USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume V > Part 41
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Mr. Bacon has been a member of the Milwaukee Chamber of Com- merce since 1865, and has been influential in promoting needed reforms in methods of conducting the grain trade of that market, from time to time, during the long period of his membership. He served as a member of the board of directors for ten years, from 1883 to 1893, six years as director, two as vice president and two as president. He has taken a leading part in securing an equalization of freight rates on grain from interior points to Milwaukee as related to those in effect in competing markets, which resulted in great benefit to that market; and he was also active in securing the establishment of the
existing Railroad Commission of the State of Wisconsin. He was appointed delegate to the National Board of Trade for several years in succession and served as one of the vice presidents of that organi- zation from 1884 to 1889. He was frequently called upon to repre- sent the Chamber of Commerce at commercial conventions and also to appear in its behalf before committees of Congress in respect to pending legislation relating to commercial and financial affairs, in- cluding among others the free silver movement and the attempt to do away with trading in agricultural products for future delivery, to both of which the Chamber was strongly opposed.
Mr. Bacon has always taken an active interest in religious and educational affairs and has devoted much of his energy and freely of his means for their promotion. He was largely instrumental in the early organization of the Young Men's Christian Association in Mil- waukee in the year 1857, among the first organizations of its kind established in this country, and served as its vice president for two years, and later, in 1879 to 1881, as president. He has been a mem- ber of the board of trustees of Beloit College in this State since 1892 and served as vice president of the board from 1898 to 1908. He established an endowment in 1894 for the purpose of aiding young men of limited means, possessed of intellectual ability, in obtaining a
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liberal education, the income of which with moderate self-help pro- vides for the maintenance of four students in the college course, con- tinuously, without reference to their purpose in life, and three con- tinuously in a theological course, at a seminary of their own choice, one student being entered on each course every year; the fund to be administered by a committee composed of members of the board of trustees and of the faculty of Beloit College.
The most important work of a public nature in which Mr. Bacon has taken an active part was in connection with the campaign inau- gurated in 1899 to secure national legislation for the regulation of railway rates, by enlarging the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission, giving it authority to determine what rate shall be sub- stituted for one found upon full hearing to be unreasonable or dis- criminative, to be put into immediate effect and so to continue until overruled by the courts. A conference of representatives of important commercial organizations of the country was held at Chicago in November of that year, for the purpose of promoting such legislation,
at which a bill for the purpose previously prepared was approved. The bill was introduced in Congress at the opening of the ensuing session in December by Senator Cullom of Illinois. Mr. Bacon repre- sented the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce at this conference and was made chairman of a committee appointed to advocate the passage of the bill. Hearings on the bill were held by the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce, at irregular intervals, extending over a pe- riod of three months and it was finally reported to the Senate adversely by the close vote of six to five. It was, however, placed on the calen- dar upon request of the chairman, but no action upon it was taken.
Interest in the effort to secure the legislation became intensified and resulted in the calling of a convention which was held at St. Louis on the 20th of November, 1900, known as the Interstate Com- merce Law Convention, at which a memorial to Congress was adopted urging the passage of the bill, and the commercial organizations of the country were recommended to send delegates to Washington at the opening of the coming session to press the legislation. An exeeu- tive committee was appointed to carry on the work, of which Mr. Bacon was made chairman. It was found impracticable to obtain action at that session, but considerable headway was made in develop- ing sentiment on the part of members of both houses of Congress in favor of the legislation, and at the following session a stringent bill prohibiting rebates and discriminations between shippers in any form. . known as the Elkins Bill, was enacted and became a law in February. 1903. This, however, did not confer upon the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to revise rates sought by the commercial or- ganizations of the country, and a second Interstate Commerce Law Convention was held at St. Louis in October, 1904, at which 170 such
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organizations, located in 28 different states, were represented by dele- gates, and a petition to Congress urging the speedy enactment of such legislation was prepared and signed by the delegates of all the organi- zations represented. An executive committee was appointed to carry out the purposes of the convention, of which Mr. Bacon was again made chairman.
