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 69
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committee are to settle all disputes relative to bills and all matters relative to interchange of cars between the various railroads of the United States and Canada. Though somewhat independent in politics, Mr. Hennessey usually votes the Democratic ticket. In church affiliations he and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. On April 12, 1875, Mr. Hennessey married Miss Elizabeth McLaughlin, of Waukesha county, Wis., whose parents were old settlers there. Five children were born to this union, four of whom are living: Florence, Caroline, Richard, and George. The mother died in June, 1882. In November, 1883, Mr. Hen- nessey was again married to Miss Elizabeth Dunn, of Milwaukee, and to this union two children were born: Vincent D. and Margaret.
Carl C. Joys, president of the firm of Vance & Joys Company, marine brokers and insurance agents, was born in Milwaukee on Feb. 1I, 1860, a son of John and Christina (Gabrielsen) Joys. Both parents were born in Farsund, Norway, the father in 1833 and the mother in 1840. For a good many years the father was a sailor on the ocean on vessels of different sizes, and he saw a great deal of the world. He came to Milwaukee in 1855 and for twenty years was a sailing master on the great lakes. In 1875, with a brother, he embarked in the ship-chandlery business under the firm name of Joys Brothers. Although well advanced in years he is still actively engaged in business. The mother came to Mil- waukee with her parents in 1844, and died at the age of twenty-six years. Carl C. Joys received his educational advantages in the public schools of Milwaukee. His first occupation after leaving school was in a clerical position in a grain commission house. In 1886 he embarked in the marine brokerage and marine insur- ance business. In his political belief Mr. Joys is a Republican and adheres strongly to the reform principles promulgated by Senator Robert M. La Follette. Since 1882 he has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Excelsior Blue Lodge and Excelsior Chapter, Free and Accepted Masons, and also of the National Union. On June 2, 1886, Mr. Joys was united in mar- riage to Miss Josephine E. Saveland, a daughter of Zachariah and Julia Saveland, of Milwaukee. Mrs. Joys died in 1903, leaving beside her husband a son, Carl C., Jr., now twenty years of age and a student in the University of Wisconsin; and a daughter, Florence, aged thirteen years.
William Henry Graebner, who for a number of years has been prominent as a member of both the administrative and legis- lative departments of the municipal government, was born in De- troit, Mich., on April 2, 1854. He is a son of Henry and Jacobine (Denninger) Graebner, the former a native of Bavaria and the latter born in Baden, Germany. Henry Graebner, the father, came to this country in 1847 and settled in a Bavarian settlement near Saginaw, Mich. He was a minister of the gospel of the Lutheran faith, and was one of the pioneers of the faith. In 1859 he removed with his family to St. Charles, Mo., and later to Sagi- naw, Mich., where he died. His widow, who is still living and
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hearty in her seventy-ninth year, came to this country with her parents in 1831 and lived near Monroe, Wis. Of the seven chil- dren born to the parents, four survive. William H. Graebner, the subject of this review, was educated in the common schools of St. Charles, Mo., and in 1872 graduated in the normal course at a Lutheran teachers' seminary at Addison, Ill. For the first six years immediately following his graduation he was in charge of one of the Lutheran parochial schools at Bay City, Mich., and in 1878 severed that connection to come to Milwaukee. Here he assumed the principalship of the St. Peter's Lutheran school and continued in that position until 1891. In that year he was appointed a member of the state board of control by Gov. George W. Peck and served in that capactiy during the four years of Democratic administration. While a member of the board he established a real estate, loan, and insurance business, and when his term of appointment ended he took active charge of the latter business, which he is most successfully managing to-day. Politically he is a loyal adherent of the principles of the Democratic party and has frequently been shown the confidence his fellow townsmen have in him by his election to public office. From 1898 to 1902 he represented his ward in the common council, and in 1902, 1904, and 1906 was the successful candiate of the Democratic party for the office of city treasurer, in the latter year running far ahead of his ticket when a Republican mayor was elected. The Lutheran church has a no more earnest member than Mr. Graebner, who is interested in all its institutions. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Lutheran Joint Synod of Wiscon- sin, Minnesota and Michigan; the board of trustees of the Luth- eran Synod of Wisconsin and other states; the board of trustees of the Northwestern University at Watertown, Wis., and is also a member of the board of trustees of the Lutheran Seminary at Wauwatosa. Beside his business interests he devotes consid- erable time to charitable institutions, being a member of the board of trustees of the Lutheran Home for Feeble-minded, and is president of the Lutheran Children's Home Society. He is also identified with the Northwestern Publishing Company. Frater- nally he is connected with the Mutual Aid Society and is one of the prominent members of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association. On May 23, 1875, Mr. Graebner was united in mar- riage to Miss Thekla Sulzer, a native of Milwaukee and a daughter of Adolph and Susanna Sulzer, pioneers of this city. To Mr. and Mrs. Graebner have been born seven children: Clara; Lydia, wife of Charles Benson ; Agnes, George, Herbert, Adela, and Jennie.
