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 55
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was twenty-one years of age, and formed a partnership with John M. WV. Pratt, under the name of Pratt & Ogden. After the dissolving of this association he practiced alone for some time, and then in 1889, formed a business connection with Mr. Hunter, to which Mr. Bottum was later added, the firm name being Odgen, Hunter & Bottum. This firm was dissolved in 1894, and for the year following Mr. Ogden was associated with the firm of Quarles, Spence & Quarles, the senior mein- ber of the firm being Hon. J. V. Quarles, afterward United States senator, and now judge of the United States court for the Eastern dis- trict of Wisconsin. In March, 1895, he formed a partnership with Frank M. Hoyt, which continued until May, 1898, when the present firm of Ryan, Ogden & Bottum was formed, the senior member being Hugh Ryan, son of former Chief Justice Edward G. Ryan. Mr. Ogden has been engaged in many important legal matters and much litigation involving large sums of money and very valuable property. He was one of the counsel in the action brought to construe the will of S. S. Merrill, in which the Supreme Court of Wisconsin made the ruling that personal property could be tied up and not subject to transfer, without limit of time. This was the expression of a new principle of law and very far-reaching in its effects. He was also counsel in cases brought to set aside the inheritance tax law passed by the legislature. The Supreme Court, however, held that the law was constitutional. These and many other cases in which he has been employed are of great importance, and the principles established involved property rights and values which are beyond computation. It is in legal work of this character that Mr. Ogden, although a com- paratively young man, has been engaged. He has been a prominent member of the Milwaukee bar for many years, and is considered one of the leaders among the legal fraternity of the city. In politics he is ranked with the "Gold Democrats," but has never been active in the political field, largely on account of his extensive and heavy law practice. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and his profes- sional and social relations are marked by membership in the county, state, and American bar associations, and in the Milwaukee Club.
Jackson Bloodgood Kemper, attorney, of Milwaukee, was born at Nashotah, Waukesha county, Wis., on Jan. 25, 1865, and is the son of Lewis A. and Anna ( Bloodgood) Kemper. The former, son of the distinguished Bishop Jackson Kemper, was born in Philadel- phia, July 19, 1829, and died April 26, 1886. The latter was born in Holton, Me., Jan. 30, 1833, and died Sept. 25, 1886. The paternal ancestors of Mr. Kemper came to America in 1740, and his great- grandfather, Daniel Kemper, son of the original settler, was a colonel in the War of the Revolution and a member of the Order of Cincin- nati. His grandfather, Bishop Kemper, was born Dec. 24, 1789, and died May 24, 1870, at Nashotah, where he is buried. He was made bishop in 1837, became the first missionary bishop of the Northwest, and in 1857 the first bishop of the diocese of Wisconsin. Nashotah, originally a mission, developed later into a theological school, and Bishop Kemper's name is indelibly connected with the growth and development of this institution. Kemper Hall, a girls' boarding school
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in Kenosha, Wis., was named in his honor. A brother of Bishop Kemper, Daniel R., was one of a company of young men who went, in 1805, to South America to assist the people of Venezuela to gain their independence. They were captured by the Spaniards and shot. Recently the Venezuelans erected a bronze monument in their honor. Mr. Kemper's father was also an Episcopal clergyman, and a pro- fessor in the theological school at Nashotah from 1850 until his death in 1886. He was very prominent in the church, was a member of the standing committee and a delegate to several of the Episcopal conventions of the United States. His name came up prominently for the bishopric in 1874, and he would undoubtedly have been elected had he permitted his name to be used. On the maternal side the family is equally distinguished. Mr. Kemper is the eighth in descent from Francis Bloodgood (Francois Bloetgoet), who came to America from Amsterdam, Holland, in 1658, and settled at Flushing, L. I. He was secretary of the Dutch Commissioners, a member of the council, and occupied other prominent positions. He was killed by the Indians in 1676. A descendant, William Bloodgood, was an officer in the Rev- olution from the New York colony, and the family has always been prominent in the political, commercial, and educational life of the state. One great-grandfather of Mrs. Anna (Bloodgood) Kemper was Maj. John Whistler, grandfather of the eminent artist, James Whistler, and who was with the Maryland troops at the battle of Miami. William Bloodgood, grandfather of Jackson B., of this sketch, was born in 1801 and died in 1874. He was a graduate of West Point and, until 1837, an officer in the United States army. Jackson B. Kemper was educated at Racine College and was graduated in 1884 with the degree of B. A. In 1886 he began the study of law in the office of his uncle, Francis Bloodgood, was admitted to the bar on examination in 1888, and was taken into partnership with his uncle and cousin under the firm name of Bloodgood, Bloodgood & Kemper. In 1893 William J. Turner, now a circuit judge of Milwaukee county, entered the firm, which was known as Turner, Bloodgood & Kemper until in 1896, when Mr. Turner retired and a younger member of the family, Wheeler P. Bloodgood, joined, making the firm Bloodgood, Kemper & Bloodgood. Mr. Kemper represented the trustees under Governor Ludington's will in the cases brought for its construction, and in the subsequent litigation with the widow of Governor Luding- ton. The firm was largely interested in the litigation arising out of the bank failures of 1893, has also been engaged in many of the heavy bankruptcy cases since the present bankruptcy law went into effect, and in much other important litigation, and has a large general law practice. In politics Mr. Kemper is a Republican, but has never been an active participant in the field. He is a member of the Episcopal church, of the county and state bar associations, and of the Milwaukee, University, Milwaukee Country and Town clubs. On March 3, 1891, he was united in marriage to Miss Luella Greer, daughter of William T. and Harriet E. Greer, of Louisville, Ky. They have no children.
