Major Henry W. Quentmeyer enlisted in C. C. 4th battalion, Watertown, Wis., on July 5, 1880, and was transferred to C.A., Dec. 6, 1881; appointed sergeant, April 4, 1883; 1st sergeant, June 10, 1866; 2nd lieutenant, July 11, 1887; 1st lieutenant, Nov. 12, 1890; and captain May 25, 1893. In 1899, Captain Quentmeyer was commissioned major of the third battalion of the first regiment, which regiment has ever been the pride of of the whole state. In 1903 he resigned, but those years he in the capacity of a soldier will never be forgotten by those who were closely associated with him. There was a V.F.W. Post, Camp Quentmeyer, name after him for many years. His great-grandson, Jeffrey Burnett Quentmeyer, has the banner after the post was disbanded. When the Spanish-American war broke out, Mr. Quentmeyer was one of the first to offer his services. He did not hesitate for one moment, and the promptness with which he acted won a place in the heart of every man in the local company. He was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida during the entire war.

Henry Quentmeyer was a master machinist in Madison and he was active in politics serving as councilman for many years. He was a man of sterling qualities. He was industrious and possessed good, sound business judgment. For four years he admirable served the sixth ward in the common council. He was a conservative alderman. No clique or faction had any influence over his vote. He carefully examined the questions under consideration and passed on them upon their merits. He was a democrat in politics.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES Madison, Wisconsin, 1895

Captain Henry W. Quentmeyer was born Dec. 8, 1856, at Watertown, Wis., enlisted in C. C, 4th battalion, Watertown, Wis., on July 5, 1880, and was transferred to C. A, Dec. 6, 1881; appointed sergeant, April 4, 1883; 1st sergeant, June 10, 1886; discharged July 11, 1887, in consequence as second lieutenant; promoted first lieutenant, Nov. 12, 1890; promote to captain, May 25, 1893. Capt. Quentmeyer is a married man; is employed as foreman at Dexter Curtis' Collar Pad factory; is of German parentage; is considered one of the best tacticians and drill-masters in the W.N.G. (Wisconsin National Guard). Besides being a member of the company, he also belongs to the Mason and Maccabee orders. He had command of Company G at the inspection of 1894 and 1895. Capt. Quentmeyer has the entire confidence of his men, and it is because of their friendship for him as well as their love of military work, that causes such promptness and obedience. For him the men have the highest respect.

Watertown Daily Times Watertown, Wisconsin October 26, 1899

MAJOR QUENTMEYER

Former Watertown Resident Receives A Promotion

Captain Henry C. Quentmeyer of Madison is Promoted by Governor Scofield--Was Born in Watertown and is A Son of Henry Quentmeyer of This City.

Friends of Henry C. Quentmeyer, a former resident of this city, will be pleased to learn of his promotion to major of the First Wisconsin regiment. He was a captain of Company G, and passed a very satisfactory examination before the military board at Milwaukee. Mr. Quentmeyer is a son of Henry Quentmeyer of this city who resides on Milford street, and a nephew of Phillip C. Quentmeyer. In speaking of his promotion the Madison Democrat says:

Captain Henry C. Quentmeyer of Company G. was Wednesday commissioned major in the first regiment by Gov. Scofield after having passed a very successful examination before the regimental board at Milwaukee.

Major Quentmeyer who is a member of this city council from the sixth ward, was born in Watertown on Dec. 8, 1856 and has been a soldier since July 5, 1880, having enlisted in the Watertown company on that date. He came to Madison in 1881 and was transfered to the local company, being appointed sergeant in 1883 and made first sergeant on June 10, 1886. He was elected second lieutenant on July 11, 1887, first lieutenant on Nov. 12, 1890 and captain on May 25, 1893. He served in the Spanish-American war and has the record of being one of a very few volunteer captains whose reports were properly made out and whose accounts were always in first-class order. In private life the major is the highly valued foreman of the Dexter Curtis Collar Pad factory. He is married and has an interesting family.

