Marathon County, Wisconsin - Chapter 35, 1913 (part 10 of 10)

He is a member of the Marathon County Bar Association. Mr. Riley is a communicant of St. James CathoHc church, Wausau, and belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and to the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a Democrat.

The maternal grandparents, James and Ann (Moore) Kearney, were bom in Ireland, but moved to Massachusetts when they were still young, where they were married. They then moved to Kenosha county. Wis., where with an ox team they moved to Juneau county, where they were pioneer settlers.

Mr. Riley by his own exertion not only helped his parents, but put himself through both his high school and college courses, practically paying all his expenses.

ERIC SCKUBRING,* who carries on general farming and dairying on his 112 acres, situated seven miles northeast of Wausau, was born on the old Schubring place, in the town of Wausau, Marathon county. Wis., in 1877, and is a son of Frederick and Amelia (Ventzke) Schubring.

Frederick Schubring and wife were both born in Gemiany and he was an early settler in Marathon county, coming- here in 1864. In 1866 he returned to Gemiany and was married there, and when he came back to Marathon county he settled on what is still known as the Schubring homestead. He was an industrious man and in the course of years accumulated a large fortune in land, owning 292 acres at one time, being one of the largest land owners in this section, and at the time of his death he still held 120 acres. He followed farming during all his active life, dying at the age of seventy-four years. His widow sur\'ives and lives on the old home place with her son, Leo. There were si.x children in the family and four survive: Frederick, who is in the lumber business at Wausau ; Rhinold, Leo. and Eric.

Eric Schubring obtained his education in the public schools and afterward worked on the home fann until December, 1902, when he purchased his present place, on which he has made all the excellent improvements, including the building of the farm residence. He is a stockholder and is treasurer of the local creamery.

Mr. Schubring married Miss Anna Hafermann, who was born in the town of \\'ausau, and they have three children : Vema, Herbert and Orval. The family attend the Lutheran church. In national political contests Mr. Schubring is a Republican, but in local matters he exercises his own judgment, putting man before party.

WILLIAM T. LAWRENCE, D. D. S., at Wausau, Wis., was born in Connecticut, twelve miles from Hartford, a ^on of Henry and Martha Lawrence. The parents of Dr. Lawrence removed to Chicago, III., where the father, for a number of years, was the representative of the Waterbury Clock Company. He was a native of Vennont and his wife of Connecticut, and both died at Chicago.

William T. Lawrence was educated in his native state and for four years afterward was connected with a dry goods house, subsequently spending two years more in the same line in a Chicago business house, following which he was engaged for one year in selling dental supplies. In 1876 he came to Mosinee, Wis., and for four years was owner of a general store. In 1880 he returned to Chicago and turned his attention to dentistry, three of his brothers being engaged in the practice of this profession at that time. He spent one and one-half years in the office of a brother and then attended the Chicago Dental College, after Which he came to Merrill, Wis., where he practiced for two years, in 1885 locating at Wausau, where, for twentyseven years he has been in continuous practice. He is a member of a number of dental organizations.

Dr. Lawrence married Miss Ida Perkins, of Merrill. Wis. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and socially belongs to the W'ausau City Club. He maintains his office at No. 517 Lawrence block, being the owner of this property.

PIERSON L. HALSEY,* justice of the peace in the town of Rietbrock, and the owner of 600 acres of valuable land here, for a number of years was well known in the county as an able attorney, practicing in the State, Federal and United States Supreme Courts. He was born February 5, 1871, at Oshkosh, Wis., and is a son of Lawrence and Mary L. (Loveridge) Halsey.

Hon. Lawrence Halsey, who, for the past twelve years has been presiding judge of Milwaukee, was born in New York. He was one of the early business men of this part of Marathon county and a member of the firm of Johnston, Rietbrock & Halsey, builders of the first mills at Athens. He married Mary L. Loveridge, also born in New York, and they had three children: Louisa, who is the wife of Philo C. Darrow, who conducts a printing establishment at Chicago ; Pierson L. : and Cornelia, who is deceased.

