Racine County WI

Biography of Harrison Fellows

Harrison Fellows, who figured in business circles of Racine as a dealer in coal and wood and who was also identified with shipping interests as part owner of lake vessels, passed away on the 1st of April, 1887. He had scarcely yet reached the prime of life, his birth having occurred in Williamstown, Vermont, July 2, 1840, and he was a son of George D. and Louise (Olds) Fellows. The family is of English lineage although established in Connecticut at an early period in the colonization of the new world, representatives of the name living there before the Revolutionary war. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Higgins

James Higgins, secretary of the Higgins Spring & Axle Company, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. September 6. 1880, while his father, Michael Higgins, mentioned above, was a resident of that city. He supplemented his public school education by study in Niagara University, in which he spent two years, and later he engaged in business with his father, entering into active connection with the Higgins Spring & Axle Company. in which he is now holding a position of administrative direction and executive control as secretary and manager. He has acquainted himself with every department of the work and is familiar with … 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 Alexander Sumpter

Alexander Sumpter, residing in Union Grove, devotes his attention to general farming and to the raising of chickens and his business has assumed extensive proportions, bringing a good financial return. He was born in Yorkville, Wisconsin, September 6, 1864, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Cheasman) Sumpter, both of whom were natives of Lincolnshire. England, born in 1818 and 1821 respectively. They were married in their native County and in 1850 came to the United States, making their way to Yorkville Township, Racine County. For a few years Mr. Sumpter was there employed at farm labor and … Read more

Biography of Samuel Steele

The demise of Samuel Steele, a well known resident of Mount Pleasant Township, was deeply regretted, for he was recognized as a successful farmer, a good citizen and a man of sterling qualities. He was born in Ireland, December 25, 1822, and began his education there, but when ten years old came to America and for several years attended school in Rochester, New York. In early manhood he took up the profession of school teaching, being so employed in Tennessee for several years and in Racine County, Wisconsin. He arrived here in 1847 and after dividing his time between teaching … Read more

Biography of Adelmer A. Bishop

Active and energetic through his entire business career, Adelmer A. Bishop has worked along the lines of success and that he has achieved what he has purposed is indicated in the fact that he is now proprietor of a profitable laundry business, which includes a plant erected at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars. Always a resident of southeastern Wisconsin, he was born in Kenosha County, September 4, 1871, a son of the Honorable Isaac T. and Lydia Jane (Clemmons) Bishop. The father was born in Somers, Kenosha County, June 6, 1844, and is a son of Jacob Bishop, a … Read more

Biography of Clarence Snyder

Clarence Snyder was the founder and promoter of the Racine Heel Protector Company, of which he is secretary-treasurer. Mr. Snyder is a native of New York, his birth having occurred in Gorham, Ontario County, on the 12th of March, 1853. After completing his education in the Canandaigua Academy of that state he removed to the middle west in 1873, when a young man of twenty years, and has since been identified with Racine and her interests. Following his arrival here he learned the printers’ trade and for two winters he was a teacher in the district schools of Racine and … Read more

Biography of Fred Krenzke

Fred Krenzke has built up and is successfully conducting an extensive dairy business, which he started in 1901 and which has grown steadily since. He was born in Racine, February 20, 1876, a son of August and Minnie (Reinke) Krenzke, both of whom were natives of Pommern, Germany. In early life they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and became residents of Racine about 1868 or 1869, their marriage being celebrated in this city. The father is a wagon maker by trade, but during the past thirty years has been engaged in farming near Racine, conducting his place now … 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 Walter F. Walker

Walter F. Walker, president of the American Skein & Foundry Company, has developed the business to substantial proportions and has won a place among the representative manufacturers of the city during the eleven years of his residence in Racine. He was born in Dundee, Illinois. December 6. 1871. a son of William E. and Mary C. (Foster) Walker. The father has now retired from active business but still makes his home in Dundee. In the public schools of his native city Walter F. ‘Walker pursued his education and also attended business college. His activity throughout his business career has always … Read more

