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 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126
667
BIOGRAPHICAL
Henry Gattman, president of the Henry Gattman Company, whose important retail establishment is located at No. 423 Grand avenue, was born in the city of Buda-Pesth, Hungary, Sept. 27, 1866, the son of Meyer and Regina Gattman. The parents were both natives of Hungary, and the elder Mr. Gattman was for many years a prominent and successful wholesale wine merchant at Buda-Pesth. His father lived in the United States for a number of years during the early days, but returned once more to his na- tive land, where he died in the early seventies. Henry is one of a family of three children, and received his education in the schools of his native city. In the year 1883, when he was still little more than a lad, he came to America in search of larger opportunities, making his home in Chicago until very recently. His first business venture in Chicago was a retail store for the sale of gentlemen's neckwear; this he conducted successfully for about three years, and then embarked in the wholesale manufacture of ladies' cloaks, etc. His business in this line grew to generous proportions and proved highly remunerative, engaging his close attention and busi- ness energies for a period of twenty-two years. On Sept. 1, 1907, Mr. Gattman came to the city of Milwaukee, and there opened his present flourishing retail establishment at 423 Grand avenue, whichi deals exclusively in the sale of ladies' suits and outer garments. His excellent business sagacity has again brought him deserved success, and it is no idle flattery to state that he ranks as a first authority in his special branch of business. Mr. Gattman is af- filiated with the Democratic party in politics, but is in no sense a politician, contenting himself with the intelligent performance of his civic duties. He is a member of the Jewish faith, and a gen- erous supporter of many well-known charities. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, but otherwise is af- filiated with none of the fraternal organizations. He was united in marriage on Sept. 27, 1904, to Miss Anna F., daughter of Carl and Rose Freschl, of Milwaukee, his father-in-law being one of the prosperous and substantial business men of the Cream City, and the president of the Kalamazoo Knitting Company. Mr. and Mrs. Gattman are the parents of two daughters: Dorothy, born Aug. 19, 1905, and Marie, born Marchi 6, 1908. Their charming home is situated at No. 537 Hartford avenue.
Clarence G. Comstock, president of the My Laundry Company of Milwaukee, and one of the successful business men of the city, was born at Yucatan, Houston county, Minn., on Jan. 13, 1864, the son of Louis E. and Myra L. (Carpenter) Comstock. His parents are both natives of the state of New York, where his grandfather was a farmer before coming west, in 1848. Mr. Comstock, the father, made the long journey west to Minnesota with his wife and family in typical pioneer fashion, traveling by ox team. He settled on a farm in Houston county, which he worked success- fully for many years. He abandoned the pursuit of agriculture in 1880, and served for a time as mail agent for the United States government ; in 1894 he moved to Milwaukee, where he is now in-
668
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
terested with his son in the My Laundry Company of this city. Clarence G., who is one of a family of six children, received his early education in the country schools of Houston county, and later attended the high school at Caledonia, Minn. Upon leaving school he was first employed in the printing office of the Houston County Journal, and was shortly afterward appointed mail clerk in the postoffice at Caledonia. He next went to La Crosse, Wis., and there served for a time as compositor on the daily papers of that city, and was also interested for a time in the Daily Star. He soon afterward sold out his interest in this paper to Frank Powell and embarked in the laundry business at La Crosse for one year. In 1884 he came to Milwaukee, where he was identified with the De Gunther Laundry Company for a period of four years ; next re- sided for brief periods in Marinette and Sioux City, Ia., and finally returned to Milwaukee, where he has since made his home. Here he started the My Laundry Company, of which he is president, and is meeting with splendid success in this business venture. John Thomann, the efficient vice-president of the company, was born in Milwaukee in 1860. For several years after completing his educational training he was engaged in the floristry business with his father. Subsequently he became a co-partner with George Lingelbach in the business on Reed street. In 1894 he disposed of his interest in the concern to Mr. Hoverson and opened the Per- fection Laundry in partnership with C. M. Gregg. This latter establishment was successfully conducted for ten years, at the end of which time Mr. Thomann purchased Mr. Gregg's interest and with Mr. Comstock established and incorporated the My Laundry Company. Mr. Thomann is a man of generous impulses, genial and kindly, and well liked bv his associates. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Germania society. Mrs. Thomann was formerly Miss Ida Struckburg, a daughter of Rudolph Struck- burg, of Milwaukee. Mr. Comstock is affiliated with the Repub- lican party in politics, but has never sought public preferment on his own behalf. He takes an active and intelligent interest in all that concerns the welfare of the city and lends his support freely to every worthy public cause. He is popular in both the business and social life of the city, and possesses a genial and hearty dispo- sition, which has gained him numerous friends. Mr. Comstock is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Foresters; he is also an honorary member of Milwaukee's crack cavalry organ- ization, the Light Horse Squadron. He was most happily mar- ried on Oct. 23. 1891. to Miss Eugenia, daughter of Julius and Eugenia (Steiffer) Weiland, of Milwaukee, and they have one daughter, Ada H., born Feb. 22, 1894.