Pierson L. Halsey went from the public schools of Milwaukee to Cornell University, where he was a student for three years, and then entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, where he was graduated in the class of 1896. For fourteen years he was a member of the well known law firm of Rietbrock & Halsey and for seven years practiced alone, finally giving up his practice in order to give due attention to his large property interests. Two and one-half miles south of Athens lies his stock and dairy farm of 135 acres, and here he makes a specialty of raising Berkshire hogs and Guernsey cattle. In his political sentiments he is not hide-bound, but has always been inclined toward the principles of the Democratic party.

On June 10, 1908, Mr. Halsey was married to Miss Grace L. Greenwood, who is a daughter of Rev. John W. and Gertrude CLoveridge) Greenwood, the former being rector of the Episcopal church at Oshkosh. ]\Irs. Halsey has one brother, John L. Mr. and Mrs. Halsey have one daughter, Mary Gertrude. They belong to the Episcopal church. He is identified with the ^^lasonic fraternity at Milwaukee.

LEO SCHUBRIXG,* whose excellent farm of 180 acres lies five and one-half miles northeast of Wausau, in the town of Wausau, Marathon county, Wis., was bom on this place, December 7, 1875, and is a son of Frederick and Amelia (Ventzke) Schubring.

Frederick Schubring and wife were born in Germany. He came to the United States a young man, in 1864, but two years later returned to Germany and married, and with his wife came back to America and then bought his fann in ^Marathon county, Wis., which is still known as the Schubring homestead. Here his children were born and here his widow yet lives, he having died at the age of seventy-four years. He was a hard-working man during his active years and his industry was rewarded by the acquisition of a large amount of valuable land, his possessions at one time amounting almost to 300 acres. To Frederick Schubring and wife six children were born, four of whom still live: Frederick, who is in the lumber business at Wausau: Rhinold, Leo, and Eric, the last named living on his farm of 112 acres, situated seven miles northeast of Wausau.

Leo Schubring grew up on the home fann and attended the country schools. Afterward he became interested in engineering and for five years worked as an engineer in different mills. After retiring from that line of work he purchased the old homestead and settled down to an agricultural life and ever since has followed general fanning and dairying. The father erected the larger number of the buildings on the place, but he has made all needed additions and improvements and they indicate ver\^ practical methods and the right sort of interest to insure success in his undertakings.

Berlin, a daughter of Carl Lang, and they have one child, Ethel. They attend the Lutheran church. Mr. Schubring is intelligently interested in public matters, but is attached to no political party, casting his vote independently.

MICHAEL BOWE, who is a general merchant at Edgar, Wis., was born in Dodge county, Wis., July 12, 1854, and is a son of John and Ellen (Mahoney) Bowe, both of whom died at Fox Lake, Wis., he at the age of eighty-seven years, and she when aged sixty-two years. They were members of the Catholic church. They had eight children, and with one exception all are living. The father was a farmer. Both he and wife were born in Ireland, and when they came to America landed at Boston, Mass., and from there came to Wisconsin.

Michael Bowe obtained his education in two district schools in Dodge county and afterward worked on the home farm until he embarked in the mercantile business at Fox Lake, the home of his parents being three miles from there. After selling his store at Fox Lake Mr. Bowe traveled for two years for the Beaver Dam Woolen Mills through Minnesota and Iowa, and then entered 240 acres of land, w^hich he improved with buildings. Some fifteen years ago he entered into his present line of merchandising, his stock including groceries, school supplies and candies. He is one of the trustees of the village, is a Progressive Republican in his political views and is a member of St. John's Catholic church.

Mr. Bowe married Miss Mary Moylan, a native of Dodge county, a daughter of John and Catherine Moylan, of Beaver Dam, and they have six children : Clare, Vigil, Helen, Frank, Clarence and Mark, the first three being teachers in the schools of Marathon county.

