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 75
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(Eiring) Daevel, residents of Milwaukee. Charles Daevel was born in Kiel, Germany, Dec. 14, 1838. He realized the opportunities open to a young and energetic man in the United States, immigrated to this country when quite young, and soon located in Milwaukee, where he secured a position as traveling salesman for a coal firm. After acquiring a knowledge of this business he associated himself with Mr. Sander, and they ran a coal yard for some time in Milwaukee. Sub- sequently he sold out his interest in the firm and was connected with the Uhrig Coal Company, and remained with it until he again estab- lished himself in an independent yard of his own, which he ran until his deatlı, March 20, 1891. Mr. Daevel was a supporter of the Repub- lican party and took an active interest in its principles and policies. Mr. and Mrs. Daevel had three children : Martha, Alfred, and Wil- liam, the last two named being deceased. Their mother died on Dec. 28, 1875. Louis J. Elsner was a very domestic man ; he loved his home and was a most devoted husband. He was a lover of horses, and dur- ing his life took great pleasure in those he owned. In politics he was stanchly arrayed as a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and it lost a loyal member when he died, Feb. 25, 1901, after a life that was upright and kind and devoted to the services of his fam- ily and large circle of friends. Mr. Elsner's social affiliations were with the Knights of Columbus.
Jacob G. Kissinger, secretary and treasurer of the Rauser, Leavens & Kissinger Company, wholesale dealers in knit goods at 352 Broadway, Milwaukee, Wis., is a native of Milwaukee, where he was born on Oct. 1, 1867. His parents were Philip and Bertha (Goetsch) Kissinger, both of whom were born in Germany. , His father was a general merchant who immigrated to the United States and settled in New York state before locating in Milwaukee. He was associated with a drug company for some time after coming to the city, and then was in the business for himself until his death, in 1893. He reared a family of nine children, of whom Jacob is the eldest. When the war of secession broke out, Philip Kissinger enlisted at the call for volunteers as a private in Company A, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infan- try, and served during the war. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, but returned to active service in the field soon afterward, and was mustered out with his regiment in 1865. Jacob was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and took a thorough course in the Spencerian Business College. After finishing his studies he accepted a position with the Goll & Frank Company, in 1883, as stock clerk. He had great business ability, saw the demands of the business, advanced from one position to another very rapidly, and during the last few years he was with that company was one of the buvers. Mr. Kissinger was not content to remain an employe, and after twenty years of faithful service with the Goll & Frank Company, he associated himself with Mr. Leavens and Mr. Rauser and became a member of the firm of Rauser, Leavens & Kissinger Company. at 352 Broadway They do a wholesale business in underwear, hosiery, shirts, and knit goods, and in the short time this firm has been established it has
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gained the front rank in the wholesale business of the city, being the largest house of its kind in the Middle West. Mr. Kissinger was mar- ried on June 3, 1893, to Mathilda, the daughter of Joseph Juneau, of Milwaukee. Mr. Juneau is a native of Milwaukee, and his wife was born in Switzerland, near the French border. He conducted a farm near West Allis for a number of years. His wife died several years ago, since which time he has retired from active business to enjoy a well-earned rest. Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger have two children: Loraine, who is attending school, and Marion. Mr. Kissinger is one of the able representatives of the younger and most progressive business interests of the city. He is a stanch Republican in politics.
