USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volumr VI > Part 15
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Mr. Froemming was married in 1866 to Miss Carolina Pflughoeft,
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who died leaving two children: Frank, who married Susan Carrie, and is the father of two children: Helen and Eugene; and Emma, who married August Busse and has two children, Warren and Margaret. Mr. Froemming's second marriage was to Miss Bertha Leischow, and they have had four children : Mary, who married Rev. Charles Bulley, and has two children, Kenneth and Edward; and the Misses Lydia, Esther and Ruth Froemming. Mr. and Mrs. Froemming are consistent members of the German Methodist church. They have a wide acquaint- ance and many friends in Algoma and their pleasant home is located next to the training school, on Fremont street.
HON. MELVIN W. PERRY. In the annals of Wisconsin's history instances are not lacking of men who have risen from humble circum- stances and obscurity to positions of eminence in the world of busi- ness and politics. It is doubtful, however, if there are many cases which parallel the career of the Hon. Melvin W. Perry, mayor of Algoma, state senator, president of the Citizens Bank and manager of the Ahnapee Veneer and Seating Company. There is something intensely attractive in the life of a man who through sheer ability and indomitable energy works his way up from the ranks to the forefront among the successful men of his day and locality, and as an excellent example of self-made American manhood, Mr. Perry's achievements will prove interesting no less to the general public than to the student of biography.
Melvin W. Perry (or "Mel," as he is more familiarly known to his friends) was born February 26, 1864, at Racine, Wisconsin, although the family home was located at Algoma, and is a son of William N. and Sophronia (Beach) Perry. His father, a native of Vermont, grew up in that state, and after securing a public school education took up the study of medicine, which, however, he was forced to abandon after two years on account of ill health. During the early fifties he came to the West, locating in Illinois, where he found employment on the farm of Doctor Newton, who was a large landholder in the Prairie state and also the owner of considerable timber property in Wisconsin. Mr. Perry worked on one of Doctor Newton's farms for a time and was then sent to Clay Banks, Wisconsin, to build a mill for his employer, following which he was employed in helping to build the mill at Algoma for the Hall brothers, this being the first mill at this place. Mr. Perry then engaged in business on his own account as the proprietor of a chair factory, but when the Civil War broke out he closed his place of business and enlisted in Company K, Twenty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. At his first fight, the battle of Perryville, he was wounded and captured by the Confederates, but was later paroled. In that same year (1863) he was married to Miss Sophronia Beach, who was born at London,
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Ontario, Canada. Upon his return to the ranks of peace, Mr. Perry again resumed operations in his chair factory at Algoma, which he continued to conduct until 1871. At that time he disposed of his interests and invested his capital in a drug business, and was identi- fied with this enterprise until his death at Algoma in 1878, when he was forty-five years of age. The mother passed away when thirty- nine years old. William and Sophronia (Beach) Perry were the par- ents of four children: Melvin W., of this review; William H .; Minnie J., who became the wife of M. Kwapil, and Willard N.
