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 44
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126
Eugene Cary, deceased, a distinguished citizen of Milwaukee, was born at Muskego, Wis., Aug. 11, 1848, the son of Owen and Rose ( Kinney) Cary, both natives of Ireland, who came to the United States and direct to Waukesha county, Wis., in 1835, where they set- tled on a large farm and where they lived and labored until they died, six weeks apart, in 1895, he being 73 and she 83 years of age. They were the parents of two sons, Barney and Eugene, our subject, who was educated in the public schools of Waukesha county, working part of the time on his father's farm. He came to reside in Milwaukee
350
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
in 1873, and in 1874 the death of his father-in-law, Edward Hackett, left a vacancy in the sheriff's force, to which he was appointed, and he retained this place for two years, when he resigned to engage in the flour and feed business with Hector Riggs, which partnership lasted twelve years, when Mr. Riggs retired from the firm, and Mr. Cary continued the business alone until his death, in 1903. He was county treasurer of Milwaukee county for four years, filling this very responsible position to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, and when he turned the office over to his successor his books balanced perfectly and every cent of the vast sums of money which he had handled was accounted for. He always took a prominent part in educational matters, and served with great credit as a member of the city school board from the Third ward for eighteen years. He was a director of the St. Rose's Orphan Asylum for twenty years and treasurer of the St. John's Cathedral for twenty-five years. He was a strict Roman Catholic in religion and in politics he was a Demo- crat. He was a member of the Old Settlers' Club, the Catholic Knights, Foresters and Hibernians. On Nov. 30, 1871, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Edward and Bridget (Lannon) Hackett, of Milwaukee, and their union was blessed with eleven chil- dren, three of whom, with his widow, survive him. They are: Mary Jane, William J., and George H., all residing at home. Mrs. Cary's parents were both born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1834. and after remaining six years in the East, they came to Mil- waukee, being thus one of the pioneer families of the city. At first the father followed the pursuit of a contractor, and later, mingling in politics, for which he had a great liking, he was appointed deputy sheriff, and so well did he discharge the duties of this trying and dangerous position that he was retained in the office for fourteen years, or until his death, which occurred Dec. 16, 1874. His loving and devoted wife died Ang. 12, 1885. He was a Catholic, a member of the Old Settlers' Club, and of the first volunteer fire department. Mr. Hackett was a man of sterling qualities. He was kind-hearted, good-natured and generous, but in the discharge of his duties he was fearless and courageous, and when death arrested his life course, it was the capitulation of a brave and honorable official responding to an inexorable law. Our subject, Eugene Cary, was a man of deep religious convictions, of groad Christian charity, the benefactor of the fatherless, and his means and time were freely devoted to the assistance of the needy, particularly the orphans, for his big, kind heart beat responsive to the many wants and ills to which humanity is heir. He was a welcome guest at every board, for he always brought sunshine with his presence and it was his delight to extend the domain of happiness. He was a devoted husband and a loving father, who accumulatel means that his own might not know want in the event of his premature death. He was God-fearing and rec- ognized the accountability of all mankind to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and this impelled him to lighten the burdens and cheer the drooping spirits of his fellow beings. He left the world better than he found it. What a pity he died so soon, at 55. for even had
35I
BIOGRAPHICAL
he reached the coveted three-score years and ten, he would have died too soon, but it is not for us to question Providence. In his untimely taking off his family has sustained an irreparable loss and the city in which he lived a man of real worth and great merit.
Bannard Abram Hall, deceased, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1839, the son of Abraham and Hannah ( Bannard ) Hall, both natives of Northamptonshire, England. The father came to the United States with his family at an early day and settled on a farm in Oneida county, where he ran a dairy and cheese manufac- tory. There were four children in his family : James F., Fannie J., Olive and Bannard A., our subject. Bannard A. received his educa- tion in Fairfield Seminary, Fairfield, N. Y., returning to work on his father's farm after his graduation, and upon his father's death he assumed charge of his family's affairs. He came west in 1867, locating at Madison, Wis., buying wheat for Dodge & Co. He came to Milwaukee in 1871, engaging in the oil portrait business for sev- eral years, after which he was a traveling salesman for the Racine Carriage & Wagon Co., with which firm he continued until his death, Jan. 25, 1905. On Dec. 4, 1860, he married Miss Harriet A., daughter of Maj. R. and Emerett ( Wilson) White, of Madison county, N. Y., their alliance being blessed by five children : Fred W., travel- ing salesman, of Milwaukee; Fannie, wife of W. P. Farrington, city appraiser ; Harriet Louise, wife of H. E. Emerson, Duluth, Minn .; Olive M., graduate nurse, of Milwaukee ; and James F., of New York city. Mrs. Hall's father was born in Ohio and her mother in New York state. The father came west in 1867 and. located in Mad- ison, Wis., where he led a retired life until his death on July 8, 1894. His wife died in April, 1863. Mr. Hall was a consistent member of the Episcopal church. In politics he was a Republican. He was a man of exemplary life and domestic habits, thoroughly devoted to his family, whose growth and progress he watched with parental solici- tude.
