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 47
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
Michael C. Brzonkala, attorney, of Milwaukee, was born in Po- lish Prussia, Sept. 13, 1872. His ancestors on both sides of the family were farmers and large land owners, but lost most of their property in the Polish wars. His parents, Michael and Anna (Kulasck) Brzonkala, were both natives of Poland, but are now both deceased. The former was born in 1835 and died in 1886, and the latter, born the same year as her husband, died in 1898. The father was by trade a saw-filer in his native land, but on coming to Milwaukee, where economic conditions were quite unlike those in his own country, he worked at different kinds of labor. The son, Michael C., was about twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents to America in 1884. He had obtained some education in the parochial schools of his country, but soon after coming to Milwaukee went to work for a dollar and a half a week. He worked in different factories in the city and extensively throughout the United States, and in 1899, decid- ing to study law, went to the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, where he studied two years, and then attended the St. Paul College of Law at St. Paul, Minn., in which he was graduated in 1903 with the degree of LL. B. He began practicing in Arkansas, where he remained two and one-half years, and then removed to Milwaukee, where he has since followed his profession, doing a general legal business. In the spring of 1908 he was elected city attorney of Cudahy, Yis. In re- ligion he is a member of the Catholic church and in politics is allied to
373
BIOGRAPHICAL
the Democratic party. He is winning for himself an honorable place in his profession, and the same energy and perseverance which enabled him to overcome obstacles which would have been prohibitive to most men, will without doubt carry him forward to an enviable profes- sional career. On Feb. 12, 1896, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria MI. Zakszewski, daughter of John Zakszewski, of La Crosse, Wis. To this union have been born six children: William Jennings, in Iowa; Ray Irwin, in Wisconsin; John Marshall, in Illinois; Ben- jamin Franklin, in Minnesota; Elsie Florence Mildred, in Arkansas, and Michael Howard, in Wisconsin.
Peter S. Brzonkala, attorney, of Milwaukee, is the son of Mi- chael and Anna ( Kulasek) Brzonkala, mentioned elsewhere in this vol- ume in connection with the sketch of a brother, Michael C. Brzonkala. Peter S. was educated in the parochial schools, and studied for a year in Marquette College. He pursued his legal studies in the Mil- waukee law school for two and one-half years, was admitted to practice by examination before the state board on July 3, 1907, and at once opened an office in the city and began the practice of his pro- fession. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and first cousin, on the maternal side, to Rev. Francis R. Czerwinski, assistant pastor of St. Josephat's church. In politics he is aligned with the Democratic party. On June 30, 1896, he married Miss Agnes W. Grams, daughter of Francis S. and Mary (Krzycki) Grams, of Mil- waukee, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Alice A., Esther H., and Eupheumia S.
G. Fred Bossert, who is one of the prominent men in the tan- ning business of Milwaukee, is a native of the Cream City, born there on July 26, 1863. His father was Gottlob Bossert, born at Tubingen, Wurtemburg, Germany, and his mother was a native of Baden, Ger- many. His father immigrated to America in 1852, and after landing on the shores of the United States remained in New York for five years. His mother came to this country in 1854 and came west with her husband in 1857. While in New York Mr. Bossert was employed as a bookkeeper and after establishing his home in Milwaukee became associated with the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company, with which he remained until he retired from active business a few years ago to enjoy a well earned respite from business cares. The subject of this review was educated at the German-English Academy of Milwaukee, and after leaving school learned the tanner's trade in the Pfister & Vogel tannery. After learning the trade he went to Vienna to study the chem- istry of tanning and after spending two years in study there visited other parts of Europe for the same purpose. Upon his return to America Mr. Bossert was placed in charge of the Menomonee tan- neries by the Pfister & Vogel Company, which position he still holds. He is recognized as one of the leading tanners and chemists of the Cream City and is one of the young business men who stands for progress. Mr. Bossert is affiliated with the Masonic order.
