Milwaukee County
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Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy
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CAPT. WILLIAM JAMISON
captain and past owner of the three-and-after GEO.G. HOUGHTON, 332 tons of Milwaukee, employed in the grain trade, and born in Scotland in December 1832. He went to sea in 1844, and was in the British merchant service about ten years. Coming to Milwaukee in 1861, he commenced sailing on the lakes as Mate, under Capt. Humphrey. In 1866, he engaged as captain of the bark ADVANCE. After sailing her one year he changed to the schooner PLYMOUTH ROCK, which he sailed for one year and then engaged as Captain of the brig C.G. BREED, continued to sail her for five years, when he changed to he GEO. G. HOUGHTON, which he continued to sail to this writing. His residence is No. 410 Florida street.
Source: HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE 1881
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KATRINA JANSEN
Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, (Milwaukee, WI) Tuesday, June 26, 1866; Issue 150; col D
A centenarian-an old lady arrived in this city in the last company of emigrants from Norway, who is now nearly a hundred and five years of age. She had in the company, four children. all married, twenty grand children, fifteen of whom are married, forty-five great-grandchildren, six of whom are married, and ten great-great grandchildren, making in all seventy-eight descendents-all of them in the party which passed through this city this present week. If we add the wives and husbands of these direct descendents of the old lady, we will have a family consisting of one hundred and three members, the aged mother of which still lives and is in very good health, although becoming quite infirm. The name of this wonderful woman, "the mother of a might race," is Katrina Jansen. How she endured the passage from Norway to Milwaukee we cannot imagine.
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GEORGE JEFFREY
Candidate for Town of Wauwatosa
George Jeffrey, Republican candidate for justice of the peace, is one of the pioneer residents. He presently holds the office, but tries few cases. He prefers to act as peacemaker between litigants and many of them have departed this court with their difficulties settled and no justice costs to pay.
Source: Wauwatosa News April 1, 1899
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JAMES GRAHAM JENKINS
Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous
James Graham Jenkins, retired judge of the United States circuit court for the seventh judicial circuit, was born on July 18, 1834, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and is the son of Edgar and Mary Elizabeth (Walworth) Jenkins, the former of whom was a well-known business man of New York City, and the latter the daughter of Reuben Hyde Walworth,, the last Chancellor of the state of New York, which office was abolished by the constitution of 1848, the "code" doing away with the separate court of equity. Previous to the abolition of the office, Chancellor Walworth had held the position for sixteen years, and before his assumption of that office was a judge of the supreme court of the state. Rev. Clarence A. Walworth, brother of Mrs. Jenkins, was converted from the Presbyterian to the Episcopal faith, and later became a communicant of the Catholic Church, and rose to the priesthood in the last named religious organization. He belonged to the order of Paulist Fathers, and acquired great reputation as an eloquent preacher. He was also prominent in public affairs, and a noted man of his day. Judge Jenkins' paternal ancestors came from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., to Hudson, N. Y., and were among the original founders of the system of local settlement, under the "proprietors," where a few persons bought up large tracts of the country on the Hudson, and established something resembling the feudal system. Judge Jenkins obtained his early education in New York and began studying law in that city with Ellis, Burrill & Davison. He was admitted to the bar by examination in 1855, and began practice in New York City. Two years later he came west, locating in Milwaukee. Although at that early day Milwaukee contained many eminent members of the bar Judge Jenkins had no difficulty in taking a prominent position among them. Pie was a member at different times of the law firms of Downer, Ladue & Jenkins ; Ryan, Carpenter & Jenkins; Jenkins & Hickcox ; Jenkins, Elliott & Winkler; Jenkins, Winkler, Fish & Smith ; Jenkins, Winkler, Smith & Vilas. In 1863 he was elected city attorney and held the office for four successive terms. Among other important matters which came up for consideration during his term of service was the constitutionality of the law authorizing taxation to pay soldier's bounty (Brodhead vs. Milwaukee, 19 Wis. 624), Judge Jenkins successfully defending the law. He was a member of the Democratic party, and received the votes of his political confreres for the position of governor in 1879 and United States senator in 1880, but was defeated in both cases. He was not, however, an aspirant for political honors, and stood as the representative of his party in each case at the demand of his constituents. In 1885 President Cleveland tendered him the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, but he declined it. In 1888 he was appointed judge of the United States district court for the eastern district of Wisconsin, which position