Patrick Henry Durnin, Catholic priest and pastor of the congre- gation of St. Rose, Milwaukee, was born in that city, Aug. 14, 1855-
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His parents, Patrick and Mary ( McGuirk) Durnin, were both born in Ireland, the former in March, 1832, and the latter in December, 1839, and are both living. They immigrated to the United States in 1843, locating first in New York, and coming to Milwaukee in 1855. An- other son, George A., is a priest and professor of homiletics and English literature at St. Francis Seminary; Thomas J. is secretary of the Central Investment Company, with offices in the Marine Na- tional Bank building, and has charge of much valuable real estate, practically all that the Mitchell Bank owns or controls; John J., Philip D., Charles W., and Frank X., are proprietors and managers of the Cream City Laundry ; Mary A., the oldest sister, lives with and keeps house for Rev. P. H. Durnin ; Margaret T. is a teacher in the public schools, and Elizabeth is at home with her parents. Patrick H. received his early education in the public schools and later became a student in St. Francis Seminary, entering in 1871. He was ordained on June 27, 1880, by Archbishop Heiss, and officiated at his first mass on July 4, 1880, in the same church where he was baptized, St. John's Cathedral. His first charge was as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's, on the South side, Milwaukee, where he remained ten months, and was then assigned to the pastorate of St. Francis Borgia's church, at Cedarburg, Wis., where he remained for five years. St. Rose's church, Racine, was his next charge, staying there about two years, and on Feb. 19, 1888, he came to Milwaukee, where he organ- ized the parish of St. Rose and built the church which serves the con- gregation to-day, a handsome structure of cream brick, seating about 800. The parish now includes 700 families, and at Easter there are about 2,800 communicants. The church property includes the church edifice, pastor's house, a frame building, two school buildings (that for primary work a frame building, and for the graded schools, of brick), and a frame house for the Sisters employed in the school and other church work. All of these have been erected by Rev. Father Durnin and are valued at about $80,000, with only $20,000 of indebtedness. Twelve teachers are employed in the schools, which num- ber about 500 pupils. The pastor is an earnest and enthusiastic worker among his people, and the results of his labors are self-evi- dent. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and Catholic Foresters. He was the first person, born of English-speaking parents in Milwaukee, who was raised to the dignity of the priesthood.
Ferdinand Joseph Falbisoner, of Milwaukee, is a priest of the Catholic church, and is now temporary chaplain of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Racine. He was born at Vulpmis Tyrol, Austria, Sept. 20, 1877, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Falbisoner, natives of the same place. The parents came to Waukesha in 1884, and the father is now employed in the Sacred Heart sanitarium. Ferdinand J. came to this country with his parents, and was educated at the parochial school of St. Joseph's, Alverno, Manitowoc county, Wis., at Pio Nona College, and at the Seminary of St. Francis. He entered the seminary in 1897, was ordained by Archbishop Messmer on June 18, 1905, and said his first mass on June 25. He was appointed assistant at St.
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Lawrence, Milwaukee, and after serving there for a period of two years was assigned to duty as temporary chaplain of the Sacred Hart Sanitarium on April 30, 1908.