Harry E. Bemis, lawyer, is a native of Two Rivers, Wis., born Sept. 15, 1873. The grandparents on both sides of the family were residents of Wisconsin from a comparatively early day. The paternal
374
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
grandfather was in the government employ for many years, being inspector of the lighthouses along the western shore of Lake Michigan. The maternal grandfather was a surgeon by profession and came to Milwaukee in 1841, where he lived for a few years and then moved to Two Rivers, where he practiced his profession for twenty-five years, and until his death. One member of the Bemis family, a cousin of the father of Harry E., of this sketch, was the chairman of the committee on hotels during the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. He was the proprietor of the Hotel Richelieu, Chicago, at one time the finest hotel in the West. The parents of Harry E. were James E. and Minnie (Oswald) Bemis, the former of whom, a native of Rutland, Vt., died in 1901; the latter is a native of Deerfield, Ohio, and was born in 1856. The son was educated in the graded schools and high school of Two Rivers, was graduated from the latter in 1891, and for the five succeeding years was a teacher in Minnesota. In 1898 he came to Milwaukee and began the study of law in the office of W. J. and J. H. Turner, with whom he is still associated. He was admitted to the bar by examination in 1903 and handles the probate work of the office, which has had the settlement of some large estates ; he also attends to the collecting department. In politics he is a Republican, and interested in political movements, but is not a seeker after public office. He is a member of the Congregational church, and of the Milwaukee and Wisconsin State Bar associations, and also of the Equitable and Fraternal Union. He is unmarried.
Arthur Frederick Belitz, attorney, of Milwaukee, was born at Kiel, Manitowoc county, Sept. 23, 1872, and is the son of Henry F. and Helen (Schlichting) Belitz, both natives of Germany, the former born in Prussia and the latter in Oldenburg. The mother is still living, but her husband died in 1878. The parents came to the United States in 1852 and were married in Sheboygan. The father, a teacher by profession in Germany, emigrated in consequence of the revolution that was disturbing the country in 1848. He studied law, and was a practicing attorney and a very prominent man in Sheboygan county. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in what was known as "the German regiment," officially as the Ninth Wisconsin infantry, under Colonel Salomon, and was made captain of Company K, other- wise known as the "Tell Sharpshooters." The regiment was recruited from all parts of the state, but quite largely from the lake counties, and left the state on Jan. 22, 1862, reporting at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where it joined the Twelfth and Thirteenth Wisconsin regiments, for the great Southwest expedition under Gen. "Jim" Lane. It marched 160 miles in March following, to Fort Scott, and although the expedi- tion as first planned was abandoned, yet the regiment saw much hard service and some skirmishing. Captain Belitz was in the expedition under Colonel Weir, when the latter exposed the troops to needless hardships and took them into a position where they were likely to be cut off from their supplies; and Colonel Salomon, the next in com- mand, by the advice of the other officers, arrested Colonel Weir and assumed cammand of the expedition, taking the troops safely through, reaching Fort Scott in time to protect it from a threatened attack.
375
BIOGRAPHICAL
At the instigation of Colonel Weir, Colonel Salomon was court-mar- tialed for mutiny, but was fully exonerated and later promoted. The object of the expedition was largely to intimidate the Indians, who had been instigated by the Confederates to take the field against the govern- ment, and that purpose was fully accomplished, many of the Indians giving up their arms and others forming four companies of an Indian regiment for the assistance of the Union troops. The regiment was almost constantly on the march and suffered greatly from the heat and want of water. Later it participated in the engagements at Cane Hill and Prairie Grove, the raid to Rhea's Mill, on Van Buren, and in the pursuit of Marmaduke. Captain Belitz resigned his commission in the Ninth Wisconsin, and later organized the Forty-fifth volunteer infantry, of which he was commissioned colonel, and participated in the engagements with that regiment in Tennessee, and was mustered out at the close of hostilities. Beside Colonel Belitz there were four of his brothers and brothers-in-law in the army during the Civil war. Arthur F. attended the public schools of Keil and New Holstein, and the high school at Chilton, supporting himself by doing chores, and was grad- uated from the latter in 1888. After teaching for two years he went to Milwaukee and entered the business college, and afterward worked in the Merchants' Exchange Bank, and for the Milwaukee Harvester Company, as collector, for one year. He then entered a law office, and after spending some time in legal study, applied on Jan. 2, 1895, for a position in the Federal civil service and was appointed to the