Wisconsin

Biography of Albert J. Druse

Albert J. Druse is the secretary and treasurer of the Hamilton-Beach Manufacturing Company, an enterprise that is notable even in Racine, a city of rapidly developing business interests, for within a notably short space of time this company has become one of the foremost productive industries of the city, increasing the number of its employees from three workmen until the names of four hundred now appear upon the pay roll. Mr. Druse was born in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in 1870, a son of Charles and Mary Druse, who were early residents of the state, later moving to Milwaukee where the … Read more

Biography of Frederik Rasmussen

Frederik Rasmussen is now living retired in Racine, but for many years he engaged in business as a teaming efflitractor and won so liberal a patronage that the success which he achieved now enables him to rest from further labor and yet enjoy many of the comforts of life. His is the record of the foreign-born citizen who recognizes the opportunities which America offers and, coming to the new world, so utilizes his chances that success in substantial measure becomes his. He was born in Denmark, September 3, 1838, a son of Rasmus and Christine (Carlson) Hansen. The father spent … Read more

Biography of Adolph W. Hilker

Adolph W. Hilker is a partner in the firm of Hilker Brothers, of Racine. The name has long been synonymous with business enterprise in this city and the record of A. W. Hilker fully sustains the enviable reputation which has ever been associated with the commercial and industrial enterprises conducted by the Hilker family. He was born in Racine, December 25, 1867, and is a son of Adolph and Caroline (Broeker) Hilker, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of his brother, H. A. Hilker. After attending the public schools A. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. M. Jones

J. M. Jones, president, treasurer and general manager of the Racine Tool & Machine Company, is a native of Indiana and his public school education was supplemented by study in Western College at Toledo, Iowa. When a young man he taught school and afterward turned his attention to general merchandising near Rock Island, Illinois, while subsequently he became connected with the wholesale shoe business in Chicago. He afterward engaged in the banking business in Chicago and in 1900 came to Racine but went back and forth from Chicago each day. In December, 1910, he purchased the business which is now … Read more

Biography of Edward Henry Skewes

Edward Henry Skewes is a representative of one of the old families of Racine County and has passed his entire life here, as his birth occurred in Yorkville Township. He is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres in that Township and is there engaged in the dairy business, shipping milk to Chicago and likewise raising cabbage, which he also disposes of in the city markets. His natal day was the 12th of May, 1869, and he is a son of Hannibal and Eliza (Phillips) Skewes, natives of Cornwall, England, the former born in 1838 and the latter … Read more

Biography of John G. Eager

John G. Eager is classed with the most enterprising business men of Racine. He is a partner of Bert E. Dunn in the ownership and conduct of the Elite Laundry and in this connection they have developed a business of extensive proportions. Their life history in its unfolding shows steady and consecutive development and cannot fail to prove of interest as it indicates the opportunities that lie before the American youth. Mr. Eager was born in Matamoras, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1876, and is a son of Charles L. and Roxana (Price) Eager, who in the year 1891 removed westward to … Read more

Biography of Rev. John M. Naughtin

Rev. John M. Naughtin, pastor of St. Rose Catholic church at Racine, assumed his duties in this connection in 1909 and has here remained for a period of seven years, during which time his labors have been faithful and fruitful. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Zanesville in June, 1854, his parents being Thomas P. and Bridget Naughtin, who were natives of Ireland. On coming to the new world they made their way to, Ohio, settling there at an early period. The father has been spoken of as a man of modest means but of … Read more

Biography of W. W. Kradwell

W. W. Kradwell, secretary and general manager of the Kradwell Drug Company of Racine, is bending his energies to the successful direction of a business that is growing steadily in volume and importance and takes rank with the chief commercial enterprises of this city. He was born in 1875, a native of Boscobel, Wisconsin, although of Austrian and Swiss lineage. His paternal grandfather, Albert Kradwell, was a native of Austria, while his maternal grandfather. Benjamin Weibel was born in Switzerland. After following farming for many years in Austria the former became a resident of Grant County, Wisconsin, following the arrival … Read more

Biography of John O’Laughlin

John O’Laughlin, who died July 15, 1913, was well known as the head of the John O’Laughlin Stone Company, owning quarries at Racine, Waukesha and Waterloo, Wisconsin. His business reached extensive proportions and in its management he displayed unfaltering enterprise and keen discernment. He was born at Taycheedah, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in 1856, a son of Andrew and Ellen (O’Gorman) O’Laughlin, who were natives of County Clare, Ireland. The paternal grandfather, Michael O’Laughlin, was a wealthy resident of Ireland and had a family of nine sons, six of whom were surveyors. One of these, Peter O’Laughlin, engaged in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Susan Jones, M. D.