Rev. Boleslaus Edward Goral was born on March 12, 1876, in West Prussia, German Poland. Here he received his elementary edu- cation. In 1889 he came to America and entered at once the Polish St. Cyrill and Methodius Seminary in Detroit, Mich. His classical and philosophical studies were absolved in this institution with marked success. When he decided to devote his life to the priesthood he joined the archdiocese of Milwaukee, and in the fall of 1896 entered the Seminary of St. Francis of Sales in St. Francis, Wis. In this famous abode of learning he finished his theological studies in 1899, winning the first prize, a gold medal, for the best Latin
dissertation on the habit and man as its subject. He was ordained priest by Most Rev. F. X. Katzer on June 18, of the same year. Rev. B. E. Goral was appointed professor of the institution where, but scarcely two months before he had been making his studies. He assumed his duties as professor in St. Francis in the fall of the year 1899. This position satisfied his craving for learning and knowledge, and gave him ample opportunity for further practical and theoretical development of his studies. Rev. Goral was the first Polish professor at St. Francis Seminary. He taught, during the nine years and two months of his professorship, Greek, German, French, Polish, Latin, and Polish Homiletics. During the last years prior to his resigna- tion he taught Philosophy and Homiletics exclusively. Rev. B. E. Goral has a decided taste for literary life. When yet a student he composed many poems or translated them from other languages into Polish. Some of these, concealed under pseudonyms, have appeared in print, others still rest in manuscripts. He has also contributed many an article on various different subjects to the Polish press. Some of his sermons have, likewise, been printed in Polish journals. As translator he has attained quite a distinction. Some dramas, trans- lated by him from German or English, have been produced on the stage by the St. Stanislaus Literary and Debating Society of St. Francis Seminary, and other dramatic societies. The comic opera "Bells of Corneville" (Chimes of Normandy), in his rendition, has been produced on the stage in Milwaukee with decided success. Rev. B. E. Goral is the only Polish-speaking collaborator of the monu- mental Catholic Encyclopedia which is being published in New York. Force of circumstances, and still more lack of time, have prevented him from writing more in English. "Zasady interpunkyi polskiej" (Ele- ments of Polish Punctuation Marks), published by Rev. Goral in 1905, has met with most favorable criticism. Competent European critics have pronounced this treatise the best that has yet been written upon this subject in the Polish language. The subject of our sketch is a well-known "book worm." With special predilection he has pur- sued the study of Polish philology and linguistics. He points out with pride that he is the possessor of the best equipped library in Polish philology and linguistics in America. In fact, there is hardly any work of some importance on these subjects that can not be found
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in his collection. The great love which he has always shown for philological studies, finally influenced him to issue a periodical in this line. Thus it came about that in 1905 he began to publish the "Oredownik Jezykowy" (Language Messenger), a monthly devoted to the furtherance of the Polish language, literature, and pedagogy at large. This monthly has already done very much to preserve the purity and integrity of the Polish language, special attention being paid to the Polish-American slang. Some of the best living Polish philologists of Europe are its permanent collaborators. This magazine has demonstrated that the Rev. B. E. Goral is an accomplished Polish philologist, and is recognized as such by the Polish philologists in Europe. The "Oredownik Jezykowy" is being read by the elite of the Polish-Americans, especially by teachers and students of higher institutions. Rev. Goral is also well known in pedagogical circles. He was charged by the Polish Executive Committee of Chicago, Ill., with the preparation of a new series of Polish text-books for use in parochial schools. Lack of time prevented him from writing the books. Rev. Goral is a member of the diocesan school board of Mil- waukee. In 1906 Rev. B. E. Goral was the motive power of the found- ing of a new Polish weekly, called the "Nowiny" (News), which appeared towards the end of that year in the city of Milwaukee. Rev. Goral was its editor-in-chief during the time it existed as a weekly publication. In 1908, when the Nowiny Publishing Company was reorganized and decided to publish a daily, the present flourish- ing "Nowiny Polskie" (Polish News), Rev. Goral was chosen its president, treasurer and general manager. This company also pub- lishes the weekly "Tygodnik Polski" (Polish Weekly), a popular organ of the farmers of Wisconsin and the northwest. In October, 1908, Rev. Goral resigned from his professorship in St. Francis Semi- nary and assumed charge of St. Vincent de Paul Congregation in Milwaukee. He has not, however, given up his beloved studies, philol- ogy and philosophy. Rev. B. E. Goral is comparatively yet a young man, full of energy, and is determined to serve, to the best of his ability, the interests of his countrymen and mankind at large.
