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 42
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Christ Moore and afterward married a Mr. Cameron, her home being now in Kenosha, Wisconsin; William Monroe; Cora, the wife of George Van Wie, of Mount Pleasant township; Roy, a teamster, of Racine; Ada, the wife of S. Becker, living in Elgin, Illinois; Cassie, the wife of A. Ketcheman, of Racine: and Fred, a machinist, of Racine. The parents were members of the Baptist church and Mr. Phelps gave his political allegiance to the republican party. The maternal grandfather of William M. Phelps was Orlando Monroe, a native of Vermont, who became one of the early settlers of Mount Pleasant town- ship, where he acquired several hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Racine.
William M. Phelps obtained his education in the district schools and started out in life as a farmer. For seven years he engaged in the milk business in Racine, but during the greater part of his life has followed agricultural pur- suits. He came to his present place in 1902, purchasing his farm of eighty acres, on which he is engaged in the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, while he also does considerable dairying. He keeps twenty cows, which are Holsteins of good grade.
On the 24th of June, 1895, Mr. Phelps was married to Miss Eva Kelly, a native of Waterloo. Wisconsin, and a daughter of Noyes and Philuria (Davis) Kelly. The father was born in Seneca county, New York, and when but four years of age was brought to Caledonia township, this county. His wife was born in Livingston county, New York, and they were married at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1868. They lived at Lake Geneva and in Racine and Mr. Kelly devoted his life to portrait and landscape painting. At the time of the Civil war, however, all other interests were put aside that he might respond to the country's call for aid. He served with the Twenty-second Wisconsin Regi- ment for almost five years, was captured and spent some time in Libby prison, so that he became familiar with all of the hardships and privations of military life.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are four sons, Russell, Stanley, Leslie and Charlie, aged respectively nineteen, seventeen, fourteen and nine years. Mrs. Phelps is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Phelps gives his politi- eal allegiance to the republican party and keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day, but does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which are carefully and systematically condneted and are bringing to him well deserved success.
ARTHUR C. HARRIS.
Arthur C. Harris, manager at Racine for the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, was born in Jackson, Michigan. He passed through con- secutive grades in the publie schools until he became a high school student and took his initial step in the business world as an employe of the Commonwealth Power Company in his native city. He afterward worked his way upward, becoming sales manager of the power department. His entire life experience has been along this line, bringing him constantly broadening knowledge and efficiency. He was also with the Grand Rapids-Muskegon Company of Grand
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Rapids as sales manager in the commercial power department and in 1910 he came to Racine to accept the position of sales manager at this point for the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company. He has since aeted in that capacity as representative of the company in the commercial department and, moreover, is manager for the company at this point. The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company operates the street car system of Racine, also the city light and power systems, besides furnishing power for many private busi- ness concerns and corporations. Mr. Harris is thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the business, owing to his long experience in this line, and the faet that he has been promoted from time to time, each change in his connec- tions marking a forward step, is indicative of his marked ability and appre- viation of his worth on the part of the corporation which he now represents.
Mr. Harris has made Racine his permanent home with his wife and three children, Eleanor, Welton and Gordon. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He keeps informed concerning the political situation of the country, but maintains a non-partisan attitude, direct- ing his thought according to the exigencies of the case and the capability of the candidates. He has never sought to figure in political circles or in any public light outside of his business connections, for the field which he entered in early manhood has made call to his ambition and his energy, a call to which he has promptly responded, and the legitimate result of elose application and trustworthiness has come to him in his present responsible but remunerative position.
ALBERT J. DRUSE.
Albert J. Druse is the secretary and treasurer of the Hamilton-Beach Manu- facturing Company, an enterprise that is notable even in Raeine, a city of rapidly developing business interests, for within a notably short space of time this company has become one of the foremost productive industries of the city, increasing the number of its employes from three workmen until the names of four hundred now appear upon the pay roll. Mr. Druse was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, in 1870, a son of Charles and Mary Druse, who were early residents of the state, later moving to Milwaukee, where the father followed carpentering.
