Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 24

Few men are more prominent in the enterprising city of Milwaukee than Richard Herman Zinke, president of the R. H. Zinke Music Company, located at 425 Milwaukee street. He has been an important factor in business circles and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Zinke was born in Fond du Lac, on the 30th of January, 1877, a son of Herman and Emma (Schussler) Zinke. His grandfather, Louis Zinke, was a native of Germany and came to this country with his family. He established a grocery business in Fond du Lac which grew to extensive proportions and he was likewise chief of the fire department of that place for many years. Herman Zinke was eight years of age when he came to this country with his parents and he and a brother, Louis, succeeded their father in the conduct of the grocery, flour and feed business at Fond du Lac, operating it with a substantial amount of success for many years, under the name of Zinke Brothers. Herman Zinke passed away in 1911. His wife, the mother of Richard Herman Zinke, is living in Milwaukee and makes her home with this son. She was a daughter of Joseph Schussler, a brewer, who was born in Saxony, Germany, and came to the United States when a young unmarried man. Mrs. Zinke and her husband were the first couple married in St. Mary's church of Milwaukee, the ceremony being performed in the basement of the church, as the entire structure was not yet completed.

In the acquirement of an education Richard Herman Zinke attended the public schools of Fond du Lac until he was sixteen years of age when he put his textbooks aside and made his initial step into the business world. For two years he was associated with the local National Bank as messenger but at the termination of that time went into his father's business, which had a short time before been incorporated. The grocery business, however, was not to his liking, so in 1896 he removed to Milwaukee, where he obtained employment in the Gender & Paeschke Company. For twelve years he remained with that company, his ability and conscientious performance of every duty assigned him bringing him constant promotion and steadily he rose from truck boy to sales manager. After severing his connection with that concern he was for several years in business in Denver and California, but returning to Milwaukee in 1914 he identified himself with the Badger Talking Machine Company as manager of its retail store on Grand avenue. A year later he built up the store at 425 Grand avenue, the company closing the other house, and he remained as manager until February, 1919. At that time he was made president of the Record Needle and Manufacturing Company, an association he maintained until on the 1st of April, 1920, he opened his present business at 425 Milwaukee street. His untiring energy, quick perception, and genius for devising the right thing at the right time have resulted in the growth of his business to extensive proportions, and he not only has the agency for the Victor talking machines but specializes in sheet music, band, orchestral, vocal and instrumental. Mr. Zinke is likewise entering into the field of band instruments.

On the 16th of June, 1920, occurred the marriage of Mr. Zinke and Miss Eva Healy. a daughter of Elmer Healy, a prominent hotel proprietor of Milwaukee. She was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and is still residing in Milwaukee. Mrs. Zinke is well-known in the club and social circles of the community and takes an active part in any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare.

Since age conferred upon Mr. Zinke the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party but has never sought nor desired political preferment as reward for party fealty. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, while his wife is a Christian Scientist. Fraternally Mr. Zinke is a Mason, having membership in Aurora Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., of Milwaukee; Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine; and he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. As an Elk, he has membership in Milwaukee Lodge, No. 46, and he is leader of the Elks band and at the Elks Convention in Chicago won the first prize over eleven other bands from large cities in the United States. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to Damon Lodge, of Milwaukee and he is likewise a member of the Tripoli Patrol and formerly played in the Tripoli band. Socially Mr. Zinke is well-known, being active in the affairs of the Kiwanis Club, Milwaukee Athletic Club and City Club and as a man interested in the general welfare of the community is identified with the Association of Commerce. Since a mere lad he has been a great lover of music and appeared in public concert as a gifted pianist when a child of but ten years. He was given the best of instruction and for three and one-half years traveled on a vaudeville circuit, gaining great success. In his connection with the Elks Band of Milwaukee, Mr. Zinke has become widely known and the success attained by the band is largely due to his untiring efforts. He took charge of the band when it was composed of a dozen members and today with sixty odd members he has one of the best bands ever organized in Wisconsin. Every member of the band is an Elk and they have cooperated with their leader in every way to help him perfect his wonderful organization. His wife is also of an artistic nature, being a painter of landscapes and chinaware. She was also highly educated along the lines of her talent. After music, which forms his favorite recreation, Mr. Zinke turns to hunting and fishing. During the World war he was quick to give aid to his government in all drives and he represented the board of Musical Industries. He is secretary of the Milwaukee Association of Musical Industries and president of the Wisconsin Association of Musical Industries, connections which indicate his prominence in the musical world.