he filled with dignity and ability until 1893, when, upon the resignation of Judge Gresham to enter the cabinet of President Cleveland, he was appointed Judge of the United States circuit court for the seventh judicial circuit, becoming a member of, and, upon the death of Judge Woods, the presiding judge of the circuit court of appeals for the seventh circuit, comprising the states of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. After attaining the age of seventy years he retired on April 11, 1905. Judge jenkins was admirable qualified both by nature and training for his long and honorable career on the bench. During his incumbency of the last office he heard many cases of importance both as to the large financial interests involved and the principles which were under consideration. Perhaps the one that gave to him the widest reputation as a jurist was the decision in the case of the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company vs. The Northern Pacific Railway Company, et al., to foreclose a trust mortgage of $140,000,000. An opinion rendered by Judge Jenkins in this case is considered as a monument to the legal knowledge, judicial acumen, and courage on his part. (Farmers' Loan & Trust Company vs. Northern Pacific R. R. Co., 60 Fed. R. 803). The University of Wisconsin in 1893 and the Wabash College of Indiana, in 1897, conferred upon Judge Jenkins the degree of LL. D., in recognition of his attainments as a lawyer and a judge.
His marriage to Miss Alice Mary Miller, daughter of Judge Andrew G. Miller, the first judge of the United States district court of Wisconsin, was celebrated on Feb. 6, 1870, and their home has always been a center of refined and cultured social life, the judge being in addition to a legal student a gentleman of broad literary culture. They have no children. Chancellor Walworth, mentioned above, traced his ancestry on the maternal side to Lord Chancellor Hyde of England, and on the paternal side to Sir William Walworth, Mayor of London, who for insolence to King Richard II, during the Tyler insurrection, killed the leader of the revolt, Wat Tyler, in 1381. Numerous members of the family have acquired distinction, among them being William Jenkins Worth, a cousin of Judge Jenkins, who was a Major-General in the United States Army and a prominent figure in the War with Mexico. A monument to him is erected in Madison Square, at the junction of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, New York City. Chancellor Walworth, previously mentioned, was Adjutant on the staff of General Moore in the Battle of Plattsburg, war of 1812, when the Americans met the British Army that invaded the country by way of Canada.
Elisha Bacon, a great uncle of Judge Jenkins, was for many years the United States consul at Nassau, West India Islands, the family records demonstrating that ability above the ordinary was of frequent occurrence in the ancestors of the eminent judge whose life is briefly considered in this sketch.
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LOUIS FRANCIS JERMAIN, M.D.
LOUIS FRANCIS JERMAIN, M.D., of 1701 Grand Avenue, Milwaukee, was born in Meeme, Manitowoc county, Wis., Oct. 10, 1867 and is the son of George and Laura (Simon) Jermain, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Aix-la-Chapelle, Rhenish Prussia. The paternal grandfather, John Jermain, was an attaché of the consulate in Berne, Switzerland, and spent his last days in his native land. His son, George, came to the United States and located in Manitowoc county when he was fifteen years of age, and there built up the business of contractor and mill-builder and erected many of the mills in that section of the state. He was a Democrat in his political faith, very active in local politics, and was a man of note in the community. To him and his wife, both of whom are now deceased, where born then children-seven sons and three daughters- of whom eight are living. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Jermain, Hubert Simon, born at Aix-la-Chapelle, came to Manitowoc county in 1845 and was engaged in farming. Both he and his wife, Theresa Simon, died in that county. Dr. Jermain obtained his early education in the public schools and later attended the normal school for the profession of teaching medicine, entered the (part of the line cut off) Northwestern University of Chicago, in which he was graduated in 1894. Since that time he has followed his profession in Milwaukee, making a specialty of internal medicine; he also occupies a chair in Marquette College in the city. In connection with his profession Dr. Jermain belongs to the American Medical Association, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the Central Wisconsin Medical Society, the Milwaukee County Medical Society, and the Milwaukee Medical Society; and he also belongs to the fraternal associations, Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and to the Milwaukee Athletic Club. In politics he is aligned with the Democratic party and in religion is a member of the Catholic church. On June 26, 1894, occurred his marriage to Miss Rose Barth, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Paul and Theresa K. Barth, of Louisville, Ky., the former of whom died in Louisville and the latter, now eighty-five years of age, resides with her daughter, Mrs. Jermain. To Dr. Jermain and his wife three children have been born, viz.: Theresa, William and Angeline. Dr. Jermain has a large and increasing practice and ranks high among the members of profession in the city.
Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg 483
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PETER H. JOBSE, M.D.
Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous
Peter H. Jobse, M. D., 196 Tenth street, Milwaukee, is of Dutch ancestry, his parents, John and Lavina (Leysenaar) Jobse, having both been born in Holland, the former in 1824 and the latter in 1833. They came to Milwaukee in 1853 and the father was active in the life of the city, entering heartily into the political affairs which culminated in the organization of the Republican party, to which he gave his allegiance from its beginning until his death in 1887. He was for twenty years employed as auditor of the Milwaukee post office. His wife died in 1900. Of their family of eight children five are living.
Peter H., born Aug. 10, 1869, attended the public schools of Milwaukee, obtaining there the foundation for his later education. Later he entered the medical college of the Northwestern University in Chicago, in which he graduated in 1894, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, and has for the past two years made a specialty of the department of surgery. Since 1902 he has occupied the chair of operative surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and for the past four years has filled the chair of clinical surgery in the medical department of Marquette University. He is also on the surgical staff of the Emergency Hospital, of the Trinity Hospital, and of the Milwaukee County Hospital. He belongs to the national, state, county and city medical associations,, and is a member of the Phi Rho Sigma medical fraternity. In politics he is aligned with the Republican party, and in religious matters is a member of the Presbyterian church.
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FREDERICK F. JOHN M. D.
Source:Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County (1909), By Jerome Anthony Watrous
is a prominent physician of Milwaukee, perpetuating the family name in that connection, as his father was also numbered among the leading practitioners of the Cream City. Dr. John was born at Sheboygan, Wis., on Oct. 3, 1862, son of Frederick C. John, M. D., and Catherine Christian, his wife, the father being a native of Germany and the mother of Fremont, Ohio. The father migrated to America in 1854 and took up his residence in Sheboygan, Wis., in which city he was married, and in 1866 he removed to Milwaukee, where he was actively engaged in the practice of medicine until his death, that event occurring on Aug. 27, 1892. His widow still survives, as do all of the eight children (seven sons and one daughter) born to himself and wife. Of these children the subject of this review is the eldest; the youngest son, Herbert F., is junior manager of the Review of Reviews, and each one of them holds a fine lucrative position.
Dr. John received his primary education in the parochial schools of Milwaukee and later took a course in the Northwestern University at Watertown, Wis. He then entered the Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago, and after pursuing the regular course graduated in that institution with the class of 1883. Soon thereafter he began the active practice of his profession in the city of Milwaukee, and has been continuously so engaged to the present time, achieving success to a flattering degree.
He was married on Dec. 8, 1896, to Miss Eleanora B., daughter of Theodore and Ernestina Schroeder, natives of Germany, but early settlers of Milwaukee, where the father was supervisor of the Sixth ward for six years. Mr. Schroeder died in 1904 and his widow is still living in the city. To Dr. and Mrs. John there have been born two children: Frederick C., on Nov. 15, 1898, and Ruth Catherine, on Dec. 15, 1900. In politics the doctor gives an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, and in a professional way he is affiliated with the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine and the Wisconsin State Medical society.
