This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Max Henry Gaebler
1851 - 1920
PROMINENT CITIZEN
CALLED BY DEATH
Was Secretary and
Treasurer of the
Watertown Table Slide
Company
Since its Organization
– A Good Citizen Gone
b.
[ Article contains portrait ]
Max Henry Gaebler, a prominent and highly
esteemed resident of Watertown and secretary and treasurer of the Watertown Table Slide Company, died this
morning in his late residence,
Mr. Gaebler was born in Danbury, Conn.
The son received his early education
at home under the instruction of his grandfather and had read many of the
German classics before he was twelve years old.
His studies were continued in the local high school, under the late
Prof. Bernard and he was one of the first three students to enter Northwestern College. He also received an
excellent musical education.
In his early life he assisted his
father in the construction of musical instruments and also aided in the conduct
of the music store. He acquired technical
skill in piano tuning and since 1870 devoted a great share of his time to this
art and gained a statewide reputation for extraordinary skill.
In 1889 he helped in founding the Watertown
Table Slide Co., and gradually withdrew from the other avocations and since the
founding of the company has been its secretary and treasurer and designed a
great share of the special machinery used in the plant.
He was united in wedlock on
Mr. Gaebler was a republican in
politics and he was a candidate for mayor in 1914, and although defeated for
the office received a strong endorsement in his home ward and a large vote
throughout the city. He never aspired to
public office and on this occasion was induced by his friends to make the
run. It is also true of other positions
of responsibility and trust which he capably filled.
He served as a member of the
Jefferson county board of supervisors several terms being elected in a
democratic ward from 1881 off and on until 1911. He was a charter member of Watertown Lodge
No. 666 B. P. O. Elks and a member of Lincoln Lodge No. 20, Knights of
Pythias.
He was a life long lover and student
of music and for many years served as musical director of the Concordia Musical Society. He was also in his early life an
accomplished pianist and violinist. He
was a great reader of current literature and was one of the most intelligent
and best informed men in this section of the state. He possessed an affable disposition and a
genial nature which drew to him many warm friends wherever he was known. His home life was all that could be desired
in a father and husband.
He took an active interest in all
that concerned the industrial life and growth of Watertown and was always ready
to lend a helping hand for anything conducive to that end.
Watertown loses a good citizen in
the death of Mr. Gaebler, a type of the forceful, self reliant man. He was a man of liberal tastes and
cultivation and possessed a fund of diversified information.
Mr. Gaebler had a marked social gift
and was always a welcome addition to the social life of Watertown. His engaging personality and address bespoke
confidence and a liking shared in by the whole community. His nature was of the sterling kind which
bespeaks confidence and wins and keeps friends.
The funeral will take place on next
Tuesday afternoon with services in the family home at
The burial will be in Oak
Hill cemetery.
