Racine County WI

Biography of Jens C. Jensen

Jens C. Jensen, president and treasurer of the Jensen Brothers Dry Goods, was active in incorporating this business in 1912, but for many years before had been closely associated with commercial activity in this city. He had come to the United States in 1872 when a young man of nineteen years and in the spring of 1875, when twenty-two years of age arrived in Racine.. His birth occurred in Denmark, September 11, 1852, his parents being C. and Maria Jensen, who were natives of that country and there spent their entire lives. Reared and educated in Denmark, Jens C. Jensen … Read more

Biography of H. M. Wallis

The rapid and steady growth of the business of the J. I. Case Plow Works and the enviable standing of the Company’s products are due in large measure to the personal force, the executive ability and the high business standards of H. M. Wallis, who for twenty-four years has been president of the corporation. He was born in White Pigeon, Michigan, on the 24th of June, 1861, a son of T. O. and Eliza A. (Mitchell) Wallis, born respectively in Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia, and in Kenosha, then Southport, Wisconsin. The father engaged in the real estate business in Detroit, Michigan, … Read more

Biography of William R. Pugh

William R. Pugh, plumbing inspector for the city of Racine, is a representative of one of the oldest families of this section of the state, being a grandson of Arthur Pugh, who was born in Wales and established his home in Racine when the city was but a village. Here he passed away in 1860, when seventy years of age. The father, David Pugh, was born in Wales and accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. He became a sailor, following the lakes for a number of years, and he passed away in 1872. He wedded Eliza … 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

Biography of John Martin

John Martin, a retired farmer, living in Union Grove, holds title to two hundred and sixty acres of good land in the County and is also financially interested in The Greenhouse and in the Union Grove Milling Company. A native of Cornwall, England, he was born on the 11th of August, 1849, of the marriage of Joseph and Amy (Tucker) Martin, also natives of that country, where the father engaged in farming. In their family were four children, of whom two survive, John and Joseph, the latter farming in Connecticut. The parents were communicants of the Episcopal Church and were … Read more

Biography of Edmund T. Acklam

Edmund T. Acklam, vice president of the firm of D. P. Wigley & Company, has advanced step by step in his business career until he has reached the place of responsibility and prominence which he now occupies. He was born in Racine County, October 7, 1877, a son of Thomas and Martha (Roskilly) Acklam, who were also natives of the same County. The paternal grandfather arrived in Racine during the pioneer epoch of the history of the county, while the maternal grandfather. Richard Roskilly, a native of England, established his home in Southport, now Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1842. Later he … Read more

Biography of Henry F. Herrick

Henry F. Herrick was formerly engaged in the manufacture of hardware specialties, but since 1909 has lived retired, enjoying well deserved leisure. His birth occurred in Racine on the 10th of November. 1847, and his parents were Charles and Anna (Ball) Herrick, natives respectively of Westford, Massachusetts, and New York. The father became one of the capitalists of Racine, holding title to a large amount of real estate in this city and in the state of Nebraska and elsewhere, and served as vice-president of the First National Bank of Racine. He was always willing to promote the public welfare in … Read more

Biography of Lorenzo Janes

Lorenzo Janes was a prominent figure in that notable group of sterling men from New England and New York who pioneered Racine, city and County, and gave to the settlements, the villages and the cities a tone and character that have survived the lapse of three-fourths of a century of time, as well as the influence of the flood of alien peoples that has poured into this section during the last forty years. Mr. Janes was born in Washington County, Vermont, September 18, 1801. He married in Albany, New York, and practiced law and became a judge there before moving … Read more

Biography of E. C. Wilson

The old adage that “a prophet is never without honor save in his own country” does not find support in the life record of E. C. Wilson, for in the County in which his entire life has been passed Mr. Wilson has gained recognition as a representative business man, now occupying the responsible position of general superintendent of the J. I. Case Plow Works. He was born in Caledonia Township, Racine County, on the 6th of September, 1870, and is a son of James and Mary Jane Wilson. The father removed to Wisconsin about the time of the Black Hawk … Read more

