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 41
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WILLIAM FRANK BREHM.
William Frank Brehm, president of the Brehm Brothers Company at Bur- lington, was born August 21, 1870, in the eity in which he still resides, a son of Bernard Brehm. mentioned elsewhere in this work. Spending his boyhood days in Burlington, William F. Brehm attended the parochial and public schools and when a lad joined his father in the draying business, working in the summer seasons and attending school in the winter. When sixteen years of age he made his first trip to buy horses and the first pair which he purchased
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were prize winners at the Walworth county fair the previous year. The trip was a successful one and gained the confidenee of the father in the son's busi- ness judgment and ability. After this trip he was given a free hand and he has continued buying since that time, remaining always the buyer for the firm, his investments representing from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars annually for draft horses. His ability in judging draft horses is widely acknowl- edged and he has been called upon to aet as judge in a number of publie horse shows. When twenty-one years of age he was admitted to a partnership in his father's business under the firm style of B. Brehm & Son and later they were joined by his brothers, Albert M. and Joseph B.
William F. Brehm held the record for the highest prieed team sold during the six weeks of the big horse sale in Chieago in 1910. He is vice president of the Burlington Blanket Company, of which he has been a director for many years, and he is also vice president and one of the directors of the Security Lightning Rod Company. He has interests outside of Burlington, but he neglects no opportunity to advance the welfare, upbuilding and prosperity of the city.
On the 8th of January, 1896, Mr. Brehm was married to Miss Emma John- son, of Burlington, a daughter of Frederiek Johnson, and their children are : George, who was educated in the Burlington schools and is now a carpenter; Frederick, a high school student, and Florence and Helen, also in school.
Mr. Brehm served as a trustee of the village before its incorporation and he has always been interested in its progress and improvement, giving active aid and support to all measures which he deems of public worth and benefit. He represents one of the old and valued families here and is aeeounted one of the representative business men and citizens of his city.
ALBERT M. BREHM.
Albert M. Brehm, secretary and treasurer of the Brehm Brothers Company, was born in Burlington in 1874 and secured his education in the parochial schools, in the Burlington high school and in the Valparaiso (Ind.) Business College. He assisted his father in business until 1893 and then entered the employ of the Bank of Burlington, in which he continued for over six years, when failing health obliged him to make a change. In 1899 he again became associated with his father in business under the firm style of B. Brehm & Sons and took charge of the National Express business, the firm being agents for that corporation. He then continued in outside work until his father's health failed, when he took charge of the inside work and as one of the officers of the company has since been active in directing the policy and activities of the business.
On the 21st of April, 1903, Albert M. Brehm was married to Miss Catherine Lehrman, of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, a daughter of Joseph H. Lehrman, a representative of one of the old families of Kenosha county. Mr. and Mrs. Brehm have four children, Harold, Lawrence, Margaret and Eugene.
In addition to his other interests Mr. Brehm is a director of the Bank of
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Burlington, with which he has been associated in one way or another since 1893, being today the oldest stockholder and director now connected with the bank. He is also a director of the Security Lightning Rod Company and in addition he has interests outside of Burlington. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church and he is a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus, in which he has been recording secretary for the past three years. The name of Brehm has long been prominently associated with the business activity and enterprise of Burlington and has ever been a synonym for pro- gressiveness and successful achievement.
JOSEPH B. BREHM.
Joseph B. Brehm, vice president of the Brehm Brothers Company, was born in Burlington, April 9, 1879, and acquired his education in the parochial schools. Throughout his business career he has been connected with the enter- prise which now claims his attention, for when his textbooks were put aside he began assisting his father, and in 1909, when the business was incorporated under the style of the Brehm Brothers Company, he became one of the stock- holders and after his father's death he was elected vice president and still con- tinues in that capacity.
Mr. Brehm is a member of the Roman Catholic church and his political alle- giance is given to the democratic party, but he has no desire for office and concentrates his energies upon his business affairs and personal interests. He is one of the well known young business men of Burlington, highly esteemed by all.
