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 73
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Hans E. Reinertsen, surveyor of Milwaukee county, was born in the city of Milwaukee, Wis., April 2, 1856, and is the youngest son of Jonas C. and Hannah Reinertsen, both natives of Norway. They came to Milwaukee in 1844, and here the father followed his trade of ship carpenter for many years. He died in 1897, his wife having died in 1895. Of their children, A. R. is a grain dealer at Kansas City, Mo .; Robert C. is a civil engineer and surveyor in Milwaukee; Mollie is the wife of Albert Munson, of Milwau- kee; Maria is Mrs. A. L. Sanders, of New York city ; and Hans E. is the subject of this sketch. The others are deceased. Hans E. Reinertsen received his education in the Milwaukee public schools, and at the age of fourteen years began the work of civil engineer and surveyor. His brother, Robert C., served four terms as sur- veyor of Milwaukee county, and Hans succeeded to the same office in 1893, serving one term. In February, 1907, he was appointed to the position he now occupies to fill a vacancy. Mr. Reinertsen is a Democrat in his political opinions, but has never held office except as above noted. He has worked his way to his present position in his profession by his own industry and energy, and is recognized as one of the best qualified engineers and surveyors in the Cream City. His church relations are marked by membership . in the Lutheran denomination, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. In 1877 Mr. Reinertsen married Miss Louisa Isaacs, a native of Dodge county, Wis., and to this union have been born three children. E. A. is freight solicitor for the Northern Pacific railroad; J. C. is rate clerk for the Great Northern railway at Spokane, Wash .; and Martha is at home with her parents.
Walter J. Murray, superintendent of bridges of the city of Mil- waukee, and a popular and efficient public employe, was born at Stevens Point, Wis., March 4, 1868, the son of Thomas J. and Eleanor (Sievwright) Murray, the former of whom was a native of Smithport, Pa., born in December, 1846, and the latter was born at Montreal, Canada, in January, 1845. The Murray family is numbered among the prominent and early pioneer settlers of Alle- gheny county, Pa., where one of our subject's first ancestors was once captured by the Indians and held prisoner among them for some ten or twelve years. Thomas J. Murray was civil engineer and surveyor by profession, and was one of the honored veterans of the Civil war. He was still a lad in his teens when the war broke out, but he was imbued with the martial spirit and patriotism of those days, and was determined to become a soldier and fight his country's battles. Meeting with stern parental objection at home, he ran away and enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania infantry, with which command he served for over three years at the front. As a member of the Army of the Potomac, he participated in many of the most important cam- paigns and battles of the war. He was once severely wounded in action, and also suffered from disease contracted in the service. After the conclusion of the war, he came west to Wisconsin with his family, settling at Steven's Point. Here he engaged in his
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professional work as a civil engineer and surveyor, and also, in connection therewith, embarked to a considerable extent in lumber- ing operations in the north Wisconsin pineries. His death took place at Steven's Point on Dec. 28, 1905, and he was buried there on Jan. 2, 1906. His widow still resides in the old homestead in Steven's Point. They were the parents of a large family of nine children : May, Walter J., Ethel, Violet, Grace, Inez, Rose, Myrtle, and Eleanor; of whom May, Walter, Ethel, Grace, and Rose are all married and living in Wisconsin. May is the wife of T. W. Fulton, of Steven's Point; Ethel is the wife of William Atkins, of Steven's Point; Grace is the wife of Thomas Downey, of Merrill, Wis .; and Rose is the wife of Chas U. Malick, of Steven's Point. Walter J., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Steven's Point, where he is a graduate of the high school. From the age of twenty-two until he was twenty-seven years old, he assisted his father in his professional labors, and was then engaged in the work of a practical electrician for a period of nine years. He was next engaged in structural iron work at Pittsburg, Pa., where he was associated with the firm of Reiter & Connolly, and after this he was connected with the Curtis Automobile Com- pany, of Milwaukee for about a year. On Oct. 9, 1905, he received his present appointment as Superintendent of Bridges for the city of Milwaukee, a position which he obtained and holds in con- formity with the civil service regulations. He is a member of Shawnette Lodge, No. 92, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Steven's Point, Wis .; and is also a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, Crescent Camp, No. 9038, of Milwaukee. Mr. Murray was united in marriage on July 11, 1895, to Miss Theresa A., daughter of John W. and Alice Rice, of Malone, N. Y. This marriage has been blessed with one daughter, Miss Alice Eleanor, aged eleven years. Mrs. Murray's father is still living in New York, but her mother died some time ago. Mr. Murray makes his home at 807 Grand avenue. He is a pleasant-spoken and affable man and possesses a host of warm friends, both in Milwaukee and elsewhere. No more capable and faithful public servant is now employed by the city.
