Wisconsin

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 Ernest J. Wuerzberger

Ernest J. Wuerzberger, president and treasurer of the Racine Wholesale Wine & Liquor Company, was born July 31, 1881, in the city of Racine, a son of Ernest and Louisa (Birkholz) Wuerzberger, the former a native of New York City, while the latter was born in Racine. Her father was Robert Birkholz, a veteran of the Civil War, who went to the front from Maine and after the cessation of hostilities, came to Racine. Here he was successfully identified with industrial interests, occupying the position of assistant superintendent of the Mitchell Wagon Company for many years. The paternal grandfather of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David G. Janes

David G. Janes enjoys the unique distinction of being the only man now occupying a dominant position in the business life of Racine, of whose father it may be said with equal truth that he was an important factor in the actual founding of the city eighty years ago. Mr. Janes was born in Racine, April 2, 1852, and has lived here all of his life, getting his education in the public schools of the city. He is married and has three daughters and two sons, one of whom, Arthur R., is associated in business with him. Mr. Janes is … Read more

Biography of Walter Silas Haven, M. D.

Dr. Walter Silas Haven, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Racine, is a medical graduate of the Northwestern University and after two years’ hospital experience he came to this city, where he has since successfully followed his profession. He was born in Racine County, February 9, 1862, and is a son of George Silas and Jane (Jones) Haven, the former a native of Cheltenham, Ontario, and the latter of Caernarvonshire, Wales. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Haven, was also a native of England and was a veteran of the war with Napoleon, serving as surgeon in the English … Read more

Biography of S. H. Hansche

It was in Mount Pleasant Township, where he still resides, that S. H. Hansche was born on the 21st of November, 1878, his parents being Frederick J. and Fredricka Hansche, his home at the present time is on section 32, where he is engaged in farming, winning substantial success as a reward for his persistent and intelligently directed labor. At the usual age he entered the common schools and thus continued his studies to the age of fifteen. In the meantime he had received active training in farm work and after his textbooks were put aside he continued to assist … Read more

Biography of George Holler

George Holler, making his home on section 27, Mount Pleasant Township, has been a resident of this County for almost a third of a century. He was born in Germany on the 28th of December, 1858, a son of John Holler. His educational privileges were somewhat limited. He attended the common schools until he reached the age of eleven, when he began providing for his own support by working as a farm hand, in which connection he was employed until he reached the age of nineteen. Then in accordance with the military laws of his country he joined the army … Read more

Biography of Robert L. Anderson

Robert L. Anderson, who is engaged in blacksmithing in Caledonia, was born in Denmark, December 3, 1871, a son of Robert L. and Sophia (Shenberg) Anderson. The father was born in Denmark, March 20, 1815, and the mother’s birth occurred in Germany, February 20, 1843. Mr. Anderson became a detective of Odense, Denmark, and for twenty-eight years and three months he was connected with the military organization of his country, participating in the wars of 1848-50 and in the war of 1864. He died in Denmark, January 24, 1881, and in 1895 the mother came to Racine, where she is … 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

Biographical Sketch of Henry Wuerzberger

Henry Wuerzberger is well known in Racine where he has spent his entire life. He is now the vice president of the Racine Wholesale Wine & Liquor Company, of which his elder brother Ernest J. Wuerzberger is the president and treasurer. He was born on the 17th of November, 1885, and is a son of Ernest and Louisa (Birkholz) Wuerzberger, who are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the history of their son Ernest J. Wuerzberger. At the usual age Henry Wuerzberger became a public school pupil in Racine and worked his way upward through consecutive … 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

Biography of Christian Erbe

The family name indicates the German nativity of Christian Erbe, who displays in his business career many of the sterling characteristics which mark the efficiency of the Teuton race. He was born in Saxony, Germany, January 29, 1839, a son of George and Catherine (Ungerecht) Erbe, who were also natives of Saxony. The ancestry is traced back to Christian Erbe, the great-grandfather. The grandfather was John Erbe, who died in Germany when his son George was but fourteen years of age. One of the family, Sebastian Erbe, served in the Revolutionary war, on the English side, and was taken prisoner … Read more

