Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 20

No history of Milwaukee would be complete without mention of the Stem family who have for many years been dominant factors in its development and Improvement The H. Stern Jr., & Brother Company is one of the oldest and representative wholesale dry goods establishments in Milwaukee, and Charles G. Stern, whose name Initiates this review, has been its chief executive since 1919. He was born in this city on the 7th of October, 1853, his parents being Henry and Julia (Popper) Stem, both deceased.

Henry Stern was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1848, when but twenty-four years of age. For about a year or so after landing in this country he remained in New York but at the end of that time removed to Wisconsin and located in Milwaukee, where soon afterward he founded the present business with a capital of about five hundred dollars. He took into partnership Julius Goll, who remained with him for about two years, and they succeeded in putting the business on paying basis. From the start the firm handled wholesale notions and built up a reputation in that connection throughout Milwaukee and vicinity. In 1853, Hermann Stem, a brother of Henry, came to this country and they engaged in business under the name of H. Stern Jr., & Brother. On December 6, 1892, the business was Incorporated with a capital stock of two hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars but today the capital stock totals five hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Henry Stern was likewise prominently known in connection with the German-English Academy, of which he was secretary for some years, and he took a great Interest in the school. His death in 1903 caused a feeling of deep bereavement in the community for in his passing Milwaukee lost a public-spirited man whose life, so far-reaching and beneficial in its effects, so honorable in Its purposes and so varied in its activities, became an integral part of the city's history. His brother Hermann survived until August 11, 1919, when his demise occurred. Both demonstrated throughout their lives the hardiness and untiring energy characteristic of their ancestry. Their father, Samuel Stern, was a native of Germany, where he spent his life and won prominence in the wholesale yarn business. Mrs. Henry Stern passed away in 1898. She was born in Prague, Bohemia, and came to the United States as a young girl accompanied by her mother. They located in Milwaukee, where she met and married Mr. Stem.

Charles G. Stern received his education in the German-English Academy, now the University school, from which institution he was graduated at the age of fourteen years. He then went to Germany, where for three years he attended the Polytechnic Institute of Karlsruhe, specializing in mechanical engineering. Upon completing his course, he returned to Milwaukee and in 1871 entered his father's business. He has been active in that connection ever since and upon the death of his uncle, Hermann Stern, was made chief executive of the company. Previous to that time .he had held the office of treasurer. His business affairs have been capably conducted and, although it is true that he became interested in a business already established, many a man would have failed in controlling and enlarging such an enterprise. Under his excellent management the business has steadily continued to flourish and It now extends over five states which are thoroughly covered by fifteen traveling salesmen. The company does a wholesale business in dry goods, notions and furnishing goods and are also importers and jobbers. In addition to being president of that company, Mr. Stern is a director of the Milwaukee Mechanics' Insurance Company.

On the 21st of April, 1878, Mr. Stem was united in marriage to Miss Alma M. Cramer, a daughter of Adolph J. Cramer of Milwaukee, secretary of the Milwaukee Mechanics' Insurance Company. Her father was likewise a native of Germany and came to this country when a young unmarried man. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stern two children have been born: Erich and Julia. The son is a well-known member of Milwaukee's legal profession and maintains offices at 425 Water street. His birth occurred on the 8th of February, 1879, and he received his education in the German-English Academy, now the University school, and was graduated from the East Side high school with the class of 1897. He then enrolled as a student in Harvard, from which he received his A. B. degree in 1901, and, deciding upon a legal career, attended the law school there, from which he was graduated LL. B. In 1904. After one year spent in postgraduate work in the universities of Paris and Berlin, he entered practice in Milwaukee and in 1911 formed a partnership with Burdette F. Williams, an association which is still maintained. Erich Stern, since attaining his majority, has been a consistent member of the republican party and was a representative of that party in the Milwaukee common council, 1908 to 10, from the first ward and served in the legislature from 1911 to 1912. From 1914 to 1919 he held a professorship in the Marquette University School of Law. As one of Milwaukee's representative citizens he holds membership in the City Club and was acting president of that organization in 1914. For two and one-half years he was president of the Central Council of Social Agencies and was, from 1908 to 1910, a trustee of the Johnson Emergency Hospital. The second member of the Stern family, Julia, is now the wife of Edgar Baumgarten, of Lor Angeles, California, and they are parents of three children.

Mr. Stern has never taken an active interest in politics although he casts his vote with the progressive republicans and he has no affiliations with secret societies. Along social lines, however, he is a member of the Milwaukee Athletic, Wisconsin and City Clubs, and, always ready to cooperate in every movement which tends to promote the moral. Intellectual and material welfare of the community, he is actively identified with the Association of Commerce. Mr. Stern is of a highly artistic nature and is a vocalist and pianist of ability. He is a leader in musical , circles of Milwaukee and takes an active interest in the Milwaukee Orchestral Association. He is likewise a member of the Art Institute, of which he was one of the founders. Mr. Stem is a man of keen discrimination and sound Judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concern with which he is connected, a large degree of success. The safe conservative ' policy which he inaugurated commends itself to the Judgment of all, and he has secured for the company a patronage which makes the value of trade transacted over its counters of great importance and magnitude. The prosperity of the company is certainly due in a large measure to its president and .manager — the gentleman whose name initiated this review.