William Priester, a member of the firm of Weisel & Company, sausage manufacturers, with an office at 609 East Water street, Milwaukee, Wis., was born of German parents in the province of Nassau, the beautiful Rhine country of Germany, on Dec. 1, 1860. When a young man he emigrated to Canada, and after remaining there for some time came to Milwaukee from the Canadian north- west in 1884. He soon found a position in the office of Jenkins, Winkler & Smith and remained with this firm until he was ap- pointed deputy revenue collector under E. C. Wall, during Cleve- land's first administration. In 1889 Mr. Priester entered the service of the Pabst Brewing Company and won the confidence and trust of his employers by his natural ability, insight into business, and strict attention to duty. At the end of five years he determined to go into business for himself, and in April, 1894, went into part-
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nership with Carl Weisel as Weisel & Company, buying out the interest of Jacob Weisel, the founder of the business. The firm was already well established, but has increased its business and prospered under the new management, and to-day is one of the largest establishments manufacturing sausages and special meat products in the Cream City. On Sept. 19, 1887, Mr. Priester was united in marriage with Joanna, the daughter of J. C. Kessler, a chemist, of Milwaukee. They have one daughter, twelve years of age. Mr. Priester takes interest in political affairs, and is a mem- ber of the following social organizations: the Deutscher Club, the Musical Society, and the Milwaukee Maennerchor, and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Independence Lodge, No. 80.
Charles J. Reilly, the secretary and treasurer of the well- known and popular men's furnishing house of Hurley, Reilly & Company, at 89 Wisconsin street, Milwaukee, is a native of the Cream City, born there on Jan. 9, 1877. His father, P. Henry Reilly, was an Englishman by birth, born in London, England, in 1849, and his mother was born in New England, at Lynn, Mass., in 1857. The elder Reilly came to America when he was a child and grew up in Milwaukee. During his boyhood he worked at various occupations, finally learned the tailor's trade, became one of the most prominent merchant tailors of Milwaukee, and continued an active and prosperous business life until his death in November, 1907. At one time he served as director of the Milwaukee public schools. The subject of this sketch was the second child in a family of six children born to his parents, and he had three brothers and two sisters. His elementary education was received in the common schools of Milwaukee; he then attended a school at Fordham, N. Y., and on his return to Milwaukee attended Marquette College, where he was graduated in 1896. After leaving college he was in business with his father for a short time, but was ambitious and desired a business of his own, and in December, 1898, formed a co-partnership with J. P. Hurley, the firm becoming known as Hurley-Reilly Company, a retail store carrying men's furnishings. The new firm was very prosperous, and the stock was gradually enlarged and new lines added. In 1903 the company was incorporated and Charles J. Reilly became secretary and treasurer. He is one of the younger business men of Milwaukee, but is very progressive in his business methods, has achieved marked success in his chosen occupation, and the store at 89 Wisconsin street, is one of the best in the Cream City. On April 21, 1903, Mr. Reilly was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Van Brunt, who was born at Horicon, Wis. She is the daughter of Elliot Van Brunt, an extensive manufacturer of agri- cultural implements and farm machinery. Their home has been blessed by the birth of a daughter, born July 29, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Reilly are well known in the social circles of Milwaukee, and he is a member of the Deutscher Club, the Blue Mound Country Club, and the Knights of Columbus.
