Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

WILLIAM BRAMWELL SIZER BIOGRAPHY

Image of Wm Sizer at Linking Your Past Image Gallery

William Bramwell Sizer
b: September 3, 1858 in Barton Wisconsin
d: March 19, 1916 in Milwaukee, Wisconin (See his Obituary)
p: Julius Wickwire Sizer and Ruth Ann Corwin (More on Julius and Ruth Ann)
m: April 11, 1883 in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
to: Minnie Rosina Maechtle
b: April 8, 1861 in Town of Saukville, Ozaukee County, WI
d: December 24, 1945 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
p: Johannes Maechtle and Madgdeline Lapp (More on Johannes and Madgdeline

Children born to this couple:
Walter Raymond Sizer
Ada Lillian Sizer
Arthur Sizer

WALTER RAYMOND SIZER

Their first child Walter Raymond Sizer was born January 7, 1884 in Ozaukee County, WIsoconsin. Walter married Ida V. Lindow on June 30, 1909 in Milwaukee. He died April 2, 1970 in Milwaukee.

In 1887, William and Minnie moved to Milwaukee where William was employed at the
Kunkel Furniture Company. Two years later he was accepted on the Milwaukee Police force in which capacity he remained until 1914. He kept diaries while on the force. They have been transcribed and can be read here.

ARTHUR SIZER

A third child was born of this couple, Arthur Sizer. Born January 18, 1892 and died in infancy, August 9, 1894. There are no entries in William Bramwell's Diaries from August 9-August 15.

ADA LILLIAN SIZER SYLVESTER

Their second child Ada Lillian Sizer was born March 14, 1888 in Milwaukee.
She married Arthur Ernest Sylvester on December 12, 1912. She died May 30, 1958 in Milwaukee.

Biography written by Ada Sizer Sylvester
July 1955

I was born at midnight March 13, 1888, My father always gave my birth date as March 14th but the birth records show March 13. My parents were Minnie R. Maechtle Sizer and William Bramwell Sizer. My mother was baptised Rosina Wilhelmina but always was known as Minnie. My father was named after a noted preacher as his parents were very religious people..

The house where I was born still stands on the south east corner of 23rd & Galena St. We lived in an upper flat. From there we moved to 19th Street between Walnut and Vine. My earliest recollections are when we lived in a cottage on 24 _ Street a few doors north of Brown Street. Lightening struck the house and left Mothe and I dazed a bit, but being a cold stroke no harm was done to us.

I was always very fearful of dogs and it is said that I came running to home crying " The dog across the street was just a bitten me". The next move was to 622 18th Street (old number) which was in a lower (cold water) flat with toilet in the basement. This place was between Walnut and Vine on the north side of 18th Street. Here my youngest brother Arthur Edwin was born and at the age of 2-1/2 years died of Spinal Meningitis. During the summer he was ill Walter, my older brother, and I stayed out on the farm of our Grandmother Maechtle which was 4 miles north of Port Washington, Wisconsin on County Trunk line K. The farm still run by Maechtle descendants.

When I was four years old I wanted to go to school. There were no kindergartens in the school on 24th and Brown at the time so I was put in the into the Baby class. The schools were just as crowded at that time as they are now and the Baby Class was held in the front room of a cottage near by on Brown Street. A class picture can be found in our picture books.

Mother never got over the loss of her little boy and wanted to get away, so a lot was purchased on 33rd and Lloyd Streets. The old house number was 731 ñ 33rd Street. It is the third house of Lloyd Street on the west side of the street. (By the way we paid $10.00 a month for the 18th Street flat.) Aunt Helen Maechtle, Mother's oldest sister bought two lots just south of our place which gave us a nice place to play in.

