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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Herman
Wertheimer
1848
– 1935
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HERMAN WERTHEIMER, Mayor
After disposing of his milling
interests Fred Miller entered the grain
business here with the late Henry Pritzlaff and upon
the death of the latter continued with H. Wertheimer in 1888 and retired from
active business pursuits a few years later.
HERMAN WERTHEIMER
Article from Jefferson County, Wisconsin
and Its People: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement,
Volume 2, John Henry Ott, S. J. Clarke Publishing, 1917.
The story of enterprise
and progress in Watertown would be incomplete and unsatisfactory were there
failure to make prominent reference to Herman Wertheimer, who, through the
steps in his orderly progression, has reached a position among the substantial
and leading men of the city, yet whose financial interest and activities have
constituted but one phase in his career.
He has ever recognized his duties and obligations to his fellowmen, and
as the years have passed has rendered most efficient service in upholding
municipal standards and in advancing municipal interests. Indeed Watertown
owes much to him and honors him as one of her foremost residents.
Mr. Wertheimer is a
native of Austria. He was born on the
28th of August, 1849, of the marriage of Leopols and
Helena Morawetz Wertheimer who spent their entire lives in Austria. It was there that their son Herman pursued
his education, but in 1868 he left his native land, attracted by the
opportunities offered in the new world.
He was then a youth of nineteen years.
He had no capital to bring with him to his new home
but he possessed energy and ambition and was willing to perform any labor that
would bring to him an honest living.
He made his way at once
to Wisconsin and entered the employ of Frank Sipp, at that time a commission
merchant of Watertown. Necessity
demanded that he secure employment at once and his employer found him capable, industrious and diligent.
He spent two years with Mr. Sipp and afterward was employed by Hall
McMillan.
He afterward became
connected with William Buchheit,
a leading commission merchant of Watertown, and was by him advanced to the
place of manager. His business
association with Mr. Buchheit continued for sixteen
years and was then dissolved that he might engage in business on his own
account. He entered into partnership
with Frederick Miller in 1888 and they
operated successfully as grain merchants finally merging their interests with
the Watertown Grain Company.
When the connection with
Mr. Miller was discontinued Mr. Wertheimer carried on the business under the
same name and has been joined by his son Oscar
C. in the development of a business which now overtops that of any other
grain firm of Watertown. There is no
phase of the grain trade with which Mr. Wertheimer is not thoroughly familiar
and he keeps in close touch with market conditions. The splendid business qualifications which he
has manifested in developing and controlling his own interests naturally led to
his cooperation being sought in other fields and he has made wise and judicious
investments along commercial and financial lines. He is now president of the Watertown Canning Association, is president of
the Farmers & Citizens Bank and has
for many years been a stockholder in the Wisconsin
National Bank of Watertown.
On the 16th of July, 1872,
Mr. Wertheimer was united in marriage to Miss Emily Birk,
a native of this city, and a daughter of Mathias Birk. They have become the parents of four
children: Esther, the wife of Rev. P. T.
Brockman of Waukesha; O. C., who is associated with his father in the grain
trade; one who died in infancy; and Zayda, the wife
of E. W .Arbogast of St. Louis.
Mr. Wertheimer is
prominently known in various fraternal connections having membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Elks, while in his life he exemplifies the
beneficent spirit upon which those organizations are founded. He is president of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association and has been identified
with various interests of a public and semi-public character. His political allegiance is given to the
Republican Party and upon this ticket he has been elected on various occasions
a member of the board of aldermen. He
was also chosen mayor of the city for a term covering 1902 and 1903 and his
administration was characterized by many needed reforms and improvements his
progressive work doing much for the city's benefit. He has also been chosen president of the Watertown Advancement Company and has
cooperated in all its well defined plans and measures for extending the
industrial and commercial interests of the city. He has ever been actuated by devotion to the
general good and even the conduct of his private business interests has
constituted a factor in public improvement.
He is a man of
unfaltering integrity and honor in office and in private life and in fact his
entire career has been actuated by high principles such as command confidence
and respect in every land and clime.
_____________________________
1896
05 13 WERTHEIMER BARN FIRE
Shortly
after midnight last night the barn on Alderman H. Wertheimer’s place, 217 North
Fifth Street, was destroyed by fire. The
fire department was out and prevented the flames from spreading to adjoining
property. The barn was insured for
$100. The origin of the fire is
unknown. The
Watertown News, 13 May 1896
c.1897
HERMAN WERTHEIMER HOME
207 North Fifth Street
1899
PRIZE-WINNING FLOAT NEXT TO WATERTOWN GRAIN EXCHANGE
412 East Main, H. Wertheimer, mgr.
1899-1900 Watertown City Directory
c.1900
HERMAN WERTHEIMER, MORITZ BLUMENFELD AND CARL MANZ
1901
03 08 DEPOT AND ELEVATOR FIRE AT CLYMAN
Last Tuesday fire destroyed the C. & N. W. Ry. Depot and the
elevator at Clyman, 9 miles north of this city.
