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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