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 37
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His son, Thomas Moyle, who was one of a large family, followed in his father's business footsteps. On coming to America he made his way around the Great Lakes to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he arrived in May, 1842. He estab- lished his home in Yorkville township, Racine county, purchasing three acres of land, on which the village of Yorkville now stands. On that place he erected the first frame dwelling in this section of the country. To his original pur- chase he added from time to time until he became the owner of two hundred acres of land in Yorkville and Raymond townships. He was the first veter- inary surgeon of Racine county and he continued to practice the profession throughout his entire life, being very successful. A contemporary biographer has said of him : "He was public-spirited and a man of good education so that he naturally became one of the leading and influential men of the region and was often called upon to administer the estates of deceased friends. He also held various public offices, such as assessor, elerk and treasurer, and he did much to promote the best interests of the township." He died on the old homestead November 23, 1868. when fifty-six years of age, while his wife sur- vived until January 10, 1876, reaching the age of sixty-nine years. Both were Methodists in religious faith and were charter members of the church of York- ville, of which Mr. Moyle was for years a lay preacher. Their family num- bered four children, of whom three are living: John F .; William, who is a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church : and Thomas, who, following in the professional footsteps of the family. is now a veterinary surgeon at White-
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water, Wisconsin. A daughter, Mary, became the wife of Thomas Price, of Chicago, and has now passed away.
The maternal grandfather of John F. Moyle was William Foxwell, a native of Cornwall, England, where he owned a large estate, being well known as a country gentleman of means and a man of liberal education. After his death his widow, who bore the maiden name of Ann Harris, came to the United States and passed away at the home of her son-in-law. Thomas Moyle, when in her eightieth year.
John F. Moyle, whose name introduces this review, has been a lifelong resi- dent of Yorkville save that the period of his infancy was passed in his native land. He has lived, however, in this county for seventy-four years, a period exceeding that of most of its other citizens. His education was acquired in a district school and he was also given the opportunity of developing his musical talent which was marked. For a number of years he taught singing schools and music has always constituted one of the delights of his life. He worked upon his father's farm until nineteen years of age and then turned his attention to carpentering and building, being employed along those lines for thirty- seven years and taking active part in promoting the building activity of the county. He was engaged in that work for some time in Racine, but eventually he turned his attention to the insurance business and for twenty-two years has been the capable and efficient secretary of the Yorkville & Mount Pleasant Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.
In 1866 Mr. Moyle was united in marriage to Miss Susan Foxwell, who was born in Caledonia, Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Lucy Foxwell. Her father, now deceased, was for more than four decades successfully iden- tified with the interests of Racine county. He was born in Cornwall, England, as was his father, William Foxwell, who spent his entire life in that country, where both he and his father, John Foxwell, were country gentlemen, owning good estates. William Foxwell received a medal from the Royal Society of England for saving the crew of the troop ship Royal George, which was . wrecked off the coast of Cornwall when returning from India. He died when about seventy-five years of age and was survived by his wife, Ann Harris, a daughter of John Harris. a farmer who died in England. After her husband's death Mr. Foxwell came to America with her family and lived in Yorkville township, Racine county, until her demise, which occurred when she was in her eightieth year. A contemporary biographer has given the following ac- count of the father of Mrs. Moyle :
"John Foxwell came from England to America in 1840, and located in Racine county, Wisconsin. He took up land from the government at one dollar and a quarter per acre, buying what is now known as the Thomas Shepard farm, but in less than a year he sold out and moved to Caledonia township, buying a farm there. After some fifteen years residence there he returned in March, 1856, to Yorkville township, where he purchased a large farm, on which he lived until the day of his death. Mr. Foxwell was a man of more than ordinary mental attainments, and, having received a liberal education in his native land, became a valuable acquisition in this new community. With a musical and artistic temperament, and deep religious convictions, he was a power among his neighbors for good, and was one of the founders and a life-
