USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > Pioneer history of Milwaukee > Part 21
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
+ The principal business of many of these meetings was in the olden time same as they are to-day, solely for the purpose of making gas, and this one in particu- lar, (as any one who ever reads the resolutions passed will see,) and, of course, Mr. Hoover's resolution was in order.
28
230
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
Fadyen ; 427 and 429, by Charles Cain ;* 431, by Owen Van Dyke ; 433 and 435, by Cain & Edwards, (William Edwards of Spear & Edwards and Charles Cain,) all upon the burnt district, from the fire of May 17, 1849. And besides these there were two brick stores erected at 275 and 277, by Henry and Samuel Sivyer, and one at 297, by Edwin D. Baker;} all of which are yet in use, although mere shells, compared with some of those built at the present day. There was also a four story brick block erected by Dr. Jung, (a German) on the Market square, yet standing and known as Nos. 457 and 459 East Water, and the present Grand Central hotel, (though why it is called grand, no one knows,) south west corner of Oneida and East Water streets, was erected this year by Jacob Nunnemacher. There was also one, No. 418 East Water, erected by John Thompssen. This gentleman also built the present residence of Hon. Edwin Hyde, No. 99 Fifth street, where he lived until he left for Germany, where he is still liv- ing. I remember Mr. Thompssen very well.
FIRE.
The annexed is the sketch of the fire that occurred January 25, 1850, mention of which was made in Vol. 2, page 154, in connec- tion with Messrs. Bradley & Metcalf. This was quite a large fire and as can be seen, the loss was quite heavy for those times.
FOUR STORES BURNED-LOSS $10,000.
At about seven o'clock this morning, a fire broke out in store No. 195 East Water street, occupied by Messrs. Newman & Ney, as a dry goods and variety store, and spread with such rapidity, that before an alarm could be raised, and the engines got upon the ground, the store was enveloped in flames. The books were taken out by a lad of 14 years, named Benton, who broke in the door. The amount of stock in the store of Newman & Ney, is estimated at from $5000 to $6000, considerable of which was saved. No estimate of the loss can be made. Insured in the Columbus (Ohio) insurance company, (J. P. McGregor, agent) for
*Charles Cain was quite a prominent builder (brick mason) for some 20 years, after which he went into the lumber business, and subsequently, some where along in the sixties, removed to Manitowoc county, where he died a few years ago. He was a man of fair business abilities, but not of executive. I remember hint well.
¡These are the ones referred to in the previous chapter, as the ones that were in contemplation to erect this year by Messrs. Baker & Sivyer.
231
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
$3000, which will probably cover all damages. The building was owned by A. O. 'T'. Breed of Wauwatosa. Not insured.
The next store, No, 193, was owned by Shepard & Bonnell, and unoccupied, was entirely destroyed, loss $1800 to 2000. Insured $1200 in the North Western company, of Oswego, N. Y., (Julius White, agent.)
No. 191, building owned by William Bradley, and occupied by Bradley & Met- calf, heavy boot and shoe dealers, and manufacturers. This firm had from $15,- 000 to $18,000 of stock, most of which was saved. Damage sustained principally by water, and in moving stock-to what amount is not known. Insured $5000 in the Howard Insurance company, New York City, J. A. Noonan, agent ; and $5000 in the North Western Insurance company, Oswego, Julius White, agent. The building was entirely destroyed. Loss about $2000 -insured $1200- Company not known.
No. 189, building owned by Lyndsey Ward, and occupied by P. W. Badgley, wholesale grocer and liquor dealer. The loss was mostly caused in the removal of goods, but fully covered by insurance in the Etna at Hartford $2000, (WVm. A. Whaling, agent ;) Protection, Hartford, (E. Worthington, agent, $2000 ; North Western, ()swego (J. White, agent,) $2000 ; Columbus (J. P. McGregor agent,) $2000 : building considerably damaged. Insurance unknown.
No. 187, building owned and occupied by J. N. Bonesteel, dry goods merchant. The fire did not reach this store, but loss was considerable from moving of goods, and damage by water -- Fully insured in the North Western Insurance company. Ogden & Magee, No. 185, and Mr. J. Heart, No. 183, dry goods dealers. Loss by moving goods, light.
The splendid block of stores of Mr. Martin, was considerably damaged on the south wall by heat and water.
