Biographies and Family Information

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ALEXANDER E. RAFFAUF

ALEXANDER E. RAFFAUF, the efficient treasurer of the American Automobile Company, at 187 Wisconsin street, was born at Milwaukee on June 9, 1875. He is the son of Jacob Raffauf, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Raffauf attended the public schools of Milwaukee to receive primary educational advantages and laid the foundation of a business career at the Spencerian Business College. For a period of twelve years he was associated in a clerical capacity with the Second Ward Bank, and when he severed that connection it was to enter the automobile business with his father. For more than four years now he has been most successfully engaged, and his thorough knowledge of the trade, if such it might be called, and his inherent ability as a mechanic have won him an excellent reputation among automobilists in the state and city. HE now holds the responsible position of treasurer of the American Automobile Company, which is doing a large and flourishing business. IN his political relations, Mr. Raffauf is a Republican, but has never sought to become a public office holder. He is liberal in his religious views, believing that the highest standard of right living is obtained by individual effort, not by the blind following of creed or sect. Mr. Raffauf is unmarried. He has a host of friends, who predict for him a brilliant future in the commercial field.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909

 

JACOB RAFFAUF

JACOB RAFFAUF, vice-president of the American Automobile Company and for thirty-four years prior to 1907, an agent and collector for the Schlitz Brewing Company, was born in Coblenz, Germany, on Aug. 6, 1839. His father, Jacob Raffauf, was a merchant in Germany during his entire active life with the exception of one year when he served in the pioneer corps of the Germany army. Mr. Raffuaf(sic) received his educational advantages in the public schools of his native country, and when but twenty years of age came to the United States. He was engaged in various occupations in New York City until the outbreak of the Civil war, and then enlisted as a private in Company H of the Eighth New York infantry. This regiment was known as the First Germany Rifles and was mustered into service on April 23, 1861, its term of enlistment being two years. During the first battle of Bull Run the Eighth covered the retreat of the army; later it participated in the pursuit of General Jackson in the Shenandoah and as a part of Blencker's division took part in the battle of Cross Keys and New Market. Later it was assigned as apart of the First brigade, First division, First corps, Army of Virginia and was heavily engaged at Sulphur Springs and the second Bull Run. On April 23, 1863, while a part of the Eleventh corps, it was mustered out of service. Before he had been in service very long Mr. Raffauf was made first lieutenant of his company and as such received an honorable discharge. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to his native land with his brother where the two of them enlisted in the German army, Mr. Raffauf in the relief corps and his brother in the artillery as officer of reserve, and both saw hard service in the Franco-Prussian war. When that struggle had ended he returned ot the United States and on May 1, 1873, arrived in Milwaukee. He applied for work at the offices of the Schlitz Brewing Company and was tendered the position of agent and collector, and was first employed in that capacity. For thirty-four years continuously he held the position in a manner that redounded quite as much to the wisdom of his suuperiors(sic) in selecting him for the office as to his own credit. Fraternally Mr. Raffauf is identified with Wolcott Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Old Settlers Club and for twenty-five years has been a member of the Milwaukee Turnverien. Mr. Raffauf's wife was formerly Miss Mary Zeicher and to them have been born two children, Alexander, secretary and treasurer of the American Automobile Company and Meta, deceased.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg. 357

 

JOSEPH RAUWALD

JOSEPH RAUWALD. In this twentieth century men of energy, industry, and ambition are rapidly pushing themselves to the front, and those who reach the goal of success, by their own-unaided efforts, may well claim recognition. Among those who have, by indefatigable enterprise, won fortune, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Rauwald was born at Oberausen, Germany, March 3, 1859, being the son of Gispert and Isabel (Fueser) Rauwald, who were born at Obersausen in 1820 and 1830 respectively. The father was a manufacturer of church and house furniture and died in the Fatherland in 1873, when Joseph was sixteen years of age. The mother continued to live in Germany until 1883, when she passed peacefully away from the cares of life. Our subject received his education in the public schools of his native land, and in the still greater school, which teaches dearly but well, that of experience. After leaving school he went to work with his father and learned the trade of furniture making. In Germany, the making of church furniture has reached a stage where it is a fine art, and Joseph had mastered every branch of the business while working in the Fatherland. He remained in the country several years after his father died, working at his trade. In 1884 he determined to take advantage of the many opportunities offered in the new world and came to the United States. After reaching Milwaukee he went to Madison, Wis., where he worked for Frank A. Starck, a cabinet-maker, for five years. For four years Mr. Rauwald was in business as a contractor, but he disposed of that business to advantage and established himself in the church furniture manufacturing business at 520-532 Sixteenth Street, where he has displayed great skill and artistic ability in the special line of goods he produces. The firm is now known as the Rauwald Ecclesiastical Art Manufacturing Company. Mr. Rauwald found that his business has increased so rapidly that one man could not handle it, and when the company was incorporated he became president and his son, John Rauwald, was chosen secretary. The company holds the patents that cover the Altar Tabernacle, invented by R Rauwald, which is approved by the Roman Catholic authorities. The Rauwald Ecclesiastical Art Manufacturing Company is one of the largest and most prosperous church furniture establishments in the country. Mr. Rauwald is a Democrat in politics, but does not take and active part, devoting all his energies to his business. His maternal grandfather was a well to do merchant in Oberausen, and was alderman in the town for many years. At one time he served with great credit in the Berlin Guards. On Sept. 21, 1881, Mr. Rauwald married Theresa, the daughter of Edmund and Clara Buesterbach, natives of Oberausen. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rauwald; Clara, the wife of Edwin Laur; Gertrude, deceased; John, married to Charlotte Bellman,; Helen, the wife of Albert Hoelsken; Joseph; Edmund; Frank; Elizabeth; Caroline; Marie; and William deceased. The family are members of St. Lawrence’s Catholic Church and Mr. Rauwald is a member of St. Lawrence’s Branch of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.

Source: Milwaukee County Biographies Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Vol. I & II by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 Page 590

 

CHARLES RAY

Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous

Charles Ray has for many years been a prominent figure in Milwaukee commercial life. He was born on Jan. 27, 1835, in Saugerties, N. Y., a son of Adam E. And Eliza (Breasted) Ray. In September, 1838, the family removed to Wisconsin, locating on a farm in the western part of the county of Milwaukee. There the father followed agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1867. He was one of the earliest pioneers of the region and served in the territorial council of 1839. He was one of the directors of the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company, now part of the system of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. In 1845 he removed his family to what is now Walworth County, but later removed again to Waukesha County.

