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 59
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SO.ZEN R
DR. J. T. UNERTL
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consideration and reflection. He is a member of the Milwaukee and the American Medical associations ; and fraternally he has mem- bership in Prospect Lodge, No. 175, Knights of Pythias; Ger- mania Lodge, No. 8; the Knights of Columbus, and the Eagles.
Dr. John T. Unertl, D. V. S., who has held the responsible post of City Veterinary of Milwaukee for the past ten years, having charge of all the horses of the city fire department, police depart- ment, and sewer department, is a native of Kilbourn City, Wis., where he was born on Nov. 24, 1871, of German parentage. He is the son of John and Mary (Naber) Unertl, who were both natives of Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States about the year 1857, locating at Kilbourn City, Wis. His father was also a veterinary surgeon, favorably known and respected throughout the region where he lived so long as a successful practitioner. He was engaged in active practice up to the time of his death, April 15, 1902. He left two sons, John T. and Joseph, who are believed to be the only persons named Unertl in the United States. Our subject was reared in Kilbourn City and received his elementary education in the public schools of that place and at the Meyer Business College of Milwaukee. He then entered upon the work of his chosen profession and became a student at the Chicago Vet- erinary College, graduating in that institution with the class of 1891. He then located for the practice of his profession in the city of Milwaukee, and has ever since been engaged in active and suc- cessful practice. In 1897 he was appointed to the above men- tioned important city position, which he has filled in a most efficient and acceptable manner. He is also the secretary and treasurer of The Badger Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company, an organization which carries insurance on some 3,000 horses alone in the city of Milwaukee. Dr. Unertl was married in 1897 to Miss Elsie, a daughter of William and Amelia (Falbe) Schoen, a well- known German family of Milwaukee. This union has proved a most happy one and Dr. and Mrs. Unertl are the parents of three small children : Billy, Jack, and Peggie.
Charlie L. Truesdell, a popular and well-known funeral direc- tor of Milwaukee, located at 511 Broadway, has been actively engaged in this line of work since 1875. He is a native of Croton, Newaygo county, Mich., born Feb. 28, 1857, but has made his home in Wisconsin since infancy. His parents, William Penn and Betsy Elizabeth (Stevens) Truesdell, were both natives of Owego, the county-seat of Tioga county, N. Y. They came west to Michi- gan at an early day and were numbered among the pioneer resi- dents of that state. In the fall of 1857, while our subject was still an infant in arms, they moved to Tomah, Wis., where the father, a blacksmith by trade, followed his vocation until the outbreak of the Civil war. Fired with all the patriotism and military enthu- siasm of those stirring days, he enlisted as a volunteer in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops, and later served throughout the war as a member of the Twenty-third Wisconsin infantry, participating with his command in the famous siege and.
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capture of Vicksburg, the disastrous Red River expedition of 1864, as well as the various other battles and campaigns of this gallant regiment. After the close of the war he returned to his home in Tomah, entered the employ of the American Express Company, and served as express messenger on the West Wisconsin railroad ; he afterward served in the same capacity on the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul railroad, and was thus engaged up to the time of his death at West Allis, Milwaukee county, Oct. 12, 1907, aged seventy-six years. Our subject was reared in the state of Wis- consin and has made his home in Milwaukee since 1871. His edu- cation was received in the public schools of Tomah and Milwau- kee. He graduated in the Milwaukee high school in 1875, and imme . diately thereafter embarked in the undertaking business, in which he has ever since been engaged. He learned the business and was for twenty-eight years identified with one of the largest undertak- ing establishments in Milwaukee. In 1903 he embarked in busi- ness on his own account at 511 Broadway, where he has conducted a successful business