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 92

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1072

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

IIENRY L. PALMER

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Otto C. Knell, prominent in Milwaukee commercial circles as the president of the Knell, Prengel & Steltz Company, a large estab- lishment dealing in coffees, teas, spices and cigars, was born in Milwaukee on Aug. 24, 1866. He is a son of John Knell, something of whose life may be learned from the sketch of Hon. William R. Knell on another page of this volume. Otto C. Knell received his educational advantages in the public schools of Milwaukee, and graduated from the Ninth ward institution in 1880. After working for three years in minor places, in May, 1883, he entered the em- ploy of the Geuder & Paeschke Manufacturing Company, and the management of that concern, recognizing his natural ability, pro- moted him from time to time until January, 1900, when he severed his connection with them. During his seventeen years of service with that company he spent four years as factory clerk, three as chief clerk in the factory production department, four as assistant to William Gueder in superintending the company's large and ex- tensive plant, and six as their traveling representative, two years in Illinois and Indiana, and four years in Wisconsin. In March, 1899, in partnership with Messrs. Prengel and Steltz, he organ- ized the firm now known as the Knell, Prengel & Steltz Company, and at the beginning of the following year took active charge of its conduct as president and secretary. This firm has grown from a small beginning to large proportions, now employing five travel- ing salesmen, covering Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. Much of its success can be attributed to Mr. Knell's qualities of thrift and enterprise and his keen business judgment. In his political rela- tions Mr. Knell is a Republican in state and national matters, but is independent of party affiliation when voting on municipal or county affairs. In fraternal circles he is a prominent Mason, being a past master of Kilbourn Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Ma- sons ; member of Kilbourn Chapter, No. 1; Kilbourn Council, No. 9; Wisconsin Commandery, No. 1; Wisconsin Consistory, and he is a noble of Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Past Chancellor of Damon Lodge, No. 102, Knights of Pythias; a mem- ber of the Old Settlers' Club and the Chamber of Commerce, is post and state director of the Travelers' Protective Association of America, and a member of the Illinois Commercial Men's Associa- tion. Mr. Knell is unmarried.

Henry L. Palmer, lawyer, legislator, and life insurance expert, was born at Mount Pleasant, Wayne county, Pa., Oct. 18. 1819. After acquiring such an education as the common schools of his na- tive town afforded he studied law and was admitted to the bar. For a number of years he resided at West Troy, N. Y., engaged in the practice of his profession, but being troubled by asthma, his friend and physician, Dr. L. M. Tracy, recommended him to remove to Milwaukee. The climate proved beneficial and he decided to locate there. In 1849 he formed a partnership with Abram D. Smith, which was dissolved in 1853 by the election of Mr. Smith to a seat upon the bench of the state supreme court. Mr. Palmer then prac- ticed alone for a few years, but subsequently he was associated with

