Racine County WI

Biography of Ezra R. Burgess

Ezra R. Burgess, a member of the Racine bar, practicing as a partner in the law firm of Gittins & Burgess, was born in Mount Pleasant Township, this County. September 13, 1873, and is a representative of an early New England family. His grandfather was Benajer Burgess, of Vermont, who in early manhood removed from the Green Mountain state to New York. After residing there for some time he arrived in Southport, Wisconsin, in 1836, and there operated a sawmill on Pike Creek but was not permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring soon afterward. His son, Alonzo … Read more

Biography of George Mitchel

George Mitchel, who for twenty-three years has resided upon his present farm in Raymond Township, near Caledonia, has prospered in business because of his close application and untiring energy and a determined purpose to win success if it could be accomplished through diligence and honorable methods. He was born July 8, 1866, in the Township in which he still lives, his parents being Christian and Fredrica (.Minter) Mitchel, both of whom were natives of Germany. The latter was born in 1818, and passed away in 1892, but the mother, whose birth occurred in 1835, is still living. They were married … 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 John Armstrong

With the industrial interests of Racine John Armstrong is closely associated as the president of the Holbrook-Armstrong Company, manufacturers and jobbers of castings. Racine numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in this city in 1859, his parents being John and Susan R. (McNellis) Armstrong, who, in the year 1855, arrived in this city. The father, a tinner by trade, was connected with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company for twenty-five years and thus the name has long been associated with the industrial interests of Racine. Reared in his native city, John Armstrong obtained a public … 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 Charles F. Barndt

Charles F. Barndt is considered a valuable addition to the business circles of Racine, with which he became identified in October, 1913, when he removed to this city and entered into active trade relations here as the vice president and factory manager of the Racine Manufacturing Company. He was born in a suburb of Philadelphia on the 6th of April, 1876, a son of John G. and Annie M. (Clymer) Barndt. The father was a carriage builder who for many years was connected with the business but is now living retired at the age of seventy-eight years. He has long … Read more

Biography of Nels Johnson

For more than a third of a century Nels Johnson has been actively engaged in the coal, wood and coke trade in Racine and the volume of business which he has built up has made the undertaking a very prosperous one. He has lived in this city since 1870. He was born in Denmark on the 16th of March, 1844, and is a son of James and Caroline (Nelson) Johnson, who were likewise natives of Denmark and in 1870 came to the United States, being brought hither by their son. He had acquired his education in the Danish schools and … 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 J. A. Dobson

J. A. Dobson, devoting his energies to the further development and improvement of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Dover Township, not only tills the soil but also engages to some extent in dairying and raises considerable stock, his life being thus a busy and useful one. He was born in Rochester Township, March 3, 1859. a son of Richard and Jane (Cockroft) Dobson, natives of England, the former born in Lincolnshire and the latter in Huddersfield. It was in the year 1842 that Richard Dobson came to the United States and in Rochester he married Jane … Read more

Biography of A. J. Williams, M. D.

Rush Medical College of Chicago has sent several of its alumni to Racine and in the field of active practice they have won success and by their careers have conferred honor upon their alma mater. Such is the record of Dr. A. J. Williams, who, since 1900, has practiced continuously in Racine. He is a native son of this city born November 18, 1872, his parents being Thomas R. and Eliza (Williams) Williams, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Racine. She was a daughter of William J. Williams, who was also born in the little rock-ribbed … Read more

Biography of S. H. Hansche

It was in Mount Pleasant Township, where he still resides, that S. H. Hansche was born on the 21st of November, 1878, his parents being Frederick J. and Fredricka Hansche, his home at the present time is on section 32, where he is engaged in farming, winning substantial success as a reward for his persistent and intelligently directed labor. At the usual age he entered the common schools and thus continued his studies to the age of fifteen. In the meantime he had received active training in farm work and after his textbooks were put aside he continued to assist … 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 John A. Brown

John A. Brown, manager of the interests of the Goodrich Transit Company, at Racine, was born in this city, July 16, 1875. a son of William P. and Mary T. (Murphy) Brown, who were also natives of Racine, the former born September 7, 1850, and the latter March 7, 1851. The father was a son of Thomas Brown, who brought his family to Racine in 1848, becoming one of the early settlers of this part of the state, since which time the family name has been associated with the substantial development and progress of the district. The father is a … 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 Charles V. McAvoy

Charles V. McAvoy, secretary-treasurer of the Wisconsin Auto Top Company, was born in Racine, April 12, 1889, a son of Anthony and Alice (Bowers) McAvoy. The father, who was a native of Ireland, came to Racine in 1866 and for a long period was connected with the industrial development of the city as proprietor of a wagon and carriage plant, but later lived retired to the time of his death, which occurred March 11, 1914. His widow still survives. Mr. McAvoy was for a number of year’s supervisor and was otherwise prominently connected with public affairs in the community. He … Read more

Biography of C. W. Smith

C. W. Smith, a most enterprising lumber merchant of Racine, putting forth every effort to promote the growth of his business along legitimate lines, was born in the town of Somers, Kenosha County, February 15, 1847, his parents being Charles and Anna (Reid) Smith, who were natives of Scotland. The father came to the United States in 1835 and established his home in the town of Somers, there remaining until he had prepared a home. He then returned to Scotland and about seven years later came again to the new world, accompanied by his bride. The Indians still lived in … Read more

Biography of Edward Brice

Edward Brice is the owner of an excellent farm situated on section 7 of Raymond Township and thereon he is successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits and dairying. His birth occurred in Raymond Township, December 2, 1858, his parents being Thomas and Alice (Drought) Brice. The mother was a native of Ireland but was only two weeks old when she was brought by her family to the new world. Her parents first settled in Canada, where they remained until she was twelve years of age. Mrs. Brice then came to Racine County with her brother, making the journey in an … Read more

Biography of Guy A. Benson

Among the younger representatives of the Racine bar whose professional course has been marked by substantial and consecutive progress is numbered Guy A. Benson, who was graduated from the law department of the State University in 1909. He has been a lifelong resident of this state, his birth having occurred in Iola, Wisconsin, May 31, 1885. his parents being Ole and Andrea (Olson) Benson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The paternal grandfather, Bendt Hanson, brought his family to the United States in 1864, establishing his home upon a farm at Iola, Wisconsin, where he reared his family. The … Read more

Biography of Henry W. Lewis

Henry W. Lewis is actively engaged in the cultivation of a good farm on section 24, Mount Pleasant Township. This farm is connected with the County insane asylum and he has been its superintendent for eight years. He was born in Mount Pleasant Township, March 8, 1868, a son of Andrew Jackson and Hattie (Northrup) Lewis, the former a native of New York and the latter of Wisconsin. They were married at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, in 1864, and they became the parents of two sons, Henry W. and Roy. The latter wedded Mary Zimmerman and they became the parents of … Read more

Biography of George Hannaford

George Hannaford, who devotes his undivided time and attention to farming and is now the owner of an excellent tract of eighty acres, on which he is engaged quite extensively in the buying, fattening and selling of beef cattle, was born in Dover Township, January 2, 1858, a son of William and Jeannette (Beaumont) Hannaford. The father was born in Devonshire, England, in 1825, and the mother’s birth occurred in Poughkeepsie, New York. It was in 1848 that William Hannaford arrived in Dover Township and in this County they were married. He was a farmer by occupation and owned and … Read more