Racine County WI

Biography of William H. Kranz

For more than seventy years the name of Kranz has been associated with the business development of Racine and has long been a synonym for progressiveness and reliability in commercial circles. The wholesale paper and stationery business conducted under the name of Kranz was established by John Kranz and since his death has been conducted by his son, William H. Kranz, whose name introduces this review. The latter was born in Racine, July 18, 1856, and the former in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Elizabeth Ritchie, a native of Lensburg, Switzerland. It was in the … Read more

Biography of Peter Maurice

Peter Maurice, a successful dairyman, living in Yorkville Township, is entitled to the credit which is given a self-made man, for he has depended entirely upon his own resources for advancement. He was born in Yorkville Township on the 13th of December, 1868, a son of Phillip and Mary (Gudenkauf) Maurice, both of German birth. The father’s natal year was 1825 and the mother was born on the 13th of July 1838. Philip Maurice came to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Maurice, in 1846, and the family located in Racine County, where Edward Maurice died soon afterwards. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nels Christiansen

Nels Christiansen is the owner of a good tract of land of forty-two acres in Mount Pleasant Township and is now devoting his entire time and attention to agricultural interests. He was born in Denmark, December 26, 1869, a son of Hans and Sophia Christiansen. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and afterward learned the blacksmith’s trade there. In 1892 he came to the United States, making his way to Chicago, and after four months spent in the western metropolis removed to Racine, where he was employed at blacksmithing for a year and a half. … Read more

Biography of Henry Halter

The life record of Henry Halter is proof of the fact that success is not a matter of genius or of fortunate circumstances, as some contend, but is the direct result of earnest labor and perseverance, for Henry Halter is a self-made man who owes his prosperity entirely to his persistent, earnest effort. He is now successfully engaged in truck farming upon a tract of land of forty-four acres on section 31, Mount Pleasant Township. He was born in Milwaukee County, ‘Wisconsin, October 13, 1855, a son of Lewis and Mary (Concelmanl Halter, who were natives of France. In the … 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

Biographical Sketch of Norbert Grabher

Norbert Grabher, who was formerly identified with industrial interests in Racine for many years, is now living upon a farm of seventeen acres on section 37, Mount Pleasant Township, where he has a fine home. He was born in Austria, November 9, 1855, and is a son of Jerome and Katrina Grabher. He attended the common schools to the age of twelve years and afterward worked upon the home farm and throughout the locality as a farm hand until about twenty-five years of age. It was in 18S2 that he crossed the Atlantic, making his way to Philadelphia, and through … 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

Biography of Walter R. Rowley

Walter R. Rowley, who is farming one hundred and fourteen acres of well improved land in Mount Pleasant Township, where he has always lived, was born May 5, 1869, of the marriage of Joseph and Ellen Rowley. The father came to Racine County in 1850 and worked at the butcher’s trade for three or four years, after which he returned to England, his native land, and brought his wife to the new world. He purchased a small farm and in connection with the cultivation of his land engaged in the butchering business. For ten or twelve years he followed farming … Read more

Biography of William Meadows

William Meadows is a brick and tile manufacturer of Burlington but leaves the active management of the business to his sons, for he is now well advanced in years and deserves to enjoy the rest which he has truly earned. He was born in Lancashire, England, July 6, 1833, a son of George and Elizabeth (Greenwood) Meadows. The father, who come of an old English family, was foreman of a cotton manufacturing company of England, where he remained until 1842, when he came to the United States and settled at Burlington Flats, Otsego County, New York, bringing the family to … Read more

Biography of George Schneider

George Schneider, one of the wholesale liquor merchants of Racine, was born February 18, 1869, in the city in which he still lives, his parents being Henry and Charlotte (Beyer) Schneider, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father crossed the Atlantic to Canada when a youth of thirteen years and soon afterward came to the United States, making his way to Racine where he continued to reside until called to his final rest in 1889. During the period of his residence in this city he engaged in the grocery business and was well known as one of the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles H. Everett

