Emil Wallber was born in Berlin on 1 April 1841. He came to the United States with
his family in 1850 and upon their arrival they took up residence in New York City.
Emil, along with his older brothers, attended public schools where he prepared to
enter the study of law. Moving to Milwaukee in 1855, Wallber soon began working in
the office of Winfield Smith and Edward Salomon. In 1862, when Salomon succeeded to
the governorship from his position as lieutenant-governor, Wallber was made chief
clerk in the executive office and served in that position until the end of Governor
Salomon’s term.
Wallber also served as Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General under Winfield Smith from
1864 to 1865. He returned to Milwaukee to open an office of his own where he began
practicing law again. In 1872, Wallber was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
as a Republican. He then served as mayor of Milwaukee from 1884-1888. From
1890-1902, Wallber served as a judge in Milwaukee municipal and Milwaukee County
courts. He was also a German consular agent from 1906-1917.
Wallber married Minna Seeger (1846-1914), a daughter of a prominent Milwaukee family,
on 9 May 1868. They were the parents of three children: Fred, Otto, and Etta.
Wallber was a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the Sons of Hermann, the Turnverein
Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Musical Society, the Kindergarten Verein, and other
organizations promoting social fellowship and educational progress. Retiring from
active public affairs in 1917, Wallber continued to make his home in Milwaukee until
his death on 2 June 1923.