Anton Isidor Decker, pastor of the parish of St. Antonius, Mil- waukee, was born at Folscheid, Luxemburg. Dec. 27, 1844. His par- ents. Peter and Anna Catherine (Agnes) Decker, were both natives of Luxemburg, the former born at Redange, in 1814, and the latter at Folscheid, in 1810. Rev. A. I. Decker came to the United States with his parents, landing on Aug. 10, 1846. The family settled on a farm in Ozaukee county, near Dacada, Sheboygan county, and there he spent his youth. Arriving at manhood he chose the vocation of the ministry and entered St. Francis Seminary at St. Francis, near Mil- waukee, to prepare for his work. He was ordained on Dec. 20, 1871, by Bishop Henni, and officiated at his first holy mass, Dec. 25, 1871, at Dacada. He was first appointed assistant to Rev. L. Conrad, of the Holy Trinity church, Milwaukee, and, in 1872, organized the new parish of St. Antonius, where he has been the pastor for the past thirty-five years, his twenty-fifth jubilee having been celebrated on Dec. 25, 1896. He started a parochial school in 1872 with 140
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pupils, and it now numbers 800. Religious services were held in the school building until 1881, when the present church, which is of solid stone, was built. A parsonage has also been erected, and the latest improvement on the church property is a large hall. The lower floor contains a dining-room, billiard, pool, and committee rooms, and the upper floor a large assembly hall with a seating capacity of 700, with a handsomely fitted stage, etc. Various parochial societies, established at the time of the organization of the church, are in a flourishing condition, among which may be mentioned the Women's and the Young Ladies' societies, also St. Anthony's, established in 1872. Rev. A. I. Decker also has charge of the new church cemetery, Mount Olivet. This is well laid out and is very beautiful, reflecting much credit on both his taste and care. He is a man well known throughout the city, and is very zealous in the prosecution of his work.
Augustus C. Umbreit, attorney, of Milwaukee, was born in Green Lake county, Wis., Jan. 7, 1861, and is the son of Rev. Traugo H. and Catherine (Blochwitz) Umbreit, both natives of Germany, the former born in Saxony and the latter in Bavaria. The father came to the United States in 1840 at the age of eighteen, coming directly to Wisconsin. The mother came in 1844 with her parents, being at the time six years of age, the two families settling on adjoining farms in the town of Manchester, Green Lake county. The father was one of the pioneer ministers of the Methodist church and moved about from place to place according to the itinerant plan of that organiza- tion, serving, at different times, four churches in the city of Mil- waukee. After retiring from active work he made his home in Beaver Dam, Wis., where both he and his wife died, the former in 1899 and the latter on Aug. 30, 1896, both being buried at Man- chester. Augustus C. received his early education from his mother, and then at the public schools in the various towns where his father was stationed. Entering the high school at Madison he was gradu- ated in 1879, and in the autumn of that year he entered the University of Wisconsin, taking the ancient and modern classical courses, and was graduated in June, 1883, with the degrees of A. B. and B. L., with special honors in Latin and in English literature. The next two years were spent in teaching first as the principal of the high school in Winnebago, Ill., and then as principal of Allen's Academy in Chicago. In 1885 he took his master's degree in Greek and history, and continued his work as an educator for two years longer, then taking up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1892, and immediately began the practice of his profession, contin- uing in private practice until he received the appointment as assistant district attorney in January, 1895, serving in that capacity until 1901. Mr. Umbreit is a lawyer of unusual ability, and his legal training, supplemented by his broad general culture, has given him large suc- cess in his profession, especially as a court lawyer, where he has con- ducted to a successful issue a number of important criminal cases for the state. One case of peculiar interest in which he appeared as attorney is known as the "Terlinden case," and was begun in 1901. A manufacturer of Germany absconded from that country with about
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$400,000. He was arrested at the instigation of the German consul at Chicago, when the question of extradition came up before the United States court commissioner. Mr. Umbreit appeared for the defendant and was beaten. In an appeal to the United States district court the lower court was sustained. An appeal was then made to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that it had no jurisdic- tion, and a final appeal was made to the United States Supreme Court, Mr. Umbreit arguing the case in January, 1902. After two months the Supreme Court rendered a decision sustaining the lower court and the prisoner was sent to Germany. At this time the attorneys' fees had amounted to $7.500, and the prisoner had about $20,000 in the Mil- waukee banks, but it was tied up by the claims of German creditors. Mr. Umbreit then sued for the amount due him, obtained judgment against Terlinden, and then "intervened," i. e., asked to be made a party with the German creditors, on the ground that as a domestic citizen his lien was superior to that of the German creditors, they being foreigners, which contention the lower court did not sustain. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin overruled the decision of the lower court. giving its decision in the case in 1906. From this the German creditors appealed to the United States Supreme Court on the ground that the de- cision interfered with the treaty between the two nations, and that court sustained the decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Mr. Umbreit is a Republican, but not active in political matters. In religious faith he is a member of the Episcopal church, and belongs also to a number of social and fraternal associations : the Calumet Club, the West- minster Civic League, the Sunset Club, the Royal Arcanum, and the University Club. He was united in marriage on Sept. 1, 1886, to Miss Helen Stanton, daughter of Loadovie and Emma ( Mckenzie) Stanton. Mrs. Umbreit is a distant relative of Edwin M. Stanton, the great secretary of war under President Lincoln, and is of Colonial descent, tracing, as a Daughter of the American Revolution, her ances- try back through both the paternal and maternal lines to participants in that immortal struggle. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Umbreit, namely : Stanton C., Freda E., and George M.
