Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 42

Percy Braman, deputy commissioner of public works in Milwaukee, was born in Oswego, New York, September IS, 1861, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (VanPatton) Braman, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father was well-known as a captain on the lakes and came to Milwaukee in 1865. Here he engaged in business of loading and unloading lake vessels and was also harbor master in the early '90s. Both he and his wife have passed away.

Percy Braman was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and started out in the business world as a press feeder in the office of the Milwaukee News. After being employed there for a short time, he went to the woods of northern Michigan and put in two years as jack of all trades. He later began railroading as a fireman and brakeman on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, later serving as conductor on the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad. In fact many duties and activities claimed the attention of Mr. Braman in his younger years and each change that he made seemed to offer him better advantages. It was his desire to gain a start and his diligence and industry secured for him positions of greater and greater responsibility as the years passed. At length his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. In 1886 he left railroading to become superintendent of fuel yards, and in 1900 went in business for himself, and he is still connected with the business, which, however, at the present time is being conducted by his son, Percy VanPatton, under the firm name of the Braman Coal Company. They have four offices and yards at Eighth avenue and Montana street. By earnest effort, careful management and indefatigable energy Percy Braman was instrumental in developing his business to one of substantial proportions, making it a profitable concern and proving that while success cannot be had for the asking, fortune reveals her rewards for earnest labor, intelligently directed.

Mr. Braman has also been quite active in public affairs. In 1912 he was elected alderman of the seventeenth ward on the non-partisan ticket. He continued to act in that capacity until December, 1913, during which time he was a member of the finance committee and chairman of the streets and alleys committee. On the above date he resigned to accept the office of deputy commissioner of public works, in which position he has given excellent satisfaction for a period of eight years, and he is now the incumbent. In 1916 Mr. Braman was nominated for mayor on the non-partisan ticket and defeated by the closest margin in one of the most spectacular campaigns in city history. During the World war period he was a member of Group 25 of the city and received a part of all of the funds of all the drives, doing his work for the government that he might aid in support of American interests and particularly in safeguarding the soldiers. He was active in much of the work that attended the starting of the troops from this section and also in welcoming them home upon their return. Whatever he could do for the benefit of his country he did cheerfully and willingly and the same public spirit is manifest in his relations to all matters of municipal concern.

In 1883 Mr. Braman was married to Miss Albena H. Luke, who died in 1894, leaving three children: Mrs. Cora Kemp; Percy V.; and Vinnie May, now the wife of Major Jacob Rudolph, who is a major of the Aviation Corps of the United States army, stationed at Riverside, California. In 1895 Mr. Braman was again married, his second union being with Ella E. Dressel of Milwaukee. Mr. Braman is well-known in club and fraternal circles. He belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the City Club and is an honorary member of the Milwaukee Yacht Club and the South Shore Yacht Club. He likewise belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and has filled nearly all of the offices in the different Masonic bodies, being also a past potentate of Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Knight oi Pythias and is a loyal, follower of the teachings and purposes of the fraternal organizations with which he is connected. He has a wide acquaintance in Milwaukee and the sterling worth of his character has translated acquaintanceship into friendship in almost every case.