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 43
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building, which netted a profit of one hundred and eighty dollars. The church is located at the corner of Eighth street and College avenue, and the school adjoins it on the south. All the buildings of the parish are now complete and in good condition, and although the current expenses are heavy the congre- gation can look forward to a future of great prosperity and contentment. The church now has a membership of about two hundred families. and one hundred and seventy pupils are enrolled in the school.
"On July 2, 1902, Rev. Theodore B. Meyer celebrated the silver jubilee of his entrance into the priesthood. He had no intention originally of specially observing the day, but at the solicitation of his friends he decided to hold appropriate services, and the occasion resolved itself into one of great festivity. Over seventy priests were present at the ceremony, among them the vicars general of Milwaukee and La Crosse. The spirit displayed by his own parish- ioners is worthy of special notice. Young and old vied in honoring their spir- itual guide and wishing him future joy, and the various societies, all of which owe their present flourishing condition to his untiring labors, took advantage of the opportunity to show their appreciation and affectionate esteem for one who has given his best effort in their behalf. Thanksgiving Day of 1902 (November 27th) was the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of St. Mary's congregation, and under the auspices of Father Meyer, on that day, was cele- brated the golden jubilee of the event. The services were impressive and largely attended, Archbishop Katzer being among the distinguished dignitaries who lent their presence to the religious festival."
Father Meyer was one of the organizers of the Gonzaga Union of the Cath- olic young men of Wisconsin, was its first president and for fourteen years was director and manager. Adolph Weber and Henry Broecker, of Racine, and Lueas Riedl, of Milwaukee, were also connected with the organization of the Union, which now has over three thousand members.
MUELLER-KUEHN COMPANY.
The Mueller-Kuehn Company, which was organized in 1907, owns and con- trols one of the important wholesale grocery establishments of Raeine and is enjoying a constantly increasing business. The firm succeeded to the business of H. F. Mueller, who established the undertaking on the 1st of May, 1876, as a retail store at No. 1017 St. Clair street. He continued to retail groceries until 1903, but in 1882 removed to the corner of Superior street and Douglas avenue, where he continued until 1887, when a removal was made to Nos. 1400-1410 Douglas avenue. There the business has since been continued and has been a strictly wholesale affair for thirteen years. Its ramifying trade re- lations now eover a broad territory and in 1903 a branch house was established in Kenosha. In 1910 the company erected a modern business block in Kenosha. forty by one hundred and thirty feet and two stories in height, adjacent to the railroad, so that excellent shipping facilities were thus secured. Mr. Kuehn has charge of the Kenosha plant. while Mr. Mueller remains in charge of the Racine plant. The company is now erecting a three-story building on Liberty
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street and the Northwestern Railroad tracks, a fireproof structure especially designed for its purposes. The business has grown rapidly and the sales of the company now amount to about six hundred thousand dollars annually.
ADELMER A. BISHOP.
Active and energetic through all his business career, Adelmer A. Bishop has worked along the lines of success and that he has achieved what he has pur- posed is indicated in the fact that he is now proprietor of a profitable laundry business, which includes a plant erected at a cost of thirty-five thousand dol- lars. Always a resident of southeastern Wisconsin, he was born in Kenosha county, September 4, 1871, a son of the Honorable Isaac T. and Lydia Jane (Clemmons) Bishop. The father was born in Somers, Kenosha county, June 6. 1844, and is a son of Jacob Bishop, a native of New England who, in the pioneer epoch of Wisconsin's development, settled in Kenosha county. Isaac T. Bishop was there reared and at the time of the Civil war responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in Company F, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Regiment, and serving for three years in defence of the Union, during which period he participated in the battles of Arkansas Post, Raymond, Champion's Hill and Vicksburg. After the war he turned his attention to farming, becoming one of the representative agriculturists of this part of the state. His fellow towns- men appreciative of his worth and ability and recognizing his patriotie devo- tion to the general good, frequently called him to public office. He served as township chairman for five years, was justice of the peace for eleven years and in 1906 was elected to the state senate while in 1910 he was re-elected a member of the upper house of the general assembly, receiving a majority vote of five thousand, three hundred and nineteen against his majority of fourteen hundred and fifty-three in 1910. This fact certainly indicates how efficient was his service during his first term, winning the unqualified confidence of the great majority of the citizens of the senatorial district. In addition to con- ducting agricultural interests for many years he was for thirty-three years secretary of the Somers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, but is now living in Kenosha county-honored and respected wherever known and most of all where he is best known. His wife died in the year 1912. They had a family of five children : John C., now deceased; Adelmer A .; Edward S., a teacher in science in Chicago University ; Isaac T., who has departed this life ; and Benja- min H., who occupies the old homestead farm.
