Racine County WI

Biography of Antony Meinhardt

No history of Burlington would be complete or satisfactory were there failure to make prominent reference to Antony Meinhardt, who was long a leading and valued citizen and the founder and promoter of the Meinhardt bank, which for a quarter of a century has been one of the strong financial forces of this part of the state. In this locality the name of Meinhardt is synonymous with enterprise, progress and business stability. Antony Meinhardt was born in Cattaraugus, New York, on the 17th. of October, 1830, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 27th of August, 1891, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Higgins

James Higgins, secretary of the Higgins Spring & Axle Company, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. September 6. 1880, while his father, Michael Higgins, mentioned above, was a resident of that city. He supplemented his public school education by study in Niagara University, in which he spent two years, and later he engaged in business with his father, entering into active connection with the Higgins Spring & Axle Company. in which he is now holding a position of administrative direction and executive control as secretary and manager. He has acquainted himself with every department of the work and is familiar with … Read more

Biography of L. P. Valentine, M. D.

Dr. L. P. Valentine, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Corliss, is one of the progressive and successful physicians of Racine County. He was born in New York city on the 20th of September, 1872, a son of Francis and Pauline Valentine, natives of France, who returned to that country when their son, L. P., was but three months old. He acquired an excellent education in France and did his college work in the Lycée Charlemagne in Paris, graduating at the age of eighteen. He then returned to New York, but after three months went to Louisville, … Read more

Biography of Joseph F. Miller

Deep regret was felt throughout Racine when Joseph F. Miller passed away on the 17th of September, 1915. He was then a comparatively young man of forty-five years. Practically his entire life had been spent in this city and he became active in the management and conduct of a shoe manufacturing business which had been established by his father, Joseph Miller, long one of the honored and prominent manufacturers of southeastern Wisconsin. It was on the 29th of June, 1870, that Joseph F. Miller was born, his parents being Joseph and Theresa (Bauer) Miller, both of whom were natives of … Read more

Biography of Samuel Steele

The demise of Samuel Steele, a well known resident of Mount Pleasant Township, was deeply regretted, for he was recognized as a successful farmer, a good citizen and a man of sterling qualities. He was born in Ireland, December 25, 1822, and began his education there, but when ten years old came to America and for several years attended school in Rochester, New York. In early manhood he took up the profession of school teaching, being so employed in Tennessee for several years and in Racine County, Wisconsin. He arrived here in 1847 and after dividing his time between teaching … Read more

Biography of W. J. Higgie

W. J. Higgie, conducting an extensive and profitable business as a dealer in fuel, having a large plant on the river, was born in Racine on the 18th of February, 1856, a son of William M. and Margaret S. (Peel) Higgie, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. The father was one of the first settlers of Racine and commanded a vessel, sailing on the Lakes as its captain. He continued his residence here until death ended his labors in 1882. After mastering the common branches of learning taught in the graded schools of Racine, W. … Read more

Biography of Thomas A. Fagan

Thomas A. Fagan, engaged in the general real estate and insurance business at No. 610 Wisconsin Street under the firm style of Thomas A. Fagan & Company, was born in Racine, November 14, 1871, a son of John and Mary (Kelly) Fagan. The father was a native of Ireland and the grandfather spent his entire life on the Emerald Isle. When but six months old John Fagan was brought by an aunt to the United States, the family home being established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1866, when he came to Racine. He was the first practical brick … Read more

Biography of Captain William Mitchell Lewis

Captain William Mitchell Lewis has established and promoted in Racine, one of the largest manufacturing enterprises of this character in the United States. The development of the trade in the last few years has been so great as to seem almost magical, but back of this are the well defined and carefully executed plans of Captain Lewis and his associate officers of the Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company. Racine claims him as a native son, for he was here born on the 25th of February, 1869, his parents being William T. and Mary (Mitchell) Lewis. At the usual age he became a … Read more

Biography of W. J. Theis

W. J. Theis is a self-made man, who front the age of fifteen years has made his home in Racine County and through the intervening period has been closely associated with its commercial development. He now resides in Raymond Township upon a farm which he purchased in 1902. He was born in Eberfeld, Germany, September 19. 1865, and is a son of William and Mary (Miller) Theis, who were likewise natives of Germany, the former born in Nassau in 1837 and the latter in Renarode. Their family numbered ten children, of whom two are living: William J., and Henry, who … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry C. Miller

