USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volumr VI > Part 8
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and consistency is conserved when a tribute to his memory is incor- porated in this publication.
Henry L. Levy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 5th day of May, 1864, and thus was in the very prime of strong and noble man- hood when he was summoned from the stage of life's mortal endeavors. His venerable father, Mr. Louis Levy, still resides at Eau Claire. In 1870 Louis Levy removed with his family from Milwaukee to Ean Claire, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He always has been numbered among the leading business men of Eau Claire and contributed in generous measure to the civic and material development of the fair little city in which he still maintains his home and is held in unqualified esteem.
Henry L. Levy was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Eau Claire, where he early gained practical experience in connection with his father's business operations. He eventually entered into partnership with his honored father, and they built up a large and pros- perous enterprise, the same having been principally in the handling of men's clothing and furnishing goods and the father and son having gained recognition as among the foremost merchants of the Chippewa valley, where the name of Levy has ever stood exponent of fair and honorable dealings and absolute reliability. As a young man Henry I .. Levy returned to Milwaukee, where he was identified with business activities until the time of his marriage. Shortly after this important event in his career he returned to Eau Claire, where he engaged in business with his father, their well equipped establishment being known as the People's Clothing Store. With the passing years the subject of this memoir expanded his field of endeavor and he became one of the leading men of affairs in his section of the state, with large and im- portant capitalistic interests of varied order. He was a member of the directorate of the Eau Claire National Bank at the time of his death, as was he also of the Eau Claire Savings Bank, and he was a stockholder of the Eau Claire Grocery Company, engaged in the wholesale trade. Toward the end of his remarkable career he acquired extensive interests in timber lands in northern Wisconsin and in the western states, and it has been consistently said that he displayed business ability far be- yond the average, his estate at the time of his demise having been esti- mated at several hundred thousands of dollars, besides which he mani- fested his implicit appreciation of the consistency and value of life- insurance indemnity. Concerning this noble and honored citizen the following well justified statements have been made, and the same are worthy of perpetuation in this connection : "Mr. Levy was in an eminent degree a man of public spirit, and for many years prior to his death he had given his effective co-operation in connection with enterprises and measures projected for the general good of his home city. He was the soul of generosity and kindliness and his benefactions were in-
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variably made with discrimination and judgment. He extended a helping hand and made the same evident not less in counsel than in timely financial assistance. Aside from his aid to numerous charities of organized order his personal benevolences were large and were known only to himself and the recipients. He materially assisted a number of deserving boys in procuring local and university educations, and he was a valued counselor in connection with business affairs, as his many friends had unwavering faith in him and in his judgment."
Mr. Levy always manifested a loyal interest in public affairs, both general and local. He represented a positive and benignant force in civic and business activities of Eau Claire, and in all the relations of life he accounted well to himself and the world, so that his memory shall long be cherished in the city where he lived for many years and his circle of friends was practically unlimited. He was an influential and valued member of the Eau Claire Commercial Club, and in his home city was affiliated with the lodges of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Order of B'Nai B'Rith. His sudden death was deeply deplored in the community which he did much to advance in social and material prosperity, and his funeral serv- ices were held in the city of Milwaukee, where interment was made in the family lot in beautiful Spring Hill cemetery.
As a young man Mr. Levy was united in marriage, in Milwaukee, to Miss Bertha Docter, and she survives him, still retaining her home in Eau Claire. Of the three children the eldest is Pearl Evelyn, who is now the wife of Albert M. Newald, of Milwaukee, concerning whom specific mention is made on other pages of this work; Malvin and Irene remain with their widowed mother at the beautiful family homestead in Eau Claire.
CHARLES E. KREMER. A native son of Wisconsin and a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of this commonwealth, Mr. Kremer is well entitled to recognition in this publication, though he is not a resi- dent of the state but is found numbered among the representative mem- bers of the bar of Chicago, the great metropolis of the west.