At the usual age Albert J. Druse entered the public schools and afterward continued his studies in a business college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He then started out in life as a stenographer and in 1890 came to Racine, where he en- tered the employ of the Case Plow Company in connection with the advertis- ing department. That his capability was recognized and appreciated is indicated in the fact that he remained with that concern until the 1st of Sep- tember, 1912, when he became an active factor in the promotion and conduct of the Hamilton-Beach Manufacturing Company, of which he was elected see- retary and treasurer. This company is engaged in the manufacture of elee- trieal supplies and is mentioned at length in connection with the sketch of Frederick J. Osius, on another page of this work. In the first place the success
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of the business has been founded upon the fact that the company supplies pub- lic needs; in the second place attractive advertising has been employed to bring its wares to publie notice, and in the third place the officers of the com- pany are continually alert to their opportunities and ever ready to utilize every legitimate advantage.
In 1893 Mr. Druse was united in marriage to Miss Helen Steinhofel, of Racine, and they have a daughter, Florence. They are members of the First Evangelical church and Mr. Druse also holds membership with the United Commercial Travelers. In polities he is a republican, but while he does not seek nor desire political office, he is not remiss in the duties of citizenship and co-operates heartily in the well defined plans to further the interests of the city, which are put forth by the Commercial Club, of which he is a member.
JOHN JONAS.
John Jonas, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising on section 8, Raymond township, was born in Prussia, June 4. 1839, and has therefore passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey. He has led a busy and useful life and still keeps in touch with the work of the farm, personally su- pervising the activities that are there carried on. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Schwartz) Jonas, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1803, both natives of Prussia, in which country they were married. On coming to the new world in 1854 the family settled in Raymond township, Racine county. The following year the father purchased a farm of sixty-eight acres, which he afterward sold, purchasing another farm near his son's place. In the family were six children, but John Jonas is the only one now living. The father de- parted this life in 1877, having long survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1845. Both were communieants of the Catholic church and Mr. Jonas was a democrat in his political views. Before coming to America he served for three years in the German army. The hope of bettering his financial condition led him to come to the new world and in the years of his residence in Racine county he won substantial success.
John Jonas was educated in Germany and when a youth of fifteen years accompanied his parents to the new world. He here turned his attention to farming, and in the course of years purchased three hundred and seventy acres of land in Raymond township. He has since sold a portion of this, but still retains two hundred and twenty aeres, and as the years have passed he has won success. He certainly deserves great eredit for what he has accomplished, for he had but ten cents when he started out to make his own way in the world. His life record is proof of the fact that success is not a matter of genius or of fortunate circumstances, as some believe, but is the outcome of industry, clear judgment and experience. He carries on general farming and also milks sev- eral cows, keeping high grade Holsteins. He also has a Switzer bull. His home is a substantial and commodious residence and there are many other good improvements upon his place, his being one of the valuable and attractive farms of Raymond township.
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In 1863 Mr. Jonas was married to Miss Katherine Shields, who was born in Franklin township, Milwaukee county, a daughter of Mathias Shields, who settled in that county in 1840. In Germany he served as a member of the army for fourteen years and participated in the Napoleonie wars. Mr. and Mrs. Jonas have become parents of ten children, of whom eight are living: Chris- tine, the wife of Charles Kraiger, of Raymond township; Mathias, who owns and cultivates forty aeres of land in Franklin township, Milwaukee county : Stephen, living in Raymond township, Racine county; Mary and Angeline. who are working in Milwaukee ; Rosa and Nick, at home ; and Anna, the widow of John Drought.
The parents are members of the Catholic church and have been generous contributors to its support. In politics Mr. Jonas is a democrat, and while he has never held political offices, he has served as a member of the school board for nine years. For sixty-two years he has been a resident of Racine county, so that he has witnessed the greater part of its growth and development, and in its progress along agricultural lines he has taken an active and helpful part. He is well known as one of the early settlers of the county and his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be aceom- plished even though one has to start out in life empty handed.
FRED KRENZKE.