In pioneer times the Miller family, of which Henry C. Miller is a representative. was established in Racine and from that date to the present the name has figured prominently in connection with the development of the city’s manufacturing interests. Henry C. Miller, now one of the partners and officers in the J. Miller Company. has been identified with the shoe manufacturing business from the age of seventeen years. He was born in Racine, August 27, 1862, and supplemented his public school course by study in the McMynn Academy. When seventeen years of age he entered his father’s shoe manufacturing … Read more

Biography of Hon. Alexander J. Horlick

Alexander J. Horlick, vice president of the Horlick Malted Milk Company and therefore active in control of one of Racine’s most important and extensive business enterprises, belongs to that class of representative men whose force lies in close application, initiative and enterprise. He was born in Racine in 1873 and is the elder son of William and Arabella (Horlick) Horlick, further mention of whom occurs elsewhere in this work. He was reared in his native city and after attending the public schools continued his education in Racine College. In early manhood he became connected with the Horlick Malted Milk Company, … Read more

Biography of J. A. Schmitz

J. A. Schmitz, secretary and treasurer of the Arnold Electric Company, was born in Racine, March 9, 1862, a son of Nicholas Schmitz, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of his son, George C. Schmitz. The educational opportunities afforded J. A. Schmitz were those to he obtained in the public and parochial schools of Racine and upon attaining his majority he went, in 1883, to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he accepted a position and also pursued a course in a business college. Later he opened a real estate office in that city and after … Read more

Biography of J. E. Pritchard

J. E. Pritchard has in various ways been connected with the interests of Racine, having previously served as postmaster, while in business affairs his activity has contributed to the general commercial development. Since 1915 he has been engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan business. He was born in this city, March 18, 1872, a son of Elias J. and Martha (Evans) Pritchard, the former a native of North Wales and the latter of South Wales. The paternal grandfather, David Pritchard, who came to Racine in 1845, was a woodworker by trade. He established his home on Grand avenue, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lucius S. Hart

Lucius S. Hart, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Sands M. Hart, was born in Racine, December 11, 1879. He pursued his education in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and his early business training was received in the woolen mill owned and operated by the family. In 1900, with his younger brother, Harold H. Hart, he made a bicycle tour through Europe, visiting many points of modern and historic interest and touring the country in a most thorough manner. Soon after his return from Europe he went to California for the benefit of his … Read more

Biography of Thomas M. Davies

Thomas M. Davies, a lifelong resident of Racine County, save for a brief period spent in Iowa, is now actively and successfully engaged in general farming on section 34, Mount Pleasant Township, where he has made his home continuously since 1882. He was born April 2, 1851, in the town of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, a son of Morris and Mary Davies, who were natives of Wales and early in 1843 crossed the Atlantic, making their way at once to this County. The family home was established in Mount Pleasant Township and there the father continued to engage in farming … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert Wherrey Sr.

Robert Wherrey, Sr., has long been identified with commercial interests in Racine as proprietor of a butcher shop and is well known in the business circles of the city. He was born in New York, April 17, 1848, and is indebted to the common school system of that state for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. When his textbooks were put aside he took up the occupation of farming in New York and was thus engaged until he came to Racine in 1869, when a young man of twenty years. Here he embarked in the butchering business, which he has … Read more

Biography of George Peterson

George Peterson, a farmer and stock raiser of Raymond Township, was born on the old family homestead in that Township February 10, 1879, his parents being John and Gertrude Peterson, who were natives of Denmark and Norway respectively. The father, who was born in 1834, passed away in 1909. He came to the new world in 1869 and, settling in Racine County, was married in Raymond Township. He purchased a farm of sixty-two acres and at once bent his energies to its development and improvement, continuing to reside thereon until his demise. His wife has also passed away. They were … Read more

Biography of Roy F. Freeman

Roy F. Freeman is now devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits in Mount Pleasant Township, where he has a splendidly developed property of twenty-one acres situated on section 13. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the country and the name has long been prominently associated with industrial activity in Racine. It was in that city that Roy F. Freeman was born. March 21, 1886, his parents being Michael and Lillias Katherine (Porter) Freeman, who were married in Racine on the 15th of September, 1881. The father was born in Centralia, Illinois, January 14, 1860, … 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 Edgar A. Sears

Many of Racine County’s citizens feel that there is no need to seek a location elsewhere because of the excellent opportunities here offered for business advancement, owing to the naturally rich condition of the soil. Among this number is Edgar A. Sears, who has always lived in Caledonia Township, his birth having occurred on his father’s farm January 23, 1880. His father, Daniel Sears, was also born in Caledonia Township, his natal year being 1846, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Nellie Mann, was born in 1856. The former was a son of Lewis Sears, a native … Read more