up to the present time. He is thoroughly familiar with every branch of his profession, and enjoys the entire respect and confidence of the general public. Mr. Truesdell is secretary of the Wisconsin State Undertakers' Association, and is also serving as one of the executive committee of the National Undertakers' Association of the United States. His superior qualifications and long experience have rendered him one of the most popular funeral directors in Milwaukee, and he draws a. large share of his patronage from the wealthiest and most influen- tial members of the community. Politically Mr. Truesdell is. identified with the Republican party, though he has never aspired to public office. He is a member of the Masonic order, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, the C. O. K., Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
John I. Suminski, who is engaged as a funeral director, em- balmer and liveryman, is a native of Milwaukee, having been born on Oct. 28, 1878. He is a son of Martin and Eva (Budnicht) Sum- inski, both of whom were born in Germany of Polish ancestry. The parents came to the United States in 1873, locating in Milwau- kee, which city has since been their home. For the past sixteen years the father has been engaged in the liquor business, but for many years previous to that time he was in the employ of the municipality. Eight children were born to the parents, of whom the subject of this sketch is the third in the order of birth. Rosa, the eldest. is a wife of Stanley Szafranski; the others are Patil; Martha. now Mrs. A. Skiba ; Frank ; Germain ; Hattie ; and Helen. John I. Suminski received his carly educational advantages at St. Hedwig's Catholic parochial school. After attaining his majority he was engaged in various occupations until 1905. In that year he embarked in the undertaking business at 878 Racine street. He remained there but eleven months, however, and removed thence to his present commodious quarters at 331 Pulaski street,
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adding a livery business to the concern. Since his removal to his present location he has met with well-merited success in a finan- cial way. Fraternally he is associated with the Cadets of St. Stanislaus. the Knights of St. Casimir, St. Stanislaus Society, St. Albert's Society, St. Michael's Society, and St. Peter's and St. Paul's Society. His religious relations are with St. Hedwig's Polish Catholic church and in politics he is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. On Oct. 27, 1903, Mr. Suminski was united in marriage to Anastasia, daughter of Frank Landowski, of Milwaukee.
Frederick W. Mueller, funeral director and embalmer, 2427 Vliet street, is a native of Prussia, son of Ernest and Caroline (Schumacher) Mueller, who were born in the province of Pom- mern, Prussia, and came to America in 1867. They started west soon after landing in the United States and chose Watertown, Wis., as their home. There Ernest Mueller was for many years employed as a carpenter, and there he died surrounded by his children. The latter were seven in number, of whom six are living: Augusta, wife of Charles Klann; Henry ; Frederick W. ; Martha, who married Henry Meyer; Mary, who is Mrs. John Dobbratz ; and Julius. Frederick W. was born in Pommern, Nov. 26, 1852, and came to Watertown with his parents when he was fifteen years of age. He became a carpenter's apprentice in Watertown and Milwaukee, and after completing his term of apprenticeship was employed as a journeyman in Milwaukee until 1888. During this time he studied undertaking and embalming, and in 1888 engaged in this business. He has obtained many patrons and is known among them as a careful and reliable man. The success which has attended him in the practice of his chosen calling has been merited by the application of scientific methods and the use of a modern and complete equipment. In 1878, Mr. Mueller was married to Miss Elvina Dobbratz, daughter of John Dobbratz, of Watertown. Eight children blessed the marriage, of whom the following are living: Renatha, wife of Dr. Rudolph Herman ; Leona, Erma, and Earl. Mr. Mueller and his family are regular attendants at the Bethlehem Lutheran church, of which Mr. Mueller was a trustee for many years. He belongs to the Old Settlers' Club, in whose proceedings he takes an active interest. In political sympathies Mr. Mueller is a Republican, although he has never aspired to office nor been particularly active in political campaigns, his time having been fully occupied in business matters.
