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 5
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George Peckham Miller, of the firm of Miller, Mack & Fair- child, Milwaukee, may well be said to belong to a legal family. His grandfather, Judge Andrew Galbraith Miller, descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors, who immigrated to America in the Colonial
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days, served as territorial judge from November, 1838, succeeding Judge Frazer, until the admission of Wisconsin as a state; when he was made judge of the Federal district comprising the whole state, and discharged all the functions of the Federal judiciary of the state for fourteen years. Andrew G. Miller was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pa., Sept. 18, 1801, and was the eldest of a fam- ily of ten children. In 1827 he married Miss Caroline E. Kurtz, of Harrisburg, Pa., whose father, Benjamin Kurtz, helped to estab- lish the Lutheran church in America. Judge Miller remained upon the Federal bench until Nov. 11, 1873, when he resigned, his resig- nation taking effect the following January. He died suddenly on Sept. 30. 1874. His son, Benjamin K. Miller, was born in Gettys- burg. Pa., May 6, 1830, and came west with his parents in 1838. Al- though the opportunities for education in Milwaukee were at that time meager, Judge Miller, himself a graduate of Washington Col- lege, Pa., in the class of 1819, provided private instruction for his son and he was fitted for college under the tuition of Rev. Alfred L. Chapin, D. D., afterward president of Beloit College, and entered the freshman class of Washington College, pursuing the classical course until near the close of the junior year. Returning home, he began the study of the law under the preceptorship of his father, Judge Miller, and was admitted to the bar upon the day on which he attained his majority. He was married on Sept. 3, 1856, to Miss Isabella Peckham, daughter of Geo. W. Peckham, a banker and law- yer of Milwaukee, and in January, 1857, he became a partner in the firm of Finch, Lynde & Miller, the firm designation remaining un- changed until 1890. Mr. Miller was counsel for interests, especially as to trusts, in the estates of most of the wealthy citizens of Mil- waukee. The firm was also attorneys for the railroads consolidated under the name of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, and also for the receivers of the Northern Pacific Company pending the adjust- ment of claims, Mr. Miller being pre-eminently the office lawyer. He died on Sept. 12, 1898. George Peckham Miller, the second son of Benjamin K. and Isabella (Peckham) Miller, was born Oct. 12, 1858, in Milwaukee. Beside the distinguished legal names already mentioned in connection with the family, there was Rufus W. Peck- ham, uncle of Mrs. B. K. Miller, for many years one of the judges of the court of appeals of the state of New York; Rufus W. Peck- ham of a later generation, born in 1838, and one of the justices of the supreme court of the United States since 1896, and his brilliant brother. Wheeler H. Peckham, nominated as a justice of the same court by President Cleveland. George P. Miller received an excep- tionally thorough education, beginning with his elementary studies. Subsequently he entered the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, in which he was graduated in 1877, intending to enter the banking business in the employ of the late Alexander Mitchell. The bank building being at that time in course of construction, he took a trip to Europe in the meantime, and entered a German university ; and later he decided to continue his studies there, studying law and the philosophy of law at the German universities of Gottingen and Bres-
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lau from 1877 to 1880, taking the degree of J. U. D. (juris utriusque doctor) at Gottingen. He was admitted to the bar in 1881, and the following year began practice in Milwaukee in partnership with his father and Henry M. Finch, Asahel Finch and William P. Lynde. Within the years 1883 and 1885 the last three named died, leaving only B. K. Miller of the original members of the firm. The latter being devoted to the office work, George P. and Benjamin K. Mil- ler, Jr., were intrusted, almost at the beginning of their legal career, with some of the most important litigation of the state, and with the aid of their father, who was a man of great ability and undoubted integrity, they succeeded not only in holding the large business of the firm but in increasing it. George P. Miller has been engaged as counsel by many large corporations and has been in much impor- tant litigation. Among the important estates of which he is trustee may be mentioned those of John Plankinton, E. H. Brodhead, Henry C. Payne, T. A. Chapman and B. K. Miller. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany of New York, of the First National Bank and of the Layton Art Gallery, and is attorney for the T. M. E. R. & L. Company, the Milwaukee Gas Light Company and the Wisconsin Telephone Com- pany. While supporting the Democratic party, he has never been in political life. Although a busy man of affairs, Mr. Miller enjoys social life and belongs to the Milwaukee Country and Town Clubs of the city. On Sept. 28, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura A. Chapman, daughter of T. A. and Laura ( Bowker) Chap- man, of Milwaukee, and two children, Laura Isabelle and Alice Chapman, have been born to them.
