Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 45

George Stroh, of the Stroh Die Moulded Casting Company, with offices on the seventh floor of the Stroh building on Michigan street in Milwaukee, comes to the middle west from the Empire state, his birth having occurred at Jordan, New York, June 17, 1864. His father, George Strob, who was born in Markubel, Kurhessen, Germany, came to the United States when a lad of fifteen years and settled in Syracuse, New York. He was then an orphan and whatever success he achieved in life was attributable entirely to his own efforts and his strength of character. He married Sophia Kaiser, who was born in Elsberg, Nassau, Germany, and came to the United States when about seventeen years of age. They were married in Syracuse in 1863 and both have now passed away, Mrs. Stroh departing this life in 1900, while the death of Mr. Stroh occurred in 1905.

At the usual age George Stroh became a pupil in the public schools of his native city and there mastered the work of the grades and of the high school. He afterward became a machinist's apprentice and learned his trade in Jordan, serving a term of three years. For ten years thereafter he was with the Straight Line Engine Company of Syracuse and won steady advancement while with that corporation until he had attained the responsible position of superintendent. He afterward resigned to accept the superintendency with the H. H. Franklin Company of Syracuse, with whom he continued for four years. He then turned his attention to the die casting business in Syracuse on his own account, there remaining for a year, after which he removed to Milwaukee in 1904 and here established the plant which he had brought with him from the east. He carried on the business independently for some time, having his plant in the Johnson Service building for six years. He then erected the Stroh building, in which he is now located. The company manufactures white metal castings used by automobile manufacturers and telephone manufacturers and also produces talking machine novelties. They have a market that extends all over the United States and they also enjoy an export trade of considerable proportions. The business has been steadily developed under the care and direction of Mr. Stroll, whose labors have been an effective force in winning patronage for the house, while the excellence of their output has insured a continuance of the trade.

Mr. Stroh has been married twice. On the 31st of May, 1888, he wedded Estella Harrington of Elbridge, New York, who died in 1918, leaving three children: Jessie, now the wife of Alfred Meier of Milwaukee; Pauline, the wife of Nathan Wood of Milwaukee and the mother of two children, Jane and John Wood; and Donald, who is now a student in the State Normal School. Mr. Stroh was married again October 20, 1919, his second union being with Mrs. Nellie Merritt of Battle Creek, Michigan, a daughter of Henry Van Vranken of Union City, Michigan.

Mr. Stroh has never taken an active part in politics but always votes with the republican party. He attends the Tabernacle Baptist church and he belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Milwaukee Yacht Club, the City Club and the Association of Commerce. He is a lover of music and he finds recreation in fishing, skating, swimming and motoring. He maintains a summer home at Oconomowoc Lake, where he has a beautiful residence and spacious grounds. His progressive spirit is further evidenced in the substantial business block which he erected in 1910 — a structure one hundred by one hundred and twenty feet and eight stories in height. It is of reinforced concrete and has as fine a class of tenants as can be found in any building in the city. The structure is thoroughly modern in every respect, is the best lighted building of its character in the city and is equipped with the latest conveniences. Mr. Stroh's workmen carry on their duties under ideal conditions in this building and the progressive policy followed by the founder leaves no doubt as to results attained.