USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 12
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On the 25th of November, 1902, Mr. Wadewitz was united in marriage to Miss Adeline Schneider, of Madison, Wisconsin, and they now have a son, Don- ald, born May 2, 1904. Mr. Wadewitz exercises his right of franchise in sup-
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port of the men and measures of the republican party and is conversant with the political situation of the country and the vital and significant issues that divide public opinion upon political questions. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and religiously with the First Evangelical church. in the work of which he has been active and much interested, serving as a trustee of the church and as superintendent of the Sunday school.
RACINE TRUNK COMPANY.
Among the large manufacturing enterprises of Racine which have brought the city to its present position of distinction as a great industrial and commer- cial center is the Racine Trunk Company, which has passed through an era of prosperous existence covering thirty-one years. The company was organ- ized April 1, 1885. by J. F .. T. C. and H. O. Wadewitz together with A. B. Augustine. The business was carried on under firm organization until 1895, when it was incorporated with J. F. Wadewitz as president, T. C. Wadewitz as vice president and Herman O. Wadewitz as secretary and treasurer. No change has occurred since save that Miss M. A. Wadewitz has succeeded T. C. Wadewitz in the vice presideney. the latter having sold out in 1901. The busi- ness was begun with a force of three or four workmen, the factory being estab- lished at No. 1007 Superior street in a building forty by eighty feet. Since that time they have added four buildings and now have a plant two hundred and eighty by eighty feet, three and four stories in height and of brick con- struction. The plant is operated with steam power and they manufacture trunks, traveling bags and wood novelties of all kinds. Something of the con- tinued growth of the business is indicated in the fact that they have now sixty employes, most of whom are skilled workmen. and they are also repre- sented upon the road by six or seven traveling salesmen. They sell to dealers and the product goes to all parts of the United States, their business now amounting to about two hundred thousand dollars annually.
GEORGE W. MILLER.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of Raeine's industrial and commercial development without learning that the Miller family has played an important part in shaping the record along that line. George W. Miller is now treasurer of the J. Miller Company, shoe manufacturers, having one of the important concerns of this kind in the state. He was born in Racine. July 12, 1866, a son of Joseph Miller, founder and promoter of the business. who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He at- tended the MeMynn Academy after mastering the elementary branches of learning taught in the public schools, and when he entered business circles it was as an employe of his father in the shoe manufacturing business. He dis- played thoroughness in mastering the tasks assigned him and year by year,
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month by month and day by day he added to his store of knowledge concern- ing the business, both in the manufacturing and the distributing end. At length-he was made secretary of the company and is now its treasurer.
Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Thomas, of Racine, and their children are Joseph G., Grover F. and Bernard H. The parents are members of St. Rose Catholic church and Mr. Miller is also connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is identified with the Commercial Club and is interested in all those forces which work for civic betterment and improvement. For the past fifteen years he has been school commissioner and is doing everything in his power to advance the interests of education. He regards no detail of the business as too unim- portant to elaim his attention and at the same time he gives due consideration to the more signifieant and vital problems affeeting the welfare of the com- pany of which he is now one of the officers.
WILLIAM E. LEWIS.
Although William E. Lewis was long associated with agricultural interests of this county, he is now residing retired in the city of Raeine, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He has passed the seventy- fourth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Putnam county. New York, June 6, 1842, his parents being Alfred and Jane (Barrett) Lewis. both of whom died during the carly youth of their son, William. In the year 1854 William E. Lewis, then a youth of twelve years, and his brother, Alfred L., came west with Nathan Howes, one of the pioneer settlers of Racine, who became a large property owner, having extensive interests in both farm and city real estate. He brought with him three other children-JJackson : Emeline. who became the wife of J. S. Bouton, and Ann.
The educational opportunities which William E. Lewis received were quite limited, but he has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. He started out in life as a farm hand and was thus employed until he had managed to save from his earnings, as the result of his industry and frugality, a sum that enabled him to purchase sixty acres of land near Corliss. This purchase was made in 1872. To the property he added from time to time until he had nearly three hundred aeres, which he converted into a rich and productive tract, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and developing one of the best farms in Racine county. Year after year he care- fully and systematically tilled the soil until 1891, when he sold that property. although he continued to reside at the old home for two or three years longer. In the fall of 1896 he removed to Racine and rebuilt the dwelling at No. 1511 College avenue, which he now occupies.
On the 26th of October, 1865, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Emelie M. Clemmons, of this county, a daughter of Ashel and Jane Clemmons. both of whom were natives of New York, whenee they came to Racine county in the fall of 1849. They, too, were farming people and Mr. Clemmons met with substantial success in the conduct of his farm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
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were born five children : Laura M., who became the wife of William Cooper, and died in 1893; Edith A., at home; Edward D., who is a resident farmer of Mount Pleasant township, where he is now serving as township clerk; Jennie J., the wife of F. H. Hammill, assistant general superintendent of the North- western Railroad Company, and William E., who follows farming in Mount Pleasant township. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis celebrated their fiftieth wedding anni- versary October 26, 1915.