Dr. Susan Jones, a graduate of Rush Medical College and actively engaged in practice in Racine, her native city since 1903. She is a daughter of David and Margaret (Thomas) Jones, who were natives of Wales and became pioneer residents of Racine, arriving here in the year 1846. The father was a farmer by occupation and devoted his life to that pursuit, but both he and his wife have now passed away. In early girlhood Dr. Jones attended the district schools near her lather’s home and afterward became a student, in McMynn Academy. She next became a student in the … Read more

Biography of Bert Edward Dunn

Bert Edward Dunn one of the proprietors of the Elite Laundry, has proven in his life record that success is not a matter of genius or the result of fortunate circumstances, but is the outcome of indefatigable industry, clear judgment and experience. He was born in Dalton, New York, June 28, 1869, a son of Albert and Nellie (Gearhart) Dunn, the former a farmer by occupation. He obtained a public school education and then turned his attention to cheese making. in which business he engaged for three years. In 1890 he arrived in Chicago and was engaged in railroading for … Read more

Biography of Thomas Henry Acklam

Thomas Henry Acklam, who has been a lifelong resident of Racine County, now makes his home on section 35, Mount Pleasant Township, and since 1S92 has resided upon this place, which comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres. Its improvements are all the work of his hands and its excellent appearance indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods. From early boyhood his attention has been given to the work of the fields. He was born in Racine, August 29, 1852, and is a son of George W. and Harriett (Bean) Acklam. In his youthful days he attended the common schools and … Read more

Biography of William Henkel

A valuable farm property of one hundred and seventy-five acres situated on Sections 11 and 13, Raymond Township, pays substantial annual tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner, William Henkel, who is a representative agriculturist of Racine County. His business affairs are most carefully and wisely managed and his splendid success is the direct and merited reward of his own labors. He was born in Germany, October 25, 1853, a son of Henry and Charlotte (Guth) Henkel, who were also natives of the fatherland. On coming to the new world they settled in Raymond Township, … Read more

Biography of William Sobey

William Sobey, the vice president of the J. I. Case Plow Works, has been connected with the implement business for fifty-six years and for a third of a century has been with the Case Company. He entered its employ in a comparatively unimportant capacity but his industry, knowledge of the business, and his power to direct the work of others, led to his advancement from one position to another and for about fourteen years he has held the office of vice president. The greater part of his work has been done as superintendent and designer and he has taken out … Read more

Biography of Carl D. Skow

Among the growing and important business enterprises which have converted Washington Avenue into a busy mart of trade is the dry goods establishment owned and conducted by Carl D. Skow, one of the enterprising citizens that Denmark has furnished to Racine. He was born in that country February 5, 1863, his parents being T. N. and Ursula Skow, who spent their entire lives in Denmark. The son came to the United States in May, 1882, when a young man of nineteen years, and settled first at Racine, Wisconsin, where he became a clerk in the dry goods house of J. … Read more

Biography of Henry Schulte

Racine’s musical history for the past forty-five years could be written in the biography of Henry Schulte. No other name has been so closely allied with all the various musical undertakings during this period, nor is it likely that any one man has done more for the development of musical interest and knowledge in the city. He was born in Racine, August 4, 1858, his parents being Theodore and Fredericka Schulte, both of whom were born in Germany and came to this country in 1847. The father was a cabinet maker, having learned this trade in his native country. He … 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 Joseph J. Wilke

Joseph J. Wilke, sales manager for the Red Star Yeast Company, and since 1907 general agent for Racine County, was born in Austria, August 19, 1882, the son of John and Fannie (Vlenovsky) Wilke, who were also natives of that country. The father died in 1883 and the mother afterward married Antone Keller. In 1894 they came to the United States, settling in Racine, at which time Joseph J. Wilke was a lad of twelve years. He had previously attended school in Vienna, Austria, and in 1893 he came to the United States with an aunt. They made their way … Read more

Biography of James Callen

James Callen, who is conducting a mercantile establishment and saloon in Caledonia, was born September 15, 1862, in the Township where he now resides, his parents being James and Mary (Duffy) Callen. The paternal grandfather was Nicholas Callen. who in 1849 arrived in Caledonia Township, Racine County, and died at the home of his son. The maternal grandfather, Patrick Duffy, died in Ireland. James Callen, Sr., was born in County Louth, Ireland, in 1833, and came to America in 1849, when a youth of sixteen years. He worked on different farms for a time, during which period he carefully saved … Read more

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