Charles Ray, the subject of this review, received his education in a log schoolhouse and followed an Indian trail to get to and from the daily sessions. His teacher was Miss Field, daughter of Judge Field, of Mukwonago. And later she became the wife of Andrew E. Elmore, of Green Bay, who became quite renowned in early Wisconsin history. He completed his education by a two years' course at Milton College at Milton, Wis.

His first employment was in a clerical position in the Farmers' and Millers' bank, the predecessor of the present First National Bank of Milwaukee. He served in this capacity but a little over a year, however, resigning in 1857 to accept a position with the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company with which his father was connected. His duties sent him to, and he was cashier of the local office of the company there for a year. On severing this connection he accepted the cashiership of the Bank of Prairie du Chien. In 1866 he returned to Milwaukee and engaged in the grain commission business, becoming a member of the chamber of commerce. Until 1882, he was continuously engaged in this business, both in Milwaukee and Chicago, but ill health necessitated his retirement from active participation in it. He then became principal owner of the Milwaukee Sentinel and for seventeen years was president of the company. In 1890 he was made vice president of the National Exchange Bank, and two years later succeeded to the presidency of the institution, a position he held until 1900. In 1892, he was also made treasurer of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and is still a trustee of that corporation.

Since 1900 he has not actively participated in business affairs, spending his summers in Milwaukee and the winters in California. Besides his other business interests he is a vice-president and director of the Milwaukee Coke & Gas company.

In 1863 Mr. Ray was united in marriage, in Rome, N. Y., to Miss Jennie L. Merrill. To this union were born four daughters : Lucile is the wife of Angus S. Hiver, vice-president and general manager of the Chicago Telephone Company; Susie Dickinson is the wife of Malcolm McCallum ; Jennie is Mrs.. Wyman K. Flint; and Clara is Mrs.. Theodore D. Peck, of New York. Mr. Ray is one of the oldest members of the Chamber of Commerce, and served as vice-president in 1876 and as president in 1877 and 1878.

 

CAPT. CHARLES RAYMAN

son of Henry and Louisa (the father a ship carpenter), was born in Prussia, March 17, 1843; became familiar with the inland lakes and rivers as a child; made his first sea voyage at 15 years of age, on the KOENIGSBERG brig, and before coming to America, in 1862, had sailed under English, Danish and German masters. His first voyage from an American port was made from New York to Havre, and subsequently he sailed to Florida and Brazil as helmsman, and also as mate. Commenced sailing the lakes in 1866, and made frequent trips down the river to New Orleans, until 1868, since when he has sailed the lakes exclusively. In the Spring of 1873, he became the mate of the "NELLIE CHURCH," a Lake Michigan schooner; the following September, took charge as master, and has sailed her every season since. Was shipwrecked in 1866, his vessel capsizing, but was taken from the wreck a few hours later, by a passing schooner and landed at Sheboygan. December 8, 1878, he married Clara Waedel, a native-born Milwaukee girl of German parentage, and they have one son, Oscar, born November 13, 1879. Present residence 328 Sixth street.

Source: History of Milwaukee County, 1881

 

LEO REITMAN

LEO REITMAN, a rising young attorney of Milwaukee, was born in that city Feb. 16, 1881, a son of Philip and Julia (Loeb) Reitman, who are natives of Bingen-on-the-Rhine and West Preuss, respectively, the former born in 1854 and the latter in 1856. The paternal grandparents migrated to America in the early sixties and settled in New York City where the grandfather engaged in mercantile business. The maternal grandparents settled in Milwaukee soon after their arrival in America, and the grandfather was engaged in the meat business. The father of the subject of this review came to Milwaukee in early manhood and there married. For the past few years he has been engaged in the real estate business, but prior to his entrance into that field of endeavor he was a clothing merchant. The oldest of his four sons, Arthur Reitman, M. D., graduated at the University of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons in Milwaukee, and he is now engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city, officiating also as an instructor in his professional alma mater. if such it might be called, and his inherent ability as a mechanic have won him an excellent reputation among automobilists in the state and city. HE now holds the responsible position of treasurer of the American Automobile Company, which is doing a large and flourishing business. IN his political relations, Mr. Raffauf is a Republican, but has never sought to become a public office holder. He is liberal in his religious views, believing that the highest standard of right living is obtained by individual effort, not by the blind following of creed or sect. Mr. Raffauf is unmarried. He has a host of friends, who predict for him a brilliant future in the commercial field.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909

 

JACOB RAFFAUF

JACOB RAFFAUF, vice-president of the American Automobile Company and for thirty-four years prior to 1907, an agent and collector for the Schlitz Brewing Company, was born in Coblenz, Germany, on Aug. 6, 1839. His father, Jacob Raffauf, was a merchant in Germany during his entire active life with the exception of one year when he served in the pioneer corps of the Germany army. Mr. Raffuaf(sic) received his educational advantages in the public schools of his native country, and when but twenty years of age came to the United States. He was engaged in various occupations in New York City until the outbreak of the Civil war, and then enlisted as a private in Company H of the Eighth New York infantry. This regiment was known as the First Germany Rifles and was mustered into service on April 23, 1861, its term of enlistment being two years. During the first battle of Bull Run the Eighth covered the retreat of the army; later it participated in the pursuit of General Jackson in the Shenandoah and as a part of Blencker's division took part in the battle of Cross Keys and New Market. Later it was assigned as apart of the First brigade, First division, First corps, Army of Virginia and was heavily engaged at Sulphur Springs and the second Bull Run. On April 23, 1863, while a part of the Eleventh corps, it was mustered out of service. Before he had been in service very long Mr. Raffauf was made first lieutenant of his company and as such received an honorable discharge. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to his native land with his brother where the two of them enlisted in the German army, Mr. Raffauf in the relief corps and his brother in the artillery as officer of reserve, and both saw hard service in the Franco-Prussian war. When that struggle had ended he returned ot the United States and on May 1, 1873, arrived in Milwaukee. He applied for work at the offices of the Schlitz Brewing Company and was tendered the position of agent and collector, and was first employed in that capacity. For thirty-four years continuously he held the position in a manner that redounded quite as much to the wisdom of his suuperiors(sic) in selecting him for the office as to his own credit. Fraternally Mr. Raffauf is identified with Wolcott Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Old Settlers Club and for twenty-five years has been a member of the Milwaukee Turnverien. Mr. Raffauf's wife was formerly Miss Mary Zeicher and to them have been born two children, Alexander, secretary and treasurer of the American Automobile Company and Meta, deceased.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg. 357

 