In politics Mr. Lewis is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has filled the office of township treasurer and served in other local positions, including that of men- ber of the school board. He is a director of the Taylor Orphan Asylum, is a member of the Baptist church, and is interested in all those forces which work for the development and improvement of the community and uplift of the people. His life has ever been upright and honorable and all who know him entertain for him warm regard.
JOHN KEARNEY.
John Kearney, who is engaged in farming in Raymond township, was born in Racine on the 5th of September, 1850, a son of Michael and Mary Ann (Whaley) Kearney. The father was born in Rose Green, Ireland, September 29, 1818, and when a youth of sixteen years crossed the Atlantic, working in New York for a time. He afterward removed to Washtenaw county, Mich- igan, and still later purchased an interest in a milling company in Muskegon. Michigan. The business venture there met with failure, however, and he removed to Racine. Willing to take any work that would yield him an honest living, he engaged in chopping wood for some time at eighteen cents per cord. He afterward operated a farm on shares in Raymond township for three years, taking up his abode upon that place in 1853. He prospered during that period and on the 15th of January, 1856, purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land, thus becoming the owner of an excellent farm. As time passed success continued to attend his efforts and he became one of the substantial residents of his locality, his life proving what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do, for he started out empty handed and also faced disaster at one point in his career. His strenuous efforts, however, overcame obstacles and difficulties and he was well-to-do when death called him to the home beyond. In Wisconsin he wedded Mary Ann Whaley, who was born in Quebec, Canada, and they became the parents of fourteen children, of whom eight are living: John, of this review : Michael, who follows farming near Burlington ; Thomas M., an attorney at Racine; Mrs. James Vyvyan : Cath- erine, living in Racine ; Patrick, who is the possessor of a handsome competence and is living retired in Racine; Matt, who is engaged in the real estate busi- ness in Milwaukee, and Nora, also of Racine. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, to which Mr. Kearney belonged, while his polit- ical allegiance was given to the democratic party.
To the common school system of Racine county John Kearney is indebted
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for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. Since starting out in life on his own account he has continuously followed farming and at first lived upon rented land until his well directed labors brought to him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase his present farm in 1884. He has sinee remodeled the buildings upon the place and has erected others and now has a well im- proved property of eighty aeres, supplied with all modern conveniences and equipment. In addition he owns three hundred aeres of fine land in South Dakota and his career may indeed be said to be a successful one. While carrying on general agricultural pursuits he also does considerable dairying and keeps a fine herd of pure blooded Holstein cattle. He is also an auctioneer and has successfully cried many sales.
On the 29th of November, 1876, Mr. Kearney was married to Miss Mary A. Leonard and they became the parents of eight children. of whom seven are living : Walter, now residing in Raymond township; Frank, who is connected with the International Harvester Company at Huron, South Dakota ; Lizzie. the wife of William Cavanaugh, of Milwaukee town; Julia, the wife of Matt Foss, residing in Milwaukee county; Agnes, who is keeping house for her father, and John and Jimmie, both at home. The wife and mother passed away December 11, 1910, her death being deeply regretted by her immediate household and also by many friends.
Mr. Kearney is a communicant of St. Luke's Catholic church at Caledonia and in polities is a democrat and yet does not hesitate to east an independent ballot if he so desires. He has served as township treasurer, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, feeling that he can aid the community in other ways and preferring to eoneentrate his efforts and atten- tion upon his business affairs.
HON. W. H. BELL.
Hon. W. H. Bell, whose operations in the real estate field have contributed much to the development of the city, has also been prominently connected with the upbuilding of Racine through his activity in the political field, doing important work as a member of the city council, while upon the legislative records of the state he has left the impress of his individuality. A native of England, he was born in Liverpool on the 8th of August, 1863, and is a son of John and Ellen (Rushton) Bell. The father was a native of Dumfriesshire. Scotland, and after removing to England was married in Liverpool. He con- tinued his residence in that country until his death, which occurred about twelve years ago, and his wife passed away about nine years ago.
Reared in his native city, W. H. Bell there attended the public schools until 1880, when he determined to try his fortune in the new world and erossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Racine. Here he entered the employ of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, with which he continued from 1881 until 1889. He was afterward with the Raeine Hardware Company until 1892, when he turned his attention to the real estate business. In this field he has since operated. He largely handles his own property and he has opened
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up the Hamilton addition, making this one of the attractive residence distriets of the city. He is thoroughly conversant with property values, knows what is upon the market and his wise investment has enabled him to make profitable sales. He is also one of the board of directors of the City Bank and was for- merly a director of the Manufacturers Bank. He has led a most active life, fruitful of good results, his labors having been crowned with a very desirable measure of prosperity.