quartermaster general's office in the war department, remaining until 1899. In the meantime the war with Spain broke out, and he was placed in charge of the clerical work connected with water transpor- tation, under Col. Chas. Bird. This was technical work and very val- uable experience. In 1899 he left Washington, D. C., for Cuba, and was there clerk in charge of the construction of barracks, under Gen. C. F. Humphrey, afterward quartermaster-general. In 1900 he returned to Washington and was assistant editor of the publications of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in the treasury depart- ment, two years, and was then appointed to a position in the Bureau of Standards, acting as disbursing agent until 1904. In the mean- time he had been pursuing his legal studies in the law department of the George Washington University at the national capital, and on leaving returned to Wisconsin and entered the law department of the state university, also acting as secretary for Justice Winslow of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He was graduated from the College of Law in 1905, with the degree of LL. B. and remained with Judge Winslow another year, assisting him in the preparation of Wins- slow's Forms for publication, which was issued in two volumes in 1906. On Jan. 1, 1907, he came to Milwaukee and is associated with the well-known law firm of Kronshage, McGovern & Fritz. Justice Wins- low says of him: "He is a young man of unusual legal and business ability-has not only exceptional natural legal perception, but has a thorough legal education and is well grounded in the basic principles of the law, instead of being a mere finder of cases. He is industrious, thoroughly reliable and always genial and pleasant to work with." In
376
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
view of his experience, preparation and native qualities, by which he has won his way since he was thirteen years of age, he has without doubt before him a promising professional career. He is a member of the advisory board of the Milwaukee Maternity Hospital. In politics he is independent, and in 1892 served as a delegate to the Pop- ulist county convention in Milwaukee. On Aug. 15, 1900, he was mar- ried to Charlotte M. Ullrich, daughter of William F. and Katherine (Steele) Ullrich, of Washington, D. C. Captain Ullrich was the first person in the United States to enlist for service in the Civil war. He was a member of Cole's cavalry of Maryland, and after a ninety days' service re-enlisted and served until the close of hostilities. He then entered the regular army and served for forty years, mostly in the West, and slept with the "boys" of the Spanish-American war in the trenches of Santiago. He is still living at Washington, D. C.
William Benjamin Rubin is the senior member of the well- known law firm, Rubin & Zabel, with offices in the Cawker building in the city of Milwaukee. This firm ranks among the leading ones at the bar of the Cream City, its practice being especially marked in what is known as "jury cases," and in this branch of the profession it has few equals in the number of cases handled and won. Mr. Rubin was born in the little city of Borispola, in the State of Poltava, in South Russia, on Sept. 1, 1873, son of Henry and Bertha (Bernstein) Rubin, both of whom were also born in Russia. The paternal ancestors were mer- chants in the Czar's domain, while on the mother's side they were num- bered among the land-owners. A maternal uncle served with dis- tinction in the Crimean war, also in the last Turko-Russian war, and in recognition of his services the Czar conferred distinguished honors upon him. Henry Rubin, the father of the subject of this review, migrated with his family to America in 1883, and, locating in Mil- waukee, he established himself in the mercantile business, which he followed until his death. In his native land he had followed similar pursuits and had also followed the profession of the law. He died in Milwaukee in 1901 and his widow still resides in that city. William B. Rubin received his preliminary education in the public schools of Milwaukee, completing a high school course in two years, after which he took a three-years' course in engineering in the University of Wis- consin. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in which he received the degree of Bachelor of Letters in 1895 and that of Bachelor of Laws in 1896. Returning to Milwaukee, he im- mediately began the practice of his profession, and was so engaged alone until January, 1906, when he entered into parnership with Mr. Zabel, the firm name being Rubin & Zabel. Mr. Rubin's sympathies are always enlisted in the cause of the oppressed and his talents are frequently called into action in defense of that class against the oppression and encroachment of those who would wrong them, in which matters he never asks for compensation. In the last decade he has appeared many times as the champion of labor organizations, and he succeeded in dissolving the first labor injunction ever dissolved in the State of Wisconsin and the second one dissolved in the United States. He has consistently refused retainers offered, preferring to remain a
377
BIOGRAPHICAL
