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 98
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Henry Baetz is now living retired in a pleasant home on High- land boulevard in the city of Milwaukee, after an active career, in which he devoted his energies to the service of his adopted country and state, not the least of which services was as a valiant soldier and commander in the days of the Civil war. He was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, July 27, 1830, and is the son of Adam and Gertrude (Nies) Baetz, both of whom were born in the same country and province as their son. The father was a wagon- maker by trade, but died while the subject of this review was quite young, the mother surviving to the advanced age of ninety-seven years. To these parents were born a large family of children, of whom Henry was the third born, and two brothers and two sisters of the last-named are still living, they and their mother having migrated to America over fifty years ago. Henry Baetz received his education in the excellent common schools of his native coun- try, and in carly manhood served the government in the capacity of court clerk. He migrated to the United States in 1853, locating first at Two Rivers, Wis., where he became a clerk in a mercantile establishment. One year later, in 1854, he removed to Kewaunee, and in 1856 changed his residence to Manitowoc, where he became a notary public, a land agent, and clerk in the office of the register of deeds of Manitowoc county. He also became prominently iden-
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tified with public affairs, holding successively the positions of town clerk, treasurer, and president of the village of Manitowoc, and other local offices, and was twice elected register of deeds of the county, holding the last named position at the beginning of the Civil war. He had served two years in the military service of Germany prior to his migration to America, and when the call to arms was sounded in 1861 he promptly decided that it was his duty to give to his adopted country the benefit of his experience, in the support of the Union. Accordingly in the summer of 1862 he raised a company, which was mustered into the service as Company F of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry, and being commissioned cap- tain of the company he accompanied it to the front, participating in all of its arduous service. On Feb. 5, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of major. The organization was a German regiment, organized at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, and was mustered into the service on September 17, 1862, leaving the state on October 6. It joined the Eleventh corps at Fairfax Court House, Va., was at- tached to the Second brigade, Third division, joined the movement toward the Rappahannock in December, went into camp at Staf- ford Court House, and then was on drill, guard, and picket duty until the following April. In May, 1863, it participated at Chan- cellorsville, being posted on a ridge in an open field with its right wholly uncovered, where it and the One Hundred and Nine- teenth New York, both under fire for the first time, were sav- agely attacked by superior numbers. The men fought like vet- erans until both flanks were doubled up, and only fell back when destruction or capture was inevitable. The regiment was engaged at Gettysburg, the Eleventh corps being under the temporary command of General Schurz. Ewell's corps, far out- numbering Schurz's command, bore down upon it with ter- rible fury, forcing it back, although the men fought like demons for every inch, until a point was reached where the line could be re- formed. On the second day the regiment became hotly engaged and was compelled to fall back, which it did in good order, contesting the way as on the previous day, and later acted as rear-guard in the retreat to Cemetery Hill. Its losses during the battle were 210 in killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing, and among the severely wounded was Major Baetz, to whom this review is dedicated. On account of the severe injuries received at Gettysburg, on a sur- geon's certificate of disability, he resigned his commission, was hon- orably discharged, and returned to his home at Manitowoc. As soon as the condition of his health permitted he resumed the threads of civil life, but was not destined long to follow occupation of a private nature. In 1866 he was elected treasurer of Manitowoc county, and re-elected in 1868. About this time also he became largely interested in newspaper business. In 1869 he was elected to the position of treasurer of the state of Wisconsin, and two years later was re-elected to the same position, filling the office in a very creditable manner four years. Upon retiring from office lie re- turned to Manitowoc, and a year later, in 1875, he removed to the