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long supporter of the church and society at Yorkville, his best endeavors being freely given as a lay preacher, as long as he was able to build it up. Politically, before and during the Civil war, Mr. Foxwell was an abolitionist, and when that question was settled espoused the cause of the prohibition party. He was without political ambition, but never indifferent to the welfare of the state. He died at his home March 20, 1882, at the age of seventy-five years. John Foxwell chose for his wife Miss Lucy P. Briggs, daughter of Ansel and Susanna (Alton) Briggs, born in Zanesville, Ohio, August 30, 1820. They were married September 13, 1841, and Mrs. Foxwell is still living in their old home. They were the parents of twelve children, namely: William, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Susan M., deceased wife of John F. Moyle; Avis, wife of Wells M. Cook, of Des Moines, Iowa; Lydia, who married Jerome Mclaughlin, of Hartford, Michigan; Mary Ann, wife of Thomas F. Moyle, of Waterford, Wisconsin ; Philander, deceased ; John, of Wapello, lowa; Mark, of Manitoba ; George, of Waterford; Lucy, wife of George Richards, of Waukesha; and Paul and Elsie, who did not outlive infancy. Mrs. Lucy P. Foxwell is in the seventh generation from the first of the Briggs family to come to America. There were three brothers, who came to Massachusetts early in the sixteen hundreds, possibly among the Pilgrims. Her paternal grandfather, Zedock Briggs, a native of Massachusetts, and a farmer by occupation, bore arms in the Revolution. He married Miss Harriet Palmeter, and both lived to a good old age, her death occurring only six weeks prior to his. They had five daughters and seven sons. Their son, Anel, father of Mrs. Foxwell, was born in Massachusetts, and grew up and marri { there, but in 1814 went with his wife to Ohio. He settled first on a farm ou the Muskingum river, but after- ward moved to Medina county, and finally, in 1837, went to Wisconsin, settling in Caledonia township, Racine county, where he remained about thirteen years. Then he again sought a new home further west, finally locating in Iowa, in Illyria township, Fayette county, where he and his wife died. They were buried in the cemetery at Lima. At the time of his death, May 8, 1855, Mr. Briggs was sixty-five years old, and his wife, Susanna (Alton) Briggs. died June 10, 1853, aged fifty-eight years. They had ten sons and two daugh- ters, ten of whom grew to maturity. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Fox- well, Amasa Alton, came to this country as a Hessian soldier, fought against the colonists, was wounded, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Saratoga. On parole, becoming better acquainted with the object of the colonists, he espoused their cause, and renouncing his allegiance to king and country, be- came an American citizen. When the strife was over he lived and died as a farmer in Massachusetts. He was twice married, first to Miss Rachel Blood and second to Miss Philena Rice. By the two marriages he became the father of six children, all daughters. Mrs. Lucy P. Foxwell made the journey from Ohio to Wisconsin with her father's family in 1837, and she well remembers the trip, which was made by wagon. A resident of Wisconsin for seventy- nine years, she has seen the country develop from a wilderness, and can recall Racine when there were only four houses on the east side of Main street. One of the interesting characters in this sketch, she still lives at the age of ninety- six years, in her own home, and in the full possession of all her faculties. Her reminiscences of the early settlement of Racine county are highly prized by
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her children, grandchildren and great grandehildren, by all of whom she is duly loved and honored and whose great pleasure is to gather annually at her home and celebrate her birthday."
To Mr. and Mrs. Moyle were born eight children, of whom six are yet living : Walter, who is engaged in the nursery business in Yorkville; Lydia, the wife of Professor Seederstrom, of St. Cloud, Minnesota; Nellie, the wife of Roy Blackburn, a dairyman of Texas; Cecil; Amy, and Mary, the wife of Leonard Kellogg, who is engaged in the nursery business in Texas. The wife and mother of this family passed away April 13, 1904, in the sixty-first year of her age, and in 1909 Mr. Moyle married Lydia Foxwell, a sister of his first wife and the widow of Jerome MeLaughlin.
