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 42

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 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

334

MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

that nature had endowed him with exceptional ability in that direction. While in the University of Wisconsin he was an active member of the Philomathean literary society. He participated in the Joint Debate of 1898 between Philomathea and Athenae and in the intercollegiate debate between the Universities of Wisconsin and Iowa in 1900 and was a commencement orator in 1900. He also won first place in the prize debate at the George Washington University Law School. Mr. Adams is a Universalist in his religious belief, and a member of the following fraternities and societies: Theta Delta Chi, Phi Delta Phi (Law), the University Club, St. Andrew's Society, and the Milwaukee Bar Association.

Richard B. Ramien, a practicing attorney in Milwaukee, was born in that city on Feb. 15, 1876, son of Henry W. and Henrietta (Mesow) Ramien, both of whom are natives of Germany, the former being born in the grand duchy of Oldenburg. The parents came to America in their childhood, the father being but three years old at the time of the immigration, and Milwaukee has since been the place of residence of the respective families. The maternal grandfather established one of the first breweries in the Cream City, the same being now a part of the Jung brewery, located in what was formerly called "Kilbourn Town." The father of the subject of this review is the secretary and manager of the Milwaukee Worsted Mills, and has been engaged in that line of business since 1887. Richard B. Ramien received his primary education by attendance at private schools and also in the public schools of Milwaukee, taking a course at the East Side high school, and then after due preparation entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, where he took a three- years' course, graduating in 1896 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He then entered the office of James F. Trottman, where he remained some time in a clerical capacity. At the breaking out of the Spanish-American war he evinced his patriotism by offering his services to the government, and on July 11, 1898, he enlisted as a ser- geant in Company E, of the Fourth Wisconsin infantry. He went with that command to Anniston, Ala., and hostilities having ceased soon thereafter he was mustered out with the regiment on Feb. 28, 1899. In 1901 he began the practice of his profession, in which he has since been continuously engaged, devoting his attention in the main to commercial and real estate law. He is a Republican in his political views, has served as delegate to various county and state conventions, and in 1902 he was his party's candidate for assembly- man ; but the district being strongly Democratic he was defeated. He is a member of the Tecetl Club and also of the Milwaukee Bar Asso- ciation and Wisconsin State Bar Association.

Howard A. Cleaver, lawyer and civil engineer, of Milwaukee, Wis., was born in Milwaukee on Feb. 23, 1874. the son of Albert B. and Henrietta C. (Rogers) Cleaver. He is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, and both his paternal and maternal ancestors came to America from England at a very early date. His father, now deceased, was born in Utica, N. Y., and came west to Milwaukee about 1858. and was engaged here for many years in the book and

335

BIOGRAPHICAL

stationery business; his mother was a native of Milwaukee, and de- parted this life on May 13, 1902. Mr. Cleaver received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Milwaukee, and then attended the Rens- selaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1896 with the degree of C. E. Returning then to Mil- waukee, he read law for two years with A. G. Weissert, and was ad- initted to the bar on examination before the Wisconsin State Board of Law Examiners. He began the practice of law in partnership with the firm of Kanneberg, McGee, Cochems & Cleaver, which rela- tionship continued for the space of three years, when he withdrew from the firm and practiced alone until 1903. He then gave up his practice in Milwaukee in order to accept a responsible and lucrative position as civil engineer for the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., at Gulfport, Miss. He continued in this occupation for the term of one year, and then returned to Milwaukee and entered the employ of the Milwaukee Electric Light Co. as Right of Way agent, which position he still holds. Politically Mr. Cleaver is affiliated with the Republican party, and in his religious belief he conforms to the Presbyterian faith. He is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Greek Letter fraternity; of the University Club of Milwaukee; the Engineers' Society; the Mil- waukee Bar Association, and of the Masonic order. Mr. Cleaver was married on Nov. 26, 1903, to Miss Nettie B. Crossman, daughter of Glen B. and Larry ( Bollini) Crossman, of Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver have no children. Our subject is an exceptionally able and energetic young man, courteous and affable in his intercourse with his fellowmen, and possesses a host of friends. He is finely equipped both physically and mentally for the battle of life, and bids fair to carve out a brilliant future for himself.