Fred Krenzke has built up and is successfully conducting an extensive dairy business, which he started in 1901 and which has grown steadily sinee. He was born in Raeine. February 20, 1876, a son of August and Minnie (Reinke) Krenzke, both of whom were natives of Pommern, Germany. In early life they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and became residents of Racine about 1868 or 1869, their marriage being celebrated in this city. The father is a wagon maker by trade, but during the past thirty years has been engaged in farming near Racine, conducting his place now as a dairy farm.
Fred Krenzke obtained his education in a parochial school conducted in connection with St. John's Lutheran church and through the period of his boyhood, youth and early manhood he worked with his father upon the farm, so that he became thoroughly acquainted with the dairy business. It was in 1901 that he opened his present. dairy in Racine and in November. 1910. he established his present office at. No. 1800 Douglas avenue. The steady growth of his business places him among the leading dairymen of this section, for he now utilizes five wagons in the delivery of milk and handles seven hundred gallons per day. The utmost care is taken in regard to cleanliness and sani- tation in connection with the dairy and the high quality of the product and honorable business methods on the part of Mr. Krenzke also insure a continu- ance of the liberal patronage.
In March, 1900, Mr. Krenzke was married to Miss Julia Schmidt, of Mil- waukee county, Wisconsin, who passed away July 18, 1905. On the 9th of May, 1909, he was again married, his second union being with Hattie Herzog, a daughter of William Herzog. a farmer of Racine county, who settled here at.
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an early period in the development of this section of the state. By his first marriage Mr. Krenzke had a daughter, Freida, and by the second marriage there are two children, Paul and Marie.
The family attend St. John's Lutheran church and in politics Mr. Krenzke votes independently, considering the capability of the man for the office which he seeks rather than his party affiliation. His entire life has been passed in Racine county and his life history is an open book which all may read.
CHICAGO RUBBER CLOTHING COMPANY.
The Chicago Rubber Clothing Company, with its plant at the corner of Albert street, the Northwestern tracks and Forest avenue, controls one of the largest establishments of this kind in the United States. The company has about four acres of ground space, its buildings covering two aeres. Two of these are three stories in height, one is two stories and two are one story strue- tures and all are of brick construction, adequately supplied with a sprinkler system. The buildings are well lighted and ventilated and the employes work under sanitary conditions. They employ over two hundred people, fifty per cent of whom are men. They manufacture rubber raincoats for men, women and children and their output represents a wide range of style and price. They also make inner tubes and retreads for automobile tires. This is one of the large and profitable manufacturing concerns of Racine and the goods are sold to jobbers and large dealers. The gradual and substantial growth of the busi- ness has made this one of the largest establishments in the manufacture of rubber clothing in the country and their trade is constantly increasing. It is with no difficulty that they hold their patrons, owing to the excellence of their product and the thoroughly reliable business methods which are always main- tained.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The work among the Catholic people of the district now comprised in St. Mary's parish began in 1838 and for four years thereafter they were visited by mission priests, including the Rev. Thomas Morrissy. who first visited Racine in 1838. at which time there was no Catholic church in the county. Following the arrival of Rev. Martin Kundig in 1842, the Catholics began the erection of a little frame church on Fifth street, on the present site of the Times building and the telegraph bureau. The church was completed in 1843 and dedicated in May of that year by Father Kundig with the permission of the Bishop of Detroit, and over the church Father Kundig presided for three years. To this church came the Catholics from all parts of southern Wisconsin, so that at the end of two and one-half years the Racine church proved too small and Mr. Reardon, a member of the congregation, donated two building sites at the southwest corner of Eighth street and Lake avenue for the erection of a larger structure. The old church was removed to this site in the spring of
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1845 and was remodeled and enlarged to accommodate more than three hun- dred persons. It served the entire Catholie population of the district until 1852. It had been dedicated as St. Ignatius church in the fall of 1845, and in September, 1846. the Rev. Franz Prendergast became the first resident pastor. He was unfamiliar with the German language and in June, 1847, was succeeded by the Rev. Kundig. who in turn in the following December was succeeded by the Rev. Fander, who continued in charge until August 20, 1849.