In his political views Mr. Moyle is a prohibitionist, which indicates his attitude on the temperance question and his loyal support of whatever he believes to be right. For thirty years he has filled the office of justice of the peace and his decisions have ever been strictly fair and impartial. He has served as town clerk for seven years and was clerk of the school board for twenty-five years. He has also been secretary in the Mutual Fire Insurance Company for twenty-two years and has been connected therewith for forty years. He still owns seventy-two acres of land, which, however, he rents and this brings to him a substantial income. His has been an active and well spent life and those who know him esteem him for his sterling worth. He has a wide acquaintance and high regard is entertained for him wherever he is known and most of all where he is best known.
EDGAR P. WOLF.
Edgar P. Wolf, the treasurer of the Perfex Radiator Company and one of the wide-awake, alert and enterprising young business men of Racine. was born in Chicago, October 6, 1891, a son of J. P. and Emily J. (Augustus) Wolf. The father was engaged in the stone business and in the building and real estate business. He afterward served for ten years as United States marshal, retiring from that position on the 1st of January, 1916. He is not now actively connected with any business affairs, although he is financially interested in the Perfex Radiator Company and holds the office of secretary.
E. P. Wolf, after attending the public schools of Chicago, became a stu- dent in the University of Chicago and after his textbooks were put aside was engaged in various manufacturing and commercial lines in different capacities until the organization of the Automobile Radiator & Parts Manufacturing Company, in which he was associated with F. M. Opitz and others. They de- veloped the largest enterprise of this character in Chicago and Mr. Wolf became one of its directors. At length plans were perfected to remove the business to Racine and the company took over the invention and patents of F. M. Opitz, who had brought forth a radiator which was an improvement on all others that had hitherto been manufactured for internal combustion engine use. The plant was established at Racine, the business was reorganized and the company incorporated and Mr. Wolf at that time became treasurer of the
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company and is still active in the management and control of the business, which from the beginning has grown steadily and rapidly. Improvements have been made on the radiator each year and it is now accepted as a standard product. Something of the growth of the business is indicated in the fact that there are now two hundred employes and the plant is working to its full capacity, the trade steadily growing until the output is now sent to all parts of the country, being used largely by tractor and automobile manufacturers.
On the 28th of October, 1914, Mr. Wolf was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Vera Smith, of Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of George B. and Jennie Smith. They now have one child, George Byron. Mr. Wolf is a de- voted and consistent member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. In social circles of the community he and his wife are held in high esteem and Mr. Wolf has won a most ereditable position among the progressive business men of his adopted city.
LAWRENCE R. LARSEN.
Lawrence R. Larsen, accounted one of the enterprising young business men of Racine, was born in this city, March 23, 1897, a son of Martin and Johanna Larsen, who are natives of Denmark. In early life they crossed the Atlantic to become residents of the new world. hoping to enjoy better business oppor- tunities on this side the water than the father could hope to secure in his native land. Making their way to Racine. they have since resided in this city and Mr. Larsen is now engaged in the furniture business.
Spending his boyhood and youth in Racine. L. R. Larsen is indebted to its public and high schools for his educational opportunities, supplemented by a course in a business college, which qualified him for the responsibilities that now devolve upon him. In 1915 he came to the Perfex Radiator Com- pany, where he occupies the position of general office man. He is making it his purpose to thoroughly master every phase of the business and render his service of much value to the corporation which he represents. He is ambitious and energetic and his friends do not hesitate to prophesy for him a successful future.
RACINE AUTO TIRE COMPANY.