John Thomas Dunn, deceased, who was prominently identified with the building interests of Milwaukee for many years, and whose skillful handiwork is to be seen in some of the most important build- ings in the city, was born in Queens county, Ireland, May 22, 1843, the son of John Dunn, a native of the same place. His father was a contracting mason, and came to the United States with his wife and family during the forties, first locating at Albany, N. Y. He came west to Milwaukee about 1850, where he followed his trade as a mason for many years, dying there in 1872. He reared a large family of seven children, of whom our subject was the third. John T. was a lad of only seven years when his parents came to Milwau- kee, and he received his education in the public schools of that city. When his school days were over, he proceeded to learn the mason's trade with his father, and after thoroughly mastering the same in all its details, he branched out as a mason contractor. He constructed the building now occupied by the Conroy Confectionary Co. on Mil- waukee street, as well as the well known St. Mary's Hospital build- ing. He was engaged in construction work on the Heinemann build- ing, when he lost his life by the fall of a scaffold, Jan. 8, 1884. Mr. Dunn was a genial, sociable man with a host of warm friends. He was a lover of horses, and all forms of out-door sports, and was especially enthusiastic over the national game of base ball. His sudden

336

MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

and premature death was not only a severe blow to his devoted wife and children, but was mourned by the many friends who had learned to know and love him. He was allied with the Republican party in politics, but was never an aspirant for public office. Born and bred a Catholic, he was for many years a faithful attendant at the Cathe- dral and died in the faith. Mr. Dunn had an excellent record as a volunteer soldier during the Civil war, and was twice severely wounded in action. He enlisted as a private during the summer of 1862, in Company F, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin infantry ; was mus- tered into the U. S. service for three years at Camp Sigel, Milwau- kee, in August, 1862 ; rose to the rank of first sergeant of his company, and was finally mustered out and honorably discharged the service at Nashville, Tenn., June 10, 1865. He left the state with his command Sept. 5, 1862, and proceeded to Louisville, Ky., where the regiment was assigned to the Thirty-seventh brigade, Eleventh division. From this time on Mr. Dunn shared in all the important campaigns and battles of the gallant Twenty-fourth, including the engagements of Chaplin Hills, Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mis- sionary Ridge, Siege of Knoxville, Resaca, Adairsville, Dallas, Kene- saw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, operations about Atlanta, pursuit of Hood's army up through Alabama and Tennessee, and the battles of Franklin and Nashville. After leaving the army, he returned to his home in Milwaukee and resumed his work as a mason contractor. His marriage took place on Aug. 11, 1870, to Miss Mary C., daughter of Patrick and Katherine ( Mulligan) Fagan, of Milwaukee. The following children were born of this union: Francis J., now a resi- dent of St. Louis, Mo .; Herbert W., deceased, employed as a book- keeper by the Cudahy Bros. Co. for several years before his death, March 2, 1907, and as great a lover of out door sports as his father before him; Edmund F., superintendent of the Wagner Mfg. Co., North Milwaukee; Cora M., living at home; Harry W., deceased; Eleanor, a stenographer, and Irene M., both of whom live at home with their mother. Mrs. Dunn resides at No. 230 Pleasant street, Milwau- kee, and is happy in having a number of her children at home with her. Her parents were both natives of Ireland, and came to this coun- try and settled in Milwaukee about the middle of the last century. Her father, who died while still in the prime of life, operated an express line in Milwaukee for several years prior to his death. He was sur- vived by his wife for many years, the latter dying in Milwaukee in 1902, at the ripe old age of 85 years.

Frank Henry Terry, deceased, for many years a prominent wholesale grocer of Milwaukee, Wis., and one of the most influential among the pioneer business men of the city, was born of New England parents in the city of Hartford, Conn., April 16, 1827. Both of his parents, Roderick and Harriet (Taylor) Terry, were natives of the village of Enfield. Hartford county, Conn. His father led an exceed- ingly active business life up to the time of his death at Hartford in 1849, aged sixty-two years. He was a prosperous wholesale grocer of Hartford, and also president of the Hartford Exchange Bank of that city. Our subject was the fifth member of a family of eight chil-

