The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-05-13
REJOICE IN JEFFERi ESCAPE
Heading Men Of the Big Auto Making
Plant Make Merry and Celebrate Els
cape Of the Head Of the Firm After
Hours in the Waters Of the Sea.

At the Elb's Club rooms on Saturday
night the Jeffrey Bowling League en-
tertained members and friends at a
banquet in honor Of John Bjorn, gen.
eral superintendent Of the Thomas B.
Jeffrey Company, who on April 27th,
rounded out service Of one-quarter
century with the Jeffrey company.
The event celebrated not only the
service of Mr.. Bjorn, but also marked
q day Of great rejoicing among the men
at the Jeffrey plant because of the
miraculous escape of Charles L. JEFF
ferry in the "Lusitania" crisis. The
men at the Jeffrey factory were plung-
ed into deep gloom Friday afternoon
when the message flashed over the
wires that the ship had gone down
with all on board, it was weary night
for many and great relief was expert
enced the next morning when word
was received that Mr.. Jeffrey was
among the few saved. This news re-
leased the bonds Of restraint that any
may have felt and the celebration was
a most enjoyable affair.
Il. Fl. Bill, responded to toast to
Charles r. Jeffrey, in most happy
and beftting manner. He spoke of
the esteem and confidence that Mr..
Jeffrey held for his employees and
more particularly for the old men who
have been in the Jeffrey organization
for years
Mr.. Bills talk was followed by H.
Fl. Maddox, one of the oldest men
in the employ of the company, who
spoke of the service of Mr.. Biorn, and
assured him he had the good will and
esteem Of all the men in the factory
and Just to make the assurance bind
ing he presented Mr.. Bjorn with sill
yer loving cup, from his fellow work
ers, suitably engraved for the occa-
sion. Mr.. Bjorn responded with his
tory Of his service in the employ of
the Jeffrey company covering twenty
five years. He spoke of the days in
old Sweden when he was so poor that
he and his family lived on straw,
leaves, the bark of trees and most
anything chat could be masticated
From this condition of affairs he man
aged to escape eventually, with his
wife and two children to this country
where he arrived with nothing but the
clothes on his back, no friends to well
come him, stranger in a strange land,
but with pluck and energy that still
characterizes the man, he started out
to look for work. He did anything
that would bring in nickel that could
be done honestly. Finally he drifted into
the bicycle shop of 7. B. Jeffery, he
went to work, was successful from the
start and gained the confidence of Mr..
Jeffrey to such an extent that he was
placed in charge of one department. af-
ter another, until today we find him at
the head of the great plant Of the
Jeffrey company, turning out motor
cars as fast as he turned out bicycles
In 1890.
Louis Hammond, president of the
bowling league, followed Mr.. Biorn
with report of the bowling league
just closed, the report showing among
other things, the work of the Jeffery
Good Fellows Organization, showing a
total expenditure ,including clothes,
fuel, food, medical attention, etc.. of
about 100000 for the families of the
men who had at some time in the past
been employed by the Jeffrey com
pany, but who were, through lack of
work in needy condition. He spoke
of the personal attention given the
distribution of necessities to these
needy ones and the lack of publicity
attending this distribution, which two
features made the organization so
successful.
j. w DeCou gave one of his very
interesting talks on Successful Or
ganization,' closing with tribute to
Mr.. Bjorn who has been his right hand
man for many years. Mr.. Snyder IS
talk on How to be Successful
Bowler should be means of increas-
Ing the average of all bowlers who real
ly wish to be successful. AS a bowler.
he is one of the very few who has mas
tered the Coulter Curve
The Reckless company, Jeffrey
dealers of Milwaukee, brought with
Chem musicians and singers who furn-
ished entertainment Of high charac-
ter. Medals were presented to win
ming bowlers. Song and story prevail
ed for the balance Of the evening, clos
ing the most successful gathering of
the bowling league in years.