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 35

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

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

in the Georgetown hospital; Stephen, the subject of this memoir, and Frank, who is in the employ of his brother. The father was a member of the New York militia for eight years. Stephen H. Sur- man, after receiving such educational advantages as the public schools of Norwich afforded, left home at the age of fourteen to enter an importing house at Syracuse. He remained there but a short time, however, leaving to go into the retail cigar business with John F. Whelan. After eight years he came to Milwaukee to assume the management of the Hotel Pfister cigar stand, a posi- tion he held for two years. The following year he was in the employ of Edward Kalman, leaving him to open the cigar stand in the Wells building for Leo Abraham. After six years of successful conduct of this place he purchased the stock of Edward Kalman and has since been most successfully engaged in the business. His political affiliations are with the Republican party and in a religious way is a communicant of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is associated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal League and the Milwaukee Athletic Club. On May 23, 1899, he was united in marriage to Miss Ida Bierbach, daughter of Otto and Louise (Schmitz) Bierbach, of Milwaukee.

Richard R. Parry, proprietor of a prosperous express business with offices at 119 Michigan street, Milwaukee, was born at Cam- bria. Wis., on June 15, 1874, a son of Richard L. and Ellen (Rob- erts) Parry. Both parents were natives of Bangor, Wales, where the father was a carpenter by vocation. In the late fifties he came to the United States and located in New Orleans, La. His resi- dence there continued until the beginning of hostilities of the War of the Rebellion, when, being a sympathizer of the Union cause, he left the country and returned to Wales. After the close of the war he returned to the United States with his wife, and made his way directly to Cambria in 1867. He resumed his work as a carpenter contractor, and continued at it there until 1871. After the dis- astrous Chicago fire of that year he removed his family to Milwau- kee and himself went to Chicago, where he had an active part in the rebuilding of the burned city. Upon the completion of his work there he returned to Milwaukee and remained there until his death on Sept. 19, 1892. He left a family of eight children-Henry, Hugo, Richard, John, William, Jane (Mrs. Alex Dusty), Anna and Mar- garet. Henry died on June 28, 1897; Margaret on March 1, 1897, and Hugo on Jan. 21, 1907. Richard R. Parry, after completing the courses afforded by the public schools of Milwaukee, left school at the age of sixteen to become apprenticed to an electrician. For a year he was with the Milwaukee Electric Light Co., and during the five years following he served as night inspector of lights for the same company. For a period of several years he was employed in the general electric business in different cities in the state and for a portion of the time was with Richard Mansfield, the actor, as electrician for his theatrical company. Returning to Milwaukee he started with small capital a general express business. The venture met with success from the first, until today he has six teams con-

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stantly employed. By thrift and industry, honesty and square deal- ing, he has built up a business which is second to none in the city. Politically he is independent, exercising his right of franchise as he thinks it will best help the upbuilding of the city and the state. Mr. Parry is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Benjamin Gregory is a well known florist of Milwaukee, whose greenhouses are at 1339 Humboldt avenue. He was born in Cam- bridge, England, on May 20, 1858, a son of James and Eliza Gregory. The father received his education in the schools of his native land and up to the time he reached his majority he worked as a land- scape gardener. When he had just come of age he was made the head landscape gardener and overseer of the Quintanis estate, one of the large English estates, a position which he held until. he died. There were eleven children in the family, seven sons and four daughters, and all but one grew to maturity. The father died in 1878 and the mother passed away twenty years later. Benjamin Gregory received a somewhat limited education in his native land and when but seventeen years of age came to the United States with his brother. In New York he learned the art of floristry and after he had mastered his profession found employment on many of the large estates in both New York and New Jersey. On March 20, 1885, he received the announcement of his selection as head florist of the David Ferguson greenhouses in Milwaukee and came at once to this city. His connection with Mr. Ferguson continued for a period of seven years. Then he established the business which has since been a means of livelihood to him. Its success is in large measure due to his habits of frugality, industry and strict attention to business, and today it is recognized as one of the most prosperous florists' establishments in the city. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought political office, and in religions matters he is affiliated with the Baptist church. On Sept. 10, 1890, Mr. Gregory was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Kirk, a native of Scotland, and a daughter of James Kirk. They had no children. Mrs. Gregory passed away on Aug. 20, 1900, leaving behind her an influence for good which years cannot efface. Two nieces, Anna and Lylia, and a nephew. Edward, who is learning the art, make their home with Mr. Gregory.