BERNARD F. LAABS,* music dealer, at Wausau, Wis., was born in this city, July 7, 1875, and is a son of August and Julia (Bartz) Laabs, who were born, reared and married in Gemiany. They came to Wisconsin in 1864 and often described early conditions to their children, relating how they walked the entire distance from Merlin, Wis., to Waukesha, on account of lack of transportation facilities. August Laabs acquired a fann near Wausau and cultivated it until 1906, when he sold it and purchased a residence in W^ausau, living retired during the rest of his life, and dying in April, 191 1. His widow still survives, being in her seventy-third year. Six sons and one daughter were born to them : Julius, who lives in Lincoln county. Wis.; Annie, who is the wife of Henry Pautz, of ^^'ausau: Robert,

Bernard F. Laabs attended a German school for four months and spent several winter evening terms in the Wausau Business College, but from the age of fifteen years has made his own way in the world. As a boy he entered the- employ of the St. Paul Railroad Company and remained one and one-half years, afterward, for eleven years, was with A. L. Kreutzer, and for eight years was with the James Music Company as a salesman. Upon the retirement of this company from business he embarked in the same line for himself, establishing his present store on March i. 1912, at No. 314 Scott street. He has every reason to be satisfied with his future prospects, ha\ing secured the confidence of the public during his long association with other concerns and having made personal friends in all sections. From early manhood he has taken an intelligent and active part in politics and cast his first vote for William McKinley for president of the United States. He was the Republican nominee for register of deeds in the September primaries, 1912.

In 1899 Mr. Laabs was married to ^liss Emma Garske, of Berlin, Marathon county, and they have five children : Bernard. Ruth. Kermit. Voliva and Quenton. Mr. and Mrs. Laabs are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the fraternal order of Modern Woodmen of America. to the Fraternal Reserve Association, the E. F. L^. and to the L^nited Commercial Travelers.

JESSE RANDALL BRYANT, M. D.,* physician and surgeon, who has been established in his profession at Wausau since 1910, is widely known and is an examiner for the Wisconsin State Tuberculosis Commission. He was born at Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan county. Wis., October 11, 1867, and is a son of Erasmus P. and Frances (Brown) Bryant.

The Bryants are one of the pioneer families of Wisconsin. John and Elizabeth Bryant, the grandparents, came to the United States from Cornwall, England, locating first at Racine, but later moving into Sheboygan county. Erasmus P. Bryant was bom in Wisconsin in 1849, and after following the drug business for fifty years, retired; he and wife live at Sheboygan Falls. They have one son and two daughters : Jesse R. : Helen, who is the wife of A. O. Heald. president of the German Bank of Sheboygan Falls : and Bessie, who is a teacher in the high school in that city.

pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin, and in 1896 was graduated in medicine at Rush Medical College, Chicago. For a short time he practiced at Louis Corners, but afterward located at Lyndon Station, in Juneau county, Wis., and remained there for almost twelve years. He returned then to Chicago and took a post graduate course, and in December, 1908, established himself at Wausau, where he commands a large practice. He is a member of the Marathon County and the Juneau County Medical organizations, and the Wisconsin State and the American Medical Associations. For seventeen years Dr. Bryant has been continuously in professional harness, and through ability has won a leading place as a physician and surgeon.

In June, 1889, Dr. Bryant was married to Miss Elizabeth Peterson, a daughter of Qiarles A. Peterson, of Omro, Winnebago county. He belongs to the various Masonic bodies, to the Knights of Pythias and to the Modern Woodmen of the World.

F. G. RADLOFF, secretary of the Berlin Fire and Lightning Insurance Company, in the town of Berlin, is a general farmer living in section 5, where he owns 120 acres, lying eleven miles west of Merrill. Wis. He was born in Germany, September 28, 1859, attended school there and was twenty-three years old when he came to America. He lived first in Lincoln county, Wis., and then came to his present place in the town of Berlin, when the whole country was covered with timber.

