USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume V > Part 32
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an equally important one of spiritual adviser to his people. Father Meyer is a native of Racine county, and is one of the most public spirited citizens of Racine, his interest and cooperations with the material and civic improvements of this city, being none the less because of his onerous duties as head of St. Mary's Parish.
A brief sketch of Father Meyer's work in St. Mary's Parish, has an appropriate place in this history of Wisconsin. Transferred to Racine by Most Rev. Archbishop F. X. Katzer, Father Meyer came to Racine in the second week of November, 1896. Local conditions were not encouraging, and it was in consideration of Father Meyers' previous successful experience as an upbuilder of backward church communities that he was sent to Racine, where he had ample opportu- nity for the exercise of his administrative abilities. There was a church debt of $7,500, while interest in the church societies and aux- iliary organizations was at a low ebb. Both the school and parish houses needed repairs, and all conditions were in a non-progressive state. With his characteristie enthusiasm and energy, and with the encouragement afforded by his cordial welcome in the parish, Father Meyer took hold of his work with vigor. He reorganized the old societies, and founded new ones. On January 6, 1897, he changed the Women's Sodality to a Christian Mothers' Association, under the direction of the church, an organization, which started out with a membership of nearly 150, and grew rapidly. In May, 1897, was founded the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception, which also grew to successful membership. On St. Aloysuis' day, in 1897, was organ- ized the St. Aloysius Society. During July, 1898, the different church societies, held a sueeessful fair for raising money to discharge the general debt, and the profits of about $2,500.00 did much to lessen the parish obligations. In 1900 Father Meyer had the parish house renovated, at an expense of $1,800, the entire house being equipped with hot water heat, and other modern improvements. His attention was then turned to the school house, which was in a very bad state of disrepair. A meeting held in June, 1901, resolved to build an addi- tion, as well as repair the old building. This resolution was passed unanimously, and. the new building, commeneed under plans made by D. R. Davis. Louis Tharinger, carpenter, and John Siepler. mason. were the contractors, and both of them deserve mueh credit in the church annals, for the exeellent manner in which they fulfilled their obligations. It cost over $6,000 to make the improvements and addi- tion, and the work was completed in November. The dedication of the remodeled building occurred on Thanksgiving Day, Rev. J. A. Birkhauser, assisted by various priests of the city, having charge of the ceremonies, and the day's events coneluded with an entertain- ment and supper given in the building during the evening. this last feature resulting in a considerable profit for the benefit of the church.
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St. Mary's church is located at the corner of Eighth street and Col- lege avenue, the school adjoining it on the south. In 1911 the parish bought the two "Stone" lots adjoining the parsonage on the south, and these in part are now being used as play grounds for the chil- dren of the parish school. As a result of seventeen years of faithful service on the part of Father Meyer, the parish buildings are all now in excellent condition, and many other improvements than those noted have been made. The parish congregation has courageously assumed its heavy burden, and the parish is now one of the most prosperous and contented in this state.
Theodore B. Meyer was born in Caledonia, Racine county, Wis- consin, February 13th, 1853. His paternal grandfather was a native of Kaltenborn, Germany, where he was a small farmer and miner, his death coming as a result of an accident in a mine. His wife's maiden name was Jungmann, and they reared a large family.
Peter Meyer, father of the St. Mary's pastor was also born in Kaltenborn the Rhine Provinee, Prussia, near the city of Trevs where he was reared and received an excellent education. As a young man, in 1845, he eame to America, making his first location at Racine; that was during the territorial period of Wisconsin's history, and he thus became one of the pioneers in the development of the land. From Raeine, he soon afterward moved to Milton Junction in Roek county, where he began work as a farmer laborer. In 1847, he returned to the Fatherland, and the following Spring eame again to America, this time, accompanied by his sisters Mary and Magdalene. In 1850 occurred his settlement in the western part of Caledonia township, Racine county. With a farm of 80 acres, he was engaged in agricul- ture in that vicinity for many years, and subsequently established and carried on a general store.