Stephen Gesell, president of the Campbell Laundry Company, is a native of Dusseldorf, Germany, where he was born on Feb. 6, 1872. He is a son of Anton and Elizabeth (Seitz) Gesell, both native Germans. The father was a broker for some years in his native land, and later managed a hotel. Of the sixteen children in the family Jacob, Paul and Stephen came to the United States. The father died in 1885 and the mother in 1902. Stephen Gesell received his scholastic advantages in the Fatherland. When but fourteen years of age he left school and under the direction of his brother-in-law learned the trade of butcher. The desire for read- ing was almost a mania with him and after absorbing the contents of all the books he could get on the subject of America he became instilled with the idea of coming to the United States. In 1891 he

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was enabled to fulfill his life's desire, and he immigrated direct to Milwaukee. Here he secured employment in the Thiele meat mar- ket on Third street, and for a period of ten years was engrossed in his trade. Seeing a chance for advancement he accepted a posi- tion as driver for the Campbell Laundry Company, and gradually, by enterprise and industry, was promoted to positions of responsi- bility until at the time of Mr. Campbell's death he was given entire charge of the concern. In 1907 he purchased a half interest, and by 1908 the business had prospered to such an extent that he was enabled to purchase of the stock, until now he is sole owner and president. He is a man of progressive public spirit and does all in his power for the betterment and advancement of the city along commercial lines. Although a Republican he does not participate actively in the campaigns, being too engrossed to devote his time to anything but his business. He is a communicant of the German Catholic church. His only social relations are with the Independ- ent Order of Foresters and the Laundrymen's Club. On April 29, 1896, Mr. Gesell was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Steffen, a daughter of William and Augusta (Brach) Steffen, of Waukesha. They have no children.

Charles Menger is a well known and popular florist of Milwau- kee. He was born in Bernburg, Germany, on Sept. 14, 1866, and is a son of Fred and Ernestine (Stroemer) Menger, both natives of Germany. The father in the Fatherland was a brewer by profes- sion, and was employed in that trade up to the time he came to America in 1881. Upon coming to the United States he secured employment with the Pabst Brewing Company of Milwaukee, and came direct to this city upon his arrival. For several years he re- mained with the Pabst company, and severed his connection when he had accumulated a sufficient competence to purchase a small tract of land on what is now Twenty-seventh street. Here he did market gardening for a number of years, but in 1893 retired from that occupation and built a greenhouse on his property, which at the time of his retirement in 1903 had grown to large proportions. He and his wife now make their residence at 538 Twenty-seventh street. The three sons born to them are all living. Charles Men- ger, the subject of this review, received his scholastic training in the schools of his native land. While still a youth in his native land he mastered the florist's art, and after coming to the United States with his parents worked with his father in market gardening and later in the greenhouses. When the father retired in 1903 he assumed the active control of the business. which has had an excep- tional growth under his skillful management. In his politics Mr. Menger is not allied with any of the existing political parties, pre- ferring to exercise his right of franchise as his conscience and his judgment dictate. His religious relations are with the Lutheran church. His time is largely devoted to his business, but he finds leisure to enjoy the meetings of the Florists' Club and the Lieder- tafel Society, with both of which he is identified as a member. On Nov. 27. 1895, occurred Mr. Menger's marriage to Miss Anna Oes-

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treicker, a daughter of Anton and Ernestine ( Wendtlandt) Oes- treicker, of Milwaukee. Two children have been the issue of this marriage-Carl, born Nov. 17, 1896, and Hilda, born July 17, 1898.

