Biography of Martin O. Senseny

Martin O. Senseny, president and treasurer of the Racine Malleable & Wrought Iron Company, has been connected with this business since 1906 and its development within the past decade is attributable in substantial measure to his efforts and keen business discernment. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Senseny was born in 1852, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Senseny. His mother died when he was but a few weeks old and his father when the boy was but three years of age, so that he was reared by his grandparents. He became a school teacher and later a bookkeeper and for … Read more

Biography of Lucius S. Blake

Upon the pioneer history of Racine is written the name of Lucius S. Blake, a name that is closely associated with its annals and one that was ever synonymous with progress and improvement. He was descended from New England ancestry, the line being traced back through successive generations to Bradbury Blake, a native of New Hampshire, who married Sarah Hilton and removed to Vermont where their son, Captain Levi Blake, was born and reared. He removed to Erie County, New York, then the far west, and in that locality wedded Mary Sanford, a native of the Empire state. At the … Read more

Biography of Thomas A. Fagan

Thomas A. Fagan, engaged in the general real estate and insurance business at No. 610 Wisconsin Street under the firm style of Thomas A. Fagan & Company, was born in Racine, November 14, 1871, a son of John and Mary (Kelly) Fagan. The father was a native of Ireland and the grandfather spent his entire life on the Emerald Isle. When but six months old John Fagan was brought by an aunt to the United States, the family home being established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1866, when he came to Racine. He was the first practical brick … Read more

Biography of Jabez Spriggs

Jabez Spriggs, a farmer residing near Kansasville, represents one of the old families of the County. He was born in Northamptonshire, England, April 26, 1838, a son of John and Mary (Nursey) Spriggs, who were likewise natives of the same country, the former born in 1803 and the latter in 1801. Their respective parents never left that country, but some years after their marriage the parents of Jabez Spriggs sailed for the new world, arriving on American shores in 1848. Continuing their journey into the interior of the country, they settled at Burlington, Wisconsin, where they remained for a year … Read more

Biography of Henry August Hilker

Watchful of every opportunity pointing to success, wide-awake and alert, Henry August Hilker has so directed his efforts that success in substantial measure is now within his grasp and his business activities furthermore are of a character that contributes to public prosperity as well as to the advancement of personal interests. He is today manager of the Red Seal Oil Company and for a long period has been connected with the manufacture and sale of brick in Racine. At the present time he is platting and developing a fine summer resort. Racine claims Mr. Hilker as a native son; he … 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 Leo F. Miller Jr.

Leo F. Miller. Jr., president of the Commercial Press Company, was born in Racine on the 13th of March. 1885, and is one of the enterprising and progressive young business men in this city, alert and energetic and watchful of all opportunities pointing toward further prosperity. He is a brother of Frank H. Miller and a son of Leo F. and Theresa Miller, Sr., mentioned in connection with his brother’s sketch on another page of this work. The family was of the Catholic faith and therefore he was sent to St. Joseph’s parochial school, wherein he acquired his education. Afterward … Read more

Biography of Jerome I. Case

Jerome I. Case, a representative of the Case family, needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. No name figures more conspicuously on the pages of Racine’s history. The great manufacturing enterprises conducted by the family have been the chief source of material development, and consequent prosperity of this section of the state. Into this heritage came Jerome I. Case and he has made it the purpose and aim of his life to uphold the high reputation of the family in its business connections. He was born May 6, 1887, a. grandson of Jerome I. Case, founder and promoter … Read more

Biography of Henry W. Sheriff

Henry W. Sheriff, a farmer residing near Franksville, was born in Caledonia, Township, December 27, 1860, a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Thompson) Sheriff. The father, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1835, reached the age of seventy-four years, passing away in 1909, while his wife, who was born in Toronto, Canada in May, 1840, died August 22, 1915. They were married in Iowa and in 1859 became residents of Caledonia Township, Racine County, where the father first engaged in business as a teamster. In 1862, however, he invested the money which he had saved from his earnings in … 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

