HISTORY OF MANITOWOC COUNTY


upon acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business and had always proven
entirely trustworthy and reliable in every respect, his employers continued
to
promote him. Recognizing in him good powers of salesmanship, they later
placed him on the road in the capacity of traveling salesman, where he evi-
denced the same efficiency and capability he had manifested in the discharge
of
his previous duties. He was subsequently taken off of the road and made office
manager, creditably filling this responsible position during the remainder
of
his connection with the company. It had always been his ambition to have
an
establishment of his own, and feeling assured that he had the practical knowl-
edge and executive ability to organize and develop such an industry, in i896
he resigned his position to engage in business for himself.  He started the
operation of an independent church furniture factory himself by employing
three men. This start was made in a barn on Washington street belonging to
his parents. Power for said business was secured through the local traction
company, whose tracks went by the place. The powers that Mr. Schuetze had
manifested as an employe he was able to successfully exercise on his own
be-
half, and as a result his enterprise thrived from its incipiency. Its develop-
ment was not remarkable in any way, but was characterized by the uniform,
orderly progression that manifests stability and permanency and invariably
in-
spires public confidence in the men who are directing it. As the firm gained
recognition it was necessary for them to obtain larger quarters and they
re-
moved to the spacious building they are now occupying. This is a substantial,
modern structure, located on Twenty-sixth street, and is well equipped with
all
necessary machinery and appliances needful in the manufacture of their prod-
ucts. During the six years of its existence the firm has become quite widely
known in the middle west and they are being favored with a very good pat-
ronage, and it now requires the services of forty men to fill their orders.
It
was Mr. Schuetze's desire to gain entire control of the factory, which he
suc-
ceeded in doing, and he is now sole proprietor of the concern. Could he have
foreseen at the start the trials and discouragements he was to encounter
in his
new undertaking, the seemingly impossible to be overcome, doubtlessly he
would
not have had the fortitude to have undertaken it, but the struggling days
are
now passed and his factory is well established and prospering. During the
first
years he met with the obstacles and set backs every man has to combat with
who is striving to develop an enterprise on limited capital against strong
com-
petition, but he possesses the firm determination and resourcefulness that
en-
abled him to weather all storms, and now he finds his greatest satisfaction
in
the thought that his achievement has been self-won.
In Manitowoc in August, i900, Mr. Schuetze was united in marriage to
Miss Ruby May Melendy, a daughter of A. B. Melendy one of the pioneer
and for many years leading photographers of the city. The family of Mr.
and Mrs. Schuetze numbers four, as follows: Ellsworth, Edith and Russell,
all
of whom are attending school; and Rueben, the baby of the family, who has
passed the third anniversary of his birth. They reside at 12I4 South Thir-
teenth street, where Mr. Schuetze purchased a dwelling that he has remodeled,
making it a very comfortable and pleasant residence.
Fraternally-he is a Mason, being affiliated with both the blue lodge and
the
chapter, and in i908 he was master of the former. He was again elected mas-


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