Wisconsin Rapids businessman and Democratic Party leader Milton E. Schneider was born in Milwaukee on September 6, 1910. After graduating from Bayview High School he began a career in accounting work with the Milwaukee Electric Company. During this period he took night school courses at the University of Wisconsin Extension and Marquette University and enrolled at Milwaukee Labor College. During World War II Schneider served in the Army. After his discharge in 1946 he returned to Milwaukee where he was involved with vocational rehabilitation for the Veterans Administration. In 1947 Schneider moved to Wisconsin Rapids to take over his father-in-law's scrap business. He gradually altered the business into a leading plumbing, heating, and electrical supply company.
Although the beginning of his political involvement is not documented in the collection, it is known that Milton Schneider was active in Democratic Party politics as early as 1949, and that he attended the 1949 state organizing convention as a Wood County delegate. Schneider played an important role in reviving the county organization, and he served one term as county chairman. For many years he served as member-at-large on the state Administrative Committee and was active in financial and budget matters. In 1953 he served as chairman of the state party convention that met in Wisconsin Rapids. In 1955 Schneider was an unsuccessful candidate for state vice-chairman, running on a slate with Horace Wilkie. In 1955-1956 he served as chairman of the Wisconsin Proxmire for Governor Clubs which was the umbrella organization for local Proxmire committees. In 1956 he also organized and served as chairman for the state Stevenson for President Committee. Because of the demands of his business Schneider himself never sought elective office.