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city of Milwaukee, where he engaged in newspaper work. In 1878 he was elected by the common council city librarian of Milwaukee, being the first to fill that position, and this he resigned to accept the office of secretary of the State Board of Immigration, in 1880. Three years later, in 1883, he resigned the last-named position to enter the employ of the Philip Best, now the Pabst Brewing Com- pany, with whom he was associated for the ensuing twenty-one years. After being with that firm some time he obtained a financial interest in the Pabst Mine, near Ironwood, Mich., being made sec- retary and general agent of the same, and he lived at the mine three years, so engaged. He then disposed of his mining interests and re- turned to Milwaukee, accepting the position of general purchaser for the Pabst Brewing Company. In 1904 he retired from the ac- tivities of business life and now resides with his wife in his pleas- ant home on Highland boulevard, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent and industrious life. Major Baetz was married on August 27, 1858, to Miss Emma Lindemann, a native of Germany, who, with her mother and two brothers, came to America in 1853, and whose fa- ther, A. G. Lindemann, a prominent merchant in the Fatherland, to- gether with one son, had come to Manitowoc county several years before. To this union there was born one son, Oscar, who died at the tender age of five months. Major Baetz gives an unswerving al- legiance to the men and measures of the Republican party, with which organization he has been prominently identified from the be- ginning, and his fraternal associations are with the Masonic or- der, having been a member of Tracy lodge, No. 107, of Manitowoc, now defunct. Other organizations with which Major Baetz is identified are the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and 'Let- ters ; the Wisconsin Archæological Society; the Milwaukee Musi- cal Society, and the Old Settlers' Club of Milwaukee County. He has been president of the Deutscher Club, and for a period of nine years served in a like capacity for the "Deutsche Gesellschaft von Milwaukee," an incorporated society to aid and assist immigrants from Germany and other European countries, on their arrival in Milwaukee.
Charles Rothe, one of the prominent citizens and prosperous farmers of Milwaukee county, was born in Germany in 1843, being the son of August and Fredericka Rothe, who were natives of the same country. They immigrated to America about the middle of the Nineteenth century, and soon after landing in this country set- tled in Milwaukee county, where they bought a farm of twenty acres on Howell road, in 1854. August Rothe was a good farmer and prospered considerably, so that he was able to buy thirty-eight acres within a short time and he then owned a fine farm of fifty- eight acres, where he lived until his death. Charles, the subject of this sketch, was eleven years of age when his parents came to the United States, and he was reared from that age on his father's homestead in the town of Oak Creek. Loyalty to the cause of the Union called the young farmer boy into the ranks of the volunteer soldiers at the age of eighteen. In April. 1861. he enlisted as a pri-
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vate in Company D, First Wisconsin cavalry, which was organ- ized as a three-years regiment, and left the state on June 9. Mr. Rothe was with it in the advance on Martinsburg, took part in the battle of Falling Waters, with the regiment participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone's River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. During all these engagements Mr. Rothe served gallantly with his company until seriously wounded on May 9, 1864. After the close of the war, and when he was sufficiently recovered from his wound, Mr. Rothe returned to Milwaukee county and engaged in farming. He has added to his land until today he owns 107 acres of the finest farming land in the township, and he is recognized as one of its most prosperous citizens. On July 27, 1865, Mr. Rothe married Miss Katherine Halberstadt, the daughter of Henry and Anna M. (Miller) Halberstadt, both of whom were born and reared in the Fatherland. Mrs. Rothe was born in Germany and came to America with her parents in 1860. Her father settled in Caledonia. Her father was born on Oct. 10, 1812, and received his training in the public schools of his native country. He was married in 1840 and became the father of two children, Marguerite and Kath- erine. After settling in this country he engaged in general farm- ing and followed this vocation until his death, in September, 1895. His wife survived him and lived until 1906, dying at the age of nine- ty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Rothe are the happy parents of four- teen children, born and reared on the hospitable old farm in Oak Creek: William, deceased ; Ernest, deceased ; Lydia; Ferdinand ; Albert, deceased ; Minnie, deceased; Emma; Louis, deceased ; Car- rie ; one who died in infancy ; Charles, Jr. ; Arthur ; Katherine, and Manda.