Henry N. Bills, the genial secretary of the Independent Mil- waukee Brewing Company, was born in Milwaukee on Dec. 17, 1868. He is a son of Newman and Serena (Graves) Bills, both natives of New York state, who came here with their parents at an early date and were married here. The paternal grandparents were Samuel and Mary Anna (Filmore) Bills and the grandfather followed agricul- tural pursuits all his life with the exception of the four years he served in the Union army during the Civil war. His death occurred in Utah. The father was the host of a modern hostelry and later was a general contractor. He passed away in 1875. Henry N. Bills, the subject of this review, took advantage of the educational oppor- tunities afforded by the public schools of his native city, and after first leaving school worked at various things. For a time he was traveling representative of a New York firm and in 1894 came to Milwaukee to accept a position as agent for the Milwaukee Brewing Company. He retained this connection until 1901. In that year the Independent Milwaukee Brewing Company was organized and in- corporated and Mr. Bills became secretary, the position which he has
352
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
since held with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the firm and its patrons. In December, 1894, Mr. Bills was united in marriage to Miss Martha Schultz, a daughter of Frederick Schultz, of Milwau- kee, born in this city Sept. 28, 1873. To this union have been born three children : Harry, Or-Dehlia and Henry N. Jr. Mr. Bills is a prominent member of the Travelers' Protective Association and is recognized throughout Milwaukee as one of the most enterprising of the city's younger business men.
Clarence Rudolph Falk, the efficient manager of the shops of The Falk Company, was born in Milwaukee on Nov. 27, 1869. He is a son of Franz Falk, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Until he had reached the age of nine years Clarence R. Falk attended the Milwaukee public schools. Then he went to Germany and con- tinued his studies at Frankfort-on-the-Main. Upon his return to Mil- waukee he studied for a time under the preceptorship of a private tutor to prepare himself for admission to Harvard University. In 1893 that institution gave him the degree of Bachelor of Arts after he had completed the full course of four years. Following his grad- uation he took a year of work in the law department of the same institution. He then entered the employ of the Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee, assuming the direction of the savings depart- ment. When he severed this connection some years later it was to allow him to start on a world trip which took eighteen months. His memoirs of the trip are preserved in the files of the Evening Wis- consin and the Milwaukee Journal, to both of which he contributed while away. Starting from San Francisco he visited Hawaii, Japan, China, Manchuria, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Malay peninsula, Java, Bermuda, India, Ceylon, Egypt and the Holy Land, Constanti- nople and Russia. At Moscow he witnessed the coronation of the present Czar. Before returning to America he visited various por- tions of western Europe. For a time after coming back to Milwau- kee he was dramatic critic for one of the daily newspapers of the city and later was successively connected with the Cloos Electrical Engi- neering Company and Tracy & Company, brokers. Mr. Falk's asso- ciation with The Falk Company dates from 1901, when he started in as a rail painter. From this stage he has been promoted through the various branches until now he is manager of the entire works. While at Harvard Mr. Falk became a member of Alpha Delta Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Hasty Pudding Club, and the Institute of 1770. His social relations in Milwaukee are with the Milwaukee Country Club, the Milwaukee Club, the University Club, the Press Club, and the Harvard Club, the latter of which he served as president. On May 14, 1901, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Sawyer, of Milwaukee, daughter of James and Arabella (Wood) Sawyer. This union has been blessed with three daughters: Louise, Margaret and Nancy.
