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 28
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On the 26th of September, 1859, Mr. Meadows was united in marriage to Miss Ann Armstrong, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, a daughter of John Armstrong, who was of English birth and became a jeweler. He remained in
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Ireland for many years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Meadows are as follows : George Cyrus has made his home since 1883 at Ipswich, Edmunds county, South Dakota. where he is engaged in banking. William John is located in Elgin. Illinois, where he manages one of the Borden Condensed milk plants. Elizabeth Jane is now the wife of Richard Hetherington, of East Orange, New Jersey. who is in charge of one of the Borden plants in New York City. Mrs. Meadows passed away in 1912, after a happy married life of fifty-two years. She and her husband long held membership in the Methodist church, of which they were most liberal supporters.
The first public office which Mr. Meadows ever filled was that of roadmaster of the town of Lyons and later he was elected treasurer of the school board. He was next elected chairman of the town board of Lyons and as such became a member of the board of education, in which capacity he continued for several years. In 1880 he was elected to the state legislature and in 1883 he was elected an alternate to the national convention, the other being H. A. Cooper, the present congressman, and it was at this convention that James G. Blaine was nominated. On various other occasions Mr. Meadows has served as a dele- gate to public conventions and for two years he filled the office of councilor when the city government was formed. He is a Mason, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery and also to the Milwaukee consistory and the Mystic Shrine in that city. He has ever been recognized as a good citizen, a devoted husband and father and a man of spotless character, who, having attained the eighty-third milestone on life's journey. can look back over the past without regret.
JABEZ SPRIGGS.
Jabez Spriggs, a farmer residing near Kansasville, represents one of the old families of the county. He was born in Northamptonshire, England. April 26, 1838. a son of John and Mary (Nursey) Spriggs, who were likewise natives of the same country, the former born in 1803 and the latter in 1801. Their re- spective parents never left that country, but some years after their marriage the parents of Jabez Spriggs sailed for the new world, arriving on American shores in 1848. Continuing their journey into the interior of the country, they settled at Burlington, Wisconsin, where they remained for a year and then removed to Dover township, where Mr. Spriggs purchased about two hundred and twenty acres of land. seeuring tracts of eighty, forty and sixty acres at different times. He rented a place in Burlington before he was able to pur- chase property, for he was in very straitened financial circumstances when he came to this country and it was the hope of improving his condition that led him to seek a home beyond the Atlantic. His life was characterized by dili- gence and determination and as the years passed he won a very substantial and gratifying measure of success, becoming one of the prosperous as well as pop- ular residents of his community. He was well liked, winning friends where- ever he was known, and his upright and honorable career constituted an ex- ample well worthy of emulation. He engaged in preaching as a local minister
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of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which both he and his wife belonged. In polities he was a republican and took a firm stand in support of abolition prior to the time when the republican party was formed. To him and his wife were born eight children but only two are now living, Jabez and Naomi, who is the wife of Joseph Tye, of Griswold, Iowa.
Jabez Spriggs began his education in the district schools of his native country and afterward continued his studies in the distriet schools of Dover township. In 1865 he married Isabella Caley, who was born in Dover town- ship, a daughter of John and Charlotte (Clague) Caley, who were natives of the Isle of Man and in 1840 arrived in Racine county, at which time the father entered a elaim of government land in Dover township. To Mr. and Mrs. Spriggs have been born two sons. Archie Everett, born December 2, 1865, is a very prominent and influential citizen of Montana, where he served as a men- ber of the legislature for a number of years and afterward as lieutenant gov- ernor of the state. He is now chairman of the Labor Union and exerts a marked influence in shaping publie opinion in the northwest. The second son, Harvey J., born October 8, 1868, is living upon his father's farm in Dover township and carrying on the work of the home place. The sons were ae- corded liberal educational opportunities, attending school in Dover, in Roch- ester and in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Throughout the entire period of his active connection with business affairs Jabez Spriggs followed agricultural pursuits. He was formerly the owner of one hundred and forty-five aeres of rich and productive land in this county and he still owns one hundred aeres situated near Kansasville. He likewise has three hundred and thirty-eight aeres of land in Florida. He has always raised good stock and he carries on general farming and dairying. His busi- ness affairs have been wisely managed and his unremitting industry, deter- mination and honorable dealing have proved salient features in his growing sueeess.
In public affairs, too, Mr. Spriggs has been deeply and helpfully interested and in polities he has always given his support to the republican party. For years he served as elerk of the school board and for a quarter of a century was justice of the peace, in which connection he rendered decisions that were strictly fair and impartial. Ile belongs to the Health Circle of the World and is also a member of the Red Cross Society. Since a youth of ten summers he has resided in this county and he is now seventy-eight years of age. His ea- reer, upright and honorable at all times, has commended him in the confi- denee and goodwill of all and he is numbered among the valued residents of his distriet.