William A. Koch, deceased, late of the city of Milwaukee, was born in the town of Artern, Prussian Saxony, Germany, on Dec. 29, 1832, and was the second oldest child in a large family of chil- dren. His father was a prosperous business man of Artern, Ger- many, where he reared and educated his numerous family of chil-
669
BIOGRAPHICAL
dren. Three of the family, including our subject, came to the United States, where they were attracted by the larger field of opportunities. William A. received a good education in the schools of his native land, and then learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which engaged his attention for a number of years before he left the Fatherland. He arrived in the United States on July 4, 1858, and came directly to Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade as a cabinet-maker and carpenter. He was thus employed when the Civil war broke out, and, as was true of many others of our adopt- ed citizens, he risked his life gladly in the cause of human free- dom and the perpetuation of the government as handed down by the fathers. On Aug. 15, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Com- pany A, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry, Col. William H. Jacobs and Fred C. Winkler, commanding. This was a gallant German regiment, which was organized at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, in the late summer of 1862, and which afterward participated in some of the most important campaigns and battles of the war. Mr. Koch served at the front with his command until after the close of the war, and was mustered out and honorably discharged from the service on June 13, 1865. He took part with the regiment in the following important engagements: Chancellorsville; Gettysburg ; Wauhatchie, Tenn .; Lookout Mountain; Missionary Ridge; Res- aca; Dallas; Kenesaw Mountain; Peachtree Creek; siege and cap- ture of Atlanta; March to the Sea and the engagements around Savannah, Ga .; Campaign through the Carolinas in 1865, including the engagements at Averysboro and Bentonville. After the sur- render of Johnston's army on April 26, 1865, he marched with Sherman's veteran troops through Virginia to Washington, D. C., where he took part in the Grand Review of the war-worn veterans, in May, 1865. Upon severing his conection with the army he re- turned to his home in Milwaukee, and once more resumed the peaceful occupation of carpentry. He abandoned this vocation in the year 1874 and embarked in the saloon and restaurant business. His establishment was located at 314 West Water street, and here he conducted a prosperous business for a period of a quarter of a century. He then sold out his business, and determined to employ his remaining years in rest and recreation. He had a great longing to revisit the scenes of his childhood after an absence of forty-two years, and now he proceedd to gratify this natural de- sire. He made the journey to the Fatherland, and it was indeed most fortunate that he did so at this juncture, as he only survived the trip some ten months. His death took place in Milwaukee on May 24, 1901, and he was buried with military honors at Forest Home cemetery. Mr. Koch was a member of the Republican party, but never took an active part in the political game, though he was ever ready to assist his friends in their political aspirations. He was broad-minded and liberal in his religious convictions, and belonged to none of the orthodox denominations. He was an hon- ored member of Robert Chivas Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and the Twenty-sixth Regiment Association; he also belonged
670
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
to the Old Settlers' Club (West Side), and the Sons of Hermann. Mr. Koch was most happily married on May 28, 1867, to Anna Maria, daughter of Adam and Theresa (Loth) Uhlensperger, of Milwaukee. This union was blessed with three children, of whom only one daughter, Mrs. Robert Maercklein, survives. Mrs. Koch now makes her home with this daughter, at No. 527 Van Buren street, Milwaukee. Dr. Maercklein is a prosperous dentist of the city.
