Frederick A. Tecktonius, active, energetic, alert and progressive, is winning success for the E. C. Tecktonius Manufacturing Company as one of its officers. With this business he has been connected since his school days were over and, concentrating his efforts upon the further development of their trade, he is now contributing much to the success of the undertaking. He was born in Kenosha, September 19, 1878, a son of Emil C., and Bridget Ann (Hoye) Tecktonius, who were married August 15, 1867, in Kenosha. The father was a native of Sweden, born in 1846, and came to the United States when seventeen years of age, while the mother was born in Ireland and was brought to America during her infancy. For the past thirty years Mr. Tecktonius has devoted his energies to manufacturing and has made steady progress in that field, being the promoter of the E. C. Tecktonius Manufacturing Company, which has developed its business largely along the line of manufacturing hardware and specialties for silo building. In 1882 he removed with his family to Racine and has since occupied a creditable position in business circles but at the present time is largely leaving the control and management of his interests to others, while he is practically living retired.
To him and his wife have been born six sons and six daughters: Emil S., of Minneapolis, Minnesota: Margaret, deceased; George C., of Chicago: Agnes, who married Bror Johaneson and is living in Sweden: Frederick A. of this review; Leo, of Paris, France; Mary, the wife of Frederick Stern, of Kenosha: Jane, living at home; Edward, at home, and Clara, the wife of Harold Loebel, or Chicago. The other two children are also deceased.
Frederick A. Tecktonius obtained a public school education and also attended commercial college, and when the time came for him to start out in business he joined his father and is now manager of the E. C. Tecktonius Manufacturing Company, which is mentioned at length above. He has studied every phase of the business, knows wherein the output is superior to manufactures of similar character and is constantly striving to improve and develop the product as well as to extend the trade relations of the house. In addition to his activity along this line Mr. Tecktonius engaged quite extensively in raising Buff Leghorn chickens, of which he was a fancier and which he sold all over the world but has now disposed of his business in that connection.
On the 23d of June, 1901, Mr. Tecktonius was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Crandle, of Racine, by whom he has a son, Cornelius. Mr. Tecktonius has membership with the Elks and also with the Commercial Club. He has always been a resident of southern Wisconsin and his fellow citizens in this part of the state have ever known him as an enterprising, wide-awake and progressive business man, ready to meet any emergency and never fearing to venture where favoring opportunity points out the way. He is fortunate in that he possesses character and ability which inspire confidence in others, and the simple weight of his character and ability has carried him into important business relations. It is true that he entered upon a business already established, but in enlarging and controlling this many a man of less resolute spirit would have failed. His record illustrates. Therefore, that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, or of fortunate circumstances, but is rather the outcome of clear judgment and experience.