JOSEPH RAUWALD

JOSEPH RAUWALD. In this twentieth century men of energy, industry, and ambition are rapidly pushing themselves to the front, and those who reach the goal of success, by their own-unaided efforts, may well claim recognition. Among those who have, by indefatigable enterprise, won fortune, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Rauwald was born at Oberausen, Germany, March 3, 1859, being the son of Gispert and Isabel (Fueser) Rauwald, who were born at Obersausen in 1820 and 1830 respectively. The father was a manufacturer of church and house furniture and died in the Fatherland in 1873, when Joseph was sixteen years of age. The mother continued to live in Germany until 1883, when she passed peacefully away from the cares of life. Our subject received his education in the public schools of his native land, and in the still greater school, which teaches dearly but well, that of experience. After leaving school he went to work with his father and learned the trade of furniture making. In Germany, the making of church furniture has reached a stage where it is a fine art, and Joseph had mastered every branch of the business while working in the Fatherland. He remained in the country several years after his father died, working at his trade. In 1884 he determined to take advantage of the many opportunities offered in the new world and came to the United States. After reaching Milwaukee he went to Madison, Wis., where he worked for Frank A. Starck, a cabinet-maker, for five years. For four years Mr. Rauwald was in business as a contractor, but he disposed of that business to advantage and established himself in the church furniture manufacturing business at 520-532 Sixteenth Street, where he has displayed great skill and artistic ability in the special line of goods he produces. The firm is now known as the Rauwald Ecclesiastical Art Manufacturing Company. Mr. Rauwald found that his business has increased so rapidly that one man could not handle it, and when the company was incorporated he became president and his son, John Rauwald, was chosen secretary. The company holds the patents that cover the Altar Tabernacle, invented by R Rauwald, which is approved by the Roman Catholic authorities. The Rauwald Ecclesiastical Art Manufacturing Company is one of the largest and most prosperous church furniture establishments in the country. Mr. Rauwald is a Democrat in politics, but does not take and active part, devoting all his energies to his business. His maternal grandfather was a well to do merchant in Oberausen, and was alderman in the town for many years. At one time he served with great credit in the Berlin Guards. On Sept. 21, 1881, Mr. Rauwald married Theresa, the daughter of Edmund and Clara Buesterbach, natives of Oberausen. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rauwald; Clara, the wife of Edwin Laur; Gertrude, deceased; John, married to Charlotte Bellman,; Helen, the wife of Albert Hoelsken; Joseph; Edmund; Frank; Elizabeth; Caroline; Marie; and William deceased. The family are members of St. Lawrence’s Catholic Church and Mr. Rauwald is a member of St. Lawrence’s Branch of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.

Source: Milwaukee County Biographies Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Vol. I & II by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 Page 590

 

CHARLES RAY

Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous

Charles Ray has for many years been a prominent figure in Milwaukee commercial life. He was born on Jan. 27, 1835, in Saugerties, N. Y., a son of Adam E. And Eliza (Breasted) Ray. In September, 1838, the family removed to Wisconsin, locating on a farm in the western part of the county of Milwaukee. There the father followed agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1867. He was one of the earliest pioneers of the region and served in the territorial council of 1839. He was one of the directors of the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company, now part of the system of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. In 1845 he removed his family to what is now Walworth County, but later removed again to Waukesha County.

Charles Ray, the subject of this review, received his education in a log schoolhouse and followed an Indian trail to get to and from the daily sessions. His teacher was Miss Field, daughter of Judge Field, of Mukwonago. And later she became the wife of Andrew E. Elmore, of Green Bay, who became quite renowned in early Wisconsin history. He completed his education by a two years' course at Milton College at Milton, Wis.

His first employment was in a clerical position in the Farmers' and Millers' bank, the predecessor of the present First National Bank of Milwaukee. He served in this capacity but a little over a year, however, resigning in 1857 to accept a position with the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company with which his father was connected. His duties sent him to, and he was cashier of the local office of the company there for a year. On severing this connection he accepted the cashiership of the Bank of Prairie du Chien. In 1866 he returned to Milwaukee and engaged in the grain commission business, becoming a member of the chamber of commerce. Until 1882, he was continuously engaged in this business, both in Milwaukee and Chicago, but ill health necessitated his retirement from active participation in it. He then became principal owner of the Milwaukee Sentinel and for seventeen years was president of the company. In 1890 he was made vice president of the National Exchange Bank, and two years later succeeded to the presidency of the institution, a position he held until 1900. In 1892, he was also made treasurer of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and is still a trustee of that corporation.

Since 1900 he has not actively participated in business affairs, spending his summers in Milwaukee and the winters in California. Besides his other business interests he is a vice-president and director of the Milwaukee Coke & Gas company.

In 1863 Mr. Ray was united in marriage, in Rome, N. Y., to Miss Jennie L. Merrill. To this union were born four daughters : Lucile is the wife of Angus S. Hiver, vice-president and general manager of the Chicago Telephone Company; Susie Dickinson is the wife of Malcolm McCallum ; Jennie is Mrs.. Wyman K. Flint; and Clara is Mrs.. Theodore D. Peck, of New York. Mr. Ray is one of the oldest members of the Chamber of Commerce, and served as vice-president in 1876 and as president in 1877 and 1878.

 

CAPT. CHARLES RAYMAN

son of Henry and Louisa (the father a ship carpenter), was born in Prussia, March 17, 1843; became familiar with the inland lakes and rivers as a child; made his first sea voyage at 15 years of age, on the KOENIGSBERG brig, and before coming to America, in 1862, had sailed under English, Danish and German masters. His first voyage from an American port was made from New York to Havre, and subsequently he sailed to Florida and Brazil as helmsman, and also as mate. Commenced sailing the lakes in 1866, and made frequent trips down the river to New Orleans, until 1868, since when he has sailed the lakes exclusively. In the Spring of 1873, he became the mate of the "NELLIE CHURCH," a Lake Michigan schooner; the following September, took charge as master, and has sailed her every season since. Was shipwrecked in 1866, his vessel capsizing, but was taken from the wreck a few hours later, by a passing schooner and landed at Sheboygan. December 8, 1878, he married Clara Waedel, a native-born Milwaukee girl of German parentage, and they have one son, Oscar, born November 13, 1879. Present residence 328 Sixth street.

