Andrews Mining and Exploring Company of Milwaukee signed by Theobald Otjen - Wisconsin 1887

Beautiful certificate from the Andrews Mining and Exploring Company of Milwaukee issued in 1887. This historic document was printed by Milwaukee Litho Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of a group of working miners. This item has the signatures of the Company's President, Albert E. Smith and Secretary, Theobald Otjen and is over 123 years old.


Certificate Vignette

Theobald Otjen (October 27, 1851 - April 11, 1924) was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.

Born in West China, St. Clair County, Michigan, Otjen attended the Marine City (Michigan) Academy and a private school in Detroit. He was employed as foreman in the rolling mill of the Milwaukee Iron Co. in Milwaukee 1870-1872. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor March 25, 1875. He was admitted to the bar at Ann Arbor in 1875 and commenced practice in Detroit, Michigan. He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1883. He served as member of the common council of Milwaukee 1887-1894. Ojten also served as a trustee of the Milwaukee Public Library 1887-1891, and a trustee of the public museum 1891-1894. He was an unsuccessful candidate for comptroller of the city in April 1892. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress and in 1893 to the same Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John L. Mitchell.

Otjen was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1907). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1906. He resumed the practice of law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 11, 1924. He was interred in Forest Home Cemetery.

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Theobald Otjen opened a law practice in the village of Bayview in 1881. Theobald was an active member of the community, serving on many community boards and acting as Village Attorney and as a Trustee of the Village of Bayview. When Bayview was incorporated into the city of Milwaukee, he was the first alderman to represent the Bayview district on the Milwaukee Common Council. In this latter capacity, he was instrumental in the establishment of the county-wide park system and in other city projects. Theobald was elected to Congress in 1894 and served for twelve years. As a Congressman, Theobald helped establish the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He also appointed a young man to West Point who would later lead the Pacific campaign in World War II: General Douglas MacArthur.

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Albert E. Smith was also the founder of the HUMBOLDT MINING AND EXPLORING CO … Milwaukee Wis; capital stock $1,000,000; Albert E Smith pres, James R Ricketson vice-pres, Theo Otjen sec and treas.

History from Wikipedia and OldCompany.com (old stock certificate research service).