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 13
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He was also one of the organizers of the Commercial Club, served on its first board of directors and has been its vice president for several terms. His interest in the public welfare is deep and sincere and is manifest in many tangible efforts to advance the general good, his labors resulting in public benefit-a fact acknowledged by the consensus of opinion on the part of his fellowmen.
T. D. W. MANCHESTER.
There are few more highly esteemed men in Union Grove than T. D. W. Manchester, who for many years engaged in the practice of law here but is now living retired. He has also been quite prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is further entitled to recognition as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, on the 18th of October, 1840, of the marriage of James T. and Lucy A. (Thornton) Man- chester. The family has been represented upon the American soil since early colonial days. as one Thomas Manchester is known to have been a resident of Plymouth Colony in 1639. The line of descent comes down to T. D. W. Man- chester, who is the eighth generation born in this country, through Elias Man- chester, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He was wounded at the battle of Saratoga and when seventy-four years of age was pensioned by the govern- ment for his serviees when at the front. He had fifteen children, of whom his son Elias was the father of James T. Manchester. The last named was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1815 and in 1844 removed to Cleveland, Ohio, whenee two years later he came with his family to Raeine county, Wisconsin. He dealt in grain in the city of Racine for many years and built up a large and luerative business. At length, however, he removed to the vicinity of Union Grove where he purchased a small farm and later moved to Auburn, New York, in 1864. There his death occurred in 1900. In early manhood he supported the whig party but after it passed out of existence gave his allegiance to the republican party. He attended the Baptist church, to which his wife belonged, and for years served as leader of its choir. He had a fine voice, was well trained in music and for a long period taught singing. He was married in Cayuga county, New York, to Miss Luey A. Thornton, who was born in that county in 1815 and who passed away in Racine county, Wisconsin, in 1868. They were the parents of eight children of whom only two survive: T. D. W. Manchester and Mrs. Miles Moe, a widow residing in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. On the maternal side T. D. W. Manchester is also descended from Revolutionary ancestry as his great-grandfather, Jesse Thornton, fought in the war for inde- pendence and while on picket duty took the countersign from Benediet Arnold when he deserted from the army at West Point.
T. D. W. Manchester attended the public schools of Racine, being a member of the first class graduated from the high school, and in preparation for the practice of law took a course in Union University at Albany, New York, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL.B. in 1862. He began the practice of his profession in New York city but a short time afterward, or on
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the 14th of August, 1862, went to the defense of the Union, enlisting in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry. He was made regimental commissary sergeant and served in that position until captured on the 25th of March, 1863, at the battle of Brentwood, Tennessee, being confined in prison until the fol- lowing July when he was exchanged and returned to the front. He was with the colors until the close of hostilities and participated in the following battles : Brentwood, Tennessee ; Resaca, Georgia ; New Hope Church ; Culps Farm ; Ken- nesaw Mountain ; Peach Tree Creek ; Brentwood and Averysboro. He was also with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea and after peace was eon- eluded took part in the grand review at Washington.
On returning to civil life Mr. Manchester eame to Racine and resumed the practice of his profession. Several years later he went to Salina, Kansas, where he practiced for some time, and he also lived in Peru, Indiana, for a considerable period. In 1902, however, he located in Union Grove and has since remained here. He was very successful as an attorney, winning a large percentage of the cases which he tried and holding a high place in the estima- tion of his professional brethren, but since 1910 he has lived retired. He has erected a comfortable residence in Union Grove and he also holds title to one hundred and sixty-five acres of well improved land in Racine county.