That Mr. Bell is recognized as a man worthy of marked trust and confi- dence is shown in the fact that he has frequently been called upon to act as guardian or as trustee of important interests. In polities he is a most earnest and loyal republican. In 1902 he was appointed publie administrator of Racine county and served in that connection until 1915. In 1905 he was elected to the state legislature and was again chosen to represent his district in the general assembly in 1907 and 1911. He was a member of the city council of Racine from 1902 until 1915 and exercised his official prerogatives in support of many meas- ures that have been of direct benefit and value in the upbuilding of the city. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity in all of its different branches and has held many offices in connection therewith. Reared in the Episcopal faith, he still attends the services of that church. An analyzation of his life shows that his entire career has been actuated by honorable purposes and dominated by the spirit of advancement. What he has undertaken he has accomplished, for in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. When one avenue of oppor- tunity seems closed he seeks out other paths that will bring him to the desired goal and at all times his business interests and his public life have measured up to high standards.
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RICHARD W. MCCRACKEN. M. D.
Among the successful and progressive physicians and surgeons of Raeine county is Dr. R. W. MeCracken, who has engaged in practice in Union Grove for a number of years. His birth occurred in Daviess county. Indiana, on the 4th of February, 1872, and his parents are Hiram and Sarah J. (Williams) McCracken, the former born in that county in 1842 and the latter in 1843. The father devoted his life to farming and dealing in stock and through good management has gained financial independence. He is a democrat in politics. The mother is a member of the Christian church. They have two children : R. W. and J. O., who has engaged in the practice of medicine since 1905 and who is married and lives in Kenosha. The history of the MeCracken family has been traced back to Alexander McCracken, who emigrated from the north of Ireland to the United States about 1622. Dr. MeCracken's great-grand. father, John MeCracken, who was one of a family of five sons and two daughters, was born in the east but removed to Indiana where he passed away. His son, Richard McCraeken, was born in Maryland, in 1787, and received his education in the east and in Kentucky, but in 1816 became a resident of Daviess county, Indiana. He took up various tracts of land in that state, the patents to his farms being signed by Presidents Monroe, Van Buren and Jackson. The
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family homestead was entered on the 18th of August, 1823, during the admin- istration of President Monroe and is still in possession of the family, being owned by Iliram McCracken, the Doctor's father. The maternal grand par- ents, Jacob and Margaret (Williams) Williams, were born respectively in Indiana and in Kentucky, but both died in Indiana. the father's demise occurring in 1906 when he was eighty-three years of age.
R. W. McCraeken was reared under the parental roof and after completing the course offered in the high school at Washington, Indiana, entered the Ken- tucky School of Medicine at Louisville from which he was graduated in 1893. He located for praetiee in Montgomery, Indiana, but subsequently removed to Lyons, Wiseonsin, whence he came to Union Grove in 1896. He has since remained here and as the years have passed and his skill and conseientiousness have beeome more widely known his praetice has increased rapidly. He gives his patients most careful attention and has remained a student of his profes- sion, keeping well informed as to the new methods of treatment which are being worked out from time to time. In 1905 he took a post-graduate course in Louisville, Kentucky, and he is an active member of the Racine County Medical Society of which he served as president several terms; of the State Medical Society, to which he has been a delegate a number of times; and of the American Medical Association.
Dr. MeCracken was married in 1903 to Miss Anne B. Wetmore, who was born in Beloit, Wiseonsin, and they have beeome the parents of two sons- John W., twelve years old; and Robert O., nine years of age. The doctor is a democrat in polities and in 1914 made an excellent run for election to the state senate but was unable to overcome the large republican majority of his district. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, in which he has held the office of master, and his wife is affiliated with the Episcopal church. Both are well known and their friends are many.
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EZRA R. BURGESS.
Ezra R. Burgess, a member of the Racine bar, practicing as a partner in the law firm of Gittins & Burgess, was born in Mount Pleasant township, this county. September 13, 1873, and is a representative of an early New England family. His grandfather was Benajer Burgess, of Vermont, who in early man- hood removed from the Green Mountain state to New York. After residing there for some time he arrived in Southport, Wisconsin, in 1836 and there operated a sawmill on Pike creek but was not permitted to enjoy his new home. his death occurring soon afterward. His son, Alonzo Burgess. was born in Bennington. Vermont, and accompanied his parents on their removal to the Empire state. Following the arrival of the family in the west he engaged in the briek mann- facturing business in Kenosha and afterward located on a farm in Kenosha county. At a subsequent date he removed to Mount Pleasant township, Racine county, where for a number of years he successfully carried on general agri- cultural pursuits, but in 1880 retired from aetive business life and removed to Raeine, where he spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a rest
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which he had truly earned and richly deserved. In early manhood he wedded Mary A. Buswell, a native of New Hampshire and a daughter of Ezra Buswell, of the Old Granite state, who in the spring of 1848 took up his abode in Paris township, Kenosha county, becoming one of the pioneers of this section of Wis- consin. The death of Mr. Buswell occurred in Racine in 1902, while his widow survived until 1912.
