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Fred Bertram

 

Henry Bertram

 

Bertram and Company

 

Fred Bertram

 

Fred Bertram, dealer in boots and shoes; born in Hanover March 23, 1845; came to Watertown with his parents in 1847; he commenced working in the boot and shoe business when only 14 years of age; he is now senior partner in the firm of F. Bertram & Co. (his father-in-law, M. Mullen, being associated with him); they are doing a very extensive business, having stores at Milwaukee, Sparta and Watertown.

 

Mr. Bertram married Miss Angeline Mullen; she was born in Watertown Township; they have four children - Freddie, Frankie, Willie and Lulu.  The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1879.

 

Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery

 

1899

03 01       BERTRAM INTERVIEW

                We are permitted to make the following translation from a Spanish publication in New Orleans, which has this to say of one of our citizens: 

 

                "The reporter of this paper had an interview today with Mr. F. H. Bertram, of Watertown, Wisconsin, who is the representative of one of the greatest cheese and butter-producing sections of the world.  He represents the great house of Jacob Jossi, located in his home city, whose sales of cheese are not confined to small quantities, but are more frequently in ton lots.  In the section in which Mr. Bertram lives, American, brick, Limburger and Schweitzerkase are manufactured in immense quantities, and if Mr. Bertram's orders elsewhere are in keeping with those taken here we think it must require the product of an entire state to furnish the supply.  Mr. Bertram is a quiet, conservative gentleman, thoroughly businesslike in manner, and has made many friends while in this city.   WR

 

1902

01 17       SET OF BUFFALO HORNS

                Fred. Bertram presented to Emil Meyer a fine set of Buffalo horns, on which are mounted two smaller horns.  They were a gift to him from the Indians of the Turtle mountains in North Dakota.  They are the prettiest Buffalo horns that we have ever seen.   WG

 

Cross Reference:  John Smith showed us quite a curiosity on Monday, being a pair of white cotton gloves he wore as a groomsman at a wedding in Ireland 56 years ago. They are well preserved, and look as though they might be in a good state of preservation 56 years hence. He also exhibited to us a fine pair of buff-colored gloves tanned by the Indians on the Turtle mountains in North Dakota.   WG 01 10 1902

 

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Henry Bertram of Watertown

 

Henry Bertram, manufacturer of and dealer in boots and shoes; born in Hanover Feb. 29, 1816; came to Watertown in 1847; engaged in present business ever since he came here, having been one of the most prominent and public-spirited men in the community.  [In 1847, the couple reached Watertown and this Bertram began selling boots and shoes on Main Street, in the western section of the building where Brown’s Shoe Store stands today.]  The citizens of Watertown have manifested their confidence in his ability and integrity by electing him to fill various important positions; he was one of the first Aldermen and has served in that position for several terms; he was Mayor two years; City Treasurer two years; from 1865 to 1876 he was County Superintendent of the Poor; he was prominently identified with the institution of the I.O.O.F. Lodge here.

 

In August, 1842, he married Helena Reinecke, a native of Hanover; they have had five children; the living are Fred, Henry, Emily (Amalie) (now Mrs. Henry Daub), Mary (now Mrs. William Brandt) - one daughter, Sophia, died Dec. 20, 1878, aged 35 years; at the time of her death she was the wife of W. H. Rohr. The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1879.

 

1857-59     MAYOR OF WATERTOWN

 

1859

02 10                Candidate for office of City Treasurer    WD

 

1861

05 23                Late city treasurer Henry Bertram paid a note given by the city improvement commissioners.   WD

 

1865

11 16       NEW STEAM MILL

Col. Henty Bertram is building a new steam mill near the Northwestern depot, on the west side of the river.  He intends to manufacture pine lumber on an extensive scale.  He can very easily get his logs from the north by railroads.    WD

 

1871

-- --         SOLD LAND FOR SACRED HEART COLLEGE

It was in the fall of 1871 that the authorities of the Congregation of Holy Cross at Notre Dame purchased the 65-acre Sacred Heart College site from Col. Henry Bertram who had purchased it from Patrick Rogen.  In addition to the land, the property consisted of a large two-story residence of white brick and other smaller buildings. That was the original school, and it later became a guest house.

 

1880

07 21       ALEXANDER BERTRAM TAKES A TUMBLE

Last Thursday morning at about 1 o’clock, Alexander, son of Henry Bertram, Jr., aged 5 years, fell from a window in the 3d story of the Commercial Hotel to the ground.  His cries brought the night porter to his assistance, and strange to say it was found that none of his bones were broken and he was apparently uninjured, save considerably frightened, although the distance he fell was nearly thirty feet.  From the little fellow’s talk the theory of his fall is that he imagined himself climbing into a hammock and under this delusion fell.  He is now as well as ever and the hero of a remarkable escape from death.

 

c.1885

                    HELENA (HELENE) BERTRAM’S BOARDING AND LODGING HOUSE

          113 South Second St

Wife of General Henry Bertram, a former mayor and Civil War veteran

 

Tombstone in Watertown’s Oak Hill Cemetery

 

 

Cross-References:

1861, Henry Bertram, 1LT, Watertown Rifles, Civil War

Bertram & Co, Boots and Shoes, Civil War token, 1893, [head]  [tail]

 

 

 

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