337

BIOGRAPIIICAL

dren, and grew to manhood in his native city. He received an excel- lent education in the schools of Hartford, and later attended Yale Col- lege. Upon leaving school he started his business career by entering the offices of his father's wholesale house, and upon the latter's death in 1849, he and one of his brothers embarked in the wholesale hard- ware business for a period of two years. Mr. Terry then decided to come west, and in 1855 located in Milwaukee, Wis., where he estab- lished himself in the wholesale grocery business, being associated there- in with Mr. T. W. Goodrich. The firm did a large and increasing busi- ness throughout the whole Northwest up to the time of Mr. Terry's death, which took place on Feb. 2, 1874. In addition to his wholesale business Mr. Terry was identified with other important business un- dertakings and was a man of large affairs; he was an influential stock- holder and a member of the board of directors of the Milwaukee Gas Co., and also held large interests in the Milwaukee Roller Mills, etc. After the birth of the Republican party, he was a staunch adherent of that political organization, but never sought public preferment on his own behalf. He was a devout member of the Congregational church, and an attendant of Plymouth church, Milwaukee, to which he ac- corded a generous support in its various Christian ministrations. Mr. Terry was married on Jan. 2, 1850, to a daughter of an old and promi- nent New England family. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Ripley Birge, has survived her husband all these years, and has her residence at No. 281 Knapp street. Her parents, B. W. and Lucy (Ripley) Birge, were both natives of Connecticut, the former of Hart- ford, and the latter of Norwich. In early life Mr. Birge conducted a drygoods store in Hartford, and later made his home in Philadelphia, where he had extensive mining interests. He died when only thirty- four years of age, but his wife lived to be sixty-four years old, dying at her old home in Norwich, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Terry were the parents of 6 children, 3 of whom are living; the oldest, Florence, is the wife of N. P. Hulst, of Milwaukee, a mining engineer : the second daughter, Eliza B., lives at home with her mother, and the only son, Frank T., is a prosperous broker, dealing in real estate, stocks, bonds, loans, insurance, etc., with offices in the Wells Building.

William Albertus Wilson, deceased, grew up in the city of Mil- waukee, where he was for many years a popular traveling salesman. He was born at Ann Arbor, Mich .. Dec. 25, 1848, the son of William White and Lucy ( Bradford) Wilson, the latter a native of Albany, N. Y. His father moved to Milwaukee in 1854, and served for a number of years in the important capacity of general passenger agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. He finally resigned his posi- tion with the railroad company in order to embark in the commission business with his two sons, and was leading a retired life at the time of his death in 1888. William A., our subject, was the elder of the two sons, and received his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee, and later supplemented the same by a course at the acad- emy of Balston Springs, N. Y. Upon leaving school he returned to his home in Milwaukee, and entered the employ of the Clarence Shepard Hardware Co. as a traveling salesman. He was later employed in the

338

MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

same capacity by the Sherman Jewett Stove Co. of Buffalo, N. Y., for a period of about seven years, and was then obliged to give up his work by reason of ill health. His death took place on April 23, 1886, when he was in his thirty-seventh year. He was a member of the Republican party in politics, but was never an aspirant for public office. Mr. Wil- son was a most devoted husband, and was married on Jan. 1, 1868, to Miss Clara Elizabeth, daughter of W. F. and Sarah Nichols (Champlin) Fleming, who are numbered among the pioneer residents of Milwaukee. His widow still surives him, and makes her home at 196 Queen Anne Place, Milwaukee. Her father, W. F. Fleming, was born in Philadel- phia, Pa., in 1823, and his wife was born on Long Island in 1821. Mr. Fleming, who was originally an undertaker, reared a large family of seven children, and coming to Milwaukee in 1854, was engaged in the undertaking business for some years at the corner of Main and Wis- consin streets. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war, he sacrificed a lucrative business in order to enlist as a volunteer soldier. He served throughout the Rebellion with distinguished gallantry as a member of the Twenty-fourth regiment Wisconsin infantry, rose to the rank of corporal, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was three times wounded in action, and it fell to his lot to be actively engaged in some of the most important campaigns and battles of the war. Upon severing his connection with the army, he returned to Milwau- kee, where he followed the calling of a carpenter-contractor up to the time of his death in 1903.

Julius Wetzler, deceased, one of the prosperous and public spir- ited business men of Milwaukee for many years, was born near the ancient city of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, Oct. 3, 1856, the son of Siegfried and Esther Wetzler, also natives of Germany. His father was a dealer in live stock in Germany, and died there while our subject was still a lad in his teens. In 1873, after the death of her husband, Mrs. Wetzler and her eight children, of whom Julius was the fifth, emigrated to the United States and settled in the city of Milwaukee. Julius had received a good education in the schools of his native land before coming to America, and on his arrival he secured employ- ment as a clerk. Some years later he embarked on his own account in the wholesale cigar business with his brother. Simon, and conducted a prosperous trade in this line until the year 1888. He was then attracted by the business opportunities offered in Northern Mich- igan and Wisconsin and moved to Ironwood, Mich., where he entered into a partnership with two more of his brothers in the provision busi- ness. They carried on an extensive trade thoughout this region, and established markets in Ironwood, Hurley, Wis., and in a number of the other surrounding towns. He afterwards returned to Milwaukee and there organized the Wetzler Sausage Manufacturing Co., which de- veloped into a large and important enterprise. He was a man of great energy and push, and prospered in all his business undertakings ; was connected with one of the prominent loan associations of Milwaukee, and was actively identified with other important undertakings. In politics he was allied with the Republican party, but was never an office seeker, or a mere partisan. He took an intelligent interest in all that

