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Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (Pages
251-251). A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the
leaders in business, professional and official life. This file was
contributed for use in the USGENWEB
Archives by: Kelly Mullins.
TROSTEL, Albert, at the head of one of the largest tanneries in Milwaukee, if
not in the country, is the son of Michael and Louise Trostel, natives of
Wurtemberg, Germany. Michael Trostel was a farmer in very moderate
circumstances. Albert was born at Unterberken, Wurtemberg, in 1834.
He received a common school education, and came to Milwaukee in 1852.
Without money and influential friends, his first work was on a farm. He
had learned the trade of tanner and currier in the old country, and after some
time spent in farm work, he secured a position in a tannery of William
Schroeder, at the foot of State street, where he worked for four years. At
the end of that time he leased the plant and worked it alone for a year, when he
formed a partnership with A.F. Gallun, which was continued for twenty-eight
years. During that time the Star Tannery was acquired, which after being
destroyed by fire, in 1865, was rebuilt by the partners on a larger scale.
In 1876 the property known as the old paper mill was purchased and the old
building refitted for tanning and currying purposes. New buildings were
erected, and the capacity of the whole plant was increased to three times that
of the old Star Tannery. In 1882 the old Milwaukee Hide and Leather
company's tannery, which was partially burned out, was purchased by the firm,
and called the Phoenix Tannery. In 1885, the partnership was dissolved,
and Mr. Trostel acquired the Star and the Phoenix tanneries. These plants
have since been enlarged to three times their original capacity. For the
years the business was conducted in Mr. Trostel's name alone, after which his
sons were taken into partnership, and the firm name adopted was Albert Torstel
& Sons. In the year 1895 the old canal tannery of the Pfister &
Vogel Leather company was added by purchase, and since the first of May, 1896,
it has been operated by the firm. When the changes and contemplated
improvements are completed the capacity of the plant will be among the largest
in this country, requiring the employment of six hundred men. The growth
of the Trostel tannery is another of the many evidences of the great progress of
the city in manufacturing, as well as Mr. Trostel's industry, enterprise and
business sagacity. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the
Deutsche Gesellschaft, the Old Settlers' Club, the German and English Academy
association and the United Workmen. He was married, in 1863, to Miss Charlotte
Gallun, and they have two sons and a daughter living. One son died in
infancy.
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