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 34
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After taking out his naturalization papers Mr. Hetzel did not ally himself with any political party, but has maintained an independent course, reserving the right to form his own judgment concerning the questions and issues of the day and the men whom he prefers to support for publie office. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress toward the goal of success. He has found, too, pleasant associations with many friends both of his own and other nationalities and he has deep attachment for the land of his adoption.
L. F. NELSON.
The firm of Nelson & Company, incorporated. general contractors, has done much for the improvement of the city along the line of architectural adorn- ment since starting in business in 1895. L. F. Nelson, president of the corpor- ation, is among the foreign-born citizens who have found in America the land of opportunity, enjoying the advantages offered in a country where labor and ambition are not hampered by caste or class. He was born in Denmark, June 29, 1868, and in 1887 arrived in Racine, being then a young man of nineteen years. He afterward engaged in farming for three years, although in his na- tive land he had learned and followed the mason's trade. He did not find agricultural pursuits as congenial as he had anticipated and, returning to Racine. he again took up work at his trade, which has led him through the steps of an orderly progression to his present position of prominence and pros- , perity. He began general contracting in partnership with Robert P. Nelson in 1895 and that the firm stands foremost among the builders of the city is indi- cated in the important nature of the contracts that have been awarded them. They have done most of the building for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Com-
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pany for the past fifteen years, for the Belle City Malleable Iron Company and the Racine Rubber Company. They were the builders of the Elks Club, the First National Bank building, the West Racine school and many other large and fine structures of the city. During the busy season they employ from fifty to eighty men. In February, 1914, the business was incorporated under the name of Nelson & Company, Inc., of which L. F. Nelson is the president, with Robert P. Nelson as secretary and treasurer. The operations of the company have constantly broadened in seope and importance and there is no phase of the building contracting business with which they are not familiar.
On the 14th of September, 1893, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Peterson, of Racine, who is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and a daughter of J. P. Reistrup. They now have three children, Elmer F., Harriet and George W. The family hold membership in the Bethany Lutheran church and Mr. Nelson belongs to the Dania Society. He is likewise a member of the Elks, while his identification with the Commercial Club is a manifestation of his deep and helpful interest in the city's welfare, its upbuilding and improve- ment. Diligence, energy and ambition have been guiding elements in his career and have enabled him to pass many others on the business highway and cross the threshold of success.
JOHN W. HAY.
Since 1901 John W. Hay has resided upon his present farm of one hundred and forty acres in Yorkville township, and has concentrated his energies upon the dairy business, shipping milk to Chieago. He was born in Raymond town- ship, this county, on the 24th of August, 1853, a son of William and Mary (Coad) Hay, the former a native of Cumberland, England, and the latter of Cornwall. The paternal grandfather, Adam Hay, became a resident of Racine county and passed his last days here, but the grandmother died on the voyage across the Atlantic. The maternal grandfather was an early settler of York- ville township, this county. William Hay was edueated in England, but ac- companied his parents to the United States and became a resident of Racine county, where he engaged in farming for many years, at the time of his death owning one hundred and eighty-five acres of good land. He was a member of the local Methodist Episcopal church which first held services in a mud house in the early days and he served as a church official. In polities he was a stanch republican. but never aspired to official perferment. He was married in York- ville township to Miss Mary Coad and they became the parents of two chil- dren : John W. and a daughter, Jane, deceased. After the death of Mr. Hay the mother became the wife of James Hay, a brother of her first husband, and to this union was born a daughter, Elizabeth, also now deceased.
John W. Hay received his education in the district schools of Raymond township and was reared upon the home farm. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and now holds title to one hundred and forty acres of well improved land. He has a full blooded Holstein bull and a number of high grade Holstein cows and he largely concentrates his energies upon dairy-
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ing. He takes great care to insure the cleanliness of the milk which he sells and secures a good price for in Chicago. For a number of years he resided upon the family homestead, but fifteen years ago disposed of that place and purchased his present farm.