We regret to learn of the occurrence of one accident. Mr. A. E. Dibble, of the firm of Dibble & Berry, while standing near one of the buildings, was struck in the face by some falling bricks from a chimney, cutting his lips severely. The fire is supposed to have caught from a stove pipe, in the store of Messrs. Newman & Ney, as it was first seen in the ceiling through which the pipe passed. Mr. Newman had made the fire but three quarters of an hour before, and had left the store for breakfast about twenty minutes before the alarm was given.
Everything was apparently safe when he left, and it must have caught immedi- ately afterwards, as, when the alarm was given, it had progressed beyond the power of firemen or water to save. Too much care cannot be observed with stoves and lights-in stores especially, where there are so many combustible ma- terials which take fire almost like tinder.
NEW FIRM.
J. P. Stillman & Co., clocks and looking glasses, 330 East Water, came this year.
232
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
The Milwaukee river got on the rampage this year. The Sentinel says :
It was so high on Saturday that its back water flooded all the cel- lars on East Water street. The water has been receding since Sunday morning and they are now free from water. The sewer on the corner of East Water and Michigan street caved in, and flooded the cellar under Mr. Gardiner's store. The street inspector is now repairing it and it will be all right by to-morrow.
We understand that the railroad embankment suffered some damage, and that the plank road, near the Menomonee, was considerably racked by the flood.
Leland's old American House burned October 26th, 1850. The firemen from Racine and Kenosha, here on a visit, helped at the fire.
TURNED OUT OF DOORS.
The following explains itself :
The hose cart of hose company No. I, which for want of other quarters, has been kept these three months past in Kellogg's warehouse, has been turned out of doors to make room for storage. The cart stands in the open street, the hose froze up and, of course, utterly unserviceable. Unless promptly provided with suitable quarters the company will disband, and the hose and cart be left to rot. This apparatus, purchased last fall at a cost of some $800, and put in charge of a spirited and efficient company, has already suffered serious injury from the inex- cusable neglect of the common conncil to provide a suitable house or room. Do our city fathers intend that it shall be entirely ruined ? If not, let them take measures to-night, to provide the hose company with a good house.
Some spicy correspondence followed this announcement concern- ing the neglect of the council to provide for the fire department in a better manner, in which A. J. Langworthy, Nelson Soggs and John S. Fillmore, took a part, with but little successs, as such was the poverty of the city at that time, that a petition was actually presented to the legislature asking that half of the bridge fund might be appro- priated to the use of the fire department. It is better now.
ADOLPH CRAMER.
This gentleman, now so prominent in insurance circles, is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1827, and from whence he emigrated to America in 1847, came to Milwaukee for a short time, but, thinking that Chicago was a better point, went there in 1850. A residence of one year, however, in that city of sin, dissipated all that, and he returned to his first love, Milwaukee, and in 1851
233
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
opened a small retail grocery on Chestnut Street, (at that time the " Amsterdam" of the Germans,) ran it for a year, when he returned to Chicago again, this time as a bookkeeper, where he remained for five years, returning to Milwaukee in 1857, and opened a crockery store on East Water Street, the firm being Cramer & Becker. This was discontinued at the end of one year. His next venture was as business manager of a new German paper called the Atlas, edited by the late B. Domschke, which lasted until 1860, when he was appointed a clerk in the State Land Office at Madison, by Gov. Alex. Randall. This position he soon gave up, and on the breaking out of the Rebellion was appointed quartermaster of the 25th Regiment, which he accompanied to Louisiana and Arkansas. But in 1865, his health compelled him to resign, and in March of that year was appointed to his present position as Secretary of the Milwaukee Mechanics' Mutual Insurance Company, where he is to-day.
Mr. Cramer, as has been seen, has had somewhat of a checkered life, but found his proper place at last, and it is no flattery to say, that when the company secured him they got the right man for the position, as his retention for all these years fully proves. He has a perfect knowledge of every duty connected with the office, and under his care the clerical work goes quietly on with the regularity of clock work, (Mr. Preusser's being merely supervisory.) He is always to be found at his post, and is a good representative of his countrymen, who as a class have a peculiar adaptation for clerical work.
This company has also been long noted for the selection as well as the retention of its employes, and in the person of Daniel Schultz as a general agent, and Gustav W. Griebling as assistant secretary, it has two as good men for the position as can be found in the city. Mr. Schultz has first class qualifications for his position. He sees through a crooked case by intuition (and many such occur in the experience of every insurance adjustor), and is a hard man for a would be sharper to beat. Mr. Griebling, the assistant secretary, has a "map," so to speak, of all the office work past and prospective in his head, and will answer any question about office business promptly.
