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 37

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

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requires three delivery wagons to care for the business. Mr. Weise was united in marriage with Ida Kaestner, the daughter of Bern- hardt Kaestner, some years ago. Mrs. Weise's father was a wagon maker by trade, who emigrated to the United States about 1850 and located in Milwaukee, where he carried on the wagon business for twenty years before he retired to enjoy a respite from the busy life he had led. His death occurred in 1907. His widow is still living in Milwaukee, having passed the fourscore years and ten; she is a hearty, happy old lady. Mr. Weise is a thirty-second degree Mason and is also a member of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Asso- ciation and Citizens' Business League.

James Sheriffs, deceased, was a pioneer settler and manufac- turer of Milwaukee, in which city he spent the greater part of his life and to which he came when he was 28 years old, becoming prominent in the iron manufacturing industry in a very short time thereafter. He was born in Banff, the chief town of Banffshire, Scotland, Sept. 22, 1822, and was early apprenticed to the iron- makers' trade, his schooling being limited by a desire to take up mechanical pursuits, impelled by an ambitious and independent spirit. After serving a four years' apprenticeship at the Banff foun- drv, where he was taught the trade of molding in all its branches, he followed the custom of the country and journeyed through Eng- land, Ireland and France, working in some of the leading shops of those countries as a journeyman molder. Becoming inspired by the glowing accounts of the opportunities for success which awaited young men of enterprise and energy in America, he resolved to migrate to the United States, and in April, 1848, landed in New York City. After his arrival in the "land of the free," he traveled quite extensively over the United States, spending some time in Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis, before finally deciding to locate in Milwaukee. His first work in the Cream City was as superintend- ent of Lee & Walton's establishment, known as the Menomonee Foundry, which was located on Reed street, where, for many years afterward, the old Union depot stood. While under his super- vision this foundry turned out the castings for the first locomotive in the West. This, locomotive was known as an inside connected engine, and was built for and used by the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company. In 1854, shortly after settling in Milwaukee, he engaged in business for himself, opening a machine shop and foundry known as the Vulcan Iron Works, now called the Sheriffs Manufacturing Company, located at the corner of South Water and Barclay streets. He operated this establishment as the sole pro- prietor until the time of his death, that deplorable event occurring on July 18, 1887, and thus his independent and remarkably success- ful career covered a period of thirty-three years. On three differ- ent occasions during that time he suffered the complete loss of his shop and tools, but with characteristic enterprise he applied him- self to the task of rehabilitation, and, Phoenix-like, arose from the ashes of each disaster and soon had his works in operation again.

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He devoted his time and energy largely to the building of marine machinery of all kinds, and in 1876 he became the inventor of what is known as Sheriffs' propeller wheel for use on all kinds of steam vessels. Vessels equipped with this wheel are conceded to be supe- rior to all others for speed and other attainments, and it is used extensively, not only on the great lakes, but in all the navigable waters of the globe. The wheel has a world-wide reputation, and its invention was a valuable contribution to that branch of the great industry of transportation which is performed on water. Marine engines and boilers also formed a large portion of the output from Mr. Sheriffs' establishment. Although never an office-holder, Mr. Sheriffs was an uncompromising Republican in politics, and was often tendered official positions, which he always refused. He was, however, prominently identified with the party work, and on several occasions served as chairman of the Republican Central committee, and was an able and forcible public speaker. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, being a member of Cream City Lodge, No. 139, and was also an honorary member of the Marine Engineers' Association, No. 9. He was a leading member and one of the founders of the Han- over Street Congregational church, of which he was a liberal sup- porter, and he served as a member of the board of trustees and as deacon of the same for a number of years. Mr. Sheriffs was mar- ried on Dec. 6, 1850, at Jericho, Waukesha county, Wis., to Miss Christina Duncan, who, with six children born to this union, still survives to honor the memory of a kind husband and indulgent father. Of these children, Thomas W., the eldest, is the manager, secretary and treasurer of the Sheriffs Manufacturing Company ; John H., in the employ of the Hoffman & Billings Manufacturing Company at Milwaukee ; Jennie E., the wife of Fred E. Carrolton ; James A., of the Locomobile Company, and a resident of Chicago ; Mary A., the wife of John T. Llewellyn, who is the president of the West Pullman Malleable Iron Company ; George D., who is men- tioned more at length in this review. George D. Sheriffs, the youngest son of James Sheriffs, and the efficient vice-president of the Sheriffs Manufacturing Company, was born in the city of Mil- waukce on Feb. 13, 1869. He received his education in the public schools of his native city and at the Milwaukee Academy, and entered upon his independent career as a bookkeeper for John Dosch & Sons, in which position he remained for a period of two years. He then commenced an apprenticeship at the machinists' trade, serving four years in Milwaukee and three years in Glasgow, Scotland, and thus thoroughly equipped he returned to Milwaukee, acting for seven years as the secretary and manager of the West- ern Malleable and Gray Iron Company, at Port Washington. In 1893 he also embarked in the sand and gravel business, in which he