In the language of the people, Charles H. Everett is a thinker and a worker, and these qualities have made him a leader. Perhaps no man in Wisconsin has exerted a more widely felt and beneficial influence on the agricultural development of the state. He was born in Rock County, Wisconsin, March 22. 1855, a son of Milton Josiah and Mary E. (Ross) Everett, both of whom were natives of New York and have now passed away. They became residents of Wisconsin in 1840 and here the father followed the occupation of farming. C. H. Everett acquired a public school … Read more

Biography of Joseph Miller

Joseph Miller was long numbered among the substantial and valued citizens that Germany furnished to Racine. The consensus of public opinion established his position as one of the foremost citizens here. He early became imbued with the spirit of American enterprise and progress and a laudable ambition prompted his steady progress in business circles. His activities became an important force in Racine’s upbuilding and his record constituted an example well worthy of emulation, showing what could be accomplished through determined and persistent effort intelligently directed. Mr. Miller was born on the 8th of August, 1832, in Niederzer, Rhenish Prussia, his … Read more

Biography of W. H. Brandow

W. H. Brandow is a member of the firm of Moers & Brandow, conducting a painting contracting business in Racine. Michigan numbers him one of her native sons, his birth having occurred in Pontiac, that state, on the 2d of January, 1858, his parents being Frederick and Lucy (Crandall) Brandow, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Kenosha. Wisconsin. The maternal grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of Kenosha County where he served as sheriff in an early day. It was in the year 1864 that Frederick Brandow left Michigan and removed with his family to … Read more

Biography of Charles O. Johnson

Charles O. Johnson, who is engaged in farming on section 14, Norway Township, is classed as one of the popular and highly esteemed residents of his community and his friends have reason to know that he merits their regard, for his entire life has been spent in this locality. He was born March 4, 1857, in Norway Township, a brother of H. F. Johnson, in connection with whose biography on another page of this work there appears mention of their parents and the family. Charles O. Johnson obtained a district school education and then took up the occupation of farming, … 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 John H. Liegler

John H. Liegler, who for fifteen years has engaged in law practice in Racine, having been admitted to the bar in 1899, has made steady progress in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit, effort and ability. Racine numbers Mr. Liegler among her native sons. He was born March 12, 1874, his parents being John and Fanny (Pollock) Liegler. The former was a son of John Liegler, who was born in Bohemia and was of French descent, the ancestry being traced back in Bohemia to the year 1730. It was in 1854 that the grandfather crossed the Atlantic … Read more

Biography of C. E. Thorkelson

C. E. Thorkelson, deputy health officer of Racine, was called to this position on the 1st of June, 1914, and in the intervening period has made a most excellent record by his devotion to the interests of the city which come under his control and supervision. Racine numbers him among her native sons who are of Norwegian lineage and who possess the sterling characteristics of the people who have come to us from the land of the midnight sun. He was born in this city February 25, 1885, a son of Mathias and Mary (Eggers) Thorkelson, both of whom were … 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 Elisha Lewis

Elisha Lewis, who has a beautiful country home near Kansasville but is how largely living retired after long, active and successful connection with agricultural interests in Racine County, was born in England, June 14, 1846, a son of William and Mary (Milard) Lewis, both of whom were natives of Gloucestershire. England. The father, who was born in 1811, died in 1869, while, the mother, who was born in 1812, passed away in 1897. They were married in England about 1842 and in the year 1850 became early residents of Dover Township, Racine County. The work of development had been begun … Read more

Biography of Frank E. King

Frank E. King, who has long been identified with farming interests in Mount Pleasant Township, his home being on section 10, was born at St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois, April 27, 1860, a son of Edmund and Mary A. (Rice) King. The father was a native of Canada, born June 2, 1820, and his father, Edmund King, Sr., was a native of Massachusetts. The family is of Scotch descent and was planted on New England soil at an early day. Edmund King, Sr., was a young man when he removed from Massachusetts to Vermont where he met and married Lucy … Read more