Charles Gerber is the proprietor of one of the most widely known undertaking establishments in the city of Milwaukee. He became his father's partner in that business over twenty years ago and has ever since been successfully engaged in the same business, now being the senior partner of the firm of Gerber & Son, funeral directors and embalmers. His father, August Gerber, was one of Milwaukee's German pioneers, and in the early days of the city owned and operated a soap factory. This factory he sold and in
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1883 engaged in the livery business on Eleventh street, in con- nection with which he practiced undertaking and embalming. He married Miss Marie Grether, a native of Switzerland, and he is now living retired in La Salle, Ill., where his faithful wife died in 1906. Charles Gerber, their son, was born in Milwaukee, Sept. II, 1862, attended the public schools in his native city, and by the time he had finished his education found his services much needed in the rapidly growing business of his father. In 1885 August Gerber had built the substantial brick barn at 347-349 Eleventh street and at that time time took Charles into partnership under the firm name of August Gerber & Son. In 1888, the senior member of the firm retired from active participation and the firm became Best & Gerber. As such it continued in successful operation until 1891, when Mr. Gerber withdrew. In 1893 he engaged in business for himself, later was joined by his son, Arthur C., and the firm is once more Gerber & Son. Charles Gerber has given much time and attention to the preparation of embalming fluids and has suc- ceeded in improving the manufacture of these to a considerable degree. The fluid originated and manufactured by himself has a large sale and is considered one of the most satisfactory prepara- tions yet devised. Since 1904 the fluid has been in general use. At the present time the firm is planning to move into a very com- modious new building at the corner of Chestnut and Thirteenth streets. In the new establishment every device which can assist in making it complete and up-to-date in every respect will be installed. The new building will contain. a suite of rooms, each devoted to its particular requirement for the necessities of the trade, and Mr. Gerber expects to have the equipment complete in every respect. It is the intention of Mr. Gerber to have as fine an establishment as any in the state. The dimensions of the building will be forty-eight by seventy-eight feet. On May 19, 1886, Mr. Gerber was married to Miss Ida L. Wilde, of New Berlin, Wau- kesha county, daughter of August Wilde. One son has blessed the marriage, Arthur C., who is at present associated in business with his father. Mr. Gerber is a member of the Evangelical Freiden's church, of the Knights of Columbus, of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of the Knights of Pythias. He is not affiliated with any political party, although he takes an active interest in the affairs of the community and the larger political questions of the day.
Louis A. Fons is the senior member of the firm of Fons & Wawrzyniakowski, real estate, loans, insurance, steamship tickets, etc., 656 Grove street, one of the most important real estate and insurance agencies in Milwaukee, established March 20, 1887. He was born in Milwaukee, Aug. 24, 1878, son of Frank and Mary (Piszczek) Fons, both natives of Germany and of Polish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fons came to America in 1870 and decided to make their home in Milwaukee. The father, who is a blacksmith, immediately found employment at his trade and has for thirty years been at work for the Wisconsin Malleable Iron Works, being now
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foreman of the shipping department. Twelve children came to enliven the home of Frank Fons, all of whom are living: Louis A .; Frances, who entered a Roman Catholic convent and is now a teaching Sister at St. Stanislaus School in Chicago; Mary, wife of Anthony Wiza; Frank S., clerk in the offices of Fons & Wawrzyn- iakowski; Cecilia ; Stephen ; Pelagia; Edward ; Anna ; Helen ; John, and Rose. Louis A. attended the parochial schools until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he went to work for Martin J. Wawrzyniakowski, at first receiving but two dollars a week. After three years in this establishment he was employed in the factory of the C. J. Smith Manufacturing Company for three years, at the same time working for his former employer during the evenings. By great exertion he was able also to find time for a course in bookkeeping in the International Correspondence School of Scran- ton, Pa. Upon the completion of this course he was successful in obtaining a clerical position with the Milwaukee Fire Insurance Company, with whom he remained two years. During this time he still retained his connection with Mr. Wawrzyniakowski and was taken into partnership by him in March, 1901, the firm being then known as Wawrzyniakowski & Fons. Mr. Fons showed remarkable capacity and keen understanding of the requirements of the business, and under his skillful management it at once com- menced rapid growth and has continued its development until at the present time it has assumed very large proportions. The firm writes more insurance than any other agency on the South Side and is equally progressive in the other departments of its business. Since March, 1907, the firm has been known as Fons & Wawrzyn- iakowski. Mr. Fons is always actively interested in both local and national politics and is a staunch Republican. In city affairs he is guided in his views by the needs of the day and is always ready to render assistance, both financial and otherwise, to any undertaking which promises to better conditions in his native city. Mr. Fons has never aspired to office, but at the earnest solicita- tion of his many admirers and friends he consented to be nominated for alderman in 1908 in the Fourteenth ward, the strongest Demo- cratic ward in the city. Although defeated, he received more votes than any other Republican candidate has ever received in that ward. He received 1,339 votes and was 800 votes ahead of his party ticket, the head of the ticket (candidate for mayor) receiving but 539. On Sept. 23, 1902, he was married to Miss Cecilia Son- nenberg, of Milwaukee, daughter of Paul and Magdalen Sonnen- berg, who came to Milwaukee from the Polish provinces of Ger- many. The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Fons on Second avenue, opposite Kosciusko Park, has been gladdened by the advent of two lusty boys, Leonard K. and Alois E., for whose future Mr. Fons is already planning with the foresight and wisdom which characterizes his actions. His keen mind is at the service of those who are honestly working for the benefit of the com- munity, and in his busy days he can always find time to place at their disposal. He is a prominent member of St. Josephat's
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Polish Roman Catholic church, of the Polish Association of America, the Polish Alliance of America, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Equitable Fraternal Union. He is also a member of the Merchants' and Man- ufacturers' Association, and the South Division Civic Association. Since 1903, Mr. Fons has been the secretary of the Polish National Building and Loan Association, whose assets on Jan. 1, 1908, were $92,940.43, and which has aided many thousands of Polish resi- dents to become owners of their property and homes.
