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ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Louis Herman Cordes
1852 - 1922
Louis H Cordes,
b. Jul 29, 1852, d. Mar 2, 1922, Buried in Oak
Hill Cemetery
Joachim C Cordes, saloon
and billiard hall, Main, W 3rd, res same, 1875-76
Watertown City Directory
LOUIS H. CORDES
DIED AT HOSPITAL ON THURSDAY
Established Large Brick Industry in This City
Also Instituted Electric Lighting Plant
Funeral Will Be Held Saturday
Louis Herman Cordes,
a leader in the business life of Watertown for almost half a century and a
citizen of great nobility of purpose, died at St. Mary’s hospital yesterday
afternoon about 3 o’clock.
Mr. Cordes
went to the hospital about three months ago and submitted to an operation for
bladder trouble. It was entirely
successful and he was preparing for a second operation, which was decided upon
by the surgeons. In the meantime, he was
taken ill with pneumonia and the operation was abandoned at the time. He recovered from the attack of pneumonia and
on Wednesday underwent the operation.
The result was pronounced very successful and attending physicians and
members of the family entertained high hopes for his ultimate recovery. However, it was soon discovered that his
general debilities were such that recovery was questionable, and the gradually
sank until the final dissolution.
The deceased was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Joachim Cordes, who came to this country
from Canen, Hanover, Germany, in 1846. The family settled on a farm in the town of
Farmington, Jefferson County, where the subject of this sketch was born. In 1860 they came to Watertown. The father died a number of years ago, but
the mother, whose maiden name was Minnie Hoefer, is
still in fair health at the age of 93 years, her residence being at 417 Seventh
Street, in this city.
Mr. Cordes
was united in marriage to Miss Mary Staats of this
city, on November 28, 1889. She died
July 4, 1909. The couple had no
children. He is survived by his aged
mother, one brother, Ernst Cordes, for many years
railway station agent at Sparta and four sisters, Mrs. Edward Specht of this city, Miss Minnie Cordes,
who resides with her mother here, Mrs. William Winkenwerder
and Mrs. George Winkenwerder of Chicago. The deceased was prominent in social and
fraternal affairs, being a charter member of the Elks, and holding membership
in Watertown Chapter No. 49, F and A. M. and No. 11, R. A. M., and Olivet Commandery No. 18 K. T.
Another fraternal affiliation was the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Cordes
took a deep interest in everything that pertained to the welfare of Watertown
and was generous in dealing with the public and his fellowmen. He possessed a kind hart which moved him to
the performance of many deeds of kindness and charity. Loyal in his friendships, he was in turn
loved by a large circle of personal friends who mourn his death.
The deceased was for twenty years
a director of the Merchants National Bank of
this city.
Mr. Cordes
may be truly classed as one of the foremost builders of Watertown, having
during his lifelong residence here, contributed much to the industrial
advancement and civic improvement of this community. He was for over forty-five years actively
identified with various business enterprises of Watertown, where he had carried
on his operations honestly and prosperously during that time. Believing that the success of a business
should redound to the benefit of all connected with it, Mr. Cordes
paid good wages and was always regarded highly by those in his employ.
Born upon his father’s farm in
the town of Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, on July 29, 1852, where he
spent his youthful days, Mr. Cordes came to Watertown
with his parents in 1860. He attended
the public schools and his natural inclination to acquire knowledge of a
beneficial nature, caused him to progress rapidly in his studies. After leaving school he decided to learn the
trade of a tinsmith and entered the employ of the D &
F Kusel Co, of this city, in which he continued
until 1872, a period of five years.
Leaving Watertown, he went to
Oshkosh where he was employed at his trade and later went to Appleton where he
secured a more remunerative position.
After a few years, finding a still more lucrative job in Chicago, he
went to that city. In about the year
1878, Mr. Cordes decided to enter upon a business
career of his own, and returning to Watertown, associated himself with William
Schulte in the handling of farm implements.
At that time his father, the late J C Cordes, was in engaged in
the general store, grocery and saloon business in Main Street (the present
location of Otto G. Schott’s place). [ 116 E Main ]
Mr. Cordes,
Sr. was anxious to retire and the son bought out and took charge of the business
and conducted it until 1881 when he sold out to Wenzel Cech. Speaking of his intentions at the time, Mr. Cordes said that he had satisfied himself that the brick
business, properly managed and developed, would become
a great industry and he was determined to adopt the enterprise.