Peter Meyer, was among the founders of the St. Louis Roman Catholic church at Caledonia. The movement which resulted in the establishment of this parish began in 1850, and Peter Meyer and wife were both charter members, and as long as they lived took an active part in the work of the church. Mr. Meyer donated two acres of land, from his farm, on which the church edifice was built. A man of unusual intelligence, and successful in business affairs, he was also honored by positions of trust and responsibility in the com- munity, serving as town elerk, town treasurer, and supervisor. After he had come to this country, and in the midst of the hard work, which he had to perform in order to earn a living, he studied English at Milton, on the farm where he was employed, and subsequently taught one of the first schools in Madison, and another term near that city.
Peter Meyer married Angeline Epper. She was born at Merseh, Kreis Bittburg, Germany, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Huss) Epper. Jacob Epper, her father, came to America in 1848, and set-
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tled at Paris, Kenosha county, where he became a well known farmer. His old homestead is still standing in that vicinity. Mrs. Jacob Epper reached the advanced age of ninety-three years, and she and her husband reared a large family. Their oldest son was a soldier in the Prussian army, and was reputed to be the strongest man physically in the army, at that time.
Of the thirteen children of Peter Meyer and wife, twelve of them grew to maturity, ten of them married and nine had families. One daughter, Sister Mary Jerome, has been for thirty-four years a mnem- ber of the Dominican Convent at Racine. Two of the'sons, John and Peter, are residents of Milwaukee, the former being a teacher and organist in St. Francis church, and the latter a merchant. The mother passed away August 2, 1884, age fifty-four, while the father spent many of his later years, with his son Father Meyer, and attained to the great age of 90 years, passing away July 21, 1913.
The early life of Father Meyer was spent in his native township of Caledonia. The first Catholic school, in the old parish, which his father had been so active in founding, was opened in 1856, and he was a student in that school from 1858 until 1865. Then in the fall of 1868, he entered St. Francis' Seminary at Milwaukee, where he continued his studies in preparation for the priesthood until June 24, 1887, at which date he was ordained to the priesthood by Arch- bishop Henni. His first pastoral service was in Oshkosh, where he served as assistant to Father Reindl. at the St. Vincent de Paul church from July, 1877, to December of the same year. Granville, in Mil- waukee county, was his next appointment, where he was pastor of St. Catherine's and St. Michael's from December 23, 1877, until Decem- ber, 1880. At the latter date, Archbishop Henni transferred him to Wilson, Sheboygan county, to take charge of the churches of St. George and St. Rose. His pastoral duties held him there until Septem- ber, 1887, and during that time he had his first opportunity of a church builder, and executive. In 1884, he had the interior of both churches beautifully decorated, and made repairs to the school houses in both parishes. In 1886 he erected a fine parish house for St. George's.
A still more important field of work awaited Father Meyer at St. Mary's in Saukville, Ozankee county, Wisconsin, where he began his work on September 16th, 1887, and continued his fruitful labors until October, 1896. The parish, when he took charge, was struggling under a debt of $4,000, but under his efficient management, this was soon liquidated. In 1891 the interior of the church was remodeled. and ornamented with beautiful and substantial improvements. In 1896, the school building was enlarged, and though all of these im- provements required large expenditures, the parish was practically free from debt when Father Meyer left it. He himself had collected
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$8,000 for the purposes of his work. During his nine years' stay at Saukville, he had been able, in addition to the numerous burdens of other duties to visit the entire parish at least five times.
On July 2, 1902, at Racine was celebrated the silver jubilee of Father Meyer's entrance into the priesthood. It had not been his intention to give any special observation to that event, but at the insistence of his numerous friends, it was decided to hold appropriate services, and the occasion became one of great festivities. More than seventy priests, among them the vicars general of Milwaukee and La Crosse, were in attendance at the ceremony. The members of St. Mary's parish, in particular, vic with each other in showing their appreciation of the worthy father, whose labors had done so much to build up the parish, and to reconstruct its official and social organizations. By their demonstrations on that day, they in reality gave Father Meyer credit for the entire prosperity and flourishing condition in which the parish was then found. A few months after this celebration, on Father Meyer's personal account, occurred the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of St. Mary's congregation. The event was celebrated on Thanksgiving day of 1902, under the auspices of Father Meyer. The Golden Jubilee ceremonies were very impres- sive and largely attended, and among the distinguished church digni- taries who lent their presence to the festival was Archbishop Katzer. These festivals occurred more than ten years ago, and the promises of continued prosperity then evidenced by so many important improve- ments have since been more than fulfilled, and it would now be pos- sible to point out even more substantial results of Father Meyer's labors than were in evidence ten years ago, when he celebrated his own Silver Jubilee.