Andrew Edward Crasemann, deceased, was born at Hamburg, Germany. July 5. 1851, being the son of Edward B. and Augusta (Volger) Crasemann, both natives of Hamburg, where the former was born Feb. 4. 1807, and the latter July 1, 1827. The father was a
353
BIOGRAPHICAL
large merchant and the owner of a line of sailing vessels plying between Hamburg and Mexican ports, the business he followed until his demise, which occurred Nov. 25, 1876, leaving three children and a widow surviving him: Andrew Edward, Heinrich Max, and Clara Augusta. Our subject was educated in a private school in Hamburg, at the conclusion of which he entered the German army. After serv- ing his required time in the army he went to London, England, for one year, then came back to Hamburg to engage in business with his father. Being of a globe-trotting disposition he soon left for China and Japan, where he engaged as bookkeeper for a large in- porting establishment. He returned to Hamburg in 1878, on the death of his father, where he remained until 1882, when he came to the United States, locating in Milwaukee, acting as bookkeeper for Riede- burg & Bodden. In 1892 he became a bookkeeper for the Val. Blatz Brewing Company, continuing in this position for nearly three years, at the end of which time he became seized of a desire to see his native land, so he went to Europe and visited the scenes of his youth in Germany in 1894, remaining a year. On his return he went into the commission business for himself and in this he continued until his death, Nov. 3, 1899, at the age of 48. On May 12, 1888, he mar- ried Miss Martha Henrietta, daughter of Frederich and Louise (Lie- senberg) Beckman, both natives of Hamburg, and their union was blessed by the presence of two daughters, Vivian Fredericka and Mar- got Elizabeth, both of whom graduated from the East Side High School this year ( 1908). Mrs. Crasemann's parents were born at Lue- beck, Germany, the father Jan. 9, 1827, and the mother Jan. 22, 1831. The father was a broker and is yet living in a retired way at the ripe old age of 81 years. The mother died Dec. 25, 1893. In politics our subject was a Democrat and he was a staunch member of the Demo- cratic Club; in religion he was very liberal in his views and practices. While he died at a comparatively early age lie had seen much of the world, was a companionable person, a devoted husband, loving father and loyal friend.
William Gutknecht, deceased, a prominent contractor of Mil- waukee, was born Oct. 6, 1851, in Germany, being the son of Gottlieb and Amelia (Dedmand) Gutknecht, both natives of Germany. The father brought his family to the United States, locating on a farm in the town of Oak Creek, Wis., where he died about ten years ago. There were five children in the family, Charles, Albert, deceased. August, Ameila, and William. Our subject received his education in the public schools of Oak Creek, and then helped on his father's farm for a short time. But for a man of Mr. Gutknecht's natural business ability and his disposition to do things above the common place, even though his name meant "good servant", the farm was soon too slow and easy go- ing to satisfy his cravings to be a leader and not a servant. He re- solved to cast his lot in a great city and there fight in the battles that are always being waged in the busy marts of trade, where only the fittest survive. He cast his lot in Milwaukee in 1881, engaging in the contracting business in which he was crowned with high success and he has been generally recognized as a leader in his line in this city. He
23
354
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
was a money maker and a careful investor, having that uncommon and desirable quality that is properly called the "money-sense." He was a stockholder and at one time president of the Milwaukee Brew- ing Company. He also started and was the largest stockholder in the Independent Brewery. He was president of the Cream City Sand Co., and owned the large boat used by the company. His useful and active business career was cut short by death Jan. 1, 1908. On Sept. 4, 1879, he married Miss Odelia, daughter of John M. and Christina ( Nottrott) Seymer, of Oak Creek, Wis., and their marriage was blessed with one son, William H., who is now the president of the Cream City Sand Co. Mrs. Gutknecht's parents were both born in Germany, where the father was a farmer and he came to the United States locating on a farm at Oak Creek, Wis., in 1849, where he lived until 1888, when he retired, moving to Milwaukee, where he died in 1898, at the ripe old age of ninety-two. The mother is still living in Milwaukee. Mr. Gutknecht in religion was a Lutheran, and in politics, while devoting no particular attention to it, was a Republican. He was a member of Robert Chivas Post G. A. R. No. 2. In the Civil war he faithfully served the land of his adoption in the navy on the battleship "Mist" on which he enlisted from the state of Illinois, in 1864, receiving an honorable discharge from the service at the close of the hostilities in 1865. Such, in brief, is the splendid career of a man who came to this country a stranger in a strange land to carve out a competency among a people whose lan- guage and customs were new, yet, and notwithstanding these and other unusual adversities with which life's highway is covered, he fought his way to success, leaving behind him a name untarnished of which his family may well feel proud.