Under such an office corps, presided over by such a man as Christian Preusser, it is no wonder that the Milwaukee Mechanics' Mutual Insurance Company has grown to be such a power in the
.
234
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
land. Its growth has been truly wonderful, the results of having the right men at its head and keeping them there. "Rolling stones gather no moss."
THE HOUSE THAT MACK BUILT .- HERMAN L. MACK.
This gentleman was born at Altenkandstadt, a small hamlet in Bavarian Germany, from where he came to America, landing at New York City in May, 1849.
His first place of settlement was at Cincinnati, from whence he came to Milwaukee October 16, 1850. His first employment after his arrival was as a clerk for Mack & Co., their place of business being at what is now 194 West Water Street, where it was continued up to 1854,* when a partnership was formed by the subject of this sketch with his brothers Max, and Lewis S. Mack (the latter men- tioned having come in 1851) under the title of Mack Brothers, after which they removed to their new store 379 East Water (present number). And as they were all three wide awake and energetic business men, of course were not long in placing themselves at the head of the dry goods trade in Milwaukee as well as throughout the entire Northwest. This firm was dissolved, however, a few years later, Max and Lewis S., retiring, the former going first to Cincin- nati and subsequently to New York City, followed by Lewis S., a few years later, (and where they at present reside) and a new part- nership was formed by H. S. Mack with his brother Hugo, (who had previously been in business at La Crosse) under the title of H. S. Mack & Co. The new firm was very successful and did a large business up to 1870, when H. S., believing that Milwaukee was destined to become a good point for the manufacture of woollen scarfs, jackets and hosiery, went to Europe and imported men and machinery for that purpose. This enterprise, which has proved a bonanza, was carried on under the title of the Northwestern Knit- ting Works, and in addition to that they have recently commenced the mannfacture of clothing in which they have also been very suc- cessful, and have built up a large trade, employing in that depart-
*This house was founded by Max Mack (afterwards Mack, Ottinger & Co.) Mr. Ottinger, Sr., who was a resident of New York City, never lived here, (his interest being represented by his son Bernhardt) he withdrew his interest upon the organization of the new firm.
235
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
ment alone over 300 men and women, with a prospect of increasing it annually.
Mr. Mack has always taken a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of Milwaukee, and as a proof of his faith in its future in- vested largely in real estate in the early days of our city, and has consequently made money. He was also an active member of the old volunteer fire department and ran with the machine with Clarence Shepard, J. F. Birchard, Geo. D. Dousman, P. Van Vechten, A. J. Langworthy and others of the old volunteer depart- ment, and often speaks of the hard work performed by the depart- ment in the olden time. Mr. Mack was appointed by Gov. L. Fairchilds, in 1867, to represent Wisconsin in the world's exposition at Paris, and in 1873 by Gov. C. C. Washburn, to the same high office at Vienna, Austria, both of which he filled with credit to the state as well as himself, and during which he traveled quite exten- sively over Europe. Mr. Mack is also a prominent Odd Fellow and Mason, in both of which organizations he has filled all the offices up to, and including that of grand representative of the former to the Grand Lodge of the U. S., at the session held in New York City in 1867, and at Baltimore in 1868. Such is a brief sketch of the busi- ness life of Herman S. Mack, one of our best known and active Ger- man citizens. In person he is short and stoutly built, has a constitution capable of great physical endurance which he often tests to its utmost capacity. Like most of his countrymen he is very fond of money and takes great pleasure in its accumulation. He walks with a, quick nervous step, (no grass growing under his feet), speaks loud and in sharp commanding tone, looks you square in the eyes when talking, is social with acquaintances if not busy, but if busy, a monosyllable is all the answer they will be likely to get. He is sharp and keen and will not play second to any one if he can help it. He has a sufficient degree of pride to prevent him from going astray, and if he gives his word will keep it, if it breaks him, professional honor, with him being the motor that governs all his movements. Such are some of the personal characteristics of Herman S. Mack, one of Milwaukee's prominent German citizens, and successful busi- ness men.
236
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
A NEW WAREHOUSE.