Upon the assembling of Congress the following Deeember hearings were opened by the appropriate committees of the respective branches on pending bills on the subject introduced is the preceding session, which resulted in the reporting of the bill known as the Esch-Town- send bill to the House on the 31st day of January, 1905, which was passed on the 9th of February by a vote of 326 to 17. The Senate Committee failed to report the bill and was authorized by the Senate to sit during the recess of Congress to consider the subject. Con- tinuons hearings were accordingly held in April and May which were largely dominated by the railway interest. The committee failed to come to an agreement on any measure for the purpose and so reported to the Senate on its reassembling the following December.
President Roosevelt, in his message to Congress at the opening of the previous session, strongly urged empowering the Interstate Com- merce Commission to determine a reasonable rate to be substituted for one found to be unreasonable after full hearing, to go into imme- diate effect and so continne until reversed by the courts. The bill previously mentioned which passed the House was framed in pursu- ance of that recommendation and the Senate having failed to act upon it, the advocates of the legislation deemed it necessary to bring a decisive expression of public sentiment on the subject to bear upon that body, and accordingly called a third Interstate Commerce Law Convention, which was held in Chicago, October 26th and 27th, 1905, consisting of delegates from 233 commereial organizations, located in various parts of the country, who unanimously ratified the recom- mendation of the President and demanded the immediate enactment of the legislation outlined. Mr. Bacon was again made chairman of the executive committee of the convention, and spent his entire time in Washington during the ensuing session of Congress, as he had done to a large extent at several preceding sessions, in impressing upon individual senators and representatives the neeessity of the legisla- tion with the co-operation of members of the executive committee and representatives of commercial organizations.
In his message to Congress at the opening of the ensuing session President Roosevelt reiterated lis previous recommendation and a bill carrying it into effect prepared by members of the Interstate Com- merce Commission was introduced in the House early in the session by Representative Hepburn of Iowa, which was favorably reported by unanimous vote of the committee on Interstate and Foreign Com-
ยท
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meree, and passed the House on the 8th of February, 1906, by a vote of 346 to 7. It was referred by the Senate to the committee on Inter- state Commerce by which it was favorably reported by a bare majority of one vote and was the subject of an extended debate, and after hav- ing been greatly enlarged in its seope was passed on the 18th of May by the remarkable vote of 71 to 3. A committee of conference was ordered which came to an agreement after a long contest, and the bill as amended was finally enacted into law on the 29th of June, 1906, to go into effect sixty days thereafter. Thus came to a successful issue, after a struggle of nearly seven years, one of the most far reaching aets of legislation of recent years.
Mr. Bacon was married to Miss Emma Rogers Hobbs, of Paterson, N. J., May 18th, 1858. Four children were born to them, the eldest and the youngest, both daughters, being taken from them by death early in the year 1879, within a few weeks of each other. Of the sur- viving children, Lilian, the elder, was married July 31, 1890, to Rollin B. Mallory, a member of the Milwaukee bar. The younger, Frank Rogers, after being employed seven years in his father's business. engaged in an electrical manufacturing business at Milwaukee con- ducted under the name of the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he is president, which has developed into an extensive and successful business. The father was remarried in 1895 to Mrs. Ella C. Baird, daughter of John H. Dey, of Pelham Manor, New York,
JOHN BRANDT. The records of Lincoln county have never been entrusted to more efficient care than to that of John Brandt now in his fifth consecutive term as county clerk. Mr. Brandt, who belongs to the sturdy stock of the German-American, spent his earlier career in the lumber industry of Wisconsin, performing almost every service from the lumber camp to the factory of finished products. An accident that deprived him of one hand terminated his progress in that direction, and thus placed his ability at the service of the public, where it has been welcomed by repeated election to his present office.
Mr. Brandt was first elected county elerk of Lincoln county in 1904. and at the expiration of each two-year term has been reelected, going into office on the Democratie tieket, as one of the most popular mem- bers of that party in Lincoln county. Mr. Brandt has been a resident of Merrill since 1891. In Germany he was born December 7. 1875, a son of John W. and Margaret ( Hoven) Brandt. When a boy his parents emigrated to America, settling first at Antigo, Wisconsin. where the son John spent the first five years of his career in Wisconsin. The father now owns a farm near Antigo, and also town property in Antigo, where he makes his home. The mother died in 1890.
