The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-12-30
BUILT BIG BUSINESS.
Where Staid Qualities, German Thrift
and Industry Made Possible the Great
Shoe Business of the F.. Mayer
Boot and Shoe Company, Mil
waukee, Manufacturers of
Mayer Quality Shoes

!
Most of us see only the present. We
see success only as we are brought face
to face with it today. How many of US
ever look back for the cause, the vital
things that make success possible?
That the key to real business SUCCESS
Is often based on sound principle, rath-
er than money, is best illustrated by tbs
reproduction of the following bograph-
zeal sketch of Frederick Mayer, founder
OF the b. Mayer Boot j. Shoe Company,
reproduced from an issue of the German
American National Alliance:
frederick Mayer, founder of the fac
tories at Milwaukee and Seattle now
bearing bis name, came to this country
from Niernstein, Hessen Darmstadt, in
May, 1901, and Immediately proceeded to
MHWaukes, Wisconsin, where he entered
the employ OF r Suhm as journeyman
shoemaker.
The spirit that prompted him to seek
MS fortune in the new world was soon
responsible for another change, and in
1907, year later, he embarked in bust
ness on his own accord making boots
and shoes to order as only q German ap-
prentlced artisan knows how. Suisse
quently stock of goods was carried and
retail business conducted until 1880,
Wnen the manufacture OF shoes was en-
gagged IN at wholesale to the trade.
Ihe business succeeded from the be-
ginning and it was here that the staidi
qualities OF German honesty and persist.
ency, together with the knowledge Of
shoe making gained by a strict German,
apprenticeship, came to the aid of
!oung business destined TO become a,
factor in the production of shoes in
America, for 1t soon became known that
the shoes manufactured by +. Mayer
It,,n,
shoes, and business began to expand.
:. In 1870 the business was well estab-
aished. the foundation firmly laid and
the policy we'll determined. From that.
tline ON the growth was more rapid. Fac
torres, additions, more factories and more
additions were added, until now the
plant occupies substantial group of
buildings in Milwaukee and Seattle. The
capacity OF the present Mayer factories
at Milwaukee and Seattle is 5000 pair
per day, giving employment to an army
OF people, paying annually over six hun
dred thousand dollars in wages, and EN-
ploying sixty-ive statesmen who travel
"a states in the interest of Mayer shoes.
Frederick Mayer died on March 16,
1898. after building up large and sue
cessful business. He was succeeded by
his sons, George Z. Mayer. Fred j.
Mayer and Adam J. Mayer, who, by rig
idly maintaining the policy of the foun-
uer, nave succeeded IN bringing the buSl-
ness up to its present magnitude, where
it stands as monument of Ger
man thrift and industry. Frederick
Mayer was a man of strong character
and amiable disposition. He believed in
square deal for everybody. He was,
popular and had hosts of friends, es-
pecially among the early settlers of Mil
waukee. who admired him for the quail
ties that were responsible for his sue
who loved his home and believed in the
strict observances of his duty to God and
man. He left behind him a striking ex-
ample of what has, in at least one in
stance been contributed by a German TO
the welfare and prosperity of this great
country.
The leading brands manufactured by
the +. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co. are:
"donorbilt," for men: Leading Lady"
Shoes "Martha Washington" Comfort
Shoes, "Yerma" Cushion Shoes, Special
Merit" School Shoes.