Mr. Radloff has cleared eighty acres of his land and has put up excellent buildings and still has standing the first house he and family occupied. He married Miss Alena Gearhohn, who was born in Lincoln county, and they ha\'e six children : Robert, Charles, William. Edwin, Elsie and Stella. Mr. Radloff and family belong to the Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee. For ten years he has been secretary of the above named insurance company and is a member of the Hamburg Telephone Company, No. i. In politics he is a Democrat. For eighteen years he served as school clerk of District No. 3. for four years was town treasurer and for one year was town assessor.

GUY A. MILLS, V. S.,* who has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Wausau for the past twelve years, is widely known in this section and maintains the best equipped hospital, at No. 11 1 Fifth street, Wausau, of any in Marathon county. He was born at Cross Plains, Dane county. Wis., March 19, 1870, and is a son of Amos and Sophia Mills, both of -whom still reside in Dane county.

county, and when he reached manhood chose medicine as his life work, entering the line of veterinary science, and through close study and considerable experience has become a leading practitioner and has a reputation that extends far beyond Marathon county. After six years of practice in Dane county he spent some time in Brown county, Wis., and a few months at Woodstock, III, but for twelve years he has been established at Wausau. Dr. Mills attended the Ontario Veterinary College, at Toronto, Canada - a noted institution - during 1893 and 1894. and completed his course at Chicago, 111., in 1899. He is a member of the Chicago Veterinary Associations, the Illinois State Veterinary Association and the Wisconsin State Veterinary Association.

Dr. Mills was married in 1900. to Miss Bertha Randall, daughter of William Randall, of Albion, Neb., and they had one son, Vernon G., Avho lived to be seven years and seven months old, his death on January 25, 191 1, leaving a great void in the home circle. Dr. Mills' practice is large enough to claim all his business hours. He is a Republican in politics and fraternally belongs to the ]\Iodern Woodmen, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

GEORGE A. RUXKEL,* postmaster at Brokaw and manager of the general store here for the Wausau Paper Mill, came here in April, 1908. He was born at Lowell, Dodge county, Wis., and is a son of John and Mary (Weber) Runkel.

John Runkel was born in Germany, and his wife in Massachusetts, of German parents. They reside at Oconto, in Oconto county. Wis., where he is a general merchant and is interested also in the cedar lumber business. Their children all survive, as follows : Frederick, Etta, Lena, Alberta, John, Jacob, George A., Ma\nne, Minnie, Catherine and Lulu.

George A. Runkel had only common school advantages, after which he learned the jewelry business with his brother and continued in the same for thirteen years at Oconto Falls, Wis. He was then an office man with the Rhinelander Paper Mill Company at Rhinelander, Wis., for four years. Mr. Runkel was then tendered his present position and accepted, and as soon as he was established here was appointed postmaster. This office does considerable business, having eighty lock boxes. In his political attitude he is independent. He is serving as superintendent of the village and also is school clerk, and while living at Oconto Falls was both village and town clerk.

And Represextatr'E Citizens 975

Louis Reed was born in Germany, and after coming to this section followed fishing as a business. The mother of Mrs. Runkel was of English descent but was bom in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Reed's children were : Elizabeth, Eva, Ira, Lillian, Wesley, Raymond and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Runkel have one son, Floyd Reed, who is a school boy. Mr. and Mrs. Runkel attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Rhinelander and to the M. W. A. and the Beavers at Brokaw.

CHARLES H. GEISLER,* proprietor of a meat market at No. 528 Forest avenue, Wausau, Wis., has been in the meat business here for the last twenty-three years. He was born in Wausau. December 14. 1869, a son of Frank and Minnie Geisler, both of whom are now li\ing in Marathon county, in which they were early settlers.

Charles H. Geisler in his boyhood attended the public schools of \\'ausau and after his school days were over he began to learn the butcher's trade. Subsequently he established himself in business here, about 1890, and has since carried it on successfully. He does his own butchering, having a slaughter house about one mile east of the city.

