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 62
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States a poor man, but by care and thrift he became wealthy. After living in Racine a few years he went to Chicago and started a stove foundry, but was burned out in the great fire of 1871, when he returned to Racine, where he lived until he retired from active life, in 1885, to enjoy occasionally his dog and his gun. He died on Sept. 16, 1905, and his devoted wife did not long survive him, she departing from this life on Feb. 15, 1906. Our subject received his education in the Racine public schools and graduated in the high school there. After this he accepted a position as bookkeeper in Racine for one year, coming to Milwaukee in 1891 and keeping books for three years. In 1894 he started in the manufacture of over-gaiters and leggins under the firm name of the Columbia Over-Gaiter Company, which name was soon thereafter changed by the addition of a partner to Kalt-Zimmers Manufacturing Com- pany, which firm still exists and continues to do a thriving business. In 1891 the firm added to their business the manufacture of chil- dren's shoes, in which they have also met with more than ordinary success, as they keep regularly employed in their factory, at 140- 144 Reed street, 150 people. Mr. Zimmers is a member of the Democratic party, of the Knights of Pythias, of the Elks, and he is vice-president of the Milwaukee Science Club. Milwaukee has within her borders very few more worthy and prominent busi- ness men than Michael Zimmers.
Matthew Nicholas Federspiel, D. D. S., a rising young dentist of Milwaukee, was born at Lincoln, Wis., Sept. 15, 1879, the son of Peter and Catherine (Forster) Federspiel, both born at Liberty, Manitowoc county, Wis. The paternal grandfather, John Feder- spiel, was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, who came to New York about 1840 and to Wisconsin in 1845. His wife, Susan Backus, is yet living, and her mother, who died in 1904, was 102 years of age when she died. Some of the forebears fought in the Napo- leonic wars. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a pio- neer of Manitowoc who later moved to Minnesota, where he died as did also his wife. Our subject gained his rudimentary educa- tion in the common schools of Milwaukee and then at Mishicott and Eagle River, Vilas county, Wis. He graduated in the dental department of the Milwaukee College, now Marquette University, receiving his degree of D. D. S. on April 30, 1900. He followed the general practice of dentistry for two years and then attended the Angle School of Orthodontia, of St. Louis, returning to Racine for a short time, and finally, in 1906 he opened an office in Milwaukee, being the first specialist for correcting the irregularities of the teeth. He is on the staff of lecturers of the Marquette University, which is an unusually high recognition for a man of his years. In June, 1903, he married Miss Bertha Agatha, daughter of William and Elizabeth Schumacher, of Racinc, Wis. Dr. Federspiel and family and parents are all members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Racine Dental Society, the Wisconsin State Dental Society, American Society of Orthodotists, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Elks,
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and the Knights of Columbus. In his practice Dr. Federspiel exhibits the highest degree of skill and professional attainments, and we do not hesitate to predict for him a roseate future in the line of his chosen pursuit in life. Always high minded and honorable, kind and humane, he is respected by all with whom he comes in contact, all of which makes him an ornament to his profession.
Joseph A. Purtell, M. D., a very successful physician of Mil- waukee, was born in Monches, Waukesha county, Wis., April 8, 1873, being the son of John and Catherine (Sullivan) Purtell, the former of whom was born in Canada in 1837 and the latter in Boston, Mass., in 1839. The paternal grandparents were Edward and Margaret (Roche) Purtell, born in County Tipperary, Ireland, about 1809, who came to Milwaukee in 1845 and then moved to Waukesha county, Wis., where they both died at advanced ages. The maternal grandparents were John and Mary (O'Leary) Sulli- van, both born in County Cork, Ireland, he in 1812 and she in 1814. They came to St. John's, New Brunswick, in 1837, and were married that year at Boston, Mass. They came to Milwaukee in 1843 and to Washington county, Wis., in 1844. There he died in 1902, at 90 years of age, and she died in 1888, at the age of 74. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of our subject were pioneers of Waukesha and Washington counties, and assisted in building the first churches and school houses of these localities. The father of our subject, John Purtell, was a merchant at Mon- ches for a great many years, and was postmaster there for twenty- four years, and was appointed for four years more, but resigned. He also served as notary public for several years, and now lives at Monches in retiracy, having passed his three score years and ten, hale and hearty. Himself and wife are the parents of twelve chil- dren, ten of whom are living. The Sullivans are among the wealth- iest farmers of Washington county. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Monches and at the Whitewater Normal School, and he taught school for five years before he graduated in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, in 1899, being orator of his class. Since that time he has been in active practice of his pro- fession in Milwaukee. For five years he has held the chair of physical diagnosis and clinical medicine in Marquette College, being also a member of the medical staff of Trinity, Misereacordia, and Milwaukee County hospitals, a lecturer in the nurses' training school at St. Mary's Hospital for two years, and a lecturer for a like period in Trinity Hospital in the nurses' training school. On Aug. 27, 1904, he married Miss Charlotte I., daughter of James R. and Elizabeth (Doyle) Walsh, of Milwaukee, a granddaughter of the famous Captain Doyle, who, years ago, owned a line of boats on the Great Lakes. Their union has been blessed with three children, two of whom are living : Aileen and Virginia. Dr. Purtell is a mem- ber of the Milwaukee County Medical Society, of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and he is the medical examiner locally for the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In religion he and family
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CYRUS D. BOOTH
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are members of the Roman Catholic church, while in political pref- erences he is allied to the Democratic party. The Purtells are a remarkable family in many respects, their forefathers being of that sturdy line of intrepid Irish pioneer immigrants who were com- pelled by England's maladministration to leave their native land and acquire a competency in the land of the stranger; and they have impressed their splendid traits of character upon the great commonwealth of Wisconsin by pushing back the forests, build- ing homes, cultivating the soil and rearing large families. They are a long-lived, prolific, patriotic, and talented people, for there are four doctors in the family-two physicians and two dentists- whose sketches appear in this work, all of which goes to show the fine fiber of which they are made, and illustrates the truthful- ness of the maxim that "blood will tell," if given an opportunity. These brothers are each making his mark in his profession, by honest efforts and conscientious attention to duty. They are all establishing for themselves enviable reputations, thus shedding credit on their callings, their ancestors, and the land of their fore- fathers, Erin Go Brahi.
Cyrus D. Booth was born at Maryland, Otsego county, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1826, the son of Selah and Sophia (Fuller) Booth, the former born at New Britain, Conn., in 1792, and the latter in Vir- ginia in 1799. The father of our subject came to Dodge county, Wis., in 1849, buying a farm near Fox Lake, where he resided until he was appointed deputy warden of the state prison, when he moved to Waupun. His first wife died in 1849 and he married her sister, Orra Fuller, having three children by each of these wives. Three of this family of children are living: Julia in Kansas City, Kan. ; Mary at Fox Lake, Wis. ; and Cyrus D., in Milwaukee. The father was a prominent and active politician, though he never aspired to fill large political places, but he held several prominent local appointments. He died in Waupun, Wis., in 1863. Our sub- ject was educated at South Hill, Otsego county, N. Y., at Hart- wick Seminary, and finished at Fergusville, Delaware county, N. Y. In 1849 he came west to join his father in Dodge county, Wis., and worked with him on the farm till 1851, when he came to Mil- waukee to take the position of city editor of the "Democrat." of which his brother, Sherman M., was the proprietor, and he re- mained with this paper until 1856. He then engaged in the whole- sale and retail hat business with T. J. Soloman and G. 11. Heine- man, later becoming a member of the firm. Heineman subse- quently purchased the interest of Soloman and finally that of our subject in 1879, when Mr. Booth retired. On Dec. 25, 1855, he married Sarah Maria Bacon, of Otsego county, N. Y., who died on .Aug. 20, 1904. Their union was blessed with three children : Fannie, wife of Harry Dodge, of Chicago; Addie, at home; and Walter H., now in the Census Bureau at Washington, D. C. In 1881 Mr. Booth erected a beautiful residence at 232 Prospect street, where he now lives in retiracy at the age of eighty-two years, enjoying the fruits of the labors of a well-spent life. In his
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religious views Mr. Booth is liberal, but Mrs. Booth was a strict member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he subcribes to and votes to sustain the principles of the Republican party.