Right Rev. Peter M. Abbelen, spiritual director of the convent of Notre Dame, of Milwaukee, is a native of Duelken, Rhenish Prov- ince, and was born on Aug. 8, 1843. His parents, Henry and Mary Katherine (Hinssen) Abbelen, the former a native of the same place and the latter of Boishein, also of the Rhenish Province, spent their lives in their native land, the son coming to America on Nov. 6, 1866, locating at St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee. He ac- quired his early education at the parochial schools of his birth- place, attending Gaesdonk College near Goch, in the Rhenish Prov- ince, and the University of Muenster, Westphalia, Germany. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Francis' Seminary, Jan. 29, 1868, having spent the two intervening years in theological studies. He said his first mass at the seminary on Feb. 2. 1868, and served for a time as a professor, later taking the appointment as pastor to the Catholic church at Cheppewa Falls. On account of failing health he was transferred to a church at La Crosse, but his health again failing, he traveled abroad for nearly a year. After his re- turn he worked as pastor of St. Gabriel's church in Prairie du Chien until 1875. Sickness again compelled him to travel abroad for eight or nine months, and then after a short stay in Prairie du Chien he went, in 1876, to the Convent of Notre Dame, where he has since been acting as spiritual director. He is a prominent figure in church circles and has written some books for the convent, one of them
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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
being "The Life of Mother Caroline, Founder of Notre Dame Con- vent." Father Abbelen was a member of the Council of Baltimore in 1884, and one of the theologians that prepared the work of the council, acting as theologian for the archbishop of Milwaukee, and as one of the notaries of the council. In 1906 he was appointed do- mestic prelate to his Holiness Pope Pius X, which gave him the title of "Monsignor." He was also acting vicar-general to the Arch- bishop of Milwaukee during the absence of Monsignor Rainer in Europe, on whose return he resigned the position. Father Abbelen has won by his exemplary life and winning personal qualities a large place in the work of his church and in the affections of those who are under his spiritual direction.
Marshall C. Moss, of 230 Twenty-sixth street, Milwaukee, president and superintendent of the Rockwell Manufacturing Co., was born at Milwaukee on April 15, 1872, the son of Charles H. and Cordelia A. Moss, the former a native of Reading, England, where he was born on Dec. 13, 1828, and the latter a native of De Kalb county, Ill. Charles H. came to the United States in 1848, before he had attained his majority. He first settled in Milwaukee in 1860, and there became foreman for the firm of Judd & Hiles, at West Water and Sycamore streets. In 1871 the factory of Judd & Hiles burned, and C. A. Hiles assumed the ownership and moved the es- tablishment to the corner of Sixth avenue and Park street. In 1872 the partnership of Sanger, Rockwell & Co. was formed, composed of Mr. Moss, Casper M. Sanger, and H. H. Rockwell. In 1893 the copartnership was reorganized as a corporation and its name changed to The Rockwell Manufacturing Co., with Mr. Rockwell as president and Mr. Moss as vice-president. In 1901 Mr. Rockwell died and Mr. Moss became president of the company, in which ca- pacity he served up to the time of his death in California, April 16, 1903. He was one of the brainiest and shrewdest business men in the city, and was closely identified in many ways with the material upbuilding of the city. His marriage to Miss Cordelia Churchill took place in 1870. His remains were brought back from California to Milwaukee for burial, and now rest in Forest Home cemetery. After the death of Mr. Moss, until March, 1904, the office of presi- dent of the company remained vacant, and at that time his son, Marshall C. Moss, the subject of this sketch, was elected to fill the office, and also continued to act in the capacity of superintendent of the plant. Marshall C. graduated from the ward and high schools of the city, and later attended the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated in the Law Department with the class of 1894. Mr. Moss was exceedingly popular as a student, and was regarded as one of the brightest men in his class. He is a member of the well known Greek letter college fraternity of Psi Upsilon, and also of the law fraternity of Delta Phi. He took a lively interest as a stu- dent in the work of the University Battalion, of which he attained to the rank of Adjutant. His interest in military matters has since continued. and he was a member of the Bugle Corps of the Milwau- kee Light Horse Squadron, Milwaukee's crack cavalry organization.