Albert Henry Vedder, deceased, was for ten years identified with the mercantile interests of the city of Milwaukee, where the greater part of his mature life was spent, and he also for a short time was engaged in the railroad construction business. He was born in New York city on July 17, 1834, the son of Albert and Maria Vedder, both native New Yorkers, the father being born on April 20, 1796. He was a custom-house officer in New York city for a number of years, and later came west, locating at Eagle, Wis., where he operated a farm and also conducted a general store. He retired several years before his death, which occurred Oct. 28, 1867, at Eagle, Wis., and the mother died several years later at Waukesha. Albert Henry Vedder, whose name introduces this review, received his education in a private school in New York city, and in early life learned the trade of a machinist, becoming especially proficient as a mechanical engineer. This occupa- tion he followed until 1858, when he removed to Milwaukee and opened a grocery store at the corner of West Water and Wells streets, in which business he continued for ten years, until 1868. Then dispos- ing of his mercantile interests he went to Minneapolis in the capacity of a construction engineer for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road Company, and assisted in the construction of that road from Minneapolis to La Crosse. After finishing this work he returned to Milwaukee in very poor health, and he died in that city on Oct. 13, 1869. In political matters he gave his support to the Republican party, but never aspired to or held public office. He was a member of the Calvary Presbyterian church from the time of its organization, and fraternally he had membership in the Independent Order of Good Templars. Mr. Vedder was married on Oct. 30, 1860, to Miss Hannah Ring Peirce, daughter of Jonathan L. and Angelina (Moulton) Peirce, early residents of Milwaukee, but natives of the state of New Hamp- shire, the father being born at Southampton on Dec. 26, 1799, and the mother at Portsmouth. Jonathan L. Peirce and wife resided in New Hampshire until 1833, when they removed to Utica, N. Y., where he engaged in manufacturing, and continued to reside there until 1849, when he removed to Milwaukee. He became interested in the whole- sale and retail dry goods business, with branch stores at Beloit, Berlin, and Watertown, Wis., and he pursued this line of business with suc- cess until 1857, when he disposed of his interests and lived the remain- der of his life in retirement. He had accumulated a competency, which
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he invested mostly in real estate, and under the care of his later years this proved remunerative to himself and beneficial to the city. He was a consistent Whig in his political affiliations until 1852, when Franklin Pierce, with whom he was on terms of close' personal friendship, was nominated by the Democratic party for President, and he then voted the Democratic ticket. Mr. Peirce died on May 12, 1875, and his wife survived until May 23, 1883, when she, too, passed away. They were faithful members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Hannah R. Ved- der, the widow of the subject of this review, came to Milwaukee with her parents in 1849, and as a matter of interest it may be stated that she now occupies the same room in the dwelling house at No. 199 Tenth street that she selected for herself when her parents moved into the house in 1851. At that time the site for the building was in the country, outside of the city limits, and the brick and timber for its construction were obtained in what is now the back-yard. The name plate and knocker which were placed upon the door of the house in 1850 are still in use. During the Civil war Mrs. Vedder was very active in the work at home of the noble women, who, by their broad and heaven-born sympathies and ministrations, upheld the arm of the soldier, and through their untiring labor and self-sacrifice assisted in no small way in bringing success to the Union arms. She early became a member of the association for relief of soldiers' families, and upon the organization of the Soldiers' Home Society, Dec. 15, 1862, she was chosen as one of the vice-presidents. This society continued its very successful work as an aid society until March 1, 1864, when it sev- ered its connection with the old organization and reorganized as the Milwaukee Soldiers' Home Society, appropriating the funds belong- ing to the other society as the basis for the establishment of a home for the accommodation of soldiers returning on furlough, or dis- charged from service and others returning to their regiments without means to pay their hotel expenses. Mrs. Vedder was elected a mem- ber of the first board of directresses of this organization and was prom- inent in the work that followed and which resulted in the establishment of the Milwaukee Soldiers' Home-an institution that now stands as a monument to the loyalty and heroism of the noble women of the Cream City.
Joseph Carey James was born in the Cream City on Oct. 4. 1864. He is the son of Garth W. James, a native of New York city, and Caroline Carey, who was born in Milwaukee. His father came to Milwaukee as a young man and was in the employ of the Wisconsin Central Railroad as paymaster for a number of years. Subsequently he organized the Milwaukee Bridge Company, of which he was presi- dent, and which became one of the well-known and reliable construction companies in the city. The bridges over Racine street stand as a monument to the company. After serving as the head of the concern for years Mr. James disposed of his interests and became Collector of Internal Revenue, but his health failed and he retired from active busi- ness and devoted his time to travel. At the outbreak of the Civil war he was living in the East, and at the call for volunteers enlisted in
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the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts infantry as captain of his company. He was wounded three times during his years of service, returning to the field each time as soon as he was sufficiently recovered to go on duty. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Loyal Legion, and one of the charter members of the Milwaukee Club. Joseph James was reared in Milwaukee, attended Markham's Academy at Andover, Mass., and subsequently studied under a tutor at Cambridge, Mass. After finishing his studies he lived in New York city for two years, where he had a position in the foreign department of the National Union Bank, but came to Milwaukee to accept a posi- tion as salesman with the National Electric Company. This position he gave up to join the firm of Tracy & Company, brokers, and after leaving the brokerage business he became a sand and gravel contractor and began handling real estate, in which business he has continued. To-day he is one of the largest sand and gravel contractors in Mil- waukee and has handled some of the important real estate deals. In 1907 Mr. James was united in marriage with Antoinette, the daughter of John Pierpont, an old and prominent resident of Milwaukee, and they are members of the young and popular social set of the city. Mr. and Mrs. James are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church, and Mr. James belongs to the following social clubs of Milwaukee: The Mil- waukee Club, Milwaukee Country Club, Town Club, the Saddle and Cycle Club, of Chicago, and the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Asso- ciation. Mr. James is independent in his politics, believing it better to exercise his right of franchise by voting for the principle involved and the betterment of local and national politics, than to be directed by party rule. Joseph Carey, the maternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of the pioneers of Milwaukee county, who settled here in an early day. He was a merchant tailor, but he was far-sighted enough to see the future of the city, and he acquired a large amount of real estate, which his descendants have inherited.