In 1866 Mr. Manchester was married to Miss Permelia E. Noble, who was born in Ives Grove, Racine county, and is a daughter of Ira and Fannie M. (Hervey) Noble, pioneers of this county, arriving here from New York in 1844. Mrs. Noble had taught school in the Empire state and after coming here taught in her home as there were no schoolhouses at that time. Mr. Noble was well- to-do and the family were spared most of the hardships which many of the early settlers had to endure. Mrs. Manchester was educated in the Racine high school and was a woman of unusual refinement and culture. She passed away in 1905, leaving two children. Charles Manchester was educated in the Wayland Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and in Moody Institute in Chi- cago and is now a preacher of the Baptist faith. Lucy E. attended the Wes- leyan University, completed a course in eloention and oratory in Indianapolis, Indiana, and studied art in the Cineinnati Art Academy and the Chicago Art Institute. She taught school for a number of years but is now at home.
Mr. Manchester is a staneh republican in politics but has never been an aspirant for office. He was quite prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for a number of years has given the seeret work in Peru (Ind.) lodge. He has held all of the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and while living in Indiana was a delegate to the state encampment and served in the Patri- archs Militant at Peru, that state. He is recognized as the leading member of the order in Raeine county and takes the keenest interest in everything relat- iing to the work of the organization. He is also identified with the Daughters of Rebekah. In religious faith he is a Baptist and heartily supports the vari- ous activities of that church. Through association with the Grand Army of the Republic he keeps in touch with his comrades in blue and the same spirit of patriotism which led him to enlist in the Union army in the '60s has always characterized him, finding expression in his willingness to place the publie good above his individual interest. He has the distinction of being the oldest mem- ber of the Racine county bar, having been admitted to practice in Racine in
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1862. Although he is now living retired, he keeps well informed as to the movements and events which are of special interest to the profession and his counsel and advice are highly valued by the younger members of the bar.
F. ARTHUR MOREY.
Among those whose success in the real estate and insurance business entitles them to representation as leading business men of Racine is F. Arthur Morey, who has been a lifelong resident of this eity. He is a representative of one of the old families of Wisconsin and the lineage can be traced back to England, whenee in 1626 three brothers of the name sailed for the new world, settling in Massachusetts. One branch of the family subsequently took the name of Mowry and the other the name of Morey.
Darius J. Morey, the great-grandfather of F. Arthur Morey, was a native of Vermont and in early manhood took up the trade of a carpenter and builder, afterward becoming a designer and architect. He became a resident of Wis- consin in 1846 and passed away in Racine in 1851, at the age of seventy-four years. During his early life he served as a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Marian Fowler, passed away at the age of fifty-four years. Their children numbered five daughters and two sons, including John T. Morey, who was born in New York and there married Catherine Styles, a daughter of John Styles, a native of England, who was a sergeant in the British army and fought under Wellington at Waterloo. From Montreal, Canada, he removed to Morristown, New York, where he passed away at the notable old age of one hundred and five years, while his wife. Catherine (McDonald) Styles, attained the age of ninety-eight years. As stated, their daughter Catherine became the wife of John T. Morey and to this marriage were born four sons and two daughters. John T. Morey was a ear- penter and builder and in the spring of 1846 became a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whence he removed to Raeine, where he followed his trade for some time. He afterward lived in Southport but later returned to Racine, con- tinuing in earpenter work until ill health caused him to seek a change of occu- pation. He removed to the Indian land in Waupaca county, hoping that his health would be restored in the outdoor life of the farm. However, he passed away in December, 1856, and his wife died in August, 1862, at the age of thirty-eight years. In religious faith they were Methodists.
