Racine County WI

Biography of Morris Carl Matsen

Morris Carl Matsen is operating a wood and coal business, with moving and storage as a department of his undertaking. His patronage has grown steadily and today his is one of the important enterprises of this character in Racine. Diligence and determination have been the crowning points in the career of Mr. Matsen and success has been the legitimate result of his industry. He was born in Jutland. Denmark, on the 17th of August. 1881, a son of Peter and Anna M. (Scriber) Matsen, who were born, reared and married in Denmark and came to the United States in 1897, … Read more

Biography of Richard R. Birdsall

Richard R. Birdsall, a contractor of Racine whose business has reached satisfying proportions, was born in Toronto, Canada, February 12, 1864, and is a son of William and Mary Jane (Arthurs) Birdsall, the former a farmer by occupation. He obtained a public school education and in his youthful days worked on a farm in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, but in 1882 arrived in Racine, where he remained for about a year. He then returned to Toronto, where he continued for another year and on the expiration of that period he again came to Racine, where he was married. Once more he … Read more

Biography of Joseph O. Kennedy

Joseph O. Kennedy, vice president of the Racine Carriage Company, came to his present position after long connection and broad experience with the Sattley Company, carriage manufacturers, of this city. He is now concentrating his efforts upon the further development of the trade, reaching out along modern commercial lines for that success which is the direct outcome of close application, unfaltering diligence and unremitting energy. Mr. Kennedy was born in Franklin County, Missouri, June 24, 1877, a son of W. H. and Virginia Kennedy, who are still occupying the farm upon which they have lived for a half century, near … Read more

Biography of Fred W. Swantz

Fred W. Swantz, of Yorkville Township, is one of the native sons of Racine County who has continued to reside here after reaching, mature years, as he is convinced that the opportunities offered the industrious man here are equal to those to he found elsewhere. He has been active in the real estate field for many years, buying and selling a large number of farms within that time, and he is now interested in several tracts of good land in the County, He also writes insurance and in addition to his other activities engages in raising 0-rain and stock. His … Read more

Biography of Simon Gulick

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

Biography of Clinton Skewes

Clinton Skewes, who is operating the family homestead in Yorkville Township, has a number of good dairy cows and ships milk extensively to Chicago. He is also doing considerable truck gardening and raises some grain. His birth occurred upon the farm which he is now cultivating, on the 14th of August, 1880, and he is a son of Hannibal and Eliza (Phillips) Skewes, natives of Cornwall, England, born in 1838 and 1840, respectively. The mother was brought to this country by her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Phillips, who were among the first settlers of Racine County, Wisconsin. The father … 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 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 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 Charles A. Ryba

Racine on the whole has been favored in the class of men who have occupied her public offices, and among the worthy city officials is numbered Charles A. Ryba, who since April, 1913, has occupied the position of city clerk. He was born in Racine, July 21, 1889, a son of Albert and Anna (Novak) Ryba, the former a native of Bohemia, while the latter was born in Caledonia Township, Racine County. Albert Ryba came to the United States in 1882 and made his way to Racine, where he has since resided, occupying the position of shipping clerk or doing … Read more

Biography of John Pugh

John Pugh, of Racine, who is filling the office of state game warden of Wisconsin, was born September 1, 1847, in the city in which he still makes his home. Almost three score years and ten have since come and gone and he has witnessed remarkable changes as the state has become thickly settled and the work of progress and improvement has been carried forward. His parents were James and Jeanette (Hughes) Pugh, both of whom were natives of Wales, but they were married in this County. The father on coming to the United States settled first in Utica, New … 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 Edward Frank Freeman

Edward Frank Freeman, the youngest of the Freeman Brothers, who constitute the S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company, has spent his entire life in Racine, where his birth occurred on the 25th of June, 1877. Entering the public schools, he passed through consecutive grades to the high school, from which in due time he was graduated. The interest of the family had centered in the manufacturing establishment founded by his father and it was a natural and logical step that he should make his initial business effort in that connection. In 1897 he entered the factory and under the guidance … 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 Walter R. Rowley

Walter R. Rowley, who is farming one hundred and fourteen acres of well improved land in Mount Pleasant Township, where he has always lived, was born May 5, 1869, of the marriage of Joseph and Ellen Rowley. The father came to Racine County in 1850 and worked at the butcher’s trade for three or four years, after which he returned to England, his native land, and brought his wife to the new world. He purchased a small farm and in connection with the cultivation of his land engaged in the butchering business. For ten or twelve years he followed farming … Read more

Biography of Harry W. Apple

One of the most prosperous and substantial citizens of Norway Township is Harry W. Apple, whose home is on section 26. He has been a lifelong resident of that Township, where his birth occurred June 29. 1875. His parents, Adam and Dorothy (Eckels) Apple, were natives of Germany, the former born in 1839 and the latter in 1849. They were married, however, in Norway Township, this County, and continued to make their home here throughout the remainder of their lives, the father dying in April, 1907, and the mother in February, 1913. In 1849 the father went to California and … Read more

Biography of John E. Rowlands

John E. Rowlands, one of the well known, prominent and successful representatives of the real estate and insurance business in Racine, has concentrated his efforts upon this field of activity since January, 1907, when he retired from the position of register of deeds. He was born in Mount Pleasant Township, this County, December 18, 1856, a son of David W. and Mary E. (Jehu) Rowlands, both of whom were natives of Wales and when young people came to the new world, being married at Southport, Wisconsin. The latter was a daughter of Thomas Jehu, who about 1839 brought his family … Read more

Biography of Harvey Whitley

Harvey Whitley, a well known farmer owning a quarter section of land in Yorkville Township, was born in Brighton Township, Kenosha County, on the 19th of June, 1869, of the marriage of Thomas and Mary A. (Leach) Whitley. The former, born in Bingley, Yorkshire, England, on the 12th of March, 1821, came to the United States when twenty-two years old and located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, where he became identified with agricultural interests. He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Ann Leach, who was born in Keighley, Yorkshire, and by whom he had five children: Joseph E., born December … Read more

Biography of W. J. Jandl

W. J. Jandl, engaged in the real estate business in Racine, was born in Bohemia September 7, 1864, a son of Hynek and Magdeline (Korab) Jandl. The paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of Hynek Jandl, was born in 1797, and served as a soldier in some of the European wars. Both the parents of W. J. Jandl are now deceased. It was in the year 1881 that W. J. Jandl came to Racine, being then a youth of seventeen years. His financial condition was such as to render employment an immediate necessity and he began work with the … Read more

Biography of Angus R. Callender

Angus R Callender, secretary and treasurer of the Badger Foundry Company, was born in Racine County, August 4, 1876, a son of Richard Callender. who was one of the early residents of this section of the state. After obtaining a high school education he entered the employ of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, with which he spent nineteen years, thoroughly acquainting himself with every phase of the work entrusted to him and winning promotion front time to time until he became chief clerk of the manufacturing department. He severed that connection in order to enter into active association … Read more