- HERMAN A. KAMPS, president of the jewelry firm of H. A. Kamps Company, Incorporated, has been a well-known figure in the jewelry trade of this section for a number of years. He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, March 8, 1865, a son of Gerhard and Katherine (Jansen) Kamps, who were born near the Rhine, Germany. They came to the United States during the '50s and located in Appleton about 1861, where Mr. Kamps engaged in the harness business until a few years prior to his death. He was a well-known and highly esteemed business citizen, and retired in comfortable circumstances. His death occurred September 14, 1893, and that of Katherine (Jansen) Kamps, April 20, 1873. They had a family of five children and Mr. Kamnps also had five children by a second marriage. Herman A. Kamps attended the public and high schools of Appleton, as well as the parochial school, and his first experience in the jewelry business was as clerk with L. M. Follett, in whose employ he continued two years. He then took a business course, and during the following nine years was employed by Max Mayer, at Appleton. For several years thereafter he was employed in different jewelry estabishments in this city, and at Milwaukee, but eventually returned to Mr. Mayer's employ, and at the time of the latter's death, in 1892, he bought a half interest in the business, the firm name becoming Mayer & Kamps. This connection continued for several years, when Mr. Kamps bought out the Mayer interest and formed the firm of H. A. Kamps Company, Incorporated, with himself as president and treasurer, M. C. Kamps as vice-president, and J. H. Bedessem as secretary. This business was established in 1880 in Appleton by Max Mayer, and is one of the old and reliable firms of the city. Under Mr. Kamps' management the business has increased steadily and now takes front rank with other Appleton jewelry houses. Kamps and his family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and he holds membership in the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Catholic Knights and St. Joseph's Society. On June 10, 1890, Mr. Kamps was married to Mary C. Bedessem, daughter of M. and Barbara (Bain) Bedessem, and they have had five children, namely: Barbara, Celia, Harold, Ralph and Laurine.
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1865 - 1929 (64 years)
1910 Census