Reared under the parental roof Adelmer A. Bishop had the usual train- ing and experience of the farm bred boy. He obtained a public school educa- tion and attended the State Normal School at Whitewater and the College of Commerce at Kenosha. As he approached the time when he believed he should provide for his own support he determined to enter the commercial field and for nine years was employed as bookkeeper by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. In 1901 he incorporated the West Side Laundry Company. taking over the company by that name which had been organized about fifteen years before, and opened a plant at No. 1025 State street, where he continued until
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1916, when he removed to State and Silver streets, having erected a new plant at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars. This is one of the best in the state. is supplied with modern equipment and the machines are all individually motor driven. Employment is furnished to thirty people and three wagons are oper- ated in connection with collections and deliveries. Most approved methods of laundry work are used by him and the excellence of the work is indicated in his increasing patronage. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the Farmers & Merchants Bank.
On October 17, 1900, Mr. Bishop was married to Miss Emma Maude Thomp- son, a daughter of Frank W. Thompson, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and they have one child, Gordon A. Mr. Bishop exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the republican party and while he does not seek nor desire office in reward for party fealty he is loyal and progressive in matters of citizenship and gives active support to the Commercial Club, of which he is a member and which is putting forth every effort for the benefit and upbuilding of the city. He was one of the organizers and a director of the Racine Retail Merchants Association. He belongs to the Plymouth Congrega- tional church, of which he is a trustee, and to the Young Men's Christian Association and heartily indorses and advocates all plans and measures for advancing the moral progress of the community.
THOMAS H. McKEE.
Thomas H. McKee is a representative of farming interests in Dover town- ship, his home being near Burlington. It was in that township that he was born, May 16, 1854, his parents being James and Rebecca (Wilson) McKee. The father was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1808 and the mother in Donegal. Ireland, in 1839. In early life they came to the new world and were married in Dover township, Racine county, where their remaining days were passed, the father's death occurring in 1873, while the mother survived until 1909. At the time of his arrival the country was wild and undeveloped, there being still evidences that at a not very remote period the Indians had occupied the district. The homes were primitive and were widely scattered but progressive men from the east and other parts of the country were making their way into the district and bringing about a marked transformation. James McKee se- cured two hundred acres of land from the government and with characteristic energy began to break the sod, turning the first furrows in the fields. He was a poor man when he came but as the years passed he won success and when his death occurred was in very comfortable circumstances. He was also a well educated and well read man and was widely and favorably known. He be- longed to the Presbyterian church and he gave his political allegiance to the republican party, being a firm believer in the efficacy of its principles as fac- tors in good government. Mr. and Mrs. McKee were the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom six are yet living : John, a blacksmith of Munising, Michigan ; Thomas H .; David, a farmer residing near Richmond, Illinois ; Robert, of Twin Lakes and Billings, Montana, holding extensive landed interests at both places ;
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Nancy, the wife of A. J. Hill, a contractor, of Highmore, South Dakota; and Anna, the wife of Fred Esterbrook, a lumberman, of Washington.
At the usual age Thomas H. McKee became a district school pupil and afterward spent a winter's term in study at Wilmot, Wisconsin. Following the death of his father he began to earn his own living as a farm hand and his youth and early manhood were a period of earnest and unremitting toil. At length he accumulated twenty-two hundred dollars by his own labor and in this way he bought his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the productiveness of which he enhanced by tiling the place. The work of improvement has been steadily carried forward, including the erection of a good residence and sub- stantial outbuildings, his place being one of the best in Dover township. He carries on general farming and also does considerable dairying. He likewise makes a specialty of raising sugar beets, to which he has given his attention for ten years, and throughout the period he has been agent for a sugar beet com- pany. His cows are all of good grade, so that his dairy products measure up to high standards and he holds to advanced ideals in all that he does.