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ALBERT JOHNSON
The following article appeared in the The Manitowoc Citizen on 19 Mar 1908:
"Saturday afternoon at four o'clock, Miss Rosa Rathsack of this city and Albert Johnson of Milwaukee, were united in marriage by County [Manitowoc] Judge Chloupek, after securing a special dispensation. The ceremony took place at the residence of Alvin Lange 11th and Franklin Street [Manitowoc], and the attending couple was Walter Rathsack and Laura Hanson. The newly wedded couple departed on the six o'clock train for Milwaukee where they will reside. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs Chas. Rathsack, formerly of this city, now residing in Rapids, and was a clerk at the Manitowoc Co-Operative store on Chicago street. The groom is employed at Milwaukee."
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HENRY JOHNSON
Henry Johnson, one of the most prominent and skillful marine engineers sailing out of Milwaukee, was born in Torslov, Denmark, on November 13, 1858, a son of Christian and Bodel Marie Johnson, both natives of Denmark. His father died in 1868, but his mother is yet living at Torslov in the house where she was born, and it was in that city that Henry acquired his public-school education, attending until he was fourteen years of age.
In 1873 Mr. Johnson came to the United States with his older brother, going to Manistee, where he became an apprentice in the machine shop of Wheeler & Johnson, serving four years. In 1880 Mr. Johnson applied for and received engineer's license, and was appointed second engineer on the steamer Norman. The next spring he secured the tug Ida M. Stevens to sail, but before the close of the season joined the steamer Menominee, of the Goodrich line, as second engineer until November, when he was appointed second with Alex Curry as chief, in the steamer Wisconsin, remaining in her all winter. In the spring of 1882 he was appointed chief engineer of the steamer Oconto, of the same line, and ran her until August, 1883, when he returned to Ludington, and went to work in the machine shops of Goodsell & Crawford, going then to Manitowoc to take charge of the tug Gregory. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Johnson again entered the employ of the Goodrich Transportation Company, again as second engineer of the side-wheel passenger steamer Chicago, but in August he was transferred to the steamer Depere as chief, holding that until the close of the season of 1887. The next season after fitting out the Depere, he engaged, with R.P. Fitzgerald & Co., until October, when she became the property of Brown & Smith, of Buffalo. In 1889 Mr. Johnson was appointed chief engineer of the new steamer Marion, Capt. John Cochran, and had run her ten consecutive seasons, and was in her September 5, when she collided with the steamer Armour at Southeast Bend, which collision resulted in the sinking of the latter, but no lives were lost. That fall after laying up the Marion, Mr. Johnson joined the steamer St. Joseph. He has eighteen issues of license, and being a practical machinist and engine builder, has the happy faculty of keeping his machinery in repair without great cost to the owners. Being an industrious man, he works during the winters in the shops of the Sheriffs Manufacturing Company.
On February 4, 1883, Mr. Johnson was united by marriage to Miss Mary E., daughter of Francis and Annie Verhein, of Milwaukee. The children born to this union are Minnie E., Margaret, Edward F., Henry G. and Agnes Rose. The family homestead is pleasantly situated at No. 900 Humbolt avenue, Milwaukee, Wis. Fraternally, Mr. Johnson is a member of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, No. 9 of Milwaukee.
(Source: History of the Great Lakes, Vol. 2 by J.B. Mansfield Published Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1899)
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JAMES JOHNSON
Source: The Medical History of Milwaukee, By Louis Frederick Frank. Published 1915. Germania Publishing Co.
Milwaukee's first Health Commissioner, scholar, orator, public-spirited citizen.