strictly anti-public corporation attorney. He was prominently identified with the Henry Goll case, acting as chief counsel for the defense upon only one week's notice, after the counsel who had been in the case for one year withdrew. On this, though he was on the losing side, the papers complimented him highly for the manner in which he con- ducted the defense, and for the skill he displayed as a trial lawyer. He has had remarkable success in murder cases and in criminal law generally, while in civil practice he lias met with even more good fortune. In the civil courts of Milwaukee his firm has had, for the last four years, more cases on the calendar, and has tried more cases than any other firm. In one case in particular Mr. Rubin saved 700 policy-holders from paying assessments to the Minneapolis Fire & Marine Insurance Company after the company had become insolvent. In another instance an undertaker, in charge of a burial, was refused carriages by the liverymen because the undertaker was a non-union man; suit was brought against the officers of the liverymen's union, and Mr. Rubin defended ; he lost the decision in the lower court, but taking an appeal, he secured a reversal of the decision and a victory for his clients before the Supreme Court of the state. Mr. Rubin was also retained for the defense in the Schissler murder case, to move for a rehearing of the case in the Supreme Court, after the defendant had been convicted and after a new trial had been denied by the Supreme Court. One of the most notable cases in which Mr. Rubin has been retained was the famous molders' case, in which the Allis-Chalmers Company secured an injunction against 1,000 molders. Mr. Rubin succeeded in having the original temporary injunction, which was issued by Judge Quarles of the United States District Court, modified. The injunction, which was sweeping in its terms, was there- after made permanent by Judge Sanborn, and from this decision the molders appealed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. Al- though such eminent and older counsel as Mr. Judson, of St. Louis, and James D. Beck, of New York, were retained in the case, Mr. Rubin was given the unusual honor of making the closing argument before the court. As may be inferred from his attitude in his profes- sional life, his sympathy for the unfortunate extends further than the limits of the court-room, and he has assisted in the organization and is a prominent worker in many charitable movements. When a man is put on trial for his liberty, and he has no money, he will defend him, always refusing to take an appointment from the court, as he does not care to put a charge against the county. He was married on Sept. 12, 1897, to Miss Sophia, daughter of Joseph A. and Josephine Mesirow, also an active worker in the field of charity, and to this union there has been born one son, Abner. Mr. Rubin is a member of no political party, but always takes an active interest in all civic matters, and advises all workingmen to vote for themselves. They have called upon him, during the last six years, to make four Labor Day addresses, an honor which Milwaukee unions have accorded to no other person, and he has received at different times gifts from labor unions as tokens of their appreciation of his services-a watch and chain from the tanners, a library table from the building trades, a desk from the
378
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
steamfitters, and handsome testimonials from the machinists and molders. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Eagles, Macca- bees, Woodmen, Turners, the Germania Society, and B'nai B'rith, and he also has membership in the Milwaukee and the State Bar Associa- tion. He was one of the founders of Mt. Sinai Free Hospital and for several years a member of its board of directors; also one of the founders and a director of the Provident Loan Society, which was organized for the purpose of loaning money, at low interest, to worthy people in distress, and thereby exterminating the numerous "loan sharks" that have been preying upon the unfortunate poor. He is pres- ident of the Independent Jewish charities of Milwaukee.
Henry Victor Kane is numbered among Milwaukee's successful attorneys. He is a native of Milwaukee, the son of Patrick and Kathar- ine Kane, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter at Sunderland, England. He received his early education in the parochial schools of Milwaukee, and completed the classical course of Marquette College in June, 1899, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered Georgetown College, Washington, D. C., where the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him in 1900, that of Doctor of Philosophy in 1901, and that of Bachelor of Laws in 1902. After leaving the law school at Georgetown he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in September, 1902. Since then he has devoted himself to general practice of the law in his native city. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a practical Roman Catholic and is a member of a number of organizations affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. He has also membership in the Milwaukee Bar Asso- ciation, the Jefferson Club, and is a member of the executive com- mittee of the Marquette College Alumni Association, of which he was president during the years 1904 and 1905.