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Charles L. Haase is one of the founders of the Northwestern Furniture Company, of Milwaukee. Although born in Wisconsin, on a farm seven miles from Port Washington, on Aug. 12, 1851, he is of German descent, his parents, Charles F. and Mary (Krienitz) Haase, having both been born in Germany. They were married in the Fatherland and coming to this country located first at Port Washington. The father labored at his trade of cooper in the employ of the Port Washington Brewing Company for a few years, and then purchased a farm a few miles out of the city. This he suc- cessfully operated for a score of years before coming to Milwau- kee to enter the business of retailing wood and coal with Charles Rolf in 1876. This occupation furnished him with a livelihood until his death, which occurred in 1891. His widow died some eleven years later, leaving a family of two sons and two daughters. Charles L. Haase took advantage of the educational opportunities offered in the common schools, and then for a time assisted his father in conducting the farm. In 1871 he resolved to master the trade of cabinet-maker, and entering a shop that year served a four years' apprenticeship. Immediately after mastering the craft he started business for himself, doing odd jobs in a small factory of his own and making some furniture. In 1881, in partnership with his brother, Rudolph C., and Adolp Phillips, he embarked in the furniture business under the firm name of Haase Brothers & Phillips, making chairs and other light furniture. In 1885 R. C. Forrer became a partner in the concern, the name being changed to the Northwestern Furniture Company, manufacturers of bar and office fixtures. When Mr. Phillips dropped out some little time later the company gave over the making of bar fixtures, making office furniture exclusively. The concern has developed from year to year and now supplies a large trade all over the country. The factory is located at 719 West Water street and the retail store and the salesrooms are at 271-273 West Water street. Mr. Haase was united in marriage on Christmas day, 1878, to Miss Mary Schaefer, a native of Milwaukee and a daughter of August Schae- fer, a pioneer of the city. To this union have been born five chil- dren : Charles, Adolph, Rudolph, Ella and Marie.
Mrs. May Winter, a leading musician of Milwaukee, who is associated with her brothers, Fred N. and Robert Winter, in the direction of the Winter Conservatory of Music, is a native of Mil- waukee. A short reference to her parents may be found in the sketch of Fred N. Winter, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Winter took advantage of the educational opportunities afforded by the public schools of the city. Her musical training she received under the direction of the best instructors to be found in the city. For the past ten years she herself has been teaching music, and is widely known as an instructor of exceptional ability. Mrs. Winter gives instruction on the violin, guitar, mandolin, and piano, and is an artist in the playing of all four of them. She directs a ladies' orchestra, which gives an annual concert, all of the participants being pupils of the Winter Conservatory. Mrs. Win-
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ter has a daughter, Evelyn, now in her eighth year, who is already an accomplished violinist and has the unique distinction of being the youngest orchestra director in the country.
J. Arthur Davis, vice-president of the Milwaukee Lithograph- ing Company and one of the prominent figures in the commercial life of Milwaukee, was born in St. John's, Quebec province, Canada, on Aug. 15, 1858. He is a son of Rev. George H. and Jane Sophia (Jeffery) Davis, the former of whom was born in London, Eng- land, and the latter in Quebec, Canada. His maternal grandfather, John Jeffery, was one of the largest shipbuilders in America when wooden vessels were common, and his paternal grandfather was a minister of the Church of England. His father, Rev. George H. Davis, served an apprenticeship in the dry goods business in London and grew to manhood expecting to make of it a life career. He was a deep thinker along theological lines and became inbued with the teachings of John Wesley. By reason of his join- ing the Methodist church he became estranged from his father, and after the separation determined to leave a business career and enter the ministry. Accordingly he matriculated at a denominational college in London, and upon the completion of his course was ordained as a minister of the Wesleyan Methodist church, of the British Conference. He was sent by that conference as a mission- ary to Canada, and there he remained until his death. He occupied the pulpits of many of the largest churches in that country and was everywhere recognized as a divine of great power. He had the unique distinction during his later life of being the only minister of both the Canadian and British conferences. J. Arthur Davis, the subject of this review, studied at a private school in Quebec and finished his educational training in the Collegiate Institute at Peter- borough, Ont. His business career began when he was but four- teen years of age as a clerk in a tea-merchant's office in Montreal. When he was seventeen he became an employe of a retail dry goods house, and after four years in that branch of the work he was for three years engaged in the wholesale side of the same business. His connection with the lithographing business dates from 1882, when he accepted an offer to become associated with a large litho- graphing establishment in Canada. His ability won him rapid pro- motion, and at the end of two years' time he was secretary and treasurer of one of the largest concerns in Canada. In 1887 he removed to the United States and for a year was engaged in solicit- ing for the Pioneer Press of St. Paul, Minn. In 1888 he became traveling representative of the Gugler Lithographing Company, of Milwaukee, and four years later was made a member of the firm. It was while he was connected with the Gugler Company that the National Association of Lithographers was formed to deal with labor troubles. Mr. Davis took a prominent part in the settlement by arbitration of the first strike, being one of the committee of six appointed by the association to deal with the striking workmen, under the auspices of the Civic Federation, of New York. In August, 1902, he assumed the management of the Milwaukee