Source: History of Milwaukee County, 1881

 

LEO REITMAN

LEO REITMAN, a rising young attorney of Milwaukee, was born in that city Feb. 16, 1881, a son of Philip and Julia (Loeb) Reitman, who are natives of Bingen-on-the-Rhine and West Preuss, respectively, the former born in 1854 and the latter in 1856. The paternal grandparents migrated to America in the early sixties and settled in New York City where the grandfather engaged in mercantile business. The maternal grandparents settled in Milwaukee soon after their arrival in America, and the grandfather was engaged in the meat business. The father of the subject of this review came to Milwaukee in early manhood and there married. For the past few years he has been engaged in the real estate business, but prior to his entrance into that field of endeavor he was a clothing merchant. The oldest of his four sons, Arthur Reitman, M. D., graduated at the University of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons in Milwaukee, and he is now engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city, officiating also as an instructor in his professional alma mater.r more than four years now he has been most successfully engaged, and his thorough knowledge of the trade, if such it might be called, and his inherent ability as a mechanic have won him an excellent reputation among automobilists in the state and city. HE now holds the responsible position of treasurer of the American Automobile Company, which is doing a large and flourishing business. IN his political relations, Mr. Raffauf is a Republican, but has never sought to become a public office holder. He is liberal in his religious views, believing that the highest standard of right living is obtained by individual effort, not by the blind following of creed or sect. Mr. Raffauf is unmarried. He has a host of friends, who predict for him a brilliant future in the commercial field.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909

 

JACOB RAFFAUF

JACOB RAFFAUF, vice-president of the American Automobile Company and for thirty-four years prior to 1907, an agent and collector for the Schlitz Brewing Company, was born in Coblenz, Germany, on Aug. 6, 1839. His father, Jacob Raffauf, was a merchant in Germany during his entire active life with the exception of one year when he served in the pioneer corps of the Germany army. Mr. Raffuaf(sic) received his educational advantages in the public schools of his native country, and when but twenty years of age came to the United States. He was engaged in various occupations in New York City until the outbreak of the Civil war, and then enlisted as a private in Company H of the Eighth New York infantry. This regiment was known as the First Germany Rifles and was mustered into service on April 23, 1861, its term of enlistment being two years. During the first battle of Bull Run the Eighth covered the retreat of the army; later it participated in the pursuit of General Jackson in the Shenandoah and as a part of Blencker's division took part in the battle of Cross Keys and New Market. Later it was assigned as apart of the First brigade, First division, First corps, Army of Virginia and was heavily engaged at Sulphur Springs and the second Bull Run. On April 23, 1863, while a part of the Eleventh corps, it was mustered out of service. Before he had been in service very long Mr. Raffauf was made first lieutenant of his company and as such received an honorable discharge. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to his native land with his brother where the two of them enlisted in the German army, Mr. Raffauf in the relief corps and his brother in the artillery as officer of reserve, and both saw hard service in the Franco-Prussian war. When that struggle had ended he returned ot the United States and on May 1, 1873, arrived in Milwaukee. He applied for work at the offices of the Schlitz Brewing Company and was tendered the position of agent and collector, and was first employed in that capacity. For thirty-four years continuously he held the position in a manner that redounded quite as much to the wisdom of his suuperiors(sic) in selecting him for the office as to his own credit. Fraternally Mr. Raffauf is identified with Wolcott Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Old Settlers Club and for twenty-five years has been a member of the Milwaukee Turnverien. Mr. Raffauf's wife was formerly Miss Mary Zeicher and to them have been born two children, Alexander, secretary and treasurer of the American Automobile Company and Meta, deceased.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg. 357

 

JOSEPH RAUWALD

JOSEPH RAUWALD. In this twentieth century men of energy, industry, and ambition are rapidly pushing themselves to the front, and those who reach the goal of success, by their own-unaided efforts, may well claim recognition. Among those who have, by indefatigable enterprise, won fortune, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Rauwald was born at Oberausen, Germany, March 3, 1859, being the son of Gispert and Isabel (Fueser) Rauwald, who were born at Obersausen in 1820 and 1830 respectively. The father was a manufacturer of church and house furniture and died in the Fatherland in 1873, when Joseph was sixteen years of age. The mother continued to live in Germany until 1883, when she passed peacefully away from the cares of life. Our subject received his education in the public schools of his native land, and in the still greater school, which teaches dearly but well, that of experience. After leaving school he went to work with his father and learned the trade of furniture making. In Germany, the making of church furniture has reached a stage where it is a fine art, and Joseph had mastered every branch of the business while working in the Fatherland. He remained in the country several years after his father died, working at his trade. In 1884 he determined to take advantage of the many opportunities offered in the new world and came to the United States. After reaching Milwaukee he went to Madison, Wis., where he worked for Frank A. Starck, a cabinet-maker, for five years. For four years Mr. Rauwald was in business as a contractor, but he disposed of that business to advantage and established himself in the church furniture manufacturing business at 520-532 Sixteenth Street, where he has displayed great skill and artistic ability in the special line of goods he produces. The firm is now known as the Rauwald Ecclesiastical Art Manufacturing Company. Mr. Rauwald found that his business has increased so rapidly that one man could not handle it, and when the company was incorporated he became president and his son, John Rauwald, was chosen secretary. The company holds the patents that cover the Altar Tabernacle, invented by R Rauwald, which is approved by the Roman Catholic authorities. The Rauwald Ecclesiastical Art Manufacturing Company is one of the largest and most prosperous church furniture establishments in the country. Mr. Rauwald is a Democrat in politics, but does not take and active part, devoting all his energies to his business. His maternal grandfather was a well to do merchant in Oberausen, and was alderman in the town for many years. At one time he served with great credit in the Berlin Guards. On Sept. 21, 1881, Mr. Rauwald married Theresa, the daughter of Edmund and Clara Buesterbach, natives of Oberausen. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rauwald; Clara, the wife of Edwin Laur; Gertrude, deceased; John, married to Charlotte Bellman,; Helen, the wife of Albert Hoelsken; Joseph; Edmund; Frank; Elizabeth; Caroline; Marie; and William deceased. The family are members of St. Lawrence’s Catholic Church and Mr. Rauwald is a member of St. Lawrence’s Branch of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.

Source: Milwaukee County Biographies Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Vol. I & II by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 Page 590

 

CHARLES RAY

Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous

Charles Ray has for many years been a prominent figure in Milwaukee commercial life. He was born on Jan. 27, 1835, in Saugerties, N. Y., a son of Adam E. And Eliza (Breasted) Ray. In September, 1838, the family removed to Wisconsin, locating on a farm in the western part of the county of Milwaukee. There the father followed agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1867. He was one of the earliest pioneers of the region and served in the territorial council of 1839. He was one of the directors of the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company, now part of the system of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. In 1845 he removed his family to what is now Walworth County, but later removed again to Waukesha County.

