Racine County Wisconsin History Collections – Page 2 of 22

Biography of William Horlick, Jr.

It is too often true that successful business men seem to find no time for public affairs and lightly regard the duties and obligations of citizenship. A notable exception to this rule and one whose example is well worthy of emulation is that of William Horlick, Jr., who, while actively connected with the management and interests of the Horlick Malted Milk Company, has also found time and opportunity for co-operation in those plans and projects which have to do with the development and upbuilding of the community in which he lives. He was born in Chicago, in 1875, a son … Read more

Biography of William Horlick

William Horlick, of Racine, is numbered among the constructive business men of the country, as he founded and has built up the Horlick Malted Milk Company, of which he is now treasurer. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, February 23, 1846, and is the youngest of the nine children born to his parents, James and Priscilla (Griffiths) Horlick. The family is one of the oldest in England and the following account of its history is taken from Burke’s Peerage: “The family name of Harlech or Horlick is of Norman-French derivation, and the natural conclusion drawn is that the Harlechs or … Read more

Biography of William Henry Richardson

W. H. Richardson, president of the Racine Carriage Company, is one whose long experience in this line of trade well qualified him for the important position which he now occupies as executive official, directing the policy and shaping the course of the business. One of the elements of his success is the fact that he has always continued in the line in which he embarked as a young tradesman, never dissipating his energies over a broad field but concentrating on the mastery of every task that has devolved upon him and thus gaining a most comprehensive and exact knowledge of … Read more

Biography of William Henry Miller

William Henry Miller was born in Racine, on the 2d of November, 1847. and is a son of Moses and Frances Augusta (Durand) Miller, natives of New Jersey and Connecticut, respectively. The father arrived in Wisconsin about 1844 and was a wholesale merchant of Racine for a number of years prior to the building of railroads to this city. His goods were distributed by four-horse peddling wagons to stores all over the southern part of the state. Later in life he engaged in the insurance business. His influence was always on the side of right and improvement and the many … Read more

Biography of William Henkel

A valuable farm property of one hundred and seventy-five acres situated on Sections 11 and 13, Raymond Township, pays substantial annual tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner, William Henkel, who is a representative agriculturist of Racine County. His business affairs are most carefully and wisely managed and his splendid success is the direct and merited reward of his own labors. He was born in Germany, October 25, 1853, a son of Henry and Charlotte (Guth) Henkel, who were also natives of the fatherland. On coming to the new world they settled in Raymond Township, … Read more

Biography of William Haigh

A well improved farm of one hundred and forty acres, situated near Corliss, is the home property of William Haigh, who has always resided upon this place. He was actively engaged in its cultivation for many years, but in 1904 he retired from active farm work and now rents his land. He was born in this County, August 25, 1845, a son of George and Anna (Butterworth) Haigh. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1810 and died January 28. 1890, while the mother, a native of Lancashire. England, passed away in 1867. They were married in Racine County, … Read more

Biography of William H. Shephard

Among the newly established business enterprises of Racine is that of the Shephard Plating Company, which vas organized December 26, 1913, succeeding to the business of South, Barrell & Shephard, electro platers, which firm was organized in 1910. This business is located at No. 136 Main street and is one of the last growing, successful enterprises of the city. Actively connected with its development is William H. Shephard, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 6th of April, 1873. After obtaining a public school education there he learned the polishing, plating and buffing trade, starting in the work in … Read more

Biography of William H. McCullough

Among the native sons of Caledonia Township who still reside within its borders and have won a creditable position as substantial, progressive farmers is numbered William H. McCullough, who now makes his home on section 20: He was born September 13, 1869, a son of Archie and Rose (McAllona) McCullough. The father was born in Ireland in 1827 and after coming to the new world was married in Minnesota to Rose McAllona, whose birth occurred in New York in 1843. In 1866 they became residents of Racine County, Wisconsin, where the father purchased eighty acres of land, and as opportunity … Read more

Biography of William H. Liegler

William H. Liegler engages in the plumbing business in Racine, his native city, and was born July 19th, 1877, son of Frank and Nettie (Frich) Liegler, both of whom were born in Bohemia near Prague. The father came to the United States when about. six or seven years of age and established his home in Racine. Some years afterward he engaged in the hardware business in which he continued for many years but about seven years ago retired and is now enjoying a well earned rest. Both he and his wife are residents of Racine. In this city William H. … Read more

Biography of William H. Kranz

For more than seventy years the name of Kranz has been associated with the business development of Racine and has long been a synonym for progressiveness and reliability in commercial circles. The wholesale paper and stationery business conducted under the name of Kranz was established by John Kranz and since his death has been conducted by his son, William H. Kranz, whose name introduces this review. The latter was born in Racine, July 18, 1856, and the former in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Elizabeth Ritchie, a native of Lensburg, Switzerland. It was in the … Read more