Mr. Hay was married in 1879 to Miss Mary Phillips, a daughter of Thomas Phillips, an early settler of Yorkville township. Mrs. Hay was born in this county and has resided here during her entire life. She has become the mother of three children : Stella E., the wife of Ernest Fivian, a farmer of this county, by whom she has three children, John Merrill, and Geraldine M. and Shirly R., twins, deceased; Phillip Thomas, who is at home and is nineteen years old. and William, who died at the age of nineteen years.
Mr. Hay is independent in polities and is now filling the office of super- visor. He is connected fraternally with the Foresters and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in the work of which they are active and in which he has held office for a considerable period of time. His success as a farmer and dairyman has been due entirely to his enter- prise, the careful attention which he has given his business and his wise man- agement of his affairs and he ranks among the able and prosperous residents of his township.
THOMAS F. McGRAW.
Thomas F. McGraw, who for the past twenty-three years has conducted business as a retail shoe merchant at his present location. is one of the oldest representatives of trade interests on Sixth street, most of the merchants hav- ing come into active connection with the commercial life of Racine since he opened his store. A progressive spirit has at all time ruled his activities and sound judgment has guided his business transactions. He was born in Raeine, December 15, 1869, a son of John C. and Julia (Powers) MeGraw, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father arrived here when a lad of but fourteen years and the mother also settled in Racine during the period of its early development. Mr. McGraw was a moulder by trade and utilized his skill in that direction to provide for the support of his family. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
After attending the publie and high schools of Racine, Thomas F. McGraw started out in the business world as an employe of L. W. Philbrook, a shoe manufacturer, with whom he remained for ten years. His first position was a most humble and unimportant one, but gradually he worked his way upward through efficiency and fidelity until he was given charge of the shipping de- partment. His desire to engage in business on his own account reached its ful- fillment when. in 1893, when a young man of twenty-four years, he opened a retail shoe store which he has since conducted, remaining at the same location for almost a quarter of a century. There is today on Sixth street scarcely a merchant who was in business here when he opened his store and throughout all the intervening period he has maintained an unassailable reputation for pro- gressiveness, reliability and enterprise.
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On July 2, 1893, Mr. MeGraw was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Baltes, of Raeine, her parents being George and Lucy Baltes, who were early settlers of this city. Mr. and Mrs. McGraw now have three children, namely : Lucile, a high school graduate; Vincent, who is pursuing the engineering course in the University of Wisconsin, and Marcella, a high school student. The family are communicants of St. Rose Catholic church and Mr. MeGraw is identified with the Knights of Columbus, which draws its membership fron those of the Catholic faith. In the order he is past grand knight. His political opinions are not coerced by party affiliation, as he votes independently. He belongs to the Commercial Club and is ever ready and willing to co-operate in any movement that has for its object the benefit and betterment of the city. Here he has always lived and the circle of his friends includes many who have known him from his boyhood. a fact indicative of a well spent life.
HIGGINS SPRING & AXLE COMPANY.
The Higgins Spring & Axle Company is successor to the Ansted & Higgins Spring Company, which was established in 1884 by Michael Higgins and E. W. Ansted. Their plant was located at Racine Junction and there they began the manufacture of springs, putting upon the market a product which found im- mediate favor, as indicated by the continued growth of their business. This led to the establishment of a branch plant at Connersville, Indiana, which was afterward taken over by Mr. Ansted, and the partnership was then dissolved. Mr. Higgins remaining in charge of the Racine establishment. The company was incorporated under its present form in 1892, with Mrs. Mary Higgins as the president, James Higgins as secretary and Michael Higgins as treasurer. They are engaged in the manufacture of springs and axles, doing special work for various companies, and their output is sold all over the United States. The business has become one of large proportions, as indicated in the fact that employment is now given to from one hundred and seventy-five to two hun- dred people, mostly skilled labor. The plant covers about half a block, most of the building is two stories in height and the equipment of the shop ineludes the latest improved machinery necessary for their line. Their business methods have ever commended them to the confidence and support of the publie and they are just in their treatment of debtor and ereditor alike, while to their employes they are considerate, advancing those in their service in recognition of talent and fidelity whenever opportunity offers.