Joseph P. Hurley, a shrewd young business man of the young- er generation in Milwaukee, was born in Cedarburg, Wis., on Jan. 26, 1873. He is a son of John and Mary (Harrington) Hurley, the former of whom was born in Ireland and came to the United States while still a youth. The father, now retired, was engaged in railroad work all during his active career for the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway Company. Joseph P. Hurley, the sub- ject of this memoir, received his educational advantages in the Catholic parochial schools of the Cream City. The first five years after leaving school he earned his livelihood by serving in a cleri- cal position for the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. During the following four years he occupied a similar position with the Greene & Button Company, which has since become the Milwaukee Drug Company, and then for three years was employed in the confec- tionery department of the American Biscuit Company. Another four years he spent as a retail clerk in the store of Nicolai & Starr, men's furnishings. It was in 1900 that the firm of Hurley-Reilly was formed, with Mr. Hurley as president. The firm conducts a modern men's furnishing store at 89 Wisconsin street, and ever since its inception it has done a flourishing business, contributed to in large measure by Mr. Hurley's personal popularity. On Oct. 14, 1904, Mr. Hurley was united in marriage to Miss Adeline Wood, a native of Milwaukee, and a daughter of John Wood, an electrician and an old settler of Milwaukee. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hurley are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and the former is a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus.
James Lawrie, Sr., deceased, was for a number of years closely identified with the business and social life of the city of Milwaukee, which was his place of residence practically for a period of fifty years. He was born at Paisley, Scotland, on Aug. 15, 1831, and received his early schooling in the place of his nativity. Upon leaving school as a boy he was apprenticed to a tailor in Paisley, and later worked in Glasgow, and also in Liverpool, helping to support the family at home during these early years of his life. At the early age of twenty years he decided to cast his lot with the people of the United States, and in 1851, in company with his young wife, whom he had but recently married, he set sail for the American shores. The first two years after his arrival, until 1853, he resided in the city of Brooklyn, engaged at his trade of tailor- ing, and the ensuing two years, until 1855, was spent in the city of Philadelphia. In the year last mentioned, Mr. Lawrie and wife came to Milwaukee, which city was destined to be the scene of a
671
BIOGRAPHICAL
long and happy life for them, and Mr. Lawrie secured employment with Samuel Sawyer, a prominent tailor of the Cream City in those early days. The wages were much lower than had been received in Philadelphia, but Mr. Lawrie, with the keen foresight which is a characteristic of his race, looked to the future and its opportunities rather than to the present, and was content to bide his time for a better remuneration for his labor. He remained in the employ of Mr. Sawyer from the time of his arrival until 1872, in which year he embarked in business for himself with a partner, under the firm name of Brewer & Lawrie. This partnership con- tinued until 1880, when Mr. Brewer retired from the firm and Mr. Lawrie became the sole proprietor of the establishment, which at this time had assumed flattering proportions. The place of busi- ness was at the present location of the First National Bank, near the corner of East Water and Wisconsin streets. Mr. Lawrie con- tinued in active business until 1895, when, having accumulated a competence, he laid aside the cares of trade and lived his remain- ing years in well-earned retirement. He was a man of pronounced convictions upon all questions concerning the public weal, and in political affairs gave an unswerving allegience to the men and measures of the Republican party. However, he was non-active so far as the practical work of the organization was concerned, as he deemed it imprudent to associate business with politics; but his moral influence in this as in all other lines was exerted in sup- port of measures conducive to a citizenship of the highest stand- ard. In his religious faith he was a Presbyterian, having member- ship in the Church of Calvary, and in every walk of life he en- deavored to practice in its fullest detail the line of conduct com- mended to mankind in the noble precepts of the Golden Rule. He was prominently identified with a number of the city's social or- ganizations, among which may be mentioned the Masonic order, in which he attained the thirty-second degree; and the St. An- drews Society, of which he was a charter member. He was also a member of the Recreation Club, and was one of the organizers of the National Merchant-Tailors' Exchange. Mr. Lawrie was married on Feb. 22, 1850, to Mary Vacey, of Liverpool, England. This honored couple traveled life's journey together for more than a half-century, and at death were not long separated. he passing away in 1904, and his faithful wife followed him in 1905. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, of whom four are still living, as follows: John, deceased, late of Milwaukee; El- len, wife of Henry Bowes, of Milwaukee; James, Jr., deceased ; William, a resident of St. Paul, Minn .; Mamie, wife of Adolph Kurtz, of Wauwatosa, Wis .; and Daniel, now living in the South. James Lawrie, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Milwau- kee, his native city, and when still young was employed as a me- chanic in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad shops. Here he showed much skill, efficiency and attention to details. He fol- lowed this vocation until 1891, when his health broke down, and he went west to Spokane, Wash., in the effort to restore his