Broad educational opportunities were accorded Ezra R. Burgess, who sup- plemented public school training by study in the Wisconsin State University at Madison, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896. He afterward entered the law department and completed his course there in 1898. He then opened an office in Racine and has since been a member of the firm of Gittins & Burgess. His life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for in this district in which he has spent his entire life, Ezra R. Burgess has made steady progress in his profession and now occupies a position that is most creditable and enviable, proving his ability and its recognition on the part of his fellowmen. While he continues in the general practice of law he specializes to a considerable extent in municipal law.
On the 29th of July, 1909, Mr. Burgess was married to Miss Gretchen A. Rickeman, of Racine, a daughter of George A. Rickeman. She served as assistant librarian at Racine from the time the library was established until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Burgess have been born two children, Robert R. and John S., aged respectively five and two years.
Mr. Burgess belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum. His political indorsement has always been given to the republican party and for the past ten years he has served as city attorney of Racine, making an excellent record in office as is indicated by the fact of his frequent re-election to the position.
PETER T. STOFFEL.
Peter T. Stoffel, who for thirty years has been engaged in the dry goods trade in Racine, has contributed in large measure to the substantial growth of the business, which is among the foremost enterprises of this character in the city. His course at all times measures up to high commercial standards and he follows the most modern methods of merchandising, the salient features of his success being unremitting enterprise, judicious advertising and hon- orable dealing. Mr. Stoffel was born in Racine, July 8, 1864, a son of Nicholas J. and Juliana Maria (Schmidt) Stoffel, both of whom were natives of Ger- many, the former of Neierkirch and the latter of Leidneck, Castellaun, in the district of Koblenz along the Rhine. In that country they remained until their marriage, and then, thinking to enjoy better opportunities in the new world, they came to the United States in 1851 and settled in Racine. The father was a cooper by trade and for a time carried on business on his own account, but later was connected with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company for thirty- five years. Both he and his wife have now passed away.
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PETER T. STOFFEL
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Peter T. Stoffel attended a parochial school conducted under the auspices of St. John's Lutheran church and afterward became a public school pupil. Ile made his initial step in the business world as an employe of the J. W. Spence Jewelry Company, with which firm he remained for seven years, and during that time carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. He then embarked in the dry goods trade on the 26th of Sep- tember, 1887, in connection with his brother Jacob, who had established a store about six years before. The business was at No. 618 State street and in 1888 a removal was made to No. 616 State street, where they have since been located. In 1901 they opened a branch store on the north side of Racine at No. 527 High street and about 1904 removed to their spacious new store, put up by themselves, at Nos. 612-614 High street. The building used as their main store is a three-story structure, twenty-two by one hundred feet, in which they carry a general line of dry goods, carpets, linoleums, etc. They now have two of the largest dry goods emporiums in Racine, carrying a very extensive line of goods, which includes everything that the markets of the world afford in their line. Their goods are attractively displayed and a corps of clerks is employed to wait upon the customers, giving them courteous treat- ment and attention. The business methods of the house, too, are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and in presenting their goods their word is as good as their bond.
On the 1st of May, 1890, Mr. Stoffel was married to Miss Wilhelmina Palm, of Helenville. Jefferson county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Ludwig and Margaret (Kehrberger) Palm, highly respected pioneers of Wisconsin. The children of this marriage are: Esther, Ruth, Harold, Cecelia, Margaret and Reuel. The eldest daughter is married to John Ungrodt of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, who holds a responsible position with the Second Ward Savings Bank of that city ; Harold is attending the Concordia College at Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, and the others are all at home.
Mr. Stoffel and his family are all members of St. John's Lutheran church and his political support is given to the republican party. His fellow towns- men, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to public office and for nine years he served as alderman from the Fourth ward and was president of the council for three terms. He did very effective work along the line of public progress. One of the acts of his public service was to take the cemetery out of old style politics and place it under the commission form, which he succeeded in doing after a persistent and indefatigable effort covering two years, having the assistance in this matter of Hon. A. J. Horlick who was then mayor. Today the city has one of the best organized and regu- lated cemeteries under commission control in the country when judged by its financial condition and its beauty. Mr. Stoffel is also credited with most earnest and effective work in support of motorizing the fire department. All of the different stations are today supplied with motors save that of Sixteenth street, which is to be motorized in 1917 and which will then place Racine second to no city in the state in its fire protection. Mr. Stoffel is also a mem- ber of the new armory board, created in 1916, serving in that capacity by virtue of his office as chairman of the finance committee of the city council.
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