Biography of William H. Hetzel

William H. Hetzel, conducting a general contracting electrical business, has been a lifelong resident of Racine, his birth having occurred in this city June 19, 1873, his parents being David and Mary L. (Wilken) Hetzel, who were pioneer residents here, the family having long been represented in Racine, where they have ever stood for substantial development and improvement. Passing through consecutive grades in the public schools, William H. Hetzel devoted one year of study in the high school and then started out in the business world, taking up carpentering, which he followed for a year. He next turned his attention … Read more

Biography of William H. Carpenter

For twenty years William H. Carpenter has been engaged in the real estate business on his own account in Racine and is now senior partner in the firm of Carpenter & Rowland with offices at 610 Main Street. He was born in Manteno, Illinois, September 10, 1872, a son of William I. and Eva M. (Shaw) Carpenter, who were natives of New York and of Maine, respectively. In early life they became residents of Illinois, and on the 1st of September, 1874, removed to Racine. The father was a tinsmith by trade and for many years was employed by the … Read more

Biography of William G. Gittings

Along well defined lines of labor, guided by sound judgment and controlled with a view to maintaining a high standard of business ethics, William G. Gittings has reached the goal of success, being now manager of the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Manufacturing Company. Racine County claims him as a native son. He was born October 6, 1858, his parents being William and Elizabeth Gittings, who were natives of the north of Wales. The latter was a daughter of Thomas Gittings who followed farming in Wales and there spent his entire life. William Gittings, in 1840, crossed the Atlantic from Wales … Read more

Biography of William Frank Brehm

William Frank Brehm, president of the Brehm Brothers Company at Burlington, was born August 21, 1870, in the city in which he still resides, a son of Bernard Brehm, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Spending his boyhood days in Burlington, William F. Brehm attended the parochial and public schools and when a lad joined his father in the draying business, working in the summer seasons and attending school in the winter. When sixteen years of age he made his first trip to buy horses and the first pair which he purchased were prize winners at the Walworth County fair the … Read more

Biography of William F. C. Biehn

William F. C. Biehn ranks among the most successful of the younger farmers of the County and derives a good income from his well directed labors. He was born in Kenosha County, on the 3d of October, 1886, and is a son of Fred W. and Bertha (Steffen) Biehn, natives of Germany, the former born in 1825 and the latter in 1841. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Biehn, passed his entire life in Germany but the maternal grandfather immigrated to this country and located in Milwaukee, where he had a milk route. Fred W. Biehn, who was the oldest of a … Read more

Biography of William E. Tucker

William E. Tucker, a successful farmer and dairyman living in Yorkville Township, is also serving as chairman of the board of supervisors, making an excellent record in that capacity. He was born in Brighton, Kenosha County, on the 14th of May, 1854, a son of William and Jane (Gilbert) Tucker, natives of England, the former born in 1823 and the latter in 1818. The paternal grandfather, James Tucker, passed his entire life in England, but the maternal grandfather, William Gilbert, came to America and on settling in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, entered two hundred acres in the vicinity of Corliss. He … Read more

Biography of William E. Lewis

Although William E. Lewis was long associated with agricultural interests of this County, he is now residing retired in the city of Racine, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He has passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life’s journey, his birth having occurred in Putnam County. New York, June 6, 1842, his parents being Alfred and Jane (Barrett) Lewis, both of whom died during the early youth of their son, William. In the year 1834 William E. Lewis, then a youth of twelve years, and his brother, Alfred L., came west with Nathan Howes, one of … Read more

Biography of William Dwight Thompson

William Dwight Thompson, senior partner in the firm of Thompson, Meyers & Kearney, engaged in the general practice of law at Racine, was born at Memphis, Tennessee, November 7, 1867, a son of Seymour D. and Lucy Augusta (Jennison) Thompson. The former was born in Northfield Township, Cook County, Illinois, and was a son of Seymour Thompson of New York State, who became an Illinois pioneer. The ancestry on both sides dates back to about 1640, when representatives of both families emigrated from England, and members of both families served in the Revolutionary war. In the early ’50s there occurred … Read more

Biography of William C. Hood

William C. Hood, who since 1898 has been manager for the American Seating Company at Racine, was born in this city April 21, 1860, a son of Samuel and Alice (Coy) Hood. The father was a son of Thomas Hood, who came from New York to Racine in 1836, when the work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun in this section of the state. He secured government land and became one of the pioneer settlers of the district. Hood’s creek was named in his honor. His son, Samuel Hood, engaged in farming to the age of twenty-one years … Read more

Biography of William A. Walker

William A. Walker is a member of the board of supervisors of Racine County, while his business interests are those of a manufacturer. He is devoting his attention to the making of railroad anchors and has developed a business of a very substantial character. Mr. Walker was born in Windham, Ohio, July 28, 1850, a son of John B. and Ellen (Whiteley) Walker, who were natives of Yorkshire, England. When eighteen years of age the father came to the United States with his eldest brother, landing at New Orleans, whence they made their way northward to St. Charles, Illinois. After … Read more