CLARENCE A. MeLAUGHLIN.
In real estate cireles Clarenee A. MeLaughlin, member of the firm of Keefe & Mclaughlin, is well known, for he has not only negotiated many important real estate transfers but is also aetive in the field of speculative building and in this way has contributed much toward the improvement of the city, oper-
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ating in his building interests as a member of the Community Realty Company. He was born in Racine, January 24, 1892, and is a son of Joseph and Clara (Nagler) MeLaughlin, the former a native of Racine and the latter of Osh- kosh, Wisconsin. The paternal grandfather, Patrick MeLaughlin, was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to Wisconsin at a very early day, settling at Two Rivers, where he remained for a short time. He afterward removed to Racine, where he established a tannery and in that business he continued for many years, his being one of the first enterprises of the character in the community. In his later life he lived retired. His son Joseph learned and followed the machinist's trade. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Clara Nagler, a daughter of Joseph Nagler, who became one of the early settlers of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Mrs. MeLaughlin passed away March 29, 1915, in the faith of the Catholic church, with which Mr. MeLaughlin is also identified, being a communicant of St. Patrick's.
Clarence A. Mclaughlin attended the parochial and public schools of Ra- cine and was graduated from the College of Commerce with the class of 1908. He was afterward employed for a short time by the J. I. Case Threshing Ma- chine Company and afterward became bookkeeper for the Standard Electrical Company, which a little later sold to the McCrum-Howell Company, and Mr. MeLaughlin was made purchasing agent. On the 1st of August, 1913, he entered the real estate business in connection with H. S. Keefe as the firm of Keefe & MeLaughlin at No. 338 Main street and since that time they have con- stantly broadened the scope of their interests and activities. Not only have they handled real estate in negotiating property transfers but they also or- ganized the Community Realty Company for the building and sale of both flats and residences. Of this company Mr. MeLaughlin is the president with Mr. Keefe as secretary and treasurer. In 1915 they erected fifteen buildings and nine others are now in the course of construction. Their operations have been attended with substantial success and their efforts have changed many unsightly vacancies into attractive residence lots, upon which they have built homes in pleasing style.
Mr. Mclaughlin belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to St. Patrick's Catholic church. He is also identified with the Elks and with the Commercial Club and in polities he maintains an independent course. He is regarded as one of the representative young business men of the city. being now but twen- ty-four years of age, and already he has attained a place in real estate circles that many a man of twiee his years might well envy.
JOHN R. BAKER.
John R. Baker, who is successfully engaged in general farming in York- ville township, was born in Mount Pleasant township, Racine county. on the 20th of April. 1847. His parents. Abraham and Elizabeth (Rowe) Baker, were born in Cornwall. England, the former in 1817 and the latter in 1816. Their marriage occurred in their native land but not long after that event they came to the United States and located in Mount Pleasant township. The
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father purchased eighty acres of land, which he lost, however, on account of an imperfect deed, and subsequently he bought an eighty acre traet and a forty acre traet in the same township. He had followed agricultural pursuits in England and his previous experience was of great value to him in develop- ing and operating his farm in this county. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in polities was a democrat. His death occurred in Franksville in 1894. He had survived his wife since 1866. Previous to her marriage she served as lady's maid, receiving excellent wages for that work. They were the parents of four children, of whom only John R. survives.
The last named is indebted to the public schools for his education and to his father for his training in farm work. In 1873 he removed to his present place, which comprises one hundred and twenty aeres of good land in York- ville township, and as the years have passed he has made many improvements upon the place. He has also carefully conserved the fertility of the soil and, following modern methods, harvests good erops annually. He also raises some stoek and finds that business likewise profitable.
Mr. Baker was married on the 30th of July, 1874, to Miss Sarah Hamilton, a daughter of Thomas Hamilton, an early settler of Yorkville township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker but only three survive, namely : Lizzie, the wife of Harry Jones, a blacksmith of Ives Grove; Allie, the wife of John Cripleau, who is connected with a lumberyard in Union Grove; and Irene, who married Peter Larson. a farmer of Dover township.
Mr. Baker casts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the republican party but has never been an aspirant for office. He attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church and contributes to the support of that organization. He has never had occasion to regret his choiee of an occupation, for he has gained a competence and has also found farming con- genial. He is widely known throughout the county and his personal friends are many.
NELS JOHNSON.