Charles H. Phillips, a prominent attorney of the city of Mil- waukee, was born in that city on Jan. 21, 1859, son of Joseph and Mary (End) Phillips, the former of whom came to Milwaukee in 1842, when but a mere boy, and became a clerk in a general merchandise business, located at the corner of Chestnut and Third streets, of which Mr. Phil- lips and George End afterward became the proprietors, as co-partners. under the firm name of Phillips & End. and continued in the general merchandise business until sometime after the war, when Mr. End located at Sheboygan, Wis., and Mr. Phillips established a tannery and continued in the business until 1877, when he disposed of his tannery to the Pfister & Vogel Leather Co. He then established, and until his death on Sept. 10, 1906, was the senior member of the firm of Phillips & Rebhan, in a general fire insurance business. In the early days of Milwaukee Mr. Phillips took a great interest in politics, and in 1870 he was mayor. Mr. Phillips' mother died when he was less than ten years of age. Charles H. Phillips received his early education in the parochial schools and later attended the public school and Mark- ham's Academy and completed a course at the Spencerian Business College. His first employment was that of bookkeeper in his father's tannery, and while connected with his father he also learned the tan- ner's trade ; and when his father disposed of the business to the Pfister
379
BIOGRAPHICAL
& Vogel Leather Co., he remained with that firm as salesman until 1889, then accepting a position with another firm of tanners and remained with them until late in the year 1890. On Jan. 1, 1891, he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the office of the Secretary of State at Madi- son and remained so employed until January, 1895, during the incum- bency of Thomas J. Cunningham as Secretary of State, and while thus engaged he took a course in the law department of the University of Wisconsin, in addition to his clerical duties, and graduated there in 1893, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In 1895 he returned to Mil- waukee and established himself in the law business, and is enjoying a fine practice, having associated with him his son Joseph. He was mar- ried on Nov. 19. 1884. to Miss Helen Ramstack, of Milwaukee, and to this union there have been born two children, viz : Joseph and A. Helen. His political principles have always been Democratic. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Calumet Club, Milwaukee Bar Association and other social organizations.
Edwin G. Kohlsdorf, D. D. S., graduate of the Milwaukee Med- ical College, Dental Department, 1904, now practicing his profession in Milwaukee, was born at West Bend, Washington county, Wis., on Sept. 19. 1880. He is the son of John Kohlsdorf, born in Germany in 1849, and Anna ( Arzbacher) Kohlsdorf, born in Washington county, Wis., in 1855. The paternal grandfather, Robert J. Kohlsdorf, a native of Bres- lau, Prussia, born Dec. 27, 1815, brought his family from Germany in 1853, and after several moves around the state settled at West Bend, Wis. A miller, like his father, he built the Kohlsdorf Mills on the Mil- waukee river in the northeast corner of section 13, West Bend, Wis. He resided on a farm bought from Judge Mann in 1870, outside of West Bend, where he lived until 1890, coming then to Milwaukee, where he afterward died. He was a captain in Company E, Tenth Wisconsin infantry, from 1861 to 1863. His wife, Bertha ( Fliegel) Kohlsdorf, native of Prussia, and to whom he was married in 1848, died in Milwau- kee. The maternal grandfather, native of Braubacham Rhine, born in 1826, a graduate of medicine in the university of Gueshine, came to this country in 1851 and settled in the state of Wisconsin and afterwards in West Bend, there being the pioneer leading practitioner until his death in 1866. His widow, Clara (Nockin) Arzbacher, is now a resident of Milwaukee, the only living prandparent of the subject of this review. Dr. Kohlsdorf received his primary education in the public schools of Milwaukee and then attended one of the high schools. He matriculated at the Milwaukee Medical College in 1901 and there received his degree of Dental Science in 1904. Since graduating he has practiced in Mil- waukee. Professionally he is a member of the Southern Wisconsin Den- tal Society and the Wisconsin State Dental Society. While a student at the Milwaukee Medical College he became affiliated with the Psi Omega Dental fraternity, and is now a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 265. of the Free and Accepted Masons.
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.