Louis A. Fons

Real estate developer, builder and banker, Louis Fons had a tremendous impact on the south side of Milwaukee where, according to the Milwaukee Journal, "he built hundreds of homes and developed scores of subdivisions". He started his first job at age 13 earning $2/week. At age 21, he bought a one-half interest in a realty business, eventually running the business with four of his brothers as Fons and Company. He was also president of the National Savings and Loan Association (915 W. Mitchell St., Milwaukee), founder of the Berthelet Pipe and Supply Company, director of the Juneau Investment Company, and organized the Central State Bank (Second and Mitchell Streets, Milwaukee), and for a time, publisher of the Nowiny Polskie. Besides being involved in many community organizations, he organized the Koscisko Reds semi-professional baseball team and managed it for seven years. Finally, from 1918 to 1920, he represented the 8th District in the Wisconsin state Senate, as a Republican.

Sources:

• History of Milwaukee City and County (cited as History) by William George Bruce and Josiah Seymour Currey, The S. J. Clark Publishing Co., 1922. In three volumes. Available through Google books: Volume Three: here. His biography begins on page 152.

Obituary in Milwaukee Journal, May 15, 1959