A carpenter by the name of Hunholz who lived in back of us on 34th Street built a cottage for us at the cost of $1000.00. It had 5 rooms, stove heat, outside toilet, wood foundation and a dry well which we had to pump out during wet weather. Years later a stone foundation was laid for the basement and attic room built. Aunt Helen sold 15 feet of her 60 foot lot in order to rent it for return on her investment, We were the first house on the west side of the street between Lisbon and North Avenues. There were wooden sidewalks but the street was not made. We really were way out in the country. Walter and I first attended public school on 27th and Elm Streets (now known as Garfield). We had to cross the Railroad Tracks by crawling though the wire fence and many times crawled under freight cars standing on the siding. The tracks have since been depressed. We were the first group of children who were transferred to the new school on 31st and Brown Streets Well I remember when we all marched up to the new school, by that time they had a crossing over the tracks at Brown Street.

By the time spring came Walter and I would beg to out into the country so the folks would give in and let us go without finishing up the school year. This was bad for me for it always pit me behind in may classes and made me very self conscious because I could not keep up.. But the folks seemed to think being out in the country was better for me than the education.

When we lived on 18th Street I was 5 and 6 years old. The children of the neighbor hood went to Schlitz Park on Sunday afternoons to hear the band concert. Schlitz Park was located on 9th and Walnut where Roosevelt Junior High School now is. There were a lot of trees and on the hill was a Pavilion and a lot of tables outside and also inside where beer was dispensed. The price of admission was 2 cents for children. They could walk along the paths and hear the concert. One Sunday upon returning from church wearing a very pretty dress which Aunt Helen had bought for me which was greatly admired by the girls of the neighborhood I was invited to go to Schlitz Park with them. I was able to get the admission price alright but mother said that I would have to put on my dark blue calico dress if I went. The girls were waiting for me outside and when I came out with the old dress on they would not take me along and I had to stay home. Needless to say I cried. This was my first disillusionment of the female sex.

The neighborhood was full of people who came to this country just recently. German was spoken more than English in the whole city. It had very common usage in the market places. Our neighbors to the north were Bohemian. I remember walking along the rail of the picket fence which divided the yard and as I jumped off my dress caught on a picket and I was suspended in mid-air. I came in the house crying because the Bohemian man picked me off.

To the rear of us was a family from Pomerainia who had several older boys. I was deathly afraid of the Pomers. My mothers cousin Fred Maechtle had a shoe store on Walnut Street west of 20th Street. This building has been torn down and at the present time is a vacant lot with a small cottage just east of the place. An Irish family lived in the cottage who we enjoyed very much, Mrs. Strokeman was so witty. There were a number of children but I remember playing with Ursula who was my age. The family later moved to Hammond, Indiana where the father was employed in the chemical factory.

Needless to say our shoes were always bought at cousin Fred's Our families always were very good friends. I still correspond with cousin Fred's daughter, Mrs. Oliver Maechtle Armantrout of Highland Park, Illinois. Cousin Fred's brother and sister lived in Highland Park and were doing very well in the contracting business. His sister was married to a man by the name of Streiber. The shoe business in Milwaukee did turn out to good after which cousin Fred had a saloon in the building which did not turn out any better financially. The change was for the best. But we missed our friends greatly. I remember during a Catholic and Protestant fund Fred's son Albert who was older walked down Walnut Street with all the little tots trailing behind, singing at the top of his voice ñ "Ta ra ra ra bum di a my father is an A.P.A, he kills a Catholic every day Ta ra ra ra bum dia."

When ever I went to the saloon with neighbor girls to get a pail of beer for their families. I always got razzed when I got home. The saloons always gave the children pretzels when they came in. so when ever I came home eating a pretzel the family always knew where I was

The first birthday party I ever had was in the new house on 33rd Street. All the neighbors and friends were invited. I still have a little cup and saucer which I received from Lila Rhode, the daughter of the minister that baptised me.

When I was born the folks attended the German Evangelical Church on 21st & Cherry Streets, which still stands. Later they joined Sherman Street Methodist Church on 11th and Sherman, now abandoned and used at the present time by a Jewish groupe.

