Racine County WI

Biography of Clarence A. McLaughlin

In real estate circles Clarence A. McLaughlin, member of the firm of Keefe & McLaughlin, is well known, for he has not only negotiated many important real estate transfers but is also active in the field of speculative building and in this way has contributed much toward the improvement of the city, operating in his building interests as a member of the Community Realty Company. He was born in Racine, January 24, 1892, and is a son of Joseph and Clara (Nagler) McLaughlin, the former a native of Racine and the latter of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The paternal grandfather, Patrick McLaughlin, … Read more

Biography of L. F. Nelson

The firm of Nelson S Company, incorporated, general contractors, has done much for the improvement of the city along the line of architectural adornment since starting in business in 1895. L. F. Nelson, president of the corporation, is among the foreign-born citizens who have found in America the land of opportunity, enjoying the advantages offered in a country where labor and ambition are not hampered by caste or class. He was born in Denmark, June 29, 1868, and in 1887 arrived in Racine, being then a young man of nineteen years. He afterward engaged in farming for three years, although … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Henneke

Among the pioneer settlers of this County who have passed to the home beyond, but whose life’s labors contributed to the development and substantial upbuilding of the district, is numbered John Henneke, who was born in Germany in 1811. His youthful days were spent in the acquirement of a Common school education, after which he joined the army and served as an officer. At length he determined to try his fortune in the new world, and in the ’40s crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making his way to Racine County. His first purchase of land made him owner … Read more

Biography of Hon. John B. Simmons

Hon. John B. Simmons, whose writings were valuable contributions to legal literature and whose career as a member of the bar has reflected credit and honor upon the profession, has engaged in practice in Racine since 1898, being now senior partner in the firm of Simmons & Walker. He was born in McHenry County, Illinois, October 26, 1S51, a son of James and Catherine (McCotter) Simmons, both of whom were natives of Vermont. Upon removing to the middle west in 1842 James Simmons resided for a time at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but afterward took up his abode in McHenry County. … Read more

Biography of Alexander A. Fisk

Alexander A. Fisk, in charge of the park system of Racine, is actuated in all of his work by broad humanitarian principles. It is not his object merely to develop a park system in Racine that will be a thing of beauty. He has the higher and broader purpose of making it as well a place of recreation to meet the demands of the public needs in this regard, knowing that ninety-five per cent of the people never have, in vacation periods, the opportunity to leave home. He is closely and thoroughly studying modern problems relative to the welfare of … Read more

Biography of William Wellborn Acklam

Throughout practically his entire life William Wellborn Acklam has been a resident of Racine County and from the age of fifteen years has been dependent upon his own resources, being therefore a self-made man. He was born July 27, 1854, of the marriage of George and Harriett (Bean) Acklam, and in his youthful days attended the common schools of Racine and afterward the district schools of Mount Pleasant Township, but his textbooks were put aside when he reached the age of fifteen and he started out in business on his own account. For two years he worked in the lumber … Read more

Biography of James H. Crane

James H. Crane, son of Augustus B. Crane, was born in Mount Pleasant Township, July 7, 1848, and between the ages of six and seventeen years attended the public schools. He afterward became a pupil in Rochester, where he continued his studies for a year and a half, and for one term he was a student in the high school at Racine. He then concentrated his energies upon farm work and remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when he went to Chicago, where he spent two years engaged in the bakery business. On the expiration … Read more

Biography of P. H. Adland

An excellent farm property of one hundred and eighty-five acres, splendidly improved, pays tribute to P. H. Adland, who is the owner thereof. For many years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits but is now largely living retired, receiving an excellent income from his holdings. His parents were Thomas and Julia (Nelson) Adland, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was born near Bergen, August 12, 1831, a son of Mons K. and Ellen (Thompson) Adland. Mons K. Adland was born and reared in Bergen, where he obtained a public school education, and although he became familiar … Read more

Biography of Edward Henry Skewes

Edward Henry Skewes is a representative of one of the old families of Racine County and has passed his entire life here, as his birth occurred in Yorkville Township. He is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres in that Township and is there engaged in the dairy business, shipping milk to Chicago and likewise raising cabbage, which he also disposes of in the city markets. His natal day was the 12th of May, 1869, and he is a son of Hannibal and Eliza (Phillips) Skewes, natives of Cornwall, England, the former born in 1838 and the latter … Read more

Biography of Frank R. Starbuck

Frank Starbuck, secretary and treasurer of The Journal Printing Company of Racine, is of the third generation in active connection with newspaper publication, being a grandson of Calvin W. Starbuck, of the Cincinnati Times, and a son of Frank Washburn and Mattie (Raymond) Starbuck, the former the president of The Journal Printing Company of Racine. “To the manner born,” he has become the able assistant of his father in newspaper publication. He attended the public and high schools of Racine, being graduated with the class of 1894, and the following year, with all the other members of his father’s family, … Read more

Biography of Robert L. Anderson

Robert L. Anderson, who is engaged in blacksmithing in Caledonia, was born in Denmark, December 3, 1871, a son of Robert L. and Sophia (Shenberg) Anderson. The father was born in Denmark, March 20, 1815, and the mother’s birth occurred in Germany, February 20, 1843. Mr. Anderson became a detective of Odense, Denmark, and for twenty-eight years and three months he was connected with the military organization of his country, participating in the wars of 1848-50 and in the war of 1864. He died in Denmark, January 24, 1881, and in 1895 the mother came to Racine, where she is … Read more