Davidson County TN Archives Biographies.....Hirsig, William G. 1868 -
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Author: Will T. Hale
WILLIAM G. HIRSIG. One of the prominent business men and representative
citizens given to the city of Nashville by the fine old Badger state is Mr.
Hirsig, who is essentially loyal, progressive and liberal in his civic attitude
and who is identified with one of the important industrial and commercial
enterprises of Nashville. Here he is junior member of the firm of Deeds &
Hirsig, dealers in buggies, carriages, wagons and automobiles, and also
manufacturers of buggies and wagons. The concern holds precedence as one of the
largest of the kind in the South and the extensive business has been built up
through honorable methods and progressive policies, so that it has proved a
valued contribution to the prestige of Nashville as an industrial and commercial
center.
Mr. Hirsig was born at Monroe, the judicial center of Green county,
Wisconsin, on the 28th of December, 1868, and is a scion of one of the sterling
pioneer families of that state. He is a son of William G. and Elizabeth (Grimm)
Hirsig, both of whom were born in the picturesque little city of Berne,
Switzerland,-representatives of fine old families of the fair little Swiss
republic. The parents were reared and educated in their native land and there
their marriage was solemnized. In Switzerland William G. Hirsig conducted a
prosperous business in breeding of horses for the use of the government, and in
1866 he came with his family to America and numbered himself among the pioneers
of Green county, Wisconsin. There he obtained a tract of land and engaged in
agricultural pursuits, the while he made a specialty of breeding and raising
horses and mules,-a line of industrial enterprise in which he was an authority.
He built up a substantial business as a breeder of and dealer in horses and
mules and was one of the strong, vital, influential and honored citizens of
Green county, where both he and his wife continued to reside until their death,
both having been devout members of the Lutheran church. They became the parents
of seven sons and three daughters, and of the number seven sons and two
daughters are now living.
Under the sturdy and invigorating environment and discipline of the old
homestead in the village of Monroe William G. Hirsig, to whom this review is
dedicated, early learned the lessons of self-reliance and practical industry,
and he continued to attend the public schools of the locality until he had
attained to the age of fifteen years, when he assumed a position as clerk in a
mercantile establishment in the village of Monroe, his compensation for the
first years having been his board and washing. His further education has been
gained through personal application and association with men and affairs during
the course of a significantly active and successful career. At the age of
nineteen his employer manifested distinctive appreciation of his ability and
faithful service, since he then admitted him to partnership in a branch store
established at New Glarus, the center of the fine Swiss colony in Green county,
Wisconsin. In assuming this partnership relation his investment was represented
in his personal note for $1800, to be paid from his share of the profits of the
business. Conditions proved a definite spur to ambition and hard work, and
within two years Mr. Hirsig had paid his note in full and accumulated a neat
reserve. Soon afterward the stock and business were sold upon advantageous
terms, and thereafter Mr. Hirsig rendered effective and productive service as a
traveling representative and salesman for the William Deering Harvester Company
until 1895, in which year he came to Tennessee and established his residence in
the city of Nashville. Here he became associated with Joe B. Deeds in forming
the present firm of Deeds & Hirsig, and in their chosen field of enterprise they
have built up a large and prosperous business, as has already been stated in
this context. They have a commodious and well equipped establishment and do both
a wholesale and retail business in the handling of all kinds of vehicles,
including autmobiles, and in the manufacturing of certain lines of vehicles.
Mr. Hirsig has proved deeply appreciative of the manifold attractions and
advantages of the state of his adoption and in addition to his association with
the important enterprise just noted he is also the owner of a finely improved
landed estate of nearly one thousand acres in Davidson county and about five
miles distant from Nashville. He finds special satisfaction in supervising the
operation of this fine place, which is devoted to diversified agriculture and
stock-growing, and on which he is giving special attention to the raising of
high-grade horses and ponies of registered stock. Since 1910 Mr. Hirsig has been
principal owner and the president of the Nashville Base Ball Association, and he
takes a lively interest in the "national game," especially in connection with
the work of the team in which he is concerned.
Zealous in support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the civic
and material welfare of his home city, Mr. Hirsig is essentially liberal and
progressive as a citizen and business man and he holds secure vantage-place in
the confidence and esteem of the community. He is a Democrat in his political
allegiance and is at the present time serving as a member of the county court of
Davidson county. He is an active and valued member of the Nashville Board of
Trade, the Commercial and Hermitage clubs, and the Nashville Country and Golf
clubs, the while both he and his gracious wife are most popular figures in the
representative social affairs of their home city. They are members of the
Methodist church and he is affiliated with the local organizations of the
Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On the 6th of July, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hirsig to Miss
Josephine McBride, who was born and reared in Alabama, and they have three sons,
namely: Lawrence, James and William G., Jr.
Additional Comments:
From:
A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in
commerce, industry and modern activities
by Will T. Hale
Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913
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