Charles Ray, the subject of this review, received his education in a log schoolhouse and followed an Indian trail to get to and from the daily sessions. His teacher was Miss Field, daughter of Judge Field, of Mukwonago. And later she became the wife of Andrew E. Elmore, of Green Bay, who became quite renowned in early Wisconsin history. He completed his education by a two years' course at Milton College at Milton, Wis.

His first employment was in a clerical position in the Farmers' and Millers' bank, the predecessor of the present First National Bank of Milwaukee. He served in this capacity but a little over a year, however, resigning in 1857 to accept a position with the old Milwaukee & Mississippi Railway Company with which his father was connected. His duties sent him to, and he was cashier of the local office of the company there for a year. On severing this connection he accepted the cashiership of the Bank of Prairie du Chien. In 1866 he returned to Milwaukee and engaged in the grain commission business, becoming a member of the chamber of commerce. Until 1882, he was continuously engaged in this business, both in Milwaukee and Chicago, but ill health necessitated his retirement from active participation in it. He then became principal owner of the Milwaukee Sentinel and for seventeen years was president of the company. In 1890 he was made vice president of the National Exchange Bank, and two years later succeeded to the presidency of the institution, a position he held until 1900. In 1892, he was also made treasurer of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and is still a trustee of that corporation.

Since 1900 he has not actively participated in business affairs, spending his summers in Milwaukee and the winters in California. Besides his other business interests he is a vice-president and director of the Milwaukee Coke & Gas company.

In 1863 Mr. Ray was united in marriage, in Rome, N. Y., to Miss Jennie L. Merrill. To this union were born four daughters : Lucile is the wife of Angus S. Hiver, vice-president and general manager of the Chicago Telephone Company; Susie Dickinson is the wife of Malcolm McCallum ; Jennie is Mrs.. Wyman K. Flint; and Clara is Mrs.. Theodore D. Peck, of New York. Mr. Ray is one of the oldest members of the Chamber of Commerce, and served as vice-president in 1876 and as president in 1877 and 1878.

 

CAPT. CHARLES RAYMAN

son of Henry and Louisa (the father a ship carpenter), was born in Prussia, March 17, 1843; became familiar with the inland lakes and rivers as a child; made his first sea voyage at 15 years of age, on the KOENIGSBERG brig, and before coming to America, in 1862, had sailed under English, Danish and German masters. His first voyage from an American port was made from New York to Havre, and subsequently he sailed to Florida and Brazil as helmsman, and also as mate. Commenced sailing the lakes in 1866, and made frequent trips down the river to New Orleans, until 1868, since when he has sailed the lakes exclusively. In the Spring of 1873, he became the mate of the "NELLIE CHURCH," a Lake Michigan schooner; the following September, took charge as master, and has sailed her every season since. Was shipwrecked in 1866, his vessel capsizing, but was taken from the wreck a few hours later, by a passing schooner and landed at Sheboygan. December 8, 1878, he married Clara Waedel, a native-born Milwaukee girl of German parentage, and they have one son, Oscar, born November 13, 1879. Present residence 328 Sixth street.

Source: History of Milwaukee County, 1881

 

LEO REITMAN

LEO REITMAN, a rising young attorney of Milwaukee, was born in that city Feb. 16, 1881, a son of Philip and Julia (Loeb) Reitman, who are natives of Bingen-on-the-Rhine and West Preuss, respectively, the former born in 1854 and the latter in 1856. The paternal grandparents migrated to America in the early sixties and settled in New York City where the grandfather engaged in mercantile business. The maternal grandparents settled in Milwaukee soon after their arrival in America, and the grandfather was engaged in the meat business. The father of the subject of this review came to Milwaukee in early manhood and there married. For the past few years he has been engaged in the real estate business, but prior to his entrance into that field of endeavor he was a clothing merchant. The oldest of his four sons, Arthur Reitman, M. D., graduated at the University of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons in Milwaukee, and he is now engaged in the practice of his profession in his native city, officiating also as an instructor in his professional alma mater. Leo Reitman, the second oldest son, whose name introduces this review, received his preliminary education in the public schools of Milwaukee, taking a high school course at the South Side high school, after which he entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, at which institution he graduated in 1904 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. While in the high school and also in the university he took great interest in oratory and debating, winning the first prize for oratory in the South Side high school in 1901. He was a member of the debating teams of that school in 1900 and 1901, which won over both the East Side and West Side high schools of Milwaukee. He is a deep lover of music, being an expert violinist and a member of several musical societies, as well as a follower of athletics, having been a member of the track, basket ball and foot ball teams at his various schools. After receiving his degree in law he entered the law office of George Sylvester in Milwaukee and remained there one year, since which time he has been associated with the firm of Rubin & Zabel, beside conducting an independent law practice that is fast assuming gratifying proportions. Mr. Reitman is a Republican in his political views, his religious affiliations are with the Jewish Church, and he has a membership in the Lincoln Club, the Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Maccabees, the Milwaukee Barr Association, the Wisconsin State Bar Association and the Harmony Musical Club. He formerly belonged to the Musician’s Union of Madison and the University of Wisconsin Orchestra; also to the Singing Society, Madison Choral Union. He is now connected with an amateur orchestra, known as the Harmony Musical Club, in which he plays the first violin.

Source: Milwaukee County Biographies Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Vol. I & II by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg. 381

 

JOSEPH REVAIS, OR CROWING JOE

There was another curious mortal, a Frenchman, called Crowing Joe, whom many of the old settlers will remember, for the singular propensity he had of crowing, in imitation of chanticleer. This at last became such a nuisance, that he was arrested, and brought up before the police justice, but as no law was in existence which would prevent a man from playing rooster, if he wished to, he was of course, discharged, and when told that he was free, he immediately gave such an exhibition of his powers, so to fairly shake the windows, which was replied to by every cock within hearing. He was a worthless vagabond, and disappeared long ago.

Source: Pioneer History Of Milwaukee by James S. Buck, 1876 Vol. 1

 

LEONCE C. RHODES

Leonce C. Rhodes, 66, who served as recruiter for the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission from 1975 to 1991. Rhodes became the public face of the city's recruitment effort, charged with bringing more minorities and women into the two departments. He earlier worked as a Milwaukee firefighter and a Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy, and also with the state in probation and parole. Rhodes died Oct. 15 after a stroke.