Main, E, 100, 1909c
but pre 1935, L H Cordes & Co., brick mfg.
Main, E, 100, 1913, Cordes,
L H & Co, brick mfgs
In that year Mr. Cordes acquired the brick
yards on Utah Street and was preparing to take charge, when the late Joseph Terbrueggen became interested in the venture and
offered to become an equal partner, which proposition was accepted. Together they operated the yards for six
years and then purchased the present yards at the foot of Third Street, near
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway depot, and the two businesses
were joined and operated together for sixteen years. During that period the firm also secured by
purchase the Boomer and Quentmeyer yards nearby and
for five years of this period, the same was operated in conjunction with the
other two.
Two years ago this month Mr. Cordes sold his brick yards and business to Omar Gaston,
the present successful proprietor.
In conversation with a Times reporter not long ago, Mr. Cordes spoke feelingly of his long business connections
with his late partner, saying that they were entirely agreeable and
satisfactory. The first brick was
manufactured in 1882 and it marked the beginning of a successful
enterprise. The product was of
recognized and established high quality and found a ready market. The firm had regular customers in six states
outside of Wisconsin and turned out an average of 4,000,000 brick a year. The St. Paul Railway Company got most of the
brick from the Cordes yards, and the material for its
big railway shops in Milwaukee were furnished from here.
The sale of the yards marked the
retirement of Mr. Cordes after thirty eight
continuous years in the brick business, during which time it developed
steadily. The firm furnished employment
to a large number of men, sometimes the pay roll of the month containing the
names of eighty workers. A number of the
men were with Mr. Cordes during all of the time he
was in charge of the business.
Started Electric Light Plant
Mr. Cordes
became greatly interested in electric lighting, a
subject which he studied with great enthusiasm.
Coming to the belief that Watertown could support a plant, the partners
secured a franchise from the city of Watertown on May 27, 1889, and at once
proceeded to install.
Business men and the public
generally know little about electric lighting systems and rather doubted its
success in a town of this size. However,
they did not allow themselves to become discouraged and went to work to secure
contracts from business men and others.
The city contracted for twenty street lights, and a number of business
men agreed to take a few lights, the late Joseph Salick, the jeweler, being the first to commend the
lights and signing a contract for a substantial number of lights. Most of the business men were indifferent but
became convinced of its feasibility as soon as a few were put in use.
Miss Louis H. Cordes [Mary]
1860 – 1909
Watertown Gazette, 07 09 1909
At 8:30 o’clock on Sunday
morning, July 4, 1909, Miss Louis H. Cordes died at
St. Mary’s Hospital in this city. The
previous Wednesday she went to the hospital and on Thursday a Chicago
specialist operated on her for a tumor.
The operation was performed successfully, but complications set in that
weakened the heart action and resulted in death. On learning of her death our people were
greatly shocked, for only a few of her intimate friends knew of her illness,
and expressions of sincere sorrow were heard on all sides. A peculiar coincidence in connection with her
death was that she died on her birthday anniversary.
Mrs. Cordes
was born in Watertown July 4, 1860, and has always made this city her
home. She was a daughter of the late
Christian Staats, and was universally esteemed here,
for she was a lady who possessed a kind heart and a pleasant and agreeable
disposition, her presence adding sunshine and pleasure wherever she chanced to
be.
Her death is the first that has
occurred in the family circle, hence it all the more keenly felt by the other
members of the family.
She is survived by her husband,
her mother, Mrs. Mary Staats of Milwaukee, Max and
William Staats, Mrs. N. Simon, Mrs. Gustav Schemmal, Mrs. William Jaedacke
and Mrs. Belle Staats of this city, and Edward Staats of Merrill.
Wednesday afternoon
her funeral was held from the family home, 406 Third Street, and her remains
were interred in Oak
Hill Cemetery.
In the death of Mrs. Cordes Watertown has lost a most excellent citizen and her
husband a devoted wife and companion.
Her presence will be greatly missed in Watertown and all our people
mourn sincerely with the afflicted family.
Cross references:
Fire at L. H. Cordes’
home on Third Street
70th birthday anniversary of Joseph Terbrueggen
