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 35
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W. H. Richardson acquired a publie school education and a business col- lege training which further qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. His initial step in the business world was made as a clerk in the hardware store of George Conroe on Sixth street and afterward he accepted the position of bookkeeper with the Raeine Wagon & Carriage Company. Later he was advanced to the sales department and the capability and fidelity which he displayed won him promotion to assistant secretary and treasurer of the company and for over twenty years he was sales and advertising man- ager, thus having control of the output in its introduction to the market. When the Raeine Carriage Company, in 1914, was organized and took over the vehicle business of the Racine-Sattley Company and the Richardson-Kennedy Company he was elected president of the new organization. Their business is now one of growing volume and importance, necessitating the employment of a number of skilled workmen and the output, which includes all lines of spring vehicles, finds ready sale in the home markets and in the west and south west. Their patronage is now most gratifying. They have ever main- tained high standards in workmanship. in durability and in the style of the product and have ever realized that satisfied patrons are the best adver- tisement.
On the 25th of June, 1896, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Emily Olson, of Racine, a daughter of S. Olson, and they have one son. William H.,
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now in school. Mr. Richardson maintains an independent political attitude but is neglectful of none of the duties of citizenship, heartily endorsing and sup- porting plans and measures that work for the benefit of Racine or upholds the high status of state and nation. In fraternal circles he is well known, having membership with the Elks and Royal Arcanum, while in Masonry he has taken the degrees of club, lodge, chapter, council and commandery, exemplifying In his life the beneficent spirit of the craft and adhering loyally to its teachings. He is also an active member of the Racine Commercial Club. Ilis is the notable record of the self-made man. Starting out in life empty-handed, the salary which he at first received was small and the position he occupied was insig- nificant but like many other brainy, energetic men who have left their impress upon the magnificent development of this western manufacturing center, he did not wait for a specially brilliant opening. Indeed he could not wait and his natural industry would not have permitted him to do so, even if his finan- cial circumstances had been such as to make it possible. His mental and physical activity-the only capital that he brought with him to the starting point of his business career-made immediate employment a necessity and at that time he showed conspicuously the traits of character which have brought him prosperity, for he performed all his duties, however humble and however small the recompense, conscientiously and industriously and thus step by step he worked his way upward until he stands today at the head of an enter- prise of growing proportions, the interests of which he is most capably directing.
GOLD MEDAL CAMP FURNITURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The Gold Medal Camp Furniture Manufacturing Company had its incep- tion in a business started by R. B. Lang in 1890 and incorporated in 1892, its first officers being R. B. Lang, president; W. G. Gittings, vice president ; and J. G. Teall, secretary. This company manufactures all kinds of camp furniture and outing outfits, although at the beginning the output included only six or seven articles, among which was the Gold Medal Cot invented by Louis Latour. Since that time the output has been extended in its scope until there is no accessory to camp furnishings that cannot be supplied by this establishment. About 1894 they removed to their present location from their old quarters on Thirteenth street. They now occupy about two entire blocks, which includes the lumberyard. Their buildings, two and three stories in height, are of modern construction, supplied with sprinkler system, are well lighted and ventilated and are supplied with the latest improved machinery to facilitate their manufacturing interests. They employ one hundred and twenty-five people, mostly skilled labor, and their product is now shipped all over the world, about one-third being called upon for the export trade. The Gold Medal Cot has been adopted as the standard by the United States army and navy, also a chair bathtub and stool used by the medical department of the United States army. The company furnishes the National Guard with its cots and it also supplies a large trade that equips camping parties with their
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outfits. This is a close corporation, of which the present officers are: C. C. Gittings, president; E. E. Bailey, vice president; W. G. Gittings, secretary ; and Ward Gittings, treasurer. The name of Gittings has ever been a synonym for progressiveness and reliability in Racine business circles and it has become known in the same connection throughout the country.
WILLIAM G. GITTINGS.
Along well defined lines of labor, guided by sound judgment and con- trolled with a view to maintaining a high standard of business ethies, William G. Gittings has reached the goal of success, being now manager of the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Manufacturing Company. Racine county claims him as a native son. He was born October 6, 1858, his parents being William and Elizabeth Gittings, who were natives of the north of Wales. The latter was a daughter of Thomas Gittings who followed farming in Wales and there spent his entire life. William Gittings, in 1840, crossed the Atlantic from Wales and for fifteen years made his home in the vicinity of Utica, New York, while in 1855. he arrived in Racine county. He purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Caledonia township and the place has since been in posses- sion of the family. After devoting his energies to general agricultural pur- suits for a number of years William Gittings and his wife took up their abode in the city of Racine where Mrs. Gittings passed away in 1903 at the age of seventy-four years. Death came to Mr. Gittings when he had passed the eighty- ninth milestone on life's journey and was on a visit to his old home in New- town, North Wales. He had been prominent and influential in public affairs in Racine county and was one of its most honored and respected citizens, while both he and his wife were devoted members of the Congregational church. Their family numbered the following named sons and daughters: William G., Christopher C., engaged in law practice in Racine; Mrs. John Pugh, of Racine : John T., of Union Grove; Mrs. Charles Kittinger, deceased : and Ward R. and Elizabeth A., both of Racine."