Charles Eduard Kremer was born in the city of Oshkosh, Winne- bago county, Wisconsin, on the 23d of December, 1850, at which time the attractive metropolis and judicial center of the county, his native city, was a mere village and the center of prosperous lumbering opera- tions. He is a son of Michael J. and Agatha (Leins) Kremer, the former of whom was born on the Hof Fensterseifen, near the city of Maien. West Prussia, in 1823, and the latter of whom was born in the village of Eutingen, in the famous Black Forest district of the kingdom of Wur- temberg, Germany, in 1827. The father, who is still living, celebrated his ninetieth birthday anniversary in the present year, 1913, his cher- ished and devoted wife having passed to the life eternal in 1900. Their
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marriage was solemnized in Milwaukee and of their three children the older of the two living is he whose name initiates this review; Julia E. is the wife of Charles W. Karst and they reside at Lakeland, Florida.
Michael J Kremer was reared to adult age in his native land, where he received the advantages of the common schools and where also he learned the trade of millwright. In 1848, when about twenty-four years of age, he severed the ties that bound him to home and fatherland and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. Wisconsin was at that time receiving a large and worthy influx of pioneers from Germany, and Mr. Kremer has ever considered himself fortunate that he made this state his destination and the stage of his energetic and productive activities. He first located in Milwaukee, where he continued to be employed at his trade until his marriage, soon after which he removed to Oshkosh, in 1849, to number himself among the early settlers of that now opulent and attractive city. After there working at his trade for a short time he engaged in the manufacturing business. Later he became superin- tendent of a foundry and machine shop, and he continued to be actively and effectively identified with business and industrial interests at Oshkosh and Milwaukee until 1874, since which time he has lived else- where. In the climacteric period culminating in the Civil war he was a staunch abolitionist and for years he was a zealous supporter of the cause of the Republican party. Ever since the founding of the Socialist party he has been one of its staunchest adherents and has many times been a candidate for office under it.
To the public schools of Oshkosh Charles E. Kremer is indebted for his early educational discipline, and that he made good use of his op- portunities is shown by the fact that at the age of eighteen years he proved himself eligible for pedagogic honors. After teaching success- fully in the district schools for a year he turned his attention to mercan- tile pursuits and then to the study of law, under the effective preceptor- ship of Henry H. and George C. Markham, who were then leading mem- bers of the Milwaukee bar. He applied himself with characteristic energy and appreciation and thus made substantial progress in his ab- sorption and assimilation of the science of jurisprudence. He was ad- mitted to the bar in Milwaukee in October, 1874, and in the following April he was also admitted to practice before the supreme court of Wis- consin. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar of Illinois. Since 1883 he has been admitted to practice in the supreme court of the United States.
For nearly forty years Mr. Kremer has been engaged in the active practice of his profession in the city of Chicago, where he established his residence in May, 1875, and where he has confined his attention largely to maritime law, in which he has become a recognized authority. He has long controlled a large and important practice and retains a clientage of representative order. He has high standing at the bar of the great western metropolis and is one of the loyal and progressive
Vol. VI-5
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citizens of his adopted city. He is also a ship owner and lectures on maritime law in the law department of the University of Chicago, as does he also in the Chicago Kent College of Law and the John Marshall Law School. In 1908 he received from the Chicago Kent College of Law the honorary degree of LL. B. In his home city he is a valued and honored factor in the educational work of his profession and he commands strong vantage-ground in the confidence and esteem of his confreres at the bar, as well as of all others with whom he has come in contact in the varied relations of a significantly active and useful career. He is actively identified with the Illinois Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Association, as well as the Chicago Law Club. He was the founder of the Chicago Yacht Club and has ever taken a lively interest in maritime sports and shipping. He is a stalwart and effective ad- vocate of law reforms. He is a member of no church or religious so- ciety. In his home city he is a member of the Union League Club, and his continued interest in and loyalty to his native state are shown by his close affiliation with the Wisconsin Society of Chicago, in which he is chairman of the committee on membership.