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

some of the leading lawyers of Milwaukee, among whom were Joshua Stark, Erastus Foote, John R. Sharpstein, David G. Hooker and F. W. Pitkin. Men who knew him while he was en- gaged in the practice of law say that he would have become one of the great lawyers of the nation had not his talents been diverted into another channel. He or his firm was retained in many of the early lawsuits, and one of his legal victories was his defense of Sherman M. Booth in the case of Caroline Cook, when he succeeded in getting the jury to disagree. Although he had no special liking for politics, he recognized the fact that every citizen should take an intelligent interest in civic and public affairs, and he soon be- came an influential factor in the councils of the Wisconsin Democ- racy. In 1852 he was elected to represent Milwaukee county in the Assembly and was chosen speaker of that body. In 1859 and 1861 he was again elected to the lower branch of the legislature, and in the extra session of 1862 he again filled the speaker's chair. In 1867 and 1868 he was a member of the State Senate ; was president of the Milwaukee school board from 1865 to 1868; was again elected to the Assembly in 1872 and the following year was elected county judge of Milwaukee county. In the meantime he had served as city attorney, and in 1863 was the Democratic candidate for gov- ernor of Wisconsin, though the state was so overwhelmingly Re- publican that he stood no show of being elected. In 1859 occurred the event that changed the whole subsequent business career of Mr. Palmer. On March 2, 1857, the Wisconsin legislature granted a charter to the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, with headquarters at Janesville. Late in the year 1858 the projectors of the company, realizing that the prospects were not very brilliant as the company was then located, decided to remove to Milwaukee. Through their representative in that city, Hiram G. Wilson, negotia- tions were opened with Mr. Palmer, who finally consented to assist in the reorganization, provided he and his Milwaukee associates were permitted to name the Milwaukee men who were to be elected directors. These were Samuel S. Daggett, M. S. Scott, C. D. Nash, Dr. E. B. Wolcott and Henry L. Palmer, all of whom attended a meeting of the founders at Janesville, at which a resolution was adopted to remove the company to Milwaukee, and the entire effects of the concern were packed in one small trunk, which was for- warded to the company's new home. Mr. Daggett was elected president and Mr. Palmer was made chief legal adviser. When the executive committee was created, on June 28, 1859, Mr. Palmer was made a member, and from that day to the present time he has been an influential factor in shaping the fortunes of the North- western Mutual Life Insurance Company, under which name the institution was reorganized. In January, 1874, he was elected president, to succeed John H. Van Dyke. Mr. Palmer at once re- signed the office of county judge and turned his entire attention to the work of promoting the interest of the insurance company. Under his administration the insurance and investment branches of the business were made independent of each other so far as

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their management was concerned, and the company was saved from the dangers of agency control. The little black trunk brought from Janesville in 1859 has developed into the magnificent office build- ing at the corner of Broadway and Michigan streets, and the few miscellaneous papers contained in that trunk have grown into as- sets amounting to nearly $240,000,000. Much of this success is due to the untiring and well directed efforts of Mr. Palmer and the efficient and trustworthy men with whom he was associated during the thirty-four and a half years of his presidency. On July 15, 1908, he resigned the office of president, something he had been contem- plating for several years, but owing to legislative investigation of the Northwestern's affairs, he felt that it was his duty to postpone his resignation until the company was completely vindicated. The trustees, in accepting his resignation, unanimously adopted by a standing vote the following minute: "Henry L. Palmer, president of this company since January, 1874, having signified his desire to be relieved of the duties and responsibilities of that office, we, the trustees, take pleasure in placing on record a testimonial of our ap- prciation of the very eminent services he has rendered to the com- pany during the long course of years that he has been connected with its fortunes. He became a member when those fortunes were pre- carious, Policy No. 117 having been issued to him, Dec. 15. 1858. From that day whenever the company has in an hour of need looked for a stay and a friend, Henry L. Palmer, came to its aid and proved that friend. He was immediately elected a trustee and six months later a member of the executive committee. He was the legal guide and adviser of the company until January, 1874, when he was elected its president. This office he has held to the present day. To the soundness of his judgment, his great executive ability, his sterling integrity and his fidelity and devotion, the re- markable prosperity and usefulness of the company are to a great degree due, and we can congratulate him on the success of these fifty years of labor. Acceding to his wish and acknowledging the great work done, it is also due that we record our sense of the deep and abiding affection with which his uniform kindness and absolute justice have inspired all his associates and subordinates. It is a satisfaction to know that we shall not entirely lose his services, but that he will continue to give the officers of the company the benefit of his long experience and sound judgment. Our best wishes go with him for many years of continued health and happiness." Mr. Palmer was immediately elected chairman of the executive commit- tee, and although in the ninetieth year of his age he discharges the duties of that position with a vigor that would do a younger man credit. In connection with the subject of insurance it is worthy of note that Wisconsin's first life insurance code, enacted in 1870, was drafted by Mr. Palmer. Aside from his interest in the welfare of the Northwestern, Judge Palmer has but two other elements to en- gage his attention. One of these is his family and the other is his Masonic associations. While a young lawyer residing in West Troy, N. Y., he became affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, be-

