Racine County WI

Biography of John S. Hart

John S. Hart, secretary and treasurer of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company, was born January 16, 1885, and was the youngest of the three sons of Sands M. and Stella. M. Hart. The eldest brother, Lucius S. Hart, mentioned elsewhere, was accidentally shot while out hunting in California. The second brother, Harold H. Hart, is the president of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company. On another page of this work is given a complete history of both the paternal and maternal ancestry. After leaving the high school John S. Hart entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1907. He … Read more

Biography of W. L. Munroe

W. L. Munroe, who is engaged in cultivating a farm of ninety-six acres in Mount Pleasant Township, has been a lifelong resident of the locality in which he now makes his home, for his birth occurred in Mount Pleasant Township, August 1, 1860, his parents being O. C. and Lavinia Munroe. The father, a native of Vermont, came to the west in 1844 and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Racine County, establishing his home at Mygatt’s Corners, in Mount Pleasant Township. The work of development and improvement in the locality was then in its primitive stages … Read more

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 Stephen H. Freeman

Stephen H. Freeman needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for the name of Freeman is too well known in Racine to require special comment. Born September 15, 1870, in the city in which he still resides, he obtained a public school education, attending high school for two years, and at the age of eighteen began work in his father’s boiler-making and implement manufacturing establishment. He made it his purpose to thoroughly acquaint himself with the various phases of the business and with his increasing knowledge and ability has advanced steadily step by step. His duties have been … Read more

Biography of George Fritchen

George Fritchen is a representative of one of the old families of Raymond Township, represented in this County for sixty-five years, for it was in 1851 that his parents, William and Gertrude (Fettin) Fritchen, established their home in this part of the state. They were both natives of Germany, the former born near Krehfeldt. In the fatherland they were reared and married and then, determining to try their fortune on this side the Atlantic, they sailed for the United States and in 1851 reached Racine County, becoming residents of Raymond Township. They were in very limited financial circumstances and Mr. … Read more

Biography of Philip Braun

Philip Braun, owner of a farm of sixty acres on section 7, Caledonia Township, is carrying on general agricultural pursuits and dairying and both branches of his business are bringing him substantial success. His farm is well improved according to modern standards and his methods indicate a progressive spirit. He was born in Germany, April 29, 1865, a son of Peter and Katherine (Rauguth) Braun, the latter a daughter of Jacob Rauguth, who came to the new world with the parents of Philip Braun and spent his remaining days in Caledonia Township. It was about 1866 that the family crossed … Read more

Biography of Jacob Jacobson

Jacob Jacobson, a member of the wholesale jobbing firm of Henricksen & Jacobson, of Racine, was born on the 31st of October, 1887, in the city in which he still makes his home and conies of Norwegian ancestry, representing in his life many of the sterling traits of the people of the land of the midnight sun. His parents were Andrew and Mary E. (Kittilsen) Jacobson, both of whom were natives of Norway. When young people they came to Racine, arriving in 1883 and here they were married. The father was always a seaman and became captain of the G. … Read more

Biography of William T. Davies

William T. Davies, who for five years has been engaged in general farming on section 33, Mount Pleasant Township, was born August 14, 1886, in the Township where he now makes his home, his parents being Thomas and Sarah Davies. He attended district school No. 7 in Kenosha County until he reached the age of sixteen years and afterward became a student in a business college in Racine, where he spent one year. Starting out to earn his own living, he went to River Forest, Illinois, where for a year he was employed on a game farm. He was afterward … 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 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

Biographical Sketch of W. Earl Trauger

W. Earl Trauger, conducting a jewelry business in Racine, was born in Morrison, Illinois, January 31, 1878. a son of Charles and Alta (Ewing) Trauger, the former a cigar manufacturer. While spending his youthful days under the parental roof of his native city, W. Earl Trauger mastered the branches of learning taught in the graded and high schools and afterward took up the trade of a jeweler at Morrison, while subsequently he worked in the same line in Chicago. His residence in Racine dates from 1906, in which year he entered the employ of F. P. Beswick and in that … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. M. Jones

J. M. Jones, president, treasurer and general manager of the Racine Tool & Machine Company, is a native of Indiana and his public school education was supplemented by study in Western College at Toledo, Iowa. When a young man he taught school and afterward turned his attention to general merchandising near Rock Island, Illinois, while subsequently he became connected with the wholesale shoe business in Chicago. He afterward engaged in the banking business in Chicago and in 1900 came to Racine but went back and forth from Chicago each day. In December, 1910, he purchased the business which is now … 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 Fred W. Brown

One of the attractive homes in Caledonia Township is the property of Fred W. Brown, who is engaged in general farming and dairying. He was born in Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, June 9, 1872, a son of William and Johanna (Schrader) Brown, both of whom are natives of Germany, the former born in 1850 and the latter in 1846. They were married in the land of their birth and their wedding trip consisted of a voyage to the new world with Milwaukee as their destination. The father served as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. After coming to … Read more

Biography of N. C. Pedersen

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

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 Nels K. Jensen

Nels K. Jensen, farmer and dairyman, makes his home on section 11, Norway Township, where he has a well improved property, everything about the place indicating his progressive spirit, which is fraught with substantial results as manifest in excellent crops and in the fine appearance of his place. Mr. Jensen was born in Denmark, January 3, 1854, a son of Jans P. Larsen and Christina Petersen, who were also natives of Denmark, the former born in 1809 and the latter in 1812. They were married in that country and spent their entire lives there, the father successfully carrying on the … Read more

Biography of Vilas H. Whaley

Among the well known and prominent members of the Racine County bar is numbered Vilas H. Whaley. Although he is yet a young man, he has attained in the profession a position which many an older member of the bar might well envy. Mr. Whaley was born at Benton, Wisconsin, October 28, 1886, his parents being Frank and Mary (McDonald) Whaley, who were also natives of Benton. The former was a son of Patrick Whaley, a native of Ireland, who in early life crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. There he reared his family … Read more

Biography of Isidor Friedman

The mercantile establishment of The Friedman Company might well be termed the “Marshall Field” of Racine. Not only is it the largest store of its kind in the city but it institutes and adopts the most progressive methods and in all of its undertakings displays the spirit of initiative and progress. The business was started in Racine about nine years ago and has been developed to one of extensive proportions and success in large measure crowns the efforts of the members of this firm. Isidor Friedman, who is head of The Friedman Company, was born in Germany in 1854 and … 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