Part of the education given to John Brandt was obtained in Ger- many, and he also attended school after coming to Wisconsin. With
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the strength of boyish years he began working in the great lumber woods about Antigo, and there is hardly a phase of the lumber business with which he is not familiar. He spent some time in the chair factory at Antigo. When he came to Merrill at the age of sixteen he was con- nected with the lumbering operations and the saw mills, and in the fall of 1902 lost his right hand while working in a sawmill. He then became mill foreman for the Gilkey-Anton Company, in their sawmill. After two years of that employment he was elected and began his duties as county clerk.
On September 11, 1901, Mr. Brandt married Miss Jessie Trudeau, who was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, but was reared at Merrill. Three children were born to their marriage, Leslie and Leroy being in school, and Margaret, the second in order of birth, died at the age of two years. Mr. Brandt affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Eagles.
GOTTLOB BOSSERT. For a period covering half a century, the late Gottlob Bossert was actively and closely identified with the commer- cial and social and institutional life of Milwaukee. During the larger portion of his business career he served as secretary of the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company. He was an extremely able and successful business man, and it is especially noteworthy that he was always willing to direct his ability and time to interests that lay outside the immediate sphere of his own business, and he thus became an im- portant and public-spirited factor in much that concerned the broader welfare of his home city.
The late Gottlob Bossert, who died at his home in Milwaukee January 25, 1911, was born in Tuebingen, Germany, May 20, 1826, having been in his eighty-fifth year at his death. Until he was four- teen years old he attended public school in Germany, studying French, Latin, German, arithmetic, reading and writing, and he also had special instruction in English. In 1840 began his apprenticeship in the mercantile business, in an establishment conducted by his father and an uncle. In February, 1843, he attained a situation in a wholesale house at Mannheim, first as assistant entry clerk, and sub- sequently as assistant bookkeeper. The serious illness of his father recalled him to Tuebingen in October, 1845, and the death of his father on May 18, 1846, obliged him to remain in Tuebingen, looking after business affairs until September, 1848. When he left his native city, it was his intention to go direct to the United States. Arriving at Bremen, a position as bookkeeper was awaiting him, and he accepted it, deferring his voyage to the New World for several years. In October, 1851, he was again recalled to his native city for the purpose of arranging some affairs connected with the partnership formerly existing between his father and uncle. He anticipated that when
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matters were straightened out, the unele would retire from active participation in the business, and would turn over his interests to his son and Mr. Bossert, so that the latter would thus have an opening and opportunity to engage independently in business. However, the uncle finally determined, after the business had been inventoried and arranged preparatory to a transfer, to remain in charge, and this outcome proved the impetus which finally sent Mr. Bossert away to the United States.
During his residence in Bremen he had made the acquaintance of parties who cheerfully gave him letters of recommendation and intro- duction to firms in New York City and elsewhere, and with these he left Bremen on August 20, 1852, on the barque Herminie, Captain Rasch commanding. The voyage was made without mishap, and he landed in New York harbor September 24, 1852, just thirty-five days out from Bremen. Finding employment as assistant bookkeeper, he became connected with a French exporting and importing house, the Firmin Consinery & Company, at 28 South Williams Street. The business of this firm was with England, France, the Orient, Smyrna, South America and Buenos Ayres. While his position was helpful to him in many ways, and gave him a valuable knowledge of Amer- ican institutions and business methods, it offered no promise of further advancement, and after a time Mr. Bossert determined to seek the opportunities offered further west. Accordingly in Sep- tember, 1856, he severed his connection with the firm and left for Buffalo, New York. There his stay was but brief, after which he went on to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and from there to Chicago. Early in 1857, Mr. Bossert arrived in Milwaukee, and very quickly found employment with Guido Pfister and Frederick Vogel. This was the beginning of his business career in Milwaukee. Early in 1860 he received an offer to enter a partnership with John Rudolphy in the wholesale drug business of New York City. His acceptance of this opportunity resulted in his absence from Milwaukee for about two years. The financial depression existing just prior to the breaking out of hostilities between north and south erippled New York com- merce, and Mr. Bossert's business did not prove as successful as anticipated.