The Madison Democrat, November 2, 1905

SUCCUMBS TO LONG ILLNESS
Major Henry W. Quentmeyer Passes Away

BORN IN WATERTOWN

Served in Common Council for Four Years--Bore His Affliction With Fortitude--Stood High in Military and Fraternal Circles--Mayor Curtis' Kind Words.

After a long illness with cancer of the throat Major Henry W. Quentmeyer passed away at his home, 928 Jenifer street, early Wednesday morning. Death was not unexpected, although at 3 o'clock he told the members of his family to retire, adding that he was feeling somewhat better. An hour later he was found dead. Through his long siege of illness he suffered much pain, but bore his afflictions with fortitude and braveness. He was confined to bed only two days.

Major Quentmeyer realized for some time that death was inevitable and he expressed the desire to be buried with Masonic and military honors. The day before the annual meeting of Dane County Verterans' association, Mayor Curtis called upon him. Mr. Quentmeyer was then quite low, being hardly able to utter a word above a whisper.

"Major, I wish you could attend the meeting of the verterans tomorrow," said the mayor.

"I will not leave the house any more," answered the Major in a low tone of voice.

Major Quentmeyer was a man of sterling qualities. He was industrious and possessed good, sound business judgment. For four years he admirable served the sixth ward in the common council. He was a conservative alderman. No clique or faction had any influence over his vote. He carefully examined the questions under consideration and passed on them upon their merits. He was a democrat in politics. He entered the council in 1899. He was a typical soldier and was held high in esteem in military circles of the state. As captain of company G he endeared himself to every member of the company. He was also prominent in fraternal organizations. As a citizen Major Quentmeyer was highly respected by everyone who knew him. He was intensely interested in the welfare of the city. For many years he was foreman of the Dexter Curtis collar pad factory. He was faithful in his duties and it was with great reluctance that he withdrew from active work several months ago.

Born in Watertown

Major Quentmeyer was born in Watertown December 8, 1855. For 24 years he remained in that city. On July 5, 1880, he satisfied an early desire to become a soldier by joining the Wisconsin National guard as a corporal. A year later found him in Madison, and a member of the local company, then Company I of the First Wisconsin infantry. In July of 1887 he was made a lieutenant; in 1890 he had jumped to the position next to the captain. Three years later he was made a captain of the local company, and if never had a more painstaking and popular one in its history. When the Spanish-American war broke out Mr. Quentmeyer was one of the first to offer his services. He did not hesitate for one moment, and the promptness with which he acted won a place in the heart of every man in the local company. In 1898 he was mustered out of the state service to volunteer in that of the United States. He remained with company G, which was stationed at Jacksonsville, Florida during the entire war. During those trying days of sickness in the army, when big, able bodied men died in large numbers from the fever peril, Major Quentmeyer was a source of much comfort to his men. When he and his tan tired soldier boys returned to Madison from the south they were given a grand ovation. In 1899 Mr. Quentmeyer was commissioned major of the third battalion of the first regiment, which regiment has ever been the pride of the whole state. In 1903 he resigned, but those years he spent in the capacity of a soldier will never be forgotten by those who were closely associated with him. Major Quentmeyer was the moving spirit when the society of the Spanish War verterans was mentioned. The result was an organization of a society with a membership of 48, Major Quentmeyer being chosen the leader. The organization was named in his honor, being called Camp Quentmeyer. He was a skilled machinist, and for a number of years was considered a valuable man at the Ball's machine shop, which is now the King & Walker foundry. Later he became employed in the Dexter Curtis collar and pad factory as a machinist and foreman. This position he held for 17 years and Mayor Curtis felt it a great loss when Major Quentmeyer had to give up his work because of illness.