BREHM BROTHERS COMPANY.
Brehm Brothers Company is one of the oldest and most prosperous business concerns of Burlington, doing a storage, draying and heavy teaming business and also dealing in coal and salt. Another feature of the business is the sale of heavy draft horses and the quality of their horses is acknowledged by expert judges to be the best in southern Wisconsin. The business was founded in 1868 by Bernard Brehm, a sketch of whom appears above. In 1891 the firm name was changed to B. Brehm & Son, when the father was joined in the partnership by his eldest son, William F. Brehm, and in 1899, when Albert M. Brehm was admitted to partnership. the firm style became B. Brehm & Sons. In 1909 the business was incorporated with Bernard Brehm as the president, in which connection he continued until his death, when he was succeeded in the presidency by W. F. Brehm, while Joseph B. Brehm became vice president and Albert M. Brehm secretary and treasurer. In their draying business the company uses from fifteen to thirty horses and they are also largely engaged in buying and selling heavy draft horses, doing business with Racine. Chicago and local points. They have a warehouse forty by sixty feet and two stories in height
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on the "Soo" Line and accessible by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road. Mr. Brehm became connected with the Wilbur Lumber Company early in the '70s in the retailing of coal, and the Brehm Brothers Company are the pioneer coal dealers of the city. They also do a large jobbing business as salt merchants. In their teaming they are equipped to haul the heaviest machinery, monuments, etc., and in fact they can handle anything in the draying line, having wagons that can earry ten tons. Until 1914 they represented the Stan- dard Oil Company, having handled oil previous to the introduction of Standard Oil products into Wisconsin. During his early connection with the draying business the father had many competitors but he alone continued. His sons, too, have been successful and their business is conducted along progressive lines. They maintain the most sanitary conditions in their stables, which furnish ample shelter for thirty-five horses and which are situated at the corner of State and West streets-a location which they have occupied for forty-five years. The present offices of the company are at Geneva and Pine streets, at which point the business has been conducted since April 1, 1900.
RACINE TRAVELING BAG COMPANY.
Another of the business enterprises which have to do with the attainment of Racine's present greatness and prosperity is the Racine Traveling Bag Com- pany, which was established in 1890 by Herbert Van Bree, Theodore Van Bree and other stockholders. The business was at that time incorporated with Theodore Wadewitz as president and with Herbert, Theodore and H. Van Bree and Herman Wadewitz as directors. The present officers of the company are : Herbert Van Bree, president : Mrs. Joseph Van Bree, vice president; and Mrs. H. Van Bree, secretary and treasurer. The factory is fifty by eighty feet and is three stories in height. They manufacture traveling bags and suitcases and sell direct to the trade, their output going to all parts of the United States. Twenty-five skilled workmen provide the necessary labor for the conduct of the business and the establishment adds to the continuous hum of industry which characterizes Racine and has made it one of the busiest manufacturing centers of the upper Mississippi valley.
HERBERT VAN BREE.
Herbert Van Bree, president of the Racine Traveling Bag Company and also of the Racine Electric Company, is numbered among Wisconsin's native sons, his birth having occurred at Barton on the 25th of June, 1861. his par- ents being Jerry and Johanna Van Bree, both of whom were natives of Hol- land. They were reared in that country, but immediately after their marriage erossed the Atlantic and made their way to Wisconsin, settling at Barton. The father was a miller by trade and followed that pursuit in order to provide for the support of his family, but he and his wife are now deceased.