The educational advantages of Melvin W. Perry were not of an extensive nature, being limited to attendance at the public schools of Algoma "off and on" until he was fifteen years of age. At that time he took up carpentering and the millwright trade, and in 1886 went to Sheboygan, where he entered the employ of a Mr. Frost, who at that time conducted a veneer factory there. Young Perry had been employed for a short time previous at Sheboygan, but he had been unfortunate enough to become involved in a "sympathy strike" and left his position rather than work against his fellow-laborers. His finances becoming quite low, at the suggestion of a friend he started for the Frost plant to apply for work. On his way, he was compelled to cross a small stream to get to the factory, and on his way over slipped and fell, breaking through the ice. Nothing daunted by this mishap, he continued straight ahead and with dripping clothing entered the offices and asked for employment. Mr. Frost did not need any hands at that time, but, being evidently impressed favorably by the determination of the young man, as demonstrated by his appearing in his wet clothing instead of turning back for a change, put him on the payroll at the salary of $1.25 per day, as a laborer. It was not "down on the books" for Mr. Perry to remain long in that humble capacity, however, for he not only had a good kit of tools but soon demonstrated his knowledge of their use, and by the time his first year had passed he was occupying the position of foreman. He remained in that position for five years, and then, at the solicitation of several Algoma friends, returned to this place and became one of the organ- izers of the Ahnapee Veneer and Seating Company. This business was later incorporated under the laws of the state, with a capital of $25,000, and the following officers: Samuel Perry, president; John Ihlenfeld, vice-president ; M. T. Parker, secretary ; D. W. Steffens, treasurer ; and M. W. Perry, manager. This concern has erected a large, three-story, brick plant along the Green Bay and Western Railroad, at Algoma, and here are employed 140 mechanics, more than any other concern in the thriving city of Algoma. In 1902 a branch was established at Birchwood, which is under the superintendency of P. M. White and employs 60 men. In his management of the affairs of this industry, Mr. Perry has displayed business ability of the highest order. He
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has increased the extent of the business materially each year and the concern stands high in its rating in industrial circles of the state. In addition Mr. Perry is interested in the coal business with Henry Grimm, under the firm style of the Algoma Fuel Company. In October, 1911, he became identified with financial matters as one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank, which now occupies a handsome structure in the heart of the business district, and this institution is known as one of the most substantial and conservative in Kewaunee county. He has a firm grasp upon financial matters, and as the directing head of this bank is widely known in this section. The capital and surplus (over) of the Citizens Bank are $60,000, it is always under the rigid super- vision of the state of Wisconsin, and is the United States depository for the Postal Savings Fund. The officers are : M. W. Perry, president ; Frank Slaby, vice-president; C. F. Boedecker, cashier, and M. W. Perry, Frank Slaby, John L. Haney, Henry Grimm, Walter E. Knospe, C. Capelle and Ernest Bruemmer, directors. In addition to his com- fortable home in Algoma, Mr. Perry is the owner of a small farm adja- cent to the city.
In the field of politics Mr. Perry has been active and influential. A supporter of Republican principles, he was a delegate to the state con- ventions of 1898, 1902 and 1904, and was alternate to the national convention, held in Chicago in 1904. In 1910 he became a candidate for the mayoralty of Algoma and has continued to serve in that capac- ity since. In 1910 Mr. Perry was elected state senator, receiving 3,258 votes against 2,865 for Leo J. Evans, Democrat; 2,298 for Dr. A. J. Kreitzer, Independent Republican, and 660 for Dr. N. Z. Wagner, Social- ist Democrat. His public service has ever been characterized by faith- ful performance of duty and high ideals of the responsibilities of pub- lic office. In spite of his political activities, Mr. Perry is more of a business and home man than a politician. His fraternal connections are limited to membership in the Masonic fraternity.
In 1891 Mr. Perry was married to Miss Mary J. Esser, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and they have two children: William E., now in the office of the Ahnapee Veneer and Seating Company ; and Ralph H., a sopho- more at the University of Wisconsin.
ALBERT B. LEYSE. A decided factor in the commercial and indus- trial life of Kewaunee is found in the business of the Aluminum Sign Company, which has been developed through the efforts of several men of energetic spirit and modern ideas. The president of this concern, Albert B. Leyse, has not alone been active in business lines, but has rendered his community able and public-spirited service in the office of postmaster, in which capacity he has acted since March 22, 1911. Mr. Leyse was born at Mason City, Iowa, September 7, 1872, and is a son of John and Mary Leyse, natives of Norway. The parents were
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married at Lansing, Iowa, subsequently went to Mason City, where the father followed his trade of carpenter, and in 1885 came to Wisconsin and located at La Crosse. Later, the family moved to Two Rivers, and there the father passed his remaining active years. Mr. and Mrs. Leyse were the parents of six children: Albert B., Norman, John, Henry, Angie, who married Charles Hansen, and Josephine, who became the wife of Hans Christensen.