Thomas Kuczynski, of the firm of T. & A. Kuczynski, gro- ceries and provisions, is one of the prominent Polish-American citizens of the South Side, Milwaukee. He was born in the prov- ince of Posen, Poland, Nov. 27, 1854, a son of Andrew and Mary (Jankowski) Kuczynski. His parents came to the United States in 1872 and settled in Milwaukee, where they continued to reside up to the time of their death. They reared to maturity a family of five children, all of whom are living: Frances, the wife of Stan- islaus Tryban, of Cheboygan, Mich .; Ewa, the widow of Valen- tine Czechorski, of Milwaukee; Martin, a farmer living in the town of Greenfield, Milwaukee county; Valentine, a harness-maker, residing in the town of Wauwatosa; and Thomas, the subject of this sketch. Our subject remained in Poland until he was seven- teen years of age, and was educated in the parochial schools of his native land. He landed in New York city on July 2, 1871, and came directly west to Milwaukee, where he was employed in var- ious positions until 1880. Young Kuczynski, during these early years in his adopted land, worked hard, saved his money, and when he found time attended night school. Habits such as these were sure to bring their compensation in after life, and Mr. Kuczynski is now reaping the reward of his early diligence and self-control. In the year 1880 he embarked in the grocery, feed, and saloon busi- ness at First avenue and Becher street, where he conducted a successful business for eleven years. For the next ten years he was engaged in the real estate and architectural business, bought and sold a large amount of South side property, both lots and buildings, and again met with well deserved success. In 1902 he became interested in his present business at 564 Lincoln avenue, where the firm still conducts a thriving and prosperous grocery trade. Mr. Kuczynski has been twice married; his first wife's maiden name was Antonina Jarka, the marriage took place on Sept. 9, 1875, and she, like her husband, was a native of Poland. There were two children by this marriage, Max and Siegfried. Her death took place on Jan. 3. 1886. Our subject's second wife was formerly Anna Koralewski. This marriage took place on March 2. 1886. and of this union four children are living: Philip J., Thomas B., Mary M., and Cecilia H. Mr. Kuczynski is a faithful member of St. Josephat's Roman Catholic church, and is also an active member of Saints Peter and Paul Benevolent Society. He has long taken a keen and sympathetic interest in the work of uplifting and assisting the people of his own race, and is widely
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known throughout the South Side for his efficient services along this line. Mr. Kuczynski was originally a Democrat in politics, and as such represented the Twelth ward in the Common Council from 1892 to 1894. In 1896, however, he was unable to adopt many of the views enunciated by Mr. Bryan in the political campaign of that year, and was particularly opposed to him on the silver question. The result has been, as is true of many other "Gold Democrats," that he has been ever since allied with the Republican party on national issues. In 1907 he was appointed by Mayor Becker Com- missioner of Public Works for the South Side, Milwaukee, but was not confirmed by the common council.