After attending the public schools William G. Gittings continued his educa- tion in MeMyn's Academy and for a year he engaged in teaching school, while for seven years he occupied the position of county superintendent of schools, the educational interests of the county being greatly promoted through his management and through the adoption of methods leading to improvement and progress. On coming to Raeine he was appointed to the position of as- sistant postmaster and occupied that offiee for nearly five years. Later he was made manager of the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Manufacturing Company, of which extended mention is made above, and in this connection he is active in control of one of the important productive industries of the city. He has not confined his attention, however, to a single line, for his co-operation has been sought in other directions and has proven an element in Racine's further busi- ness development. In 1907 he became one of the organizers of the Racine City Bank and one of its heavy stockholders and from the beginning has filled the office of president. Mr. Gittings is also interested in agricultural pursuits.
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being the owner of two fine farms in Racine county, both of which are stocked with high grade dairy cows, the entire product of his dairy going to the Gif- ford Brothers Sanitary Milk Company.
In 1890 Mr. Gittings was united in marriage to Miss Jennie L. Bailey, of Racine county, and they have a son, W. L., who is a graduate of the Wisconsin University. Fraternally Mr. Gittings is connected with the Masons and has passed up through both routes, being a Knight Templar and a thirty-second degree Mason. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and the United Commercial Travelers. He belongs to the Commercial Club and attends the Universalist church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his business affairs. He is a member of the Industrial School board commissioners and his co-operation can always be counted upon to promote public interests.
WILLIAM H. KRANZ.
For more than seventy years the name of Kranz has been associated with the business development of Racine and has long been a synonym for pro- gressiveness and reliability in commercial circles. The wholesale paper and stationery business conducted under the name of Kranz was established by John Kranz and since his death has been conducted by his son, William H. Kranz, whose name introduces this review. The latter was born in Racine, July 18, 1856, and the former in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Elizabeth Ritchie, a native of Lensburg. Switzerland. It was in the year 1844 that he came to the United States, set- tling first at Rochester. New York, but in 1845 removing to Racine, where in 1850 he established business on his own account as a dealer in paper and groceries. His trade grew and with its substantial growth he developed the wholesale paper and stationery business which is now conducted by his son, who joined him in the enterprise in 1881. The father remained active in the management and control of the business until 1898, when he retired to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, his death occurring in this city in 1904. His wife was a daughter of August Ritchie, who, on com- ing to the United States with his family, settled first at St. Louis, Missouri, but afterward removed to Walworth county. Wisconsin, where he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers.
William H. Kranz is therefore a representative of two of the old families of this part of the state. Reared in Racine, he mastered the branches of learning taught in the public and high schools and also pursued a commercial course, which qualified him for the responsibilities that devolved upon him when he entered business life. He was a youth of nineteen when, in 1875, he entered the employ of the firm of Gorton & Buffham, with whom he continued until 1881, when. as previously stated, he became assistant to his father in the con- duct of the wholesale paper and stationery business which JJohn Kranz had de- veloped. The son acquainted himself with the trade in every particular, more
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and more largely relieving his father of the management of the business, which he took over entirely upon his father's retirement in 1898 and of which he became sole owner upon the father's death, six years later. This is the oldest commercial business in Racine and probably the oldest business enter- prise of any character. In 1913 the company removed to a new building, where Main street crosses the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul tracks. Theirs is today the largest wholesale paper house in Wisconsin. The building is sev- enty-one by eighty feet, three stories in height with basement, supplied with elevators and is of mill construction. It was erected for this business ex- clusively. The vicinity of the St. Paul railway tracks affords direct shipping facilities and they use auto trucks for local delivery. In 1881, when the whole- sale business was started, it was predicted that such a business would not sue- eeed. The banks refused to loan money, but the enterprise and determination of the promoters never faltered and time has justified their wisdom and their methods. The trade has now grown to extensive and gratifying proportions and the proprietor may well feel proud that this establishment o'ertops any other of the kind in the state. Its success has been built upon the foundation of enterprise, progressiveness and commercial integrity. Their methods are such as have at all times borne the closest investigation and scrutiny and meas- ured up to the highest commercial standards and ethics.