It then seemed advisable to separate the German and English speaking members of the congregation and Archbishop Henni named a committee to seleet a site for a new church. They chose the present location of St. Mary's. at the corner of Eighth street and College avenue. A good residence and a practically new business block occupied the property. The residence served as a parish house from 1849 and the other structure was remodeled for school purposes. The schoolhouse was twenty by forty feet and was first opened in 1850. Because of the poverty of the parishioners, the ereetion of a new church for the Germans was not undertaken until 1852. In August, 1849, Rev. Fander was succeeded by the Rev. Carl Sehraudenbach, who served until the appoint- 'ment of Rev. W. Norris November 15, 1851, the latter continuing to serve St. Ignatius parish until August, 1852.
In January of that year Archbishop Henni named Rev. Simon Bartosch as pastor of St. Mary's and in April of that year the ercetion of St. Mary's church was begun, the corner stone being laid by Archbishop Henni, June 27th. In August, 1852, Rev. Martin Kundig was appointed priest of St. Ignatius and of St. Mary's and served both congregations until December, 10, 1853, He com- pleted the new church and in November, 1853, was succeeded by Rev. J. N. Peiffer, who served both congregations until January, 1854, when Rev. Kundig was again installed. In February of the same year the Rev. Franz Fusseder was appointed pastor of the two congregations and so continued until June. 1855, when the Rev. Fabian Bermadinger became pastor of St. Mary's church. He so continued until September, 1857. when he was succeeded by the Rev. F. X. Sailer, whose pastorate continued until September, 1862. He was fol- lowed by the Rev. Franz Uhlemayr, who continued until July, 1867, and under his direction was erected a new schoolhouse, fifty by thirty feet and three stories in height. ITis successor, Rev. F. X. Etschmann, continued until April, 1870, and the Rev. J. A. Birkhauser until September 8, 1873. The latter pur- chased two building lots at the corner of Eighth and Wisconsin streets in order to erect a new parish house. On the 10th of September, 1873, Rev. George Strickner became pastor of St. Mary's and it was during his pastorate, which extended until August 1. 1877. that St. Joseph's congregation was separated from St. Mary's. From the end of July until the beginning of September, 1877, Rev. J. A. Birkhauser again served St. Mary's for the Rev. Peter DeBerge. who had been named pastor in June of that year. The latter took charge in August and under his direction the present handsome parish house was ereeted in 1878. In December, 1877, he celebrated his silver jubilee, but in November, 1880, illness caused his resignation. Rev. William Engel, who was appointed. died soon afterward and was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph M. Albers, under whose pastorate a new church building was erected, one hundred and thirty- five by sixty feet. at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dollars, and was dedicated
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August 15, 1886. After sixteen years' faithful service Rev. Albers resigned August 22, 1896, and the church was then supplied by different priests until Rev. Theodore B. Meyer took charge in November of that year, remaining as pastor to the present time, covering a period of twenty years. During this period a number of improvements have been made on the church and school" buildings. A new roof has been put on the latter, sidewalks have been laid, in 1913 a fine new heating plant was installed in the church and school, the church was frescoed at a cost of six hundred dollars and in 1915 new seats were provided for the schoolhouse. In 1908 the church was damaged to the amount of sixteen hundred dollars by lightning.
REV. THEODORE B. MEYER.