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Upon the completion of his college course Mr. Moss returned to Mil- waukee, but never entered upon the active practice of the law. In January, 1895, he entered the employ of the Rockwell Manufactur- ing Co .; became secretary of the company on Nov. 28, 1896; was made superintendent on May 14, 1901, and has been president and superintendent since March 31, 1904. The Rockwell Manufactur- ing Co. has developed into one of the important industries of its kind in the United States, employing about 500 men, and it turns out annually an enormous product, consuming a million feet of lum- ber per month ; it manufactures doors, sash, blinds, hardwood fin- ishings, wood mantels, lumber, lath, shingles, etc. Under the able and skillful management of Mr. Moss, the company is today in a highly prosperous condition, and ranks as one of the most success- ful industries in the city. Mr. Moss has been a life-long Republican in politics, but has never sought public preferment on his own be- half. He was most happily married in November, 1897, to Miss Kathryn E. Mathewson, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and the daughter of Edward W. Mathewson, of Menasha, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Moss are the parents of one charming daughter, Jane Winifred, born on Dec. 4, 1898. Mr. Moss is a man of courteous and affable personality, is exceedingly popular in both the business and social life of the city, and possesses a host of warm friends. He is a credit to the city with which he has been identified from the time of his birth, and is a splendid type of the modern, clean, able and progressive young business men. In addition to the college fraternities previously mentioned, he is a member of the Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templar, and also of the Milwaukee Athletic Club.
John J. D. Meinke was born in Lubben in the dukedom of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on July 13, 1834. He received a common country school education and graduated at the age of fifteen years. After he left school on March 1, 1849, he entered into an appren- ticeship, studying the art of carriage manufacturing in Guestrow with Fred Delpho, a carriage maker, for a term of three years. He then left home for the purpose of better educating himself and trav- eled through the European countries. He succeeded in obtaining an engagement in Bremen where he remained until June 15, 1857, when he left his situation to go home and arrange his affairs pre- paratory to a journey to America. Boarding a sailing vessel at Bremen July 3. 1857, in company with his bride-to-be he landed in New York on Aug. 28, 1857. He arrived in Milwaukee on Sept. 5, 1857, with but little means left. Hard times were setting in and there was no work of any kind to be obtained at any price and Mr. Meinke was unable to secure employment for seven months. He engaged to work on April 10, 1858, with Isaac Ellsworth, then a carriage manufacturer. On April 30 he was married to Barbara Preem, who had accompanied him to America. He worked for Mr. Ellsworth two years and seven months, until Oct. 1, 1860, the busi- ness being located at 299-300 Broadway in the city of Milwaukee. His father, Frederick Meinke, was born in Strigo, Germany, in 1800,
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and his mother, Elizabeth (Eggert) Meinke, was born in Vielgert, Germany. The father was a carriage maker by trade in the old country and left for America in 1860, arriving in Milwaukee on July 3 of that year, coming direct to his son, the subject of this review, who was then working for the firm of Isaac Ellsworth. Giving up his position on Oct. 1, 1860, John Meinke and Chris Krop engaged in business on a small scale, doing their manufacturing in a small blacksmith shop at 303-306 Broadway, which was formerly a horse- shoeing shop, 60x80 feet. The owner, Dave Clary, was lost on the Lady Elgin. Carriages, buggies and wagons were manufactured and all kinds of repairing pertaining to that line was done. The father, Frederick Meinke, worked for the new firm. On April 1, 1861. the firm name changed to John Meinke, he buying out Chris Krop's interest, and from that time on the business was progressive. In 1862 John Meinke bought out the firm of Isaac Ellsworth, thus gaining control of his old employer's business, and he carried on both places until the lease expired at 303-306 Broadway. In the fall of 1863 he entered into partnership with Charles Weber, a black- smith, who was then working for him; the Civil war being then in progress, made it hard to get good mechanics. The business was then carried on under the name of John Meinke & Co. until Novem- ber. 1865, when the entire plant was destroyed by fire on Sunday night, effecting almost a total loss. Then the co-partnership of John Meinke and Charles Weber was dissolved by mutual consent, Charles Weber withdrawing. A temporary building was construct- ed and by Friday of the same week three forges were going in full blast on the old site. A store 20x80 at 300 Broadway was rented for wood working and storage purposes, and on July 1, 1866, Mr. Meinke purchased the northeast corner, 294-96-98 Broadway and Detroit streets-the old McCormick hotel site-held by the United States government as a retreat for disabled soldiers until the close of the war in 1865. In