still continues, and he is the secretary of the Central Concrete Com- pany and a stockholder in the Pennsylvania Coal and Supply Com- pany, a stockholder in the Milwaukee Cement Block Co., and is also interested in the real estate and insurance business. In politics

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he gives allegiance to the men and measures of the Republican party, and he served as a mmber of the board of supervisors in 1906-08, also serving as treasurer of the school board for thirteen years. His religious affiliations are with the Hanover Street Con- gregational church, and fraternally he is a member of Excelsior Lodge. No. 175, Free and Accepted Masons. He is also associated with the Builders' Club, the Builders' and Traders' Exchange, and the South Side Civic Association. He was married on June 3, 1896, to Miss Anna E. Dewey, daughter of Charles C. and Sarah E. (Bev- ins) Dewey, prominent residents of Milwaukee, and with one son- Emmet D., who is now a student in the Racine Military College- the family resides at the corner of Thirty-fifth street and National avenue, in a beautiful home which Mr. Sheriffs erected in 1905. Charles C. Dewey, the father of Mrs. Sheriffs, was born in West- field, Mass., and came to Milwaukee in June, 1836. He was by

trade a harness and saddle maker, and opened the first shop of that kind in the city. He also built the first brick block on East Water street. He was married in September, 1830, to Miss Olive Sackett, who was born in Sandersfield, Mass. To this union there were born seven children, six of whom are deceased, leaving but one son, Charles J. Dewey, who is given appropriate mention on another page of this work. The first wife of Mr. Dewey having died, he was married a second time in February, 1870, to Miss Sarah A. Bevins, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., who became the mother of Mrs. Sheriffs. The father died on Sept. 21, 1887, and the mother in 1892.

Frank Kempsmith, deceased, was, from 1888 until 1901, the moving spirit in the Kempsmith Machine Tool Company, an institution which he established and managed until failing health compelled his retirement a few years prior to his death. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., on May 9, 1848, and was the son of Her- man and Catherine (Scharp) Kempsmith, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, who followed the trade of a machinist, migrated to America in early life and located in Philadel- phia, where he held the position of foreman in a loom manufactur- ing establishment for thirty-eight years, throughout all of his active career. He died in 1869, and his wife survived until 1887, when she too passed away. They were the parents of four children- Herman, Frank, Paul and Amelia. The family were communicants of the Presbyterian church. Frank Kempsmith received his educa- tion in the public schools of Philadelphia and began his apprentice- ship at the machinist trade in the United States arsenal at that place. At the age of seventeen years he began his independent career, going first to Springfield, Mass., where he was for some time employed in a rifle factory, and he worked in other Eastern shops, including Garvin's, in New York, and Brown & Sharpe's, being noted for his high skill, good judgment and conscientious work. From the time he began his mechanical career, at the age of thirteen years, as a workman at the bench he gained an enviable

