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 60

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1072

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BIOGRAPHICAL

and plastering trade with his father, and since 1888 has been engaged in contracting on his own account. He has achieved great success, being one of the best known men in his line in the city, and he is held in high esteem by all who know him, for careful work- manship and square dealing. On Sept. 4, 1887, he married Helen, daughter of William and Sophie (Mohr) Matthues, natives of Germany and pioneer settlers in Milwaukee, and to this union were born three sons: Walter, Charles, and Herbert. Mr. Buch- holz is a member and stockholder in the Milwaukee Builders' Association. In religion he is a Lutheran and in politics a Repub- lican. His great popularity among his friends gained him a seat as alderman from the Tenth ward, which he filled with great credit.

John M. Schneider, who is deeply interested in the real estate, loan, insurance, and steamship agency business, at 493 Mitchell street, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 27, 1864, a son of Michael and Barbara (Landgraf) Schneider. He came to the United States and to Milwaukee in 1883, and, having received his education in his native country, after coming to America, he took an evening course in the public schools of Milwaukee. The first ten years of his life in Milwaukee was employed as a moulder, but, in 1893, he embarked in the real estate and insurance business on a small scale, in which he has achieved great success, developing it into one of the largest of its kind on the South side. He added the loan department in 1895, having had the steamship ticket business from the start. In 1901 he founded the South Side Mutual Loan and Building Association, of which he has been secretary since its organization, and it is one of the most substantial associations in the city, with assets on Jan. 1, 1908, of $88,374.91. He is secretary and treasurer of the Grove Land Company that was organized in 1902, and which builds on an average forty dwellings a year and sells them on the installment plan. On May 28, 1889, he married Miss Bertha, daughter of Frank J. and Josephine (Weiskirch) Koeper, of Milwaukee, who came here from Germany. The issue of this union is six children: Josephine, Clara, Mamie, John, Leona, and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider, are members of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Schneider has membership in St. Michael's Society ; the Catholic Family Protective Association, of which he is treasurer; the South Side Division Civic Association ; and he is also director of the Mitchell street State Bank. In poli- tics he affiliates with the Democratic party, and he was appointed alderman-at-large to fill a vacancy in the city council on Aug. 3, 1908. Mr. Schneider is a striking illustration of the thrift and suc- cess of the German-born citizen in free America. Beginning with very little, he has successfully forged his way to the front rank, and he is surely entitled to high compliments for his progress; for it is surely a long and rough road to travel from the position of a com- mon laborer to that of founder of large financial institutions and director of a bank. The United States has room for many such men as John M. Schneider.

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Frank Luenzmann, president of the Frank Luenzmann Com- pany, the leading contractors and builders of Milwaukee, was born in that city on Jan. 14, 1854, a son of Charles and Henrietta (Rosenow) Luenzmann. The father, who was a cabinet maker, came to the United States from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in 1848, and settled in Milwaukee. His first work was in the Burnham brick yards, and later he worked at the carpenter's trade, helping to build the court house and the old Music Hall. In 1868 he began the business of contracting on a large scale, which he continued un- til his death. He erected the West Side Turner Hall, the Repub- lican House, the Insane Asylum at Wauwatosa, the Germania Building, several tanneries, many of the buildings for the Pabst and Blatz breweries, and the malt houses for some of the larger malt dealers of the city. He was called to his final abode in 1901. He reared a family of five children: Frank; Henry ; Clara, wife of Fred Wittenberg, president of the Cedarburg Woolen Mills; August, deceased, was for six years building inspector of Milwaukee; and Mathilda, wife of Alfred Koerpe. Our subject was reared in Mil- waukee and educated in the German-English Academy. There- after he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and for ten years was a member of the firm of Charles Luenzmann & Sons. In 1901 the firm was reorganized under the firm name of The Charles Luenzmann Contracting Company, and it was reorganized again in 1906 as The Frank Luezmann Company, our subject being elected president ; Henry, a brother, vice-president; and Carl, son of our subject, secretary. This firm erected the Gimbel Bros. building, did all the remodeling of the Berger Bedding Company's building, the carpenter work for the George Ziegler Confectionary Com- pany's building, erected several buildings for the Pfister & Vogel Tanning Company, the Gustave and Frederick Pabst residences, and the Layton Home in connection with the Milwaukee Hospital. On Feb. 5, 1876, Mr. Luenzmann married Miss Ernestine, daughter of J. F. Hoffman, of Saxony, Germany, and by her has five children : Carl; Emma, wife of Philip Schaefer; Louisa, wife of Gustave Kruse ; Edward ; and Emily, wife of Oscar Ritter. He is a member of the Builders' Exchange, of the Builders' Club, the Carpenters' Association, the Old Settlers' Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Turner's Society, and in politics he is a Repub- lican. In his physical composition Mr. Luenzmann combines all the best qualities of a successful business man. He is sociable, affable, and uniformly courteous to all with whom he comes in contact, and when all these splendid qualifications are taken into account his progress in every way is but a natural consequence.