In the meantime he had remained in friendly correspondence with Mr. Pfister, and when the proposition was made that he should return to Milwaukee and again take employment under Mr. Pfister, he accepted, and on May 1, 1862, left New York for Milwaukee. From that forward, nearly fifty years, Mr. Bossert's name was closely asso- eiated with that of Pfister in one of the most important of local industries. In 1872 the Pfister & Vogel Company was organized, and Mr. Bossert beeame a member of the organization, and secretary of the company. In 1878 the number of directors was increased from
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three to five, and Fred Vogel, Jr., and Charles F. Pfister were added to the board. The death of Guido Pfister occurred in February, 1889, and that of the senior Vogel in 1892. August H. Vogel and A. C. Helmholz beeame direetors in their stead. During all these years Mr. Bossert retained his position with the firm as secretary and director.
During the many years between 1856, when he left his native land, until his death, Mr. Bossert renewed his acquaintance with the Fatherland three times. His first trip was made in 1866, when he visited his mother, all his sisters and their husbands, a brother, an aunt, on the paternal side, all of whom were then living. In 1868 he again went to Germany, this time in company with his own daugh- er, Anna. His last trip abroad was made in the fall and winter of 1892-93, accompanied by his wife, his son Henry, and his daughter Charlotte. The family returned to America by way of Genoa in April, 1893.
On June 5, 1857, Mr. Bossert married Miss Anna Maier of Ann Arbor, Mich. To their union were born eight children, namely : Wil- helmina, Clara, Anna, Fritz, Philip, Hugo, Henry, and Charlotte. Mrs. Bossert survived her husband about two years, dying February 10, 1913.
A well expressed tribute to the life and character and services of the late Mr. Bossert was contained in an editorial of the Milwaukee Sentinel, following his death. It is herewith quoted :
"The death of Gottlob Bossert marks the passing of another of the old-time residents of Milwaukee, whose sturdy labors helped to lay the foundations of the great eity of today, and whose sterling worth, complete integrity, and public-spirited citizenship made of them models for the emulation of the younger generation.
"The cause of education loses a staunch friend and supporter in Mr. Bossert. His interest in educational matters was actively ex- pressed through his efforts in behalf of the German-English Academy, which institution benefited wisely by his wise counsel and earnest support.
"Quiet, unpretentious, and lovable in his social and domestic rela- tions; sagacious, prudent, and honorable in business life, public- spirited and loyal in his devotion to his adopted city, the long life of Mr. Bossert presents a worthy example to his fellow men."
LOUIS FRIED. The live stock business as a commercial proposition is like the grocery or any other except that it requires a keener judg- ment and a more persistent enterprise than almost any other line of trade that might be mentioned. It is through this medium of provid- ing a market for the world's supply of live stock that Louis Fried of Merrill has given his aetive career, and there is no better dealer, espe-
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cially in horses in the entire state of Wisconsin than Mr. Fried. He is proprietor at Merrill of the Louis Fried Sales Stable. He has been engaged in this business in Wisconsin since 1881, for the first ten years in Stevens Point, and since 1891 in Merrill.
Louis Fried was born in Germany, January 3, 1861, a son of Daniel and Adeline Fried. His father died in Germany, and the mother after- wards came to America, and lived in Milwaukee until her death. The father in Germany was a cattle dealer, and his son Louis thus may be said to have inherited the industry at which he has been so successful. He worked with his father along that line of business, and at the same time acquired a substantial education in his native land. When he was twenty years old, in 1881, he crossed the Atlantic and first located at Appleton, Wisconsin. While there he was employed for a short time by his uncle Henry Hummel. He-then went to Stevens Point where he established himself in the horse business. During his residence in Stevens Point Mr. Fried married Miss Sannchen Mandel, also a native of Germany. Their two children are Hattie and Daniel.
Louis Fried has a large establishment and fine sales stables at Mer- rill, and deal exclusively in horses, cattle and mules. He does a con- siderable business in connection with the millionaire horse firm of Loeb & Hummel of Chicago, probably the largest dealers in horses in the United States. Mr. Fried is a kinsman to both the Loeb and Hummel families. At Merrill he also sells buggies. wagons, sleighs, etc., but is best known here and over the state as a horse dealer. Mr. Fried is affiliated with the Masonic Order.