672
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
health, and died in that city the same year. His political affilia- tions were always with the Republican party, though he was never a mere partisan, and could always be counted upon to support the best men and measures. He was content to do his duty as a plain citizen, and never aspired to the honors and emoluments of pub- lic office. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. He was married on Dec. 24, 1881, to Miss Carrie Amelia, daughter of George and Sarah Jane (Henry) Hatch, and he left his wife and one son surviving him. The son, James, lives at home with his mother, and is a member of the Milwaukee Board of Trade. Mrs. Lawrie's father was born in Richmond, Va., Feb. 1, 1828, and was a prosperous Southern planter in early life. He abandoned this vocation when still young to engage in the manufacture of trunks in New York city; came West to Milwaukee in 1868, and there pursued the same business for many years, building up a large and lucrative business in that line. He retired from active busi- ness several years before his death, which took place in 1901. His wife was a native of New York city, where she was born on Aug. 24, 1832. She died in Milwaukee in October, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch reared a family of five sons and three daughters: Sarah Louise, wife of R. L. Grossenbach, Milwaukee; John S., deceased ; George Henry, a resident of Milwaukee; Charles L., also a resi- dent of Milwaukee; Carrie A., widow of James Lawrie, Jr .; Josiah W., deceased; Emma Jane, the deceased wife of L. J. Miller, of Milwaukee : and Frank, a prominent contractor of Chicago, Il1.
Jacob Dreher was born on Jan. 13, 1849, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, the son of Dionysius and Catherine (Ulrich) Dreher, both of whom were also born in Germany, being natives of the same Grand Duchy. The father was an officer of cavalry in the German army, and at the time of the revolution of 1848 his sympathies were with the forces battling for freedom. He emi- grated to America with his family in 1850, and in 1855 he came to Milwaukee. Jacob Dreher received his education in the public schools of Milwaukee, and began his career as an employe of the Milwaukee News. He was also engaged on the Milwaukee Sen- tinel, and later with the Evening Wisconsin, and the King. Fowle & McGee Company. In 1901 he established his own business. In August, 1904, he received the appointment as Grand Lecturer of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons for the grand lodge of Wisconsin, and has since devoted his entire time to that work. He is a member of Wisconsin Consistory and of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and he has served as Worship- ful Master of Wisconsin lodge, No. 13. F. & A. M., as High Priest of Wisconsin Chapter, No. 7, and also of Calumet Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M., and he has filled offices in both the Commandery and the Consistory. He is an Episcopalian in his religious faith. Mr. Dreher was married on Jan. 1, 1872, to Miss Angeline E. Cam- eron, who was born at Oswego, N. Y., a daughter of Capt. Donald Cameron, a sailor and ship-owner, and to this union there have been born four sons: George C. and Harold J., with the First Na-
673
BIOGRAPHICAL
tional Bank of Milwaukee ; and Rufus G. and Charles A., deceased. The family home is in the city of Wauwatosa.
Louis Schneider, retired, one of the substantial German citi- zens of Milwaukee, was born in Pomerania, Germany, on Oct. 18, 1836. He is a son of Louis and Loretta (Krontz) Schneider, both natives of the Fatherland, who never came to America. Mr. Schneider attended the public schools of his native land, and when he had completed his scholastic training he learned the trade of baker. I11 1862 he came to America, and after a few months of life in Canada located in Milwaukee. For some five years he worked at his trade, and by that time had accumulated a sufficient competence to enable him to purchase the property where he now lives. He continued in business there for a number of years and then retired. He is the owner of considerable real estate, including the fine three-story building of which he and his family are the oc- cupants of the second flat, two flat buildings between Ninth and Tenth streets, a store building on Third street, and other proper- ties on Herman street, Ninth street, Twenty-first street, and Cold Spring avenue, and several unoccupied lots. In May, 1868, Mr. Schneider was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Vallow, born in Germany on April 22, 1840, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Felz) Vallow. Mrs. Vallow died in Germany, but her husband came to America in 1866 and located in Chicago, where he was engaged in teaming until the time of his death, which occurred in 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were born three children. Anna, the eldest, is the widow of Dr. Fred Conitz, and now makes her home with her parents. Alfred is deceased, and Laura is the wife of William Schneider, a druggist at the corner of Twenty-fourth and State streets. All of Mr. Schneider's achievements are di- rectly due to his own personal efforts. When he first came to America he could not speak English, but with energy and ambition that are well worthy of emulation he has won for himself a high rank among Milwaukee's useful citizens.