 

FLORIAN J. RIES

FLORIAN J. RIES, now serving his seventh term as justice of the peace in Milwaukee, Wis., is a fine type of our best German-American citizenship. Mr. Ries has had a distinguished career, as a soldier, legislator for the city and state, chief of police, deputy United States collector of customs, judge, etc. He was born in Baden, Germany, on April 30, 1843, and is the son of Anton and Maria Eva (Lang) Ries. His parents were both natives of the same place, the former being born in 1808 and the latter in 1809; his father died on Sept. 8, 1860, and his mother died in Milwaukee in 1852. Before leaving Germany his father had taken a prominent part of the Revolution of 1848 and was imprisoned as a result thereof. He was liberated and pardoned on condition that he would leave the country forthwith, and he came to the United States with his family in 1852, coming direct to Milwaukee. He had served as major of Gamburg, Germany, and after coming to Milwaukee he established a cooperage business. He was one of the unfortunate victims of the terrible disaster on the Lady Elgin, on excursion and pleasure steamer, which collided and sank inside of ten minutes on Sept. 8, 1860. Of the passengers only about 100 were saved and nearly 400 went down with the vessel. Judge Ries received his education in the common schools of Milwaukee prior to the Civil war. At the outbreak of that great conflict he enlisted under the first call for volunteers, April 16, 1861, as a private in Company D., First Wisconsin infantry (three months' term). He served with his regiment during its brief period of service in West Virginia and Maryland, and was actively engaged at Falling Waters, Va., as part of the advance of Major-General Patterson's command. On the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out on Aug. 20, 1861. He again enlisted on Feb. 12, 1862, in Company D, Seventeenth Wisconsin infantry, for three years' service; rose to the rank of first lieutenant, and was mustered out under his commission as such on July 15, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. During his second term of service he was constantly at the front, and took part in the following important campaigns and battles: Campaign against and occupation of Corinth, Miss., in the spring of 1862; battle of Corinth, Oct. 3 and 4, 1862; Grant's campaign in northern Mississippi; the campaign below Vicksburg, and the long siege of that Confederate stronghold, from May 19 to July 4, 1863, during which he was in the trenches for many weeks. After the fall of Vicksburg his regiment was ordered as part of a brigade to take Natchez, Miss., which was accomplished, and he saw some sharp fighting in Louisiana and Mississippi. In the spring of 1864 he moved with General Shrman on the celebrated Atlanta campaign, took part in the almost constant fighting leading up to that city, and in the battles around and siege of Atlanta; later in the fall of 1864 he marched with Sherman to the sea, and participated in the campaign against Savannah, Ga.; in 1865 he joined in the campaign through the Carolinas, and was present at the final surrender of Gen Joseph E. Johnston on April 26, 1865, near Durham Station, N.C.; then on up through North Carolina and Virginia to Richmod and to Washington, D.C., where he took part in the grand review of Sherman's war-worn veterans in May, 1865. He then accompanied his regiment to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out. Lieutenant Ries was fortunate in escaping the ordinary casualties of war and was never wounded, captured, or absent from his command on account of sickness. Upon severing his connection with the army, he returned to Milwaukee, and there embarked in the business of manufacturing woolen; afterward he was on the road for ten years as a traveling salesman. In 1877 he served as a member of the Assembly in the Wisconsin state legislature, and during the years 1878-79 hew as a member of the Milwaukee Common Council. He was then elected superintendent of the Milwaukee House of Correction and served in that capacity for a period of five years. From 1885 until the fall of 1888 he was the capable and efficient chief of police for Milwaukee. In 1891 he was appointed deputy United States collector of customs of Milwaukee, under Colonel Watrous, and served as such until 1895, In the latter year he was appointed justice of the peace, to which office he has been re-elected every two years since. In the matter of religion Judge Ries is affiliated with no church denomination; politically he is a zealous member of the Republican party, and has always taken a prominent part in political campaigns. He is a member of numerous fraternal and patriotic societies; is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, Wisconsin Commandery; of Wolcott Post No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic, at Milwaukee; is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner and a Knight Templar; belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Judge Ries was married on Oct. 5, 1865, to Miss Anna W. Wurtz, a daughter of Ferdinand and Wilhelmine (Mueller) Wurtz, of Milwaukee. Mrs. Ries died on Sept. 11, 1907; her father was a gallant soldier in the Civil war, served as sergeant of Company H, Second Wisconsin cavalry, and died in hospital in 1865. Judge and Mrs. Ries had seven children born to them, viz.: Louise, wife of James C. Bird and the mother of two children, Loraine and Florian; Alfred E., who died in infancy; Hattie, wife of William P. Behling and the mother of three children, Ries, and David and Robert (twins); Alfred Leonard married to Bell Ogden, to whom a daughter, Catherine , and a son James have been born, Ella Jessie, who died in 1891, at the age of 18; Arthur Florian, now residing in Chicago; and Anna, wife of William H. White, and the mother of one son, Willard.

Source: Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg. 459

 

MATTHEW RILEY

Candidate for Town of Wauwatosa
Matthew Riley, Esq., Democratic candidate for justice of the peace, is a farmer who was a justice eight years ago in this town. He has frequently been a candidate since that time, but without success.

Source: Wauwatosa News April 1, 1899

 

ARTHUR H. ROBINSON

Arthur H. Robinson, 89, the University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of geography and cartography who literally changed how mapmakers looked at the world. His 1963 map was elegantly revolutionary, solving the centuries-old problem of how to accurately represent a round planet in two dimensions. Robinson died of natural causes Oct. 10.

 

DICK RODGERS

Dick Rodgers, 76, known to his fans as the "Polka King." The Dick Rodgers Orchestra performed live on early television, first in Marinette and later Green Bay, and eventually on 17 Midwest television stations right before Green Bay Packers games. He died of cancer Jan. 22 in Pulaski.

 

JOHN ROPITER'S STORY

His Wonderful Escape with Miss Koegh on a Piece of Hurricane Deck

I came pretty near not being one of the survivors of the Lady Elgin in many ways than one, for besides the fact that my life was in the greatest danger from the time of the collision until I got ashore the following noon I came very near not going on the excursion at all. So I had even more narrow escapes than most of the rest. I belonged to the Union guards, the military company that was giving the excursion, and with the rest of the members had determined to go on the trip. The Lady Elgin was running regular trips from Chicago to Lake Superior and back, and we had chartered her to take us down on her regular trip Thursday night and bring us back the next night, getting in here, as we expected, early Saturday morning. Well, along with some 500 or 600 others, I went down to the dock at the hour that we expected to start. The Lady Elgin was due here about 8 o'clock, but she did not come. We waited around, and finally got tired and as we could see nothing of the boat I went home and went to bed. I guess I just got to sleep when some of my friends came and woke me up. They told me that the boat was in and wanted me to go along. I was sleepy and did not want to get up, but they pulled me out of bed and so I dressed and went along with them. Although there were lots of others who had gone home because the boat was so late, there must have been fully 600 who were onboard. Just how many there were we never knew because the books of the boat were sunk with her and were never recovered.

