Louis Mogensen has gained a large clientage in the real estate, fire insurance and loan business in Racine with which he has been connected for twelve years. He possesses a great amount of energy which, intelligently directed, has brought him success and his is another proof of the fact that, no matter how much fantastic theorizing we may indulge in as to the secret of success, we must ultimately reach the conclusion that close application, diligence and persistency of purpose constitute the foundation upon which honorable business prosperity is built.
Mr. Mogensen was born in Racine, September 10, 1872, a son of Lars and Cecelia (Christensen) Mogensen, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father came to Racine in 1869 and the mother about the same time, and their marriage was celebrated in this city. Mr. Mogensen was a tanner by trade and for many years followed that occupation, but during the last ten years of his life lived retired, meeting death in a runaway accident in April. 1915. He had long survived his wife, who had passed away in 1873.
Louis Mogensen attended the Garfield school during the period of his boyhood and afterward became a student of the Belle City Business College. He afterward took up the study of photography and conducted a studio on Monument Square, while for a time he was located on State and Main streets. He won a creditable measure of success in photographic work but sold out on the 17th of March. 1904, and turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business. The following year he formed a partnership with H. P. Nelson, with whom he was associated for a few years, and since that time he has been alone in business, conducting a fire insurance, loan and real estate agency. He is well versed in each branch of his profession, knowing thoroughly every phase of the work and he has been able to negotiate many important realty transfers, to place many loans and to write a large amount of insurance annually.
On the 10th of November, 1897, Mr. Mogensen was united in marriage to Miss Laura Hansen of Racine, a daughter of Anna Hansen, and to them was born a son, Allyn L., now seventeen years of age. In February, 1902, Mr. Mogensen was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. He was married again in April, 1904; his second union being with Christine Anderson of Chicago, and to that marriage has been born two daughters, Estelle and Virginia.
Fraternally Mr. Mogensen is connected with the Knights of Pythias, with the Modern Woodmen of America, with the tribe of Ben Hur, with the Dania Society and with the Danish Brotherhood, and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Emaus Lutheran church. Politically he is a democrat with independent tendencies. He has served as a member of the County board of supervisors from the eighth ward for the past seven years and was chairman of the board in 1914. He also served on the school board in 1899 and he is interested in all those forces which have most to do with promoting the progress and improvement of the district in which he lives, in upholding its political and social status and advancing its material and moral development.