Charles Kayser is now living retired in the city of Milwaukee in the evening of an active life spent in useful employment, not the least of which was in the capacity of a defender of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. Mr. Kayser was born near Cologne, Prussia, March 3, 1846, the son of Theodore and Johanna F. (Fischer) Kayser, the former of whom was born at the same place as the son, and the latter was a native of Kronenberg, Germany. The father migrated with his family to America in 1855, and in May of the fol- lowing year settled in Prairie du Sac, Sauk county, Wis., where he followed farming until 1862. In that year he removed to the city of Madison, where for a time he conducted a saloon, and he died in the Capitol City on June 30, 1888, the mother striving until March. 1901. They were the parents of eight children: Eva, Louise, Anton Franz, William J., Charles, Henry, Julia, and Adolph. Charles Kayser re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Germany, and after the migration of the family to America continued his studies in the public schools of Sauk county. As a youth he worked on his father's farm, and then accompanied his parents upon their removal to Madi-
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son, where he became an apprentice at the tinner's trade, remaining thus engaged until January, 1864. He then enlisted as a private in Company E of the Thirty-fifth Wisconsin infantry, and left the state on April 18, 1864, for Port Hudson, La., where he arrived with the . regiment on May 7 and engaged in guard and picket duty until June 26, when the command was ordered to Morganza and assigned to the First brigade, Third division, Nineteenth corps, commanded by Brig .- Gen. A. L. Lee. The regiment was ordered to St. Charles, Ark., and was engaged there in scouting expeditions and guard duty until Aug. 7, when it returned to Morganza. On Oct. I the bri- gade set out on an expedition to Simsport, and during the expedition the regiment participated in several skirmishes. It returned to Mor- ganza, proceeded thence to Devall's Bluff, Ark., landing there Oct. 18. and on Nov. 9 was sent to Brownsville, where it remained until Dec. 1, when it was again ordered to Devall's Bluff. On Dec. 14 the regiment was assigned to the Fourth brigade, Reserve corps, Military Division of West Mississippi, and was employed until Feb. 7, 1865, when it embarked for the attack on Mobile. Land- ing at Mobile Point on the 26th it was assigned to the First brigade, Third division, Thirteenth corps, with which it engaged in the siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley and the capture of Mobile. It was then sent to McIntosh Bluff and there engaged in building fortifications until the close of the war east of the Misissippi river. In June it was assigned to the command known as the separate brigade, Army of the Rio Grande, stationed at Brownsville, Tex., and during the rest of its term of service was engaged in guard duty and upon government steamers. Mr. Kayser served with this regiment throughout the entire period described and was mustered out as hospital steward on April 10, 1866. He then returned to Madison and continued working at his trade until 1873, when he commenced business for himself as a dealer in hardware in company with his brother, Adolph H. Kayser. This partnership continued until 1883, when the business was closed out. The subject of this review was elected treasurer of Dane county in the fall of 1878 and re-elected to the same position in 1880, serving in all four years and until January, 1883. Then, after he had disposed of his mercantile interests, he accepted a position in the office of the adjutant-general at Madison, and remained there about eighteen months, after which he removed to Seattle, Wash., where he remained four years, engaged in the hardware business. At the end of that period he returned to Wisconsin and took up his residence at Milwau- kee, where, in 1892, he started the Enterprise Box and Lumber Com- pany, being associated with his brother, Adolph H. He continued in this business until 1904, when he retired, and is now living in com- parative quietude at 219 Fourteenth street in the city of Milwaukee. He is a Republican in his political affiliations. He keeps alive the memories of war-time days by association with his comrades of the early '6os, and he is an enthusiastic. member of Wolcott Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Kayser has been twice married; first on Jan. 9, 1875, to Miss Annie Heisig, of Blooming Grove, Dane county,