A new warehouse was built this year at the foot of Milwaukee street by the late Horatio Stevens, (a part of which is yet standing) for the use of the Michigan Central railroad.
JOEL W. HEMENWAY'S BANK.
This well remembered "wild cat" institution, for it was in reality nothing else, some of whose bills are yet in existence, was chartered February 12, 1850. It was the "congener" of some half dozen others of a similar character, with whose bills the state, as well as the city, was overrun for some ten years, previous to the rebellion, (which if it brought no other blessing upon the country, gave us a sound currency) whose bills called for specie upon presentation at their banking house, the location of which was in some out of the way place, the exact spot in many cases unknown even to them- selves, and could not have been found, with the aid of a good dog. Any man who could raise seven dollars and a half, could start one of these institutions (located some where in the woods) issue bills, and get gain. Several were located in the dense forests on Lake Superior. In fact I could name some three or more individuals, who visited La Point in the summer of 1857 to record the papers that would entitle them to flood the state with these worthless prom- ises to pay on presentation at their banking house. These bills would pass readily for a while, as their resemblance to genuine "Perkins Plate Vignette" was well calculated to deceive. But the bubble burst at last, and all was over with those bogus institutions, but the recollection of them will last for a generation to come.
Besides these there were quite a number of private institutions called banks of deposit, and discount, particularly the discount, among whom were Kneeland & Hull, Bean & Burlock, afterwards Town- send, Bean & Burlock; Heartel & Greenleaf, H. Papendike & Co., Bridge Bros., Cook & Co., and several others, with a capital all the way from $200,000 down to $25,000 on paper, into all of which it was easy to deposit money (if one had any) but not so easy to get it out, the presentation of a sight draft for $3000, creating as much conster- nation in most of them, as would the appearance of a bull in a china shop, and who went the way of all flesh in less than three, and most
237
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
of them in less than one year from their opening. They were founded upon the sand, and when the rains descended and the floods came, they fell. I think that out of the whole list, Messrs. Kneeland & Hull were the only ones who paid out as much as they took in. But the advent of the national banks used them all up.
The following is the bill for establishing the first dock line in our city, and is inserted here as a part of the history proper :
CITY WHARF-FOURTH WARD.
An act to authorize the construction of a wharf in the city of Milwaukee.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in the senate and assembly, do enact as follows :
SECTION I .- It shall be lawful for the aldermen of the Fourth ward of the city of Milwaukee, to cause the construction of a substantial wharf, four feet in height, above the surface of the river, upon the established dock line, commencing on the Milwaukee river, at lot one in block fifty-seven, in the Fourth ward, and follow- ing the dock line along the west side of said river to the junction of the Menominee river and thence on both sides of said Menominee river, along the platted dock line of the Fifth ward, thence up the water basin, from its junction with the Menominee river to its western terminus, at the east line of the west half of southwest quarter of section twenty-nine, all within the limits of the Fourth ward of said Milwaukee ; also, to dredge, or excavate, the river in front of said wharves, at least one hundred feet in width, and of sufficient depth to afford safe and con- venient navigation of the same for vessels of the largest class ; the earth so ex- cavated shall be deposited upon the lots opposite such excavation.
SEC. 2. Todefray the expense of constructing said wharves, and of dredging, or excavating the river in front thereof as aforesaid, under the direction of the aldermen thereof, a special tax upon each of the said lots fronting on said improve- ments, in proportion to the extent of front of each such lot, which tax shall be collected in the same manner as is now provided by law for the assessinent and collection of taxes in the city of Milwaukee.
SEC. 3. The said aldermen shall cause notice to be given to all persons inter- ested by publication in some daily newspaper published in the city of Milwaukee for thirty days, which notice shall state the number of the several lots and blocks, included in the first section of this act, the names of the owners thereof, if known, a specification of the work to be done, and the length of time in which the im- provement is required to be made by the owner or owners of the several lots therein specified.
SEC. 4. The owner or owners of any of the said lots may make, or cause to be made, a wharf, and dredge, or cause to be dredged, the river in front of his or their lot or lots, in pursuance of the first section of this act, and no tax or assess- ment shall be levied or collected upon any such lot or lots ; provided, the same
29
1
238
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
shall be completed within six months after the first publication of the notice re- quired to be given by the third section of this act.
MOSES M. STRONG. Speaker of the Assembly, SAMUEL W. BEALL. Lt. Governor and president of the Senate.