OBITUARY

William Bramwell, son of Julius W. and Ruth A. Sizer, was born in the Town of Farmington, Washington County, Wisconsin, September 1, 1858. Two years later, he removed with his parents to Saukville, Ozaukee County, where he grew to manhood. April 11, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Maechtle the devoted companion of his life and mother of his children, Walter Raymond, Ada Lillian, now Mrs. Arthur Sylvester and Arthur Edwin, who passed away in infancy. After five years together in the old home town, Mr. and Mrs. Sizer removed to Milwaukee, where they have been residents for twenty eight years.

For several years Brother Sizer has not enjoyed his usual health, but for the past five months was confined to the house almost continuously because of heart trouble. The end came at 11:30 Friday forenoon when he quietly slipped away to be with Jesus, leaving a wife, two children, one brother, the Rev. J.L. Sizer, five sisters, a number of close relatives and a host of friends to mourn the departure of a faithful husband, devoted father, loyal friend, exemplary citizen and great hearted churchman, to whom sacrifice was a privilege, service a joy.

Public Services were held in Kingsley Methodist Episcopal Church on Monday March 13, at 2:30pm. The church was filled with sorrowing friends, and there was a great profusion of the most beautiful floral tributes. The services were shared by the pastor, Rev. Thomas L. Cocks and two former pastors, the Rev. T. W. Sprowls of Chicago and District Superintendent, E. D. Kohlstedt, who in accordance with the request of the deceased, delivered the address. A quartet composed of Mr. E, J, Morgan, Mr. W. L. Hess, Mrs. Hilda Heide, and Mrs. Hazel Bennett, sang some of Brother Sizer's favorite hyms: "Asleep in Jesus, No night there, and The City Foursquare." Internment took place in the family plot in Wanderer's Rest Cemetery.

Following a very sympathetic, helpful prayer by the pastor, who also read the scripture sketching the life of the deceased, revealing the facts above noted, and continued in part: "Brother Sizer's early life was spent in the country, where he developed that rugged physique which made possible the arduous labors and herculean tasks of later years, with their tremendous physical exactions. For twenty three years a member of the Milwaukee police force, Sergeant W. B. Sizer proved himself a public servant of no mean ability, retiring with honor about two years ago. "Born in a Christian home, surrounded from infancy by the priceless influences and hallowed associations of the family alter, William Sizer learned to know and to love his Savior early in life and, as a boy in his teen age identified himself with the church, in the activities of which he always took a prominent part: chorister, class leader, Sunday School teacher, steward. Mission work, in which he engaged extensively for 16 years, seemed to him more than any form of Christian endeavor. Upon their arrival in the city twenty eight years ago, Mr, and Mrs, Sizer united with the Sherman Street Methodist Episcopal Church, later transferring their membership to our Kingsley Church, shortly after its organization, a quarter of a century ago.

"During the last illness of the deceased, his immediate family were privileged to be about him, and loving hands ministered faithfully to his every want. His pastors and several former pastors fellowshipped with him from time to time, discussed matters of spiritual import, talked about the home in the skies and together with him, communed with God in prayer. Among the remarks which fell from his lips during these later days were: "I want all my friends to know that I live Jesus-I would that some word of mine might bring another soul to Christ---I am so anxious to do something more for my Savior---I have such blessed times with my heavenly Father---God is so good to me---Heaven is only a little ways off."

Shortly before his departure, Brother Sizer, dictated the following message: "My message of love, of hope and joy in Jesus Christ, to my pastor and former pastors, to my German preacher and friends, to my brothers and sisters of Kingsley Church, to my neighbors, to my loved ones, to all: I expect to meet you in a better world."

"If I were to choose a text, embodying the message of our dear brother, I should select the words of the Master recorded in John 20:17: 'Go unto my brethren and say unto them: I ascend unto my Father and your Father, my God and your God."