R. C. BALLSTADT. When he had completed his education. Mr. Ball- stadt determined to make himself a banker. The ablest financiers of the country are men who set out with similar ambitions, and under like circumstances so far as individual capital was concerned. Not money or influential friends, but integrity and industry and the possession of a certain talent for financial matters are required for success in this important branch of the world's business.
At the present time Mr. Ballstadt is cashier of the German-American State Bank of Merrill, and has held that post since the bank's organiza- tion in 1904. He took a prominent part in the organizing and establish- ment of the institution. The German-American bank is one of the leading banks of the Wisconsin River Valley. The officers and directors are all men well and favorably known in the community. F. J. Smith. president of the bank, is one of Lincoln county's most prominent attor- neys, and at present is city attorney for Merrill. F. W. Kubasta, first vice president of the bank and also postmaster at Merrill. is known through Lincoln county as Merrill's leading insurance, real estate, loan and abstractor. William F. Peterman, second vice-president, is a mem- ber of the successful mercantile firm of Peterman Brothers of Merrill. The list of directors includes such well known men as Fred Hesterman. Vol. V-23
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A. F. Lueck, Val. Henrich, Jr., William F. Neverman, and W. G. Smith. This bank, while not the largest in Lincoln county, is certainly one of the most prosperous. A glance over the bank's statement shows that the resources have increased from $81,931.52 in 1905 to $476,329.80 in 1913.
Mr. R. C. Ballstadt was born near Manson, Iowa, on a farm, August 19, 1873, a son of Charles Ballstadt, a substantial farmer now living retired at Manson. The son grew up on his father's farm, attended country school near his home, and in 1892 was graduated from the Manson high school. After that he took a literary course at Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and finished his education with a busi- ness course in Fort Dodge, Iowa. With the conclusion of his school days he entered the Calhoun County Bank at Manson, determined to learn the banking business from the ground up. He worked in practically every capacity, and was finally made assistant cashier of the Calhoun County Bank, remaining with that institution for some eght or nine years. His next home was in Buffalo Center, Iowa, where for one year he was cashier of the First National Bank. Then in 1904, in connec- tion with the Union Investment Company of Minneapolis, he organized the German-American State Bank of Merrill, and has since been a director and cashier of this institution.
In 1900 Mr. Ballstadt married Miss Mathilda Gutz of Pomeroy, Iowa. They have two children: Ellouise and Gretchen. Mr. Ballstadt and family are members of the St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill, and for several different years he has served as president of the congregation. Although a comparative recent citizen of Merrill. Mr. Ballstadt has enthusiastically entered into the spirit of all com- munity life and undertakings, and is one of Merrill's leading citizens.
HON. JOSEPH A. EMERICH. The ability which is brought to the fore- front in an active business career, in large commercial transactions, and the rapid changes and fluctuations of trade and finance, have proved in practice as valuable in the management of the public affairs of a com- munity as that which comes from the exclusive study of law. The accomplished merchant, banker or financier is more likely to take a plain, common-sense view of the questions which arise and to be unem- barrassed by the quibbles and superfine distinctions of the lawyer, than the man who has been trained in the school of precedent, authorities and legal hairsplitting. To this class of business men belongs the Hon. Joseph A. Emerich, whose signal services to his fellow-citizens as mayor of Merrill are following a long and successful business career. Mr. Emerich was born at Emerich P. O., town of Berlin, Marathon county, Wisconsin, February 1, 1874, and is a son of Anton and Mary (Ludwig) Emerich. His father was born at Richfield, Washington county, Wis- consin, and his mother in Germany, and both still survive and reside on a farm in the town of Hamburg, Marathon county.
