Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 16

Earl Charles Janke, with a tendency to discount his own accomplishments, is nevertheless recognized as a resourceful and capable business man, one who through his own efforts has worked his way steadily upward until he stands today as the president and treasurer of the Janke Shoe Company, one of the important manufacturing interests of the city. His entire life has here been passed, and his record is as an open book which all may read. Diligence and determination have been numbered among his sterling characteristics from early boyhood, and his persistency of purpose and intelligently guided efforts have been the potent forces in the attainment of his present day prosperity

Mr. Janke was born on the 9th of May, 1875, a son of August and Emilie (Gruenwald) Janke, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country they were reared and married. They came to the United States in 1874, and the mother passed away in this city in 1912.

Earl C. Janke obtained his early education in the public schools and when still quite young began earning his living as a shoe cutter for the firm of F. T. Neubert & Company, with whom he remained for four years. On the dissolution of that firm he joined Mr. Neubert in a new business enterprise and continued with him for two years as a shoe cutter. He next became identified with the V. Schoenecker Boot & Shoe Company, for whom he worked for seven years, after which he spent a year in the employ of Bradley & Metcalf. This was followed by two years' connection with the Rich Shoe Company, and later he was identified with the Mayer Boot & Shoe Company for a similar period. Removing to Chicago, he there entered the employ of R. P. Smith, with whom he continued for a few months, and then established business on his own account in that city, making burial shoes. At the end of six months he moved his plant to Milwaukee and in 1911 extended the scope of his business to include the manufacture of a general line of shoes. In 1915 he incorporated his business under the name of the Lange & Janke Shoe Manufacturing Company. In 1918 Mr. Lange withdrew and the name was then changed to the Janke Shoe Company. They engaged in the manufacture of nailed and Goodyear welt shoes for men and boys. The output has increased from about five pair of burial shoes per day until it is now many hundred pairs of men's and boys' shoes. Their market covers the United States. They specialize in high grade work shoes and the hunting boot, which are used by the miners, hunters, lumbermen and railroad employees. They are also putting out a high grade line of men's dress shoes, and the business is growing rapidly. Their course demonstrates the fact that quality pays, and they have ever put forth earnest effort to please their customers, thus building up a business of very substantial and gratifying proportions.

On the 23rd of September, 1896, Mr. Janke was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Wrege, of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of a daughter, Mabel, who is now the wife of Fred W. Moritz, vice president of the Janke Shoe Company. Mr. Moritz was born in Detroit, Michigan, on the 9th of May, 1897, and is a son of Charles Moritz, now a resident of Milwaukee, where he is engaged in the stove business. He was born in Port Washington, Wisconsin, and was a son of Jacob Moritz, who came to the United States with Joseph Schlitz. Jacob Moritz founded the first brewery in Port Washington and one of the first in the state of Wisconsin. The family has therefore been connected with the history of the commonwealth since pioneer times. Fred W. Moritz has been actively engaged in the shoe manufacturing business with his father-in-law for about three years and is a progressive and energetic young business man. He married Mabel Janke August 24, 1921, and they reside at No. 823 Forty-fourth street. Mr. Moritz is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Janke is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, having membership in Columbia Lodge. He likewise belongs to Milwaukee Lodge, No. 46, B. P. O. E., and to Aurora Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is past noble grand. He has membership in the Association of Commerce, and the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his action are further indicated in his connection with the Methodist church. In politics he is an independent republican, voting according to the dictates of his judgment rather than of party ties. He is a devotee of our national game of baseball and is fond of motoring and fishing. His wife possesses an artistic and literary nature, and the daughter, Mrs. Moritz, is a pianist of considerable skill. The family is well-known in Milwaukee, the members occupying an enviable position in social circles.