Rudolph Preuss, one of the well-known florists and market gar- deners of the city, was born in Klein Hauswalde, Germany, on March 30, 1860, a son of Hans and Carlina ( Deering) Preuss. Both parents spent their entire lives in the Fatherland, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits. They left a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Rudolph Preuss is the young- est of his father's family. He took advantage of the scholastic training afforded by the German common schools, and upon com - pleting his school work became apprenticed to a florist. During his stay in Germany he found employment in many of the largest floral concerns in the country and became a thorough master of the art. In the fall of 1884 he migrated to the United States and located in Erie, Pa. After a year spent working there in his chosen profes- sion he came in the spring of 1885 to Milwaukee. Here he secured employment with A. M. Freidach on Forest Home avenue ; then for various periods of time with Frank Delgen, Mr. Armstrong and T. L. Hanson, remaining with the latter some two years. In 1888 he purchased the property at the corner of Vine and West Twenty- fourth streets and five years later erected the greenhouse which he is now so successfully conducting. Beside the culture of flowers he makes a specialty of raising fresh vegetables for the market. Both features of his business have been eminently successful in a financial way, due largely to his untiring labor, enterprise and strictly fair dealing with his patrons. In politics he is allied with the Repub- lican party, but owing to the pressure of his business does not find time to devote to an active participation in the affairs of the party. In religious affairs he is prominent as a member of the Lutheran church, and is identified fraternally with the Knights of the Mac- cabees. He is also a member of the Florists' Club. On April 6, 1892, Mr. Preuss was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Timm, a daughter of William and Emilie ( Wielbold) Timm, of Cascade, Wis. Four children have been the issue of this marriage. Oswald, born Ang. 16, 1894, is away at school ; and the others, Arnold, born Oct. 17, 1896; Irma, born Aug. 4, 1899, and Irving, born Nov. 17, 1901, attend the public schools and assist their father in their'spare time.

Charles Augustus Ammon, one of the efficient foremen in the employ of the Milwaukee Gas Company, was born at Princeton, Scott county, 'Ia., on Sept. 25, 1862, and is a son of Charles A. and Margaret Ammon. The father, who was a contractor by vocation, died when the subject of this memoir was still an infant. His widow passed away at Chippewa Falls, Wis., in 1897. Charles A. Ammon 'received a somewhat limited education in the common schools of Princeton, Ia. When but twelve years of age he began his business career as an employe of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and remained with them for a period of three years. Then he removed with his mother and his stepfather to Merrill, Wis., and secured employment with a lumbering firm as an employe in a saw

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mill. In 1891 he was given active charge of the management of a mill at Harshaw, Oneida county, Wis., and remained there until 1898. In that year he went to Alabama to supervise the construc- tion of a mill, and when he had finished the work a year later returned to Milwaukee. Here he again became associated with the Chi- cago & Northwestern railroad as an inspector in the engineering department. The construction of many branches of that road has been done under his personal direction. In January, 1908, he sev- ered his connection with the railroad company and became associ- ated with the Milwaukee Gas Company in the position which he now holds. In politics he is a zealous adherent of the tenets of the Republican party and as the successful candidate of that party served for a time as a justice of the peace in Oneida county. He was also the representative of his district in several state conven- tions before the adoption of the primary election law abolished that institution. In religious matters he is associated with the Presby- terian church. On June 27, 1881, Mr. Ammon was united in mar- riage to Miss Nellie L. Day of Waupaca, Wis., and a daughter of Martin and Emily (Osborn) Day. To this union was born, on Jan. 19, 1883, a son, Frank R., now a practicing attorney of Milwaukee. He devoted all his spare time for several years to the study of law and passed the state bar examination with high honors. He is intensely interested in politics and does much to insure the success of the Republican party.

Frederick Ernst, whose life work and study in the art of floris- try have made him one of the most successful floriculturists in Mil- waukee, was born in Marburg, Germany, on March 24, 1882, and is a son of Julius and Sophia (Moutoux) Ernst. Both parents were born and lived their entire lives in Germany, where the father was a minister of the gospel of the Lutheran church. He died in 1889 and the widow passed away seven years later, leaving a family of three sons and a daughter. Frederick Ernst received his education in the common schools of the city of his birth and at the age of fifteen became apprenticed to a florist. In three years he had mastered his trade and began a tour of Germany, working in practically all the large greenhouses in that country. In 1904 he came to America and located in St. Louis, Mo., where for four months he worked at his trade in the exposition grounds. When the fair closed he came to Milwaukee and secured employment with Charles Johannsen, the florist. This position he retained for a year and then for a short time worked in Joliet, Ill. In 1906 he returned to Milwaukee and purchased his present establishment. His habits of frugality and industry and his knowledge of the art have made his venture suc- cessful from the start. Beside raising flowers and plants of all descriptions he does a great deal of gardening at the homes of pri- vate families in his immediate neighborhood. He is a communicant of the Lutheran church, of which his father was a minister, but is not allied to any political party. On Sept. 3. 1906, Mr. Ernst was united in marriage to Miss Louise Thal, of Milwaukee, a daughter of Carl and Louise ( Kersten) Thal. They have no children.

