WI BIO - Kenosha Co - SCHOLER, Otto J.

History of Kenosha & Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Clarke Publishing, 
1916, v 2, pp 301-302

Otto J. SCHOLER, grocer, Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, was born 05 
September 1881 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, a son of Frederick and 
Elizabeth (LENTZ) SCHOLER. Frederick SCHOLER, who was born in Germany, came 
to the New World and settled in Chicago in 1869, establishing a jewelry house 
in that city, where he carried on business for a long period, but is now 
living retired. Elizabeth (LENTZ) SCHOLER, who was born in Kenosha, was a 
daughter of Philip LENTZ, who arrived in Kenosha in the 1840's. Philip LENTZ 
was identified with various lines of business during the early period of his 
residence here, and was one of the worthy pioneer settlers whose activity 
proved one of the foundation stones upon which Kenosha has been built. [What 
was formerly called Southport became the city of Kenosha on 07 February 
1850.] Philip LENTZ established a grocery store as a member of the firm of 
Lentz & Funck and under that style conducted business for a long period. His 
partner was Maurice FUNCK, who later was succeeded in the business by his 
son, Joseph FUNCK. Mr. [Philip] LENTZ figured very prominently in trade 
circles of Kenosha for an extended period and enjoyed the confidence and 
goodwill of all who knew him. [p 302]

Otto J. SCHOLER was reared in Chicago; he attended the public schools, 
passing through consecutive grades until he became a high school student 
there. At the age of eighteen years he came to Kenosha and entered the 
employ of the grocery firm of Lentz & Funck, since which time he has been 
continuously connected with the business. In 1906 Otto J. SCHOLER purchased 
an interest in the store, which for several years thereafter was conducted 
under the firm name of Scholer & Funck, the junior partner being Joseph 
FUNCK, son of Maurice FUNCK, one the founders of the store. In 1911 Mr. 
[Otto J]. SCHOLER purchased the interest of his partner [Joseph FUNCK] and 
has since conducted business alone. His store, which is located at the 
corner of Main and Market Streets [renamed, respectively, Sixth Avenue and 
56th Street, about 1926], occupies a building forty feet front by ninety feet 
in depth. Here he carries a very large stock of staple and fancy groceries, 
supplies to his customers everything that the market affords in his line, and 
his business has reached very extensive and gratifying proportions.

On 11 January 1911 Mr. [Otto J.] SCHOLER was united in marriage to Miss 
Cecelia BECKER of Kenosha, a daughter of Peter and Anna BECKER. Peter 
BECKER, who was a tinsmith by trade, is now deceased. He was one of the old 
settlers of the county, widely and prominently known in an early day. [See 
also the Racine County, Wisconsin, biography of Martin BECKER, whose father 
was a Peter BECKER. Kenosha County was created from part of Racine County on 
26 January 1850.]

Mr. and Mrs. SCHOLER [Otto J. and Cecelia (BECKER) SCHOLER] are members of 
St. George's Catholic church. Politically Otto J. SCHOLER maintains an 
independent course. He is a member of the Retailers Association and does all 
in his power to promote the object of that organization in furthering the 
trade interests and bettering business conditions in the city. He is a man 
of marked energy and persistency of purpose and his well-formulated plans are 
carried forward to successful completion.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly