USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume VII > Part 14
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Theo. D. Vetter
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN
president; Edward F. Goes, vice-president; William O. Vilter, secre- tary and treasurer; Frederick Ulrich, general sales manager; and Emil Vilter, superintendent.
Theodore O. Vilter was born in the province of Oldenburg, Ger- many, on the 25th of October, 1857, and is a son of Christian and Elise (Meiners) Oltmanns, the former of whom died when the subject of this review was an infant, his vocation having been that of farming. The widowed mother subsequently became the wife of Ernst Vilter, at Milwaukee. In 1871 the family immigrated from Germany to the United States and established a permanent home in Milwaukee, where Ernst Vilter became an interested principal in a company engaged in the manufacturing of machinery. Here he passed the residue of his life, an industrious, liberal and substantial business man, and here his death occurred in the year 1888. His widow died February 9, 1912. In 1900 and again in 1908, in company with her own son Wil- liam O., she made an extended trip through Germany, where she visited her old home and renewed the pleasing memories of her youth- ful years. By her first marriage she became the parent of four sons and one daughter,-Anton, deceased; William O., Theodore O., Gus- tave and Helen, the last two mentioned having died in Germany, when children. The only child of the second marriage is Emil Vilter, who is superintendent of the Vilter Manufacturing Company, as pre- vionsly noted. With this company William. O. and Theodore O. Vilter are also identified as executives.
Theodore O. Vilter gained his early educational training in the excellent schools of his native land and he was 14 years of age at the time of the family immigration to America. He fortified him- self in knowledge of the English language and also in higher academic studies by an effective course in the German-English Academy in Mil- wankee, this having long been one of the admirable educational insti- tutions of the Wisconsin metropolis. After leaving the academy Mr. Vilter entered upon an apprenticeship in the machine shops from which was eventually evolved the great industrial plant of the Vilter Manu- facturing Company, the original establishment, which was naturally one of modest order, having been owned by Peter Weisel and having been founded in 1867. In the little shops in which Mr. Vilter gained his thorough knowledge of the machinist's trade employment was given at that time to four journeymen and three apprentices, and the splendid growth of the enterprise within the long intervening years is indicated by the fact that at the present time the Vilter Mann- facturing Company retains in its employ a force of 750 men.
In 1882 Theodore O. Vilter purchased his first share of the stock of the company, in whose shops he had been advanced to the position of foreman, as a result of faithful and effective service. The factory was destroyed in the disastrous fire which swept the Third ward of
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the city in 1892, but the plant was forthwith rebuilt upon a larger scale and with manifold improvement of facilities, the present eligible site, at the juncture of Clinton street with the line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad having been obtained for the erection of the new plant. The continued expansion of the business has since neces- sitated various additions and improvements and the plant now covers an area of fully nine acres, with substantial and modern buildings which range in height from two to several stories. The company was incorporated under the laws of the state in 1886, and thereafter Theo- dore Vilter showed his confidence and good judgment by gradually acquiring more stock in the corporation, and he and his brother Wil- liam O., now own the controlling interest in the great industry which has been largely developed under their personal supervision. The company was originally organized for the manufacture of machinery for brewers and bottlers, and later was added the department devoted to the manufacturing of improved Corliss engines. At the present time the extensive plant is devoted primarily to the manufacturing of ice-making and refrigerating machinery, and in these special lines it has an international reputation. The products of the company find demand in all sections of the world. Theodore O. Vilter has been indefatigable, ambitious and resourceful in his career as a business man of large affairs and has subordinated all extraneous interests to the demands of the substantial industrial enterprise of which he is now the executive head and his effective association with which has given him secure status as one of the representative business men of the city and state that have long been his home and in which he has found ample opportunity for productive effort.
Mr. Vilter has had neither time nor inclination to enter the arena of practical political activities but is loyal and public-spirited in his civic attitude. In his religious views, he holds the Golden Rule as a worthy guide in thought and action, and is not formally identified with any religious organization. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and is a valued member of the Milwaukee Turnverein and the Deutscher Club. He finds special satisfaction in being a member of the board of trustees of the German-English Academy, which figures as his own alma mater, and has been zealous and liberal in keeping the institution at the high standard which has made it a definite force in the local field of education.
On the 16th of February, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Vilter to Miss Bertha Meiners, who was born and reared in Milwau- kee and who is a daughter of the late John Meiners, a substantial and honored business man of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Vilter have three daughters,-Erna, Alma and Ida. Alma is now Mrs. L. O. Trubshaw of Milwaukee, Mr. Trubshaw being connected with the Vilter Manu- facturing Company.