339

BIOGRAPHIICAL

concerned the municipal and general welfare, and was a generous con- tributor to every worthy public cause. In religion he adhered to the faith of his fathers and was a member of the Jewish church, and an attendant of Temple Emmanu-El. He belonged to the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias, but was extremely domestic by inclination and temperament, and derived his chief enjoyment in life in the midst of his own family circle. Mr. Wetzler was married on March 14, 1888, to Miss Annie, daughter of John and Mary ( Pereles) Black, of Mil- waukee. His death took place at Milwaukee on May 19, 1905, and he is survived by his widow and three children, Irma, Ruth and John. All three children are now in school and live at home with their widowed mother, at 175 Queen Anne Place, Milwaukee. Mrs. Wetzler's father was a native of the Russian Empire, and went to London at an early age, where he conducted a drygoods establishment. He afterwards came to America and settled in Milwaukee and there resumed his busi- ness as a drygoods merchant. Her mother was a native of Hungary, and both parents have been deceased for several years.

Morsman Stewart, deceased, was born at Chicago, June 16, 1837. His father was Horace Stewart, who was born in New York. He was the youngest of three sons and was educated at Geneva Lake, Wis. The father came west and located at Clinton Junction, Wis., living a very retired life. Morsman started life as a newsboy on the St. Paul railroad. Later he started a small general store at Hartford, Wis. He came to Milwaukee in 1863 and worked for Cook & Church, wholesale fruit dealers. Subsequently he went into the grocery busi- ness with Mr. Ledyard. He next embarked in the commission business by himself in the Chamber of Commerce and finally in the fish and oyster business. On May 15, 1861, he married Miss Emma, daughter of Rev. Chester W. and Lucy M. (Smith) Turner. Of this union one child was born, Winifred Grace. In politics Mr. Stewart was a Re- publican, in religion he was an Episcopalian and a strict member of St. James Episcopal church. He was devoted to the church work and for several years was a Sunday school teacher. He was a charter member of Alpha Chapter of Royal Arcanum, No. 43, Milwaukee Lodge Knights of Honor, and of Independent Lodge No. 8 of A. F. & A. M. He died Jan. 18, 1886, respected and lamented by those who knew his real worth. He was a man of great activity, having engaged suc- cessfully in many business enterprises, but in all his dealings he was just and generous alike to friend and foe. Mrs. Stewart's father, Rev. Chester W. Turner, was born in Hartford, Conn .. Jan. II, 1809, and her mother in Derby, Conn., June 16, 1815. Her father was a minister in early life but partially abandoning this calling he engaged in mer- chandising in Hartford, Conn. He came West in 1856, locating in Hartford, Wis., where he farmed and being a man of deep religious convictions he preached the gospel on the Sabbath at Hartford and at several other adjacent churches when preachers were scarce on the then frontier. He fell asleep in the Lord and went to his eternal re- ward Sept. 11, 1889. His beloved wife, Lucy (Smith ) Turner, who had been his worthy helpmate through a long married life full of good deeds, followed him to the tomb in 1899, aged 83 years.