Rev. Theodore B. Meyer, pastor of St. Mary's church at Racine, has done effective work among the Catholic families of this locality since October, 1896, and his labors have been most effective in advancing the growth of the parish. He is a native son of Racine county, his birth having occurred in Caledonia, February 13, 1853. The family name, however, indicates his German lineage. His grandfather was a native of Kaltenborn, Germany, where he engaged'in farming and mining, his death resulting from a mine accident. He married a Miss Jungmann and their large family included Peter Meyer, who was born near the city of Treves, in the Rhine Province, Prussia, and was there reared and educated. In May. 1845, he crossed the Atlantic and after a brief period spent in Racine secured employment on a farm at Milton Junction, Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1847 he returned to his native land, but in the spring of 1848 again came to the new world, accompanied by his sisters, Mary and Magdalene. In 1850 he established his home upon a farm of eighty acres in Caledonia township, Racine county, and became one of the organizers of St. Ludwig's Roman Catholic church of that locality, giving two acres of ground from his farm as a site for the church and cemetery. He was also prominent in community affairs, serving as town clerk, town treasurer and supervisor. After coming to America he studied English at Milton, Wisconsin, and taught one of the first schools in Madison and also one term near that city. He married Angeline Epper, who was born near Trier, in the Rhine Province, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Huss) Epper, who came to America in 1848. settling in Paris, Kenosha county, where her father engaged in farming. Her mother reached the advanced age of ninety-two years. They had a large family and it is said the eldest son, a Prussian soldier, was the strongest man in that army.
Rev. Theodore B. Meyer, one of a family of thirteen children, was reared , in Caledonia and from 1858 until 1865 attended the first Catholic school there. In the fall of 1868 he became a student in St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Henni on the 24th of June, 1877. He became assistant to Father Reindl at the Vincent de Paul church in Oshkosh, where he remained from July until December, 1877, when he was transferred to become pastor of St. Catharine's and St. Michael's church at
Rev. Theo. B. Mayer
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Granville, Milwaukee county, there continuing until December, 1880, when Archbishop Henni assigned him to Wilson, Wisconsin, to take charge of the two churches of St. George and St. Rose. His duties there continued until September, 1887, and during that time he had the interior of both churches beautifully decorated and also made extensive repairs on the parish school- houses, while in 1886 he erected a fine parish home in Wilson in connection with St. George's church.
For nine years, from September 16, 1887, until October, 1896, Father Meyer was pastor of St. Mary's church in Saukville, Wisconsin. When he began his labors there the indebtedness of the parish was four thousand dollars. He set to work to liquidate this and not only did so, but in 1889 made extensive im- provements and in 1891 decorated the church in fitting style. In 1896 the school building was enlarged and yet he left the parish practically free from debt, having himself collected eight thousand dollars.
Through appointment of the Most Rev. Archbishop F. X. Katzer, Father Meyer came to Racine as pastor of St. Mary's in November, 1896. The church here had an indebtedness of seventy-five hundred dollars, there was little interest manifest in the different societies and conditions on the whole were rather discouraging, but Father Meyer brought courage and optimism to the work and soon his presence was felt in renewed co-operation and vigor in the church work. In this connection a contemporary writer has said: "On Jan- uary 6, 1897, he changed the Woman's Sodality to a Christian Mothers' Asso- ciation, under the direction of the church. The reception of members on that day was one hundred and thirty-seven, while now there are one hundred and ninety-four active members. In May, 1897, he founded the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception, which now has a membership of one hundred and seventy-two. On St. Aloysius Day, 1897, the St. Aloysius Society, which now has ninety members, was organized. The St. Bonifacius School Society, which now has one hundred and fifty members, was also put upon a solid basis. During July, 1898, under the auspiees of the different societies, a successful fair was held to raise money for the discharge of the debt. The profits were two thousand four hundred and sixty dollars, this lessening the debt consider- ably.
"In 1900, through the influence of Father Meyer, the parish house, which is located at No. 800 Wisconsin street, was renovated at an expense of one thousand eight hundred dollars. A story was added over the kitchen, and the whole house was equipped with hot water heat and all modern improvements. As the schoolhouse was in very bad condition it was resolved at a meeting held in June, 1901, to build an addition to the building and also to repair the old school. The resolution was passed unanimously, and the new building was commeneed at onee according to plans made by D. R. Davis. The contractors were Louis Tharinger, carpenter, and John Siepler, mason, both of whom fulfilled their obligations to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. The cost of putting up the new structure and completely equipping the old one with modern improvements amounted to six thousand two hundred dollars, and the work was finished by the beginning of November. The dedication, by Rev. J. A. Birkhauser, assisted by various priests of the city, took place on Thanks- giving Day, and that evening an entertainment and supper were given in the
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