Charles Schlapmann, of North Milwaukee, is a well-known citizen who has held several public offices, and a prosperous farm- er. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Dec. 11, 1854, the son of Frederick and Marie (Wiegert) Schlapmann, who were born and reared in that quaint old German town. Like so many of the worthy German settlers of Wisconsin, Charles' father immi- grated to America, and soon after landing on the shores of the new country located in North Milwaukee, where he followed his trade as a mason. He was a far-sighted man, and after he had ac- cumulated enough capital invested it in a farm of eighty acres near Granville, and here he reared his two sons, William and Charles, who were only two and six years old when their parents left the Fatherland. Mr. Schlapmann conducted his farm for a number of years, and a few years before his demise, which occurred in 1900, he retired from active life. His wife had died in 1884, and from that time he lived very quietly on the old farm. Charles, the subject of this sketch, received his scholastic training at the public schools of Granville. He had always helped his father farm their old home place, and in 1881 determined to continue in that vocation by himself. He bought a homestead and improved it. His home is a substantial brick building and one of the most hospitable homes in the neighborhood. As the years have passed Mr. Schlapmann has
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branched out into various forms of farming, and he now runs a dairy herd in addition to the general crops he raises. To take care of the produce of the farm he has built one of the largest barns be- tween North Milwaukee and Granville, and as a farmer's buildings mark his prosperity, Mr. Schlapmann may well regard this as a monument to his success. In political matters he always acts with the Republican party ; in 1896 he occupied the position of town treasurer, and he has held the important position of school treas- urer for nine years. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and for three years served as trustee. On Dec. 1, 1880, Mr. Schlap- mann was married to Miss Ida Treichel, the daughter of William and Dorothea Treichel, both of whom are old and well-known resi- dents of the town of Granville. This union has been blessed by the birth of seven bright, sturdy children: Paulina, Hattie, Hulda, Laura, Emil, Fred, and Alford. Mrs. Schlapmann's parents were natives of Germany, and they immigrated to the United States and joined the many settlers from the Fatherland, locating in the town of Granville, where they bought a farm of eighty acres. Mr. Trei- chel continued his vocation of farming until he died, in 1884. His widow is still living on the beloved old homestead.
John C. Stamm, one of the pioneer merchants of Milwaukee, stands out pre-eminently as a self-made man. The lives of such men of our times are not filled with romance, as it is energy and perseverance that gives them distinction, and with the ambition to succeed they become conquerors in that business conflict that rouses all the best qualities in their natures. One who has fought a good fight and achieved success is the gentleman whose name heads this brief review. Mr. Stamm was born in Prussia, Ger- many, on January 26, 1834, being the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Hunt) Stamm, who were born in the same place in 1800 and 1799, respectively. His father was a farmer and stove-pipe maker in the old country. He joined the great army of German immigrants who came to Wisconsin about the middle of the Nineteenth cen- tury, and he landed in Milwaukee in 1854, bringing his wife and six children to the new world with him. After locating in Milwau- kee the elder Stamm became a molder's helper and worked on West Water street for a number of months. He died in 1854, leaving his wife and little family to mourn their loss. Mrs. Stamm bravely faced the world alone and reared her family. Her parents had come to the United States in 1836, so that she was not without the rela- tionship so needful in times of trouble. The mother lived to the hale old age of eighty-four years, her demise occurring in 1883. John C. Stamm, the subject of this review, received his education in the great school of experience, which may be a hard teacher, but one that teaches well, and things thus learned are not readily effaced from the memory. He came to Milwaukee in July, 1854, with his parents, and for three months worked as an apprentice at the hard- ware trade with an uncle, C. T. Stamm, whose business was located at the corner of Reed and Lake streets. At the end of that time he secured a position on East Water street, remained with the firm
WILLIAM R. KNELL
