secretary-treasurer, and the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Society, of which he was president ten years ago. Mr. Widule is a man of parts, who does nothing by halves, when he once knows that he is right, and sees where duty points the way, he does not hesitate. On account of his upright qualities he has the regard and respect of all who know him.

Adam Kuntz was born in Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 20, 1838, be- ing the son of John and Catherine Kuntz, both natives of Germany, but who came to the United States in 1842, settling in Rochester, N. Y., and five years later coming with their family to Milwaukee, where the father engaged as a cooper for several years, part of the time with his sons, Adam and Michael, on Third street, and this business he followed until the time of his death, which occurred in 1868. In the family there were four children, two boys and two

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girls. all being born in Germany. Our subject after leaving school learned the cooper's trade with his father, and soon thereafter went before the mast on the Great Lakes for several years. Eventually he purchased an interest in a vessel, and a few years later we find him owning three lake vessels, which he sold and returning to Mil- waukee he became a member of the city fire fighters, acting for twenty-two years as lieutenant of No. 2 steamer. He left the fire department in 1892 to enjoy the fruits of his many years' suc- cessful labor, and to take charge of large property interests which he secured by his shrewd foresight several years ago on the North Side. On Feb. 20, 1858, he married Miss Clara A., daughter of Henry and Sophia Hoechner, of Milwaukee, by whom he had four children. Henry J., Lottie, William F., and Annie. Both sons are barbers, Lottie is now Mrs. August Grabe and Annie, Mrs. Charles Lewis, all of Milwaukee. Mr. Kuntz, while an alien by birth, during the great Civil war offered his services and his life if necessary for the Union by enlisting as a private in Company I. Forty-fifth regiment, Wisconsin infantry, Nov. 15, 1864, and was honorably discharged July 17. 1865. In religion and politics he takes no par- ticular side, being liberal and independent in both matters. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R. and the Relief Fund As- sociation for the Milwaukee Fire Department. In peace and in war we find Mr. Kuntz to be like many thousands of his nationality who came to the United States, a highly desirable and praiseworthy cit- izen who does his duty because he knows it to be his duty. without hope for praise or fear of blame.

Augustus Findorff Barker, a prominent accountant and math- ematician of Milwaukee, Wis., was born at West Bend, Wis .. Feb. 7. 1878. At the age of two years he was left an orphan by the death of his father and mother and was placed in an orphans' home. where he remained till he was eight years old when he was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Barker, of Brookfield, Wis., where he was ed- ucated in the public schools. After completing the course in the public schools he came to Milwaukee and took a course in the Spencerian Business College, thereafter entering the employ of L. Miellenz & Co., grocers, as a bookkeeper, where he remained a short time when he embarked under the direction of Mr. A. L. Gil- bert, as an expert accountant, having a natural love and aptitude for mathematical calculations. He has been engaged for expert work by many of the leading firms of this city and elsewhere. his services always being entirely satisfactory. He was then engaged by the Consumers' Coal Company as a bookkeeper, where he stayed for quite a while, when he entered the services of the Archie Tegt- meyer Jewelry Co., where he is at present engaged. On Dec. 10. 1902, he married Miss Ida. daughter of Herman and Mary (Hohen- wald) Paeschke, of Milwaukee. In religion Mr. Barker subscribes to no particular creed, being liberal in his spiritual views. In poli- tics he is a Republican: he is a member of the M. W. A .. and Consul of the A. R. Talbot Camp. Milwaukee. Mr. Barker had two brothers, Charles and John. Charles followed the life of a sail-

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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 33

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