SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

John M. Saemann, Page 567

JOHN M. SAEMANN, President of the Sheboygan City Railway Company, and also President of the Lake Shore Land Company, was born in Columbus, Ohio, May 12, 1844, and is a son of John M. and Elizabeth Saemann.  His parents came to America in 1839, while young.  They settled  in Marion, Ohio, and in 1849 removed to Jackson, Washington County, Wis.  In 1854, they came to Sheboygan Country and settled at Batavia, in Scott Township, where they bought a large tract of land.

    The subject of our sketch attended the public schools in his youth, and later the Northwestern University, at Plainfield, Ill.  He was reared under the wholesome influences of a home on the farm, where he remained until twenty-three years old, when he engaged in merchandising at Batavia, in Sheboygan County.  One year later he sold out and went to Waterloo, Iowa, near  which place he purchased a farm, and for one year was again engaged in agricultural pursuits.  Following this he was in the commission business at Waterloo for a time, in company with a Mr. Bates.  Next he was with Thompson Bros., of that city, in a mercantile business.  On closing the last-named connection, he removed to New Cassel, Fond du Lac County, Wis., and in that locality started the town of Campbellsport, on the line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway.  At that place he built and opened a business house, and succeeded in building up a bright little town.  For six years he was engaged in merchandising and dealing in grain at that point.  From there he went to Ohio, where he spent a year, and next went on the road as a salesman for a Milwaukee wholesale house, continuing in that line for nine years.  In 1880, he came to Sheboygan and established a permanent home.

    In 1886, our subject organized the Sheboygan City Railway Company, secured a charter, and built the present railway system.  He has been President and manager of the company from the start.  The cars began running September 22, 1886, and have proved a great convenience to the citizens of Sheboygan, and especially to the mechanics, factory operators and laborers who have long distances to go between their homes and places of work.  The company has eight miles of track, including the double tracks.  Ten cars are in operation, and on North and South Eighth Street run at intervals of five minutes, during the summer season.  They have given the people very satisfactory service, and the line is growing more and more in favor.  Mr. Saemann was the promoter and is one of the principal stockholders of the Lake Shore Land Company, the property of which includes Lake View Park.  The entire property of this company embraces eight hundred lots, of which some eight acres are not platted.  Lake View Park is a well-shaded, delightfully situated resort for the populace in the summer.  Mr. Saemann was also the principal projector of the Sheboygan Exposition and Driving Park, where the city and county annual fairs are held.

    Our subject was married in Batavia, Sheboygan County, on December 22, 1866, to Miss Sarah C. Brazleton.  Mrs. Saemann was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a daughter of Isaac Brazelton, a well-known and highly respected early settler of Sheboygan County.  Three children, two sons and a daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Saemann, Franklin I., Jennie Elizabeth and William M.  In politics, Mr. Saemann is a Republican.  He has never been ambitious for official distinction, but served as Mayor of Sheboygan in 1890 and 1891.  He and his family attend the Congregational Church.

    It is to such enterprising, public-spirited men as Mr. Saemann, that the general public is indebted for much that adds to its comfort, convenience and pleasure.  The important and prominent public improvements and enterprises originated and prosecuted to a successful termination by him, in spite of great discouragements and risks, will long live as conspicuous monuments to perpetuate his memory, when he shall have done with the affairs of life, with its many hopes and fears, its trials and tribulations, disappointments and successes.