Michael A. Seeboth, the popular secretary of the W. H. Pip- korn Company, was born in Milwaukee on March 8, 1884, a son of Adam and Mary (Nennig) Seeboth, the former a native of Ger- many and the latter of Wisconsin. From twelve years of age until his death, in 1895, the father made his residence in Milwau- kee, during the latter part of his life being connected with the Seeboth Brothers Company, dealers in rags and scrap iron, and of
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which he was the president and one of the founders. He was always active in the social and religious work of the Roman Catholic church. The mother and two of the four children born to her are still living, making their residence in Milwaukee. At the time of the father's death his business was the largest of its kind in the Cream City, and it is still being successfully conducted under the old firm name. Michael A. Seeboth, the subject of this memoir, received his early scholastic training at St. Mary's parochial school and Marquette College, having attended the latter institution some four years. In 1902 he graduated at the Spencerian Business College and for three months in that year was in the employ of the Barth Manufacturing Company. Then he began his connection with the W. H. Pipkorn Company, and, after working up through the various stages of the labor, he was finally, in January, 1906, made secretary of the concern. He is now filling that position with the utmost satisfaction to the members of the firm and to its patrons, and is doing much to make the company one of the most enterprising in the city. Mr. Seeboth is not married. In politics he allies himself with the Democratic party and is a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Columbus, the Lyric Glee Club, the Catholic Choral Club and St. Leo's Young Men's Society.
John F. Kern, and Adolph L. Kern, the junior members of the firm of John B. A. Kern & Sons, proprietors of the Eagle Flouring Mills on Commerce street, are both natives of Milwau- kee. They are the sons of John B. A. and Helena (Bertschy) Kern, the former a native of southern Germany and the latter of Alsace-Lorraine. Their maternal grandfather, John Bertschy, established in 1846, the milling plant now owned by the Kerns, and his descendants have controlled it ever since. John B. A. Kern was also largely interested in real estate, owning several valuable tracts of land. and at the time of his death, in 1892. was one of the best known millers in the northwest. He came to the United States in 1836 with his parents, and for a time after he came of age operated a calico and print factory at Philadelphia. In 1855 he removed to Milwaukce and became associated with his father-in-law in the milling business. The mother migrated from the Fatherland in 1844. John F. Kern and A. L. Kern, the sub- jects of this review, took their scholastic training in the Milwau- kee public schools, and while still youths entered the business in which they are now engaged. The mills are one of the oldest establishments of any kind in the city. The products consist of wheat and rye flours and various cereal products, and the busi- ness reaches to all parts of the United States. Considerable of the success of the firm is directly due to the energy, business sagacity, and integrity of the Messrs. Kern, who are recognized all over the state as leaders in Milwaukee's commercial life. Both brothers are Republicans in their political belief, but neither has ever aspired to offices of public trust. On Sept. 26, 1898, Adolph L.
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was united in marriage to Miss Cliffina Syme, a native of Neenah, Wis., and they have one child, Helena, now eight years of age. Mrs. John F. Kern was formerly Miss Jessie Goll, a daughter of the late Julius Goll, of Milwaukee. She has no children.