Approved February 4th, 1850. NELSON DEWEY.
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, April 15, 1850.
Resolved. That the local committee of the Fourth ward are hereby authorized and directed to cause the construction of a substantial wharf, four feet in height above the surface of the river, upon the established dock line, from the intersec- tion of the south side of Spring street with said established dock, along said dock line to the Monominee river, or to the southeast corner of lot one, block 147 in said ward ; thence up said Menominee river on both sides of the same to the east side of Third street ; and also to cause the Milwaukee river in front of said wharf to be dredged or excavated one hundred feet in width, and to a depth of ten feet below the surface of the water ; and the Menominee river to be entirely dredged or excavated to the same depth between the two wharf lines ;- that the wharf shall be composed of piles driven close together and cut off at or below the surface of the water, and the remainder to be built of foot square timber, well secured to the bank by ties.
Notice is hereby given to the owners, agents or occupants of the lots fronting on the river within the limits above given, a list of which lots is annexed below, to cause the above work along and in front of their respective lots, to be done and completed on or before the 20th day of October next. If said work or any part of it shall not be entirely completed by the time above named, the local com- mittee of said ward will cause the same to be done and defray the expenses as provided by an act of the legislature approved February 4th, 1850.
Block. Lot.
Block. Lot.
72
I E. D. Holton
146
H. Ludington II
do
2 do
do
12
do
3 Ira E. Goodall
do
13
do
4 L. Blossom
do
14
do
do
5 do
do
15
Holton & Goodall
do
6 Elisha Eldred
147
do 7 do
do
2
do
8 do
do
3
do
9 do
do
4
do
10
do
do
5 Henry L. Brush
73
I Anson Eldred
do
6
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
239
2 Anson Eldred
148
I
do
2
Anson Eldred do
3
do
4
do
5
John E. Cameron
do
6
do
John M. McCarty
do
7 8
Otis Sprague
IO
L. J. Higby
do
9
I
John M. McCarty
do
IO
2 3
James Kneeland
do
12
4 5 6
James Kneeland
158
I
Est. of M. T. Williams
do
C. Shepardson 2
7
Ludington & King do
do
4
9
do
6
IO
do
7 8
S. Pettibone
2
James Kneeland
do
9
do
3
do
do
IO
4
do
do
II
do
5
do
do
12
do
6
J. H. Rogers
do
13
B. Kilbourn
do
7
do
14
do
8
do
15
do
9
do
16 S. Pettibone
do
IO
do
17
do
P. B. HILL, City clerk.
CHARLES J. CARY.
Among the early men not previously mentioned, and one who has reached a high position among his compeers as an insurance agent and adjustor, is our well known fellow. citizen, Charles J. Cary, who was born at Litchfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., December 10, 1821, and from whence he came to our city October 10, 1847.
His first employment after his arrival was upon a farm in the town of Wauwatosa, where he remained until 1850, when, feeling satisfied that he was not called to that profession, he " threw up the sponge " (as the saying is) and accepted the agency of some half dozen in- surance companies, with which he at once took the field, determined
do do do do do do do do do 87 do do do do do do do do do 146 do do do
7 8 9
Est. of M. T. Williams
do
do
II
James B. Cross
do
13
do
8
I
Joel Kneeland
do
do
3
Est. of M. T. Williams, 3 4 5 do 6 Benjamin Bagnall do
240
MILWAUKEE UNDER THE CHARTER.
to win both wealth and fame, or know the reason why. His first place of business was in the J. B. Martin Building, (erected the pre- vious year,) southwest corner of East Water and Wisconsin Streets, where he remained until 1852, when he removed to the northeast corner, (same street,) over Kirby's jewelry store, and from there, in 1861, to his present office, No. 393 Broadway. Mr. Cary has been one of the most prominent, as well as one of the most successful insurance men who ever came here, and is the oldest agent in the city, having been in the business continuously for thirty-three years, and is the acknowledged "Nestor" of the craft in Milwaukee. Neither do I know of another agent who has retained the confidence of his companies to that extent that he has. He believes in doing right, let the consequences be what they may, always acts on his own judgment, and as a rule is always ahead. He dislikes all chicanery or unfair dealing, and will transact no business with a dis- honest man if he can avoid it. He is sharp, as well as shrewd, always sees all the technical points involved in the settlement of a loss, and will always see that justice is done the insured as well as the company.
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.