Patents of Henry E. Willer

Using Google's new patent search feature, I was able to find the following US patents issued to Henry E. Willer. They all relate to the window and blind business of Willer Manufacturing.

Here are descriptions and links to his patents:

266246 - Window Screen
309015 - Window Screen
312051 - Window Blind Slat
312052 - Window Frame
312053 - Window Shutter
315365 - Window Frame
333185 - Blind Retaining Way Strip for Windows
346524 - Holding Spring for Sashes and Screens
374384 - Receptacle for Sliding Window Blinds
374385 - Lift for Sliding Blinds
481320 - Sash Lift
495645 - Storm Window or Screen Fastening
495646 - Sash Holder
617211 - Hanger for Storm Sashes
636879 - Screen Frame




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Book: An Illustrated Description of Milwaukee

From the book, "An Illustrated Description of Milwaukee," Issued by The Milwaukee Sentinel, 1890, page 177

Book: History of Milwaukee

From the book, "History of Milwaukee," The Western Historical Company, 1881, page 1511

From the Milwaukee Public Library

Henry E. Willer & Friends

Here is a newspaper clipping showing Henry E. Willer. I don't know when or from which newspaper this came from. The caption reads:

"When Gambrinus ruled, bock beer signs stood in front of 3,500 saloons in Milwaukee in the month of May. This group of well known Milwaukeeans was snapped at a club at the Quiet House, Mason and Broadway, "way back when."

Standing, left to right: A hop agent from California; Urban Durner, William Schroeder, Albert C. Blatz, Charles Wanderer, John Graf, William Wolf and Henry Winkler. Seated: Felix Heiber, John Stolper, William Cary, Henry Willer, E. J. Peege, Al Volz and John Kopmeier."

Link to Genealogy.com Page

Here is a copy of my posting on the following website:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/willer/messages/33.html


Henry Willer Jr., born April 18, 1884 was the son of Henry E. Willer, born May 19, 1859. Henry E. was the son of William Willer.

I recently found a paragraph in a book titled, "History of Milwaukee," 1881, that reads,"....Wm. Willer, the proprietor of the above described manufactory, is a native of Waldeck, Germany, where he was born April 8, 1831. He came from Germany direct to Milwaukee, where he arrived May 19, 1854. On landing he was without means and in debt to the amount of $13. From this very inauspicious beginning he has patiently and industriously labored to the point of acquiring a competency and being at the head of one of the important manufactories of his adopted city. His father, Bernhard Willer, who came to America one and one-half years after his son, is now seventy-four years old and a resident of the city. His mother, Christiana (Tepel) Willer, died in Milwaukee in June, 1873, at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. Willer married Miss Frederika Thomas, a native of Germany, August 1858. They have had ten children, two of whom, a son and a daughter died in infancy. Their surviving children are: Henry, 22 years old; Louisa, 20; Anna, 18; Paulina, 16; Martha, 12; Gustave, 10; William,7, and Frank, 4 years of age."

New Facility - 1881

Here is a picture/sketch of the expanded building. The picture is from an ad in a book titled, "Milwaukee's Great Industries" from 1892, found at the Milwaukee Public Library. The small building on the left of the picture is the original factory shown in the photo in the posting below.

Willer Manufacturing

This photograph is of Willer Manufacturing from around 1875. Willer Manufacturing was founded by German immigrant William Willer in 1865 and was located at Fourth and Cedar Streets – the present site of the Hyatt hotel in downtown Milwaukee. William had come to Milwaukee in 1854, in debt, and worked as a carpenter before starting this business. The business grew into a leading manufacturer of sash, doors, blinds, and other millwork, and by 1881 a new four story building was constructed next to the one shown in this photo.

The company continued to flourish after William’s son, Henry E. Willer, in 1885 patented an interior wooden sliding blind for which the company became famous (US patents 312,051; 312,052; and 312,053). These blinds won an award at the World’s Fair in Cincinnati in 1888, and were sold throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Henry eventually took over the company, and became known as a prominent businessman in Milwaukee. By the early 1900’s, Willer Manufacturing employed close to 200 people. Henry’s other interests included involvement in civic organizations, composing music, and clock-making. Some of Henry’s music compositions are held in the Art Room of the Milwaukee Public Library. Henry was also an avid investor in the stock market and owned a great deal of stock in mining companies.

Willer Manufacturing came to a tragic end in 1918 when a fire destroyed the company. Henry didn’t believe in having insurance, so the event rendered a total loss. Henry's stock investments didn't fair any better, as nearly all of the mining companies he invested in went bankrupt.

William and Henry Willer have many descendants living in the Milwaukee area today.

One of Henry E. Willer's sons was Henry Willer, Jr., who was the father of H. Fredrick Willer, who was the father of Richard F. Willer, the father of Mark Willer and Jeff Willer.

Notes, per Richard Willer:
-This photo was taken around 1875 and was mailed to Henry Willer from the Chicago Tribune.
-The business was started by William Willer. His son, Henry Willer later became the President and owned the business with his brother and sisters.
-Henry E. Willer did not believe in having insurance.