1865
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN
HON. H. F. MORSON. Beginning practice in Antigo in 1899, H. F. Morson has in the passing years come to be recognized as one of the lead- ing attorneys in Langlade county, and one whose opinion is no less than the best on any legal question that may arise. Although he came to Antigo as a resident as early as 1892, it was not until the date first mentioned that he identified himself with the profession for which he was fitted, his time being devoted, in those years, to educational work, in which he was especially successful, and in which, had he cared to con- tinue, it is altogether probable that he was to have gained a high place. As it was, he concluded his work in that field with a four year period of service as county superintendent of schools, in which position he gave a service that demonstrated his real capacity as an educator, and revealed a splendid ability in that work.
H. F. Morson was born on a farm in Oxford county, Canada, on October 26, 1868, and is a son of Edward and Emily (Thompson) Mor- son. He was therefore, eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, where they settled in Waukesha county, in the farming districts of that county, and there both parents passed the remainder of their lives, devoting themselves largely to farming activ- ities, and living simple, quiet and wholesome lives. In the plain and sturdy environment of his rural home, Mr. Morson was reared from boyhood, attending the country schools, and he was only eighteen years of age when he began teaching in the same schools wherein he had gained his early educational training. For a time he carried on this work, then for four years devoted himself to the pursuit of a higher education. Two years of this time were spent at Ripon College and a similar per- iod at Appleton, Wisconsin. It was then that he came to Langlade county, and he took up teaching in the Antigo schools. After that service, he was elected to the office of county superintendent of schools, his showing as an educator having been sufficient in the eyes of the publie to make him a desirable candidate for the office, and he ren- dered to the county a high order of service in his capacity as county superintendent. It was during that time that Mr. Morson was diligently applying himself to the study of law, -- a task that was no light one, for his duties were many and exacting, and the time he could spare from his regular work was not as much as he could have wished. However, he prosecuted his studies to such good purpose that in 1899 he was admitted to the bar, whereupon he opened an office in the town where he had done such worthy work and where he was well esteemed of all. His success has been of a continuous and gratifying growth, in every way commensurate with the energies and abilities he has brought to bear upon his work, and there are few men in the legal profession in the county today who have a better standing with the public and with the legal fraternity than has Mr. Morson.
In the way of public service in his professional capacity, it should
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be mentioned that Mr. Morson was elected to the office of district attorney for Langlade county. He was elected on the Republican ticket, whose party adherent he has always been, and he rendered several years of efficient and praiseworthy service in that office, resigning from the berth in 1912. That Mr. Morson has won a success in law is not to be wondered at, for he comes of a family that has produced many capable and successful attorneys. They are of English stock, and the grand- father of Mr. Morson was a well known lawyer in London all of his active life, while his great-grandfather was one of the noted London barristers of his day.
In 1893 Mr. Morson was married to Miss Nellie L. Kellog, who was born and reared in Calumet county, Wisconsin, and they have two sons, -Douglas and Terrill. The family is one that is prominent and popu- lar in Antigo, claiming a host of sterling friends, and taking a place in the leading social activities of the city. Mr. Morson owns a fine farm of 160 acres in Langlade county, in addition to certain other realty in and about Antigo, and he is widely known for one of the most substan- tial and able men and citizens of the city and county.
HUGH C. RUSSELL, M. D. In according consideration in this publica- tion to those who stand as able and successful representatives of the med- ical profession in the city of Milwaukee there is all of consistency in giving special recognition to Dr. Russell, whose high standing as a physi- cian and surgeon and as a progressive citizen gives evidence of his pro- fessional ability and of his estimable character.
Dr. Russell claims the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the place of his nativity and was there born on the 18th of December, 1873. He is a son of Edward L. and Helen (Hamilton) Russell, the former of whom was born at Payne, Paulding county, Ohio, and the latter at Batavia, Genesee county, New York. Edward L. Russell achieved prominence and definite success as a contractor and with this line of enterprise he continued to be actively identified for many years. After residing for a few years at Grand Rapids, Michigan, the second city of the Wolver- ine state, he removed with his family to Sturgeon Bay, Door county, Wisconsin, in 1880, where he continued his successful operations as a contractor and where he is now living virtually retired from active business, after long years of earnest and productive effort. There his cherished and devoted wife was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1892, and of the six children it is gratifying to state that all are living: Judd E., a representative of the Remington typewriter, is in the offices of this concern at Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Dr. Hugh C., of this review, was the second in order of birth; Blanch E. is the wife of George Tucker, of Tomah, this state; Ray R., who is state supervisor in Wisconsin for the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, maintains his residence and official headquarters in Milwaukee; Clifton R. conducts a well equipped
1867
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retail drug store at Racine, Wisconsin, and is one of the representative business men of that city; and Dorothy is the wife of Charles Ames, of New York City. The three eldest of the children were born at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the remaining three claim Sturgeon Bay, Wis- consin, as their birthplace, all of the children having received their early educational training in the latter city. Edward L. Russell, the honored father, was a gallant and loyal soldier of the Union in the Civil war, in which he served four years and participated in many important engage- ments marking the progress of the great internecine struggle. He enlisted as a private in an Ohio regiment of infantry and his military record will reflect enduring honor upon his name. He retains a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and manifests the same by his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. Russell was a lad of six years at the time of the family removal from Michigan to Wisconsin, and he duly availed himself of the advan- tages of the public schools of Sturgeon Bay, where he was graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1891. Thereafter he com- pleted a two year's course in the department of pharmacy of the Milwaukee Medical College, but in the meanwhile he had gained much practical experience in connection with the drug business. After his graduation in the high school he went to Hebron, Illinois, where he was employed in a drug establishment until 1900, when he entered the depart- ment of pharmacy in the Milwaukee Medical College. His work and experience prompted in him an ambition to enter the medical profes- sion, his previous training having been such as to be of great benefit in this connection. In consonance with his well formulated plans and desires Dr. Russell was matriculated in the medical department of Mar- quette University, in Milwaukee, and in this excellent institution he was graduated in 1907, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, thus supple- menting the degree of Graduate in Pharmacy, which he had received from the Milwaukee Medical College in 1903.