MICHAEL HIGGINS.
Michael Higgins, treasurer of the Higgins Spring & Axle Company, men- tioned above, was born near Oswego, New York, June 28, 1855, a son of Michael and Bridget (Malone) Higgins, who were natives of Cork and County Limer- ick, Ireland. The former was a son of Patrick Higgins. Jr., and a grandson of
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Patrick Higgins, Sr., and it was Patrick Higgins, Jr., who, in 1840, crossed the Atlantic to the new world and founded the family on American soil. After a residence of two years at Little Falls, Herkimer county. New York, he met an accidental death. being struck by the falling branch of a tree. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Condon, survived him until 1866 and passed away at an advanced age. They had six children : James; Patrick ; Joanna, who became the wife of Michael Lannan ; Michael ; Mary, who died in infancy, and Elizabeth, the wife of Martin Geany, who remained in Ireland.
Michael Higgins, Sr., was born in Young Grove, County Cork, Ireland, in February, 1834, and was but six years of age when his parents came to the United States. His residence in New York covered twenty-one years and in 1856 he removed to Chicago. The following year, however, he returned to the east and about 1863 became a resident of Canada, where he spent thirteen years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Missouri, where he en- gaged in farming until 1889, when he came to Racine. In early manhood he wedded Bridget Malone, who passed away December 7, 1897, at the age of sixty-three years. Her parents, Cornelius and Nancy (Cliffe) Malone, settled near Kingston, Ontario, on coming to the new world. To Mr. and Mrs. Michael Iliggins, Sr., were born the following named: Michael; Mary, the wife of Judge Daniel Murphy, of Mexico, Missouri; John, of Manila, Philippine Islands, where he is employed by the United States government; Elizabeth, the wife of Timothy Connolly, of Racine, and Agnes, the deceased wife of James Welsh.
When about five or six years of age Michael Higgins, whose name intro- duees this review, was taken by his parents to Gananoque, Canada, where he pursued a common school education and grew to manhood. After spending several years as an employe on steamers on the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes he secured a situation in a spring factory in Gananoque and afterward spent five years as an employe in spring factories in Kalamazoo, Michigan, during which time his knowledge of and experience in the business was con- stantly broadening and winning for him deserved promotion. He then went to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he was employed for four years, becoming foreman of a factory. It was with this experience that he came to Racine in 1884 and joined E. W. Ansted in organizing the Ansted & Higgins Spring Com- pany, mentioned above. The business continually grew and developed along substantial lines and following the establishment of a branch house in Indiana the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Ansted taking over the Indiana establish- ment, while Mr. Higgins retained the ownership of the Racine business. From the beginning the enterprise has grown and developed until between one hun- dred and seventy-five and two hundred workmen are employed in the factory, which is three hundred and twenty by one hundred and eighty feet in dimen- sions. Mr. Higgins has long been recognized as one of the capable and fore- most business men of the city and his co-operation has been sought along other lines which have led to the city's commercial growth and development as well as to individual suecess.
Mr. Higgins was married January 5, 1879, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Miss Mary Fitzgibbon. daughter of David and Catherine (Sullivan) Fitzgibbon, na- tives of Ireland. the former of Limerick and the latter of County Cork. David
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Fitzgibbon was a railroad man, and on coming to America met, in Buffalo, New York, Miss Sullivan, and there they were married. For some time they were located at various points in Michigan and lived for some time in Kalamazoo. He died in 1895. aged seventy-six years, and his wife in March, 1904, in her eighty-second year. They had three children: David, of Grand Rapids, Michigan ; John. and Mrs. Mary Higgins. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Higgins, Jr., namely: James; George: Agnes; Joseph : Frank : and Leo, who died November 24, 1904. Of this family. James is seere- tary of the Higgins Spring & Axle Company, while George is employed in the axle plant. Mr. and Mrs. Higgins are communicants of St. Rose Catholic church and he belongs also to the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Royal League and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has long been a recognized leader in democratic eireles and has on various oe- casions been called to public office, serving for two terms as alderman in the city council from the sixth ward, beginning in 1889, while in 1899 he was elected mayor of the city, being continued in the office for four years through his re-election in 1901. His administration was characterized by various plans that prevented useless expenditure, that promoted progress along beneficial lines and that introduced needed reforms and improvements. In 1905-06 he served as president of the park board and his activities for the benefit of the city have been far-reaching, his labors contributing much to municipal prog- ress and to the material development and upbuilding of Racine. He belongs to that class of substantial American citizens who owe their progress to personal effort, diligence and determination and his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, indicating what may be accomplished by persistent. earnest effort intelligently directed.
JAMES HIGGINS.
James Higgins, secretary of the Higgins Spring & Axle Company, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. September 6, 1880, while his father, Michael Higgins, mentioned above, was a resident of that city. He supplemented his public school education by study in Niagara University, in which he spent two years, and later he engaged in business with his father, entering into active connec- tion with the Higgins Spring & Axle Company, in which he is now holding a position of administrative direction and executive control as secretary and manager. He has acquainted himself with every department of the work and is familiar with the business in principle and detail, so that he wisely direets the work of employes and as wisely controls the introduction of the products to the markets, being thus active in the management of one of the important industrial concerns of Racine.
On the 21st of November, 1911, Mr. Higgins was united in marriage to Miss Florence M. Malone, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew Malone, who came to Raeine several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Higgins have one daughter, Helen Jean. The family attend St. Rose Catholic church and James Higgins holds membership with the Knights of
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Columbus and also with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was but four years of age when brought to Racine, so that practically his entire life has been passed in this city, where he has a wide acquaintance and where he is accorded a ereditable and enviable position as a business man.
A. ARTHUR GUILBERT.
A. Arthur Guilbert, whose high rank and undeniable skill as an architect enables him to command a most liberal patronage and the evidence of whose ability is found in many of the leading structures of this city, was born in Racine, August 8, 1869, a son of Albert W. and Celia M. (Pease) Guilbert. The father, also a native of Racine, was a son of Albert W. Guilbert, who was born on the isle of Guernsey and who in 1838 arrived in Racine, ere the ad- mission of the state into the Union and ere the little village which is now the county seat and a populous manufacturing center had entered in any way upon its period of modern development and progress. In an early day he was a sea captain, commanding a vessel engaged in the coffee trade. In his later years he retired and was known as one of Racine's capitalists. Albert W. Guilbert. reared in Racine, became manager for the Western Union Telegraph Company and so continued for many years. Eventually he became connected with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company and remained with that corporation until his death. His wife, who has also passed away, was a daughter of Henry and Mary (Warburton) Pease, who were pioneer settlers of Albany, Illinois.
A. Arthur Guilbert after attending the public and high schools of Racine. from which he was graduated with the class of 1888, beeame a student in Le- high University of Pennsylvania and still later matriculated in the University of Michigan. In further preparation for a professional career he entered the Chicago School of Architecture, from which he was graduated in 1901. Well qualified by broad and thorough training, he returned to Racine and entered upon the active practice of his profession. Monuments to his skill and ability are to be seen on every side, for his firm designed the MeMynn school, the Welsh Methodist Episcopal church, the First Methodist church. the Grange Avenue Methodist church, the First National Bank building, the Commercial Savings Bank building, the N. D. Fratt sehool, Elks Club House. Racine Coun- try Club, park refectories, the No. 1 and No. 6 engine houses and many other public buildings, together with a large number of fine residences. His work is of the highest class, combining the elements of comfort, utility and artistic workmanship. At one time he was in partnership with Herbert B. Rugh under the firm style of Guilbert & Rugh and after the dissolution of that partnership he was joined in 1906 by E. B. Funston, who sold out in 1915. Since that time Mr. Guilbert has been alone in business but employs several assistants. He is today accounted one of the foremost architects of the state. and is a member of the architects' arbitration committee of the state board of control.