On the 29th of April, 1890, Mr. McKee was married to Miss Emma Ray- mond, a daughter of John and Mary (Janachek) Raymond, both of whom were natives of Austria-Hungary. About 1856 they became residents of Water- ford, where the father engaged in the business of harness manufacturing. Mrs. McKee was there born and by her marriage has become the mother of fourteen children: Grace, born November 18, 1892; Mabel, born October 17, 1893; Ernest, November 1, 1894; Alice, November 11, 1895; Sylvester, January 23. 1897; Floyd, July 21, 1898; Lucille, December 14, 1904; Evelyn, February 12, 1906; Thelma, February 21, 1907; Robert, October 18, 1909; Donna, January 14, 1911; Phyllis, July 24, 1912; Lois, November 1, 1914; and Marjorie Pauline, March 19, 1916. The children are all at home except Ernest, who travels, and Mabel, who is now teaching in the district schools.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. McKee gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is now serving as town assessor, which office he has filled for two terms. His fellow townsmen speak of him as a citizen of genuine worth, as a reliable business man and as a faithful friend.
WILLIAM HAIGH.
A well improved farm of one hundred and forty acres, situated near Corliss, is the home property of William Haigh, who has always resided upon this place. He was actively engaged in its cultivation for many years, but in 1904 he retired from active farm work and now rents his land. He was born in this county, August 25, 1845, a son of George and Anna (Butterworth) Haigh. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1810 and died January 28, 1890. while the mother, a native of Lancashire, England, passed away in 1867. They were married in Raeine county, where Mr. Haigh had arrived in 1842, at which time he took up school land from the government. Later he secured forty acres more, becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres.
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and as the years passed he carefully and systematically developed his place, converting it into richly productive fields.
William Haigh was one of two children, but is now the only survivor of the family. The father gave his political allegiance to the republican party but took no active part in polities as an office seeker, as his entire attention was given to his farm work. He had but limited sehool advantages in his youth. but was very quick at figures and he possessed sound judgment and shrewd common sense. He died on the old homestead and in his passing the community lost a substantial and respected citizen.
Mr. Haigh of this review pursued his education in the distriet schools and was reared to the occupation of farming, early assisting in the work of the fields on the old home place. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Myrick, who was born in New York in 1848, a daughter of John Myrick. who in an early day arrived in Racine county, where he engaged in farming. His death occurred at Union Grove in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Haigh have become the parents of three children: Luminda, the widow of Boyd Fell, and now a resident of the state of Washington; Esther J., the wife of Jonathan Parsons, a farmer in Raeine county ; and George, who follows farming near Yorkville.
Throughout his entire life William Haigh has resided upon the farm, which is still his place of residence, and he now has one hundred and forty acres of good land, of which eighty aeres has been brought to a high state of cultiva- tion, while the other is wood and pasture land. He carried on general farming with success for a long period and also did some dairying, but at length retired from active farm life and for the past twelve years has lived retired, enjoying a good rental from his land. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and his politieal indorsement is given to the republican party. He has lived a quiet and unassuming life, but his worth as a man and eitizen is reeog- nized and acknowledged by all who know him and throughout the neighbor- hood in which he lives he has many warm friends.
GEORGE H. LAUGHTON.
Death often removes from our midst those whom we can ill afford to lose and such was the case when George H. Laughton was called to his final rest. He had for a number of years been active in the management of the Chicago Rubber Clothing Company, of which he was one of the founders, and thus he instituted an important productive industry of Racine. He was born in Platte- ville, Wisconsin, November 20, 1845, a son of George R. and Mildred (Durley) Laughton, the former a native of London, England, while the latter was born in Maryland. They became early settlers of Wisconsin and Mr. Laughton was well known in this state as a capitalist.
After mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools George H. Laughton beeame a pupil in the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Maryland, which he attended for two years. He afterward embarked in the agricultural implement business in Chicago and continued active in that line until the fire of 1871. He became closely associated with the manufacturing
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interests of Racine in 1886, when he aided in organizing the Chicago Rubber Clothing Company, of which he became general manager, with L. S. Blake as the president and Mrs. E. V. Laughton as secretary and treasurer. The fac- tory was built in Racine in 1887 and Mr. Laughton and his family removed to this city so that he might be in close touch with the business. The present officers are : David G. Janes, president; Mrs. E. V. Laughton, treasurer; and G. G. Bryant, secretary and manager. The plant employs about two hundred and fifty people and the product is sold all over the United States. Mr. Laugh- ton continued active in the conduct and management of the business until his demise, which occurred July 30, 1893.
It was June 5, 1867, that Mr. Laughton was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Virgin, who was born in Platteville, Wisconsin, a daughter of Noah H. and Pamela (Weed) Virgin, who were pioneer residents of Wisconsin, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Connecticut. Mr. Laughton attended the Universalist church and his life was ever upright and honorable. exemplifying the teachings of the Masonic fraternity, in which he held mem- bership. He enjoyed the respect and goodwill of all who knew him and he had a large circle of warm friends by reason of his geniality and unfeigned cor- diality. His admirable qualities endeared him to all and his memory is yet revered by those with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Laughton is treasurer of the company and is well known in the business world and socially she be- longs to the Woman's Club and is also an active worker in the Universalist church and its different societies.
E. G. H. WENDT.
A large proportion of Racine's citizens have received business training in the J. I. Case Threshing Machine works and that the training is thorough is indicated in the fact that success has attended the efforts of many since they started out independently. Such has been the record of E. G. H. Wendt, who conducts a real estate, insurance and loan ageney, in which connection he is accorded a liberal patronage. He was born in Germany, July 22, 1860, a son of Robert and Augusta Wendt, who arrived in Racine on the 29th of Novem- ber, 1869. The father had been a forester and gardener in Germany and after coming to the new world he turned his attention to blacksmithing and garden- ing, being thus engaged up to the time of his demise. His widow survives at the age of eighty-six years.
E. G. H. Wendt was a little lad of but nine years when the family came to the new world and in Racine he attended a parochial school conducted in con- nection with St. John's Lutheran church. He afterward learned the trade of cigar making and subsequently was employed by the M. M. Secor Trunk Com- pany, with which he continued for seventeen years. He was afterward with the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company in the woodworking department and later was connected for a time with the Racine Trunk Company. On severing that connection he became superintendent of Mound cemetery and so continued for six years. His active identification with the real estate business
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dates from 1898, in which year he bought out C. J. Thiesen. His office is at No. 920 State street and he not only handles real estate but also eonduets an insurance and loan ageney, handling both fire and life insurance and repre- senting a number of the old line companies. He writes a large amount of in- suranee annually, places many loans and negotiates many important realty transfers and his business is now a source of gratifying and merited success.
On the 20th of May, 1891, Mr. Wendt was united in marriage to Miss Anne Thiesen, a native of Germany, and they have become the parents of a daughter and a son : Louise, now the wife of Russell G. Cooke, a resident of Racine; and Herbert C., who is a student in the University of Wisconsin, pursuing the chemistry course.
Mr. Wendt has always been deeply interested in the cause of education and has served as a member of the Racine school board, doing all in his power to further the standard of public instruction. He votes with the republican party and he is a member of St. John's Lutheran church, in the work of which he is actively and helpfully interested. It will thus be seen that he does everything in his power to promote the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of his community and his labors in this connection are accounted a valuable asset for the benefit of the city.
JOHN HENRY GOEBEL, M. D.