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

ing made a Master Mason in 1841, a member of the Chapter in 1846, and Knight Templar in 1848. Upon locating in Milwaukee he affiliated with Tracy (now Wisconsin) Lodge, No. 13; became a charter member of Wisconsin Chapter, No. 7, in July 1849; is also a member of Wisconsin Council, No. 5, and he assisted in the formation of Wisconsin Commandery, No. I, nine years before the grand commandery of the state was organized. In 1851, 1853, 1871 and 1872 he was grand master of the Wisconsin Grand Lodge; was grand high priest of the grand chapter of the state in 1858 and 1859; was illustrious grand master of the grand council in 1863 and 1864, and from 1858 to 1865 was grand commander of the Knights Templar of Wisconsin, being the first man to hold that exalted position. In 1865 he was elected grand master of Knights Tem- plar in the United States. In August, 1863, when the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was introduced into Wisconsin, he became a member of the consistory and was advanced to the Thirty-third degree. Since 1879 he has held the office of Most Puissant Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors- General for the northern jurisdiction of the United States. Mr. Palmer is also a member of the Milwaukee Club, the Craftsmen Club of New York, the Iroquois Club of Chicago, and the Uni- versity Club of Madison, Wis. On June 21, 1898, the University of Wisconsin conferred on Judge Palmer the honorary degree of LL. D.

Emanuel D. Adler, treasurer of the wholesale clothing firm of David Adler & Sons, and one of the influential business men of Milwaukee, was born in the Cream City in 1854, a son of David and Fannie (Newbouer) Adler. Both parents were born in Aus- tria and came to America in 1848, and to Milwaukee in 1852. David Adler embarked at once in the clothing business with his brother, and later, until 1870, was the sole proprietor of a business. In that year he entered a partnership with his son and son-in-law under the firm name of Adler, Mendel & Company. This company continued until 1878, when the name was changed to David Adler & Sons, and in 1883 it was incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin with that title. David Adler was president of the firm until the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1905. Although a public-spirited citizen he never sought public office but gave his attention strictly to his business. For a number of years he was grand treasurer of the state Masonic order, and served in a similar capacity the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Emanuel D. Adler, the subject of this memoir, received his educational advantages in the Mil- waukee public schools, the German-English Academy, the Milwau- kee Academy and the Spencerian Business College. At the age of seventeen years he entered business with his father, and has since been engaged in various capacities with that firm. Upon the re- organization of the company, just after David Adler's death, he be- came its treasurer and has since served in that office. The other officers of the concern are Isaac E. Adler, president and general manager ; S. D. and B. F. Adler, vice-presidents ; Henry M. Oben-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

dorfer, secretary and credit man, and Harry Markwell, assistant manager. In 1907 the increase in business demanded additional room and the company moved from its quarters at East Water and Huron streets to its present location at Buffalo street and Broadway, where there is more than double the floor space. No goods are manufactured there, all the space being used for store rooms and offices, the goods being manufactured in seven different factories throughout the city. The company's patronage is prac- tically all over the United States, salesmen traversing the middle, south and northwest, the New England states, and a portion of the south. In his politics Mr. Adler is allied with the Republican party. but has never aspired to public office. He is one of the trustees of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Deutscher Club and the Wood- mont Country Club. He is also a vice-president of the National Straw Works. On May 3, 1888, Mr. Adler was united in marriage to Miss Clara H. Schloss, of Detroit, Mich. To this union have been born four children; Frederic Emanuel. a student in Am- herst College; Helen Theresa, a student at Milwaukee-Downer College : Frances Elsie and Carol Janet.

David Adler, deceased, for more than two-score years the head of one of the noted mercantile establishments of this city, was born in Neustadt, Province of Bohemia, Oct. 9, 1821, a son of Isaac and Bertha Adler. He received his education in the schools of Nen- stadt and was apprenticed to a baker, serving three years in that capacity. He then spent a year in travel and returned to Nenstadt, where he remained for two years and then came to America. He landed in New York on Aug. 15, 1846, and at once engaged as a craftsman at his trade. After working two years as a journeyman he established a business for himself in a small way in New York and this he carried on successfully for three years. In 1852 he came to Milwaukee with a capital of $1,200, opened up a clothing store on East Water street, and this was the foundation of the great clothing establishment now known throughout the country as the David Adler & Sons Clothing Company. In 1857 he extended his business to the wholesale clothing trade and associated with him Jacob Adler, under the firm name of D. and J. Adler. In 1858 Jacob Adler retired from the firm, and Solomon Adler became as- sociated with his brother and continued with him until 1870, under the firm name of S. Adler & Brother. When Solomon Adler re- tired from the firm the company was reorganized as the David Adler & Sons Clothing Company, and David Adler associated with him his three sons. Isaac, Emanuel and Samuel, as the other officers and stockholders of the company. From the date of its founding until his death David Adler was the president of the company. Through his business tact, untiring industry, and strict integrity. the company grew to be one of the largest wholesale clothing houses in the United States. Mr. Adler was one of the organizers and a director of the Wisconsin National Bank, and he was one of the founders and vice-president of the National Straw Works. In