Charles J. Dewey, a dealer in jewelry and sporting goods at 232-34 West Water street, Milwaukee, and probably one of the oldest merchants in continual residence in the city, was born in Norwich, Conn., Nov. 23, 1831. His father, Charles C. Dewey, was a native of Westfield, Mass., and his mother, Olive (Sackett) Dewey, had lived in Sandersfield, Mass., before her marriage. The father was a harness-maker by trade, who realized the opportu-

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nities offered in the west for enterprising men, and came to Milwau- kee in 1836, where he opened the first harness store in what was then a growing village. His business was a success from the start, and in 1842 he built the first brick block on East Water street. Mr. Dewey's wife died, and he was married a second time in 1870, to Sarah A. Berin, of Pittsfield, Mass. Of a family of seven children, Charles J. Dewey is the only survivor. For many years the father was a successful business man in Milwaukee, but during the declin- ing years of his life gave up this confining occupation and engaged in farming. After reaching his three-score years and ten, Mr. Dewey died at Wauwatosa, Wis., Sept. 21, 1887. Charles J. Dewey came to Milwaukee with his parents about 1837, and there he grew to manhood. After completing his studies he learned the harness business from his father and was engaged in that business for four years, but desired a larger and more varied occupation, and en- gaged in the crockery trade for seven years. Mr. Dewey was a good business man and met with signal success in the new line. The business increased so rapidly that it reached $40,000 annually. From 1875 to 1878 he conducted the Cream City Hotel and then em- barked in his present business, in which he has successfully con- tinued. On April 21, 1857, Mr. Dewey was united in marriage with Mary Jane Rice, the daughter of Ranson and Ruth ( Burdett ) Rice, of Sunderland, Mass., and granddaughter of Noharm and Ruth (Tuttle) Rice, of Massachusetts, by whom he has had eight chil- dren: George W., married to Sadie Fleischer; Hatta L., the de- ceased wife of Burt Elliott; John R., married to Lida Hamilton ; Charles M .; Mabel R., the wife of James E. Robertson ; Jennie R., the wife of George Palmer; Daisy A .; and Robert B., married to Ethel Forester. On April 21, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey held their Golden Wedding anniversary. Upon this memorable occasion there were present Mr. Dewey's seven children and eight grand- children. Mr. Dewey is a Republican in politics, a member of the Old Settlers' Club and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Michael Prokop, the senior member of the firm of Prokop & Szatkowski, high-grade furniture dealers, 469 Mitchell street, Mil- waukee, is a native of German Poland, where he was born on Sept. 17, 1874. He is the son of Casimir and Frances (Szatkowski) Pro- kop, who immigrated to the United States in 1888, and settled in Milwaukee. They were the parents of nine children : Mary, the de- ceased wife of Michael Hadkexl; Kate, the wife of Anton Zulkow- ski : Michael : Josephine, the wife of James Rozka : Valentine ; John ; Joseph ; Paula, and Stanislaus. Casimir Prokop died in 1901, at fifty-six years of age, leaving a widow and seven children. Michael received his educational advantages in the government schools of Poland until his fourteenth year, when his parents emigrated to America. He was bright and energetic and desired broader knowl- edge and in order to secure an English education he attended the night schools in Milwaukee. He served an apprenticeship at the wood-finishing trade and worked at the business for sixteen years. He was diligent and conscientious in his work, was advanced