John B. Abert, at one time a prominent foundryman of Mil- waukee, was born in that city on May 19, 1847, being the son of George and Louisa (Ackerman) Abert, the former born on May 10, 1817, in Alsace, and the latter on Dec. 2, 1821, in Bavaria, near the Rhine, Germany. The parents of the subject of this review came to the United States when children, the father to live with an uncle at Rochester, N. Y., and the mother's people went to Detroit, Mich., and settled there. Our subject's father came by team to Milwaukee in 1835 with Byron Kilbourn and began the business of general contractor. He was a member of the town council when Milwaukee was incorporated as a city and Solomon Juneau was first mayor. His wife died in this city on Oct. 26, 1889, and he died here. on Oct. 14, 1890, leaving surviving them eight children, six of whom are still living. Our subject received his education in the public schools of Milwaukee, and then he learned the machinist's trade, for a time acting in the capacity of stationary engineer. Himself and his two brothers, George and Henry, established a foundry in 1866, and this business they fol- lowed with great success till they retired to enjoy life in 1890. On May 22, 1871, John B. Abert married Miss Susan C., daughter of Philip and Susan (Suess) Schwab, both natives of Germany. Mr. Schwab died there in 1855, and his wife came to the United States and to Milwaukee in 1856, accompanied by her two daugh- ters, one of whom is the wife of our subject. The mother departed this life in this city on Aug. 20, 1886. To our subject and wife eight children were born as follows: Josie Kate, born May 26, 1872; George Philip, deceased, born Aug. 3, 1873; Della Clara Linda, born Sept. 28, 1874; John Alphonse, born April 29, 1876; Edgar Norman, deceased, born Sept. 18, 1877; Byron Henry, born Oct. 26, 1880; Viola Elsie, born Aug. 26, 1882; and Charles Erwin, born March 16, 1887. Our subject's wife was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee, and, being a lady of a high order of talents, her abilities were recognized, and for some time she was a successful teacher in the city schools. Our subject was mindful of the patriotic devotion that a man owes his native land, and when only sixteen years of age he enlisted in Company I, Forty-fifth Wisconsin infantry, acting in the capacity of a drum- mer boy and serving till the war closed. In religion he is a Lu- theran and in politics he is a Democrat, though he is inclined to be an independent. He served as sidewalk inspector one term, as deputy sheriff from 1890 to 1892, and in 1908 was elected alderman- at-large for Milwaukee. He is a member of Robert Chivas Post No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has been com- mander twice. While he is now sixty-one, he is a well-preserved man, of a light-hearted, jovial disposition, one who believes in look- ing at the problems that he niects in life from the sunny rather than from the dark side; and in this he is signally fortunate, for a sunshiny nature produces long life for its owner and for those whose lot is linked with his.
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William F. Faust, B. S., D. D. S., who since 1900 has been suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of dentistry in Milwaukee, is a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Bernville, Berks county, Pa., on June 17, 1868. Both parents, Alfred B. and Amelia S. (Filbert) Faust, were born in Pennsylvania in 1843, and are now living in Berks county. The father is a member of the Reformed Church, while his wife is a devout communicant of the Lutheran faith. They had two sons born them, one of whom, Herbert, is now deccased. Dr. Faust obtained his primary education in the public schools of Womelsdorf, Pa., and after a four years' course at Palatinate College, was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science, in 1886. Three years later, in 1889, the University of Pennsylvania awarded him the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, after he had completed the prescribed course in the dental department of that institution. He began the practice of his profession with an uncle, Dr. P. K. Filbert, in Pottsville, Pa. After a year he determined to open an office of his own, and accordingly removed to St. Joseph, Mo., and built up in the three years of his stay there a flourishing practice. In 1893 he removed to Fond du Lac, Wis., and seven years later to Mil- waukee, where he has since become prominent in his profession. He is recognized as a dentist of fine mental equipment and a skilled workman. Dr. Faust is independent in his political views, but takes an active interest in the public welfare. His fraternal rela- tion, while practicing in the East, was with the Lebanon Valley Dental Society, and his present relations are with the North Side Dental Society, the Milwaukee County Dental Society, and the Wisconsin State Dental Society. On Sept. 9, 1897, Dr. Faust was united in marriage to Miss Mabelle Carrington, of Waupun, Wis., a daughter of Prentice and Lottie Carrington, of that place. Mr. Carrington came to Waupun with his parents from New York state when but six months old, his family being the second white family to settle in that vicinity. For six years he served as mayor of Waupun, being elected on the Republican ticket. He was in business in Waupun for a number of years, but is now a traveling representative of the Abel & Bach Company, of Milwaukee.