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

1848 he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Newbouer, of New York city, and to this union were born seven sons and three daughters. In religion Mr. Adler was of the Jewish faith, and was conspicuous throughout the Northwest for his devotion to the in- stitutions of that church. He was vice-president of the Jewish Orphan Asylum of Cleveland, Ohio, and was a member of the El Manuel and other Jewish benevolent societies. He was also a con- spicuous'member of the Odd Fellows of Wisconsin and served as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of the state. Twice he rep- resented the Grand Encampment and once the Grand Lodge in the Sovereign Grand Lodge of America. He was especially prominent in building up the Odd Fellows' Home at Green Bay. He also served for many years as director of the Wisconsin Odd Fellows' Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was also a member and at one time vice-president of the Old Settlers' Club of Milwaukee. Mr. Adler died on Jan. 23, 1905.

John M. Orth, a prominent dealer in cut stone, was born in Milwaukee county on Sept. 22, 1870, a son of Daniel and Margaret (Schilling) Orth. Both parents were born in Germany, the father in 1832 and the mother on July 5, of the same year. The father was one of those hardy German pioneers who came to Milwaukee in 1852 with no capital but an unbounded ambition and a capacity for hard work, but he made of himself one of the most substantial citizens of the city. He was the founder of what is now the Ran- dom 'Lake Ice Company, beside which he did a large business in wood and coal. His demise occurred in 1901. John M. Orth, the subject of this review, received his primary education in the public schools of the city, and when he left, in 1887, it was to take a course in the Spencerian Business College. Soon after completing his work in that institution he entered the cut-stone business, but subsequently became associated with his father in the coal and wood trade. Soon after his father's death he disposed of his in- terests and again became interested in the cut-stone industry, which now occupies him. From small beginnings the concern has steadily grown under his guidance until now it is known as one of the most enterprising and flourishing in the city, a success which can be attributed to Mr. Orth's scrupulous attention to business, and his careful, systematic work. He is absorbed in his duties, but finds leisure to devote to worship in the German Lutheran church, and to attend the gatherings of the Millioki Club, of which he is a member. While he is a public-spirited citizen and accustomed to do what he can for the betterment of the community, he does not ally himself with any political party, his idea being that the best government is to be obtained by the judicious exercise of the right of franchise rather than by the dictation of party leaders. Mr. Orth is one of the six children born to his parents, the others being Mary, George, Bertha, Sophie and Ida, all but one of whom survive. Mr. Orth is not married.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Capt. Amos P. Foster, formerly commander of the lighthouse ship Warrington, was born at Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1834, the son of Jacob and Margaret (Hutton). Foster. The father was born in 1794 at Jamaica, Long Island, and died in March, 1858. The mother was born in 1800 at Lisbon, Portugal, while her father was Eng- lish consul at that place, and her demise occurred in 1837. Captain Foster's school days were passed at a military academy on the Hudson river. He passed the entrance examination for the Annap- olis Naval Academy, but remained there only a short time, leav- ing to begin his life as a sailor on a ship in the China trade. Within a few years he had worked up through the various grades of a seaman's career until he was given command of the Horatio, a full-rigged ship plying between New York and the Orient. When the dark cloud of war overhung the nation in 1861 he tendered his services to the naval department, and served in various posi- tions throughout the entire internecine struggle. As a master he commanded the gunboats Delaware, Commodore Perry, Resolute, and the Wyandank. As lieutenant-commander he directed the movement of the Third division of the Potomac flotilla, comprising seven vessels, and the Appomattox division of the James river fleet of the North Atlantic squadron. Captain Foster's vessel, the Commodore Perry, led the fleet when it moved up the James river to Richmond after that city had been evacuated by the Confed- erates. The trip was exceedingly perilous, as it was necessary to remove the torpedoes placed as an obstruction to the progress of the vessels. Captain Foster's men removed fifty-one of the tor- pedoes, and the fleet reached the city without mishap. During the struggle the captain participated in some very thrilling engage- ments, and his marvelous escapes, if put in print, would make an exceedingly interesting volume. At the cessation of hostilities he resigned from the navy and devoted his time to different mer- cantile pursuits until 1891, when he again entered the government service as captain of the lightship Dahlia, a duty which gave him his first taste of fresh-water service. For a time thereafter he was connected with lighthouse engineers' office, and subsequently was placed in command of the lightship Warrington. Since his resig- nation from that post he has rendered valuable service to the engineers' department, an institution which is indispensable to lake navigation. Two of Captain Foster's brothers, Henry and James, now deceased, also served in the United States navy dur- ing the civil war. Captain Foster has been twice married. By his first wife, Miss Jacqueline Stevens, to whom he was married in 1856, and who died on Aug. 14, 1876, he had two daughters- Mrs. Mary Blake, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Margaret D. Clark, of Detroit, Mich .- and a son, John R., now a resident of Los Angeles, Cal. His wedding to Miss Lida McHugh was solemnized on June 30, 1877. Captain Foster has been unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, but has never sought public preferment for himself. His deeply religious nature finds expres- sion in membership in the Roman Catholic church. He is the