For more than a third of a century Nels Johnson has been actively engaged in the coal, wood and coke trade in Racine and the volume of business which he has built up has made the undertaking a very prosperous one. He has lived in this city sinee 1870. He was born in Denmark on the 16th of March, 1844, and is a son of James and Caroline (Nelson) Johnson, who were likewise natives of Denmark and in 1870 came to the United States, being brought hither by their son. He had acquired his education in the Danish schools and in 1864 made his first voyage to the United States but did not remain perma- nently. He joined the United States ship Britannia and from Shields, Eng- land, sailed around the world. He afterward came to this country on the bark Nova Scotia and sailed on the east coast until 1870, when he returned to Den- mark and brought his parents to the new world, the family home being estab- lished in Raeine. Through the four succeeding years he sailed on the Lakes but in 1874 severed his connection with navigation interests and returned to
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Racine, where he has since been permanently located. Here in 1880 he organ- ized the coal and wood business in which he has since engaged and he also handles coke. He has a tract of land three hundred and ten by one hundred feet on which are located his yards, his office and his home. He has built up the business to gratifying proportions and it is one of the profitable concerns of the kind in Racine. At a former period he was also owner of two boats. the Monitor and Silver Lake, both of which were sunk. After retiring from the life of a sailor he became a member of the first crew of the volunteer life saving service and so continued from 1876 until 1880, when he established his present business interests.
In 1872 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Anna K. Johnson, who was born in Denmark, and they have three children : Alwilda, the wife of Robert Mon- roc. of Racine ; Fred, living in New York city ; and Arthur, who is associated with his father in business.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Lutheran church and fraternally he is connected with both the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment, with the Danish Brotherhood and with the Danish Society. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. His has been an active and useful life which has brought him wide and interesting ex- periences, while his unfailing industry and close application along commer- cial lines have won for him the satisfactory results that place him among the well-to-do citizens of Racine.
HENRY S. KEEFE.
Henry S. Keefe, whose extensive and important operations in the field of real estate have won him prominence and success, is accounted one of the most progressive and enterprising young business men of Racine, his native city. He was born April 19, 1883, a son of John and Elizabeth (Budd) Keefe, the " former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. The former was a son of Mathew Keefe, a native of Ireland, who on leaving the Emerald isle crossed the Atlantic to the new world, residing for a time in Vermont, and then became one of the pioneer settlers of Racine of 1843. Here he engaged in the teaming business. John Keefe, his son, was but an infant when the family came to the west and in this city he learned and followed the machinist's trade, remaining active in the business up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1897. He married a daughter of Captain Henry and Elizabeth Budd. who were natives of Ireland and who became early residents of Racine. The father was a captain on the Lakes in early life and commanded the Kate Kelly. of which he was part owner. Mrs. Keefe passed away ere the death of her husband, her demise occurring in 1896. They had seven children, namely : Mary, who belongs to an order of nuns of the Catholic church; Henry S., of this review ; Matthew, who is in the service of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company; Timothy, in the employ of the Racine Rubber Company : Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Jeannette, who is also a Catholic sister; and Margaret, at home.
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In St. Patrick's parochial school Henry S. Keefe mastered the elementary branches of learning and also attended the Washington ward school, subse- quent to which time he pursued a course in the Casterton Business College, from which he was graduated in 1901. He afterward attended the Marquette University for two years and there studied commercial law and economics. He was thus well trained for life's practical and responsible duties. Upon his return home he was employed for a short time by the Rice Machinery Com- pany and was afterward with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company in the costs and purchasing department for eight years, his long connection with that corporation plainly indicating his capability and trustworthiness. He was afterward with the Standard Electric Company as purchasing agent and for a year and a half was identified with the MeCrum-Howell Company. Later he took charge of their plant at Milwaukee and for a time was in charge of the plant of the same firm in Chicago. In 1913 he formed a partnership with Clarence A. MeLaughlin, under the firm name of Keefe & MeLaughlin, and established a real estate business. They have since operated successfully along that line and have built up a business of large and gratifying propor- tions. In February, 1915, they organized the Community Realty Company. of which Mr. Keefe is the secretary and treasurer with Mr. MeLaughlin as the president and this company has erected a number of houses and flats for sale, the number having reached fifteen in 1915, with nine others in course of con- struction in 1916 and thus their business is attended with substantial success. They are meeting a need for moderate priced residences, which they build in attractive style of architecture with all of the latest conveniences and equip- ments. They also conduct an insurance and loan department and their pat- ronage is most gratifying.
Mr. Keefe does not ally himself with any political party but maintains an independent course. He belongs to St. Patrick's Catholic church, to the Knights of Columbus, of which he is grand knight, to the Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is also a member of the Commercial Club and is much interested in all those plans which have for their object the development and benefit of the city, especially in the ex- tension of its business relations. His own efforts are an element in the city's improvement and as the architect of his own fortune he has builded wisely and well.
HENRY C. WIEGAND.
Henry C. Wiegand is today one of the oldest jewelry merchants in Racine in years of connection with the trade, having established his store about 1896. Throughout the intervening period the establishment has largely set the standard for activity in this line in the city, for he carries a large and at- tractive stock and his business methods are such as will bear the closest in- vestigation and serutiny. Born in Racine on the 1st of May. 1872, he is a son of Conrad and Anna (Haas) Wiegand, both of whom were natives of Ger- many, whence they came to the new world. arriving in Racine in the late '50s.