Dr. John Henry Goebel, physician and surgeon, practicing at Franksville, was born in Raymond township, March 24. 1883, a son of John and Christiana (Roethe) Goebel, both of whom are natives of this state. The paternal grand- parents were John and Margaret Goebel, who were born in Prussia, Germany, and for some time the former sailed the seas. At length he came to the new world, settling at Kilbournville, Wisconsin, where he built a log house. He followed the trade of harness making, which he had learned in his native country, and he also conducted a store for a number of years. He passed away in Raeine in 1915 at the age of eighty-two. The maternal grandfather, Henry Roethe, was born in Germany and eame to the new world in early life. He is now living at Husher, Wisconsin, at the age of eighty-seven. John and Christiana (Roethe) Goebel were married in Caledonia township in 1882. The father was the proprietor of a general store for a number of years and was one of the early postmasters of Kilbournville, Wisconsin. For twenty-seven years he conducted business as a merchant and won substantial success in that eon- neetion. In his family were eight children, of whom four are yet living: John H .; Edward, who is an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and lives at Milwaukee ; Frank, a laborer residing in Raymond, and Irene, who has graduated from the Oakwood high school and expects to enter the normal school in the fall. The family are identified with the Catholic church and Mr. Goebel is a member of the Catholic Knights. In polities he is a democrat and he served as town treasurer for two terms. He is now living retired, making his home in Thompsonville.
John Henry Goebel attended the St. Louis Catholic school of Caledonia
DR. JOHN HENRY GOEBEL AND FAMILY
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and for six months was a pupil in the district schools. He was graduated from the Oakwood high school with the class of 1900 and for two years he was a rural route mail carrier. He afterward worked in his father's store, but in 1905, desiring to become a member of the medical profession, he entered the Wisconsin College of Physicians & Surgeons, there pursuing a four years' course, which he completed by graduation with the class of 1909. He began practice at Raymond Center, where he remained for four and a half years, and in September, 1913, came to Franksville, where he opened an office and has since followed his profession. His broad reading keeps him in touch with the advanced thought and methods of the medical fraternity and he is ever careful in the diagnosis of his cases and successful in the results achieved.
On the 19th of July, 1910, Dr. Goebel was married to Miss Helen Hahn, a daughter of Jacob and Helen (Brunn) Hahn, both natives of Milwaukee county. The former was a son of George and Salome (Beck) Hahn, the former a native of Alsace-Lorraine, whence he removed to Milwaukee county in 1822. There he took up a claim and became the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land, being the most extensive farmer of the county at that date. He was not only active along agricultural lines but also did much to influence public thought and opinion and several times represented his district in the state legislature. He had a wide acquaintance and was popular with his fellow townsmen. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Goebel was Rudolph von Brunn, who married Sophia Zimmerman. He was born in Pomerania and was a nobleman of that country, while his wife was born in Bavaria. On account of the liberal views which he held he left Germany and became a resident of Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, in 1848. He there turned his attention to the occupation of farm- ing and he also occupied an office in the courthouse in Milwaukee for a number of years. By reason of his liberal views he lost his estate in Germany and when he came to the United States he obtained one hundred and sixty acres of land, winning substantial success as the years passed. He was a man of broad education and wide culture who left the impress of his individuality for good upon the community in which he lived. His personal worth aided in establish- ing standards of intellectual, moral and cultural values and his leadership con- stituted an element for public progress. His daughter, Helen Brunn, became the wife of Jacob Hahn, who was born in 1852 and is still living. Mrs. Hahn, whose birth occurred in 1854, passed away in 1913. They were married in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, July 4, 1876. Mr. Hahn is extensively engaged in farming, making his home near Oakwood, Wisconsin. In his family were eight children, of whom five are living: George, a street car conductor resid- ing in Milwaukee; Julius, who is farming in. Milwaukee county; Emma, at home; Mrs. Goebel, and Allen, who is engaged in farming and also resides at home. At one time Mr. Hahn was the owner of over four hundred acres of land, but sold two hundred acres. His property remains a valuable and at- tractive one, well improved and equipped with all modern accessories. In polities he is a republican and he attends the Lutheran church. His daughter, Mrs. Goebel, was educated in the district schools and in the Oakwood high school, from which she was graduated. She afterward took up the profession of teaching, which she followed for seven years in Milwaukee county.
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