The Racine Auto Tire Company was organized as a partnership February 1, 1910. by L. J. Elliott and Clarence H. Wright and was incorporated November 28, 1914, with Mr. Elliott as president, J. H. Wright as vice president and Clarence H. Wright as secretary, treasurer and manager. The plant is located at No. 1220 Fourteenth street. They started with small space and three em- ployes, while the output amounted to three tires per day. Something of the growth of the business within the short space of less than six years is indicated in the fact that they now employ one hundred and twenty-five men and manu-
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facture two hundred and twenty-five tires per day, their output being known to the market as the Racine Horseshoe tire. They manufacture all sizes and weights of tires for various machines and these are sold to dealers and job- bers throughout the middle west and to the Pacific coast. They use excellent material and employ skilled labor, as is evidenced by the rapid increase in their output. The product is of very high grade and the growth of the busi- ness is indicated in the fact that it is now profitable to maintain branch houses at Des Moines, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago. Their plant covers a space of seventy-five by one hundred and seventy-five feet, the building being two stories in height and they expect to ereet a new factory at an early date. By the 1st of June, 1916, their shipments reached an amount equal to all ship- ments made in 1915. The growth of the business has been particularly rapid sinee 1914 and is due to careful organization, judicious advertising, excellent workmanship in manufacturing and the marked executive power of the officials.
CLARENCE H. WRIGHT.
Clarence H. Wright, the secretary, treasurer and manager of the Racine Auto Tire Company, was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, June 14, 1883, a son of J. H. Wright, who, in 1893, removed with his family to Racine and became general superintendent of the Fish Brothers Wagon Factory, which position of responsibility he acceptably filled for sixteen years. He then resigned and built a large wagon manufacturing plant in Canada and in March, 1915, he again became identified with the business interests of Racine as vice president of the Racine Auto Tire Company.
After leaving the high school, in which he completed his education, Clar- ence H. Wright entered the employ of the Fish Brothers Wagon Company as timekeeper in the factory and various promotions brought him to the position of foreman of the wheel department. In 1907 he organized the Racine Com- pressed Air Cleaning Company, conducting business at both Racine and Ke- nosha and was associated therewith until 1910, when he entered into active relations with the Racine Auto Tire Company, which was organized on the 1st of February, of that year, Mr. Wright becoming one of its founders. The business gradually developed until 1914 and since then has gone forward with leaps and bounds until the establishment, which originally employed but three men and made but three tires per day, is now giving employment to one hun- dred and twenty-five workmen while its output is two hundred and twenty- five tires daily.
On the 10th of June, 1909. Mr. Wright was married to Miss Jessie Elliott Deacon, a daughter of Walter F. and Louise E. Deacon of Racine. They now ' have two daughters : Mary Virginia and Jane Elliott. Mr. Wright votes with the republican party, strongly endorsing its policy and principles, and is in- terested in local affairs, as evidenced in his membership in the Commercial Club. He also belongs to St. Luke's Episcopal church, in which he has served as vestryman for many years and in its work he takes an active and helpful part. In an analyzation of his life work it will be seen that he has been ac-
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tuated by high principles, both in business and in other relations, for he has continually reached toward lofty attainment, making his service of great worth in community interests relative to the material, civic and moral development of his city.
RACINE ELECTRIC COMPANY.
The Racine Electric Company is one of the more recently established enter- prises of the county, having been in existence for four years. It was organ- ized in 1912 with Toulie Tolfson as president; John Ruggaber as secretary, treasurer and manager, and William Nelson as director. In the year 1913 Messrs. Tolfson and Nelson sold out and Herbert Van Bree, purchasing an in- terest in the business, was elected to the presidency. The business was started on Douglas avenue, in a small place, there remaining until the increasing trade caused a removal when larger quarters were secured at the corner of Prospect and Superior streets, where they occupied the third floor of the building with the Racine Iron & Wire Works. They manufacture electric motor spe- cialties, vacuum cleaners, vibrators, motors, fans, drink mixers and grinding motors, and the product is sold in all parts of America and in Canada. Mr. Ruggaber, a man of marked inventive genius and ingenuity, has taken out patents on most of the articles manufactured. Thirty-six employes are on the payroll and the output is sold largely to, dealers, manufacturers' agents and jobbers. With the acceptance of electricity as a motive power and rapid de- velopment of electrical business their output has come Mso general use and their patronage has steadily grown. The company will build a three-story brick factory on the North Side on Yout street near Douglas avenue.
JOHN WILLIAM RUGGABER.