Albert B. Leyse, or " Al" as he is familiarly known among his asso- ciates, was a boy of about thirteen years of age when the family came to the Badger state. He was educated in the public schools of Lansing, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, but the greater part of his training has been secured since he left the schoolroom. When still a lad he was employed at a hotel, making the trains and picking up such honorable employment as presented itself, and in addition worked for a time in a shingle mill and was also a "lumber jack" for a short period in the woods. In 1889 he moved with the family to Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where for the next ten years he worked in various factories, and also was made city clerk and served in that capacity for four years from 1896 to 1900. About the year 1903, he entered into a partnership with Doctor E. J. Soik, and engaged in a very modest manner in the manu- facture of aluminum advertising specialties at Two Rivers. Two years later the business was removed to Kewaunee, and at that time Charles Metzner bought the interest of Doctor Soik, he holding it until 1910, when he sold out to the Leyse brothers. In the meantime, in 1905, the business had been incorporated as the Aluminum Sign Company, and in 1910 the capital was increased to its present size, $15,000, while the officers became: A. B. Leyse, president; John Leyse, vice-president ; Norman Leyse, secretary and treasurer; and these gentlemen and Henry Leyse, directors. Thirty mechanics are employed and five salesmen are constantly on the road. The product of this company consists of aluminum signs and alummum novelties, such as calendars, book- holders, nail files, kitchen reminders, combs, trade checks, watch fobs, letter openers, card cases, collapsible drinking cups, thermometers, etc., in fact, anything in the line of aluminum goods. In the management of this business Mr. Leyse has shown himself capable, farseeing and acute. He and his brothers have kept abreast of the times, and in conducting their affairs work under the "Do It Now" idea. Their signs and novelties are to be found all over the country, and in no small way have contributed towards attracting attention to the beanti- ful little county seat of Kewaunee county.
In January, 1893, Mr. Leyse was married to Miss Delia Bebeau, a native of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Mose Bebeau, who was for many years identified with the lumber industry in Wisconsin, having been a camp "cookie" back in 1855. Five children have been
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born to Mr. and Mrs. Leyse, namely: Viola, Gertrude, Riley, Alice and Dorothy.
LEWIS M. EVERT. One of the progressive and able young attorneys of Marinette is Lewis M. Evert, who established himself in practice here in 1905, about a year after his graduation from the law department of the University of Wisconsin, in June, 1904. His first practice was con- ducted at Wausaukee, but after about a year he removed to Marinette, and his continued success here has amply rewarded his choice of a location.
Born in Pewaukee, in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, on February 12, 1876, Lewis M. Evert is the son of Angust and Elizabeth (Wieder- man) Evert. The father was a farmer, now deceased, who came to Wisconsin in 1869 from his native land, Germany being his birthplace as well as that of the mother. They came to America at about the same time, but were married in their new homeland, and settled on a farm in Wausaukee county. There Lewis M. Evert was born and reared, attending the district schools, and when he had advanced sufficiently he applied himself to teaching in the winter terms in the rural district. Six winters he passed thus occupied, at the same time being engaged in carrying on his studies in preparation for the prosecution of a law course in the State University, his plans to that effect having been early matured. He took a scientific course at Carroll College, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in preparation for entrance to the University, and in 1901 he entered the law department, from which he was graduated in June, 1904.
Mr. Evert has been more than ordinarily successful in his legal prac- tice since coming to Marinette, and served as police judge of Marinette from May, 1909, to May, 1913, rendering a service in that capacity that was worthy of a higher court and showing him to be an able and coming man in his profession.
On October 18, 1909, Mr. Evert was married to Miss Clara Kuenzli, of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and they have one child,-Thomas R. Evert.
Mr. Evert is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Eagles. He is already well established in his profession in the city and county, and gives promise of a useful career in the law, as well as of proving himself a citizen of high order in the community where his best efforts are exercised.
LEO J. EVANS. A resident of Marinette since 1882, Mr. Evans has a place in business, civic and social affairs in the prosperous city of northern Wisconsin. His principal attention is given to real estate, mortgages, loans, abstracts, and other departments of general real estate and land business, but his interests also comprehend many other affairs. Mr. Evans is treasurer of the Marinette Development Club,
Harry W .! Solens
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and is a director in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Marinette.