“We had a pleasant trip down the lake and a good time in Chicago. Friday night when we started to come back – it was about midnight, I should think – the weather was quite calm and pleasant. In a little while, however, heavy clouds commenced to gather in the Northeast. We did not think much of it and were having a good time. But a little after midnight it commenced to blow hard from the northeast and the waves commenced to rise. A cold rain was falling and this with the cold wind kept most of us in the cabin. The boat was crowded and all the staterooms were occupied, while a good many people were asleep on the floor. I had a young lady with me, Miss Keogh, and while she was in the cabin I wandered around watching the storm. A few minutes before the collision I had been up on the hurricane deck but it was blowing so hard and was so cold that I went back into the cabin. I was in there when the crash came. We knew that something was wrong but hardly knew what it was until the captain – Capt. Wilson was his name – came in and said that the boat was sinking and that everyone should look out for themselves.

I got Miss Keogh and we started to climb up the ladder that led to the hurricane deck. We were in a hurry and we climbed pretty fast but nevertheless the boat sank so fast that the water overtook us and wet our feet before we could get off the ladder. We had hardly got on the deck before the boat went down, leaving the deck floating. There were about 200 people on it, I should think, and with the possible exception of a few others, everyone else was drowned at the first. The sea was not very heavy. There had not been time for the waves to get very high for the wind had only been blowing for about an hour. We were then about 12 miles from shore. I heard the captain say that it was about that distance. He had a large number of cattle on board and he said that, seeing there was a storm coming from the Northeast, he had put out into the open lake so that we would not be blown ashore, and we would have been all right if it had not been for the boat that ran into us.

There were two big holes in the hurricane deck where the smokestacks came through and as the sea commenced to get heavier the deck broke in two where those holes made it weak. I was on one end and I could see the captain on the other. I wanted to get over where he was and so when the tow parts drifted close together I put Miss Keogh on the other part and then jumped over after her. We had hardly got there, though, when the captain saw a woman with a baby on the part that we had just left and he jumped across to help take care of them. So I didn’t get with the captain after all. He said that we must keep the two pieces of the deck apart or when they were washed together by the waves they would break up. So we had kept them apart the best we could and I had no chance to get with him. While we were pretty close together I heard him tell the people that he was with, to hold up their coats and shawls so that the raft would be blown ashore. They did it and a little while their piece of deck drifted out of sight.

During this time the wind was getting stronger and the sea was rising. As it got stronger it broke up the deck and the pieces floated away, each one of them having some people on it. I remembered what the captain had said about using coats as sails so that we would be blown ashore and I tried to get the people on my end of the deck to do as I had seen those on the other part do. But they were nearly all women who were with me and they would not lift a hand. When the raft stopped breaking up there were nine persons beside myself on the part where I was. There were a great many at first, I don’t know just how many, but by the time we came to the first line of breakers there were only nine left. The rest had drifted away on other parts of the deck as it broke up. Of the ten persons, including myself on the raft seven were women. There was a Chicago printer named Derblin with his mother and sister, a Miss Fanny Burns and her sister, Mrs. Ellis, and three other women whom I did not know. The only man besides Derblin and myself was a negro, the cook on the boat, I think. Derblin lived in Chicago while his mother and sister lived in Milwaukee. They had gone down on the excursion to see him and he had concluded to come back on the boat with them and then go to Chicago by train in the morning. But they were all drowned, not one of them getting to land. Mrs. Derblin was not drowned, though she died about 9 o’clock in the morning from the cold and exposure. She was an old lady and was not strong and the cold wind and rain used her up. The wind and the rain were fearfully cold though the water was quite warm. If we could have kept under water we would have been much more comfortable, but of course that was impossible. Derblin, too, nearly died from the cold. His sister, however, did a great deal. She kept the women from going crazy with fear and was one of the bravest women I ever saw.

The negro cook nearly drowned me twice. He did not seem to be much worried by the wreck, and sent to sleep near the edge of the raft. Then the waves would rock the raft and he would be washed off. The first time he was washed off I reached in after him and got him back. While he was in the water he hung on to me until I nearly drowned. After he was back on the deck for a little while he went to sleep again. In a few minutes I saw that he was rolling overboard again. I made a grab for him and he seized me and we both went over into the water. We would surely have been drowned if I had not happened to catch hold of one of the joists on which the deck was built. I held on to this for a while and then we both managed to crawl on the raft again. I was so angry at being pulled into the water and at the way he acted that as soon as I could stand up I said to the negro: “D—n you; if you go to sleep and roll off again I won’t lay a hand on you to save you.” But I did not have a chance to save him again for when we reached the breakers he was drowned with the rest of them.

While we were out in the lake I found that we got along best and floated to shore faster if we sat on the front end of the raft. Our weight being all on one end tilted it up so that the wind blew us along faster than we would otherwise have gone, while at the same time the waves, instead of breaking over the raft and washing us off, passed under it, the deck riding them almost as well as if it had been a boat. As soon as it got to be daylight I kept a lookout to see if I could see any other rafts in sight. But I couldn’t. We drifted along in this style from the time of the wreck, at 2 o’clock in the morning, until about 11 o’clock. Then we came to the first line of breakers. It was there that I discovered what a mistake we made by sitting on the front end of the raft. That position was all right when we were out on the lake, but when we struck the breakers the waves just tipped us over and tore what was left of the deck to pieces. There were not two boards in the whole lot that stuck together. Everyone was thrown into the water, and out of the ten people on the raft, Miss Keogh, and I were the only ones to get ashore. It was at this time that I had my last experience with the negro cook and, as in the other two instances, he nearly succeeded in drowning me. When we reached the breakers the negro was nearly asleep again and as the raft tipped over he grabbed me by the left and we went down together. It seemed as though he pulled me down to the bottom of the lake. Even now as I look back at the wreck I can feel how he clung to me. It seems as though he was still grasping my leg with his hands. I had a long struggle before I could make him let go, but I succeeded at last and came to the surface. While I was on the raft I was not able to see another piece of the wreck anywhere, but as soon as we were thrown into the water I saw a man floating on the cover to a hatchway. He was not so very far away and I caught Miss Keogh and started to swim toward him. I got there but I think of that raft had been twenty feet farther away I could never have reached it and we both would have been drowned.

