Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 31

General Otto H. Falk, who since March, 1913, has been the president of the Allis-Chalmers Company of Milwaukee, is one of the most prominent military figures of the state, having been identified with the National Guard for many years. He is also numbered among the veterans of the Spanish-American war and at various times has been called upon for special duty in the enforcement of law and order in the state.

General Falk was born at Wauwatosa, Milwaukee county, on the 18th of June, 1865, a son of Franz and Louise (Wahl) Falk. He was a pupil in the German-English Academy of Milwaukee during his boyhood days and afterward received collegiate training in the Northwestern College of Watertown. His taste directed him to the field of military action, however, and he became a pupil in the Allen Military Academy of Chicago, from which he was graduated as ranking captain. Then followed many years devoted largely to the military service of the state and nation. He became a member of the Light Horse Squadron Cadet Corps and on the 9th of March, 1886, was actively enrolled in the state military service as adjutant of the Fourth Infantry of the Wisconsin National Guard. Before two months had passed he had taken part in the suppression of riots which broke out simultaneously in Chicago and Milwaukee and he bore himself with such dignity of honor and valor that Governor Rusk appointed him as an aide-decamp on his personal staff. Promotion after promotion followed. On the 24th of August, 1887, he became major in the Fourth Battalion and on the 29th of October of the same year he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Following the initiation of George W. Peck to the office of governor, he appointed General Falk quartermaster of the Wisconsin National Guard, his commission bearing date of January 5, 1891. On the 5th of December, 1893, Governor Peck appointed him adjutant general of the Wisconsin state militia, and he was greatly honored in this, as no one of equal youth had been appointed to 'that important office in the history of the state up to that time. At his own application he was placed on the retired list January 10, 1895. In the meantime he had rendered very valuable public service on a number of occasions, particularly in connection with the third ward fire in Milwaukee and the Camp Douglas fire, whereby he was commended in general orders from Wisconsin's chief executive. In August, 1893, the governor sent him to Ashland, Wisconsin, to investigate the dock riots and within two days he had settled the troubles to the satisfaction of both parties. It was at this time that Governor Peck received from the business men of Ashland the following message: "A resolution was adopted tendering your honor sincere thanks for the timely and efficient aid rendered in the past two days to the milling and business interests of this city through the personal efforts of General Falk, who readily grasped the situation." in July, 1892, General Falk was ordered to the scene of a strike at Merrill and his tactful course at that time led to allaying the difficulties between the contending parties without resort to the troops.

It was due in large measure to the watchful care of General Falk that Wisconsin escaped the trouble caused by the great Pullman and western railway strike of 1894, the only disturbance in the state occurring at Spooner. In the winter of 1893 he was in command of the relief expedition sent to northern Wisconsin and Michigan to give aid to the starving miners. While serving as adjutant general he revised the rules and regulations of the laws governing the National Guard of Wisconsin. In 1894 he served as president of the National Guard Association. When at his own request General Falk was retired by Governor Upham, the latter said: "Few officers in the state have held so many appointments or filled them so well. Whether as adjutant, battalion commander, quartermaster or adjutant general, he brought to the discharge of his duties rare ability, sound judgment and enthusiastic devotion. In the equipment of the state force and in the system existing in this office, he has left a monument to his executive skill. His unfailing courtesy and consideration will be long remembered, and he carries with him to his retirement the respect and esteem of the Wisconsin National Guard."

With the outbreak of the Spanish-American war General Falk was once more called upon for active duty. While there were no vacancies in the state militia the president of the United States commissioned him major and chief quartermaster on the 8th of June, 1898, and the 30th of the same month he was assigned to the Third Army Corps, reporting for duty at the corps headquarters on the 4th of July, after which he was assigned as chief quartermaster of the First Division with a station at Chickamauga Park. When two months had passed he was made quartermaster of the entire corps, stationed at Anniston, Alabama, and with the disbandment of the corps early in October he became chief quartermaster of the Second Division of the Fourth Corps. On the 10th of December of the same year he was commissioned special inspector of the Quartermaster Department, U. S. A., with the rank of lieutenant colonel and in the months of January and February, 1899, he visited many American camps and in the latter part of that period was ordered to take station in Washington. On the 4th of March, 1899, he received orders to start upon an inspection trip in Cuba and while thus engaged he inspected the camps at Havana, Pina del Rio, Guanajay, Buena Vista, La Union, Matanzas, Cardenas, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, San Luis, Manzanillo, Santiago and Guantanamo. On the 1st of April, he joined the secretary of war at Santiago, proceeding on the United States transport Ingalls to Porto Rico, where he inspected the Quartermaster Departments at Ponce and San Juan, returning with the party to the United States and landing a Fortress Monroe in the latter part of April. He was then stationed at Washington until he received his requested discharge on the 20th df June.