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standing as a highly skilled machinist and toolmaker. Finally he came West and was for a time a model maker in the agricultural shops at Canton, Ohio, and in a branch establishment of the same firm in Akron. He then worked in Mansfield, Ohio, for a time, and then returned to Philadelphia. Later he again came to Ohio and accepted the position of superintendent of the shops of Warner & Swasey at Cleveland, the Lick telescope being constructed there during that time. From there he went to Springfield, Ohio, and with two partners started in business building machine tools ; but after a year's stay in that city, in 1888 he removed to Milwaukee, where by himself he built up the business known as the Kempsmith Manufacturing Company, originating the milling machines which are known by his name. His shop was a good one ; he took great pride in it, and every piece of work turned out had to be up to his high standard of workmanship. His health failing, in 1901 he sold his business and lived the remainder of his life in retirement at his beautiful home which he had built for his family at 382 Eighteenth avenue, and there he died on April 10, 1904. In the American Machinist of April 21, 1904, the following tribute is paid to his memory: "The death of Frank Kempsmith, of Milwaukee, which, as noted last week, occurred April 10, comes to the editor of this journal as a personal affliction. To have known him intimately and for many years and to have been a shopmate of his was a rare privi- lege. Kempsmith was the kind of man of whom the world never can have enough ; quiet, unassuming, clean-minded, honorable and true, he played life's game to the end through all manner of vicissi- tudes, bearing manfully the most trying bereavements and in the end grimly facing a death which for years he knew to be inevitable. The cause of death was sarcoma, on account of which one of his eyes had to be removed some years ago. * * * A young son who

was especially dear to him and upon whom his hopes were largely centered fell a victim to Milwaukee's grade crossings, and about the same time the malady of which we have spoken manifested itself. Broken in spirit, he sold out his business and retired. After- ward and for a time he seemed better, gained hope and expressed a desire to be back at work again, but for some time past his health had been again declining. At the time of his death he was nearly fifty-six years old." Mr. Kempsmith was a Democrat in his politi- cal affiliations, although in local matters he always exercised the privileges of citizenship by supporting the men he thought best fitted for the positions sought without regard to party alignment. He was a member of Lake lodge of the Masonic order, and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Kempsmith was married on Oct. 6, 1880, to Miss Abbie Rhodes, daughter of William and Alzoa (Winslow) Rhodes, of Mansfield, Ohio, and to this union there were born five children: Alzoa, Frank, Winslow, Wal- ter and Milton. Of these all are deceased but Frank, who resides with his mother at Milwaukee. The father of Mrs. Kempsmith was born in Summit county, Ohio, Dec. 8, 1820, and the mother in

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Saratoga, N. Y., Feb. 3, 1828, the former receiving his education in the public schools of his native county, and the latter in the schools of the city of Cleveland, also attending the seminary at Painesville, Ohio. At the beginning of his career the father engaged in the grocery business at Mansfield, Ohio, where he remained nine years, and then went to California, where he was engaged in the ranching business for the same length of time. Returning to Mansfield, he again engaged in the grocery business, continuing so employed until he retired about two years before his death, that event occur- ring on March 2, 1886, the mother having passed away on Feb. 16, 1869. The members of the Rhodes family were Baptists in their religious faith, and the father was a member of the Masonic order and the I. O. O. F. His political affiliations were with the Repub- lican party.

Jacob Wurster, deceased, was one of the leading general pro- duce and commission merchants of Milwaukee, and is remembered as one of the most successful among Milwaukee's men of affairs during the past four decades. He was a native of Milwaukee county, having been born in the town of Greenfield on July 22, 1842, the son of Adam and Dorothy (Christian) Wurster, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. The father migrated to the United States in early manhood and located in the town of Greenfield, Mil- waukee county, where he became a very successful farmer and was able to retire several years before his death and live the remainder of his life in comparative ease and comfort. He was a member of the Lutheran church, adhered to the Republican party in affairs political, and the general esteem in which he was held was evi- denced by the fact that he was called upon to fill at different times various important official positions in the township. To him and his good wife there were born five children: Jacob, Mary, David, Christina and John. Jacob Wurster was educated in the public schools of the town of Greenfield and at the German-English Acad- emy in the city of Milwaukee. At the outset of his independent career, he established a feed store on Reed street, in Milwaukee, and after continuing in that line of business for several years he engaged in the elevator business, conducting both establishments at Nos. 252 and 254 Reed street for a period of more than thirty years. He became one of the charter members of the Chamber of Com- merce and continued his association with that institution until the time of his death, April 4. 1906. In politics he gave a strict adher- ence to the men and measures of the Republican party, although he never aspired to official position, and his religious affiliations were with the St. Stephens' Lutheran church. He was a member of the Exposition Association and the State Fair Association. Mr. Wur- ster was married on Nov. 15, 1868, to Miss Amelia Dishinger, daughter of Alowis and Celia (Harr) Dishinger, prominent resi- dents of the town of Greenfield, Milwaukee county, and to this union there were born nine children, of whom the following specific mention is appropriate in connection with this review: Henry L.