340

MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

Maurice A. McCabe, of the law firm of McCabe & Dahlman, with offices at 105 Grand avenue, in the city of Milwaukee, was born in the Cream City on April 25, 1873, son of Patrick and Hannah (Boyle) McCabe, both of whom were born in Ireland. The maternal grand- parents moved to Milwaukee when the mother of the subject of this review was a child, and there they resided the remainder of their lives. The father immigrated to the United States in his boyhood and has been a resident of Milwaukee for more than a half century. He was one of the first passenger engineers on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and followed that occupation for many years, but now he is living retired in the city of Milwaukee. Maurice A. McCabe, whose name introduces this review, received his education in the public and parochial schools of the city of Milwaukee, the Marquette College, now Marquette University, and at the law school of the University of Wis- consin. Soon after his graduation from the last named school he be- came associated with the firm of Miller, Noyes, Miller & Wahl, law- yers, and remained with them two years, after which he formed a part- nership with Louis A. Dahlman, under the firm name of McCabe & Dahlman, which partnership still continues, doing a general law prac- tice. In politics Mr. McCabe is a Democrat. In 1900 he was elected to represent his legislative district in the Wisconsin Assembly, serving in the session of 1901. He was married on Nov. 7, 1906, to Miss Catherine, daughter of John and Mary (O'Brien) O'Donnell, of Ke- nosha, Wis., and to this union there has been born one son, Maurice T. Mr. McCabe is a Roman Catholic in his church affiliations, and he has membership in the Knights of Columbus, the Milwaukee Bar Asso- ciation, and the Wisconsin Bar Association.

Dr. Ralph Chandler, deceased, the eminent physician and sur- geon whose untimely death in 1904 caused deep regret and widespread sorrow in Milwaukee, was born in that city July 16, 1861, being the son of Walter Seymour and Sarah (Kneeland) Chandler, both natives of Batavia, N. Y. The father came to Milwaukee and later lived in Wauke- sha, Wis., when Ralph was very young, and engaged in the lumber business, from which he retired in a few years, taking up his residence at the Plankinton Hotel, remaining there until about the time of his death, Dec. 27, 1897. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Old Settlers' Club. In the family there were but two sons, our sub- ject and Burr Kneeland Chandler, deceased. Our subject received his rudimentary education in the public schools and took his higher course in Markham Academy, while his medical and surgical courses were pursued at Rush Medical College and Cook County Hospital, Chicago, where he graduated in 1889. In order to gain superior advantages and to perfect himself along the scientific methods of his profession he went to Europe and spent a year at some of the most famous and time honored medical institutions there, where he attended the clinics. lec- tures and serious surgical operations. On his return to Milwaukee he spent some time in the office of that distinguished physician, Solon Marks, and later he opened an office for himself in the Plankinton Building, where he practiced with the greatest success until his death Ang. 12. 1904. During his very active and extensive practice he was

34I

BIOGRAPHICAL

a member of the medical staff of St. Mary's Hospital, surgeon of the Children's Free Hospital, being president of the board for eight years ; was Surgeon of Battery A, Wisconsin National Guard, for fifteen years, and he lectured at several different hospitals on various scientific phases of surgery and medicine ; he also lectured at St. John's Military Academy, Delafield, Wis., besides which he did a great amount of work for charity's sake, for lie was a man of a kind and sympathetic nature whose heart beat a kindly response to the sufferings of the poor. On Oct. 18, 1893, lie married Miss Alice Louise, daughter of John E. and Amelia ( Read) Eldred, of Milwaukee, but to their union there was no issue. Mrs. Chandler's father was born in Milwaukee, Aug. II, 1842, was a lumber dealer and later went into the real estate business ; and her mother was born in New Haven, Conn. Both parents are still living in Milwaukee. They were married in Albany in 1864. Their union was blessed with five children, Amelia, wife of William Mc- Laren, Milwaukee ; John E., Jr. ; Howard M. ; Arthur G. ; and Alice Louise, widow of our subject. Her father was a Republican and a member of the Old Settlers' Club. In politics Dr. Chandler was a Dem- ocrat, a member of the Loyal Legion; of the Sons of the Revolution ; of the State Medical Association; of the University Club and of the Milwaukee Club. Dr. Chandler could trace his ancestry back to mem- bers who rendered conspicuous service to their country in the Revolu- tionary war. It is said that "Death loves a shining mark" and it cer- tainly found one when Dr. Ralph Chandler was called to meet his God. He was a martyr in his devotion to the exacting duties incumbent on a conscientious physician, and this of course affected his vitality. It is sad for such a one to be taken when just reaching the meridian of man- hood, to see the ship of life, freighted with all his aspirations, sink when the haven was in sight, compelled to go with his hopes unsatisfied and his ambitions unfulfilled. Truly death is a careless reaper, who cuts down alike the ripe and the unripe grain. While it is wrong to question Providence whose ways are past finding out, nevertheless when we gaze into the coffin that contains the peaceful ashes of this worthy young man, this lover of books, this ripe student of the lore of ages, it requires all our religious philosophy and fervor to submit with resigna- tion. To him we may well apply the words of the great poet :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 42

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