Mr. Geisler married Nettie Klamenn, who was born in German}', and they have had four children, namely : Arnold, Leona, Ermengarde and Carl. Mr. Geisler is a member of the M. B. A. and order of Maccabees. He stands high as a citizen and has done his part in helping to build up the commercial interests of Wausau.

BENJAMIN HEINEMANN is one of the foremost business men of Marathon county and has risen to this eminent position from a small beginning. His career furnishes another instance of the fact that the energetic young man who makes good use of the talents with which he is endowed may, even in this age of combination, advance by successive steps to a high place in the business world.

]\Ir. Heinemann came to America in 1869, and started in life for himself as clerk in a store at Depere, Wis. He came to Wausau in the year 1873 with his brother Nathan and they opened a gentlemen's furnishing store, which soon branched out into general merchandise and became the leading mercantile institution in the city.

Desiring to embark in manufacturing and real estate he sold his interest in the firm to his brother and purchased an interest in the lumbering firm of the G. E. Foster Lumber Company, being made vice president of the cor-

He withdrew from this concern in 1901 and started in the manufacture of lumber alone under the firm name of B. Heinemann Lumber Company, operating saw and planing mills near Antigo, Wis., until 1907, when he incorporated as the B. Heinemann Lumber Company with the following officers : B. Heinemann, president; Walter B. Heinemann, vice president; Gabriel B. Heinemann, secretary and treasurer. This corporation purchased the mills of the Alexander Stewart Lumber Company at Wausau in 1912 and they have timber enough to keep them supplied for the next fifteen years. The B. Heinemann Lumber Company's mill is the oldest established mill in the Wisconsin pinery, being the mill originally built by W. D. Mclndoe in

1849, after having succeeded to' the property of George Stevens, the first settler and lumberman in Marathon county. It has been in continuous operation since erected and employs now from 150 to 200 men annually.

Mr. Heinemann is one of the founders of the National German-American Bank of Wausau, and has been its president since its first organization as a state bank in 1890. He is likewise one of the founders of the Wisconsin Box Company of Wausau, Wis., and vice president of that corporation, and is president of the Cisco Lake Lumber Company, a corporation holding large tracts of timber; secretary and treasurer of the Land & Loan Company, and a director in the Great Northern Life Insurance Company. These important and responsible offices filled by him are the best evidence of the confidence which other business men place in his ability as a business manager and in the integrity of his character.

B. Heinemann reached this high station in the course of an active, honorable business and private life of forty years by diligent application of honest business methods, but making use of and grasping opportunities which others passed by without taking notice.

1850, a son of Samuel Heinemann and his wife Jedda. nee Bernei. He was married to Miss Johanna Ullman, daughter of B, Ullman and his wife Dorothea, nee Strauss, of Appleton, on the 30th day of November, 1873, and the following children were born to them, namely: Gustav N.., Walter B. and Gabriel B., sons, and Belle, Dorothea Heinemann Sexsmith and Lita Heinemann Steinam, daughters. The sons are each interested in the B. Heinemann Lumber Company and actively engaged in the business. The daughter. Belle, is at home, a member of the Tuesday Musical Club, herself an accomplished musician.

Charles Helke And Representative Citizens 977

CHARLES HELKE, who has been a resident of Wausau, Wis., since 1871, is one of the well known business men and substantial citizens of this city. He was born in Germany, October 19, 1854, and is a son of August and Augusta Helke, the latter of whom still survives and lives with her son, being probably the most venerable lady in Wausau, and enjoying good health, although aged ninety years. The father of our subject died March 24, 1909.