Soon after his graduation Dr. Russell entered upon the practice of his profession in Milwaukee, with office at his residence, 3428 Clybourn street, where he still maintains his home. In 1909 he opened a well appointed office in the Tarrant block, at the corner of Twenty-ninth and Clybourn streets, where he has since maintained his headquarters. He has built up a large and successful practice of representative order and confines himself to general medical work, his attention to the surgical department of his profession being only such as is demanded through special emergency. He has occupied the chair of pharmacy in Mar- quette University since 1903, and since 1909 has held also the chair of pharmacology in the medical department of that institution. He has been a close and appreciative student of the best standard and periodical literature of his profession and is especially advanced authority in the
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field of pharmacy. The doctor holds membership in the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the Milwaukee County Medical Society.
In politics Dr. Russell accords a staunch allegiance to the Republi- can party, but he has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity Dr. Russell is affiliated with the following named bodies: Lafayette Lodge, No. 265, Free and Accepted Masons; Calumet Chapter, No. 73, Royal Arch Masons; Wisconsin Council, No. 4, Royal and Select Masters; Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 24, Knights Templar; Wisconsin Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and Tripoli Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. At Hebron, Illinois, he is identified with Lodge No. 767 of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and in his home city he holds membership in the Calumet Club, the City Club and the Milwaukee Automobile Club.
The 25th of June, 1893, witnessed the solemnization of the marriage of Dr. Russell to Miss Rachel C. Dionne, daughter of Charles C. and Phoebe (Lee) Dionne, of Manistee, Michigan, in which city she was born and reared. Dr. and Mrs. Russell have a wide circle of friends in Mil- waukee and are active and popular in social affairs in the community, Mrs. Russell holding membership in the Tuesday Musical Club, the McDowell Club and the Fortnightly Club.
H. B. MUTTART, president of the Antigo Furniture & Undertaking Company, of Antigo, Langlade county, Wisconsin, has been president of this representative and altogether prosperous concern since it was organized in July, 1912. Prior to that consolidation, he was, since 1904, successfully engaged in the undertaking business in this city, with a picture and picture framing department as a side line. He is one of the prosperous and prominent men of the community, and takes a lead- ing place in the business activities of the city.
Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on August 29, 1882, H. B. Muttart is a son of William and Helen (McCarthy) Muttart. The father was born in Canada and the mother was a native of Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, where the McCarthy family was among the early pioneers of the district. As a well driller William Muttart was long occupied in the state, and he died in March, 1911, while the mother still survives.
Mr. Muttart was reared in Oshkosh, for the most part, and there he attended the public schools. When he had quitted that part of his training he was for four years occupied as a printer, and after he had learned the trade he went to Milwaukee-there entering upon the study of embalming under Professor Williams, in his College of Embalming. Returning to Oshkosh, he took and successfully passed his state exam- inations, and in 1904 he located in Antigo in the undertaking and embalming business. He continued there alone until in 1912, when three well known Antigo business houses consolidated, forming what
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became the Antigo Furniture & Undertaking Company, Mr. Muttart becoming president of the new concern. The three firms mentioned in that connection were: A. D. Stewart, Furniture & Undertaking; Ru- dolph Kratchie, in the same line, and Mr. Muttart.
The Antigo Furniture & Undertaking Company is incorporated with a capital stock of $20,000, and since its organization has made an excel- lent showing in the business. They have three magnificent funeral cars, -two black and one grey, and carry a complete stock of all materials essential to the business.
Mr. Muttart was married in 1908 to Miss Mary Hoffman, the daugh- ter of Joseph Hoffman, proprietor of the Hoffman House, in Antigo. Two children have been born to them-Helen and Mary.
