Racine County WI

Biographical Sketch of Nelson A. Walker

Nelson A. Walker, the elder son of R. M. Walker, was born on the old family homestead in Mount Pleasant and attended school until fifteen or sixteen years of age. He was early trained to habits of industry in connection with the work of the farm and for twenty years he operated his father’s dairy. During the past five years his time and energies have been devoted to the further cultivation of his father’s eighty-acre tract of land, which he has brought to a high state of development, rendering it very productive. His methods are at once practical and progressive … Read more

Biography of F. J. Pope, M. D.

Dr. F. J. Pope, a graduate of Rush Medical College of the class of 1875, has continuously engaged in the practice of his profession in Racine for forty years and has long occupied a prominent position as one of the leading surgeons of the city. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. November 2, 1852, and is a son of C. A. and Emily (Hagan) Pope, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany. The father went to Germany to attend school in Bavaria, becoming a student in a theological college there, and while in that country he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David G. Janes

David G. Janes enjoys the unique distinction of being the only man now occupying a dominant position in the business life of Racine, of whose father it may be said with equal truth that he was an important factor in the actual founding of the city eighty years ago. Mr. Janes was born in Racine, April 2, 1852, and has lived here all of his life, getting his education in the public schools of the city. He is married and has three daughters and two sons, one of whom, Arthur R., is associated in business with him. Mr. Janes is … Read more

Biography of Phillip Eugene Kimpel

Phillip Eugene Kimpel, a highly respected farmer of Mount Pleasant Township, was born in Buffalo, New York, June 18, 1865, a son of George and Mary Magdalena. (Hettenmeyer) Kimpel, whom in the year 1867 came to Racine County, where the father worked at the butcher’s trade until 1885. He then turned his attention to farming, which he has since followed, but in the meantime also conducted a meat market in connection with his son, with whom he is living. He first visited Racine about 1850, but returned to New York, and it was not until many years later that he … Read more

Biography of Edmund B. Funston

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

Biography of Henry J. Herzog

Henry J. Herzog met with success as a farmer and is now living retired upon his well improved place on section 32, ‘Mount Pleasant Township. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 5, 1848, a son of John Adam and Mary (Eiler) Herzog, who in 1849 brought their family to Racine, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in carpentering and contracting until 1859. In that year he purchased one hundred and five acres of land in Mount Pleasant Township, which he cultivated until his death in 1891. He had survived his wife for twenty years, her demise occurring in 1871. Both … Read more

Biography of Henry Crane

Henry Crane, who is engaged in the butchering business in Franksville, has been a lifelong resident of Racine County, his birth having occurred in Dover Township, January 25, 1848. His parents were William and Caroline (Sparks) Crane, both of whom were natives of Somersetshire, England, and about the year 1844 arrived in Racine County, settling in Dover, where the father purchased government land. He had about three hundred acres ere his death, constituting a valuable farming property, which indicated what might be accomplished through energy, determination and close application, for when he came to the new world he was in … Read more

Biography of Frank H. Miller

Frank H. Miller, secretary-treasurer of the Commercial Press Company of Racine, became one of the owners of this business on the 17th of August, 1903, after having previously served for a number of years as foreman. Since that date he has been active in the management of the concern and has become more and more largely interested as a stockholder. He was born in this city November 24, 1879, a son of Leo F. and Theresa (Huck) Miller. The father was likewise a native of this city and the mother of Newark, New Jersey, both being born in the year … Read more

Biography of John Bell

Caledonia Township was the birthplace of John Bell as well as the place of his present residence, his home being on section 19. He was born November 29, 1858, a son of Valentine and Agnes (Vohn) Bell, both of whom were born in the Rhine country of Germany in 1813. They were reared and married in the fatherland and on coming to the new world established their home in Caledonia Township, where the father secured twenty acres of land, which he purchased for a dollar and a quarter per acre, and to which he subsequently added ten acres. The homestead … Read more

Biography of Clarence H. Van Vliet

Clarence H. Van Vliet was born in Racine, June 13, 1885, a son of John Wicher and Christina (Henry) Van Vliet, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. In the paternal line he is descended from one of the old New England families and his great-grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. In the ’40s his father left the Green Mountain state and sought the opportunities offered in the middle west, establishing his home in Wisconsin. He was a carpenter and builder by trade. He died in 1904 and is still survived by … Read more

Biography of A. C. Mehder

A. C. Mehder, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Mehder Dry Goods Company, occupies a prominent position among the alert, enterprising and progressive merchants of Racine and his life history is indicative of the opportunities that are offered in the new world to the young man of foreign birth who, prompted by ambition and guided by sound judgment, puts forth earnest effort to win prosperity. Mr. Mehder was born in Denmark, October 20, 1870. a son of L. T. H. and Caroline Mehder, who spent their entire lives in Denmark, where the father conducted business as a merchant tailor. Through … 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

Biographical Sketch of George B. Wilson

George B. Wilson, who has been actively associated with important business interests of Racine, was born in Boston. Massachusetts, in 1871, and. spending the first twenty-five years of his life in his native city, was accorded liberal educational privileges. He prepared for college at the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635, the oldest public school in America, and received the degree A. B. cum laude from Harvard University with the class of 1894. He then spent some time in the Harvard Graduate School in preparation for the profession of mining engineer and was afterward for many years actively engaged in … 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 Andrew Bennett

A well improved and highly cultivated farm of three hundred and sixty acres in Norway Township pays tribute to Andrew Bennett in return for the care and labor he expends upon it. His home is pleasantly located on section 36 and is a beautiful country residence erected in 1903. It is two stories in height and contains twelve rooms attractively furnished and supplied with all modern conveniences, including running water. Mr. Bennett has spent his entire life in Norway Township, where he was born March 4, 1854, a son of Edward and Mary (Shields) Bennett, natives of County Westmeath, Ireland. … Read more

Biography of George Holler

George Holler, making his home on section 27, Mount Pleasant Township, has been a resident of this County for almost a third of a century. He was born in Germany on the 28th of December, 1858, a son of John Holler. His educational privileges were somewhat limited. He attended the common schools until he reached the age of eleven, when he began providing for his own support by working as a farm hand, in which connection he was employed until he reached the age of nineteen. Then in accordance with the military laws of his country he joined the army … 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 Jens C. Jensen

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

Biography of Milton J. Knoblock

Milton J. Knoblock, who, since his admission to the bar, in February, 1910, has engaged in the practice of law in Racine, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 2, 1883, a son of Charles and Ida (Oetking) Knoblock, who, in the year 1888, became residents of Racine. hi early manhood the father engaged in business as a traveling salesman, but afterward became identified with manufacturing interests as the president of the Racine Malleable Iron Company, so serving until 1899. He afterward went upon the road again as a traveling salesman. His death occurred at San Antonio, Texas, May 1, 1904. … 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