General Falk, following his return to Wisconsin, was ordered by Governor Schofield to assume command of the First Regiment of Infantry, Wisconsin National Guard, at which time Milwaukee was made a military post with Troop A and Battery A as garrison and General Falk in command. In 1903 the First Wisconsin Infantry participated in the general army maneuvers at West Point and won the following commendation from General Wagner: "Their work in the field was most excellent and highly satisfactory," while in a letter to General Falk, General Kobbe of the United States army said: "The inspector general of the division made verbal report to me yesterday to the effect that the camp of the First Wisconsin was in most excellent condition and that the sanitary precautions enjoined in orders were implicitly followed. They have nothing to learn in this respect from any regiment on the grounds." in 1905 General Falk requested that he might be placed on the retired list, but Governor LaFollette refused the request because of the value of his service to the National Guard. A year later he was transferred to the general staff as a chief engineer officer, with station at Milwaukee and took up the important task of constructing Battery A barracks.

While his military service has kept him prominently before the public. General Falk has also become recognized as one of the ablest and most resourceful business men of the city. He is the vice president of the Falk Corporation, vice president and director of the Falk Investment Company, a director of the Wisconsin Telephone Company, a director of the Milwaukee Mechanics Fire Insurance Company, a director of the First Wisconsin National Bank, a director of the First Wisconsin Company and a director of the First Wisconsin Trust Company, and in April, 1912, he became receiver for the local Allis-Chalmers Company until the reorganization of the business in March, 1913, when he was elected to the presidency of the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company and has so continued. He has thus been active in controlling and directing important manufacturing and commercial interests and has marshalled the forces of trade with the same thoroughness and precision that has marked his direction of military affairs.

On the 10th of December, 1901, General Falk was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Vogel, a daughter of Fred Vogel, Jr., of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of two children: Elizabeth Louise and Otto Herbert. Politically General Falk is a stalwart republican, where national questions are involved, but at local elections casts an independent ballot, regarding only the capability of the candidate for the discharge of the duties of the particular office which he seeks. General Falk has been an influential factor in many important business and other organizations. He was for a long period president of the Merchants & Manufacturers Association of Milwaukee, served on its legislative committee and became a member of the charter convention and the chairman of the track elevation committee. His work in behalf of the association has been far-reaching and beneficial. He has many membership connections, belonging to the United States Infantry Association, the Military Service Institute, the American National Red Cross, the National Guard Association of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin State Rifle Association, the Military Order of Foreign Wars and also to the Wisconsin Club, the Milwaukee Country Club, the Milwaukee Club, the Town Club, the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Milwaukee Automobile Club and the Wisconsin State Automobile Association. General Falk is regent of Marquette University; a life member of the Wisconsin Historical Society and Old Settlers Club; an honorary life member of Burgesses Corps, New York; member of the Spanish-American War Veterans Association; and a director of the Wisconsin Manufacturers' Association. The political positions which he has held are: fire and police commissioner of the city of Milwaukee; vice president of the public safety commission of Milwaukee; delegate representing the state of Wisconsin at the National Tariff Commission convention in 1909, the National Peace Congress, 1909, the Lakes to the Gulf Deep Waterways convention, 1909-1910, National Irrigation Congress, 1910, and National Conference on Social Insurance, 1916. He is appreciative of the social amenities of life and his genial manner and unfeigned cordiality which have flourished despite military discipline and regulation, have made for him many warm friends.