Emil F. Deuster, the affable vice-president and secretary of the Reliance Laundry, was born in Milwaukee on May 8, 1860. He is a son of Joseph and Abbie (Remium) Deuster, the former of whom was born in Aix-la-Chappelle, Rhenish Prussia, and the latter in Grand Rapids, Mich. Joseph Duester came to Milwaukee in a small sailboat with his father, John H., in 1844. The two purchased several tracts of land about 5 miles south of the city limits, and were the founders of a local settlement called New Koelen. The first church established in the settlement was on a two-acre tract given by John H. Deuster for the purpose. When but twenty years of age the father opened a hos- telry known as the Farmer's Inn at the corner of Clinton and Mineral streets. When the war of secession broke out he enlisted to serve in the Union army, but his eyesight being too poor to allow him to enter active service he was given duty as a recruiting officer, a position he fillled until the cessation of hostilities. In 1868 he was elected sheriff of Milwaukee county and served efficiently one term. For ten years he was a member of the city's legislative body and in 1874 was ser- gcant-at-arms of one of the houses of the legislature. In the session of 1893 he represented one of the Milwaukee districts in the lower house of the state legislature. Besides his business interests in Mil- waukee he was identified with a saw-mill company in Michigan. His wife died in 1898 and he is now living retired. Emil F. Deuster, the subject of this memoir, was reared in Milwaukee and received his edu-
355
BIOGRAPHICAL
cational advantages in the parochial schools of the city, the public school and a business college. His first employment was as a messen- ger boy in the state legislature in the capitol at Madison, and when the session during which he served adjourned he came back to Milwaukee and for four years was in the employ of the stamp department of the postoffice wlien George H. Paul was the postmaster. The following six years he was in the employ of the city as deputy water registrar. He served 6 years in the common council 2 terms as trustee of the public museum and one term trustee of the Emergency Hospital. Since 1897 he has been engaged in the laundry business, his first venture in this line being as owner of the Royal Laundry. In 1904 the Royal was consolidated with the Reliance Laundry and the combined firm kept the name of the latter. Upon the merging of the two concerns Mr. Deuster was made vice-president and secretary, and has ever since held that position. Due to his ambition, industry and sterling integrity the firm has met with exceptional success ever since he began his connec- tion with it. In September, 1886, Mr. Deuster was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Erdmann, of Milwaukee, a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Prior) Erdmann. Mr. Erdmann is president of the city park board. To Mr. and Mrs. Deuster have been born three sons, Joseph D., Daniel E. and Clarence R. The members of the family are communicants of the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic church. Fratern- ally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and for the past twen- ty-one years has been treasurer of Wisconsin branch No. 61 of the Catholic Knights. He also served fourteen years in the state militia, starting as a drummer boy in Company C, Fourth Wisconsin infantry, known as "The Old Pabst Guard", and before he resigned had been promoted to the captaincy of the company, and qualified as a marksman under Governor Rusk.