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from one position to another, and for eight years held the respons- ible position of foreman for the well known firm of Terelles & Grundmann. In 1905 he associated himself with Lucas Szatkow- ski and formed the partnership in which he is the senior member and established the present furniture business. Today they have one of the leading furniture establishments on the south side. Started with the small capital of $2,000, the business has been so successfully conducted and has increased to such an extent that $30,000 would not purchase it today. In 1898 Mr. Prokop married Mary, the daughter of Valentine and Mary (Salata) Miller, of Mil- waukee. They have four children: Alice, Edward, Harry, and Irene. In 1898 Mr. Prokop was a member of the Kosciusko Guards, Fourth Wisconsin National Guard, and at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, with the other members of Company K, enlisted for service in the First Wisconsin infantry. He spent seven months in the United States service at Jacksonville, Fla., and was mustered out with the other members of the regiment, at Milwaukee, in September, 1898. Mr. Prokop is a member of St. Stanislaus Polish Roman Catholic church; he is captain of Allyn Capron Camp, No. 19, Spanish-American War Veterans, and a pop- ular member of the following societies: the Polish Sharp Shooters, the Polish National Alliance, the St. Augustin Society, the Polish Literary Society, and the Polish Sokol. In politics he is affiliated with the Democratic party.

Mathew Franzen, a representative citizen and business man of the Cream City, who has an embalming and undertaking establish- ment at 1215 Vleit street, Milwaukee, Wis., was born there on Sept. 6, 1855. He is the son of Richard and Josephine (Keller) Franzen. The father was a native of Coblenz, Germany, and the mother of Overplatz, Germany. The father emigrated to the United States in 1833 and located in Albany, N. Y., where he lived for twenty years. In 1853 he married, and the same year joined the other German settlers of New York, many of whom were going west, and settled in Milwaukee. For about five years he was oc- cupied in different lines of business, but in 1858 he went into the undertaking business with M. J. Zander, who was the first under- taker in Milwaukee, and continued with him for a number of years. When Mr. Zander died he entered the employment of his son, with whom he remained until his death, which occurred in 1904, at the age of seventy-three years. His death was mourned by the five children he had reared to man and womanhood: Mathew, Philip, Richard, Josephine and Charles. Mathew, the oldest child of the family, was reared in Milwaukee, where he has always resided. He received the excellent educational advantages offered at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic parochial schools and the high schools of Mil- waukee. After finishing his studies he was employed by Mr. Zan- der, with whom he learned the practical business of an undertaking and embalming establishment. After working for Mr. Zander for twenty-two years he started an undertaking establishment for him- self in 1890. Mr. Franzen's pleasant and sympathetic manner and

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kind heart soon made him well known and loved in the homes where the grim destroyer, Death, had visited, and he soon had a large and successful business. In 1901 the firm name was changed to Franzen & Son, as Mr. Franzen took his youngest son, Wallace, in partnership with him at that time, as the business was too large for one man to handle. On May 30, 1877, Mr. Franzen married Susan, daughter of Henry and Catherine Buel, of Milwaukee, and to this union four children have been born: Kate, Robert, Edward and Wallace. Mr. Franzen and his family are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church. He is also a member of the West Side Old Settlers' Club; of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society ; of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, St. Joseph's court; and the Catholic Order of Foresters, in which he has held the prominent office of Chief Ranger for seventeen years. He is a member of the Emigkeit Verein, No. 24, G. N. G., of which he has been president for eleven years; a member of the Milwaukee Council, Knights of Columbus; of the Bavarian and Alemenia Singing societies; of the Washington Bowling Club; and he is also one of the well-known members of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors' Association. Po- litically Mr. Franzen is an independent.

Frank L. Griebel, a well-known plumber, gas-fitter and drain- layer, of 907 Kinnickinnic avenue, and a prominent citizen of Mil- waukee, was born there Feb. 26, 1870, being the son of Lawrence and Mary (Wagner) Griebel. His father was a native of Baden, Germany, who immigrated to the United States with his parents, and his mother was a native of Wisconsin of German descent, who was born at Burlington, Wis. The paternal grandfather, Peter Griebel, came to the United States from Germany in 1852 and set- tled at Burlington, Wis., where he cleared a large farm and was occupied in agricultural pursuits for many years. He died on the family homestead near Burlington. The maternal grandfather of Frank Griebel immigrated to Wisconsin and was also one of the pioneer farmers of that part of the state. Lawrence Griebel came to this country with his parents, and in 1861 enlisted in the Twenty- fifth Illinois infantry and served through the entire Civil war. This regiment fought at Stone's River, was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, and was in the storming and capture of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. While not actually engaged dur- ing the march on Atlanta, it was on the march every day and con- stantly in skirmish and on picket duty. After three years of hard service in the field it was mustered out at Camp Butler, Ill., Sept. 5, 1864. Mr. Griebel received an honorable discharge with the other members of his regiment. He then settled in Milwaukee and was employed as a lineman by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. Subsequently he accepted a position with the Western Union Telegraph Company, in the same capacity, and from that time was advanced to lineman for the Bell Telephone Company. Mr. Griebel had the honor of erecting the first tele- phone line in the city of Milwaukee and was the outside manager for the Bell company for years. After serving as lineman and man-