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of Cornell & Morrison for two years, and then went to Prairie du Chien with the same firm, remaining there some six months. On his return to Milwaukee from the western part of the state Mr. Stamm established himself in the hardware business at the cor- ner of South Water and Lake streets, in 1858, and two years later moved to a location at the corner of Lake and Clinton streets. where he was in partnership with his brother, Ferdinand, under the firm name of Stamm Brothers. In 1863 the three Stamm brothers-John, Ferdinand, and Peter-built what is now the Robinson building, on the corner of Lake and Clinton streets, and there conducted a successful hardware business until 1870. In that year the partnership was dissolved, John with- drawing from the firm, and, erecting a building at 599 Clinton street, he engaged in a hardware enterprise under his own name. The brothers continued to do business together at the old location until 1888, when the partnership was dis- solved. Some years ago Mr. Stamm retired from active participa- tion in business affairs to enjoy a well-earned respite from toil, and the business which he brought to its present high standard is well- conducted by his two sons, Charles F. and Joseph P. Although he is daily about the store, since 1886 he has refrained from taking any part in its management. Mr. Stamm is a Democrat in politics and was reared in the Catholic faith, being a member of Holy Trinity congregation, whose edifice is located at the corner of Greenbush and Park streets. On Feb. 21, 1865, was celebrated his mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Fuestmann, a daughter of Henry and Eliza- beth (Kresken) Fuestmann, of Burlington, Wis. Four children were born to bless this union. Lillian, the eldest, born in 1866, is the wife of Werner J. Kroeger, a dry-goods merchant of Milwau- kee. Charles F., born in 1868, is secretary and treasurer of the Waukesha Lakes Ice Company, besides assisting in the conduct of his father's business. Joseph P., born in 1871, married Miss Helen Frederick, and is the active manager of the business established by his father. Alfred W., the youngest, was born in 1879, and served an apprenticeship in the drug business with Paul Ladwig at the corner of Fifth and State streets in Milwaukee. In 1898 he entered the department of pharmacy of the University of Illinois and was graduated on April 24, 1900, with the degree of Graduate in Pharmacy. For four years after his return to Milwaukee he was associated in business with William H. Dick and then became con- nected with the Martin Drug Company. Within a year he pur- chased an interest in the concern and at the present time is the in- cumbent of the office of manager of the company. On November 24, 1908, he was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Lais, a daugh- ter of George and Carrie (Hess) Lais, of 720 Milwaukee street. Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Stamm now make their home at I28 Harmon street.
William R. Knell, ex-sheriff of Milwaukee county and one of the best-known public men in the city. was born in Wisconsin's metropolis on June 15, 1860. He is a son of John and Katherine
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Knell, both of whom were born in Bermersheim, Hessen-Darm- stadt, Germany, the father on Feb. 22, 1831, and the mother on Oct. 24, 1829. John Knell was the son of a well-to-do farmer. On account of the turbulent state of political conditions in Germany he came to the United States shortly after his marriage, in 1852. Only a short visit was made in New York, then the parents came west to St. Louis, and for a year made that city their home. Thence they went to Davenport, Iowa, then to Chicago, and finally, in 1855, located permanently in Milwaukee. The father organized a pri- vate school, which he conducted for some time with success. Sub- sequently he accepted a position as bookkeeper in a large furniture establishment, but severed that connection to go into newspaper work. At different times he was on the staff of the "Banner und Volksfreund," the "Seebote," and the "Herold." For the season of 1859 and 1860 he, together with two others, organized the first German stock company in Milwaukee, which gave weekly perform- ances in what was then known as the "Markt-Halle," the leading members of the company being Mr. and Mrs. Kenkel, Mr. and Mrs. Pelosi, the Misses Lindemann and Strohmeyer, and Mr. and Mrs. Dremmel. In the early sixties Mr. Knell became associated in business with Leopold Rindskopf & Son, distillers and wholesalers of liquor, first as a traveling representative and later as confidential and credit man of the firm. This connection continued until his demise, which occurred on May 6, 1873, at the age of forty-two years. Mr. Knell received his early educational advantages in the parochial schools of Bermersheim and an intermediate college at Alzei, Germany. For several years prior to his coming to America he held a position in the German postal service, and after becom- ing a citizen of the United States was always intensely interested in public affairs, though he never became a candidate for public of- fice. William R. Knell, the subject of this review, was the fifth child in order of birth of the ten born to his parents. He was edu- cated, so far as schools are concerned, in the Ninth ward public school, in which he was graduated at the age of fourteen years. His real education, fitting him for service to the people in public positions, has been obtained in thorough, practical work. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship in the lithographer's trade with the J. Knauber Lithographing Company, and for four years thereafter he labored as a journeyman in the trade. The de- sire of an active mind to acquire further education, as well as slightly impaired health, necessitated a change of employment, and for a number of years he was engaged in various occupations. Al- ways interested in public affairs, it was but natural that he should drift into politics, and in 1888 he was appointed to his first political position, that of draughtsman in the office of the register of deeds. This position he occupied until the summer of 1893. On Jan. I, 1894, he became deputy tax-commissioner and continued to fill that position most capably under Thomas H. Brown until the close of the year 1902. He then entered the sheriff's office, serving in the capacity of bookkeeper during the years 1903 and 1904, and as