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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY

present senior vice-commander of the Wisconsin Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and is a member of E. B. Wolcott post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Hermann Emil Georgi, attorney, of Milwaukee, is the son of Frederick William and Henrietta Wilhelmina (Gerke) Georgi. The former, born in Saxony, Germany, April 25, 1831, died on Nov. 16, 1900, and the latter, born on June 22, 1851, died on June 24, 1900. The father came to the United States in 1854 and located in Milwaukee in the spring of that year. He was an engineer by profession, and was in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, in various capacities, but chiefly in the construction department. His brother, Frederick Herman Georgi, was a professor of languages in the Leipsic (Germany) University. The mother came to Milwaukee from Pomerania, Germany, in 1866, and the marriage was celebrated in Milwaukee. Hermann E. received his early education in the ward schools of the city and then entered the high school, in which he was graduated. His legal education was obtained at the University of Wisconsin, in which he was graduated in 1891 with the degree of LL. B. Be- tween the time that he finished at the high school and that when he began his law studies he spent a year in teaching, being seven- teen years of age when he began his work in that line. After finishing at the college of law he immediately began his practice in the city of Milwaukee, at 279 Third street, and has occupied the same offices ever since. He entered into a partnership with Henry C. and A. C. Runkel, which association continued until the death of the former in 1895, when the partnership was continued with the son, A. C. Runkel, until the latter was elected to the office of jus- tice of the peace in 1898, since which time Mr. Georgi has prac- ticed alone. He is a Republican in his politics and was elected to the assembly in 1906, without solicitation or work on his part, re- ceiving the support of the Democratic party as well as his own, and being elected by a majority vote. He looked carefully after the interests of the city at the ensuing session of the legislature, and supported, among other measures, one providing for the elec- tion of the school board by districts, and another that members of the police force should be accorded a hearing before dismissal. He was re-elected in 1908. He is popular in social and fraternal, as well as in professional circles, and belongs to the order of Free Masons; Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor, and consequently a member of the grand lodge; the Tenth Ward Republican Club, the Milwaukee Bar Association, the Mil- waukee Aschenbroedel (musical) Club, and the Milwaukee 'Lieder- kranz. On Nov. 17, 1904, he was married to Miss Ottilie Memmler, daughter of Eduard and Ernistine (Traeger) Memmler, of Mil- waukee. They have one son, Carl Eduard.

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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 92

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association Number of Pages: 1072

Author: Watrous, Jerome Anthony, 1840- ed
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Madison : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1072