Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 12

Milwaukee has enjoyed a notable period of growth and development in connection with its manufacturing interests during the last quarter of a century or more, previous to which time its manufacturing was largely confined to its brewing and tanning interests. Many important industries, however, have sprung up which have made the city one of marvelous growth in the past twenty-five years. Contributing to this growth is the Meadows Heating Company, of which Frank Holden Meadows is the secretary and manager. He was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, September 6, 1877, and comes of English ancestry, his grandfather having been William Meadows, who was born in England. The father, George Meadows, now living retired in East Troy, Wisconsin, was born in the Empire state and came to Wisconsin with his parents about 1855. There he conducted a hardware store for some time. He married Elizabeth Holden, a daughter of John Holden, a native of England, in which country Mrs. Meadows was also born. Her father was a great traveler and crossed the ocean twelve times. Mrs. Meadows passed away in the year 1910.

Frank H. Meadows obtained his early education in the public schools of East Troy, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, while eventually he became a student in Beloit College at Beloit, Wisconsin, where he was graduated in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He afterward spent a year in the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, Maryland, where he pursued a medical course, at the end of which time he returned to Milwaukee and entered the employ of the Lindemann & Hoverson Company as office assistant in the heating department. There he remained for ten years, during which time he won various promotions until he became assistant manager of the department. In 1911 he bought out that department of the business at No. 497 East Water street and incorporated it under the name of the Meadows Heating Company. In 1916 he removed to his present location, where a substantial business has since been carried on. They are heating contractors and engineers and their patronage comes from all parts of the state.

On the 24th of May, 1911, Mr. Meadows was married to Miss Bertha Parker of Indianapolis, Indiana, a daughter of Justus B. Parker, advertising manager for the American Thresherman. Mrs. Meadows passed away May 17, 1914, leaving a little daughter, Betty Jane, who is now a student in the East Troy school.

In politics Mr. Meadows may be termed an independent republican, for while he usually supports the men and measures of the republican party he does not consider himself bound to any particular leadership, exercising freedom of thought and opinion in the use of his franchise. In religious faith he is a Congregationalist and fraternally he is connected with the Elks and the Eagles. He also belongs to the Sigma Chi, a fraternity of Beloit College, and he has membership in the Association of Commerce. Along business lines he is identified with the Heating and Piping Contractors Association in its local, state and national branches and he is now a member of the board of directors of the national organization. He is fond of motoring and touring, enjoys outdoor sports and is a public spirited citizen, who during the war took an active and helpful part in all drives. The major part of his life has been spent in the middle west and in his business career he has always exemplified that spirit of progress and determination which have characterized the upbuilding and development of this section of the country.