But we got to the raft. I had Miss Keogh hang on to the edge until I had crawled on and then I pulled her up. The man on the raft was a German whose home was in Chicago. He had been lying flat on one end of the raft in the same way that we had been on the big raft and had been blown toward the shore pretty fast. He was not a bit glad to see us coming to join him on the raft. He told me so afterwards and said that he did not think the raft would hold all three of us. But I showed him how it was that our bit raft --- the piece of the hurricane deck – was sunk because it was not evenly balanced, and then he was glad that we had come. With us three on it the raft was about half under water so that when we ducked our heads the waves went over us and kept us from being upset. There was a board gone from the middle of the raft and by getting hold of the outside edge and of the edge of the hole I managed to hold Miss Keogh on and to on myself. Then I put my leg down through the hold left by the board and used it for a rudder. Once a wave washed us off but we crawled back on the hatchcover again.

We were about one mile from the shore when we first got on the hatchcover and I should think it was fully half an hour before we got through the breakers. We landed near Winnetka. The shore was a steep bluff and I don’t know whether we could have got up it or not, but there were two men there who helped us. One of them was John Herbert of Milwaukee. He had been on the steamer and had got ashore. He had got hold of a rope somehow and crawling down the bank he tied the rope around Miss Keogh and pulled her up while I crawled up by myself. Then we went over to a neighboring farmhouse and dried ourselves and got something to eat. In the evening we took the train and came back to Milwaukee.

I never know how many were saved from the wreck. I have only heard of about twenty-five. There may have been more, of course, but I never heard of them. While Miss Keogh was saved from drowning the accident caused her death, for the cold and exposure affected her so that she died about 2 years later.

Source: Milwaukee Sentinel Sept 4, 1892

 

TOM ROST

Tom Rost, 95, wildlife artist, including for The Milwaukee Journal and publications such as Field & Stream magazine. He began the Journal's long tradition of detailed "opening day" cartoons for the hunting and fishing seasons. His drawings were selected for state inland trout stamps and for the 2004 Field & Stream calendar. Rost died of pancreatic cancer April 12.

 

HUGH RYAN

Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous

Hugh Ryan, attorney, of Milwaukee, is the son of the distinguished jurisit, Hon. Edward George Ryan, chief justice of the state of Wisconsin from June 17, 1874, until his death, Oct. 19, 1880, and his first wife, Mary, daughter of Captain Hugh Graham, whom he married in 1842. Chief Justice Ryan was born in Newcastle House, County Meath, Ireland, Nov. 13, 1810, and was the son of Edward and Abby (Keogh) Ryan. He was educated in Clongoe's Wood College, which he entered in 1820, completing the full course of study in 1827 and three years later came to the United States. He had begun studying law in his native country, and continued after reaching New York, supporting- himself by teaching. He was admitted to practice in 1836 and came the same year to Chicago. Immediately after his marriage, in 1842, he removed to Wisconsin, and his career was henceforth connected with this state. He first came into prominence in connection with the first constitutional convention, in which he took a prominent and active part, and later in connection with the impeachment of Judge Levi Hubbell, where he appeared for the assembly. Subsequently, in the still more famous case of Bashford vs. Barstow, he appeared for Bashford and showed, although an uncompromising Democrat, that he could rise above all questions of political influence when it became necessary to vindicate the constitution and the rights of the people. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he was appointed as the chairman of a committee of four at the Democratic state convention to draft an appeal to the people of the state. This was known as the "Ryan Address," and denounced the secession and sustained the war for its suppression. From 1870 to 1873 Mr. Ryan held the important office of city attorney for the city of Milwaukee, but he never sought or held any office outside of his profession except his membership in the first constitutional convention. On June 17, 1874, the office of chief justice of the supreme court of Wisconsin became vacant by the resignation of Luther S. Dixon, and Mr. Ryan was appointed to fill the vacancy, and the following April was elected for the unexpired and full term of six years, but his death occurred over a year before the completion of the latter.

He was one of the most remarkable men that the state ever produced and played an important part in many of the most notable affairs of the commonwealth. Both as an advocate and a judge he challenged the admiration of even his political opponents by his brilliant intellect, fertility of resource and wonderful command of language. In spite of the fact that he was naturally of a quick temper, as a judge he was patient, painstaking and eminently just. A few years after the death of his first wife, in 1847, he married Miss Caroline W. Pierce, of Newburyport, Mass.

His son, Hugh, of this sketch, was born in Racine, Wis., June 14, 1847, and was left motherless in his infancy. The following year the father removed to Milwaukee, and the son was reared in the city with which his later life has been associated. He was educated largely in private schools, in Racine College and the Milwaukee Classical Gymnasium. The last named was under the administration of Prof. Kursteiner, who, on removing to New Jersey, in 1865, was accompanied by his pupil, who remained for two years longer under his instruction. Returning to the West, Mr. Ryan entered the office of Attorney-General Edsall, of Illinois, where he pursued the study of the law, being admitted to the bar by examination, in Kansas, in 1872. After practicing there for something less than a year and during that time serving as prosecuting attorney for Rooks county, he returned to Illinois and was admitted to practice in the supreme court of that state, and followed his profession there for about two years, being also employed in the recorder's office. In 1876 he went to Milwaukee and entered the office of Hon. Luther S. Dixon, formerly chief justice of the supreme court of Wisconsin, and at that time a member of the firm of Dixon, Hooker, Wegg & Noyes. The firm dissolving the following year, Mr. Ryan became associate editor of the "Commercial Times" for a time. In 1878 he resumed the practice of law, and was the same year appointed court commissioner, a position which he has held continuously ever since. Most of his practice has been without partners, but in 1898 he formed an association which still continues, the firm name being Ryan, Ogden & Bottum. In politics he is a Democrat, hut has not entered largely into the political arena, although he served in 1885 as a member of the state legislature. While Mr. Ryan has doubtless been handicapped to some extent by being known as the son of his father, yet his own abilities, which are of a very high order, have enabled him to achieve a standing in his profession not surpassed by many members of the Wisconsin bar. He has a wide and thorough knowledge of law, a clear, logical and analytical mind, and a commanding and impressive manner of presentation. His practice is varied and extensive and has embraced many cases of more than the usual importance, and demanding more than the usual knowledge and ability to handle. He was one of the counsel in the case involving the franchise of the Milwaukee street railway, in which Quarles, Spence & Quarles, J. G. Fanders and other prominent attorneys of the city also appeared ; was one of the attorneys for the widow of Governor Ludington in the contest over his estate, and assisted in winning the case for his client; and was also attorney for Ferdinand Schlesinger in his litigation with Henry Herman as assignee of the Plankinton Bank, and in many other important cases. Aside from his legal qualifications, which have made him one of the leaders of the Milwaukee bar, Mr. Ryan possesses literary taste of a high order in other lines, and had he chosen to continue in the journalistic field, would doubtless have acquired equal reputation in that line.