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Joseph A. Emerich was reared to the work of the home farm and secured his education in the country schools during the winter terms, subsequently securing a position as clerk in a mercantile establishment at Marathon. Succeeding this, he went to Wausau, where he was employed in a bakery for a short period, and in 1892 came to Merrill and was a grocer's clerk for one and one-half years. During this time he had been thrifty and industrious and carefully saved his earnings, with the result that in 1893 he was able to establish himself in a small grocery business of his own, to which he subsequently added a general line of merchandise. He had advanced steadily in importance in the business world, and is now the directing head of the mercantile firm of Emerich & Staats, and president of the Merrill Woodenware Company, organized in August, 1905, which prior to that time was the English Manufacturing Company. This concern is engaged in the manufacture of woodenware, tubs and pails, and employs on an average 150 men, the trade extending all over the United States. He is a director in the Lincoln County Bank of Merrill, and is interested in a number of other enterprises. A self-made man in its truest and broadest sense, Mr. Emerich has, by his own energy and untiring efforts, risen from the humbler ranks of life to his present affluence and the proud distinction of being one of the most universally respected and esteemed citizens of Lincoln county. A gentleman of polished address, spotless in both pub- lic and private life, his personal character has stood and still stands beyond the reach of any assailment, and it can be further fully said of him that he has never intentionally made an enemy, nor lost a friend except through death. He is serving as vice-president of the Merrill Chamber of Commerce, is an honorary member of the German Veterans Association, and is connected with the Blue Lodge of Masons, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. At all times taking a publie-spirited welfare in his adopted eity. he has engaged more or less actively in public matters, and some fifteen years ago was first elected to the city council as a representative of the Sixth Ward. He continued to serve in that capacity for six years, at different times, and in 1912 became the eandidate of the Non-partisan ticket for the mayoralty. He was elected to that office and took his seat May. . 1912, and has since been giving his fellow-citizens a clean and business- like administration. He served two years on the school board and it was practically through his efforts that the Sixth Ward school was built. at a cost of $28,000. A friend of progress, he has introdneed a number of innovations and municipal reforms, and his handling of the city's affairs has been of such a nature as to win him friends in all political parties.
In 1894 Mayor Emerich was married to Miss Annie Westphal, of Merrill, and they have had six children : Lyndon, Irvin, Stanley. Irene. Milton and Carlos.
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RICHARD B. RUNKE. The Lincoln county bar suffers none by com- parison with other counties of the state, and among its members one whose record of practical success has won him distinction and leader- ship in the local profession is Richard B. Runke, who would be readily named one of the first if not first. Mr. Runke grew up on a farm in northern Wisconsin, gained his Bachelor's degree in the State Univer- sity, and for ten years since admission to the bar has been working industriously and with success. Richard B. Runke is now practicing at Merrill, with offices at 402 West Maine Street. Besides his large law practice he is president of the Lincoln Farm & Timber Company, of which Thomas H. Ryan, formerly his law partner, but now practicing at Wausau, is secretary and treasurer. He is also president of the Lin- coln County Normal School, having succeeded his former partner, Mr. Ryan to the presidency of this training school when Mr. Ryan moved to Wausau. Mr. Runke has been engaged in practice at Merrill since 1903, at which time he formed a partnership with Thomas H. Ryan, and they maintained a prosperous association until 1912.
Mr. Runke was born on a farm in Kewaunee county, Wisconsin, March 13, 1877, a son of Henry and Minnie (Bruemmer) Runke, both of whom still reside on their farm in Kewaunee county. The father was a native of Germany, emigrated to America, and located in Kewaunee county, being then four years of age, his father having died in Ger- many.
Richard B. Runke grew up in Kewaunee county, had the wholesome environment of a farm, and attended country schools. His early am- bition was directed to professional life, and through his own efforts and earnings he entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison, obtaining entrance by examination, never having had the opportunity to prepare through a High School. He was graduated there in the literary depart- ment in 1900 with the degree of Bachelor of Science and later entered the law school in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, but did not graduate in the law, finishing his reading by private study. He was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1903 by examination and in the same year located at Merrill, where his success has been exceptional. Mr. Runke does a general law business, but specializes in real estate law and titles.
In 1906 occurred his marriage to Miss Anna Peacock, of Argyle, Wisconsin. They are the parents of three children: Glenn, Richard, Ruth Jane and Robert. Mr. Runke has served as president of the pub- lic library board of Merrill, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias, at this writing being chancellor commander of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias. He is a member and an elder in the Presbyterian church.
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