Their son, Darius J. Morey, was but three years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Wisconsin and in 1851 accompanied his parents from Racine to Waupaca county, where he went through the usual experiences and hardships of pioneer life. He was fourteen years of age before he had an opportunity to attend school even through the winter sessions and in the sum- mer months he was always busy with the work of the farm. In 1861, when eighteen years of age, he returned to Racine and spent the winter as a high school pupil. In the meantime he had secured a teacher's certificate, but the necessity of providing for his own support and that of the family, owing to his father's death, compelled him to remain upon the farm and give his time
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to the work of the fields and to carpentering. During the Civil war he enlisted on the 22d of August, 1862, as a private of Company C, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and with that command he participated in several important battles, including the engagement at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. When the war was over he returned to Racine and pursued a course in a business college, subsequent to which time he accepted the position of bookkeeper with the Fish Brothers Wagon Company. He devoted nearly twenty-three years to work as an accountant and finally became interested in the business, but through a decision of the supreme court lost his entire investment. For sev- eral years afterward he was a salesman for the Racine Wagon & Carriage Company and still later for the Fish Brothers Wagon Company. A second time he bought an interest in that business, which in the meantime had been reorganized under new management. Eventually he was elected justice of the peace and during his four years' service his decisions were characterized by strict fairness and impartiality. He was always of a studious nature and obtained a fair knowledge of law, perfecting himself in real estate, loan, investment and insurance law, to which he gave his attention on his retire- ment from the justice court. In 1900 he was joined by his son, Wallace S. Morey, and in 1903 by F. Arthur Morey under the firm name of D. J. Morey & Sons, and in that field of activity Darius J. Morey continued until his death.
Mr. Morey was a prominent Mason, belonging to Belle City Lodge, No. 92, F. & A. M .; Orient Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., and Racine Commandery, No. 7, K. T., and in all of these branches of Masonry he held office. At the time of his demise he was serving as commander of Governor Harvey Post, G. A. R. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and while he never sought political office he served for six years as a member of the Raeine hoard of education and was its president for one year. He and his wife were devoted members of the First Congregational church, in which he served as trustee, and in the work of the church they took an active and helpful part. It was on the 17th of December, 1868, that Darius J. Morey wedded Viola S. Packard, a daughter of Roswell and Susan (Bird) Packard. They became the parents of three children, F. Arthur, Edith V. and Wallace S., but the latter died in February, 1909, a few months prior to the demise of his father.
F. Arthur Morey, one of Racine's native sons, was born in June. 1870, and in the acquirement of his education passed through consecutive grades of the city schools to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1887. Still further educational opportunities were accorded him in the University of Wis- consin, which he attended for two years, and when his textbooks were put aside he made his initial step in the business world as an employe of the Fish Brothers Wagon Company. He was afterward employed for seven years by the Racine Wagon and Carriage Company. spending part of that time as col- lector, and when he severed that connection he joined his father, who was conducting a substantial real estate and loan business, at which time the firm style of D. J. Morey & Sons was assumed. His brother was also a partner in the business, but the death of the brother a few months before the death of the father left F. Arthur Morey as the sole surviving partner. He has since carried on the business with good suecess, manifesting keen sagacity and insight into business situations and gaining a large clientele.
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It was in 1894 that Mr. Morey was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Stephans, of Racine, and they have become the parents of a daughter and two sons : Marjorie J., now a student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison : Donald J., who is attending the Racine high school, and Frank Arthur, also in school.
Mr. Morey had the inspiring example of his father to guide him and his lines of life have been cast in harmony with that of his honored sire-a man whose sterling traits of character commended him to the confidenee, good will and esteem of all who knew him. F. Arthur Morey. like his father, has become an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity. belonging to Belle City Lodge, No. 92, F. & A. M .: Racine Commandery, No. 7. K. T .: the Wisconsin Consistory, A. & A. S. R .. and Tripoli Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S .. the last named being a Milwaukee organization. He likewise belongs to Racine Lodge, No. 252, B. P. O. E., and Racine Lodge, K. P. He figures prominently in connection with other social activities of the city, while in business circles he has made a most commendable record as an alert, enter- prising business man, constantly watchful of opportunities pointing to success and using every legitimate means for the advancement of his interests.
