Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 3 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 16

Robert C. Freihube, a hardware merchant whose enterprise, diligence and determination have been the basic elements of a well merited success, was born in the town of Menomonee, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, July 11, 1870, a son of Traugott and Wilhelmina (Liebers) Freihube, both of whom were natives of Germany but came to America with their respective parents when quite small. The paternal grandfather. Christian Freihube, was a pioneer of Milwaukee who arrived in this city before its incorporation. He devoted his life to the occupation of farming and Traugott Freihube also concentrated his efforts and attention upon agricultural pursuits throughout his life. Both he and his wife are deceased.

Robert C. Freihube pursued his education in the public schools and afterward began clerking in a grocery store, being thus employed for several years. He was later with the National Enameling & Stamping Company for a number of years and was in the employ of the Frankfurth Hardware Company for some time. He was also associated with Gimbel Brothers and then began business on his own account in 1902, at Twenty-fourth and Walnut streets as a member of the Weinsheimer Hardware Company. In 1911 a removal was made to North avenue and Thirty-fifth street and three years later the business was established at its present location — 3815 North avenue, where Mr. Freihube now has a large stock of hardware and merchandise. His business has reached extensive and gratifying proportions and his entire career has been characterized by an energy and determination that carries him steadily forward to success.

In 1894 Mr. Freihube was married to Miss Louise Zarling of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of four children: Beatrice, Gerhardt, Robert C. and Ruth. Mr. Freihube has throughout his life manifested a most public-spirited interest in the general welfare and in many ways has contributed to progress and improvement in the city. He was the second president of the Milwaukee Zoological Society and was instrumental in bringing the first animals to the Zoo. He has taken great interest in upbuilding the Zoo, making it a point of educative interest for young and old. He has likewise served as a member of the executive board of the mayor's advisory board for three years. He organized the first advancement association that was on North avenue and has been a member of many of its important committees, serving at the present time as chairman of its legislative committee. He belongs to the American Luther Association and is very active in religious work, serving now as chairman of the finance committee of the southeast district of the Wisconsin synod. Mr. Freihube is one of the best known business men on North avenue and one of the most highly esteemed residents of that section of the city. His work has indeed been of usefulness and benefit along many lines, and while actuated by the laudable ambition of attaining success in business, he has never allowed this to monopolize his time and attention to the exclusion of other interests but has recognized the opportunity to be of assistance in public matters and has ever contributed to the progress and improvement of the city, his labors being ever of a tangible character, productive of substantial and valuable results.