On the 2d of May, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kremer to Miss Margaret A. Collins, who was born at Oswego, New York, and the one child of this union is a daughter, Jean, who is now married to Scott W. Prime, a native of Wisconsin, who has returned to his native state and is now living in Milwaukee.
EDWARD H. STAATS. For a period of over twenty years Mr. Staats has been closely identified with those activities which constitute the busi- ness and civic life of a community, and which in the aggregate have made Merrill one of the most progressive industrial and commercial cen- ters of northern Wisconsin. He is a member of the firm of Emerich & Staats, general merchants, 1504 W. Main Street in Merrill, dealers in drygoods, groceries, men's furnishings, boots, shoes, rubbers, flour and feed, and the house also does a large wholesale business in camp sup- plies, furnishing lumber camps with supplies. The firm consists of Hon. Joseph A. Emerich, present mayor of Merrill, and Edward H. Staats. This business, by far the largest on the west side of Merrill, was estab- lished by Messrs. Emerich & Staats as a small grocery store in 1892. . Since then by hard work and attention to business these two men have risen to become leading citizens of Lincoln county.
Edward H. Staats was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, April 30, 1866, a son of Christian and Mary Staats. Christian Staats died in 1887 and the mother now resides in Milwaukee. The father was a native of Germany, came to America when a young man, settling in Watertown, where he rose to a position as one of the able business men. It was in Watertown that Edward H. Staats grew up, attended the public schools and the Northwestern University of that city, and when ready to earn
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his own way in life he first learned the butcher and meat business, a trade at which he was employed in Watertown, Lake Mills, Waterloo and at Madison. Then in 1891 he came to Merrill and became manager of the City Meat Market. About a year later he joined forces with Mr. Emerich and opened a stock of groceries in a small room in part of the building now occupied by the firm of Emerich & Staats. At first they rented this small store, but by working hard both early and late, by discounting their bills and by supplying their growing custom with fresh and reliable goods, they were soon able to buy the building in which they conducted their business. Later they added a shoe depart -- ment, and added fifty feet to the length of their original store, remodel- ing the entire place. With subsequent extensions of business, they occu- pied the second floor, and also erected a large warehouse in the rear, and have added the building on the west to the main store, that also being used as a warehouse.
The partners devoted their entire time to the business until 1908, in which year the Merrill Woodenware Company, a large manufacturing concern making wooden kitchen utensils was organized by Mr. Staats and Mr. Emerich, and one or two associates. Soon after the inception of this industry, it was agreed that Mr. Staats should manage the store, while Mr. Emerich should look after the woodenware company. Mr. Emerich is now president of the Merrill Woodenware Company, with Mr. Staats serving as treasurer. This is one of Merrill's coming indus- tries. While only in existence about five years, the company already have one of the largest modern equipped factories in the city, and employ about one hundred and fifty hands, their weekly payroll being a consid- erable item in the economic welfare of the city. Mr. Staats was chiefly instrumental in establishing this business, having seen the possibilities of such an enterprise, and having given much of his attention to making it a success. Both he and his partner invested heavily in the concern, which has paid dividends almost from the start. Mr. Staats is also a director in the Lincoln County Bank of Merrill. This bank has a cap- ital stock of $100,000.00 and recently moved into its modern bank build- ing, the only exclusive bank building in Lincoln county.
On October 27, 1897, Mr. Staats married Miss Mary Hankwitz of Merrill. Their three children are Isabelle, Veneta and Edward. Fra- ternally Mr. Staats is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. While always a busy man, and having many commercial interests to occupy his time and attention, Mr. Staats has shown much public spirit in relation to community affairs. He has served as a member of the Merrill school board, and also as a member of the Lincoln county board of supervisors. At the present time he is representing the Sixth Ward in the city council. In politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Staats owns a fine two hundred acre stock farm located five miles southwest of Merrill in the town of Corning, Lincoln county.