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is a resident of Chicago, where he has a lucrative position as book- keeper : Charles R. follows the same occupation and also resides in the city of Chicago; Albert J. resides in Chicago and fills a respon- sible position in the postoffice ; Elsie resides at home ; Arthur R. is a bookkeeper and is employed in the city of Milwaukee; Edward resides in Milwaukee, where he has the position of buyer for the firm of Shubert & Siller; Walter has a position in the office of the Wadhams Oil Company ; Olga resides in Milwaukee, as does also Gilbert J., who is in school. The parents of Mrs. Wurster were born in Wien, Germany, and the father was a farmer by occupation and at one time held the office of tax commissioner. He came to the United States in early manhood and first located at Erie, Pa., where he followed farming. Five years later he removed to the town of Greenfield, Milwaukee county, where he lived the remain- der of his life, meeting with flattering success as a farmer and retir- ing about ten years before his death. The mother died in Milwau- kee. The family were members of the Catholic church, in which the father held the office of recording secretary for a time. In poli- tics he affiliated with the Democratic party, but did not aspire to public office, although he served as member of the school board for a time. As a young man he served in the insurgent army during the Revolution in Germany, and it was at the close of that struggle, in common with many of his compatriots, that he came to America. The mother was a singer of local renown, and for many years sang in the church choir.

Charles Allen Radcliffe, deceased, who was prominently con- nected with the manufacturing interests of the city, was a native of Milwaukee, but a Manxman by descent, born July 14, 1851, the son of Charles and Eliza (Caine) Radcliffe, both of whom were born and reared in the Isle of Man. The father was a shoe mer- chant, who immigrated to the United States about 1845 and located in Milwaukee, where he engaged in the shoe business for four or five years. He then went to Sheboygan, Wis., and continued in the same occupation until his death Nov. 24, 1872. Eliza Caine was married to Charles Radcliffe May 14. 1846, and bore seven chil- dren: John T., Elizabeth E., Charles A., Mary Jane, Julia Eliza, John H. and Thomas G., who were twins. Mr. and Mrs. Radcliffe were communicants of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Rad- cliffe was deacon for a number of years in Sheboygan. While residing in Milwaukee he bought a considerable amount of land on East Wisconsin street, but sold it before he moved away from the city. The mother lived only a few years after the family located in Sheboygan and passed away Jan. 15, 1859, leaving a saddened home and motherless children. Charles, Jr., received his educa- tional advantages in the public schools of Sheboygan and finished a course in the high school. After graduating he taught school for a short time in his home town and then came to Milwaukee in 1869, and immediately found employment with the Judd-Hiles Sash & Door Co., and remained with this firm several years. He learned

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the business thoroughly and filled various positions of trust. When the company was reorganized and became the Rockwell Manufac- turing Co., he was taken into partnership and became known as one of the progressive and successful manufacturers of Milwaukee. In 1895 Mr. Radcliffe sold out his interests in the Rockwell com- pany and went to Chicago, where he started a factory for True & True, a sash and door company. After this concern was satisfac- torily established he returned to Milwaukee. The Chicago enter- prise proved such a success that Mr. Radcliffe was called to Mer- rill, Wis., within a short time to build and start a factory there. When this undertaking was completed he returned to Milwaukee. During his business career he had earned a sufficient competence to build a beautiful home and he retired from active life to enjoy during the sunset years, a well-deserved rest. He died March 24, 1899, leaving a widow and four children. On Jan. 9, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Belle, the daughter of Arthur John and Margaret (Weldon) Dadd, both residents of Milwaukee. Five children came to brighten their home: Alice Bell, who has a position in the public library; Laura Edna, deceased; Margaret Eliza, the wife of Joseph Stamm ; Arthur Charles, a pattern maker ; and Gladys Pearl, deceased. Mrs. Radcliff's parents were both natives of England, who came to Milwaukee about 1840; her father was a painter and decorator, who followed this occupation from the time he located in Milwaukee until his death, June 15, 1877, at the age of forty-eight. Mrs. Dadd still lives in Milwaukee, and on Dec. 24, 1908, she will be seventy-six years old. Mr. Dadd and his wife were members of the Episcopalian church and the banners which are preserved at St. Paul's remain as monuments of the for- mer's work in church decoration. Frederick Layton and Rev. Dr. Keene erected a tablet to his memory in St. John's church, of which he was a loyal supporter during life. Mr. Dadd was a Republican in politics. As an early settler he belonged to the volunteer fire department of Milwaukee, Company No. I. Mr. Radcliffe's political affiliations were with the Republican party. His fraternal relations were with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His death was keenly felt among his large circle of acquaintances, friends, and by his fraternity brothers. His wife still resides at 377 Nineteenth avenue.

