This
file portion of www.watertownhistory.org
website
August Jaeger
1859 - 1948
Jaeger Mill
512 - 518 S First
Globe Mill East, center; destroyed by fire, 1894
C M & St P Railroad Bridge, original, south of
Milwaukee St, looking north
WHS_005_104
Koenig Mill
Portion of image# KR031 of the society’s Kreitzman
collection: Taken from the west bank of
the river looking east, former Koenig Mill, later Jaeger, destroyed by fire in
1923; today the Watertown Senior and Community Center. Image dates to 1903.
60 YEARS ON JOB, THAT'S RECORD OF A. C.
JAEGER
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 14 1941
When August C Jaeger,
At 82, he was that on October 29, he is perhaps the
oldest active business man in the city and is at the mill daily.
"I do it to keep active and because I have no
other place to go" he said last night at his home when a reporter visited
him. Being at the mill has become a
habit hard to shake and so he goes down to the plant every day, even if he only
sits around the office, as he says.
As for directing the business, he knows that it is in the
capable hands of town of his sons, Mr. Jaeger is president of the mill, his son
Alex T Jaeger, is vice president, while the other son, Herbert E Jaeger, is
secretary and treasurer. Another son,
Arthur E Jaeger, is also a stockholder in the mill, although he does not work
there, being a clerk at the post office.
At 82 years, Mr. Jaeger belies his age. He is much more active than some men who are
a good deal younger.
Since 1921 when he bought the business, the mill has
been known as the Jaeger Milling company.
Before than it was known as R. P. Koenig and company. Mr. Jaeger went to work for that
company. He began his career as a miller
at a small mill in Pipersville when he was a young man. He remained there about 2 years, then came
here to work for what is the Globe Milling Company, remaining there only a
short time. Then went to work at the
Koenig mill. In those early days the
Globe Mill was also known at the May's Mill.
There were also other mills here in the early days. Mr. Jaeger recalled, one was the Rough and
Ready mill another was known as Blanchard's mill there was a Brick mill there
was also one known as Boomer's mill. Now
there are only two, Jaeger's and the Globe mill.
The Jaeger Milling company suffered loss along about
1922 a year or so after he took over. It
was destroyed by fire. The problem then
was to decide what the family would do and it was agreed to rebuild. This was done and the present plant is the
result.
Since the new mill was constructed the company has not
ground flour. "I am kind of glad
that we decided against flour at that time," Mr. Jaeger said. "It would have meant an enormous
investment and since we are not in a wheat area and the changing business
conditions all have been factors that have made me realize many times since
that our decision was a wise one."
The mill now deals in rations of all kinds, feeds, and
custom work for farmers. Mr. Jaeger said
that some farm families in this area have dealt with the mill for several
generations. There are many old
customers, he declared who date form the days way back.
The mill employs at the present time a staff of about
8. Of these William Schultz is the
oldest in point service, having been with the concern for some 40 years, Mrs.
Jaeger said. Mr. Jaeger has seen many
changes in the business of milling.
"Its all been progress though"
he declares, for he is a great believer in progressive methods and says
that whether one likes it or not things do move along and that while the
changes that result may not always be appreciated at the moment on the whole
they spell progress in the end.
Always a staunch supporter of Watertown. Mr. Jaeger said he hadn't taken many trips-
although he was to California once for a visit- and he thinks Watertown is a
good all around town and it has fine citizens.
As for running the business, he said, " I really
am not much good around the place anymore and I know the business is in capable
hands with my sons in charge, but I still like to drop around to see what's
going on and to greet old customers who call.
And then too, I don't want to sit around the house all day, so I go to
the mill and sort of putter around. It
keeps me occupied and out of mischief," he added with a twinkle in his
eye.
And that's the reason Mr. Jaeger was at the mill as
usual today, even though it was his 60th anniversary there.
The mill was destroyed by
fire in the late 1960's.
August Jaeger Obit
WHS_005_356
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 28 1948
August C Jaeger, veteran miller of city dies, age 88
of
He was married to Miss Elise Ruehlow at Ixonia on
One half brother Herman Borchardt of Iona died 2 years
ago.
Long identified with the milling business in
Watertown. Mr. Jaeger had worked at the
same plant since 1884 when it was known as Koenig Milling
Co. Since 1920 when it was taken
over, it became Jaeger Milling Co. in which he was a senior partner. Mr. Jaeger retired from active service 1942
but was at the mill office almost daily until 10 days before his death.
Funeral Saturday with burial
at Oak Hill.
_____________________________________________________________________
This file part of www.oakhillcemetery.info website
Elise E Jaeger
1863 - 1948
Jaeger, Elise, b. Oct 31, 1863, d.
OBIT - 23 April 1848 Watertown Daily Times
Elise E Jaeger widow of August C
Jaeger, 401 S 7th Street died in St Mary's Hospital early today. She had
suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mrs. Jaeger was the former Elise
Ruehlow and was born in German 31 October 1863.
A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Ruehlow. She came to the U.S. when a child and had
lived in this community for the past 79 years.
She was married at Ixonia to Mr.
Jaeger who preceded her death last January 27. He had been a miller here, and
was the senior member of the Jaeger Milling Company.
Surviving is 1 daughter and 4
sons, Miss Esther Jaeger at home, Arthur E of Los Angeles, Alex T and Herbert
of this city and Ernest of Milwaukee.
There are 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. There are 2 sisters, Mrs. Lydia Tietz this
city, Mrs. Mary Christian Lebanon, and a brother Julius Ruehlow of this city.
Mrs. Jaeger was a member of St
Mark's Lutheran Church. The funeral will
be held Monday from Nowak Funeral Home. Burial
at Oak Hill.
1958
07
02 Effect proposed Rock River water diversion would have on milling
concerns. WDT