In 1895 Mr. Guilbert was married to Miss Bessie M. Bull, a daughter of Stephen Bull, who was one of Racine's most distinguished citizens and busi- ness men. The children of this marriage are : F. Warburton, nineteen years
A. Arthur Guiltal
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of age, who is a talented musician and is now a student in Princeton Univer- sity ; Gordon MeKenzie, seventeen years of age, who is attending the Hill School at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and Ellen Katherine Kellogg, seven years of age.
Mr. Guilbert has attained high rank in Masonry, belonging to lodge, chap- ter, council, commandery, consistory and the Mystic Shrine. He is also identi- fied with the Elks and is very popular and prominent in club circles, having membership in the Somerset Club, the Country Club, of which he was presi- dent during 1915 and 1916, the Wisconsin State Golf Association of which he is now president, the University Club of Milwaukee and the Raeine Commer- cial Club. He belongs to the Episcopal church and in polities maintains an independent course. Broad study has made him thoroughly familiar with the great scientifie principles which underlie his profession, as well as with every practical phase of the business. He is familiar with the best examples of an- cient and modern architecture as seen in the notable places of Europe and he is quick and skillful in adapting any idea to modern American needs. Ruled by more than ordinary intelligence, his progressive spirit is guided by good judgment and he has been a persistent, resolute and energetic follower of his profession.
RACINE CARRIAGE COMPANY.
The Racine Carriage Company is one of the most recent additions to the corporations which are doing business in Racine and which promote the con- mercial and industrial activity and consequent prosperity of the city. This company was organized in December, 1914, and sueceeded to the vehicle busi- ness of the Racine-Sattley Company and also to that of the Richardson- Kennedy Company. W. H. Richardson became the president of the new concern, with J. O. Kennedy as vice president and J. C. Lund as secretary and treasurer. All three are well known to the vehicle trade throughout the United States, for Mr. Richardson and Mr. Lund were old time employes of the Racine Wagon & Carriage Company, the service of which they entered in a humble capacity but gradually worked their way upward to official positions, while Mr. Kennedy had also for many years been connected with the old com- pany and his experience had been wide. The Raeine Wagon & Carriage Com- pany was organized about 1866, and manufactured a full line of spring vehicles of all kinds, including farm wagons. The new company continues in the same line save that they discontinued the manufacture of farm wagons and they occupy the same quarters used by their predecessors for a half century. The factory, however, has been remodeled and equipped with thoroughly up-to- date machinery and tools and in addition to the vehicle manufacturing plant they have opened a first class repair department that fills a long felt want of the local trade in this branch of industry. It ineludes retrimming and painting with special attention to automobiles. They employ a number of skilled workmen and the plant is now thoroughly modern in construction and equipment and is supplied with sprinkler system. The business has steadily
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grown, for the three men at its head are all men of long and wide experience. familiar with every phase of the trade and knowing the business thoroughly in principle and detail. The concern is one of value as a factor in Racine's manufacturing interests, contributing in substantial measure to the further industrial development of the city.
WILLIAM HENRY RICHARDSON.
W. H. Richardson, president of the Racine Carriage Company, is one whose long experience in this line of trade well qualified him for the important posi- tion which he now occupies as executive official, directing the policy and shap- ing the course of the business. One of the elements of his success is the fact that he has always continued in the line in which he embarked as a young tradesman, never dissipating his energies over a broad field but concentrating on the mastery of every task that has devolved upon him and thus gaining a most comprehensive and exact knowledge of the work in all of its phases. He was born in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, February 13, 1868, a son of John Strong and Caroline (Butterworth) Richardson, natives of Ireland and New York, respectively. The latter was a daughter of Henry Butterworth, who was born in Manchester, England, and became a resident of Raeine county in the early '40s, easting in his lot with its first settlers who laid broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the later progress and pros- perity of the district. It was in the '60s that John Strong Richardson arrived in Raeine county, where he followed the blacksmith's trade, which he had previously learned in England.
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