July, 1866, the old hotel was remodeled and converted into a permanent carriage factory. In 1869 Broadway and Detroit streets were raised four feet and nine inches, throwing the old manufacturing place practically out of service and making it necessary to build a new plant. On Aug. 1, 1871, the old build- ing was removed to a lot on the northwest corner of Detroit and Milwaukee streets and converted into a hotel again, and a new plant was erected on the old site on Broadway. It was a three-story and basement brick building, 40x120. Mr. Meinke then employed twen- ty-five hands. In the fall of 1872 his father, Frederick Meinke, with- drew to private life on account of old age and lived until Sept. II. 1881. There were nine children born to John J. D. Meinke and wife and of these six died in infancy from one to six years old and three grew to maturity-Ernest, Lilly and Paul. Ernest and Paul, after graduating from school, started with their father in his business and remained with him until death overtook them. Ernest Meinke died Sept. IT. 1894. leaving a wife and two daughters. Paul died Dec. 27. 1807. leaving a wife and one son. John Meinke, Jr. The father then carried on his business alone until the spring of 1899, when he
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retired to private life, disposing of his stock on hand as best he could and renting the property, a part of which is still a carriage manufacturing place at 108-110 Detroit street. Mr. Meinke is the owner of the following real estate: 294-296-298 Broadway ; lots 6 and 7, the south 20 feet of lot 5 in block 15, and the north 30 feet by 120 deep of lot 3, block 38, all in Third ward ; lots 2 and 3 in block 181, Second ward, all in the city of Milwaukee. Mr. Meinke is a member of the St. John's Lutheran church, also a member of the Milwaukee County Old Settlers' Club and the Milwaukee County West Side Old Settlers' Club, a member of the German Immigrants' Aid Society and a member of the Board of Directors. He resides at 274 Tenth street.
Thomas T. Churchill, of Milwaukee, is a member of the law firm of Churchill, Bennett & Churchill, and is a native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, born April 29, 1872. A brief sketch of his parents and ancestry will be found in connection with the biography of his brother, William H. Churchill, elsewhere in this volume. His early education was obtained in the schools of Paris, Ontario. After hav- ing been graduated from the high school of Paris he was employed for a time as secretary of the Milwaukee Cold Storage Company. Deciding to study law, he entered the Milwaukee Law School and was admitted to practice by the State Board of Bar Examiners in December, 1901. In January following he became associated with the firm of Churchill & Donovan, remaining so connected until Jan- uary, 1905, when he became a member of the present firm of Churchill, Bennett & Churchill. They follow a general legal prac- tice and are also agents for the American Bonding Company of Bal- timore, Md. In politics Mr. Churchill is a Republican, but has not actively interested himself in political movements. He is a member of the County and State Bar associations, the order of Free Masons and the Milwaukee Athletic Club.
James Lewis Beals, deceased, was born at North Weymouth, Mass., Sept. 10, 1848. He was the son of Elias S. and Betsey T. Burrell Beals, both born at North Weymouth, Mass. He was edu- cated in the public schools of North Weymouth, Mass., and at a business college at Boston, Mass. He came to Milwaukee in 1867 and engaged as a clerk for Mann & Beals, jobbers and wholesale shoe manufacturers, his brother Frank being the senior member of the firm. Three years later the firm was reorganized, James L. buy- ing the interest of Mr. Mann, and the firm was then known as Beals, Torry & Co., our subject occupying the position of secretary-treas- urer until his death in 1891. Both brothers gained their knowledge of the shoe business from their father, who for many years had been a shoe manufacturer in Massachusetts. The father had also been tax commissioner of North Weymouth for several years. The fam- ily comprised five children, of whom James L. was the fourth. By the application of strict business principles and well-directed energy the company soon became one of the largest concerns of its kind in the West, a position which it still retains. While James L. was painstaking and devoted to the company's records and interest, he
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was nevertheless a great lover of outdoor sports. He was particu- larly fond of fishing, at which sport he spent several weeks each summer on the beautiful lakes of northern Wisconsin. In politics he was a Republican, though never holding an important office, hav- ing no such aspirations. He was a member of Grand Avenue Con- gregational church, a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. On Sept. 9, 1876, he married Miss Etta E., daughter of John and Caroline Moore Fowle, of South Milwaukee. Their only child is Frederick Elias Beals, the present president of the Beals Shoe Company. Mrs. Beals' parents were born in England and came to America in 1834, settling in what is now South Milwaukee. Her father was a farmer and was born about 1794. He farmed and bought and sold govern- ment lands. He died in 1885, at the ripe old age of 91 years.