W. J. THEIS.
W. J. Theis is a self-made man, who from the age of fifteen years has made his home in Racine county and through the intervening period has been closely associated with its commercial development. He now resides in Raymond township upon a farm which he purchased in 1902. He was born in Eberfeld, Germany, September 19. 1865, and is a son of William and Mary (Miller) Theis, who were likewise natives of Germany, the former born in Nassau in 1837 and the latter in Renarode. Their family numbered ten children, of whom two are living: William J., and Henry, who is now engaged in the fruit business in California. The father was foreman in Weber's planing mill in Racine for many years and is an expert cabinetmaker.
W. J. Theis obtained his education in the schools of Germany and was a youth of fifteen when he accompanied his parents on the voyage across the briny deep to the new world. The family at once came to Racine county and from that time forward he has been dependent upon his own resources, for he at onee began to earn his living by working as a farm hand by the day. He was thus employed for about three years and then went to Racine, where he seeured a situation in a factory, having previously learned the cabinet- maker's trade in Germany under the direction of his father. For a time he occupied a position in a carriage factory and still later secured a clerkship in a hardware store. where he remained for five and a half years. Afterward he was engaged in the saloon business in Racine for four years and on selling out there he purchased his present place in 1902. He now conducts a large general store and has an extensive trade and in connection with his general merehandise establishment he conduets a saloon. His trade comes to him from a territory covering many miles.
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On the 18th of October, 1892, Mr. Theis was married to Miss Josephine Ellis, who was born in Austria, and they have one child, Margaret, whose birth occurred September 5, 1894. The parents are members of St. Luke's Catholic church at Caledonia and Mr. Theis is now well known in the county, especially in Raeine, and what he has achieved is the direct result of his own labors, for he started out empty-handed and by diligence and determination has worked his way upward.
A. CARY JUDD.
A. Cary Judd, who has occupied various public offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity, has a most creditable record. He was born in Frankfort, New York, April 16, 1850, a son of George B. and Margaret Ann (Cary) Judd, the former a native of Connecticut, born March 26, 1801, and the latter born in New York in 1806. The father came to Racine in 1856 in search of a favorable location, for he desired to become identified with the growing middle west. In March, 1857, he brought his family to Racine and entered upon the practice of law, for which he had previously pre- pared, remaining an able member of the bar here until his death, which occurred January 23, 1883. His widow survived him for about five years, passing away January 12, 1888. George B. and Margaret Ann Judd had seven children, three girls and four boys, of whom A. C'ary was the youngest.
A. Cary Judd supplemented his public school education by study in Racine college in 1861 and 1862. Determining upon the practice of law as a life work. he began reading with his father on the 28th of March, 1870, and was admitted to the bar June 18, 1872, before Justice William P. Lyon. He is today the oldest representative of the Racine bar in active practice, having for forty- four years been connected with the work of the courts. In 1874 he was made court commissionen and occupied that position for thirty-six consecutivo years-a most notable record, not only owing to the length of the term but also owing to the fidelity and capability with which he met his duties. Since 1910 he has occupied the position of justice of the peace and from 1901 until 1903 he was a member of the board of public works, occupying that office for two years and three months.
On the 21st of August, 1878, Mr. Judd was united in marriage to Miss Ellen S. Moon, of Racine, her parents being Joseph and Sophia (Gilbert) Moon, early pioneer settlers of this county. The father, who was engaged in business as a mason contractor. passed away in 1908. but the mother still sur- vives. To Mr. and Mrs. Judd have been born four children, as follows: George Randall, an express messenger in Chicago: Everett C., who died at the age of six months, and Mabel Cary and Charles J., both at home.
Mr. Judd is independent in politics, with democratic tendencies, and he has served as a delegate to various democratie conventions. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. Mr. Judd is not only the oldest lawyer of Racine in years of continuous practice but has occupied the same office for
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forty-six years. It is situated in what is known as the Judd block, one of the first brick buildings, if not the first, erected in Racine. It was purchased by his father from the Allen heirs in November, 1866, and was purchased in 1838 by Charles and Lyman Smith, the former owner being Gordon S. Hubbard. In addition to this property A. Cary Judd has owned many farms and other real estate in city and county and has ever been regarded as a progressive and enterprising business man as well as an able public official. For fifty-nine years he has lived in Racine and is familiar with every phase of the city's growth and development, his influence being always given on the side of progress and improvement.
