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COMMEMORATI1VE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cember 15, 1873, the firm experienced a
change, Mr. Root and a Mr. Kimball tak-
ing the job-printing branch, our subject
and Mr. Neese retaining the stationery de-
partment, adding    thereto music and
musical instruments, the name of the
firm being Neese & Kustermann until
May i, 1876, when Mr. Kustermann
bought out Mr. Neese's share, and from
that time until i88o carried on the con-
cern alone. In that year his brother
Robert became associated with him in
the business, the partnership existing till
1894, when the latter retired from the
firm (as already stated), since when our
subject has continued the business alone.
He carries a well-assorted line of sta-
tionery and all its adjuncts, as well as
a complete assortment of musical instru-
mients, his trade in these particular lines
not being surpassed by any similar enter-
prise in northern WVisconsin. In all his
business obligations he is prompt and
reliable, and his innate courtesy and
obliging disposition have brought him
hosts of friends and customers.
    Mr. Kustermann is a ready writer, as
well as a clear, forcible speaker, in either
English, German or French, and his
trenchant pen has contributed not a few
interesting articles to one or other of the
standard European journals, among which
may be mentioned Dhc Gartlevaube, pub-
lished in Leipzig, besides political articles
during election campaigns, to home jour-
nals, especially the leading newspapers of
Milwaukee. Recently he compiled a high-
ly-interesting work on the "World's Fair"
or I Columbian Exposition," being a col-
lection of articles written by him for a
newspaper published in his native town.
In oratory he has secured a wide reputa-
tion as a good, reliable all-round political
speaker, whether on the "stump" or on
the platform, and he has always been
affiliated with the Republican  party,
wherein he has never failed to exert a
substantial influence.   Nor have his
efforts for the cause remained altogether
unrewarded. Twice was he nominated
for Congress, although through no fault
of his own on each occasion he had the
minority; but, by his pure, yet forcible
language, clear and concise reasoning, he
left upon the minds of his auditors a last-
ing impression that there was a man
among them worthy not only of the metal
of any political foe, but also of the respect
and esteem of the community at large-a
citizen, in truth, of wxhxomni the State might
well feel proud. During the last political
campaign he was urged by some of the
leading spirits of his party to become a
candidate for the highest State office in
the gift of the people; but he resolutely
declined to - listen to the song of the
Siren.'  Indeed, it has been said, and in
no spirit of mere flattery, that, without
doubt, Mr. Kusterumann. in point of edu-
cation and natural ability, is one of the
most representative German-American
citizens in the State of W\isconsin. In
February, 1892, he was appointed post-
master at Green Bay by President Harri-
son, and is still holding the office, his
term expiring in 1896. In civic affairs he
has served in the city council of Green
Bay, also as city treasurer, and has been
a member of the county board.
   On June 12, 1875, our subject was
united in marriage with Miss Emma Schel-
lenbeck, of Green Bay, and four children,
all daughters, named respectively: Tillie,
Alma, Olga and Emunia, have come to
bless their home.
   CARm Kr STiiRMANN, eldest son of Carl
and Julia (Wolleben) Kustermann has
been assistant postmaster at Green Bay
since 1892. He was born in Detniold, Ger-
many, October 29, i847, and in 1868
came to Green Bay, where he first found
employment as clerk in the dry-goods
store of D. Butler. At the end of a year
he entered the office of the register of
deeds, where he clerked some twelve
months, his next employment being as
bookkeeper for a lumber company at Lit-
tle Sturgeon Bay, an incumibency he filled
three years. In 1873 he paid a six-
months' visit to Europe, and on his return
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