Racine County WI

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

Biographical Sketch of William Wallace Hunter

William Wallace Hunter has been a lifelong resident of Raymond Township. He was born on the old family homestead October 4, 1862, his parents being William and Andica (Boyd) Hunter, who are mentioned above. He is indebted to the district school system for educational privileges which were accorded him and he began life on a farm, choosing to follow the occupation to which he had been reared. He has since carried on general farming and dairying and he keeps on hand a good grade of Holstein cattle. He is now operating eighty acres and the tract is in a high … Read more

Biography of John C. Hood

John C. Hood, clerk of the circuit court of Racine County and a native of the city of Racine, was born October 18, 1869. a son of Samuel and Alice A. (Coy) Hood. The father, whose birth occurred in Oxford, Pennsylvania, was a son of Thomas Hood, also born in the Keystone state. In the year 1838 Thomas Hood brought his family to Racine and entered a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres near the city. With the pioneer development of the district he was closely associated and he became a prominent and influential resident of his Township. … Read more

Biography of Frederick J. Hansche

That Frederick J. Hansche was an industrious and enterprising business man is indicated in the, fact that at the time of his death he was the owner of an excellent property of one hundred and twelve acres, although when he first came to Racine County he had to earn his living by working as a farm hand. He was born in Germany on the 17th of October, 1837, and in that country acquired a common school education. About 1865 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and for a year thereafter was a resident of Cincinnati. He then came … Read more

Biography of Thomas F. McGraw

Thomas F. McGraw, who for the past twenty-three years has conducted business as a retail shoe merchant at his present location, is one of the oldest representatives of trade interests on Sixth Street, most of the merchants having come into active connection with the commercial life of Racine since he opened his store. A progressive spirit has at all time ruled his activities and sound judgment has guided his business transactions. He was born in Racine, December 15, 1869, a son of John C. and Julia (Powers) McGraw, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father arrived here when … 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 John Henry Goebel, M. D.

Dr. John Henry Goebel, physician and surgeon, practicing at Franksville, was born in Raymond Township, March 24, 1883, a son of John and Christiana (Roethe) Goebel, both of whom are natives of this state. The paternal grandparents were John and Margaret Goebel, who were born in Prussia, Germany, and for some time the former sailed the seas. At length he came to the new world, settling at Kilbournville, Wisconsin, where he built a log house. He followed the trade of harness making, which he had learned in his native country, and he also conducted a store for a number of … Read more

Biography of George Alvin Uebele

George Alvin Uebele, cashier of the Bank of Burlington, exemplifies in his business career that thoroughness and efficiency which have always characterized the institution which he represents, making it one of the strong financial centers of southeastern Wisconsin. His entire life has been spent in this section of the state, his birth having occurred at Wheatland, Kenosha County, February 25, 1874. His father, Frederick Uebele, a native of Germany, came to America in the early ’50s and settled in Wheatland, near Slades Corners. He was but eight years of age when his parents died and in 1848 the children of … Read more

Biography of T. D. W. Manchester

There are few more highly esteemed men in Union Grove than T. D. W. Manchester, who for many years engaged in the practice of law here but is now living retired. He has also been quite prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is further entitled to recognition as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Cayuga County, New York, on the 18th of October, 1840, of the marriage of James T. and Lucy A. (Thornton) Manchester. The family has been represented upon the American soil since early colonial days, as one Thomas Manchester is … Read more

Biography of Guy A. Benson

Among the younger representatives of the Racine bar whose professional course has been marked by substantial and consecutive progress is numbered Guy A. Benson, who was graduated from the law department of the State University in 1909. He has been a lifelong resident of this state, his birth having occurred in Iola, Wisconsin, May 31, 1885. his parents being Ole and Andrea (Olson) Benson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The paternal grandfather, Bendt Hanson, brought his family to the United States in 1864, establishing his home upon a farm at Iola, Wisconsin, where he reared his family. The … 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.

Biographical Sketch of Ernest Klinkert

Ernest Klinkert, who for many years has been identified with the brewing business in Racine, was born in Germany on the 11th of November, 1844. He obtained a common school education in the fatherland and between the ages of twenty and twenty-five years came to the United States. Making his way to Kansas, he was there employed at farm labor and later he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he secured employment in a brewery. He afterward spent two years in similar work in Milwaukee and in 1875 he arrived in Racine County. Here he worked for the Heck Brewing … Read more

Biography of L. W. Smith

L. W. Smith, who, in the conduct of a real estate, loan and insurance business has devoted considerable attention to building and selling of homes and has thus contributed in notable measure to the development of the southwestern section of Racine, was born in this city December 8, 1888, a son of Henry L. and Mary Ann (Fennell) Smith, the former a native of New York and the latter of Trowbridge, England. The mother was a daughter of John and Martha Fennell, who came to Racine in 1879, her father, became foreman of the molding department of the J. L … Read more

Biography of John T. Gittings

John T. Gittings, a well known lawyer of Union Grove. is giving particular attention to the probating of estates and has built up a large practice in that line. He also has extensive business interests, being secretary of The Greenhouse Company, which is capitalized for thirty thousand dollars, and vice president of the firm of John Meter & Company, owners of a sauerkraut factory. His birth occurred in Caledonia, this County, August 9, 1870, and he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Gittings) Gittings and a grandson of William Gittings, of Utica, New York. The father, born in Wales, … Read more

Biography of John Stott Blakey

John Stott Blakey has for many years been prominent in the town of Union Grove, where he is identified with the milling business, with banking and with civic and moral progress. A native of Racine County, he was born within a mile and a half of Union Grove, on the 23rd of September, 1847, a son of Thomas and Mary (Stott) Blakey, both of whom were born in Rochedale, Lancashire, England. The father, whose natal year was 1826, was a son of John and Mary Blakey, the former a butcher by occupation. Thomas Blakey learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he … Read more

Biography of Samuel E. Hollick

Samuel E. Hollick, who on the first of January, 1915, assumed the duties of the office of sheriff, to which he had been elected in the fall of the previous year, was born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on the 10th of September, 1875, a son of Leonard and Barbara (Fogel) Rollick, who in the year 1881 removed to Ohio and after a residence of ten years in that state went to Michigan. The mother has passed away but the father still survives. Samuel E. Hollick was a little lad of but six years when the family home was established in 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 Walter G. Shumway

Walter G. Shumway has been a lifelong resident of Raymond Township, where he still makes his home and where he was born February 12, 1867. He is a son of Lyman and Mary (Ellis) Shumway, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. The paternal grandfather, Walter Shumway, was also a native of New England and became one of the pioneer residents of Wisconsin, arriving in Racine County in 1838, long before the admission of the state into the Union. The work of improvement and development had scarcely been begun in this district and such was the unsettled condition of 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