Carroll Atwood, vice-president of the Fidelity Trust Com- pany and one of the most substantial citizens of Milwaukee, was born at Juneau, Dodge county, Wis., on Dec. 15, 1853. He is a son of Alson and Arvilla (Doud) Atwood, both natives of Ver- mont. The father brought his bride to Juneau in 1845, and there for eight or nine years was one of the leading physicians of the vicinity. Later he removed to Trempealeau, Wis., where both he and his wife passed away. Carroll Atwood, the subject of this review, attended the public schools of Trempealeau, and when he had completed the prescribed course there he entered Ripon Col- lege at Ripon, Wis. He graduated there in the class of 1875 and later matriculated in the law department of the University of Wis- consin. In 1878 the regents of the university granted him the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and soon afterward he opened an office at Whitehall, Trempealeau county, for the practice of his chosen profession. After a successful career of several years he removed to Aberdeen, S. D., and there built up a large and lucrative prac- tice. From Aberdeen he came to Milwaukee and became asso- ciated with the Ogden Abstract of Title Company. When all the, abstract companies in Milwaukee were merged under the name of the Milwaukee Title Company Mr. Atwood was made manager and continued in that capacity until January, 1903, when he was tendered and accepted the vice-presidency of the Fidelity Trust Company, the position which he is now so creditably filling. In politics he is a staunch adherent of the tenets of the Republican party, but has never sought to become his party's candidate for political office of any nature. He is very much engrossed in his work, and his only social relations are with the University Club. On April 23, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie C. Bullen, a native of Eau Claire, Wis., and to this union have been born three children : Carroll S., Charles B., and Fredrica H.
August Rebhan, for many years prominent as the president of the Milwaukee Board of Fire Underwriters, was born at Racine, Wis., on June 22, 1860. His parents, both of whom are deceased, were Joseph Rebhan and Anna Maria (Bucher) Rebhan, the former of whom was born on March 17, 1825, in Wurtemburg, Germany, and the latter in the same place on March 28, 1829. The father was a furniture manufacturer and dealer who emigrated to the United States and settled in Racine in 1855. In 1871 he established a furniture factory, in which he worked continuously until 1888. With the exception of a year and a half that he served as a private in the Thirty-seventh Wisconsin infantry during the War of Secession, he lived in Racine until he disposed of his busi- ness there and came to Milwaukee. While a resident of this city he was bailiff in the United States district court under Judge Dyer. There were six children in the family, three sons and as
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many daughters, but only two are still living. August Rebhan, the subject of this sketch, received a limited education in the com- mon and parochial schools of Racine. His first work after leaving school was in a basket factory, where he earned his first dollar, and his natural ability, strict attention to work, and honesty, earned him a position as clerk in a dry goods store. He was am- bitious and not content to work for others, and at the age of eighteen embarked in the men's furnishing goods business in Racine, being sole owner and proprietor until 1883. At the same time he conducted a local fire insurance agency. In the above mentioned year he sold out his business in Racine and came to Milwaukee, where he became associated in the fire insurance busi- ness with his father-in-law, Hon. Joseph Phillips, formerly mayor of Milwaukee. After only a few years Mr. Rebhan worked the business up so that it was the largest fire insurance agency in Milwaukee, and the agency now known as August Rebhan & Com- pany still maintains that place. They represent some of the largest insurance companies, and as state agents represent a large casualty and bond company. In politics Mr. Rebhan was origin- ally a Democrat, but of late years has been independent, prefer- ring to exercise his right of franchise as his judgment and con- science dictate rather than be bound by party ties. He was for ten
years a member of the park commission, and also served for some time as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is promi- nent in the Knights of Columbus, having held many of the im- portant offices of that organization ; he is a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks and is also a member of many social clubs, among them the Blue Mound Country Club, Deut- scher Club, Calumet Club, and the Milwaukee Athletic Club. On Oct. 16, 1883, Mr. Rebhan was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth R. Phillips, a daughter of Hon. Joseph Phillips, of Mil- waukce. To this union have been born three children: Adele M., Elsa A. and Raymond J.