Born in Wolverhampton, England, December 8, 1858, Mr. Evans was reared and began his business career in his native land, coming to Marinette when he was twenty-four years of age. In 1880 he was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Read. He early acquired a thorough training in mercantile affairs, and finally established a store at Birmingham, Eng- land, but sold out in the fall of 1882, and came to America. His first settlement was at Marinette, where he opened a general store and ran it prosperously until 1893. Closing out his mercantile interests, he then entered his present line of endeavor, in which his success was immediate and has been steadily growing.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents of two children : Emily R. is the wife of John A. Faller of Marinette. Mr. and Mrs. Faller have two chil- dren, John Evans Faller, and Elizabeth Pauline Faller. George B. Evans, the son and second child, is now a student in the University of Wisconsin law department. Outside of business Mr. Evans has long been prominent in politics, and in religious circles. As a Democrat he is one of the local leaders, though his residence in a district overwhelm- ingly Republican has precluded any participation in the essential hon- ors and rewards of political life. Twice, in the party interest, but with- out any expectation of success, he has allowed his name to go on the Democratic ticket as candidate for state senate. A member of the Cath- olic church, Mr. Evans has been prominent in that organization in Mar- inette, and has filled all the chairs in the local lodge of the Knights of Columbus. As a popular speaker and after-dinner orator he is regarded as one of the ablest in this section of the state, and is fre- quently designated a speaker at popular gatherings or as toastmaster in special meetings.
HARRY W. BOLENS. At this juncture it is a privilege to direct atten- tion to a Wisconsin man who has "done things." There are found in Harry W. Bolens no spirit of apathy, no toleration of injustice. He is strong in powers of initiative, he is broad in his vision, he places true valuation on men and affairs, he is essentially and emphatically the friend of the people, without fear or favor, and through personal abil- ity and well ordered endeavor he has achieved much, the worst that can be said of him being to the effect that he has been and remains identified with the newspaper fraternity, an organization not free from suspicious indulgence in ways that are vain and rites that abound in unholy mystery. His status has been most effectively designated in the following estimate: "A graduate of the college of hard knocks; mayor of Port Washington, third term; president of the Gilson Gaso- line Engine Works, which is competing with the greatest implement trust in the world; publisher of the Port Washington Star; cham- pion of personal liberty, free speech and a free press; plaintiff in the Vol. VI-9
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income tax suit, and opposed to a state, county or school-district in- come tax law; has favored a national income tax for the past twenty years." This vigorous atom in the domain of newspaperdom has not been obscure. The plans and specifications on which he was built do not permit this. He manages to "sit up and notice," and soon some- thing begins to move, and he is the propelling force. He is a Democrat and doesn't care who knows it. In fact, he has been known to say that he is one. He tried his best to become lieutenant governor of Wisconsin in the election of 1910, and it would not have damaged the state had the preferrment been granted to him. He repeated the at- tempt in 1912, but Wisconsin failed to live up to the glorious possi- bilities offered and fell behind in the triumphant march of the Demo- cratic party to such an extent that Mr. Bolens was again placed in the official discard, "which same he hadn't orter." Let's talk a little more about the man of newspapers, gas engines and politics.
Harry Wilbur Bolens, the aggressive and progressive,-the latter not in a technical political sense,-claims the Hawkeye State as the place of his nativity and is a scion of staunch Swiss stock. He was born at Washington, Iowa, judicial center of the county of the same name, on the thirteenth of January, 1864, and is a son of Eugene and Sarah (Madden) Bolens, the former of whom was born in Ohio. Eugene Bolens may be consistently designated as one of the pioneers of this state. He was a man of fine mental ken and was long and actively identified with newspaper publishing and editing, the while his well fortified opinions made him an influential factor in political and general civic affairs. The intellectual flame which burned in and illumined his physical being was denied its proper complement of physical strength and well being, as he was a semi-invalid during much of his active career. He was a victor over circumstances and conditions, however, for, in spite of his physical afflictions, he worked, and worked well, accounting well to himself and to the world. In the early sixties he numbered himself among the pioneers of Iowa, where he founded a newspaper in the town of Washington, but he soon came to Wisconsin and established his home at Janesville, where he was identified with newspaper work until 1866, when he removed to Juneau, in the same county. He continued his residence at Juneau until 1875, when he removed to Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, where he held the office of state printer in that and the succeeding year. It is most interesting to note that Mrs. Sarah (Madden) Bolens had been long and effectively concerned with journalistic and practical newspaper work, and that she was the active manager of the Port Washington Star, published by her son. This talented and noble woman, who died November 25, 1912, had the distinction of being the oldest active newspaper manager of her sex in the entire world, so far as data indicate. It may be stated that the Port Washington Star, a
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weekly publication, has one of the best equipped offices to be found in the entire country in a city of the same approximate population.