Considerable freight in the depot at the time was also destroyed. About 10,000 bushels of barley stored in the
elevator, owned by the Watertown
Elevator Co., of this city, of which H. Wertheimer of this city is the
principal owner, was also consumed.
There was an insurance of $4000 in the grain. There was a gasoline engine and other
machinery in the building which was not insured. The net loss will be between $1000 and $1500.
At one time during the fire it was thought that it would extend to the
business portion of Clyman, and aid was telegraphed for to this city, and the
hook and ladder truck and company were at the depot in readiness to proceed to
Clyman when word was received not to come, that the place was out of danger . A
high wind prevailed at the time, but it blew from the northwest, the business
portion of Clyman being in that direction from the buildings on fire, which no
doubt saved the destruction of considerable more
property. WG
1904
12 20 PURCHASED
STUFFED GEESE
A
large quantity of stuffed geese has been
purchased here during the week. H. Wertheimer
paid over $2600 last Saturday for stuffed geese. Fred Albrecht, a resident of the town of
Milford sold 80 to him, for which he received a check for $386, and Mr.
Albrecht says this is only about half of his product this year. This firm also buys other lines of poultry,
and on Tuesday had on sale a 23 pound turkey, which
was raised by Charles Gillis of the town of Watertown. Landlord Brandenburg of the New Commercial
purchased it and will serve it on Christmas day to his guests.
1908
ELEVATOR MOVED
H. Wertheimer will remove his elevator in a few days
from West Main Street near
the Northwestern depot to the vicinity of the sidetrack
[spur] of the Northwestern railway just north of S.
M. Eaton's & Son's factory in North Water Street. July 31 WG
1909
09 03 60th BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY, Ex-Mayor Herman
Wertheimer Banqueted WG
In honor
of his 60th birthday anniversary Ex-Mayor Herman Wertheimer was the guest
of honor at a banquet given last Saturday evening at the New Commercial Hotel by H. W. Heinrichs,
vice-president of the M. D. Wells Shoe Co., complimentary to his
efforts in the interest of a greater Watertown. Mr. Heinrichs and
his sister, Miss C. Heinrichs of Milwaukee, assisted by Mrs. H. Wertheimer,
received the guests in the hotel parlor.
Those
present were: Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Sproesser,
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Voss, Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. F. W.
Woodard, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Wertheimer, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Woodard, Mr. and Mrs. H.
Wertheimer, Mrs. L. Brandenburg, Miss C. Heinrichs, Milwaukee, Joseph Terbrueggen,
Fred Kusel, John Schmahl,
Edward Broennimann, New York City.
The menu
served was as follows:
Dry
Martini
Salted
Almonds
Iced
Cantaloupe
Celery
Olives
Boullion
St.
Julian
Individual
Planked Whitefish
Potatoes
Border
Sweetbread
Patties
Squab in Casserolle
Moet and Clandon White Seal
Parsley
Potatoes
Cauliflower
Stuffed
Tomato Mayonaisse
Harlequin
Ice Cream
Cake
Newchattle Cheese
Coffee
Toaster
Wafers
Crème de
Menthe
Cigars
The menu was
well served and the management of the New Commercial was complimented on all
sides for its excellence. Mr. Heinrichs officiated as the
toastmaster and paid a fine compliment to Watertown and its citizens and to the
management of the New Commercial Hotel. Many happy responses were
given to the toasts and a very pleasant feature of the evening’s program was
the presentation of a gold-headed cane by citizens of Watertown to Mr.
Wertheimer, Mr. Heinrichs delivering the presentation speech.
The
following letter accompanied the gift:
Hon.
Herman Wertheimer, President, Watertown Advancement Association.
Dear
Friend:
We, the
undersigned citizens and business men of Watertown, do hereby petition your
acceptance of the accompanied gift as a slight token of our esteem for you as
an associate and our appreciation of your praiseworthy efforts for the
advancement of the business interests of our city.
The gift
was cordially accepted by Mr. Wertheimer in a few happy words that told very
effectively how highly he appreciated the compliment extended
him. At about 10 o’clock that evening the Watertown Military Band
serenaded Mr. Wertheimer and the other guests at the banquet. Mr.
Wertheimer is one of Watertown’s most progressive citizens—he is president of
the Watertown Advancement Association, of the Inter-County Fair Association, Out-Door Art
Association, and Home-Coming Club. His time and money
have always been most generously given to advance the interests of this city,
hence the compliment extended him last Saturday evening was most worthily
bestowed.