Biography of Stuart Webster

Stuart Webster, vice president, general manager and treasurer of the Racine Rubber Company, was born in New York in 1870 and after pursuing his preliminary education in private schools entered the preparatory school at Andover, Massachusetts. Still later he matriculated in Yale University, where he won the Bachelor of Arts degree upon his graduation with the class of 1892. He then went abroad for further study and is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Vienna. He never gave his attention to the practice of the profession, however, but with his return to America entered commercial circles. … Read more

Biography of Nels M. Christensen

Nels M. Christensen, who passed away at his excellent home in Racine after having moved from his farm of two hundred acres in Raymond Township in 1905, was empty-handed and without influential friends when he came to Racine County, Wisconsin, at the age of twenty-two and his success was due entirely to his own efforts. He was born in Denmark, November 10, 1839, and after acquiring a common school education there he worked at farming until 1861, when he immigrated to the United States, making his way at once to Racine County, Wisconsin. For ten years he worked as a … Read more

Biography of Alonzo Silas Titus

Alonzo Silas Titus, conducting business under the name of the Waterford Milling Company, was born at Richland Center, Wisconsin, February 14, 1858, a son of Starr and Elsa (Hickox) Titus. The father was born at Buffalo, New York, where he was reared to manhood, and thence removed to Illinois. He was a millwright by trade, but afterward took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for a number of years in McHenry County, Illinois. There most of his children were born. At length, because of failing health, he removed to the pine woods of Wisconsin and in 1859 he … Read more

Biography of Andrew E. Ibson

Andrew E. Ibson, who is engaged in farming and dairying in Yorkville Township, also owns three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in New Mexico. A native of Raymond Township, Racine County, he was born on the 27th of August, 1865, a son of Hans and Gertrude (Hansen) Ibson, both natives of Denmark, the former born on the isle of Zealand in March, 1816, and the latter on the isle of Langland, on the 28th of January, 1828. They were married in their native country on the 25th of May, 1858, and six years later came to the United … Read more

Biography of Adelbert H. Allen

At the time of his death Adelbert H. Allen was proprietor of the largest livery business in Racine and his very substantial measure of success had been won entirely through his own efforts and ability. A native of the Empire state, he was born in the town of Mexico, Oswego County, March 22. 1850, and was of English and Scotch descent. His father, Hiram C. Allen, was a native of Connecticut, as was the mother, who bore the maiden name of Lorinda Olivia Erskine, although her father, John Erskine, was a native of Scotland. Following his marriage Mr. Allen took … 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 George L. Buck

George L. Buck, president of the Racine Iron & Wire Works, is actuated in all that. he does by a spirit of indefatigable enterprise and during the decade in which he has been at the head of his present interests has so directed the course of his activities that his labors have spelled success. One of New England’s native sons, he was born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1865, a son of David and Charlotte (Olin) Buck, the former of Welsh descent, while the latter was of Scotch lineage, although both families have long been represented in the United States. The … 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 Frank Kellogg Bull

The name of Bull has been associated with the development of Racine’s greatest industry and one of the most important manufacturing enterprises of the country-the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company-since 1S63, when Stephen Bull assumed financial management of the enterprise. He was succeeded in the presidency of the company by his son, Frank Kellogg Bull, who remains in active connection with the business at the present time as chairman of the board, and in all the years his developing powers have proven adequate to the demands made upon him in the control and development of this gigantic concern. Mr. … Read more

Biography of Louis H. Rohr

Louis H. Rohr, an attorney of Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin, was born on a farm in the town of Franklin, Milwaukee Bounty, Wisconsin, on the 25th day of April, 1864, and is a son of Jacob Rohr, a native of Switzerland, who came to this country with his parents in the year 1832, the family settling in Rochester, New York, where he grew to manhood and married Sophia Roehrig, a native of Prussia. In 1857 they moved to Wisconsin and purchased a farm, whereon Louis H. Rohr was born. In 1866 the family moved to the town of Raymond, Racine … Read more