Mr. Quentmeyer belonged to the Masons; he was also a prominent officer of the local Elks. Besides his wife he leaves four children, Adeline, Arthur, Albert and Dorothy. The last mentioned is the youngest, aged 8. Major Quentmeyer's mother lives on a farm near Lake Mills. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Julia Dettman, who resides with his mother; a brother, August, who is well known in Milwaukee; another brother Ernest, makes his home at Fort Atkinson; a second sister, Amelia, lives at Columbus. During his illness Major Quentmeyer was operated upon three times.

Kind Words of Mayor Curtis

Mayor Curtis said of Major Quentmeyer:

"He was a good citizen, a good alderman and his death is a loss to the whole community. As an employe of mine and as a brother Mason I was closely associated with Mr. Quentmeyer. He was a Mason in every sense of the word. That is saying all that one can say to express one's high regard for him. As an employe he was the most faithful wage earner that I have ever met, and I have known many of them. At night when a fire alarm was turned in from the sixth ward, Mr. Quentmeyer invariably arose from his bed to assure himself that it was not the factory. Mr. Quentmeyer was an admirable gentleman."

Col. George H. Joachim, Chief of Police Baker and Captain John P. Joachim, with whom Major Quentmeyer was associated in military life, also speak highly of him.

Short funeral services will be held at the home at 1:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon. The remains will be taken to the Masonic temple, where the Masons will have charge. The flag on the city hall will be at halfmast all day Sunday.

The Madison Democrat, November 5, 1905

Henry Noll's Sunday Thoughts

REUBEN J. NECKERMAN, HEAD OF the Neckerman agency, related some interesting things about early Madison Masonry in a talk at the recent rededication service of Hiram lodge, No. 50.

Son of the late Col. George M. Neckerman, at one time worshipful master of Hiram lodge, Ruben told of the founding of Concordia lodge, No. 83, in 1857.
The petitioners were men of German extraction and they conducted the work in the German language. Col. Neckerman was raised in Concordia lodge and his certificate of membership hangs on the walls of the temple.

Ruben thinks his father served as master of Concordia lodge but is not certain due to the incompleteness of the meager records available. When Concordia lodge surrendered its charter, its members joined either Madison lodge, No. 5, or Hiram lodge.

Col. Neckerman was admitted to Hiram lodge in 1882. This lodge was established in 1954 (sic) by 20 members of Madison lodge. Ruben recalled that the lodge had hard sledding at one time but that when Capt. Henry Quentmeyer, later promoted to major, returned from military service in the Spanish-American war, he was prevailed upon to try to restore the lodge to its former rank.

RUBEN PAID TO HENRY A FINE TRIBUTE which he deserved.

"Capt. Quentmeyer was a great man," Ruben told the Masons. "A machinist by trade, handicapped by inadequate schooling, he nevertheless was a man of brilliant intellect and possessed the soundest kind of judgment. He looked upon Masonry as a form of religion designed to make this world a better place in which to live. Furthermore, he considered it his duty as a member to fulfill his part of the obligation. The story of Capt. Quentmeyer and his few associates illustrates the highest type of Masonic rededication.

"I was fortunate in knowing him well. My father considered him his closest friend--they were comrades in civil, military, and masonic life. As a boy I learned to respect and admire this fine character and as I grew to masonic age he treated me as if I were his equal. In my opinion he was one of the greatest Masons Madison ever produced. He served as worshipful master for four years."

"In 1901 he persuaded my father to succeed him as worshipful master, but Henry Quentmeyer was there to guide and counsel with the same zeal and devotion which marked his service as worshipful master. Then followed a remarkable continuation of efficiency sparked by such presiding officers as Bill Lee, Ed Polk, William Wolf, Adolph Anderson, and their successors. Old Hiram finally attained its right place in the sun of Masonry."

Ruben entered Masonry in 1905, posted by Henry Quentmeyer, Bill Lee, and Ed Polk, and raised as Master Mason by his father, then a pastmaster of Hiram lodge.

Concluding Ruben said:

"In full reverence I submit to you that noble Masonic character, Capt. Henry Quentmeyer, as your example and mine of the greatest builder in Hiram's history, ably assisted by a few staunch Masonic friends, including my father. No re-dedication ceremony of this lodge can be complete without a tribute to Henry Quentmeyer, pastmaster. May his shadow continue for many years to come."