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Theodore Boettcher, a prosperous florist and respected citizen of Milwaukee, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Oder, Germany, on April 3, 1863. He is a son of August and Mary (Sieg) Boettcher, both of whom were born at Frankfort. The father was all during his life engaged in floriculture. His death occurred in 1902 and his widow makes her home with her only child. Theodore Boett- cher took advantage of the limited educational opportunities af- forded by the schools of his native country and at the age of fifteen years started his career by becoming apprenticed to his father in the latter's greenhouse. Until 1896, when he immigrated to Amer- ica, he remained in business with his parent. His first residence in this country was in a small town in North Dakota, where he earned a livelihood by work in a flour mill and gardening. After three years there he came to Milwaukee and entered the employ of Curry Brothers in their greenhouses, severing his connection with them after a year to remove to Pine Lake, Wis., where he was engaged in the same vocation. In 1903 he returned to Milwaukee and purchased the floral establishment at 1414 Groeling avenue, which he is now so successfully conducting. His success may be attributed in large measure to his sterling integrity, his frugality and his knowledge of the business learned by years of hard work. In politics he is a Republican, but his business occupies so much of his time that he takes no active part. His church relations are with the German Evangelical society. Socially he is identified with the Milwaukee Liederkranz, the Garfield Benefit Association and the Forwards Benefit Club. On May 11, 1889, occurred Mr. Boett- cher's marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wundrich, a daughter of Carl and Rosalia Wundrich, of Frankfort, Germany. Three children have come to bless this union-Erick, Hattie and Elsie.

Gustav Holtz, a florist whose years of training make him one of the most successful in Milwaukee, was born in Stadt-Ilm, Ger- many, on Aug. 10, 1864, a son of Herman and Sophia (Shleurner) Holtz. Both the parents were born in Germany, where the father won renown in floriculture. In 1890 he came to the United States and located in Hammond, Ind., where he was engaged in the same vocation up to the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1905. The widow still resides in Hammond. The seven children of the family are all living, although widely scattered throughout the United States. Gustav Holtz, the subject of this memoir, re- ceived the scholastic training afforded by the schools of his native land. When but thirteen years of age he became associated with his father and remained with him for a year, learning the rudiments of the vocation which he desired to follow during his lifetime. The following two years he spent as an apprentice at Dr. Doran's floral institute in Germany and when he had mastered his trade he worked at it in various of the leading establishments in the Fatherland. In 1888 he migrated to Milwaukee and for ten years worked as pri- vate gardener and florist for H. B. Kellogg. The following five years he occupied by serving in the capacity of florist at the summer home of Hon. George Brumder, and for another five years in the

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same capacity for Valentine Blatz. When he severed his connec- tion with Mr. Blatz he established the business which he is so suc- cessfully conducting to-day. His excellent training and his inher- ent traits of industry and enterprise have given him a patronage which is continually growing. In politics Mr. Holtz is independent of any party ties. His religious relations are with the German Lutheran church and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Florists' Club. On April 24, 1891, Mr. Holtz was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Graf, daughter of William and Marie Graf, of Germany. To this union have been born the following children : Annie, Ella, Herbert, Helen and Flora. Two others died in infancy.