Charles Helke was reared and educated in Germany and learned the cabinet-making trade with his father. In 1871 the whole family - father, mother, four sisters and four brothers - came to the United States and immediately settled in Wausau, Wis., where Charles Helke, with his father, began the manufacture of furniture, bar and store fixtures, also doing fine church cabinet-making. On the father's death the manufacturing end of the business was dispensed with, Mr. Helke being now a furniture dealer and also engaged in undertaking. He owns the fine business block in which his business is located and has additional real estate. While closely devoting himself to the fimi founding of his own enterprise, Mr. Helke has not been unmindful of the general welfare of others and has taken an interest in and has been willing to assume responsibilities connected with public affairs. For years he was a member of the volunteer fire department and also belonged to a local body of state militia. A Republican in politics, he was elected on that ticket a member of the city council from the Third Ward, serving for several yc^'s with hoiwsty and ability.

Mr. Helke was married at Kilboum City, Wis., September 23, 1884. to Miss Emma Radandt, who died August 18, 1900, survived by four children: Claire. Lillian, Mabel and Carl J. He is connected with a number of fraternal organizations. From a smaTl beginning Mr. Helke has built up his furniture business to a large enterprise and has now the largest and most up-to-date store in the northwest doing a general furniture and undertaking business.

CARL C. ADAM,* city clerk of Wausau, Wis., well known both in business and political circles, was born in this city July 26, 1875. and is a son of John and Augusta Adam. The father of Mr. Adam, our subject, died in 1 88 1, and the mother in the year 1898. They were old settlers and representative people here.

Carl C. Adam attended school at Wausau and after completing the high school course, engaged as a clerk with a local clothing house. He continued thus employed for four years and then embarked in the insurance business. Still later he went into the general coiranission business and remained interested in that line until he was appointed city clerk by the city council. He is active in good citizenship and in the spring of 1912 he was made city clerk. On September 21, 1912, Mr. Adam was married to Miss EulaHa Brisbois, daughter of Joseph Brisbois, a leading citizen of Wausau. He is fraternally identified with the order of Eagles.

EVERETT WRIGHT,* who is engaged in the livery business at Athens, Wis., and is well and favorably known as a man of his word and as a good citizen, was born in Buffalo county, Wis., September 18. 1879, and is a son of Emerson and Sarah (Wray) Wright.

The parents of ^Ir. Wright were bom in Canada, of English ancestry. The father was a farmer and a merchant and they were well known locally both in the Dominion and in Wisconsin, where they settled before the birth of their son Everett, the fifth of their family, the others being: Allen; Mary, wife of Joseph Patrow; Elizabeth; Eugene; Alice, wife of Gilferd York; and Rosabel.

Everett Wright had common school advantages only and then learned the barber's trade, which he followed for twelve years prior to coming to Athens. Here he invested in residence property and, with a partner, embarked in the livery business and also deals in horses. He married Miss Ella Plish, who was bom in Marathon county, a daughter of Oswald Plish, whose other children are: Lilly, wife of Jacob Morrie; Robert; Edward; Alexander; Alma, wife of Louis Redtetzky; and Martha, wife of Peter Groff. Mr. and Mrs. W'right have three children: Evelyn, Alvera. and Mildred. The family attends the Presbyterian church. 'Sir. Wright belongs to the M. W. A. and in politics is an independent voter.

HER:\L\X T. SCHLEGEL, :\L D.,* specialist in the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, with offices in the McCrossen Building, Wausau, has been in practice in this city for about three years and has been very successful in his particular line. He was born March 13, 1870, in Switzerland.

Dr. Schlegel was educated in his native canton and remained in Switzerland until 1 89 1, when he came to the L'nited States and continued his medical studies, graduating in the class of 1906 from the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery. For eighteen months he was house physician and surgeon for the Illinois Charity Eye and Ear Infinnan,' at Chicago and for several years practiced in that city before coming to Wausau in August, 1910. Dr. Schlegel is a member of the Marathon County IMedical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has traveled extensively both in Europe and in the United States and spent four-

SIGISMUND KARAS,* proprietor of the Karas Machine Shop and Automobile Garage, at Wausau, Wis., has been a resident of this city for many years, owns valuable property here and is one of the reliable and well known business men. He was born at Vienna, Austria, April i8, i860, and is a son of Mathias and Mary Karas, the former of whom was a farmer and also a mechanic and gunsmith.