Jacob Dudenhoefer, deceased, was for many years engaged in the wholesale wine and liquor business in the city of Milwaukee, and in that line of endeavor he met with success of the most un- equivocal order. He was born at Alsheim, a village of Hesse Darm- stadt, Germany, on May 21, 1842, the son of Conrad and Clara (Matern) Dudenhoefer, both of whom were also natives of Ger- many. The father was a farmer and owned a large estate in the Fatherland, upon which was an extensive vineyard, and there he and his wife spent their lives, the latter dying at the age of forty- four years. They were the parents of five children: Thomas, Franz, Jacob, Joseph and Anna. Jacob Dudenhoefer received his

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education in a high school at Darmstadt, Germany, and after serv- ing an apprenticeship of three years went to Berlin, where he worked as a dry goods clerk in one of the Royal stores for a period of three or four years. He then entered the wholesale wine busi- ness, in which he remained for a time, after which he came to America and located at Milwaukee about the year 1869. His first employment after coming to the Cream City was as a traveling salesman for the L. Fuldner Company, wholesale wines and liquors, and he remained in that capacity for a period of twelve years. In 1880 he established a wholesale wine and liquor business for him- self and continued so engaged until his death, which event occurred on March 2, 1901. The establishment is located at No. 339 Grove street and 339 First avenue, and from the beginning it grew very rapidly until at the present time it is one of the largest places of business in the city. It is an incorporated concern and is known as the Jacob Dudenhoefer Company. Mr. Dudenhoerfer gave an un- swerving allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party, and his religious faith was expressed by membership in the Trinity Roman Catholic church. He was also a member of the Old Set- tlers' Club, the Milwaukee Musical Club, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Deutscher Club. The subject of this review was married on Feb. 18, 1873, to Miss Catherine Lohagen, of Milwaukee, daughter of Adam and Eva (Feldmann) Lohagen, and to this union there were born five children, as follws: Lena and Clara, both of whom reside at home with their mother ; Henry, who is deceased ; Hedwig, the wife of Emil Langers, of Milwaukee ; and Elsa, who resides at home. The parents of Mrs. Dudenhoefer were both born in Westphalia, Germany, where the father was the pro- prietor of a distillery and brewery. He migrated to America and located in Milwaukee county in 1847. He owned and operated a large farm in the town of Lake, where Mrs. Dudenhoefer was born, and there he died in 1857. The mother afterward moved to the city of Milwaukee, where she spent the remainder of her life. To these parents there were born seven children, and Mrs. Dudenhoefer was the sixth in the order of birth. The family were all faithful mem- bers of the Catholic church.

Jacob Wellauer, of Wauwatosa, Milwaukee county, Wis., for many years one of the prosperous and substantial business men of Milwaukee, was born in the Canton of Thurgau, Switzerland, on Nov. 6, 1840. His parents, Henry and Anna (Vetterle) Wellauer, were natives of the same place, the former having been born on March 15, 1797, and the latter in 1799. They came to America with their family July 3, 1849, and settled at Brookfield, Wis. Here Mr. Wellaner, Sr., bought a farm of eighty acres and was engaged in farming until 1862. Then, with a reasonable competence, he gave up the active management of the farm, and spent the remaining years of his long and useful life in ease and comfort. His death took place on March 30, 1883. His wife, who was the mother of his seven children, and his devoted helpmate for so many years,

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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 37

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