Dr. James Johnson, Milwaukee's first commissioner of health, was a native of Ireland and obtained his degree at Pittsfield, Mass., before coming to Milwaukee. He soon became an influential man, not alone as a practitioner. Genial in disposition, with fine literary attainments and conversational ability, he soon became a factor of the young commonwealth. As an outspoken opponent of a secret political cabal — the Knownothings — he completely routed the local champions of the clique. Always independent in spirit and disgusted with the course of some aldermen in regulating municipal affairs, he announced himself an independent candidate and was elected. Although a devoted Catholic, he was tolerant of the religious opinions of others. He was a good orator, his remarks full of dry humor and amongst his achievements is the defeat of the "land limitation bill," which restricted ownership of real estate to two lots in the city and three hundred and twenty acres of land in the country. In 1846 he was appointed a member of the first Board of School Commissioners and in 1867, when the legislature authorized the appointment of a Board of Health, he was selected its president, serving on the Board until 1877. After visiting Europe in 1874 to study sanitation, he made strenuous efforts to introduce improved methods, as vaccination, better supply of pure water, extension of adequate sewerage and the construction of an abattoir. Broken in health he removed to Denver, 'Colo., without finding relief. He died in Mobile, Alabama, in 1882.
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SAMUEL C. JOHNSON
Samuel C. Johnson, 76, long the guiding force at S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. He joined the family business, soon working to diversify products and expand into new markets. Under his leadership, the firm grew from a $171 million company to four businesses with more than $8 billion in annual sales. Johnson also earned a reputation as an environmentalist, a citizen of the world beyond his own beloved Racine area. Johnson died of cancer May 22.
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DAVID P. JONES
Candidate for City of Wauwatosa
David P. Jones, Republican candidate for alderman, has lived in Wauwatosa for several years. He works for Thomas Greenwood and this is his first campaign for official position.
Source: Wauwatosa News April 1, 1899
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A.M. JOYS
of the firm of G.D. Norris & Co., was born in Norway, February 1, 1835. He came to Milwaukee in 1856, and entered the employee of G.D. Norris in the same year. After the demise of G.D. Norris in 1869, he formed a partnership with Mrs. Norris, under the old firm name, which position he still holds. Mr. Joys is also Secretary and Treasurer of the Milwaukee Ship-yard Company, of which he is a partner.
Source: History of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Western Historical Company, Chicago; A.T. Andreas Proprietor, 1881, pg. 471
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CARL C. JOYS
CARL C. JOYS, president of the firm of Vance & Joys Company, marine brokers and insurance agents, was born in Milwaukee on Feb. 11, 1860, a son of John and Christina (Gabrielsen) Joys. both parents were born in Farsund, Norway, the father in 1833 and the mother in 1840. For a good many years the father was a sailor on the ocean on vessels of different sizes, and he saw a great deal of the world. He came to Milwaukee in 1855 and for twenty years was a sailing master on the great lakes. In 1875, with a brother he embarked in the ship-chandlery business under the firm name of Joys Brothers. Although well advanced in years he is still actively engaged in business. The mother came to Milwaukee with her parents in 1844, and died at the age of twenty-six years. Carl C. Joys received his educational advantages in the public school of Milwaukee. HIs first occupation after leaving school was in a clerical position in a grain commission house. In 1886 he embarked in the marine brokerage and marine insurance business. In his political belief Mr. Joys is a Republican and adheres strongly to the reform of principles promulgated by Senator Robert M. La Follette. Since 1882 he has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Excelsior Blue Lodge and Excelsior Chapter, Free and Accepted Masons, and also of the National Union. ON June 2, 1886, Mr. Joys was united in marriage to Miss Josephine E. Saveland, a daughter of Zachariah and Julia Saveland, of Milwaukee. Mrs. Joys died in 1903, leaving beside her husband a son, Carl C., Jr., now twenty years of age and a student in the University of Wisconsin; and a daughter, Florence, aged thirteen years.
Memoirs of Milwaukee County by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 pg. 547
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JOHN JOYS
Brother of A.M., was born in Farsund, Norway, January 26, 1833. Followed sailing from 1845, until he became a member of the firm of G.D. Norris & Co. in 1875.
Source: History of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Western Historical Company, Chicago; A.T. Andreas Proprietor, 1881, pg. 471
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