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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Lithographing Company and was made vice-president, in which capacity he has since served most acceptably to both the company and its patrons. That his ability is recognized by the community at large is evidenced by the fact of his election to the presidency of the board of trustees of the County Home for Dependent Chil- dren. In politics he is allied with the Republican party, but has never sought political office. His fraternal and social relations are with the Order of Knights Templar, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Calumet Club, and others. In December, 1890, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Lee Wolcott, a daughter of Edwin L. and Elizabeth (Butler) Wolcott, of Bloomington, Il1. Three children have been the issue of this union: Loela P., Han- mer W. (now deceased), and Jessie L. Mr. Davis and his family are devout communicants of the Episcopal church. Their home is at Hartland, Wis., twenty-three miles from Milwaukee, where they enjoy the pleasures of country life and have near at hand the con- veniences to be found in a city.
Frank R. Ellis, the efficient vice-president of the Shadbolt & Boyd Iron Company, was born in Milwaukee on Nov. 9, 1844. He is a son of John and Charlotte (Byrnes) Ellis, the former of whom was born in the north of Ireland and the latter in Quebec, Canada. John Ellis came to Milwaukee in 1836 and earned a livelihood by contracting for wood for fuel purposes on steamboats, and when coal become used for that purpose he started in the grading business, one of his contracts being the ground where the new Hippodrome now stands. During the early days he conducted new settlers across the country from Milwaukee to Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and other points. Frank R. Ellis, the sub- ject of this review, received his educational advantages in the public schools of his native city, and when seventeen years of age became an apprentice in the piano-making trade, in the days when those instruments were all made by hand. This work occupied him for a period of about four years, and then he embarked in flor- istry with a partner under the firm name of Whitnell & Ellis. This business flourished under Mr. Ellis' direction and guidance for nine years, and when he disposed of his interest in 1874 it was to enter the employ of the Shadbolt & Boyd Iron Company. His enterprise and capactiy for work won him promotion through the various departments until at the annual election of officers in 1896 he was made the vice-president of the company, and he has filled the position in a manner that redounds to his own credit quite as much as to the wisdom of the directors in selecting him. Ever since he attained his majority Mr. Ellis has been a staunch adherent of the principles of the Republican party, and as the suc- cessful candidate of that body represented his ward in the city council from 1885 to 1888. Between the years 1898 and 1906 he served as a member of the school board. His only fraternal rela- tions are with the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he has reached a high degree. Mr. Ellis' wife was formerly Miss Louisa Fishback. of Milwaukee, a daughter of Anton and
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Margaret (Meinzer) Fishback. Three sons were the issue of this union : William H., secretary of the Badger Live Stock Insurance Company ; Harry P., salesman for the Standard Varnish Company, of Chicago; and Frank R., a stockholder in the Binner-Wells Com- pany, of Chicago.
Adolph Landauer, president of the well-known wholesale dress goods firm of A. Landauer & Son, is a son of Joseph and Mathilda (Wasserman) Landauer and was born in Fischach, Germany, on March 27, 1847. His father was a native of Bavaria and his mother of Wurtemburg, Germany. Adolph Landauer received the limited educational advantages afforded by the common schools of his native land, and in 1866 immigrated to the United States. He located first in Madison, and for a year was employed in a clerical capacity by S. Klauber & Company, merchants of the capital city. Then he removed to Milwaukee and for a period of two years was an employe of the same firm for which he had labored in Madison. When Mr. Klauber sold out at the end of that time Mr. Landauer, with his brother, purchased the business and conducted it under the name of Landatter & Company for a period of thirty years. He sold out his interest in the firm of Landauer & Company in 1899, and started a new firm, in company with his son, Joseph, styled Adolph Landauer & Son, under which title it is at present doing a large and flourishing business. To Mr. Landauer's enterprise, attention to details, and his scrupulous honesty, may be attributed in large measure the success of the company, which has a name for square dealing and best quality throughout the state. Politically he is allied with the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. He is one of the influential members of the Milwau- kee Chamber of Commerce, and in a fraternal and social way is identified with the Masonic order, the Deutscher Club, and the Blue Mound Country Club. His religious relations are with the Hebrew Tabernacle. On Oct. 18, 1871, Mr. Landauer was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Boguslawsky, a daughter of Marcus and Ernestina (Stern) Boguslawsky, of Milwaukee. Two children were the issue of this union: Mathilda, now the wife of Dr. Carl Holty, and Joseph, who is associated with his father in business.