J. I. CASE THRESHING MACHINE COMPANY.
If there were no other business enterprise, cultural force, educational institution or civic project to have made the name of Racine famous, the mammoth manufacturing concern operated as the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company would alone have accomplished this. for today wherever grain is grown throughout the civilized world the products of this great factory have found their way. The history of this business is in large measure the history of Racine's industrial, commercial and financial development. It was one of the pioneer industries and remains today its foremost productive concern. Century after century had passed and yet man had made practically no change in methods of agriculture. While the founder of the J. I. Case Thresh- ing Machine Company never claimed to have been the originator of the threshing machine and always willingly gave credit therefor to its inventor, a Scotchman named Neikel, history nevertheless establishes the fact that the improvements which he placed upon the original machine were such as carried it forward to perfection by leaps and bounds. The story of the development of the threshing machine industry has been told in a volume that for literary merit and artistic skill ranks with the best. From this story we quote. "From 1787 until about 1840 the story of the development of the threshing machine is but a repetition of the history of every great invention for the world's general good. While there are always to be found men of advanced thought, who keep pace with the times, and who even anticipate man's future needs, the great mass of the human family moves slowly-they cling to old ways and traditions. Then, again, the earth was not yet quite ready for the full development of mechanical devices for the harvesting and threshing of her product. ... Along in the '40s of the nineteenth century the rapid ad- vancement in the field of agriculture called for more modern ways and means for taking care of the product of the field. ... The threshing machine be- came a human necessity. The history of the development of the modern threshing machine may therefore be said to date from 1840. To write this history is to write the history of the growth and development of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company of Racine. Wisconsin. The business was founded by Jerome Inman Case, who was born in Oswego county, New York, in 1819.
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In the spring of 1842 he bought six small threshing machines, on credit, and started for the territory of Wisconsin. He disposed of all his machines, except one, which he operated himself as a thresherman. In 1844 he built his first threshing machine, which embodied many ideas of his own, and in doing so laid the foundation of the largest manufacturing concern of its kind in the world. For a number of years he continued to do business in a small way, at the close of each year finding himself a little in advance of the previous year, until in 1863 his business had assumed such large proportions that he organized the firm of J. I. Case & Company, forming a co-partnership with Stephen Bull, R. H. Baker and M. B. Erskine. These men formed an ideal combination for the growth and development of the business." From that time forward the trade steadily expanded. "The year 1897 proved to be the beginning of a new epoch in the history of the company. The process of de- velopment was gradual, keeping pace with the world's onward march of progress. In 1880 the copartnership organized in 1863 was dissolved, the name being changed to J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company and so ineor- porated. In 1897, further to meet modern conditions, an entire change in the management of the company was effected, younger men, many of whom had been trained for years in the modern school of business, assuming active control of the management of its affairs. The wisdom and wise business policy of the new management is evidenced by the fact that in the nine years prior to 1906 (when the article was written) the output of the Case factory had exceeded the combined output of more than half a century prior to that time." With the development of the business many other machines have been invented and manufactured by the company, including the Case steam, kerosene and gasoline engines, while the improvements made upon the Case threshing machine have resulted in threshing the grain at the rate of from four to six thousand bushels per day. Such a machine not only saves all the grain but also weighs, measures and delivers it into wagons. The time re- quired for the sowing, reaping and threshing of a bushel of wheat has declined from thirty-two to two minutes. "That which required hours to accom- plish, at the expense of the toil and sweat of many men, is now executed in a few minutes, by few men, with ease and comfort, all because the forces of nature have been scientifically utilized. The Case separator of today is the crystallization of the inventive genius of many men, who have worked upon it for more than four score years, the expense running into millions of dollars.
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