Clement Blake Bergin Wright, a prominent Episcopal clergy- man of Milwaukee, and canon and chancellor of All Saints' cathe- dral, was born at Montreal, Canada, on Jan. 9, 1871, the son of Wil- liam and Margaret Mason (Harbeson) Wright. His parents were both natives of Quebec, Canada, and his father formerly held the chair of medicine in McGill University of Montreal, Canada; his mother died at Montreal in 1900. Both his paternal and maternal grandparents were natives of England and came to Canada with the British army. His paternal grandfather held an important posi- tion in the office of the Secretary of War for Canada. In September, 1892, Mr. Wright came to the United States, coming direct to Mil- waukee, where he has resided ever since. Canon Wright received a most thorough education, first in the high school of Montreal, where he graduated in 1887, and then attended Bishop's University of Lennoxville, Canada, and was graduated there in 1890 with the degree of B. A. He was also a student at Trinity University, which conferred upon him the degree of B. A. in 1890, and M. A. in 1892; in 1904 the University of Toronto conferred upon him the degree of M. A. He was a student at the Nashotah Theological Seminary, Wis., in 1892-93 and received the degree of B. D. from this institu- tion in 1895, and in 1901 secured the degree of Ph. D. from the Uni- versity of Kansas City, on examination and thesis submitted. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1893 and to the priesthood on March 10, 1895, by Bishop Nicholson. He was an assistant at All Saints' cathedral from 1893 to 1905, and since then has been canon and chancellor, performing the duties of canon. Ever since the year 1894 he has served as secretary of the diocese, and was secretary to Bishop Nicholson at the time of his recent death. He is also editor of the Church Times, the monthly organ of the Episcopal Diocese. published in Milwaukee, and has acted in that capacity ever since 1895. Canon Wright was married on July 31, 1900, to Miss Alice Elizabeth Button, daughter of Henry H. and Elizabeth Button, of Milwaukee, and they have one son, William Harrison Bergin. The well-known scholarly attainments of Canon Wright have brought him into association with numerous learned societies, and he takes . an active interest in all that pertains to the work of these bodies. He is a life member of the Wisconsin State Historical Society and
THE NEW PUBLIC
ASTOP. LOW_ TIT BEN KET
MATTHEW KEENAN
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BIOGRAPHICAL
a member of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, and the Wisconsin Archaeological Society. Mr. Wright is still a young man in the prime of life, possessed of brilliant parts, and with his capacity for work and his pleasing personality, should have a bright future before him.
Peter H. Jobse, M. D., 196 Tenth street, Milwaukee, is of Dutch ancestry, his parents, John and Lavina (Leysenaar) Jobse, having both been born in Holland, the former in 1824 and the latter in 1833. They came to Milwaukee in 1853 and the father was active in the life of the city, entering heartily into the political affairs which culminated in the organization of the Republican party, to which he gave his allegiance from its beginning until his death in 1887. Hle was for twenty years employed as auditor of the Milwau- kee postoffice. His wife died in 1900. Of their family of eight chil- dren five are living-Peter H., born Aug. 10, 1869, attended the pub- lic schools of Milwaukee, obtaining there the foundation for his later education. Later he entered the medical college of the North- western University in Chicago, in which he graduated in 1894, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, and has for the past two years made a specialty of the department of surgery. Since 1902 he has occupied the chair of operative sur- gery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and for the past four years has filled the chair of clinical surgery in the medical de- partment of Marquette University. He is also on the surgical staff of the Emergency Hospital, of the Trinity Hospital, and of the Mil- waukee County Hospital. He belongs to the national, state, county and city medical associations, and is a member of the Phi Rho Sig- ma medical fraternity. In politics he is aligned with the Repub- lican party, and in religious matters is a member of the Presby- terian church.
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