PHILIP L. SPOONER. Through his character and achievement Hon. Philip Loring Spooner has conferred dignity and distinction upon the state of Wisconsin, even as has his older brother, Hon. John Coit Spooner, who gained national distinction through exalted service in the United States senate and in other high offices of public trust and respon- sibility. He whose name initiates this review has long been one of the most honored and influential citizens of Madison, the fair capital city of Wisconsin, and he has contributed in most generous measure to its civic and material progress and prosperity, even as he has given zealous and effective services in offices of public trust, including that of mayor of Madison and that of state insurance commissioner of Wisconsin, of which post he was the first incumbent after the establishing of this important office. Quiet and unassuming in manner, Mr. Spooner has marked the passing years with large and worthy accomplishment, and thus has given added laurels to family names that have been closely and prominently identified with American history since the early colonial epoch.
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Mr. Spooner was born at Lawrenceburg, judicial center of Dear- born county, Indiana, on the 13th of January, 1847, and he has been a resident of Wisconsin since his boyhood days, his father having been one of the most prominent and distinguished pioneer citizens of Madison, this state. Mr. Spooner is the second of the distinguished sons of Philip L. and Lydia (Coit) Spooner and bears the full patronymic of his hon- ored father. He is a scion of the staunchest of New England stock, and his paternal great-grandfather, Philip Spooner, was a valiant soldier of the Continental line in the war of the Revolution, as was also the ma- ternal great-grandfather, Colonel Samuel Coit, who commanded a regi- ment in the great struggle for national independence and who was known as a fearless and aggressive soldier and offieer, as well as a patriot of the highest type. Representatives of both the Spooner and Coit families likewise were found enrolled as gallant soldiers in the war of 1812, and the two families have, in fact, given loyal soldiers to virtually every war in which the nation has been involved. Hon. Roger Coit, grand- father of Mr. Spooner on the distaff side, was a distinguished and influen- tial citizen of Connecticut, and long maintained his residence at Plain- field, Windham county, that state.
Judge Philip Loring Spooner, father of him whose name initiates this review, gained high prestige as one of the leading members of the bar of Wisconsin and was a prominent figure in that brilliant galaxy of lawyers who made the bar of Madison, the capital city, one of the most eminent in the northwest in the early days. He was a man of exalted character and high intellectual and professional attainments, so that he was a natural leader in sentiment and action, even as he com- manded at all times the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fel- low men. He had much to do with shaping and fortifying the early governmental policies of Wisconsin and was called to various positions of public trust, including that of judge on the bench of the cirenit court. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1887, at the age of seventy-seven years, and in the circuit court of Dane county, in the United States district court, and in the supreme court of the state special proceedings marked the high appreciation of his character and ability on the part of the beneh and bar of the state, the while his home community manifested a sincere sense of loss and bereavement when he was thus called from the stage of life's activities, after having main- tained his residence in Madison for nearly thirty years. His wife sur- vived him by several years, and coneerning their children the following brief data are given: John C., former United States senator from Wis- consin, now resides in New York city; Philip L., of this review, was the next in order of birth ; Roger C. is a resident of the eity of Chicago; and Mary Coit is the wife of Dr. James W. Vance. of Madison, Wisconsin.