Joseph Zartner was born in Austria, March 24, 1850, the son of Joseph and Mary (Neuman) Zartner. His father was a native of Austria and the manager of a large mine. His mother was also a native of Austria. She died in 1892, and four years later her husband was called to take that last long journey from which no traveler returns. Joseph Zartner belongs to that sagacious and industrious class of worthy immigrants who were the pioncer settlers of Milwaukee and helped to lay its foundations. He received his educational training in the schools of his native country, and when only seventeen years of age bade adieu to his family and native land and sailed for the new world to seek his fortune. He could not speak the English language, but in spite of this handicap he has demonstrated what work, determination, and ability will do, having far outstripped in the race for wealth many who had not these disadvantages to contend with. When he first located in Milwaukee Mr. Zartner started in to learn the art of making horse collars and continued in that occupation eight years.
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During that period he was prudent and accumulated sufficient capital to establish himself in the saloon business, in connection with which he ran a restaurant. His place of business was long known as "The Mountain House." Mr. Zartner was a good host and ran his business with profit and satisfaction until 1903. He retired from active life then and devoted his attention to the care of the property which he had acquired while conducting his various branches of business. There were only about sixty thousand inhabitants in Milwaukee when Mr. Zartner first came, and with far-sighted business ability he saw the great opportunity to accu- mulate money by buying and holding land until the city grew. He invested in a large amount of land in Wauwatosa and Milwaukee. He disposed of the Wauwatosa real estate some time ago, but still is an important land and householder in the Cream City He was the first to locate on what is known as "the flats" at the foot of Undertaker's Hill and he built the first three bridges across the Menomonee river at the foot of Grand avenue. He owns a house at 92 Twenty-seventh street, an eight-flat building on Four- teenth street and Grand avenue, a six-flat building at 1923 to 1929 State street, which is occupied by his son Andrew, and many other valuable pieces of property in the city. Mr. Zartner is essen- tially a self-made man and deserves great honor for the success he has achieved. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, but has never aspired to hold public office. On Aug. 30, 1874, he was united in marriage with Emma Schaefer, born in Milwaukee on Nov. 15, 1855, the daughter of Henry and Louisa (Schumacher) Schaefer, both of whom were born in Sax-Weimar, Germany. Mr. Schaefer immigrated to the United States in 1852 and came directly to Milwaukee. He was a blacksmith by trade and started a shop on Chestnut street, near Sixth. After some years he bought a place on Poplar street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, where he conducted his business until he retired. His death occurred in 1902. Mrs. Schaefer had died in 1873 and from that time he had lived very quietly. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Zartner: Andrew, born May 30, 1878, married Amelia Figge, of Milwaukee, and now resides in Milwaukee, being occupied as bookkeeper for the Miller Brewing Company : Edward, born Nov. 12, 1882, married Louisa Litzow and resides at 274 Twentieth street, being a draftsman for the American Bridge Com- pany ; Louisa, born Nov. 3. 1884, is the wife of Carl Sauler, of Mil- waukee, the foreman of the Miller Brewing Company; Anna, born July 25, 1889, is married to John Wandrey, Jr., who is a plumber and resides at 619 Eighteenth street; and five sons who died in infancy. Mr. Zartner is now enjoying the well-carned fruits of his labors and has lived to see his children receive the benefits of a good education and become established in life.
Joseph Juneau, a prosperous farmer of the town of Green- field, was born in Milwaukee on June 15, 1837. He is a son of Peter Silas and Angelica (Vieau) Juneau, the former of whom was a brother of Solomon Juneau, the founder of the city. The father
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came to Milwaukee just a year after the arrival of his famous brother and for a long time was employed in the store of Solomon Juneau, after which he retired and lived quietly during the balance of his life. His wife died in 1878 and his demise occurred some three years later. Joseph Juneau, the subject of this review, first attended St. Peter's parochial school on Martin street in Milwau- kee and later was a student in the district school near his present home. At the age of twenty-one he started life for himself, work- ing a portion of his father's land. When he had accumulated a sufficient sum he purchased forty acres of his present farm and sub- sequently his father made him a gift of forty acres more. He has gradually added to the size of his holdings until now the farm con- tains some 200 acres, practically all of which is under cultivation. Beside this property he is the owner of two houses and lots on National avenue in the city of Milwaukee and also one in West Allis. Mr. Juneau has risen from a small beginning to affluence directly through his own efforts, his only assistance being his faith- ful wife, who stood side-by-side with him in the battle of life. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is one of the most devout communicants of that church in the county. In political matters he has always been allied with the Democratic party, but despite the urgent solicitation of his many friends he has never aspired to become a candidate for public office of any nature. In Feb- ruary, 1857, Mr. Juneau was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Mathey, who was born in Switzerland in 1838 and came to the United States with her parents in 1855. Mr. Mathey was a farmer by vocation and resided in Greenfield township about five years, later removing to Minnesota and still later to Michigan, where both he and his wife passed away. Mrs. Juneau died in the spring of 1902, leaving beside her husband, six children. Margaret, the eldest, is the wife of William McFadzen, a merchant of Man- istee, Mich. Isabelle is the wife of Charles Hathaway, a resident of West Allis, interested in the cash register industry. Mathilda is the wife of Jacob G. Kissinger, of Milwaukee, who is given more extended mention in a personal sketch on another page of this volume. Mary resides with her father; Mand is a kindergarten teacher in the town of Greenfield : and William J., the youngest, married a Miss Murphy, of Brookings, S. D., and is a teacher and director of athletics at Marquette University.
