Racine County WI

Biography of Fred H. Schulz

Fred H. Schulz, who in the conduct of a real estate business has aided in the development of important additions and in negotiating many important property transfers in Racine, his native city, was born on the 17th of March. 1885. a son of John and Minnie (Teske) Schulz, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to the United States in 1866, establishing their home in Racine, where the father engaged in business as a carpenter contractor, being identified with building operations for a number of years, but now living retired. After passing through consecutive grades in the public … 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

Biography of Herman F. Mueller

Starting in the grocery trade as a clerk when fifteen years of age, Herman F. Mueller has since been connected to this business for a period of forty-three years. For the past thirteen years, he has confined his attention solely to the wholesale trade. He is now senior partner in the Mueller-Kuehn Company, operating wholesale houses in both. Racine and Kenosha, with Mr. Mueller in charge of the Racine plant. He was born in Germany on the 16th of August, 1857, and is a son of Gustave and Augusta Mueller, who left the fatherland in 1866 and brought their family … Read more

Biography of William C. Hood

William C. Hood, who since 1898 has been manager for the American Seating Company at Racine, was born in this city April 21, 1860, a son of Samuel and Alice (Coy) Hood. The father was a son of Thomas Hood, who came from New York to Racine in 1836, when the work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun in this section of the state. He secured government land and became one of the pioneer settlers of the district. Hood’s creek was named in his honor. His son, Samuel Hood, engaged in farming to the age of twenty-one years … Read more

Biography of F. B. Swingle

F. B. Swingle, who since 1912 has been associate editor of the Wisconsin Agriculturist, although he began writing for publication long prior to that date, was born in Rock County, Wisconsin, March 8, 1876, a son of Warren W. and Frankie (Bell) Swingle. The parents were also natives of Rock County and the mother was a daughter of Adam Bell, one of the early pioneer settlers of the state, who on removing westward from New York in 1838, passed through Racine and established his home in Rock County, having made the trip to Racine by water, and farther west with … Read more

Biography of Clinton Skewes

Clinton Skewes, who is operating the family homestead in Yorkville Township, has a number of good dairy cows and ships milk extensively to Chicago. He is also doing considerable truck gardening and raises some grain. His birth occurred upon the farm which he is now cultivating, on the 14th of August, 1880, and he is a son of Hannibal and Eliza (Phillips) Skewes, natives of Cornwall, England, born in 1838 and 1840, respectively. The mother was brought to this country by her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Phillips, who were among the first settlers of Racine County, Wisconsin. The father … Read more

Biography of J. A. Schmitz

J. A. Schmitz, secretary and treasurer of the Arnold Electric Company, was born in Racine, March 9, 1862, a son of Nicholas Schmitz, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of his son, George C. Schmitz. The educational opportunities afforded J. A. Schmitz were those to he obtained in the public and parochial schools of Racine and upon attaining his majority he went, in 1883, to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he accepted a position and also pursued a course in a business college. Later he opened a real estate office in that city and after … Read more

Biography of James D. Black

James D. Black, deceased, was for many years a resident of Racine and such were his sterling qualities that he enjoyed the friendship and high regard of many with whom he was brought in contact. He was born in Winchester, Virginia, February 14, 1844, a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Stipe) Black. The father was a son of a soldier of the War of 1812 and was of Scotch descent. He learned the blacksmith’s trade and in June, 1844, he removed with his family to Marseilles, Illinois, where he lived for about a year and then went to Ogle … Read more

Biography of Bernard Brehm

Bernard Brehm was closely identified with the business interests and civic progress of the city of Burlington for a period of nearly sixty years. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1844, the son of Frank and Agnes Brehm, also natives of Baden, and with his parents, brother and sister, came to America in 1854, reaching Burlington by ox team from Racine. The father, Frank Brehm, was a weaver and musician and engaged in various occupations until his death in 1889, having survived his wife for five years. Bernard Brehm received but a limited education, but being possessed of a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward A. Merritt

Merritt, Edward A.; sec’y and treas. The Cleveland Stone Co.; born, Marquette, Mich., Feb. 12, 1862; son of Daniel H. and Harriett L. Merritt; educated, public schools and Racine College, Racine, Wis.; came to Cleveland, took course in Bryant Stratton and Smith Business College; returned to Marquette, and was in business with his father; married, Dec. 15, 1886, Matildia Huntington, of Cleveland; issue, one daughter, deceased; came back to Cleveland in 1888, as asst. treas. for the Cleveland Stone Co.; also auditor and stockholder and director, connected with the Company for over twenty-four years.