Anthony V. Czechorski is the president of the Czechorski Shoe Company, 487 Mitchell street, a retail house which sells the largest number of shoes annually of any establishment in the city of Milwaukee. He came to Wisconsin with his parents, Valentine and Eva (Kuczynski) Czechorski, when an infant but a few months old. In his native home, Popowo, Prussian Poland, Valentine Czechorski was also a shoemaker, and upon his arrival in Mil- waukee, in 1865, was employed in that capacity. In 1873 he opened a shoe store on Mitchell street, which he owned and managed until his death in 1901, at the age of sixty-three. A family of six children blessed his home: Anthony, John, Frank ( deceased ), Mary, Roman, and Pauline, the latter being the wife of Frank L. Kuczyn- ski. Anthony V. was born in Popowo, Aug. 7, 1865, and was brought by his parents to Milwaukee in the autumn of that year. He attended the Roman Catholic parochial schools and also St. Gall's school in Milwaukee and the University of Notre Dame, at Notre Dame, Ind. He was graduated in the latter institution in the summer of 1883 and entered a drug store in Milwaukee as apprentice. There he remained three years, and during the next period of three years operated a drug store of his own at the corner of Brady and Racine streets, in Milwaukee. This business Mr. Czechorski was obliged to sell on account of ill health and for some years devoted his time entirely to rest and recreation. In 1893 he was again able to assume business duties and entered his father's shoe store. He was soon obliged to take the management of the establishment upon himself and on the death of his father, in 1901, Anthony Czechorski and his brothers, Roman and Frank, became the proprietors of the store. In 1903 Roman retired to enter upon a different occupation, and in December, 1907, Mr. Czechorski was deprived by death of his partner, Frank. Since that time the firm has been known by the same name under which it was incorporated shortly before the death of Frank Czechorski, that of The Czechorski Shoe Company, the other members of the firm being Mary Czechorski, treasurer, and Frank L. Kuczynski, secretary. The house carries a very large and complete stock of every sort of footwear and supplies an immense number of cus- tomers. Its reputation has been established by the motto, "large sales and small profits," and the continued growth and increase of its business is assured to the Czechorskis by the honesty and
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good quality of their stock. Mr. Czechorski is a member of St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic church, and in political affiliations is a Democrat.
Otto A. Harras, a member of the Assembly from the Second district of Milwaukee county, is of the Sixth ward of the Cream City, where he was born July 13, 1869, a son of Ferdinand and Albertina (Sanow) Harras, natives of Pomerania, Germany, who came to the United States in 1861 in a sailing vessel, landing in Quebec, Canada. They remained there one year and then came to Milwaukee in 1862 by the way of the St. Lawrence river and the great lakes. The father was a carpenter by trade and he followed this vocation for several years, when he engaged in contracting, in which he was successful, and he lived retired the last ten years of his life. He died on Feb. 13, 1899, at the age of seventy-one years. He left a family of five children: Augusta, wife of Albert Denzin; Amelia, wife of Gustave J. Jeske; Herman; Robert, and Otto A. Our subject received his education in the public and parochial schools of Milwaukee, and was then apprenticed to the bricklayer's trade, which he followed fourteen years. He is an active politician, always deeply interested in the success of the Republican ticket, and his party has honored him by electing him to the office of member of the assembly from the second assembly district of Milwaukee county in the fall of 1906 and re-electing him to that position in 1908. In the session of the legislature in 1907 he served on the committees of manufacture, labor and military affairs. He is a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 83, Knights of Pythias, of the Modern Woodmen of America ; of A. R. Talbot Camp, No. 1938, the United Spanish War Veterans; and of Dawson Camp, No. 5, of the Bricklayers' and Masons' National Union, No. 8, Wisconsin. He was a soldier in the Spanish-American war, enlisting on July II, 1898, in Company D, Fourth Wisconsin volunteers, and was hon- orably discharged on Feb. 28, 1899. His popularity in the army is shown by his being chosen corporal at Camp Shipp, Anniston, Ala. His two elections as assemblyman are a high compliment to him as a laboring tradesman and proves his popularity. His civil and war records are clean, and he has a promising future.
August Buchholz, a leading stone-mason contractor, is a native of the Cream City, born Feb. 26, 1864, a son of Edward and Chris- tine (Spieler) Buchholz, the father being a native of Brandenberg and the mother of Schlessingen, Germany. The father was among the pioneer Germans of Milwaukee, where he located in the early forties, following his vocation as a mason and plasterer for many years, and for seventeen years he was a successful contractor in this line. He assisted in the erection of many of the principal buildings of his day, and he died in 1904, at the age of seventy- six. He reared a family of six sons and two daughters: Robert, Julius. August. Richard, Paul (deceased), Herman. Ida (wife of Nicholas Munes), and Martha, who is the wife of Edward Luedcke. Our subject was reared in Milwaukee, received his education in the Lutheran parochial and public schools, learned the mason
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