ADDRESS OF COL. J. P. JOACHIM July 7, 1935 at a picnic of the U.S.W.V.

Ladies of the Auxillary, Comrade, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today we are assembled here to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the granting of a charter to the H. W. Quentmeyer Camp #10, department of Wisconsin United Spanish War Veterans, but the day would not be complete and our celebration would be a failure if we neglected to do honor to the man through whose hard work and untiring effort this camp was organized and this celebration made possible.

Major Quentmeyer was born December 8, 1855 at Watertown, Wisconsin and in this city the first 26 years of his life were passed; in early youth he learned the machinest trade and in this occupation he became an expert, second to none. It was his ability as a machinest and mechanic that brought him to Madison to accept a position in the foundry and machine shop of Ball Brothers, now known as the Wisconsin Foundary and Machine Shop.

If I am not mistaken, it is my honor to be the first of all his military comrades and friends in Madison to make his acquaintance, for at that time I also was employed at Ball Brothers. In later years he was employed at the Dexter Curtis collar and Pad Company as machinest and foreman and this position he held for more than 17 years, or until his untimely and early death.

His military record:

On July 5, 1880, he enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard in the Company known as the Watertown Rifles and was appointed a corporal, within a year, however, he was removed to Madison and soon after enlisted in the local Company, hen known as Company G of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry, which designation was later changed to C. "G."

His ability as a soldier was such a high quality that very soon he was appointed to corporal and then after passing through the grades of Sergeant and 1st Sergeant with high honors, he was, on July 1st, 1887, commissioned to 2nd Lieutenant as a reward for his faithfullness; then in November, 1890, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and three years later in May he received his commission as Captain and was assigned to the local Company.

It was during his tour of duty as Captain that the Spanish War broke out and Captain Quentmeyer was one of the first to offer his services to the government, and his entire company followed his lead.

He was a strict disciplinarian, ever ready to reward faithfulness to duty; but woe to the shirkers and slackers; yet in spite of his strictness in military matters, he was beloved and held in high esteem by all who had the privilege of serving under him.

It was especially during the trying times at Camp Cuba Libre, when the 1st Wisconsin was stricken with a scourge to typhoid-malaria fever, that he showed his sterling quality as a company commander, for he was constantly doing his utmost, by day or night, looking after the welfare and comfort of those under his command.

At the close of the war, the company was sent home to be mustered out, but the fascination of a soldier still had such a hold on Captain Quentmeyer that he once more reorganized his company and again was mustered in the Wisconsin National Guard.

In October, 1899, the Captain was commissioned a Major and assigned to duty with the 3rd battalion, 1st infantry; but in 1903, due to a lack of time to attend his military duties on account of a press of business, he resigned from the service and was placed on the retired list.

During the time when the organization of the U.S.W.V. was becoming popular throughout the country, Major Quentmeyer took upon himself the task of organizing a camp in this city and his efforts were crowned with success in that 48 members were secured.

Besides his activity in military affairs, he still found time to devote to other interests for he became a candidate and was elected alderman of the 6th ward and in this office he served for several terms with high honors for himself and for the best interest of the city at large.

February 20, 1893, Major Quentmeyer was initiated in Hiram Lodge #50 F. & A.M., was passed in March and raised April 17, 1893, was Worshipful Master of this lodge during the years of 1897-98-99 and 1900. He also was a member of the Elks.

Throughout his short but very busy life he became well known and enjoyed the friendship of many of Madison's most discriminating citizens.

He died at his home November 1, 1905 and was buried with military and masonic honors at Forest Hill Cemetery on November 5, 1905.

May we all emulate him in his faithfullness, loyalty to the flag and country, and especially his sterling qualities as a man and citizen; and now as a tribute to his honor I would ask all sisters and comrades and friends to rise and commune in silence for a few moments.

I thank you.