Alvin P. Kletzsch, one of the proprietors of the Republican House, and president and secretary of the Charles F. Kletzsch Company, was born in Newburg, Washington county, Wis., on Aug. 21, 1861. His parents were Charles F. and Ernestina Math- ilde (Pietsch) Kletzsch, both natives of Bischofswerda, Germany, who came to this country in 1853 and to Wisconsin about 1856. The father was for a time engaged in making staves and barrels at West Bend, Wis., and later at Newburg, where still later he began his career, in 1859, as a hotel-keeper. He first leased the Webster House in Newburg, and although previous to that time it had been a losing enterprise he conducted it successfully and profitably, purchasing the hotel property within a year after he assumed charge of it. In 1868 he disposed of this property by sale and purchased the Newburg flouring and saw mills and the furniture
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factory. After five years of the successful conduct of this enter- prise he sold out and removed to Fond du Lac to take charge of the Lewis House of that city. Within a very short time he made that hostelry one of the most popular in the state and became satisfied that that was the field to which he was best adapted. In 1875 he came to Milwaukee and leased the Republican House, and by 1880 success had so far crowned his efforts to make it a popular stopping place for the traveling public that he was enabled to purchase the property. By 1892 he had transformed it by ren- ovations and improvements so that it was one of the most modern and at the same time one of the most popular hotels in the North- west. Of his nine children, eight grew to maturity, and all of them have assumed positions of usefulness and respect in the community. His death occurred in 1894, five years after his retire- ment as active manager of the hotel. Alvin P. Kletzsch, the sub- ject of this sketch, attended the graded schools of Newburg, the German-English Academy at Fond du Lac, and a Milwaukee high school. In 1884 he was graduated at the Stevens Institute of Technology at Hoboken, N. J., having completed the mechan- ical and electrical engineering courses. For over a year he was engaged in engineering work, and in 1885 returned to Milwaukee to become associated with his father in the management of the Republican House. Upon his father's retirement in 1889, he and a brother, Herman O., assumed the management of the hostelry which they have since so successively conducted. The hotel is owned by the Charles F. Kletzsch Company, of which Alvin P. Kletzsch is president and secretary. In politics Mr. Kletzsch is a Republican, and although much interested in his party's success he has never aspired to public office. In his religious belief he is associated with the People's church, and serves in the capacity of trustee for that society. Beside his hotel interests he has various others, being vice-president of the Nutricia Milk Company, presi- dent of the Milwaukee Auditorium Company, and president of the board of governors of the Auditorium, He is also one of the trustees of the Milwaukee Hospital for the Insane. Probably nowhere is Mr. Kletzsch better known than in fraternal circles. He is identified with Lafayette Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Calumet Chapter. Royal Arch Masons: Ivanhoe Commandery. No. 24. Knights Templar: Kilbourn Council. No. 9, Royal and Select Masters: Wisconsin Consistory: Tripoli Temple. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and he is the present incumbent of the office of grand commander of the Grand Commandery. He is also an honorary member of the Stevens Institute chapter of Tau Beta Pi, an honorary fraternity whose membership is dependent upon high scholastic ability. Of the local associations he is identified with the Deutscher Club, the Milwaukee Country Club, the Mil- waukee Musical Society, and the Arion Club.
Herman Oscar Kletzsch, who with his brother, Alvin P., is interested in the management of the Republican House, was born at Newburg. Washington county, Wis., on May 5. 1868. He is
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one of the sons of Charles F. Kletzsch, of whom a brief sketch appears in the memoir of Alvin P. Kletzsch, elsewhere in this volume. Herman O. Kletzsch received his education in the New- burg graded schools, the German-English Academy at Fond du Lac, the Milwaukee high school, and the Spencerian Business College. When he had completed his scholastic work he became associated with his father in the management of the Republican House, and since his father's retirement in 1889, he and his brother, Alvin P., have assumed charge of the hostelry, and with success that could only come of hard and conscientious work. Mr. Kletzsch is secretary of the Wisconsin State Hotelmen's Asso- ciation, an organization that is doing much to raise the standard of the public hotels throughout the state; and is the treasurer of the Charles F. Kletzsch Company, owners of the Republican House property. Beside his hotel interests he has several others, includ- ing the holding of stock in the Nutricia Milk Company, and the vice-presidency for Wisconsin of the Hotelmen's Mutual Benefit Association. In politics he is a Republican, but has never held public office. Fraternally Mr. Kletzsch is identified with Independ- ence Lodge, No. 80, of the Free and Accepted Masons; Calumet Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Knights Templar; Wisconsin Con- sistory ; Tripoli Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; the Ivanhoe Drill Corps, and the Ivanhoe Commandery, of which he is the present incumbent of the office of captain-general. He is also a member of Lodge No. 46, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The local organizations to which he belongs are the Calu- met and Deutscher Clubs, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Mil- waukee Musical Society, the Milwaukee Mannerchor, the A'Capella Choir, the Wisconsin Archaeological Society, the Deutsche Gesell- schaft, and the Milwaukee Riding Club.