Biography of Fred W. Brown

One of the attractive homes in Caledonia Township is the property of Fred W. Brown, who is engaged in general farming and dairying. He was born in Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, June 9, 1872, a son of William and Johanna (Schrader) Brown, both of whom are natives of Germany, the former born in 1850 and the latter in 1846. They were married in the land of their birth and their wedding trip consisted of a voyage to the new world with Milwaukee as their destination. The father served as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. After coming to … Read more

Biography of Augustus Piper

A large proportion of Racine County’s substantial citizens have been of German birth or of German descent, and the enterprise and efficiency which have characterized that country have been manifest in these sons of the fatherland who have sought to enjoy the opportunities of the new world. Such was the record of Augustus Piper, a native of Prussia, Germany, who was born on the 19th of August. 1825, and lost his father when but six months old. In 1840 his mother, with her children, took ship for the United States, but the vessel was wrecked at the island of Haiti … Read more

Biography of Isidor Friedman

The mercantile establishment of The Friedman Company might well be termed the “Marshall Field” of Racine. Not only is it the largest store of its kind in the city but it institutes and adopts the most progressive methods and in all of its undertakings displays the spirit of initiative and progress. The business was started in Racine about nine years ago and has been developed to one of extensive proportions and success in large measure crowns the efforts of the members of this firm. Isidor Friedman, who is head of The Friedman Company, was born in Germany in 1854 and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Acklam

The decade of the ’40s brought to southeastern Wisconsin many citizens who became permanent residents and were active in promoting conditions that have brought about present-day progress and prosperity. To this number belonged George Acklam, who arrived in Racine in 1849, being at that time a man of about thirty-two years, his birth having occurred in England in 1817. He pursued a common school education and there engaged in farming until 1848, when he determined to embrace the opportunities offered in the new world and crossed the Atlantic to the United States. For a year he resided in Adams County, … Read more

Biography of William T. Davies

William T. Davies, who for five years has been engaged in general farming on section 33, Mount Pleasant Township, was born August 14, 1886, in the Township where he now makes his home, his parents being Thomas and Sarah Davies. He attended district school No. 7 in Kenosha County until he reached the age of sixteen years and afterward became a student in a business college in Racine, where he spent one year. Starting out to earn his own living, he went to River Forest, Illinois, where for a year he was employed on a game farm. He was afterward … Read more

Biography of Clarence H. Van Vliet

Clarence H. Van Vliet was born in Racine, June 13, 1885, a son of John Wicher and Christina (Henry) Van Vliet, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. In the paternal line he is descended from one of the old New England families and his great-grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. In the ’40s his father left the Green Mountain state and sought the opportunities offered in the middle west, establishing his home in Wisconsin. He was a carpenter and builder by trade. He died in 1904 and is still survived by … Read more

Biography of Thomas James McCrory, M. D.

Dr. Thomas James McCrory is one of the younger physicians of Racine, having engaged in practice here for only a decade. He was born in Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, on the 30th of December, 1878, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget McCrory, the former also a native of Fond du Lac, while the latter was born at Chilton, ‘Wisconsin. The paternal grandfather, John McCrory, was a native of Ireland and during the pioneer epoch in the development of Wisconsin became a resident of this state after which he turned his attention to farming. His son, Thomas McCrory, was … Read more

Biography of William F. C. Biehn

William F. C. Biehn ranks among the most successful of the younger farmers of the County and derives a good income from his well directed labors. He was born in Kenosha County, on the 3d of October, 1886, and is a son of Fred W. and Bertha (Steffen) Biehn, natives of Germany, the former born in 1825 and the latter in 1841. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Biehn, passed his entire life in Germany but the maternal grandfather immigrated to this country and located in Milwaukee, where he had a milk route. Fred W. Biehn, who was the oldest of a … Read more

Biography of Philip Braun

Philip Braun, owner of a farm of sixty acres on section 7, Caledonia Township, is carrying on general agricultural pursuits and dairying and both branches of his business are bringing him substantial success. His farm is well improved according to modern standards and his methods indicate a progressive spirit. He was born in Germany, April 29, 1865, a son of Peter and Katherine (Rauguth) Braun, the latter a daughter of Jacob Rauguth, who came to the new world with the parents of Philip Braun and spent his remaining days in Caledonia Township. It was about 1866 that the family crossed … Read more