The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-06-14

Former Mayor Matthias J. Scholey,
aged 40 years, and long prominently
connected with the business and politi-
cal life of Kenosha, died at the Presby-
terrain Hospital in Chicago at an early
hour Sunday morning following long
illness from a complication Of diseases.
Mr.. Scholey had been in failing
health for more than a year. Only a
flew weeks ago while attending the
Funeral of the late fire chief, Henry A.
lTsermann, + st. James CHURCH, he was
stricken with an attack of heart dis
case. Since that time his condition
had been such as to cause great alarm
among his friends.
4 He was taken to the Presbyterian
Hospital in Chicago little over three
weeks ago and placed under the care
of specialists. They declared that he
was suffering from intestinal obstruc-
,tion and ten da.s ago he submitted to
an operation. Three days later he was
stricken with pneumonia and for days
he had been lowering between life and
death. His wife, the sole surviving
member of the family, was at the bed
side when the final summons came.
The announcement Of The death of
the former mayor made in Kenosha on
Sunday morning caused widespread sor-
row. AS tribute to his memory flags
were hung at half mast on all the city
buildings ard on many private build
ings in the city. Few men were known
more widely in Kenosha than the de-
ceased former mayor and the announce
ment Of his death brought expressions
of sorrow in all parts of the city
The death of Matt" Scholey mark
ed the passing of one of the most in
teresting men in Kenosha and man
who had Leen much in the public eye.
He had served the people of his ward
as alderman; had been thrice elected
mayor OF the city; had served Kenosha
county in the lower house of the legis-
lature, and had twice been suggested
as a candidate for lieutenant governor.
Many kilograms Of sympathy were re-
ceived al the Scholey home today from
all sections of the state.
Matthias j. Scholey was distinctly a
Kenosha county man. He was born in
the town of Brighton, August 81, 1867,
and was a son of the late Joseph Scho-
ley. His aged mother, Mrs. Annis
Groseh Scholey, survives him. He was
one of family of ten children and
he spent his childhood on the farm in
Brighton.
AS boy he entered st. George paro-
chial school and when he completed his
course he went to work at the age of
fourteen at the plant of the Balm Wag-
on Company. Four years later he be-
came an employee of the Chicago and
North Western Railway Company. He
spent a year building fences and then
was placed in charge of one of the CON
struction crews on the Wisconsin divi.
sion He returned to Kenosha in 1901
and later became connected with the
retail and wholesale liquor business in
which business he was interested until
his death. At the time Of his death
he was the Kenosha manager of the
business of the Fred Miller Brewing
Company in Kenosha. He was rated
as the most successful man in his line
of business in this section of Wisconsin
and it was largely through his persona
efforts that great trade was built III
for the various companies which he
had represented.
The former mayor began to dabble il
politics in 1900 when he was elected al
alderman of the fifth ward and for si1
years he served in this capacity. Ht
wa a member of many important coun
eli committees during the six years h,
was on the council. In 1906 he was
candidate for the Democratic nomina
tion for mayor but was defeated. Tw,
years later he was nominated and elect
ed as mayor of the city and he was re
elected by large majority two years
later. He was elected for his thirs
time as mayor in 1914.
In the fall of 1909 he was elected t,
represent Kenosha county in the AS
sembly and he served for one term Al
9 member of the legislature.
During his entire political career h,
was very active in Democratic polite
both in the county and state. Fl,
9e7ved in the capacity of county chair