Biography of Orlando Canfield Munroe

Many years have come and gone since Orlando Canfield Munroe was called to his final rest, but the result of his labors is still manifest, as he was for many years a most progressive and energetic agriculturist and succeeded in transforming a large tract of land in Mount Pleasant Township into rich and productive fields. He was born in Bennington, Vermont. December 12, 1818, and was in the seventieth year of his age when he passed away in this County on the 9th of June, 1888. He had obtained a common school education in the east and in 1845 came … Read more

Biography of Joseph J. Wilke

Joseph J. Wilke, sales manager for the Red Star Yeast Company, and since 1907 general agent for Racine County, was born in Austria, August 19, 1882, the son of John and Fannie (Vlenovsky) Wilke, who were also natives of that country. The father died in 1883 and the mother afterward married Antone Keller. In 1894 they came to the United States, settling in Racine, at which time Joseph J. Wilke was a lad of twelve years. He had previously attended school in Vienna, Austria, and in 1893 he came to the United States with an aunt. They made their way … 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 Dr. Robert C. Hindley

Dr. Robert C. Hindley, chemist with the Horlick Malted Milk Company, is well qualified by thorough college training and broad experience for the position of responsibility which he now occupies. He was born in Manchester. England, in 1848, a son of John C. and Mary A. Hindley, who, in 1856, crossed the Atlantic with their family to Philadelphia. The father was connected with the cotton trade and also engaged in the gun manufacturing business, making guns for the army throughout the period of the Civil war. Robert C. Hindley attended school in Philadelphia, prepared for college in Virginia and was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lawrence R. Larsen

Lawrence R. Larsen, accounted one of the enterprising young business men of Racine, was born in this city, March 23, 1897, a son of Martin and Johanna Larsen, who are natives of Denmark. In early life they crossed the Atlantic to become residents of the new world, hoping to enjoy better business opportunities on this side the water than the father could hope to secure in his native land. Making their way to Racine, they have since resided in this city and Mr. Larsen is now engaged in the furniture business. Spending his boyhood and youth in Racine, L. R. … Read more

Biography of Martin Larsen

Martin Larsen, one of the partners in the business conducted under the name of the Junction Furniture Company at No. 1326 Washington Avenue, was born in Denmark, January 22, 1869, a son of Lars and Maria Hansen. He obtained his education in his native country and in the year 1886 arrived in Wisconsin, settling at Neenah. He had previously learned’ the cigar maker’s trade and he followed that business in Neenah for a year, after which he was employed in a similar capacity in Oshkosh for four years. He arrived in Racine in 1891 and here followed his trade for … Read more

Biography of Henry M. Henricksen

Henry M. Henricksen, the senior partner of the firm of Henricksen & Jacobson, wholesale jobbers in groceries, in Racine, is classed with the progressive young business men of this city in which his entire life has been passed. He was born in Racine, September 12, 1888, and is a son of Peter and Cena (Nielsen) Henricksen, both of whom were natives of Denmark, in which country they remained until 1886 and then crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Racine. During the early period of his residence in this country the father followed farming and lived on the … Read more

Biography of Frederick J. Osius

“Opportunity knocks but once” and Frederick J. Osius has never waited for the second knock but has improved every chance that has come. Moreover, he possesses the energy and tenacity to successfully complete what he undertakes and his work in several respects is notable. America leads the world in invention. Wherever work has been extensively carried on by hand, man’s ingenuity has set to work to contrive labor-saving devices whereby the output could be increased at a minimum expenditure of time and material. ft is this inventive genius, combined with mechanical and technical skill and fostered by a laudable ambition, … 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 Antony Meinhardt

No history of Burlington would be complete or satisfactory were there failure to make prominent reference to Antony Meinhardt, who was long a leading and valued citizen and the founder and promoter of the Meinhardt bank, which for a quarter of a century has been one of the strong financial forces of this part of the state. In this locality the name of Meinhardt is synonymous with enterprise, progress and business stability. Antony Meinhardt was born in Cattaraugus, New York, on the 17th. of October, 1830, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 27th of August, 1891, … 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