Albert W. Ladewig, M. D., a practicing physician in the city of Milwaukee, was born at Grand Haven, Mich., on Nov. 10, 1864, son of William and Minnie (Lindow) Ladewig, both of whom were natives of Germany, who came to America as children with their respective families, each of which first located in the vicinity of Lock- port, N. Y. The paternal grandparents afterward removed to the state of Michigan and died near Grand Haven, and the maternal ances- tors moved to Milwaukee, where they spent the remainder of their lives. William Ladewig, the father of the subject of this review, moved from his early American home in New York state to Michi- gan and there lived for a number of years. He then removed to Fond du Lac, Wis., and some time later took up his residence in Milwaukee, about the year 1882, and he now lives in Waukesha, Wis. He received a very good education in the excellent schools of Ger- many, and before the removal of the family to America spent some time as a teacher in his native country. To himself and wife there
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were born four children, all of whom are living. Dr. Ladewig received his preliminary education in the public schools of Fond du Lac, Wis., and then in preparation for a career as a practitioner in medicine he- matriculated at the Milwaukee Medical College, in which institution he graduated with the class of 1900. Immediately after receiving his. degree he opened an office in Milwaukee for the practice of his pro- fession and has since been so engaged, meeting with excellent success from the beginning. He was married in 1890 to Miss Rosa Fried- rich, of Milwaukee, daughter of Ernst and Agnes Friedrich, the former of whom is deceased and the latter resides in Milwaukee. To. the union of Dr. and Mrs. Ladewig no children have been born, but. they have an adopted son, Harry. Dr. Ladewig maintains an inde- pendent position as regards political matters, supporting with his- franchise the men and measures that meet his approval, and frater- nally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Sons of Hermann.
Ernest J. Weber, M. D., is engaged in the active practice of medicine in the city of Milwaukee, his professional career dating from 1904, and in addition to his work as a general practitioner he officiates as instructor in the Marquette University. He was born at Cedarburg, Ozaukee county, Wis., on Nov. 1, 1875, son of Burghard' and Ellamunda (Judae) Weber, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. The maternal grandfather was Ferdinand Judae, who migrated' from the Fatherland in 1837, and in 1840 became a pioneer settler in Milwaukee, where he became the owner of considerable property. Later he removed to Kewanee, where he and his wife lived out the remainder of their days. The father of the subject of this review was born in 1837, and when twenty-one years old, came to America. He settled at Cedarburg, Wis., and there he grew to manhood and lived a useful life, dying on Nov. 20, 1903, at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow is still living, and of the thirteen children born to this. couple nine survive. Another thing worthy of mention in connection with this family is the fact that four of the sons became physicians : Fred R., who died in June, 1907; Heman F., who is practicing his profession at Newberg, Wis .; Burchard A., who is mentioned more at length in another sketch; and Ernest J., who is the immediate subject of this review. Dr. Weber received his literary education in the common and high schools of his native village of Cedarburg and began his independent career in the drug business, which occupation he followed for a period of ten years. While thus engaged he began the study of medicine and in due time entered the Milwaukee Medical College, in which institution he graduated with the class of 1904, and immediately opened an office for practice in Milwaukee. He met with gratifying success from the start and now enjoys a representative and lucrative practice. He was married on June 15, 1904, to Miss Alice Anstedt, who was born in Sheboygan. Wis., daughter of John and Cynthia ( Perkins) Anstedt, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Canada. The father came to America and became an early settler at Carlton, Wis., but moved to Sheboygan in 1876. He died in that city on Aug. 1, 1896, and his widow and four children, of the five born to these parents, still survive. To Dr. and Mrs.
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