John William Ruggaber, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Racine Electric Company, was born on the 26th of July, 1882, in the city of Racine, his parents being Joseph and Theresa (Brick) Ruggaber, the former a native of Ottawa, Illinois, while the latter was also born in Racine. The Ruggaber family was early established in this section of the state and as the name indi- cates they come of German ancestry. The father, Joseph Ruggaber, died in the year 1894, but the mother still survives. They had a family of four sons : Frank, John W .. Ed and Albert, all of whom are yet living.
John William Ruggaber obtained a public school education while spend -. ing his youthful days under the parental roof. He was carly trained to habits of industry and from boyhood days has depended largely upon his own re- sources for a living. He first secured employment in the plating works of William Brown and afterward occupied a position in the Bee Bee Bicycle Works. Still later he was with the Racine Wagon & Carriage Company and afterward with the J. W. Spence Jewelry Manufacturing Company. He has
JOHN W. RUGGABER
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occupied positions in various departments of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company with which he remained for seven years, spending five years in the boiler works, while later he was for two years with the Case Plow Works. All these different connections have brought him broad experience, resulting in increased skill and ability. Entering the service of the Standard Electric ยท Works he was made assistant foreman of the assembling department for a few months and later was given charge of the assembling department. He became associated with the Hamilton-Beach Company on its organization and remained with that company for two years, having charge of the assembling department. At the end of that time he became one of the organizers of the Racine Electric Company, of which he was made secretary, treasurer and manager, and he has since been the active head of this business, mention of which is made above.
On the 29th of May, 1904, Mr. Ruggaber was married to Miss Lucy Cook, of Racine, a daughter of Theodore and Margaret Cook, and they now have five children : Lucile, Leon, Kermet, Louis and Lavern. The family are com- municants of St. Patrick's church. In politics Mr. Ruggaber maintains an independent attitude when casting a local ballot but at national elections favors the republican party. He has membership with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and with the United Commercial Travelers. There have been no unusual chapters in his life's record; his career has been an orderly progres- sion, consistent in its advance and ruled by that sound judgment which takes into consideration needs and opportunities as well as individual capability.
L. C. CHRISTENSEN.
L. C. Christensen is one of the extensive land owners of Racine county, his holdings embracing more than five hundred aeres, much of which he now rents, but gives personal supervision to the further cultivation and improve- ment of a tract of eighty acres, on which he conduets a large wholesale and retail live stock business. There is something stimulating in the life record of such a man as Mr. Christensen, who owes his success to his own efforts, his record proving what may be accomplished when energy and ambition point out the way. He was born in Norway township. this county, April 13, 1883. a son of N. M. and Marie (Larson) Christensen, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father arrived in Racine county when a young man and pur- chased land in Norway township, whenee he removed to Raymond township in 1884, becoming owner there of an excellent tract of one hundred and eighty acres, of which he cleared and developed one hundred and fifty aeres. He built good buildings upon the place and added other modern improvements. He was married twice, Marie Larson becoming his second wife, and when he married a second time he had only money enough to pay the preacher. His success was all acquired after that, yet before his death he had become one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of his community. His life, moreover, was ever upright and honorable, being in consistent harmony with his profes-
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sions as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he was a republican.
Reared to farm life. L. C. Christensen pursued his education in the public schools and when but fifteen years of age began dealing in live stock, since which time he has continued active in that business. He slaughters and sells meat to the Racine market and is also a large shipper to Chicago. For fourteen years he has made weekly trips to Racine with dressed meat. His life has been one of unfaltering industry and as the years have gone on he has won a very substantial measure of success, owing to his careful management and keen business sagacity. From time to time he has made judicious investments in property until his holdings now embrace five hundred and two-thirds acres of land. From the greater part of this he derives a substantial rental and upon the eighty-acre tract. which he reserves for personal cultivation and improve- ment, he raises the crops best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here. He conducts an extensive dairy business on a farm of two hundred and fifty-seven acres at Franksville, Wisconsin, and the remainder of his farm lands is used for live stock purposes. In business affairs he displays sound judgment and un- faltering enterprise and whatever he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion.
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