Wisconsin

Biography of W. L. Munroe

W. L. Munroe, who is engaged in cultivating a farm of ninety-six acres in Mount Pleasant Township, has been a lifelong resident of the locality in which he now makes his home, for his birth occurred in Mount Pleasant Township, August 1, 1860, his parents being O. C. and Lavinia Munroe. The father, a native of Vermont, came to the west in 1844 and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Racine County, establishing his home at Mygatt’s Corners, in Mount Pleasant Township. The work of development and improvement in the locality was then in its primitive stages … Read more

Biography of Frederick J. Osius

“Opportunity knocks but once” and Frederick J. Osius has never waited for the second knock but has improved every chance that has come. Moreover, he possesses the energy and tenacity to successfully complete what he undertakes and his work in several respects is notable. America leads the world in invention. Wherever work has been extensively carried on by hand, man’s ingenuity has set to work to contrive labor-saving devices whereby the output could be increased at a minimum expenditure of time and material. ft is this inventive genius, combined with mechanical and technical skill and fostered by a laudable ambition, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Albert De Moulpied

John Albert De Moulpied, representing one of the prominent pioneer families of Racine County, was born in Mount Pleasant Township, September 18, 1865, a son of Nicholas De Moulpied, whose sketch is given above. He attended the district schools and afterward spent a year in study in the schools of Racine, subsequent to which time he returned to the farm, whereon he has since remained with the exception of one year spent in South Dakota near Alexandria. Like his father, he has always carried on agricultural pursuits and he has brought his land to a high state of cultivation, his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nels Christiansen

Nels Christiansen is the owner of a good tract of land of forty-two acres in Mount Pleasant Township and is now devoting his entire time and attention to agricultural interests. He was born in Denmark, December 26, 1869, a son of Hans and Sophia Christiansen. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and afterward learned the blacksmith’s trade there. In 1892 he came to the United States, making his way to Chicago, and after four months spent in the western metropolis removed to Racine, where he was employed at blacksmithing for a year and a half. … Read more

Biography of George W. Nott, M. D.

Dr. George W. Nott, an able member of the medical profession, was born in Lodi, Wisconsin, January 2, 1872, a son of Welcome S. and J. L. (Phinney) Nott, who in 1854 arrived in Milwaukee, becoming pioneer settlers of the state. The former was a son of George W. Nott, of New York, who brought his family here, and both he and W. S. Nott were farmers. The latter, however, carried on agricultural pursuits only until he reached the age of twenty-five years when he turned his attention to merchandising, to which he has devoted the greater part of his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fred William Hansche

Fred William Hansche, the second son of the family, was born in Pleasant Township, August 25, 1863, and at the usual age began his education in the common schools, continuing his studies until he reached of seventeen. He developed habits of industry and perseverance while working with his rather upon the home farm, and since his textbooks were put aside he has continually carried on agricultural pursuits, winning a substantial measure of success which is the merited and just reward of earnest, persistent effort. On the 6th of December, 1904, he wedded Theresa Grobner, a daughter of Toni and Katherine … Read more

Biography of Nicholas De Moulpied

Almost three-quarters of a century have come and gone since Nicholas De Moulpied became a resident of southeastern Wisconsin, and throughout the intervening period to his death he was closely associated with agricultural interests in Kenosha and Racine counties. He was born in Guernsey, September 25, 1819, the same day on which occurred the birth of Queen Victoria, and after spending his youthful days on his native isle and acquiring a public school education there he crossed the Atlantic to the United States when twenty-five years of age. He made his way to Southport, now Kenosha, and for a year … Read more

Biographical Sketch of De Grove Bull

De Grove Bull, living on section 26, Mount Pleasant Township, was born in Raymond Township, October 1, 1867, and in his youthful days enjoyed the educational advantages offered by the common schools, while later he attended Rochester Academy until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He engaged in farming with his father for three years and then went to Chicago, where he secured a position with Marshall Field & Company, serving in the shipping department for about seven years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Racine County and again worked upon his father’s farm for three … Read more

Biography of Henry J. Herzog

Henry J. Herzog met with success as a farmer and is now living retired upon his well improved place on section 32, ‘Mount Pleasant Township. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 5, 1848, a son of John Adam and Mary (Eiler) Herzog, who in 1849 brought their family to Racine, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in carpentering and contracting until 1859. In that year he purchased one hundred and five acres of land in Mount Pleasant Township, which he cultivated until his death in 1891. He had survived his wife for twenty years, her demise occurring in 1871. Both … Read more

Biography of Arthur B. Modine

Arthur B. Modine is identified with two of Racine’s important manufacturing enterprises which have recently come into force as factors in the material development of the city. A native of Chicago, Mr. Modine was born on the 27th of October, 1885, the son of John A. and Amanda (Linstrum) Modine. The father, who was a contractor and builder, has now passed away, but the mother still resides in Chicago. Their son Arthur obtained a public school education, mastering the work of the grades and then entering the English High and Manual Training School. He afterward studied in the Armour Institute … Read more

