Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 30

August J. Petrie is the president of the Milwaukee Stamping Company, having a large plant at West Allis. Thoroughness and enterprise characterize all that he attempts, and his life has chronicled the successful achievement of his plans and purposes. Energy and industry have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles, and as the years have advanced he has gained a most creditable position in manufacturing circles, contributing to the welfare and upbuilding of the city as well as to the advancement of his individual fortunes.

He was born March 30, 1873, on his father's farm in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, his parents being John and Katherine (Rau) Petrie, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to the United States when a young man of twenty-six years and bought a farm in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, on which he spent his remaining days. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment and served until the close of hostilities. He passed away in 1901 and is still survived by his wife, who was brought to the United States when but three years of age by her parents, who also took up their abode on a farm in Fond du Lac county. Mrs. Petrie now makes her home in Milwaukee.

Her son. August J. Petrie. was educated in the common schools of his native county and in young manhood came to Milwaukee, where he entered upon an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade with the Kempsmith Machine Tool Company. He learned tool and die making as well as general machine work and remained with the Kempsmith Company for a period of four years. He afterward spent about eight years in various plants in different places, working during the period of the Spanish-American war at the Watervliet arsenal. In 1899 he returned to Wisconsin and pursued a special course in engineering in the State University at Madison. While with the Kempsmith Company he had taken up mechanical drawing. He afterward spent a year in Milwaukee as a machinist and in 1901 founded the Milwaukee Stamping Company, in which enterprise he was associated with two of his brothers, Charles and George Petrie. They incorporated the business, August J. Petrie becoming the president, since which time he has remained at the head of the undertaking. The company manufactures builders' hardware, traveling bag and trunk hardware and parts for automobile motors, together with stamped specialties. Their plant covers several acres, and the growth of the business has been continuous until now theirs is one of the large and important industries of the city, giving employment to hundreds of people. Their market covers the entire United States, and they also have a large export trade. They are operating under the name of the Milwaukee Stamping Company and have a splendidly equipped plant, which is in part three stories in height and in another section two stories in height. Associated with Mr. Petrie in the enterprise are William C. Clausen, who is now vice president of the company, and E. B. Bartlett, who is secretary and treasurer.

On the 21st of January, 1902, Mr. Petrie was married to Miss Johanna Lee, who was born in Milwaukee and is of Norwegian lineage. Mr. Petrie has never been active in politics but has always voted with the republican party. He is of the Lutheran faith, belonging to the church of the Ascension and is serving as a member of its board of trustees and as a member of the building committee for the erection of a new church edifice on Layton boulevard, which will be one of the largest churches in the city. In his Masonic connections Mr. Petrie is well-known, belonging to West Allis Lodge, No. 291, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been treasurer; West Allis Chapter, R. A. M.: Wisconsin Commandery, K. T.; Wisconsin Council, R. & S. M.; Wisconsin Consistory, A. & A. S. R.; Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine; the Eastern Star; and the White Shrine. He also belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Wisconsin Club, the Association of Commerce and the Optimist Club. He loves every phase of outdoor life, fishes and hunts, and has a fine summer home on Lake Beulah, having there a beautiful garden in which he takes great pride. He raises fine flowers and splendid vegetables at his summer home and finds the greatest delight in production of this character. His town residence, at 555 Sixty-seventh avenue, is one of the fine homes of Milwaukee, and it stands as a concrete evidence of the business ability, of the thoroughness and close application of Mr. Petrie, whose sterling qualities have brought to him a substantial measure of success. A farm bred boy without special advantages, he steadily worked his way upward, and his business and social positions are both notable, indicating his marked capability and the true worth of his character.