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WILLIAM GUTENKUNST. A native son of Milwaukee, a man of fine inventive genius and marked executive ability, and a citizen of ut- most civic loyalty and progressiveness, Mr. Gutenkunst, who is in the very prime of his strong and useful manhood, has exerted a potent and benignant influence in the furtherance of the prestige of Milwaukee as a commercial and industrial center, and he is today numbered among the prominent and essentially representative fac- tors in the manufacturing and commercial life of the city, where his sterling character and admirable constructive enterprise have gained to him high place in popular confidence and esteem. He was the founder of the extensive and important industrial enterprise con- ducted by the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company, of which he is president and treasurer, as is he also of the allied corporation, the Milwaukee Malleable & Grey Iron Works, the extensive and contiguous plants of these fine corporations being eligibly situated at Layton Park, one of the leading manufacturing and residence suburbs of Milwaukee. Mr. Gutenkunst has been in the most significant sense the architect of his own fortunes, as he began his independent career in a most modest way and through his own ability and efforts has risen to a position as one of the leading manufacturers and business men of his native city, where he is also prominent and influential in public and general civic affairs. He is a scion of one of the well known and highly hon- ored pioneer families of the Wisconsin metropolis, where his parents established their residence more than sixty years ago. Many of the special mechanical devices manufactured by the companies of which he is the executive head were invented and patented by Mr. Guten- kunst, and his special talent as an inventor has done much to con- serve the success of the great industrial enterprises which have been evolved under his personal initiative and supervision.
William Gutenkunst was born in Milwaukee on the 6th of July, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Haas) Gutenkunst, both of whom were born in Baden, Germany, though their acquaintance- ship was not formed until both had come to America, the father as a young man in search of better opportunities for winning independ- ence by personal effort. The mother came to America unaccompanied by her parents. Jacob Gutenkunst was born in the year 1829, and in the state of New York was solemnized his marriage to Miss Cath- erine Haas, who was born July 5, 1815. In 1849, the year following that in which Wisconsin was admitted to statehood, they came to the new commonwealth and established their home in Milwaukee, which was then an aspiring little city with few metropolitan pretensions. They were numbered among the sterling German pioneer citizens of Milwaukee, where they passed the residue of their lives, Mrs. Gutenkunst having long survived her husband, who died on the 11th of September, 1869, she having been summoned to eternal rest on the
Gutenkumul
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26th of December, 1905, a few months after the celebration of her ninetieth birthday anniversary. The remains of both rest in beautiful Forest Home cemetery. Of the five children, two sons died in in- fancy, and the other three still survive, William, of this review, being the eldest of the number; Jacob is engineer in the Milwaukee fire department, and has been in this field of service in his native city for more than thirty-two years, his identification with the depart- ment having antedated by three years the ever-memorable Newhall House fire; Charles A., the youngest of the brothers, is individually mentioned on other pages of this work, and is secretary and manager of the two manufacturing companies of which his brother William is president. Jacob Gutenkunst was a young man of about twenty years at the time when he established his home in Milwaukee, and he forthwith concerned himself with the business and social interests of the little city, where he operated one of the first drays placed in commission in the future metropolis and where he became a valued member of the early volunteer fire department. When Company No. 3 of the paid fire department was established he had the distinction of being the first driver of its hose cart, and in view of his effective service in connection with the fire protective activities of the early days it is specially pleasing to note the long association of one of his sons with the local fire department, as mentioned above.