Price Morgan Davis, the second vice-president of the Shadbolt & Boyd Iron Company, of Milwaukee, Wis., is a native of Wis- consin, of Welsh descent. He was born at Delafield, Wis., Aug. II, 1871, the son of Robert and Mary (Williams) Davis, who were both born in Wales, in 1831 and 1839, respectively. His father came to the United States and located in Wisconsin, where he entered into the lumber and railroad contracting business and was one of the pioneer railroad constructors in the state. He built a part of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and parts of several other lines, when the first railroads were being put through Wis- consin. For many years he resided at Delafield, Wis., where he died in 1887. Price Davis received his elementary education in the public schools of his home town until fourteen years of age, when he entered St. John's Military Academy at Delafield. Subsequently he
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went east to Hobart College, at Geneva, N. Y., graduating in 1894, then taught at St. John's Military Academy for two years, after which he traveled for one year in Europe, and in 1897 started as clerk for the Shadbolt & Boyd Iron Company. He learned the busi- ness thoroughly, and his energy, ability, and strict attention to work caused him to be promoted from one position of trust to another. In 1900 he was elected a director of the company, and a year later he became second vice-president. Mr. Davis has wide business interests scattered over different parts of the country ; he is a director of the Stoughton Wagon Company, Stoughton, Wis., and president of the Fort Smith Rim and Bow Company, of Fort Smith, Ark. He is acting manager of the Academy of Music, Mil- waukee, Wis., a member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club and the Blue Mound Country Club. He is also a thirty-second degree member of the Wisconsin Consistory, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, and a Mystic Shriner. Mr. Davis is not a member of any political party, but in both local and national affairs is guided in his views by the needs of the day, and is always ready to render assistance, financial and otherwise, to the cause he believes to promise the most for his adopted city and the country at large. He is a member of the Episcopalian church.
George Williams Peckham is one of the well-known and highly respected citizens of Milwaukee, where he has had his residence since the days of his boyhood. He was born at Albany, N. Y., March 23, 1845, the son of George Williams and Mary (Perry) Peckham, and a direct descendant of John Peckham, who settled in Newport, R. I., in 1638. This first American ancestor, who died in 1681, was married to Mary Clarke; their son, John, who was born in 1645 and died in 1712, was married to Sarah Newport; their son, Benjamin, who was born in 1684 and died in 1761, was married to Mary Carr, Sept. 23, 1708; their son, Benjamin, who was born in 1715 and died in 1792, was married to Mary Hazard, March 2, 1737 ; and their son, Peleg, was married to Desire Watson, who be- came the grandmother of the subject of this review. Several of the Peckhams have become prominent in the legal and other pro- fessions in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and other places. George Williams Peckham received his early education in pri- vate schools, and coming to Milwaukee in his youth, during the years 1860 and 1863 he was a student at the Milwaukee Academy. On June 30 of the latter year he enlisted as a member of Battery B, First Wisconsin heavy artillery, and was mustered in on August 22, as orderly sergeant. With the battery he left Milwaukee in October, 1863, was sent to Munfordville, Ky., and on Jan. 4, 1864, to Lexington, Ky., where the command garrisoned Fort Clay until Aug. 30, 1865, when it was mustered out. That Mr. Peckham per- formed the duties assigned him faithfully is evidenced by the fact that on April 30, 1864, he was promoted to junior second lieutenant; on July 20, senior second lieutenant, and on November 28 of the same year was commissioned junior first lieutenant of the battery. After the close of his military career he returned
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