"These words were first spoken by our resurrected Lord, to the infinite comfort if His sorrowing friends. Since the days of the multitudes of the sons and daughters of earth, with clarified vision have gripped anew the fundamentals of life which are departed brother cherished through the years: the fact of God, the infinite F: of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son and Savior of men: of the holy spirit whose presence in the hearts of men transforms spiritual babes into spiritual giants, towering head and shoulders above their fellows. Over against the reality of sin and of human need, is the Gospel of the Cross, the great central fact of God's redemptive plan for the race, involving a knowable salvation, coupled with an appreciable equipment for service in the world as well as heaven.

"The hope of immortality, is a fact in human consciousness. Death is not the end of all things, but the of real life. Man cherished an abiding conviction that he is an heir to eternity. This conviction is so universally of man, that it must be reckoned with. Dr, Martineau well said: 'Man does not believe in immortality because he has proved it on the basis of mathematical demonstration, but he is always trying to prove it because he annot help it.' This hope is true to both. Scripture and experience, to doubt the validity of our faith, based on the promise."

The importance of life was dwelt upon, the characteristic struggle of man to preserve and to prolong life illustrated, and some of the conditions that need to reckoned with in the working out of life's program emphasized, particularly the possibility of death at any time, certainty of death sometime and the permanence of the individual.

"Somewhere at the end of the road you are traveling today, an open grave awaits you arrival. Just how soon you may reach that cleft in the earth, none of us can tell, but escape it you can not. The engineering skill of the world has accomplished marvels --- spanned might chasms, tunneled the mountain ranges and the seas ---but no engineer has every discovered who can bridge the open grave, tunnel underneath or build a highway around it. Death is no respecter of persons. I have seen him snatch the clinging infant from its mother's arms: the romping lad from his play and book: I have seen him break the hearts of lover and sweetheart: I have wondered at his taking the mother from her helpless babe and weeping husband: I have been astonished at his taking away without warning the only support of mother and child. Everywhere, I have seen his unwelcome shadow."

"The permanence of individuality is another condition, the force of which we dare not ignore. In the midst of life's busy toil and turmoil, men are sometimes inclined to forget that life is more than meat and the body than raiment: that it is not all of life to live, nor all of death to die: that the law of harvest applies in character-building as well as the wheat field. The world is the preparatory school for the University of Heaven: this is our golden opportunity to secure a proper equipment for citizenship in heaven."

"What more shall I say, by the way of personal reference to the life of the man whose departure from life we mourn today? He was our neighbor and fellow citizen. For twenty five years, he has gone in and out among you. For a quarter of a century, he has walked these streets, dealt in local marts of trade, shared the social, political and church life of this community, identified himself with every worthy enterprise in behalf of civic and social betterment: busied himself with numerous charities, the number and extent of which were unknown to his most intimate friends. His own record of his life is his best endorsement. Of course he had his limitations and short comings; no one was more keenly conscious of or more willing to acknowledge them than himself. Being a very positive character, with intense convictions, particularly with reference to matters of social and spiritual significance, he was frequently misunderstood, while his somewhat abrupt and emphatic expressions were sometimes misinterpreted. However, even those who understood him least never questioned the sincerity of his motives nor the integrity of his Christian life. He was a stalwart man, physically and spiritually. This will always be a better community in which to live, because of the abiding life influence of such a man, of whom it can surely be said:

"Servent of God, well done: Thy glorious warfare past, The battle's fought, the race is won, And thou art crowned at last."

The Rev. T. W. Sprowls spoke very touchingly of the home life of the deceased, whom he had known for over twenty years, having roomed with the Sizers while pastor of Kingsley Church. He also referred to personal characteristics of the man, revealed only to those who knew him intimately and had hi fullest confidence. It was a beautiful portraiture of human possibilities in character building.

(Source--- Wisconsin Christian Advocate --- Milwaukee, Wisconsin --- April 1916 Devoted to the Interests of The Methodist Episcopal Church in Wisconsin)
his copied from a very faded newspaper clipping on 5/29/2001. The spelling and sentence structure are that of the clipping, ( William A. Sylvester, Grandson)