Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 3 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 26

William F. Barkow is engaged in the manufacture of automobile bodies in Milwaukee and his business is the outgrowth of one of the old-time enterprises of the city, a wagon manufacturing concern that was established in 1879. Mr. Barkow his always been a resident of Milwaukee, his birth having here occurred February 10, 1873, his parents being Herman and Minnie (Schmidt) Barkow, both of whom were natives of Germany. The mother arrived in Milwaukee in 1858. It was a decade later when Herman Barkow came to this city and here he established a wagon shop in 1879 at No. 196 Milwaukee street. He began the business in a small way, owing to his limited capital, but was progressing nicely when the third ward fire occurred and destroyed his plant. This was in 1892 and his losses were so heavy that he was again forced to establish his business on a small scale. Gradually, however, he built up the trade and the nature of the business was changed to meet the demands along the lines of automobile sales rather than wagons. In 1914 the business was incorporated under the name of the H. Barkow Company, builders of automobile bodies, with Herman Barkow as president; William F. Barkow as vice president; and Fred C. Barkow as secretary and treasurer. Upon the death of Herman Barkow, October 26, 1919, William F. Barkow became president. Their plant covers a ground space two hundred and forty by one hundred and twenty feet and they are enjoying a notable trade, their sales having rapidly increased year by year. The business is capitalized for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and their output is sent to all parts of the United States and Canada and to various sections of Ihe world through the automobile and truck manufacturers.

In the year 1897 Mr. Barkow was married to Miss Ida Meschke, a daughter of Charles Meschke of Hubbleton, Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of eight children: Helen, the wife of A. J. Hess; Hilda; Esther, who has passed away; Walter; Edna; Arthur; Lydia; and Carl. The religious faith of the family is indicated in their connection with the Nazareth Lutheran church.

In politics Mr. Barkow has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. as he has never been an aspirant for political preferment. He belongs to the Association of Commerce and through that agency supports all those forces and plans which make for public progress and improvement. His cooperation can at all times be counted upon to promote the public welfare and as a business man he has contributed in substantial measure to the material development of Milwaukee.