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The father was a miller by trade and devoted his entire life to work of that kind, passing away about 1898. His widow survives and is now eighty years of age.
Henry C. Wiegand attended the parochial school of the German Lutheran church and also the public schools of Racine, and when his textbooks were put aside began preparation for a business career by learning the jewelry trade, being employed by C. C. Lovell and later by James W. Spence. In those con- nections he thoroughly acquainted himself with the business and about 1896, having in the meantime carefully saved his earnings, he embarked in the jewelry business on his own account in connection with Herman Proehl, who was a music dealer. Three years later Mr. Wiegand bought out his partner's interest and his brother, Charles A. Wiegand. came into the firm. This associa- tion has since been maintained and the Wiegand Brothers' jewelry store at No. 420 Main street is one of the oldest establishments of the kind in the city.
On the 14th of February, 1898, Mr. Wiegand was united in marriage to Miss Anna Burkert. of Racine, her parents being George and Sophia Burkert, early settlers of this city. By occupation the father is a machinist. Mr. and Mrs. Wiegand now have three children. Henry B., Emil C., and Sophia Anna, who are sixteen, fourteen and eleven years of age respectively. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church and in social circles they occupy an enviable position. Mr. Wiegand belongs to the Deutscher Club and Deut- scher Maenner Verein and to the Commercial Club and in politics maintains an independent attitude, voting for men and measures rather than party. He has made an excellent record in business circles and possesses in large meas- ure that quality which for want of a better term has been called commercial sense. In a word, he recognizes the value of opportunity and readily discrimi- nates between the essential and the non-essential in all those things which bear upon the development and success of the trade.
JOHN STOFFEL.
A notable business record is that of John Stoffel. who for forty-one years has been at the head of a cigar factory in Racine and today has the largest establishment of the kind in the city. His commercial career is as an open book which all may read. His trade has developed along legitimate lines of business and his success has been builded upon honorable methods and the excellence of the product turned out by the factory. Mr. Stoffel was born in Racine, April 10, 1855, a son of Nicholas J. and Juliana Maria (Schmidt) Stoffel, born respectively in Neierkirch and Leidneck, in the district of Koblenz, Germany, where they were married. At an early age they came to the United States and Mr. Stoffel engaged in the cooperage business in Racine, devoting ten or fifteen years to that line of work. He then entered the employ of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, with which he was continuously con- nected until his retirement from active business. He died about ten years ago and in his passing the community lost a substantial citizen.
JOHN STOFFEL
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John Stoffel obtained his education in the German Lutheran school and afterward was employed in a sash, door and blind factory for seven or eight years. Subsequently he spent a few years in the employ of the Case Thresh- ing Machine Company, at the end of which time, with the capital which he had saved from his earnings, he embarked in business on his own account. organizing the John Stoffel cigar factory forty-one years ago. In this connec- tion he has developed a large business, in fact has the most extensive cigar manufactory in Raeine, employing about eighteen men. He built his own plant at No. 1436 North Erie street and his factory is well equipped with the latest improved devices and machinery for carrying on the work. He has also engaged to a greater or less extent in the real estate business and has bought, erected and sold many buildings, now owning a number of buildings in the city.
It was about forty-one years ago that Mr. Stoffel was married to Miss Anna Christensen, a native of Denmark and a daughter of Soren and Marian (Jen- sen) Christensen, who came to the United States in an early day and took up a homestead in South Dakota, where they lived for forty years. Both have now passed away. In the family of Mr. and Mrs Stoffel are seven children : Albert Jacob, who is associated in business with his father and is traveling for the company ; Ida, the wife of Ole Olsen, of Racine; Elma, who died at the age of sixteen; Mattie, the deceased wife of Archie Langlois; Louise, the wife of Alexander H. Anderson, a clothing merchant of Racine; John, a resident of Detroit, Michigan ; and Lena, the wife of Herbert Warner, of Racine. The family were reared in the faith of the Episcopal church. Mr. Stoffel has a fine residence, which he erected, and he has found his greatest delight in his success in that it enables him to provide an attractive home and the comforts of life for his family.
In polities he is a republican but votes for men and measures rather than party. He has always been interested in the public welfare and for two terms served as a member of the city council. He was one of the first to agitate the question of securing a police patrol and after the bill was passed he and other supporters thereof purchased a team of horses, which was used on the police patrol for fourteen years. Mr. Stoffel does everything in his power to support the best interests of the community, his influence being always on the side of improvement and progress. He is a charter member of the Traveling Men's Protective Association and he is well known in commercial circles. enjoying the confidence and good will of colleagues and contemporaries.
FRANK J. LUXEM.
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