Mr. Muttart is a member of the Roman Catholic church, as is his wife, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, in which he has served as vice president of the local lodge. He is popular and prominent in his home city, with a host . of friends throughout the county.
T. W. HOGAN may properly be designated as one of the best known and most successful men in his profession in Langlade county, where he has practiced since 1888, with headquarters in Antigo. In that year he was graduated from the law department of the University of Wis- consin, and he came thence direct to Antigo, which has since represented the scene of his professional activities. Mr. Hogan was born in Mani- towoc county, Wisconsin, on a farm, in 1863, of Irish parentage.
A farm training was that given to Mr. Hogan, and he attended school with exceptional regularity and diligence for a country youth, after he quitted school being engaged for five years in school teaching. He read law for one year in the office of Judge Michael Kirwan, who later became his father-in-law, and with that little fillip to his ambitions, he entered the law department of the University, where he was duly graduated, taking a two years' course in one, and almost immediately established himself in practice in Antigo.
Mr. Hogan has been much in the public eye as an official of one variety or another, and was district attorney for Langlade county from 1892 to 1900. He was mayor of Antigo from 1904 to 1906, inclusive, and in his capacity as chief executive of the city performed worthy serv- ice. He was twelve years a member of the school board, being presi- dent of that body for several years. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1912, and assisted in the nomination of President Wilson. On the death of Judge Ogden in July, 1913, Governor McGovern appointed him judge of the municipal court of his county-a court having jurisdiction concurrent with that of the circuit court.
In addition to his legal activities, Mr. Hogan is president of the
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Antigo Telephone Company, and he is a director of the Antigo Electric Company.
As has been intimated previously, Mr. Hogan married Katherine, a daughter of Judge Michael Kirwan, circuit judge of the Fourth Judi- cial Circuit. Mr. Hogan is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church; is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
JOHN W. WEGNER. No slight distinction is implied when it is stated that Mr. Wegner has gained secure prestige as one of the representa- tive members of the bar of his native city and state, and he is engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Milwaukee, where he has a large and important clientage, besides which his professional work has been extended into Chicago, the great western metropolis, where he is legal representative of three flourishing corporations that were organized by him. He has been concerned with much important litigation in the state and federal courts in Wisconsin and has also . presented a number of important causes in the supreme court of the United States. He is known as a most resourceful and versatile trial lawyer and his high reputation in his profession rests upon the firm basis of proved ability and definite and worthy achievement.
Mr. Wegner was born in the city of Milwaukee, on the 18th of August, 1862, and is a scion of that staunch German stock that has been a potent factor in connection with the civic and industrial devel- opment and upbuilding of the Badger state. He is a son of Frederick and Caroline (Tesch) Wegner, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, whence they came to America in 1852. They were num- bered among the sterling pioneers of Wisconsin, where the father was long and prominently identified with the great basic industry of agriculture, in connection with which he gained independence and generous prosperity. He and his wife maintain their home in Mil- waukee, where he has lived virtually retired for a number of years and where he commands the unqualified confidence and esteem of all who know him. He is a staunch Democrat in his political proclivities.
To the public schools of his native city John W. Wegner is indebted for his preliminary educational discipline, which was supplemented by an effective course in the Wisconsin State Normal School at Osh- kosh. In preparation for his chosen profession he entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, in which great institu- tion he was graduated as a member of the class of 1883 and from which he received his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forthwith admitted to the bar and in the following year he initiated his active professional career as a practitioner in the city of Mil- waukee. Energetic, self-reliant and ambitious, the young disciple of Blackstone soon made his powers definitely known, with the result
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that his professional novitiate was not attended by the depressing influences and deferred hopes which usually confront the tyro in this exacting vocation. During the preliminary stages of his professional work Mr. Wegner conducted an individual practice, and finally he formed a partnership with Jefferson C. Mckinney and John F. LaBoule, under the firm name of Wegner & LaBoule. Later Mr. Wegner became the head of the strong and representative law firm of Wegner, Blatchley & Gilbertson, with offices in the Railway Exchange Build- ing. Of this firm Mr. Wegner continued to be a member until 1911, since which year he has been engaged in independent practice, with well appointed offices at 408 Caswell building.
For nearly thirty years Mr. Wegner has given close and earnest attention to his profession, which he has deemed fully worthy of his unwavering allegiance and in which he has long held precedence as one of the representative members of the bar of the Wisconsin metrop- olis. His work has brought him prominently to the front in con- nection with most important and ably contested litigations, and he has presented many briefs before the supreme court of the state. He was an influential figure in the litigation concerning the consolidation of the street-railway lines of Milwaukee and he is attorney and coun- sel for large corporate interests. A very appreciable portion of his law business is now centered in the city of Chicago, where, as pre- viously stated, he is attorney and counsel for three rapidly growing corporations in the organization of which he was concerned.
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