William Gutenkunst is indebted to the public schools of Milwaukee for his early educational training, and also attended Engleman's School, from which was evolved the admirable German-English Academy of the present day. He was a pupil in the first public school on the South side of Milwaukee, and in the same he received instruc- tion from Mrs. Trowbridge, who was a most popular teacher and who died in Milwaukee in the spring of 1913, at a venerable age. As a youth Mr. Gutenkunst became associated with practical affairs and he has made a splendid record as one of the world's constructive workers. Forty years ago, on the 3d of May, 1873, when a young man of twenty-three years, he initiated his independent business career by securing modest quarters in the old gas house building, on Reed street, where he engaged in the repairing and rebuilding of sewing machines. His initiative ability and mechanical skill came into effective play and at the same location he finally instituted the manu- facturing of hay forks of his own invention. He admitted to part- nership his younger brother, Charles A., and the firm title of William & Charles A. Gutenkunst was then adopted. The enterprise grew rapidly and finally removal was made to larger and more eligible quarters, at the corner of Park street and Eighth avenue. After the admission of the late Adam Loeffelholz to partnership the business was conducted under the title of the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company, the two brothers having previously adopted and used the somewhat
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more unwieldy title of the Milwaukee Hay Tool & Manufacturing Company. In the manufacture of hay tools and corn huskers of su- perior order the business grew apace, and in 1893 the company ob- tained a tract of land in Layton Park, where its extensive and admira- bly equipped plant was erected and has still remained. As an allied but definitely distinet enterprise of important order it was estab- lished, on the 6th of June, 1899, the Milwaukee Malleable & Grey Iron Works, and the large plant of this company lies contiguous to that of the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company, and of both of these con- cerns Mr. Gutenkunst was the founder, even as he is also president and treasurer of each. The great enterprises base their operations on ample capital, careful and conservative executive policies and the highest grade of products, and the two companies give employ- ment to an average force of from five to six hundred men, a large percentage of whom are skilled artisans. The Milwaukee Malleable & Grey Iron Works controls also a large amount of contract work and supplies malleable iron to other important industrial concerns, in- cluding the Moline Plow Company, of Moline, Illinois. In this sketch, with its necessarily prescribed limitations, it is impossible to enter into details concerning the various products of the two substantial concerns of which Mr. Gutenkunst is the executive head, but it may be noted that among the principal products of the Milwaukee Hay Tool Company are the Leader litter carrier, the Milwaukee corn huskers and fodder shredders; steel and wood track hay-carriers, improved swivel-sling hay carriers, and cable-track carriers; hang- ing hooks for steel and wood tracks; rafter brackets, harpoon forks, grapple forks and derrick hay-forks; Standard wagon slings; pulleys and pulley blocks and conveyors; wire stretchers, tackle hoists, cattle stanchions, ornamental iron-fence pickets, etc. The major part of the devices manufactured by this company represents the concrete results of the inventive ability of Mr. Gutenkunst, and he gives much time to the study and experimentation which have brought about such valuable results and given him prestige as one of the resourceful and representative business men of his native city and state. He is a director of the Wisconsin State Bank, and is a valued and loyal mem- ber of the Merchants' & Manufacturers' Association of Milwaukee.
In a fraternal way Mr. Gutenkunst is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the National Union, and he also holds membership in the Friday Bowling Club. He was formerly a member of the Wis- consin National Guard and was prominently identified with one of its leading organizations in Milwaukee.
Liberal and progressive as a citizen, Mr. Gutenkunst is found arrayed as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and he served six years as a member of the city board of aldermen, in which he ably represented the Eleventh ward, from 1885 to 1891.
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In 1909 he was chosen a member of the board of city service commis- sioners, in which important municipal body he continued to serve with characteristic fidelity until the expiration of his term, in July, 1913. Their attractive home is located at 388 Fourteenth avenue.
On the 11th of November, 1871, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gutenkunst to Miss Katie Hostadt, of Milwaukee, and they have one son and seven daughters, concerning whom the following brief record is given : Tony is the wife of William Schubert, of Milwaukee; Rosa, who is the wife of Frank W. Fellenz, president of the Calumet Club of this city, in 1913; Alma, who is the wife of Matthias Scholl, of Milwaukee; Nettie, who is the wife of Charles E. Van Sickle, of this city; Miss Flora, who remains at the parental home; Mada, who is the wife of Fred C. Seideman, of Hancock, Michigan; Miss Lillie, who remains at home, as does also William A., who is the only son and who is associated with the business enterprises of which his father is the head.
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