A comprehensive roster of casualties from Racine County, Wisconsin, detailing the hometown, age, unit, location of death, and cause of death for soldiers, sailors, marines, and nurses who sacrificed their lives during World War I.
Among those whose success in the real estate and insurance business entitles them to representation as leading business men of Racine is F. Arthur Morey, who has been a lifelong resident of this city. He is a representative of one of-the old families of Wisconsin and the lineage can be traced back to England, whence in 1626 three brothers of the name sailed for the new world, settling in Massachusetts. One branch of the family subsequently took the name of Mowry and the other the name of Morey. Darius J. Morey, the great-grandfather of F. Arthur Morey, was a native … Read more
Simon Gulick is engaged in farming in Dover Township, where he was born and has always resided. His natal day was August 16, 1856, his parents being Eagleson and Isabelle (Qualset) Gulick. The paternal grandfather was Eagle Gulick, who became a resident of Dover Township and here lived to the age of eighty-two years. His son, Eagleson Gulick, was born in Norway, December 1, 1827, and is still living, being now in the eighty-ninth year of his age. He was married in Rochester to Isabelle Qualset, whose birth occurred in Norway in 1816, and in that country her parents spent … Read more
Andrew Matson, who is engaged in the fuel, storage and moving business in Racine, was born in Denmark, May 21, 1872, his parents being Peter and Ann (Skriver) Matson, also natives of Denmark. In the year 1901 the father came to the United States, where he lived retired until his death about seven years ago. Andrew Matson was educated in the common schools of Denmark and there learned the creamery business, at which he worked until eighteen years of age, when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world, having determined to try his … Read more
Commercial enterprise in Racine finds admirable expression in the business history of Julius Jappe, who since 1911 has successfully conducted a jewelry store and now enjoys a substantial and gratifying trade. He has also been active in political circles and otherwise prominent in the affairs of the community. He was born in Denmark, December 25, 1860, a son of Carl and Mary Jappe, and after spending the days of his boyhood and youth in his native country he came to the United States on attaining his majority, arriving on the 1st of June, 1881. He did not tarry on the … Read more
Henry N. Bacon, who since 1907 has been connected with the Racine City Bank as its cashier, having in that year become one of its organizers and incorporators, was born in La Harpe, Illinois, March 12, 1875, a son of H. L. and Anna Bacon. The paternal grandfather, Newton Bacon, was a cooper by trade and became one of the earliest residents of southern Wisconsin, establishing his home in Southport in 1832. Later he removed to Racine, where he conducted one of the first cooper shops of the city. Subsequently he established his home elsewhere. His son, H. L. Bacon, … Read more
Prominent among the enterprising, progressive and prosperous business men of Racine is George Gorton, who in 1892 embarked in his present line of business-the manufacture of fine machine tools and engraving machines. The work done in his establishment is of expert character and the excellence of the product insures a ready sale on the market. Mr. Gorton, a native of Racine, was born February 5, 1865, a son of George and Elizabeth (Buffham) Gorton, both of whom were natives of Rochdale, England. The father, who was born in 1825, became a resident of Southport, now Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1845, and … Read more
Racine classed Anthony McAvoy as one of its representative citizens and leading business men_ He was long prominently identified with carriage manufacturing and his activities were at all times wisely and successfully directed. Re was born in County Down, Ireland, October 30, 1846, and the following year was taken by his parents to London, Canada, where he resided until 1865, when he became a resident of Chicago. Illinois. After about a year passed in that city he removed to Racine and soon afterward went to Elkhorn, Walworth County, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1872. He then returned to Racine, where … Read more
James H. Crane, son of Augustus B. Crane, was born in Mount Pleasant Township, July 7, 1848, and between the ages of six and seventeen years attended the public schools. He afterward became a pupil in Rochester, where he continued his studies for a year and a half, and for one term he was a student in the high school at Racine. He then concentrated his energies upon farm work and remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when he went to Chicago, where he spent two years engaged in the bakery business. On the expiration … Read more
The rich farming country near Franksville contains many excellent properties, among which is the Evergreen Lawn Farm, the home place of H. E. Kastensen, who has resided thereon since 1886, purchasing a tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres, which has responded readily and richly to the care that he has bestowed upon it. To other fields of labor he has also extended his efforts and is regarded as a wide-awake, alert and progressive business man. He was born in Denmark, February 10, 1852, a son of Kastensen Ericksen and Laura Kastensen, who were also natives of Denmark, … Read more
