In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1913) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1862, Door county
From Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Brown, Kewaunee and Door, Wisconsin (1895), History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present (1913)
JOSEPH H. SERVOTTE, member of the widely-known firm of E. W. & J. H. Servotte, contractors and builders. Green Bay, is a native of Wisconsin, born in Door county on March 17, 1862.
Guillaume Servotte, father of subject, was a native of Belgium, where he married Miss Victoria Demaiffe, of the same country, and in 1856 they emigrated to the United States, locating in Green Bay, Wis., where the father followed his trade, that of carpenter, until 1858, in which 3'ear the family moved to Door county, same State, settling on a farm for eight years, in 1864 returning to Green Bay, where Mr. Servotte resumed his trade. Here he died July 21. 1887, the mother October 25, 1865. Five children were born to them, viz: Frank, deceased in Door county; Ernst W., in business with our subject; Julia, widow of E. Brosteau a resident of Green Bay; Desire, who died in Green Bay at the age of five years, and Joseph H.
The subject of this sketch received a liberal education at the schools of Green Bay, and afterward learned carpentry, a trade he followed exclusively till 1888, when he commenced contracting and building in both Green Bay and Fort Howard, in partnership with his brother
Ernst W., the firm confining themselves chiefly to residence building, in which they have met with well-merited success. In 1 89 1 Mr. Servotte was united in marriage, in Green Bay, with Miss Mary Theresa Lefebvre, who was born in Brown county. Wis., January 21,1 867, a daughter of John B. Lefebvre, an early settler of Green Bay who for several years owned and operated a saw and grist mill combined in the town of Green Bay. To this union was born July 28, 1894, one child, Agnes Albertina. Our subject, as was his father before him, is a Republican, and from 1889 to 1892 he served the city as alderman from the First ward;- in 1892 was elected supervisor, in 1893 re-elected, and is serving in that office at the present time. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and enjoys the respect, confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
As printed in Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Brown, Kewaunee and Door, Wisconsin (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOSEPH H. SERVOTTE.
Joseph H. Servotte, a prominent contractor and builder in Green Bay, Wisconsin, carries on a business inaugurated by his father who was a pioneer carpenter in the early days of the city. He has added to the substantial methods of building learned under his father's direction the new and artistic features of a more modern school and has contributed his share to the municipal beautification. He maintains his office and residence at 638 South Van Buren street.
Mr. Servotte was born in the town of Lincoln, Door county, Wisconsin, March 17, 1862. He is of Belgian ancestry, his parents, Guillaume and Victoria (DeMaife) Servotte, having been born and married in the province of Brabant, Belgium. They came to America with two children about 1855 and the father followed the trade of carpentering in Green Bay for a short period before he removed to Door county. There he farmer with much success for seven or eight years but later again took up his residence in Green Bay, where he engaged in building and became one of the prominent representatives of his trade in the city. He was connected with building operations and erected some of the first residences in Green Bay, building the old home of Senator Howe and many other dwellings. He has also built many of the brick business blocks on Main and Washington streets. He died on July 21, 1887, at the age of seventy-three years, having long survived his wife who passed away in October, 1865. In his chosen profession Joseph H. Servotte has followed closely
JOSEPH H. SERVOTTE in the footsteps of his father and built up a flourishing business, in the conduct of which his own enterprise and ambition have combined with his father's well known reputation to gain for him an enviable degree of success and prosperity. He was educated in the common schools of Green Bay and is one of the three surviving children bom to his parents. His brother, Ernest W. Servotte, is also a carpenter and builder residing in Green Bay, and his sister Julia, the widow of Emil Brosteau, makes her home in the same city.
Joseph H. Servotte learned the carpenter's trade with his father and early determined to make the profession of building his life work. He entered the employ of Adolph Green, with whom he spent a short time before he became identified with the firm of Kendall & Robb, prominent builders of Green Bay. When his father died in 1887 Mr. Servotte started in business with his brother under the firm name of E. W. & Joseph H. Servotte, builders and contractors. In 1906 he was appointed assistant manager of the Green Bay Planing Mill Company and after three years was promoted to the position of acting manager. He was an influential factor in the growth and expansion of that enterprise and under his direction and control the concern gained a degree of success which it had not met before. Mr. Servotte, however, preferred an independent business life and on January i, 191 2, sold his interest in the Green Bay Planing Mill Company and severed his connection with that concern. ' He took up his former business of contracting and building and soon gained a large clientage. His prosperity is due entirely to his prominence in the building line and to his undoubted talent and skill. The first contracts which he secured were the construction of the new Howe sale school at Green Bay, which plans called for a fifty-seven thousand dollar institution, and also the new Adams House for $21,000. These figures were exclusive of heating and plumbing. -
From 1888 to 1906 Mr. Servotte was identified with the erection of some of the most important buildings in Green Bay, erecting the Polish monastery and the addition to Joannes Brothers wholesale grocery house, and to a portion of the Beaumont Hotel and St. Joseph's Academy. He erected St. Patrick's school and many of the finest and most handsome residences in the city. He is especially proud of the J. A. Jordan dwelling which was the first frame residence in Green Bay to be equipped with slate roof. The homes belonging to Thomas and Mitchell Joannes, A. M. Murphy, W. E. Kellogg, Captain Peterson and Mrs. W. O. Stone are all products of his professional skill. He is one of the most prominent builders in Green Bay today and his undoubted efficiency secured his appointment as a member of the building committee which erected the new courthouse. He was also an influential factor in the erection of St. John's church and was on the building committee of that institution. He is identified with many societies relating to his chosen field of endeavor, and as president of the Brown County Building & Loan Association has done able and efficient work. He is a director of the Union Building & Loan Association and in this capacity has aided many of the less prosperous citizens of Green Bay in securing homes of their own.
In 1891 Mr. Servotte was united in marriage to Miss Mary Teresa Lefebvre, a daughter of John B. and Albertina Lefebvre of Green Bay, who celebrated their golden wedding a few years ago and now live with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Servotte have three children: Agnes, now in her junior year at St. Joseph's Academy; Josephine, who also attends that institution; and William J., who is pursuing his primary education. The family residence is at 638 South Van Buren street.
Politically Mr. Servotte gives his allegiance to the republican party. He has served as alderman of his ward for three years and as county supervisor for the same ward for twelve years. At a supervisors' meeting on November 15, 1912, Mr. Servotte was elected one of the trustees of the Brown County Insane Asylum for a period of three years.
Fraternally he belongs to Green Bay Lodge, No. 259, B. P. O. E., and is trustee of the local organization of the Knights of Columbus, which position he has held since 1906. He has held the same office since 1909 in the Supreme Council, National Fraternal League of Green Bay and belongs to the Green Bay Council, Royal Arcanum. He is a director in the bank of Green Bay, but this is his only business affiliation of importance outside of his building interests. He is a member of the Catholic church.
Green Bay is one of the beautiful cities of Wisconsin. It is platted and designed with an eye to harmonious relations. It has many fine old residences and numerous, convenient and artistic new ones. Its business districts, rapidly growing and expanding, can be favorably compared with most cities, and its public buildings are well designed, planned and built. As a builder who has done distinctive work along these lines, Mr. Servotte is regarded as in a measure responsible for some of this beauty and expansion, and the buildings upon which he has worked stand as monuments to his skill.
As printed in History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Ernest W. Servotte (b. 1850) Mitchell Joannes (b. 1848)
The printed record stops around 1895. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.