Richard C. Hinz, Ph. G., one of the most prominent druggists of the city, was born in Milwaukee on Dec. 8, 1860, a son of August F. and Caroline (Pahl) Hinz. Both parents were born in Ger- many, the father in 1822 and the mother in 1827, and they came to Milwaukee direct from the Fatherland in 1856. They were Lu- therans in their religious belief and the father was a carpenter- contractor and builder. His death occurred in 1878 and his widow passed away three years later. Two sons were born to them: Theodore, of Cleveland, Ohio, and the subject of this review. Richard C. Hinz received all his educational advantages in the public schools of Milwaukee. During the first twelve years after leaving school he was a traveling representative for a drug firm and then became an employe of the Widule and Conrath drug stores, respectively. He remained with these two establishments for eight years, during which time he successfully took the exami- nation submitted by the state board of pharmacy and became a registered pharmacist. On Aug. 1, 1893, he opened the store at 2330 Fond du Lac avenue, where he has ever since been installed. His thorough knowledge of the business, both commercially and technically, made the venture a success from the start, and during
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the fifteen years in which he has conducted the establishment the business has increased from year to year until now it is one of the largest in the city. Politically Mr. Hinz is a staunch adher- ent of the tenets of the Republican party, but the pressure of busi- ness affairs has restrained him from becoming a candidate for public office of any nature. In religious matters he is a communi- cant of the Lutheran church, and professionally is prominently identified with the Milwaukee and the Wisconsin State Pharma- ceutical Associations. On Feb. 24, 1884, Mr. Hinz was united in marriage to Miss Annie Mierswa, of Milwaukee, a daughter of Joseph and Johanna (Fink) Mierswa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mierswa, now deceased, were early settlers in Milwaukee, having come here in 1840. To Mr. and Mrs. Hinz have been born two children, Vera and Herbert J.
Arthur C. Liepe, who owns and runs a pharmacy at 1412 Green Bay avenue, is a native of Germany, born in Berlin on Feb. 8, 1854. His parents, Arthur Frederick and Wilhelmenia (Schmidt) Liepe, were both Germans by birth, born in the Fatherland in 1824 and 1826, respectively. The father was a farmer, and there the four children who came to bless the home were reared. He has now retired from active life and is enjoying the fruits of his labors, in his comfortable old home with his wife. Arthur, named after his father, was educated in the German Gymnasium, and after graduating in this school, desiring a professional education, he took a course in pharmacy, receiving the degree of Ph. G. In 1891 he came to the United States and engaged in the drug business at 14II Green Bay avenue, and the same year he bought a lot and erected a building at 1412 Green Bay avenue, into which he moved his stock of drugs and he has successfully managed the business since. In 1882 Mr. Liepe married Elsa Fisher, the daughter of Bernhard and Freda Fisher, both natives of Germany. In 1890, shortly before the removal of the daughter to America, Mrs. Liepe's mother died; three years later the father came to Milwau- kee, but he had hardly become accustomed to a home in the new country before he too was called by the Angel of Death. Mrs. Liepe has borne two children : Arthur B., born in Germany in 1883, was schooled in the government Gymnasium of Germany until his parents came to Milwaukee, when he entered Marquette College and graduated in the medical department there in 1908. On Dec. I, 1908, he successfully passed the examination for interne at the County Hospital, which position he still holds. The second child, Carla, was born in 1886, and has received the educational advan- tages offered by the city schools. In 1898 Mr. Liepe's wife died and the following year he married Ella Groth, the daughter of Ludwig and Bertha (Boede) Groth, who were among the early settlers of Milwaukee, and who were the parents of five children, four of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Groth died in 1881 and 1908, respectively. Mr. and Mrs Liepe are members of the Lu- theran church and Mr. Liepe is one of the staunch supporters of the Republican party. He is also a member of the Milwaukee
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