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daughter of Henry and Francis (Gomolka) Heisig, and to this union there were born two children : Adolph H., who is employed as a book- keeper in St. Louis, Mo. ; and Frances J., who is the wife of William C. Niss, of Milwaukee. The mother of these children died on July 28, 1878, and on Sept. 1, 1881, Mr. Kayser was married to Miss Emma Heisig, sister of his deceased helpmate, and three children have resulted from this union: Anna, who is the wife of Hanz Bruening; Carl T., who is taking a course in chemistry in the University of Wisconsin ; and Eugene A., who is a student in the West Side high school at Mil- waukee. Henry Heisig, Sr., and wife, the parents of the wives of Mr. Kayser, were natives of Prussia, who came to the United States in 1854 and settled in the town of Windsor, Dane county, where they followed farming for a number of years. Later they removed to Madison, where they spent the remainder of their lives in retirement, the father dying in January, 1885, and the mother on Oct. 28, 1906.
Adolph Schandein, a retired business man and genial citizen of the Cream City, was born at Obermoschel, Germany, June 1, 1844. His father. William Schandein, was a native of Kaiserslautern, Ger- many, and his mother, Louisa (Barth) Schandein, was born at Ober- moschel. His father moved to Obermoschel and became city treasurer, a position he held until his death in 1862, leaving a widow and five children : Elizabeth, Josephine, Emil, Adolph and Emma (twins). Adolph received an excellent education in the public schools of his native town, and after leaving school was appointed station agent on the government railroad. He attended strictly to his duty and was rewarded by better positions at different points on the road. Like so many ambitious young Germans, he determined to seek his fortune in the new world, and came to the United States in 1870. Almost imme- diately he secured a position with the Best Brewing Company (now the Pabst Brewing Company), and remained with it until he went to South Dakota, where he engaged in the mercantile business. After living in Dakota eight years he disposed of his store and returned to Milwaukee to live. He again became associated with the Pabst Brew- ing Company, and for twenty-seven years (having celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary as a brewer) held the responsible position of paymaster for the company. During this time he became well acquainted with the different brewers of the city and was one of the most trusted and confidential employes of the company. After his many years of faithful service he retired, in 1907, to enjoy the sunset years of life. Mr. Schandein was married on Aug. 2, 1876, to Katherina, the daughter of Frank Hass, of Yankton, S. D. Her parents were both natives of Germany, who came to the United States and located on a farm in South Dakota. where they spent the happy days of their busy lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Schandein were born two children: Frank William, deceased, and Emma, the wife of O. G. Gilbert. the principal of the Seventeenth Ward school. Mrs. Schandein, the beloved wife and loving mother, was called from her family by the angel of death on Dec. 16, 1885. Mr. Schandein has always been a hearty
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supporter of the Democratic party, and was city treasurer of Yankton, S. D., for five years while residing there, but his business life in Mil- waukee left him no time to seek political honors. He is affiliated with the following fraternal organizations: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 46; the Knights of Pythias; and in Masonic circles has membership in Independent Lodge, No. 80, Free and Accepted Masons ; Wisconsin Chapter, No. 7, Royal Arch Masons ; Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar ; and the Wisconsin Consistory. Tripoli Temple, Thirty-second degree.