Mr. Kranz exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the republican party, but is without ambition for office. He belongs to the Commercial Club and his high standing in the business circles of the city is indicated in the fact that for six years he was retained in the presidency of the Racine Business Men's Association. He early displayed conspicuously the traits of character which have made his life brilliantly successful. At the outset of his career he performed all the duties that devolved upon him, how- ever humble and however small the recompense might be, conscientiously and industriously, and since he came into active connection with the wholesale paper and stationery business a splendid prosperity has steadily been his. It is true that, like other business men, he may not have found all the days equally bright. Indeed in his commercial experience he has seen the gather- ing of clouds that threatened disastrous storms, but his rich inheritance of energy and pluck has enabled him to turn defeats into victory and promised failures into successes. His strict integrity, business conservatism and judg- ment have always been so uniformly recognized that he has enjoyed publie confidence to an enviable degree.
JOHN J. DAHL.
John J. Dahl, whose home is on section 26, Norway township, is engaged in general farming, but makes a specialty of dairying. He was born on the 8th of October, 1856, in Norway, and is a son of John and Olena (Johnson) Johnson. His parents were lifelong residents of Norway, and of the nine children born to them only two came to the United States, these being our subject and his brother. Ole, who is employed in the shops of Racine. Eight of the family are
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still living and the others reside in Norway. The father, who was employed as a laborer, was born in 1824 and died in 1913. The mother's birth occurred in 1826 and she passed away in 1896. Both were faithful members of the Lutheran church.
John J. Dahl was reared and educated in his native land and it was in 1880 that he crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Raeine county, Wiscon- sin. He spent two years working on a farm in Raymond township and then followed the carpenter's trade for many years. He was in debt thirty-six dol- lars on his arrival in this eounty, but being industrious and enterprising, he steadily prospered and met with sueeess in carpenter work. In 1899, how- ever, he retired from that business and purchased eighty acres of land in Nor- way township, where he now resides. He has erected thereon a good residence and made other substantial improvements, including good outbuildings, and at the present time follows general farming. He has dairy interests, however, and keeps on hand full blooded Holstein cows, shipping his milk to Yorkville. He has cleared much of his land and made all of the improvements thereon, having an up-to-date residence, a good silo and a windmill upon his place.
In 1882 Mr. Dahl married Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter of Johannes Johnson, also a native of Norway, in which country Mrs. Dahl was born. She came to the United States in 1880 and took up her residence in Raymond township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Dahl were born five children : Lovina, now the wife of Ed Overson, a resident of Yorkville township; Inga, the wife of Oscar Gunderson, of Norway township; Anna and Clarence, both at home; and Olaf, deceased. Mrs. Dahl died in 1909, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. She was a member of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Dahl also belongs, and by his ballot he supports the men and measures of the republican party. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside.
FREDERIK RASMUSSEN.
Frederik Rasmussen is now living retired in Raeine, but for many years he engaged in business as a teaming contractor and won so liberal a patronage that the success which he achieved now enables him to rest from further labor and vet enjoy many of the comforts of life. His is the record of the foreign-born citizen who recognizes the opportunities which America offers and, coming to the new world, so utilizes his chances that success in substantial measure be- comes his. He was born in Denmark, September 3, 1838, a son of Rasmus and Christine (Carlson) Hansen. The father spent his entire life in Denmark, but the mother came to the United States in 1873 and here lived until her death.
Frederik Rasmussen was educated in the schools of Denmark and engaged in farming until twenty-two years of age, when he went to Copenhagen, where he was employed in breweries until 1872, when he decided to try his fortune in the new world and came to Racine. Here he began teaming and gradually became a teaming contractor. He went to Tennessee in 1872, but returned to Raeine the following year and again entered the teaming contraeting business. As the years passed his patronage steadily increased and his business became
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an extensive and important one, bringing to him a substantial profit, which now places him among the well-to-do citizens of Racine. He made promptness and reliability the chief feature of his dealings with others and thus won eon- fidenee and support. Four years ago he retired to private life and is now en- joying a well earned rest, with a competence sufficient to supply him with all the necessities and comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
Mr. Rasmussen was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. He is now a member of the Masonie fraternity and belongs to the Danish Society and Danish Brotherhood as a literary member. He enjoys the warm friendship and regard of those with whom he is associated. He has always been glad that he came to the new world for he here found opportunities which he utilized and which have brought him deserved success.
HARRISON FELLOWS.