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Herbert Van Bree is indebted to the publie school system of Barton for the early educational advantages which he enjoyed. He came to Racine when a youth of thirteen years and sinec that time has been dependent largely upon his own resources, working his way upward through diligence and persever- ance. For a short time he was employed by the Secor Trunk Company and afterward spent thirteen years with the S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business on his own account, becoming one of the organizers of the Racine Traveling Bag Com- pany, which is a close corporation, the stock being owned by members of the family. During the twenty-six years of its existence the business of the com- pany has grown steadily and as the executive head of the undertaking, Mr. Van Bree has contributed in large measure to its success. He studies the trade, its needs and demands, knows the market and bases his success upon the standard of goods turned out. Aside from his connection with the Racine Traveling Bag Company he is the president of the Racine Electric company, manufacturers of motors, fans, drink mixers, vibrators, etc., its plant being located at Superior and Prospect streets. This company was organized in 1912 with Mr. Van Bree as the president and with John Rugaber as secretary, treasurer and manager. They employ seventy men. Still other activities claim the attention of Mr. Van Bree, who is now dealing in real estate, buying, selling and renting property. He has become thoroughly conversant with market values and has negotiated many important realty transfers.
Mr. Van Bree married Miss L. Bohn, of Racine, a daughter of Paul and Anna Bohn, representatives of old pioneer families of this part of the state. Two children have been born of this marriage: Lena, the wife of Paul Buch- man, of Racine; and Addie, who married John Peterson, also of this city.
Mr. Van Bree holds membership with the Moose and he attends St. John's Catholic church. In politics he votes independently, nor has he ever been an aspirant for political honors and emoluments. Well defined purpose has brought him from a humble starting point to a position of considerable prom- inence in the manufacturing circles of the city. He has never counted upon fortunate circumstances to aid him or placed his dependence upon a turn in the wheel of fate, but has worked diligently, knowing that the rewards of labor are sure.
J. A. DOBSON.
J. A. Dobson, devoting his energies to the further development and im- provement of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Dover township, not only tills the soil but also engages to some extent in dairying and raises eon- siderable stock, his life being thus a busy and useful one. He was born in Rochester township, March 3, 1859, a son of Richard and Jane (Coekroft) Dobson, natives of England, the former born in Lincolnshire and the latter in Huddersfield. It was in the year 1842 that Richard Dobson came to the United States and in Rochester he married Jane Cockroft, whose father, Joseph Cock- roft, a native of England, became the founder of the family in the new world,
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but he died when a comparatively young man. Richard Dobson started out in life a poor boy and whatever sueeess he achieved was attributable entirely to his own efforts. He learned and followed the blacksmith's trade and also be- came the owner of a farm of forty aeres. His interest in politieal affairs was manifest in his loyal support of the democratie party. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom four are yet living: Mary H., the wife of Joseph Squire, a retired farmer, of Rochester; Emeline, the wife of W. Stein- house, a retired farmer, of Storm Lake, Iowa; Lawrence H., a retired farmer, living in Waterford, Wisconsin; and J. A., of this review.
The last named after obtaining a district school education became asso- ciated with his brother in the purchase of their grandmother's farm, at which time J. A. Dobson was a lad of but fourteen years. He has sinee carried on general farming save for seven years, when he was engaged in the milling business at Rochester, and his activities have been well direeted, bringing him a substantial measure of prosperity. He carries on general farming, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and elimate, does some dairying and also gives considerable attention to stock raising. He has one hundred and twenty aeres of excellent land and has made every dollar himself, a fact that is indicative of a well spent and industrious life.
In 1886 Mr. Dobson was married to Miss Mina Mead, a native of Dover township, where her father, Burr Mead, settled in an early day. Mrs. Dobson' passed away in 1888 and on the 17th of June, 1896, Mr. Dobson wedded Anna Baneroft, a daughter of George Baneroft, a farmer of Dover township. Mr. Dobson has five children : Lueile, who is teaching in Dover township; Aliee, who is attending high school at Waterford; Walter and Lulu, who are pupils , in the district school; and Russell, four years of age.
The parents are members of the Congregational church at Rochester and Mr. Dobson belongs also to the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all of the chairs. In polities he maintains an independent attitude, but in matters of citizenship manifests the same spirit of loyalty which his father displayed when, in response to his country's eall for aid. he served throughout the war as a Union soldier. The Dobsons have always been loyal to the best interests of the community and their name is a synonym for all that is honorable and progressive in business.
RACINE IRON & WIRE WORKS.