Biography of Rudolph Hansche

The name of Hansche figures extensively and prominently in connection with the history of Mount Pleasant Township, and Rudolph Hansche was among these who were active in promoting the early agricultural development of this region. The work of progress and improvement had scarcely been begun in this locality when on coming to the United States in 1841 he made his way to Racine County and here purchased eighty acres of land. He was born in Germany in 1814 and was there reared and educated, being a young man of about twenty-seven years when he crossed the Atlantic. With characteristic energy … Read more

Biography of James V. Rohan

James V. Rohan, one of Racine’s most enterprising and energetic manufacturers, president of the Belle City Incubator Company, was born in Racine in 1867, a son of James and Delia Rohan, who arrived in this County about 1840 after coming to the new world from County Limerick, Ireland, of which district they were natives. James V. Rohan was reared under the parental roof and obtained what education he could in the public schools up to the age of twelve and one-half years, when it seemed necessary for him to provide for his own support and at that time he became … Read more

Biography of Charles H. Bull

When Charles H. Bull passed away Racine County lost a citizen who had long been numbered with the representative agriculturists of this part of the state. He owned and cultivated a fine farm of eighty acres on section 31, Raymond Township, and his business affairs were carefully and wisely managed. New York numbered him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Cayuga County on the 6th of June, 1839. His father, De Grove Bull, was also a native of the Empire state, where he spent his youthful days upon a farm and later took up that occupation as … Read more

Biography of William J. Hansche

William J. Hansche, who is extensively engaged in truck farming in Mount Pleasant Township, is of that class of citizens who are active not only in promoting the material development of the district but in advancing its moral interests as well, for he staunchly upholds all those principles which make for better manhood and higher living. He was born April 25, 1867, in the Township where he still resides, a son of Rudolph and Anna (Seorgel) Hansche. He acquired a common school education, pursuing his studies to the age of eighteen years, and through the periods of vacation he worked … Read more

Biography of Roy F. Freeman

Roy F. Freeman is now devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits in Mount Pleasant Township, where he has a splendidly developed property of twenty-one acres situated on section 13. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the country and the name has long been prominently associated with industrial activity in Racine. It was in that city that Roy F. Freeman was born. March 21, 1886, his parents being Michael and Lillias Katherine (Porter) Freeman, who were married in Racine on the 15th of September, 1881. The father was born in Centralia, Illinois, January 14, 1860, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. E. Lewis

E. E. Lewis, who since 1904 has been busily engaged in the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres on section 13, Mount Pleasant Township, was born March 8, 1871, in the Township which is still his home, his parents being William E. and Emily (Clemmons) Lewis. He obtained a district school education supplemented by a college course in the Indiana Normal school. He then began to work with his father and for one year was employed by the United States Express Company in Racine, after which he resumed the occupation of farming, this time on his … Read more

Biography of L. P. Valentine, M. D.

Dr. L. P. Valentine, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Corliss, is one of the progressive and successful physicians of Racine County. He was born in New York city on the 20th of September, 1872, a son of Francis and Pauline Valentine, natives of France, who returned to that country when their son, L. P., was but three months old. He acquired an excellent education in France and did his college work in the Lycée Charlemagne in Paris, graduating at the age of eighteen. He then returned to New York, but after three months went to Louisville, … Read more

Biography of E. J. Botting

One of the leading agriculturists and progressive citizens of Caledonia Township is E. J. Botting, whose splendidly improved property indicates the spirit of enterprise that actuates him at every point in his career. He was born in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, July 4, 1858, a son of James and Caroline (Blake) Botting, who were natives of Kent, England. The former was a son of Edward Botting, who (lied in that country. James Botting was born in 1824, and in his native County of Kent married Caroline Blake, whose birth occurred in 1829. They came to the United States in 1857 and … Read more

Biography of Christmas E. Evans, D. V. S.

The veterinary profession in Racine finds a worthy representative in Dr. Christmas E. Evans, whose ability to successfully administer remedial agencies is manifest in the excellent results which have attended him in general practice. He was born in Utica, New York, November 2. 1860, and is a son of Evan R. and Margaret (Roberts) Evans, who came to Racine in 1874. The father was a veterinary surgeon and continued in active practice in Racine until July, 1908, when his labors were terminated by death. He had for four years survived his wife, who passed away in 1904. Dr. C. E. … Read more

Biography of Thomas M. Davies

Thomas M. Davies, a lifelong resident of Racine County, save for a brief period spent in Iowa, is now actively and successfully engaged in general farming on section 34, Mount Pleasant Township, where he has made his home continuously since 1882. He was born April 2, 1851, in the town of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, a son of Morris and Mary Davies, who were natives of Wales and early in 1843 crossed the Atlantic, making their way at once to this County. The family home was established in Mount Pleasant Township and there the father continued to engage in farming … Read more