Biography of Frank H. Miller

Frank H. Miller, secretary-treasurer of the Commercial Press Company of Racine, became one of the owners of this business on the 17th of August, 1903, after having previously served for a number of years as foreman. Since that date he has been active in the management of the concern and has become more and more largely interested as a stockholder. He was born in this city November 24, 1879, a son of Leo F. and Theresa (Huck) Miller. The father was likewise a native of this city and the mother of Newark, New Jersey, both being born in the year … 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 Hans P. Hansen

Hans P. Hansen, who carries on general farming in Raymond Township, near Franksville, is the owner of one hundred and forty-two acres of rich, arable land, in the midst of which stands one of the beautiful country residences of Racine County. Mr. Hansen may well be proud of his attractive home, as it is an indication of his intelligently directed energy and thrift. He was born in Denmark, July 5, 1869, and is a son of Nels and Jennie (Hansen) Hansen, who always remained residents of Denmark, the former born in 1838 and the latter in 1835. The father is … 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

Biographical Sketch of H. M. Wallis Jr.

H. M. Wallis, Jr., manager of the Wallis Tractor Company, which was organized in 1912, was born in Racine on the 24th of January, 1888, a son of H. M. and Jessie (Case) Wallis. He pursued his education as a student in Racine College, the Manor School at Stamford, Connecticut and in the Hotchkiss School of Salisbury, Connecticut, and when his school days were over he returned to Racine, whore he secured employment in the J. I. Case Plow Works. He advanced through all departments in the shop, gaining comprehensive knowledge of the business, and afterward traveled for the corporation … Read more

Biography of John O. Jones

John O. Jones, conducting an extensive contracting business under the name of the Western Improvement Company, has built up a business of large and gratifying proportions in street paving, a business that extends over many adjoining states. Mr. Jones was born in Llanfairfechan, Wales, on the 23d of June, 1856, and is a son of Owen and Ann (Jones) Jones, both representatives of old families that have lived in that section of Wales for hundreds of years. The family on one side was farmers and on the other was granite quarrymen. The parents of John O. Jones spent their entire … Read more

Biography of Fred M. Opitz

Fred M. Opitz, in whom inventive genius has combined with executive ability to make a most enterprising and successful business man, is numbered among the recent valuable additions to the manufacturing circles of Racine, where he has operated since 1912 as the head of the Perfex Radiator Company. A native of Germany, he was born in Berlin on the 24th of October, 1886, and pursued his education there, receiving thorough training along mechanical lines. He was, as it were, “to the manner horn,” for his father, Herman Opitz, had been engaged along mechanical lines as a manufacturer of bathtubs, and … Read more

Biography of Robert Benjamin West

Robert Benjamin West, whose time is busily occupied with the care of a farm of seventy-one acres, which he cultivates according to modern scientific methods productive of excellent results, is one -of the native sons of Racine County, born June 21, 1876. His father, Benjamin West, also a well known and highly respected agriculturist of this County, was born in Canada, October 11, 1847, his parents being Thomas and Hannah West, who in 1848 brought their family to Racine County, casting in their lot with its pioneer settlers. Securing land, Thomas West devoted his attention to farming in Raymond Township … Read more

Biography of Thomas P. Owens

Almost a quarter of a century has come and gone since Thomas P. Owens departed this life but he is yet remembered as a substantial and valued citizen of Racine County, where for many years he actively and successfully engaged in farming. He was born in Wales, September 20, 1820, a son of Thomas Owens, Sr. In the common schools of Wales he pursued his education and was a man of thirty-one years when in 1851 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He immediately made his way into the interior of the country, settling in Racine County, where … Read more

Biography of W. G. Edwards

W. G. Edwards, who followed the acquirement of his education in the district schools, took up the occupation of farming, which he has since followed his home being near Kansasville, was born in Dover Township on the 18th of March, 1848, his parents being Thomas and Martha (Mayo) Edwards, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they were reared and married. On coming to the United States they settled in Dover Township, Racine County, and the father purchased land from the government. He was a son of Thomas and Susan Edwards, who established their home in Dover … Read more