Charles F. Kitzerow, who conducts a modern florist's establish- ment on the Port Washington road, was born in Milwaukee on Nov. 17, 1863. He is a son of William and Catherina (Hildebrand) Kitzerow, both of whom are natives of Germany. The father made a good living in the Fatherland as a painter. When Milwaukee was but a village he migrated to this city and for several years afterward was an instructor in the schools. When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted as a private and is to-day the only surviving member of the company with which he served. Later he saw service as a volunteer in the Civil War. Most of his active career he was engaged as a floriculturist in the greenhouse which his son now conducts. He retired from active business in 1906 and is now residing in Chicago. His wife died in February, 1904, and her remains are interred in Forest Home cemetery. Of the seven children in the family all but one son, William, survive. Charles F. Kitzerow, the subject of this review, took advantage of the edu- cational opportunities afforded by the public schools of Milwaukee. When seventeen years of age he left school and started in to learn floristry under the direction of his father. Since the completion of his apprenticeship he has never engaged in other business, being associated with his father until the latter's retirement. It was at that time that he assumed the active management of the enterprise. His long training and thorough knowledge of the business assured him success from the start, and his many friends have not been sur- prised at the rapid strides which the concern has taken since his assumption of its conduct. Although his father was much inter- ested in politics and served as town chairman and town clerk, and also as a school commissioner, Mr. Kitzerow is independent in his political relations, finding little leisure to devote to campaign activi- ties. In religious matters he is affiliated with the German Lutheran church, but fraternally is not prominent, as it is his aim to devote his spare moments to his family. On Dec. 25, 1885. Mr. Kitzerow was united in marriage to Miss Dora Anderson, a daughter of John and Johanna (Bush) Anderson. of Milwaukee. Four children have been the issue of this union-Walter. Charles, Milta and George. Walter is studying to become a minister of the gospel and Charles is a telegraph operator. The others live at home and are attending the public schools.

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George Thomas Platzer, deceased, who was one of the most successful druggists in the city before his death, was born in Bava- ria, Germany, on March 16, 1842, a son of Wolfgang and Margaret Platzer. The father, who was a tailor by vocation, brought his family to Milwaukee in 1844 and was engaged in his trade all his active life. His death occurred a few months after his retirement from active business in 1891, and his widow died some years later, leaving a family of two children. George T. Platzer was the third in order of birth of the five children born to his parents. His carly educational training was received in St. Mary's parochial school and he completed his studies by a course in the seminary at St. Francis. His profession he learned with a firm in Cincinnati, Ohio, with which he was associated for several years. On his return to Mil- waukee he purchased the stock of a store on Winnebago street, and for ten years was successfully engaged in the conduct of the store. Early in 1880 he removed to a new store on the corner of Potter and Bishop avenues, where eight months later, on Aug. 13, 1880, he passed away. He was a man of keen business acumen, thoroughly conversant with all the details of his profession and a popular citi- zen. In his political belief he was a stanch adherent of the prin- ciples of the Republican party and in religious matters was identi- fied with St. Joseph's Catholic church. On July 9. 1872, Mr. Platzer was united in marriage to Miss Anna Baumgardner, a daughter of Joseph and Christinia Baumgardner, of Milwaukee. Mrs. Platzer's parents were both born in Tyrol, Austria. Her father was a tailor, who came to Milwaukee in 1856, and for many years was employed by David Adler & Sons. Some years before his death he was engaged in the grocery business. His demise occurred on April 28, 1899, and his widow passed away on March I. 1907. To Mr. and Mr. Platzer were born five children-Frances, the wife of P. W. Krill, of Fort Wayne, Ind .; George and William, twins; Frank J., a resident of Fort Wayne, Ind. ; and Thomas, a watchmaker of this city.

Henry Salentine, deceased, was one of the prominent and pros- perous business men of Milwaukee for over twenty-six years before his death. His parents were Mathias and Marie (Moore) Salen- tine, who emigrated to the United States about the middle of the nineteenth century. The father settled in Milwaukee first and con- ducted a farm for some time, but he heard of the "golden west" and moved to California, where he became engaged in farming and mining, and Henry was born at Nicholas, Cal., Aug. 17. 1866. Not long after this the father disposed of his interests in California with profit and returned to the Cream City to make his home. The mother died several years ago, but the father still lives at a hearty old age with the widow of the subject of this sketch. Five children were born to Mathias and Marie Salentine, of whom Henry was the youngest. He received his educational advantages in the public schools of Milwaukee, and when only eighteen years of age his father put him in charge of the hardware business which he had established upon his return from California. The young man was

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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 35

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