Harry W. Bolens is in the most significant sense a self-made man, and it is established beyond peradventure that he has done a pretty good architectural job along this line. In his youth he felt the lash of necessity, and this goad tends to make strong men. He struggled with adversity, emerged victorious ; he gained valuable discipline un- der that wisest of all head-masters, experience, and he trudged bravely and imperturbed toward the goal of definite success. It is trusted that he approved of the term solifidian, but that has not designated the man himself, for his faith has been that of works. He has been a doer instead of an organized day-dreamer. He has subordinated theory to definite practice, without exploiting his own wisdom and without in- tolerance of view, though implacable in his fight for what he believes to be right and just. It takes a dyed-in-the-wool newspaper man to "get back" effectively at one of his own ilk, and George C. Nuesse, city editor of the Milwaukee Journal, recently published a malevolent estimate of the character and service of Mr. Bolens. The following quotations, slightly paraphrased, indicate what he thinks about the man to whom this sketch is dedicated :
"In the year 1883 there was a young man at Port Washington who had succeeded in accumulating twenty dollars. He had been employed on the Port Washington Star, and had obtained the rudiments of a . newspaper education. With his money in his wallet, and a good night's sleep behind him, he walked to Sheboygan, taking some type with him. There he started the Sheboygan Journal, issued every day except Mon- day, it being the custom at that time to skip the proverbial blue Mon- day except in the larger cities of the state. The average charge for a daily at that time was fifty cents a month, but the Journal was made for fifteen cents a week, a new wrinkle that made possible weekly in- stead of monthly collections, and made it unnecessary for the 'boss' to sleep on the floor and eat sandwiches for thirty days consecutively. In this instance the first week's collections amounted to one hundred dollars.
"Now this is not the sketch of an individual but is a simple story of a newspaper man's experiences. A newspaper man is, after all, a modest individual, and it is not often that he will tell of his own troubles in his own paper. A newspaper office is full of charm,-if not of money. But to come back to Sheboygan. It was the custom there to give out the city printing at so much per folio in an official paper. There being two dailies, each managed to get this plum every second year. Now in the case of the Journal it was exceedingly hard sledding in the off year, so much so that the newsboys, coming in one day, found the proprietor in a most depressed state of mind. So impressed were they that they actually made him the astonishing proposition to carry the
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paper a whole year for nothing, in the expectation that he would be able to pay them the year following. Circumstances did not require the acceptance of this munificent tender, but it wasn't long afterward when a judgment of seventeen dollars was obtained against the owner of the Journal, with the disastrous result that the sheriff arrived one night to levy on the place and all its contents. 'Hold on, here !' cried the mili- tant typesticker, 'we can't let this place lie this way without a cus- todian. You name me custodian and I'll take care of it for you.' The sheriff consented. The next morning that historic event in Sheboygan county, still talked about there and among the newspaper fraternity of the state, occurred. The Journal appeared with this caption on the edi- torial page : 'The Sheboygan Daily Journal, published by under the auspices of the sheriff.' There was method in this madness. The statement proved a most powerful appeal. Subscribers who hadn't paid up for months came along, each anxious to help the poor publisher out. And they did. The paper hasn't missed an issue since."
The narrative continues its description of the vicissitudes that vis- ited the Journal under subsequent control and the struggles which at- tended its uneven course. The concluding paragraph has the following statements :
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