With a trade that extends to all parts of the United States, the industry conducted under the name of the Racine Iron & Wire Works is manufacturing household supplies, chemieal fire extinguishers, and wire and iron railings and fences. Wherever man has felt a need, ingenuity has sprung into the breach and genius has brought forth something that has met the need. Thus in our constantly developing and complex civilization the manufacturing interests have multiplied and here and there have sprung up cities that are largely given over to supplying the world's demand for labor saving deviees. Such a concern is that condueted at the corner of Prospect and Superior streets under
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the style of the Racine Iron & Wire Works. This business was organized and established in 1870 by Charles Goehner and after a number of years a corpor- ation was formed, which bought out Mr. Goehner in April, 1906, G. L. Buck being elected president and treasurer of the company, with J. P. Hochgurtel as vice president and Charles W. Peck as secretary. There has been no change in the officers since that time. The company occupies a building one hundred and twenty-nine by forty-five feet and three stories in height and a basement. This is all mill construction, and the equipment of the plant is most modern. The company manufactures chemical fire extinguishers, weaves brass and eop- per cloth, makes wire and iron rails and fences, wire protections for machinery and also manufactures various household specialties. On the pay roll are found the names of from forty to fifty men, most of them are skilled laborers. They sell to jobbers and their output is sent to every part of the country. They manufacture under the name of the Buck hardware specialties and use as a trade mark a buck's head. Their household specialties include broom holders, wonder hooks, plate serapers, food stirrers, can openers, ironing sheet hold- ers, pie lifters, potato mashers, fly swatters, coat hangers, trouser hangers, skirt hangers, wardrobe hanger rods, flower brackets, hanging baskets, win- dow shelves, carpet beaters, lamp guards, sewing bag frames and many other useful articles made of wire. These meet many a need in the household and the output is therefore growing in popular favor.
GEORGE L. BUCK.
George L. Buck, president of the Raeine Iron & Wire Works, is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of indefatigable enterprise and during the decade in which he has been at the head of his present interests has so directed the course of his activities that his labors have spelled suecess. One of New Eng- land's native sons, he was born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1865, a son of David and Charlotte (Olin) Buek, the former of Welsh descent, while the latter was of Scotch lineage, although both families have long been represented in the United States. The father has always devoted his life to the occupation of farming.
When a little lad of six years George L. Buek became a pupil in the public school near his father's home and still later entered the Fort Edward Institute of New York, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884. In early life he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for six years. and later was employed as a railway postal elerk between Chicago and Min- neapolis, remaining upon that run for ten years. He afterward occupied the position of postoffice inspector for two years, with headquarters in Cincinnati, and he entered the business world in Racine in 1903 as a retail merchant. He had previously come to this district to teach school and for two years had taught in a district school of Raeine county and had made his home in the city while serving as railway postal clerk. However, desirous of engaging in busi- ness on his own account he began merchandising. This city, however, is pre- eminently a manufacturing center and into the manufacturing vortex he was
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drawn. He saw his opportunity when, in 1906, he became one of the incorpor- ators of the Racine Iron & Wire Works, which thirty-six years before had been established by Charles Goehner. Under the present management the out- put has been enlarged in its scope and the trade has proportionately increased. A history of the business is given above.
In addition to his other interests Mr. Buek was active with the committee that organized the American Trades and Savings Bank of Racine, with a cap- ital stock of two hundred thousand dollars. The bank was opened for business July 17, 1916. This institution assumed the remaining assets of the old Com- mercial Savings Bank, in order to pay in full the balance due each depositor, and to save a financial loss to a number of industries in Racine.
In 1902 Mr. Buck was united in marriage to Miss Laura Manderson, of Racine, and they have many friends in the city, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them. They hold membership in the Methodist church and their influence is always on the side of progress and improvement. In politics Mr. Buck is a republican, believing that the principles of the party are most conducive to good government. Fraternally Mr. Buck is a Mason, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery and in the chapter he has filled all of the chairs. His life is an exemplification of the teachings of the craft in regard to helpfulness and brotherly kindness, for he is ever ready to extend a helping hand where aid is needed.