Philip L. Spooner, to whom this sketeh is dedicated, gained his rudi- Vol. V-18
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mentary education in the schools of his native state and was a lad of twelve years at the time of the family removal to Madison, Wisconsin, where he has resided during the long intervening years and where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools and also the Univer- sity of Wisconsin. In 1867 Mr. Spooner here engaged in the fire and life insurance business and with this line of enterprise he continued to be actively identified, as one of its leading representatives in the capital city, until 1887. Upon the creation of the office of state insurance com- missioner, he was appointed as the first incumbent of the same, a pre- ferment which his character, ability and practical experience amply justified. Mr. Spooner handled the affairs of the office with great cir- cumspection and efficiency and formulated the admirable policies which have continued to dominate its administration to the present time. Hc was reappointed in 1880 and when, by the action of the legislature, in 1881, it was made an elective office, Mr. Spooner was retained as insur- ance commissioner through the medium of popular vote. He gave a most able and effective administration and his tenure of this important office continued from April 1, 1878, to January 3, 1887.
Mr. Spooner has long been known as one of the liberal and public- spirited citizens of Madison and his influence and co-operation have been given in support of legitimate measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community. He represented the Fourth ward as a member of the city council and served one term as mayor of the city, in 1880-81, his careful and circumspect administration inuring greatly to the benefit of the city.
For many years Mr. Spooner was the dominating factor in connec- tion with street-railway affairs in Madison, as president and principal stockholder of the Madison Traction Company, and his liberal policies did much to bring this department of public-utility service up to a high standard. He has identified himself closely with other important enter- prises that have conserved the best interests of the capital city, and he is now one of the substantial capitalists and most honored and influen- tial citizens of Madison. Well fortified in his opinions and distinct in- his individuality, Mr. Spooner is significantly free from ostentation and pursues the even tenor of his way as a loyal and appreciative citizen of the beautiful capital of Wisconsin,-a city in which his interests have long been centered and in which his circle of friends is virtually coin- cident with that of his acquaintances. His generosity has been recently shown in another emphatic and worthy manner, by his unsolicited gift to his home city of a fine site for the proposed building of the Madison Woman's Club.
Mr. Spooner has ever been unfaltering in his allegiance to the Re- publican party and has given yeoman service in behalf of its cause. He is identified with various civic organizations of representative order and is appreciative of the gracious social amenities of life, though he has
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permitted his name to remain enrolled on the list of bachelors in the capital city.
CHARLES E. OTTO. The present sheriff of Shawano county, Mr. Otto has been known to the citizens of that county since childhood, has been recognized as an industrious, independent man of action, and few have entered office in this county with so thorough a confidence on the part of their supporters. Mr. Otto was elected sheriff in the fall of 1912 taking office in January 6, 1913, succeeding Andrew F. Anderson. His elec- tion was on the Republican ticket. Mr. Otto has been a resident of Sha- wano county thirty-seven years, since childhood.
He was born at Appleton, Wisconsin, August 3, 1874, a son of Carl F. and Libbie (LeBrun) Otto. His father was a native of Germany and the mother of France. Charles E. Otto was three years old when brought to America by his father, Carl Otto, who settled first in Mil- waukee, and later in Appleton. When Charles E. Otto was two years of age, his parents moved to a homestead in the town of Herman, in Shawano county, and it was on that place that the son grew to man- hood, attending district school, and by work on the farm getting a prae- tical training for his practical career.
On leaving school he engaged in lumbering and farming, worked as a cruiser, and also did considerable logging on the Red River. In 1908 he moved to Whitcomb, in Shawano county, where he was manager of the Whiteomb Lumber Company's mill until elected sheriff. Mr. Otto provides a home for his father, and the mother died June 12, 1913. They were the parents of eleven children. Sheriff Otto was married May 11, 1907, to Annie Nussbaum, of Stevensville, Wisconsin. Their three ehil- dren are Wilma, and Edwin and Earl, the last two being twins.
FRANK A. JAECKEL. To his present office of county judge of Sha- wano county, in which he has served the people for eight years, Mr. Jaeckel brought the spirit of disinterested service, long experience as an educator, and editor and a broad knowledge of men and affairs. The administration of the county's fiscal affairs has never been in better hands than in those of Judge Jaeckel.