E. E. Lewis, who since 1904 has been busily engaged in the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres on section 13, Mount Pleasant Township, was born March 8, 1871, in the Township which is still his home, his parents being William E. and Emily (Clemmons) Lewis. He obtained a district school education supplemented by a college course in the Indiana Normal school. He then began to work with his father and for one year was employed by the United States Express Company in Racine, after which he resumed the occupation of farming, this time on his … Read more
Louis N. Burns, who holds the offices of secretary and sales manager in the J.. I. Case Plow Works, has been connected with the manufacture of farm implements continuously since he was sixteen years of age with the exception of one, year, and his thorough knowledge of the business, his aggressiveness and sound judgment have been among the most important factors in his success. As sales manager he has developed in the sales organization a tine spirit of co-operation and loyalty to the company and has based the selling policy of the company upon a businesslike and convincing presentation of … Read more
N. C. Pedersen, engaged in the real estate business in Racine, was born in Denmark, February 22, 1851, a son of Peter Nelson and Christine (Christensen) Pedersen, who spent their entire lives in Denmark. Their son, N. C. Pedersen, was reared and educated in that country and forty-four years ago came to the United States, being at the time a young man of about twenty-one years. He was lured by the hope of finding better business opportunities in the new world, nor did he find that the hope was a fallacy, for he here met conditions that enabled him to … Read more
Thorough technical and scientific training as well as broad practical experience well qualified Harold H. Hart for the conduct of the important and extensive business which he is conducting as president of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company, whose output of Indian blankets makes theirs the foremost establishment of this kind in the country. Mr. Hart is a native of Racine, born July 3, 1882, and is a son of Sands M. and Stella M. (Blake) Hart. A history of his parents and of both his paternal and maternal grandparents is given in this volume, showing him to be descended from … Read more
T. J. Smader, political leader, able business man and sportsman, whose activities and interests have been of a. character that have promoted public progress along many lines, was born in Caledonia Township, this County, December 2, 1878, a son of Tobias and Mary Smader, both of whom were natives of Bohemia, in which country they were reared and married. At an early day they came to the United States, settling at Racine, and Mr. Smader purchased a farm in Caledonia Township on which he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death about eight years ago, his widow surviving him … Read more
Jens C. Jensen, president and treasurer of the Jensen Brothers Dry Goods, was active in incorporating this business in 1912, but for many years before had been closely associated with commercial activity in this city. He had come to the United States in 1872 when a young man of nineteen years and in the spring of 1875, when twenty-two years of age arrived in Racine.. His birth occurred in Denmark, September 11, 1852, his parents being C. and Maria Jensen, who were natives of that country and there spent their entire lives. Reared and educated in Denmark, Jens C. Jensen … Read more
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
Among the successful and progressive physicians and surgeons of Racine County is Dr. R. W. McCracken, who has engaged in practice in Union Grove for a number of years. His birth occurred in Daviess County, Indiana, on the 4th of February, 1872, and his parents are Hiram and Sarah J. (Williams) McCracken, the former born in that County in 1842 and the latter in 1843. The father devoted his life to farming and dealing in stock and through good management has gained financial independence. He is a democrat in politics. The mother is a member of the Christian church. They … Read more
Edmund B. Funston, organizer and president of Edmund B. Funston Company Architects of Racine, has been identified in large and important measure with the improvement of the city along building lines, for on all sides are seen monuments to his handiwork. He was born in Champaign County, Illinois, May 19, 1868, a son of John H. and Elizabeth E. (Bailey) Funston, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in early life. The father there followed the occupation of farming and both he and his wife have now passed away. Edmund B. Funston supplemented his district … Read more
A large proportion of Racine County’s substantial citizens have been of German birth or of German descent, and the enterprise and efficiency which have characterized that country have been manifest in these sons of the fatherland who have sought to enjoy the opportunities of the new world. Such was the record of Augustus Piper, a native of Prussia, Germany, who was born on the 19th of August. 1825, and lost his father when but six months old. In 1840 his mother, with her children, took ship for the United States, but the vessel was wrecked at the island of Haiti … Read more