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ager for the two companies for twenty-six years he engaged in the grocery business at Sixth avenue and Washington street, continu- ing this occupation until his death. The store was conducted under the firm name of Mirgeler & Griebel. Mr. Griebel was called across the great divide on July 19, 1900. During his life he was a devout Catholic and a member of Holy Trinity church, and he was also a member of Rank and File Post, G. A. R., No. 240. He reared a family of ten children: John W., Frank L., Emma., Clara, Law- rence, Peter, Edmund, Hubert, Ida, and Louis. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native city and educated at Trinity parochial school. After his studies were finished he served an apprenticeship of three years as a plumber and then worked as a journeyman plumber for five years. In 1891 he embarked in his present business with Frank J. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Griebel. The firm prospered and built up a large trade, but the partnership was dissolved in 1899, and since that time Mr. Griebel has conducted it alone. He has met with well deserved success and has one of the largest establishments on the south side. On Sept. 25, 1895, he married Lillian Mackedon, a resident of Madi- son, Wis. Her father was Michael Mackedon, an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, the son of Owen and Sarah (Mellon) Mackedon. Owen Mackedon was a native of Long Is- land, N. Y., whose father immigrated to New York from Ireland and was one of the pioneer settlers and a wealthy slave owner. Owen Mackedon moved to Wisconsin from New York in 1855 and settled in Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade of brass mould- er for four years, and then bought a farm at Brookfield, Waukesha county, but did not go there to live until 1864. Three years later he returned to Milwaukee, and in 1871 retired and bought a home at Wauwatosa, Wis., where he still resides at the hale old age of ninety-six years. Mrs. Griebel's father came to Milwaukee in 1856, and at the call for volunteers in 1861 enlisted in Company D, Twen- ty-fourth Wisconsin infantry, known as the "Milwaukee Regiment" on Aug. 21 of that year. He was wounded at the battle of Resaca, and at Dallas, Ga., was captured and later confined in Libby prison. Mr. Mackedon was honorably discharged with his regiment at Nashville, Tenn., June 10, 1865. He then returned to Milwaukee and a year later entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. Six years later he became an engineer and con- tinued with the railroad in that capacity for twenty-six years. He was married twice, his first wife being Mary Ann Shea, by whom he had two children : Sadie, and Mary Lillian, the latter of whom is the wife of the subject of this sketch. His second wife was Bridgett Stack, who bore him eleven children. Mr. Mackedon is a devout member of the Catholic church. He is an independent in politics, believing it better to exercise his privilege of voting for the principle and man who is worthy than be bound by party ties. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Two sons have been born to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Griebel. Stanley L. and Karl A. Politically Mr. Griebel is a Dem-

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ocrat, one always ready to defend his principles and party. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Bay View Lodge No. 131, Knights of Pythias, and of the Catholic Order of Fores- ters, Lodge No. 115. Mr. Griebel and his family are Catholics in religion and members of St. Augustine's church.