Harrison Fellows, who figured in business circles of Racine as a dealer in coal and wood and who was also identified with shipping interests as part owner of lake vessels, passed away on the 1st of April, 1887. He had scarcely yet reached the prime of life, his birth having occurred in Williamstown, Ver- mont, July 2, 1840, and he was a son of George D. and Louise (Olds) Fellows. The family is of English lineage although established in Connecticut at an early period in the colonization of the new world, representatives of the name living there before the Revolutionary war. In the fall of 1840 Mr. and Mrs. George D. Fellows left New England and came by team to Wisconsin, settling in Raeine, where Mr. Fellows had previously lived for two or three years. He helped to build the first bridge at the foot of Main street, also built a dock and operated a sawmill. He also owned some vessels and shipped wood to Chicago, continuing in active connection with the business interests of the city until his death, which occurred February 26, 1857, when he had reached the age of forty-four years, six months and twenty-four days. He was a whig in his political faith until the dissolution of that party, when he joined the ranks of the newly organized republican party, and upon the incorporation of the city of Racine he was elected a member of its first board of aldermen. His widow survived him for only a brief period, passing away April 10, 1859.
Harrison Fellows was educated in Racine and after his school days were over went upon the lakes when nineteen years of age, thus continuing until 1873. In that year he engaged in the wood and coal business in connection with a Mr. Higgie, who some time afterward withdrew from the partnership. In the same year A. W. Cogswell became associated with Mr. Fellows and so continued until the spring of 1884, after which Mr. Fellows carried on the busi- ness alone until his death, which occurred on the 1st of April. 1887. In addi- tion to his other business connections he was interested in shipping and, owned a two-thirds interest in the schooner Z. G. Simmons and a half interest in the sehooner J. B. Newland, while of the seow Forrest he was sole owner. He was also the owner of the seow Sea Star, which was lost prior to his death and
HARRISON FELLOWS
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upon which he carried no insurance. Both his commercial and shipping inter- ests proved important and profitable.
On the 1st of August, 1861, Mr. Fellows was married in Racine to Miss Jane M. Higgie, a daughter of Frank and Mary (McQueen) Higgie. She was born in Newbury, Scotland, and came with her parents to Wisconsin when but five years of age, the family home being established in Kenosha, while three years later they came to Racine. Her father was a sailor and vessel owner connected with navigation interests until his death, September 16, 1859. For seven years he had survived his wife, who passed away September 5, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Fellows were the parents of three children: Viola Jane, who is the wife of James Kent and has two children, William Harrison and Jessie Marion ; Harrison A., who married Miss Augusta Majenske and has four chil- dren, Aliee Louise, Edith Irene, Harrison Edward and Gladys; and Plennie Louise, who resides with her mother.
While almost thirty years have come and gone since Mr. Fellows passed away, he is yet remembered by many friends who knew him through business or social relations. He did not seek to figure prominently in any public con- nection but he had many, substantial qualities which were appreciated by those who recognize true worth and the success which he achieved was the merited reward of earnest and well directed labor.
GEORGE B. VYVYAN.
George B. Vyvyan owns eighty acres of good land in Yorkville township and is extensively engaged in buying and selling stoek, which business he has found highly profitable. A native of Racine county he was born in Yorkville township, on the 20th of September, 1885, and is a son of William and Sarah (Beaumont) Vyvyan, the former born in Raymond township. this county, in 1854, and the latter in Dover township, in 1860. The paternal grandfather. William Vyvyan. emigrated from England to Racine county and located in Raymond township. He conducted a meat market in Union Grove for a num- ber of years and gained a substantial measure of prosperity. The maternal grandfather, George Beaumont, was also a native of England, but settled in Dover township, this county, in pioneer days. William Vyvyan, Jr., the father of George Vyvyan, was a butcher and stoek man and also owned two hundred and forty acres of fine land. He was a republican in politics and served as a member of the school board for a considerable period. Both he and his wife were identified with the Yorkville Methodist Episcopal church, whose teach- ings governed their conduct. He passed away on the 25th of March. 1916, and her demise occurred on the 9th of August, 1915. They were married in Dover township and to their union were born four children: Grace, the wife of Clin- ton Skewes; Perry, who is residing upon a farm in Yorkville township and is also engaged in the butchering business; and Earl. a farmer and butcher of Yorkville.
George B. Vyvyan, the other member of the family, acquired a common school education and also attended business college at Racine. For a number
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of years he conducted a butchering business in connection with operating a farm, but is now chiefly engaged in buying and shipping stock of all kinds. Ile gives some time, however, to the cultivation of his farm of eighty acres in Yorkville township, which he purchased from his father in 1907. The place is well kept and the buildings are commodious and substantial. He watches the market carefully and derives a good profit from his transactions.
On the 12th of June. 1907. occurred the marriage of Mr. Vyvyan and Miss Malinda Shunk, who is a daughter of Wesley and Louise (Kollander) Shunk, both natives of Washington county. Wisconsin. Her father has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and has resided in Racine county since March, 1892. He owns a good farm here and in 1901 ereeted a fine modern residence. He has taken an active part in public affairs and is well known and highly esteemed. Mrs. Vyvyan, who is one of a family of three children, has become the mother of a son. Wesley William, whose birth occurred on the 2nd of June, 1913.
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