____________
More on Herman Wertheimer Recognition ____________
Thanks for
Remembrance
Watertown Gazette, 09 03
1909
Editor Gazette—I
wish to express through the columns of The Gazette my grateful
thanks for the kind remembrance by the citizens and businessmen of Watertown on
the occasion of my birthday anniversary and to express to them the most kindly
feeling for their appreciation of my efforts in conjunction with the other
officers of the Watertown Advancement Association for a greater industrial
Watertown and I assure them that it will always be my aim to merit their
approval in like matters in the future. With the aid and assistance
of the people in the future, so generously given in the past, there seems no
good reason why Watertown should not take front rank with her sister cities in
Wisconsin.
Again thanking
you, I am
Herman Werthheimer
1910
03 18 WITHDRAWS AS CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR
Herman Wertheimer has
issued the following letter announcing his withdrawal as a candidate for mayor:
When it was apparent at
the opening of the spring campaign that there was a likelihood that the office
of mayor of the city would be without a candidate, I decided to announce myself
as a candidate for the place. This
action was taken when it was known that no party nominations would be made, as
no primary election could be held under the law, no action looking toward such
election having been taken. In view of
what has since occurred, I have decided to withdraw my name as a candidate for
the office, and so far as I am concerned, leave the
field clear for the other candidate.
I have been honored by
the citizens of Watertown in the past with the mayoralty and have served in the
city council, where my record is open to the public. In many other ways while a resident of
Watertown I have always done my share to help in the city's betterment, and I
take occasion at this time to thank all my friends who have stood loyally by me
in other campaigns, as well as the one which I recently entered.
It seems hardly
necessary to deny the charges made that I was put up as a republican
candidate. That is not true, as I
entered the field of my own volition and leave it in the same manner.
I have carefully
considered the matter from all points of view, and while I may be censured by
some for my action, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I have been
influenced in my decision by myself alone.
When I announced my candidacy I did so with the thought that someone
should do so. The history of the past
four years shows that the office went begging, and it was an extremely hard
matter to find anyone who would consent to run.
Knowing that such a condition had existed, my candidacy followed, with
the intention, if elected, of serving the people of the city in a business-like
manner and for the good of the whole community, and I believe that my record
while a citizen and public official of Watertown will show that all my acts
have been in the interests of the people and to make Watertown a bigger and
better city.
This
and this only was my object in announcing the candidacy from which I now
withdraw, hoping that my loyal Watertown friends will uphold me in this
decision, which is final on my part.
Again thanking my many friends in Watertown for their words
of encouragement and support, I remain
Yours
truly, Herman
Wertheimer. WG
1914
02 50 Proposed STATE Home
for Feeble Minded in Watertown
c.1915-1920
WATERTOWN GRAIN CO. ELEVATOR, distant view of
Ice Harvesting photo
This
building was originally located on West Main Street near the C & NW depot
and was moved intact to North Water Street (today near site of Fannie Lewis
park).
1916 WATERTOWN
GRAIN COMPANY
1918
12 04 CHAIRMAN OF RECEPTION COMMITTEE FOR COMPANY
E
To the Common Council
and Citizens of Watertown:
As the boys are
returning from the front and the camps it will be necessary to receive
them. I herewith appoint Ex-Mayor
Wertheimer as chairman of the reception committee, he to appoint his own
aides. I also appoint every man, woman
and child in the city of Watertown as a member of the reception committee and,
if parents who know of a wounded or sick soldier coming to town will notify Mr.
Wertheimer or myself, we will be glad to go and receive the soldier with an
auto and take him to his home.
Later on, possibly in February—and I would suggest February 22nd, Washington’s birthday—Watertown
ought to give a monster celebration to the returned soldiers, showing our
appreciation of their services.
Company E will
undoubtedly come back in a body. When
they do we will notify all citizens and I trust that
everybody will be at the depot to receive them.
I am therefore also having a resolution introduced appropriating two
hundred dollars as the city’s part in defraying the expenses of receiving the
boys and to help with the celebration.
Dated December 2, 1918.
Charles Mulberger, Mayor. The Watertown news
1921 WATERTOWN
CANNING COMPANY OFFICER
The Watertown
Canning Company was established and incorporated in 1913. The 1921 officers included H. Wertheimer, President.
1947 BURIED
IN OAK HILL CEMETERY
Wertheimer,
Oscar C., b. 1874, d. 1947, Sec 25
Cross References:
Portrait of young girls praying,
full color with flowers and walnut frame donated by Mrs. Herman Wertheimer.
04 09 2023
<>A couple years ago, I came across a gold cane. It was very old but in
excellent condition. On one side of the
handle was the name H. Wertheimer with the date of April 25/86. On the other is written “From his Employees”.
It also has writing of 16K and smaller letters which I can’t quite make out. I’m guessing this may have belonged to the H. Wertheimer as was written up on your website. As of now, I’m not planning on selling it any
time soon. It holds a prominent place in my collection of vintage pieces. Could the H.
Wertheimer be one and the same? Respectfully
yours, Jeff Kyle
History of Watertown, Wisconsin