Frank A. Jaeckel has lived in Shawano county since his birth, though his duties have at different times taken him away from this county for several years at a time. He was born on a farm in the town of Belle Plaine, Shawano county, June 3, 1866, a son of Fred and Henrietta (Eckert) Jaeckel. His parents became residents of Shawano county in the early fifties, and were among the earliest pioneers of this section. Their birthplace was in Germany, and on coming to America. they first located at Watertown, Wisconsin, but a few years later came to the wilderness of Shawano county, and cleared ont a farm from the woods in the town of Belle Plaine. Both parents continued to make their
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home in Shawano county until about 1889, when they sold their farm and spent their last years at the home of their daughter in Waupaca county.
Judge Jaeckel was reared on a farm, and had the wholesome environ- ment of the country during his youth. From the country schools he entered the academy at Wittenberg, and also studied in the Teachers' Seminary at Addison, Illinois. Graduating in 1888 he was for ten years a teacher in the Lutheran parochial schools of St. Louis, Mis- souri. Returning to Wittenberg in Shawano county, he took charge of the Orphans' Home for one year, at the end of which time the school was abolished. He then became superintendent of the Lutheran Children's Home at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and continued one year. In 1899 Judge Jaeckel moved to Shawano to take charge of the Volksbote, now the Volksbote-Wochenblatt, the most influential German newspaper in this section of Wisconsin. He was the owner and editor of the journal until his election as county judge in the spring of 1905. Since he took charge of the office the regular term of county judge has been extended to six years, and he was reelected for that length of time, and in the spring of 1913 was again elected, for the regular term of six years beginning January, 1914.
Judge Jaeckel was married July 10, 1892, to Miss Clara Taenzer of St. Louis, Missouri. Their four children are Walter, Hilda, Irma, and Norma. Judge Jaeckel is active in the Lutheran church and a trustee of the church at Shawano.
ALBERT H. GUSTMAN. County treasurer of Shawano county, Mr. Gustman is now serving in his second term in that office. He was elected on the Republican ticket in 1910, and was reelected in the fall of 1912. For two years prior to his service as county treasurer, he was supervisor of the First ward in Shawano. Mr. Gustman belongs to a family which has been identified with Shawano county since 1880, and has had an active business career since he reached manhood in this county. Born in Germany, February 28, 1868, Albert H. Gustman was the son of August and Albertina (Kroening) Gustman. In 1880 the family made their journey across the ocean and settled in Shawano county on a farm in the town of Westcott. There the father worked industriously and lived a substantial man in the community until his death in 1898. The mother passed away several years before.
A boy of twelve years when the family located in Shawano county, Mr. Gustman had already received some educational advantages in his native country, and continued here in the common schools, assisting in the labors of the home farm. In 1898 he sold the farm and moved to the city of Shawano. There up to the time of his election as county treasurer, he was identified with different enterprises. He first bought a dray line running it for several years. For four years he drove the United States
Groll Johnson .
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government stage to Keshena, in the Menominee Indian Reservation. His next undertaking was a restaurant and bakery, and he built that up to a profitable enterprise and then sold out at the end of two years. For the following year he conducted a furniture and undertaking estab- lishment, and on his election to his present office he sold out to his son- in-law, who had previously been his partner, Mr. M. C. Karth. .
Mr. Gustman was married at the age of twenty years in 1888 to Miss Minnie Gottschalk, who was born in Germany and eame to Shawano county when a girl. Their two children are : Louisa, wife of M. C. Karth, and the mother of four children, whose names are Paul, Fred, Marie and Carl; William, who is married and lives in the state of California. Mr. Gustman takes a prominent part in the St. Jacobi Lutheran church at Shawano, and is an elder.
GEORGE W. JOHNSON. A substantial and ably managed institution that has had large and definite influenee in furthering the eivie and material progress and prosperity of the city of Oshkosh is the Osh- kosh Mutual Loan & Building Society, and this corporation is fortu- nate in having as one of its zealous and able executive officers George W. Johnson, who is its seeretary and whose administration has been marked by due conservatism and most progressive and well ordered policies. He is one of the popular citizens and representa- tive business men of Oshkosh and further interest attaches to his career by reason of the fact that he is a native son of the Badger state.
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