In his youth and under his father's direction, Sigismund Karas learned the machinist's trade. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he worked for large machine companies in their shops in Austria. In 1889 he came to America and to, Wausau. Here he found employment as a machinist in the old Frenzel works and afterward, for almost five years he was with the D. J. Murray Company, when he started a small repair shop of his own on the site where he is still located. Subsecjuently he bought the land and erected on it a shop with dimensions of 18x30 feet, which may be compared with his present place of 32x60 feet, which he finds none too large as he has plenty of work to keep about six men busy. He also handles the Imperial automobiles and supplies and does a large business along this line. His garage is situated at Nos. 904-906 Third street, and his residence is at No. 908 Third street, and he owns the entire property.

Mr. Karas was married in Germany, in June, 1889, to Miss Maria Paungartner, and when they reached Wausau his money capital was thirty-five cents. They have two children: Rosa, who is the wife of Louis Vahldieck and they have a daughter, Helen; and Rudolph, who is employed by Mr. Karas. as is also Mr. Vahldieck. Mr. Karas is one of the charter members of the local lodge of the Equitable Fraternal Union. His success in business may be attributed to his thorough knowledge of his particular line of work and to his unremitting industry. He is a highly respected resident of Wausau.

LEE M. WILLARD, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Wausau, was born October 2, 1868, a son of V. R. Willard. He began the study of medicine after graduating from the Merrill High School with the class of 1885, entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago, 111., where he was graduated in 1891. Dr. Willard then gained practical experience in the Illinois Charitable Eye and Ear Infinnary, where he

Dr. Willard is a member of the Marathon County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In 1894 he was united in marriage with Miss Eva M. Penywell, a daughter of M. F. Penywell, of Chicago. He is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery at Wausau, and is identified also with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Elks, while his social connections are with the Wausau Club and the Wausau Country Club.

REV. JOSEPH J. BRENNAN. - The subject of this sketch, Rev. Joseph James Brennan, son of William Brennan and his wife Mary A. (Casey), was bom January 13, 1872, on a farm at Black Hawk, Iowa, ten miles from the city of Waterloo. He was the fourth offspring in a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, all of whom are living in Iowa except Father Brennan.

Joseph James Brennan, when a boy, attended the district school in his vicinity during the winter months, while in summer he labored on the fami. Even while attending the country school the future priest evinced a decided inclination and a real thirst for knowledge, and nearly always stood at the head of his class. When about fourteen years of age he was sent by his parents to Independence. Iowa, where he entered the high school, and where he remained for two years ; he then took up his studies for one year at the Waterloo (Iowa) Business College. All this time, and in fact even as a small boy. his mind had been set on the idea of the ministry - he labored and prayed that he might some day be a priest.

But his parents were not blessed with much of this world's goods - in fact, they were poor - so Joseph James worked for three years as a hired man on a farm in his native country in order to gather together the necessary funds to insure at least a fair beginning in his studies for the priesthood.

He then went to the famous Creighton University at Omaha, Neb., conducted by the Jesuit Fathers, where he began in earnest his studies for the priesthood, and where again he gave a good account of himself, standing well up in a very large class. On the advice of his pastor and friends he left Creighton University at the end of the school year, 1894, and entered St. Joseph's College, Dubuque, Iowa, where he completed his classical and philosophical studies with high honors.

He was then sent by his Bishop, Rt. Rev. James Schwebach, La Crosse, Wis., to the St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wis., where he made his theo- logical course, and again established a splendid record as a student. He remained in this renowned and venerable institution for three years, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Frederick Katzen, of Milwaukee, June i6, 1901.