Obed W. Paine, a prominent dairyman and a well-known breeder of high-grade Jersey and Holstein cattle, and whose prop- erty adjoins the city of West Allis, was born at Anson, Somerset county, Me., on Dec. 21, 1838. He is a son of Josiah, Jr., and Mel- vina (Bryant) Paine. The mother was a cousin, three times removed, of William Cullen Bryant, the poet. The paternal grand- father, Joseph Paine, Sr., was a member of the Continental army during the Revolutionary war and was present at the surrender of the British General Burgoyne. He had a family of fifteen children, and three of the sons participated in the War of 1812 as soldiers in the American army. Subsequently four of the sons migrated to
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Mobile, Ala., and their descendants won fame in the Confederate army in the war between the states. When Pensacola was cap- tured, James Paine, an uncle of the subject of this review, was a member of the Federal forces and learned that several of his rela- tives were in the Confederate army. He found the body of one who had been drowned in the wreck of a Confederate steamer, and taking a part of the wreckage of the steamer back to Maine with him had canes made of it, which have been handed down from generation to generation. One of these canes, mounted in gold, is now in the possession of the subject of this review. The father, Josiah Paine, Jr., came to Milwaukee in 1892 and spent the remain- der of his life with his son. He died in 1899, at the hale old age of eighty-six years, and his remains were taken back to Maine for interment. His wife died some years before his demise. Obed W. Paine received the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of Franklin county, Me., and at an early age learned the trade of blacksmith. Early in 1862, when President Lincoln issued a call for more volunteers to suppress the Southern upris- ing, Mr. Paine and two of his brothers offered their services and became members of Company A of the Seventeenth Maine infantry, the term of enlistment being for three years. When the regiment reached the front it was assigned to the Third brigade, First division, Third corps, and was first under fire at the battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862. During the following spring it was engaged in the Chancellorsville campaign, and later at Gettysburg during the last two days of that famous battle. On Nov. 27 of the same year the Seventeenth took a prominent part in the battle of Orange Grove. The winter was spent at Brandy Station, and in the spring of 1864 it was assigned to the Second brigade, Third division, Second corps, and as such made a record for itself at the Wilderness, the Po river, the North Anna river, Cold Harbor and before Petersburg. It was under General Warren in his attack on the Weldon railroad, and participated in all the movements of the Second corps in the vicinity of Hatcher's Run in March, 1865. On June 4, 1865, it was mustered out in Wash- ington. On his return to his native state after the cessation of hostilities Mr. Paine purchased the business of the man under whose preceptorship he had learned the blacksmith's trade, and success- fully conducted the business until 1873. In that year he received an appointment as blacksmith in the National Soldier's Home at Milwaukee, and he disposed of his interests and came west. For twelve years he worked at his trade at the Home, and then, hav- ing accumulated a sufficient competence, he purchased a farm, on part of which the present city hall of West Allis now stands. He successfully conducted this farm until 1887 and then sold it to Elmore. Hawley & Stephens. He then purchased another extensive farm, of which the thirty acres on which he now resides and con- ducts a dairy farm, was a part. Mr. Paine makes a specialty of blooded Jersey cattle, and wholesales his milk and cream at West
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