HERMAN F. MUELLER.
Starting in the grocery trade as a clerk when fifteen years of age, Herman F. Mueller has since been connected with this line of business, covering a period of forty-three years, and for the past thirteen years has confined his attention solely to the wholesale trade. He is now senior partner in the Mueller-Kuehn Company, operating wholesale houses in both Racine and Kenosha, with Mr. Mueller in charge of the Racine plant. He was born in Germany on the 16th of August, 1857, and is a son of Gustave and Augusta Mueller, who left the fatherland in 1866 and brought their family to the United States, establishing their home in Raeine. Gustave Mueller was a gardener and followed that business until advanced age necessitated his re- tirement. He passed away at the ripe old age of ninety-four years, while his wife reached the age of eighty-three years.
Herman F. Mueller was a little lad of five summers when brought to the United States in 1863 by his uncle, Herman Mueller, who settled in Racine, and it was not until three years later that his parents reached the new world. He pursued his education in parochial and public schools and when fifteen years old put aside his textbooks to make his initial step in the business world, securing a clerkship in a grocery store. He found the occupation congenial and has always continued in this line until now his connection with the grocery trade of Racine covers forty-three years. He clerked until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to engage in business on his own account and on the 1st of May, 1876, he opened a retail grocery store at No.
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HERMAN F. MUELLER
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1017 St. Clair street, at which location he continued for six years. He after- wards spent five years at the corner of Superior street and Douglas avenue and in 1887 came to his present location at Nos. 1400-1410 Douglas avenue. For a long period he sold to the retail trade but for the past thirteen years has confined his attention to the wholesale grocery business and is supplying many merchants not only of this city but of the surrounding territory and in more remote districts. Something of the growth of his business is indicated in the fact that a branch house has been established in Kenosha and the annual sales of the firm amount to six hundred thousand dollars.
In 1878 Mr. Mueller was united in marriage to Miss Frederica Schuneman. who was born in Freeport, Illinois, and is a daughter of Henry and Johanna Schuneman, who became early settlers of Freeport, crossing the Atlantic from Germany and establishing their home in that city in the early '50s. Mr. and Mrs. Mueller have become the parents of six children : Alma, the wife of Charles E. Gundlach, who is connected with the Mueller-Kuehn Company at Kenosha ; Clara, the wife of William Erick, who is a salesman with the Mueller-Kuehn Company in Racine; Minnie, who is private secretary for her father in the business; William, who died November 9, 1908; Elsie, the wife of William Kaiser, who is a bookkeeper for the Mueller-Kuehn Company, and Herman, who died in infancy.
Mr. Mueller and has family are members of the English Lutheran church, to which they give generous support. Mr. Mueller belongs to the United Commercial Travelers and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is now serving as president of the board of cemetery commissioners. He is deeply interested in all the questions which have to do with municipal welfare, stanchly advocating and supporting those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. His is the record of a well spent life, notable in its honorable purpose, its unfaltering diligence and indefatigable energy. He was fortunate that at the outset of his career he chose an occupa- tion which he found congenial and which afforded him opportunity for the exercise of industry and perseverance-his dominant qualities. He has fol- lowed constructive methods in the conduct of his business affairs and in the upbuilding of his trade recognized that satisfied patrons are the best advertise- ment.
WILLIAM MONROE PHELPS.
William Monroe Phelps, a farmer of Union Grove, was born in Genesee county, New York, February 21. 1869, a son of Charles and Lugene (Monroe) Phelps. The father, who was born in the state of New York in 1839, passed away in February, 1902. The mother, whose birth occurred in Racine county, Wisconsin. in 1845, died April 9, 1905. They were married in this county and later Mr. Phelps returned with his family to New York. For a time he was employed in hotels and later took up the occupation of farming. In 1871 he again came to Wisconsin, settling on a farm in this county, a traet of eighty acres, which he continued to cultivate and improve throughout his remaining days. In the family were seven children: Mary, who became the wife of
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