Fernando L. Bell, retired, a respected farmer living just out- side the city of West Allis, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., on Oct. 4, 1834. He is a son of Capt. John and Sally (Harrington) Bell, both of whom were born in Otsego county, the former on Dec. 22, 1791, and the latter in 1794. The father was a farmer by vocation and held the office of captain in the New York state mi- litia. For some years, also, he was a public servant in his native county. In 1842 he came to Milwaukee county and located on the farm which his son now occupies. He continued farming until a few years before his death, which occurred in August, 1886. The mother died on Aug. 25, 1877. The paternal grandparents, John and Jeanette Bell, were both born in Scotland, the former on July IO, 1748, and the latter on March 10, 1758. F. L. Bell, the sub- ject of this review, received but a limited education, owing to the scarcity of schools in the vicinity of his boyhood home. He re- mained on the farm with his father until 1853, in that year re- moved to Illinois, and for a year and a half was employed on the
43
674
MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Illinois Central railroad. During the two years immediately fol- lowing he assisted his father in the conduct of the farm, and then went to Kansas. There he entered the employ of the government as a teamster, working out from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Riley, Fort Laramie, and the coast. He continued this work for three years, from 1855 to 1858, taking up under the homestead law some land in Franklin county, which land he held the title to until 1903, when he disposed of it and realized upon it a large profit. Upon his return to Wisconsin he assumed for his father the management of the farm, and continued it until his sons became mature enough to attend its conduct, since which time he has lived practically re- tired. There are altogether 102 acres in the property, the larger part of which is under intense cultivation and brings a goodly in- come to both father and sons. In his political belief Mr. Bell is an ardent Democrat, and at the present time is serving his seventh term as chairman of the town board. On Dec. 5, 1872, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rodeman, a native of Germany, having been born there on Oct. 25, 1851. She came to this coun- try with her parents in 1862, and her mother passed away shortly after their arrival. The father's death occurred in 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell six children were born. Henry, born Oct. 20, 1873, is unmarried and makes his home with his parents. Almond, born Oct. 3, 1876, married Miss Emma Peter, of Milwaukee, and is now a farmer in Racine county. Nara, born Sept. 16, 1878, is the wife of Ray Hillier, an employe of the state school at Sparta. Berdella, born Dec. 26, 1880, is unmarried and lives at home. Pearl, born July 29, 1883, resides with her parents, and for the past five years has been a stenographer for a large Milwaukee concern. Lottie, born March II, 1889, resides with her parents and is attending a private school of oratory in Milwaukee.
John A. Wedda, newspaper-man, financial secretary of the Pol- ish Newspaper Association of America, and advertising manager of the Kuryer Polski, of Milwaukee, is one of the rising and repre- sentative members of the newspaper fraternity of the city. He is a native of Milwaukee, the son of Frank and Catherine (Zabrocki) Wedda, who were natives of Poland. They immigrated to the United States in the early seventies and were among the pioneer Polish residents of Milwaukee. The father was a carpenter by trade and followed that vocation for many years after coming to Milwaukee, and he earned a sufficient competence at that work to retire from active business some years before his demise, which occurred on Oct. 22, 1906, when he was sixty-eight years old. He was survived by a widow and five children: Theresa, the wife of Leon Graj ; Joseph ; Frank; Lucy, the wife of H. Smith; and John, the subject of this sketch, who was reared in Milwaukee. He re- ceived his elementary educational training in St. Stanislaus' paro- chial school and then attended Marquette University, where he studied some time, and subsequently he went to the Polish college at Detroit, Mich., to complete his education. Since that time he has been constantly engaged in journalism. Immediately after-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.