Father J. J. Brennan celebrated his first mass in his parish church at Waterloo, Iowa, June 2;^, 1901, in the presence of relatives and friends, and assisted by many priests, amongst whom was the present Bishop of Helena, Mont., the Rt. Rev. John P. Carroll, who acted as assistant priest and who was Father Brennan's professor for three years. In a few days thereafter Father Brennan was assigned by his bishop as assistant priest to Rev. A. B. C. Dunne, of St. Patrick's congregation, Eau Claire, Wis. Here he remained as assistant for about one year ; and when Father Dunne went on a six months' trip to Europe in 1902, Father Brennan was given temporary charge of this parish.

When Father Dunne returned from Europe in November of that same year, Father Brennan was, by his bishop, appointed pastor of St. Francis church, Necedah, Juneau county, Wis., and the missions, New Lisbon and Camp Douglas. He remained here about two and one-half years, during which time he built a parish house and remodeled and repaired the churches at Necedah, New Lisbon and Camp Douglas. This was in 1902, 1903. 1904 and a part of 1905.

The Catholic St. Mary's church at Wausau having became too small to accommodate the large and still growing congregation, the Rt. Rev. J. Schwebach, bishop of La Crosse, acceded to the request made to him by a portion of that congregation for a new parish, and in the latter part of June, 1905, appointed Father Brennan as first pastor of the newly organized parish of St. James. Some time previous to this date the proposed members of the new congregation had purchased the old Methodist church, corner of Second and Grant streets, and the residence immediately adjoining as a temporary abode for divine service.

Father Brennan arrived in Wausau early in July, 1905, and set about completing arrangements for the legal and ecclesiastical establishment of the new St. James' parish. The old Methodist church was dedicated by Father Brennan July 10, 1905, under the patronage of St. James the Apostle, and in honor of Bishop James Schwebach, by whose authority it was established. Not more than one-half of those who desired to attend the dedicatory services could find seats in the church.

The congregation in July, 1905, numbered 125' families, but at this date, January i, 1913. the number is at least 300 or about 1,500 souls. In the year 1907 the St. James congregation purchased the two lots and buildings imme- diately adjoining their property on the south, from Morgan Brothers, and this purchase then gave them an entire half block in the city of Wausau.

In May, 191 1, Father Brennan and his people voted to erect, on the newly purchased property, a modern, commodious and substantial church, in keeping with the growth of the city of Wausau and the new St. James' parish. Work on the new edifice was begun about May i, 191 1, but owing to serious difficulties the new church was not completed until December, 1 9 1 2. On December 1 7, 1912, the beautiful new St. James church was solemnly dedicated by Rt. Rev. James Schwebach, D. D., bishop of La Crosse, in. whose diocese Wausau is located, and in whose honor the new parish was named.

The dedication of the new St. James church marked a red-letter day in the history of the young parish ; for besides the bishop of the diocese and thirtythree priests. His Grace Archbishop Messner, of ^lilwaukee, was present in the sanctuary for the dedicatory services, and in the afternoon confirmed a large class of children and adult converts and preached an eloquent sermon.

At this writing St. James' congregation has one of the most beautiful, substantial and complete church edifices in the country. The edifice itself is one of the most beautiful and artistic in the state, both exteriorly and interiorly. It is of pure Romanesque style in architecture, of solid stone and brick, and modern in every particular. The furniture is substantial, modern, and in full keeping with the general architectural design of the church ; the stained glass windows are real works of art and present a completejife of Christ and the work of redemption ; and the new pipe organ is one of the very best in the state.

Rev. Joseph James Brennan, the founder of St. James" parish, has labored faithfully the past eight years to accomplish the work which he undertook to do in July, 1905. That he has succeeded in doing this, even far beyond his fondest hopes at that time, he himself cheerfully confesses. Though he has labored hard during the twelve years of his priestly ministry, always faithful in the discharge of his duties, Father Brennan is still in the prime of life, and appears many years younger that he really is. He is now forty-one years of age, but he might well pass for a young man of thirty-five. Given proper encouragement, average health, and barring unforeseen accidents. Father Brennan will be heard from for many years to come in his labors in the vineyard of the Lord. 1