Biography of B. H. Meyers

B. H. Meyers, president and treasurer of the B. H. Meyers Company, has the oldest and largest business in monument and tile work in Racine, the steady development of his trade bringing him a substantial income which places him among the representative business men of the city and one whose interests contribute to public prosperity as well as to individual success. He was born in McHenry, Illinois, a son of Theodore and Susan Meyers, both of whom were natives of Germany. After coming to the new world they remained residents of Illinois until called to their final rest. B. H. … Read more

Biography of Edward Zahn

Edward Zahn, organizer and proprietor of the Zahn Dry Goods Company, has continuously been at the head of this business which is now one of the important commercial enterprises of the city. It was organized in 1898 and through the intervening period of eighteen years has been developed in accordance with modern commercial methods. Edward Zahn was born in Walworth County, this state, on the 3d of April, 1865, and is a son of Edward and Eliza Zahn. The father, a native of Germany, was born in 1823, and came to America in the year 1841, settling in Cincinnati, where … Read more

Biography of August J. Eisenhut

August J. Eisenhut, who since April, 1910, has filled the office of city treasurer of Racine, having been re-elected to this position without opposition, was born on the 22d of October, 1876, his parents being August and Martha Eisenhut. The father was born March 27. 1852, and came to the United States with his son August in the year 1881 and remained for a short time a resident of New York City, but the same year removed westward to Milwaukee, where he resided until the fall of that year and then came to Racine. He is a machinist by trade … Read more

Biography of John Armstrong

With the industrial interests of Racine John Armstrong is closely associated as the president of the Holbrook-Armstrong Company, manufacturers and jobbers of castings. Racine numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in this city in 1859, his parents being John and Susan R. (McNellis) Armstrong, who, in the year 1855, arrived in this city. The father, a tinner by trade, was connected with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company for twenty-five years and thus the name has long been associated with the industrial interests of Racine. Reared in his native city, John Armstrong obtained a public … 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 Lillian Watts

Miss Lillian Watts, the most prominent figure in musical circles in Racine and widely known in this connection elsewhere, is identified with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, the Marquette Conservatory of Music, and is also director of music in the public schools of Racine. She is a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. and a daughter of Ebenezer and Eleanor (Jones) Watts, both of ‘whom were natives of Wales, and the father came of Scotch-Welsh parentage, in early manhood Ebenezer Watts came to the United States and in 1850 went to California, remaining upon the Pacific coast for five years, after which … 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 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 John Stoffel

A notable business record is that of John Stoffel, who for forty-one years has been at the head of a cigar factory in Racine and today has the largest establishment of the kind in the city. His commercial career is as an open book which all may read. His trade has developed along legitimate lines of business and his success has been built upon honorable methods and the excellence of the product turned out by the factory. Mr. Stoffel was born in Racine, April 10, 1855, a son of Nicholas J. and Juliana Maria (Schmidt) Stoffel, born respectively in Neierkirch … Read more

Biography of William Monroe Phelps

William Monroe Phelps, a farmer of Union Grove, was born in Genesee County, New York, February 21, 1869, a son of Charles and Lugene (Monroe) Phelps. The father, who was born in the state of New York in 1839, passed away in February, 1902. The mother, whose birth occurred in Racine County, Wisconsin, in 1845, died April 9, 1905. They were married in this County and later Mr. Phelps returned with his family to New York. For a time he was employed in hotels and later took up the occupation of farming. In 1871 he again came to Wisconsin, settling … Read more