James Martin, a prominent citizen and prosperous business man of the Cream City, who has retired from active life, is a native of Ireland, born at Limerick on Feb. 11, 1823. He is the son of Wil- liam and Mary (Maher) Martin, who were both born and reared in Limerick. The father was a farmer in the old country and came to America in 1853 to join his son. After settling in Milwaukee he did not take part in business, but lived a quiet, retired life, as his wife had died in Ireland in 1850, before he came to the United States, and he lived but a year with his son in the new country before he, too, passed to his long rest, in 1854. William and Mary Martin had six children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second. He received his education in private schools in Ireland, and worked as a laborer there for some years. In 1847 he came to America, liked it so well that he located at Troy, N. Y., and when the Erie canal was being built across the state he was employed by the company who contracted for the work. Mr. Martin paid strict attention to business, and when he came to Milwaukee, in 1849, he had accumulated sufficient property to establish himself in business. For over twenty-five years he conducted a popular boarding house in the Fourth ward, and by 1875 had earned a sufficient competence to retire from business. He invested his money in real estate and spent his time in looking after his property. In 1892 he purchased a beautiful home at 818 Clybourn street, where he still resides. In February, 1849, he married Miss Mary Noonan, of Troy, N. Y. She died in January, 1880, and in May, 1881, Mr. Martin was married to Mary Rvan, a native of Milwaukee. Mr. Martin and his wife are devout members of the Gesu Catholic church, and it has no more devoted members and supporters. They are among the oldest and best-known residents of Milwaukee.
John Forster, deceased, who for twenty-three years before his death conducted a cooperage establishment in Milwaukee, was born at Mendel, Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 28, 1823. Jolin Forster, his father, was a cobbler by trade and followed this vocation the greater part of his active life, having worked as a miller in his earlier years. Both parents died in the old home in Bavaria. The subject of this sketch was the fourth of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Forster. He was given a good education in private schools in Germany, learned the cooper's trade, and served the re- quired number of years in the German army. When thirty- two years of age he came to America, and soon after set- tling in Milwaukee established a cooperage factory in the Ninthi
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ward. His business increased until he found it necessary to enlarge his establishment, and he moved to new quarters at Cherry and Fif- teenth streets. The establishment grew and Mr. Forster became one of the well-known and popular business men of the city. He never gave up active life and was still in business at the time of his death, May 20, 1878. He married Walburga Gruber, the daughter of Anton Gruber, of Washington county, Wis. Mrs. Forster's parents were both natives of Bavaria, and emigrated to the United States in 1848, settling in Milwaukee. They did not remain long, but moved to Wash- ington county where Mr. Gruber had a farm, which he continued to run until he retired and came to Milwaukee to live, and he died in the city in 1881. Before coming to America he had been mayor of his native village and was a trustee of the church. Mrs. Gruber is buried in Washington county. Of the children who were born to gladden the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Forster, Charles C. is in the lumber busi- ness in Milwaukee; George J. is also interested in the lumber industry, in Michigan; Joseph is a carpenter in the railroad shops of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; John, Jr., is deceased; Mary is at home; and Aloys G. has retired from business life. Mr. Forster's political affiliations were with the Democratic party and it had no more loyal or hearty supporter. He was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church and was president of the Amilian Orphan Home Association. He was also a member of various Catholic socie- ties, a member of the Old Settlers' Club, and a volunteer fireman. Mr. Forster's kind heart and sound judgment caused him to be loved and respected by his large circle of acquaintances, and his loss was most keenly felt by the church, in which he had been a hard worker and generous supporter.
Watkin D. Williams, deceased, for many years a prominent citizen of Milwaukee, was born at Westville, Ohio, June 30, 1837. His parents were Thomas Williams, who was a native of England, and Barbara (Wisman) Williams, who was born in the Shenandoah Val- ley, Pa. The father was a merchant, who moved west and settled in Hagerstown, Ind., where he continued to carry on his dry-goods busi- ness until his death. Watkin, the subject of this sketch, was the sec- ond of the four children reared in Hagerstown, where he attended the public schools, and he later took a thorough course in the Indianapolis high school. He became an apprentice as a machinist, and after learning that trade worked in the Greencastle & Vincennes railroad shops, but returned to Hagerstown and went into business with his father, in 1864. Two years later he bought a stock of dry goods for himself and came to Milwaukee, locating on the south side. In 1868 he was able to dispose of this business, which had been placed on a substantial footing, and became associated with the Packard Machine Company, of Milwaukee. During his twenty-five years of faithful service with this firm Mr. Williams was advanced from one position of trust to another, and when he retired, in 1891. the company lost one of its oldest and most confidential partners. His health gave out, and from 1891 he led a very quiet life, being released from the cares
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