William Nicholas Madden, deceased, was born in Milwaukee county, Wis., on Oct. 22, 1840, being the son of Michael and Bridget (O'Connor) Madden, the former born in Canada and the latter in Ire- land. The father, who was a cooper by trade, came to the United States and to Milwaukee county about 1850 and settled on a quarter of a sec- tion of land which he took as a homestead claim. Later he moved his family to the city of Milwaukee, locating on the South Side, where he died in 1900, his wife having died in 1892. In the family there were five children. Our subject was educated in the schools of Milwaukee county. For several years he worked for the St. Paul railroad in the Freight Department and was then promoted to foreman of that department, a position which he held with ability for thirty years. He departed this life Dec. 25, 1904. On Oct. 22, 1895, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Owen and Ann (McDermott) Goss, of Random Lake, Wis., and their union was blessed with two children, Eugene, deceased, and Susanna at home. Mrs. Madden's parents were born in Ireland and came to Milwaukee in 1849, where the father began business as a con- tractor and this he pursued until his death March 16, 1899. His wife died several years previous. Both were members of the West Side Old Settlers Club. The father of our subject was at one time a soldier in the English army. He died in 1900. Mr. Madden and family were
356
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
members of the Roman Catholic church and he was a member of the Republican party ; of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and of the Sher- idan Guards. He was a man who pursued the even tenor of his way without creating much comment, living an upright life and enjoying the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
Benjamin Painter, deceased, a prominent wholesale milliner of Milwaukee, was born at Charleston, S. C., May 5, 1853, son of Nathan and Caroline (Eisenberg) Painter, both natives of Germany. The father was a surgeon, who came to the United States and located at Charleston, S. C., where he practiced a few years, later moving to Baltimore, Md., where he followed his profession for twenty-eight years or until his death in January, 1882. The mother died in 1897. There were two children in the family, Benjamin and Jennie. Our sub- ject was educated in the public schools of Baltimore. He began life as a dry-goods merchant, but abandoned this to enter the life insunrance field at Cincinnati, Ohio. Later he was engaged in general merchan- dising at Ligonier, Indiana, and subsequent thereto he traveled for a silk concern in New York. He finally came to Milwaukee, where he embarked in the wholesale millinery line, which he conducted until his death, Oct. 31, 1906. July 16, 1882, he married Miss Eva, daughter of Max and Mathilda (Hammel) Goldberg, of New London, Wis. Mrs. Painter's parents were born in Germany, where her father carried on a general store and he then came to Wisconsin in the seventies and settled at New London, engaging again in the general merchandise business, which he followed until he died, May 26, 1884. The mother is still liv- ing. Mr. Painter was a member of the Knights of Honor and B'nai B'rith. He was a member of Ben Jushurum Temple, being a trustee of the same for several years; a member of Keystone Lodge of the Mas- ons ; a member of the Ghetto; a member of the Eastern Star ; a member of the Credit Men's Association ; and a member of the T. P. A. He was a very careful and successful business man, a devoted and consistent believer in the old dispensation. His domestic qualities were of the highest order and at his own hearthstone with his loving and beloved wife at his side the cup of his happiness was filled to the fullest measure.
Nathaniel Spencer Parsons, deceased, was born at Lockport, N. Y., May 4, 1825, a son of William and Amanda (Eggleson) Parsons, the former born in Massachusetts and the latter in New York. The father was a farmer at Lockport, N. Y., and also kept a general store, which he continued to do until his death, Feb. 6, 1855. In the family there were five children, William F., Mary L., Levi, Nathaniel S., and Aman- da M. Our subject was educated at the common schools, high school and business college at Lockport. He began active life by learning the tinner's trade, but abandoned that to follow bookkeeping. In 1859 he went to Colorado to prospect for gold, and in 1865 he returned to Mil- waukee, becoming a bookkeeper for the coal company of Page & Fitz- gerald on South Water street. Again he went to Colorado and pros- pected for gold for seven years, after which he went to New Orleans, La., and then returning to Milwaukee he remained here until his death, Jan. 27, 1901. On Oct. 25, 1866, he married Miss Julia M.,
357
BIOGRAPHICAL
daughter of Chester and Martha (Fowler) Barber, of South Windsor, Conn., and the issue of this union was two children, Elliott, contract- ing and consulting civil engineer, residing at Watertown, Wis., and Ada M., teacher in the West Side high school of this city. Mrs. Parsons' father was born at East Windsor, Conn., and her mother at Middletown in the same state. He was a contractor, owned a large farm, invested heavily in lands and followed the coal business until his death in January, 1885. The mother died in 1862 at the age of 60 years. The father was a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Re- publican party and as a representative of that party he served many years as justice of the peace. He was an honest man "one of the nobl- est works of God", who was of modest and domestic tastes, who loved his family sincerely, and was always solicitous as to their temporal and spiritual well being. He was possessed of a truly charitable and Chris- tian spirit. Our subject was one of his country's defenders, enlisting as a private in Company H, First regiment Colorado cavalry in Septem- ber, 1861. He also served as commissary clerk and was honorably dis- charged in 1865. In politics he was a member of the Republican party, in religion a member of the Episcopal church, and he was also a mem- ber of the G. A. R. Post at Denver, Colo. In an unobtrusive manner he did his whole duty as he was given to see it, and thus pursued and closed a worthy, upright and honorable career.
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.