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under-sheriff during the years 1905 and 1906. In the fall of the last-named year he was elected sheriff for the years 1907 and 1908. All his appointments and his election to public office have been as a Republican, and he is known throughout the state as one of the strongest figures in the reform element of that party in Milwaukee. At the primary election, held in the spring of 1908, for the election of delegates to the Republican National convention in Chicago, he was one of the two delegates elected from the Fifth Congressional district of Wisconsin, and in that convention cast one of the twenty- five votes for Hon. Robert M. LaFollette for president. While serving in the register of deeds office, in 1888, Mr. Knell became interested in map work and organized the Knell Publishing Com- pany, whose specialty is map publishing, map mounting, and ad- vertising. One of the publications of the firm was an excellent map of Milwaukee county, which at the time was the most advanced of any published. On May 12, 1885, Mr. Knell was united in mar- riage to Miss Annie M. E. Unertl, a daughter of John and Mary Anna (Naber) Unertl, of Kilbourn City, Wis. Mr. Unertl was a veterinary surgeon and a game keeper for a large estate in Bavaria, Germany. In the sixties he brought his wife and family to this country, and located at Kilbourn City, which was then the ter- minus of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. He con- tinued the practice of his profession after his arrival, besides fol- lowing agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in 1903, and his wife passed away three years later. To Mr. and Mrs. Knell has been born one daughter, Lillyan U., eighteen years of age, a senior in the seminary department of Milwaukee-Downer College. Mr. Knell's long experience in public affairs makes him an exemplary public servant. Fraternally and socially he is widely known, be- ing enrolled as a member of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association, the Calumet Club, the Turnverein Milwaukee, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Since 1888 he has been secretary of the Turners' Mutual Benefit Association, and at the present writing is the incumbent of the office of president of the National Association of Sheriffs, the Wisconsin State Sheriffs' As- sociation, and also of the Wisconsin Feathered Stock Association. He is interested in the breeding and training of homing pigeons, and is a prominent figure in the Milwaukee district of the National Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers, of which organ- ization he was a national director for many years.
Benjamin Poss, of the firm of Nohl, Nohl, Poss & Mangan, at- torneys, of Milwaukee, and special assistant city attorney and spe- cial lecturer in the Marquette University College of Law on "Mu- nicipal Corporations," was born in Milwaukee on Aug. 10, 1877, a son of Jacob and Rosa Poss. His early educational advantages were received in the public and high schools of the city, and when he had completed his high school course he matriculated at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1896. While at the univer- sity he became prominent as an orator and debater and was chosen
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president of his class. Between 1899 and 1902 he was private sec- retary to Judge James G. Jenkins, of the United States Circuit Court. In 1900 he was admitted to the bar, and since 1902 has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1906 he was appointed special assistant city attorney and is now serving in that capacity. Some months ago Mr. Poss was chosen by the faculty of the law department of Marquette University to give a series of special lectures before the students of that institution on "Municipal Corporations." He has a host of friends who predict for him a brilliant future in his chosen profession, and already he has won notable success. He successfully defended the school board of Milwaukee in the legal suits brought to harass and op- press the board and to prevent the proper administration of the school system of Milwaukee. He has also acted as attorney for the city in taxation cases, the successful ending of which increased the revenues of Milwaukee thousands of dollars. The legislature of 1907 enacted a law for the administration of public schools in cities of the first class. This law, which was passed after a spirited con- test, was drafted and championed by Mr. Poss. Fraternally the subject of this review is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Equitable Fraternal Union, and the Inde- pendent Order of B'nai B'rith, and socially he is identified with the Woodmout Country Club and "The Settlement." He is the gen- eral counsel for the Equitable Fraternal Union. Mr. Poss was mar- ried on Nov. 9, 1908, to Miss Aimee Shakman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Shakman, of Milwaukee. Mrs. Poss is a graduate of the Milwaukee-Downer College and completed her education abroad. Mr. and Mrs. Poss are actively interested in the Fifth Street Set- tlement.
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