William C. Feerick, undertaker and liveryman, No. 2330 Cherry street, Milwaukee, Wis., is a native of the town of Wauwatosa, Milwaukee county, and was born on March 29, 1865, the son of Michael and Catharine (Zimmerman) Feerick, natives of Ireland and Germany, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Michael Feerick, was a native of Ireland, and came to the Territory of Wis- consin at a very early day with his wife, Margaret (Feenee), and children, settling in what is now Hartford, Washington county. The maternal grandfather, Philip Zimmerman, was a native of Ger- many, and was one of the early territorial pioneers of Milwaukee county ; he was long known as a mechanical genius, and is now buried at Wauwatosa. The ancestors of our subject were noted for their longevity, and his grandparents on both sides died of old age. His father was a lad of tender years when he accompanied his par- ents to America. IIe was reared on a farm and died at the ripe old age of 81, on May 1, 1907. His wife died in 1891, at the age of 58. He accumulated a property of ample proportions during his long life, and was known as a progressive and enterprising citizen, of substantial worth and character. He was straightforward and up- right in all his business dealings and his word was as good as his bond. He owned a large amount of property, both within and with- out Milwaukee ; had a splendid farm of 150 acres near Wauwatosa, and also owned important interests at Hartford, where he lived for many years. Possessed as he was of a handsome competence, and imbued with liberal and progressive ideas, he saw that each of his children was given an excellent education. He reared a family of five sons and five daughters: Caroline; Julia, deceased ; Henry ; Mary, deceased, wife of Fred Hartung; Thomas ; William C .; Ed- ward ; Ida. wife of William Schmidt ; Alvina, deceased ; and Ilerbert. William C. was brought up in Milwaukee county and was educated in the public schools and at Mayer's Business College. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits on the homestead at Wauwatosa until he was twenty-one years of age, and then embarked in his present business of undertaking and livery in Milwaukee. He has employed in his work the same habits of energy, perseverance, and strict integrity, inherited from a worthy sire, and his business has thrived accordingly. He is still doing business at the same location where he first started, and ever since 1900 he has owned the prop- erty. He has his own hearse, horses, carriages, and a complete and up-to-date equipment to meet all the requirements of constantly expanding business. He was married in 1894 to Miss Henrietta, daughter of Peter and Wilhelmina ( Benstein) Schmitt, of Milwau- kee, and is the father of one son. Ralph. Mr. Feerick is a man of in- dependent convictions in political matters, and his efforts are al- ways enlisted in support of the best men and measures. He is a

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strict Catholic in religious matters, and is a member of St. Michael Roman Catholic church at Milwaukee. He is a member of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors' and Embalmers' Association, and of the National Liverymen's Association, and holds a Wisconsin license as an embalmer. Mr. Feerick is also a member of the follow- ing fraternal orders: Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Modern Woodmen.

Dr. Solon Marks was born at Stockbridge, Vt., July 14, 1827. He attended the common schools and Royalton Academy in his native state, and in 1848 came to Wisconsin. In 1853 he was grad- uated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and began practice at Jefferson, Wis., where he remained until 1856, when he removed to Stevens Point, Wis. When the Tenth Wisconsin infantry was organized he was appointed surgeon on Sept. 28, 1861, and was mustered in with his regiment on Oct. 14. His skill as a physician and surgeon soon commanded the attention of his superior officers and he was promoted, first to brigade surgeon, then to division surgeon, and was finally made medical director of the First division, Fourteenth corps, which position he held until his regiment was mustered out of service in October, 1864. While on duty at Fort McCook, Battle Creek, Tenn., Dr. Marks was wounded in the right knee, and at the battle of Stone's River he was captured, but suc- ceeded in making escape after remaining a prisoner for three days. His experience as an army surgeon gave him an excellent training in that branch of practice, and upon resuming civil life he devoted considerable attention to it, becoming recognized as one of the leading surgeons of the state, though he still kept up his general practice. In 1873 he visited Europe and spent some time in the hospitals of London, Paris, Edinburgh, and other cities. Upon his return to Milwaukee, where he had located upon being discharged from military service, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Health, of which he served as president for a number of years. While on the board he was persistent in his efforts to im- prove the sanitary condition of Milwaukee by the extension of the sewer system in order to drain the Menomonee valley, etc. In 1895 he was made Professor of Military Surgery, Fractures and Disloca- tions in the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons and re- tained this connection until his retirement from active practice. From 1870 to 1901 he held the responsible position of chief surgeon to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway company, and has been connected with St. Mary's Hospital since 1866. Dr. Marks has contributed largely to medical literature, among his contributions being the following: "Mechanical Treatment of Diseases of Hip Joint," 1868; "Aneurisms, Treatment and Report of Case", 1868; 'Fractures, Treatment and Report of Cases," 1868-9: "President's Address, Wisconsin State Medical Society", 1870; "Observations Upon European Methods." 1874; "The Animal Ligature as a Hem- ostatic Agent," 1875; "Treatment of Ununited Fractures," 1871; "Sewerage and Drainage," 1876; "Hydrophobia," 1877; "Trephin- ing the Sternum for Removal of Foreign Body from Anterior

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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 60

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association Number of Pages: 1072

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1072