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 48
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In addition to carefully and successfully managing the dry goods business Mr. Skow has extended his efforts along other lines. In connection with three
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others he formed the Danish-American Lutheran College Investment Associa- tion, which was incorporated in 1897 by Mr. Skow, J. C. and M. C. Ilansen and Lars Morgensen. They purchased the property now called Kinzie Park, containing about thirty-five acres, platted and sold the lots, the proceeds of which were used to found and build Luther College, of which Mr. Skow has continuously been one of the directors and which he has been very active m developing and upbuilding. The land was taken over in 1902 by the Luther High School & College Association.
It was in 1890 that Mr. Skow was united in marriage to Miss Marie Anna Nielsen, a native of Denmark, who in 1889 came to Raeine with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Skow are the parents of nine children : Anna, the wife of George J. Due, a resident of Racine; Esther, at home; Aage V., who is an artist and is now studying at the Art Institute in Chicago; Charles T., an electrician liv- ing in Racine; Ruth, who is a graduate of the Racine high school; Harold, attending high school; and George, Helen and Paul, who are also under the parental roof.
Mr. Skow maintains an independent political course, never allowing him- self to support any political party. He and his family are members of the Danish Lutheran church, in the work of which he is very active, doing every- thing in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His life is at all times guided by high and honorable principles, making him a man whom to know is to honor and esteem.
REV. JOHN M. NAUGHTIN.
Rev. John M. Naughtin, pastor of St. Rose Catholic church at Racine, assumed his duties in this connection in 1909 and has here remained for a period of seven years, during which time his labors have been faithful and fruitful. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Zanesville in June, 1854, his parents being Thomas P. and Bridget Naughtin, who were natives of Ireland. On coming to the new world they made their way to Ohio, settling there at an early period. The father has been spoken of as a man of modest means but of the strietest integrity. He became a representative mer- chant of Mauston, Wisconsin, where for many years he filled the position of postmaster, his service in that connection continuing up to the time of his death.
At an early age Father Naughtin determined to enter the priesthood and all of his studies were directed with that end in view. He spent considerable time as a student in Watertown, Wisconsin, and afterward continued his studies at St. Bonaventure in Allegany, Cattaraugus county. New York, where he remained for about five years. He completed his preparation for the priest- hood at St. Francis, Wisconsin. He was then ordained by Archbishop Michael Heiss June 25, 1882, and his first assignment was to the position of teacher at Pio Nono College near Milwaukee, where he continued from 1882 until 1884. In the latter year he was made assistant at St. John's Cathedral in Milwaukee, where he continued for eight years. He then founded St. Mathew's church
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at Milwaukee, remaining there three years, and his next charge was at Madi- son, Wisconsin, where he continued his labors for fourteen years, and on the expiration of that period he came to Racine October 25, 1909, having been appointed pastor of St. Rose Catholic church. Here his work has been fraught with good results in the upbuilding of his church and in the organization of the work. He possesses a fine private library and has been a close student of sociological and economic conditions. He has been enabled to advise his people wisely and well upon many questions of vital importance to them and he has the highest respect of his parishioners.
ST. ROSE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Rose Catholic church, of which Rev. John M. Naughtin is now pastor, was established October 6, 1885, when the corner stone was laid, and the church was dedicated January 31, 1886. This was regarded only as a tem- porary structure, however, and the growth of the congregation soon led to a demand for a larger church. The corner stone of the present edifice was laid May 24, 1903, and the church was dedicated February 14, 1904. It is an excellent structure, well appointed and beautifully adorned, and the work of the church has been carefully organized through its various societies and steady progress is being made.
ADOLPH W. HILKER.
Adolph W. Hilker is a partner in the firm of Hilker Brothers, of Racine. The name has long been synonymous with business enterprise in this city and the record of A. W. Hilker fully sustains the enviable reputation which has ever been associated with the commercial and industrial enterprises conducted by the Hilker family. He was born in Racine, December 25, 1867, and is a son of Adolph and Caroline (Broeker) Hilker, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of his brother, H. A. Hilker. After attending the public schools A. W. Hilker continued his education in the Marsh Business College and when his textbooks were put aside he became associated with his father in the brick manufacturing busi- ness with which he became thoroughly familiar in both principle and detail. After the death of his father he was associated with his brother in organizing the firm of Hilker Brothers Brick Manufacturing Company, of which he became. secretary and treasurer, with Henry August Hilker as vice president and William Ililker, Sr., president. They employed about seventy-five men and their annual output exceeded six million bricks, including cream colored pressed and common brick. That Adolph W. Hilker ranked high in the regard of others in the same line of business is indicated in the fact that he was for two years honored with the presidency of the Brick Manufacturers' Associa- tion of Wisconsin. In 1914 the company discontinued the manufacture of
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brick but still engaged in its sale, handling a fine Chicago product. In 1915 they accepted the agency of the Red Seal Oil Company, Adolph W. Hilker remaining active in the management of the brick business, while his brother, Henry A. Hilker, has the management of the oil trade. The former is also con- nected with the Fox-Hilker Shoe Company, manufacturers of men's fine shoes, and is now chairman of the board of directors. For five years he has been president of the Wisconsin Clay Workers' Association. At the present time they are developing a summer resort along the lake having eighty acres with a frontage of half a mile on the beach.
On the 7th of November, 1895, Mr. Ililker was married to Miss Amelia Buscher, who was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and they now have a daughter, Luella Dorothy. The parents are members of the First Evangelical church, in which Mr. Hilker is serving as a trustee. In polities he is an earn- est republican and for a year filled the office of supervisor. He has taken an active interest in both political and church affairs and has been a co-operant factor in many well defined plans and measures for the public good. His life work has been fruitful of substantial results and he has added new laurels to the fair name of Hilker in Racine county.
JUNCTION HARDWARE COMPANY.
The Junetion Hardware Company is one of the well established and sue- cessful mercantile enterprises of Racine, the business being now carried on by Frederick T. and William G. Maxted. These brothers are sons of Frederick William Maxted, who was born in England and in 1881 came to Racine. In 1891 he established a hardware business at No. 1330 Washington street, which was one of the first in that part of the town, and in 1894 he erected the present building, a two-story structure, thirty by eighty-seven and a half feet. Since that time the hardware business has been conducted at the present location. In March, 1910, the business was turned over to the two sons, William G. and Frederick T. Maxted, who have since been active in control of the trade.
Mr. Maxted was married to Miss Ellen Arthurs, a native of Canada, and to them were born three children. but Ella, the first born and the only daughter, died in infancy. The elder son, William G. Maxted, was born in Racine, Sep- tember 13, 1884, and obtained a public school education, later becoming con- nected with his father in business, the association being thus maintained until he and his brother took over the business, which they now manage and con- duet. He married Mabel Catherine Meyers, of Raeine, on the 5th of Septem- ber, 1911. She was born in Union Grove, Wisconsin, and is well known in this part of the state. Frederick T. Maxted was born March 24, 1889, and attended the public schools, after which he became his brother's associate in the ownership and conduet of the business which they now carry on. The firm are members of the Retail Merchants' Association and also of the June- tion Business Men's Association, of which William G. Maxted is the vice presi- dent. He is also identified with the Woodmen of the World, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Musicians' Union. He possesses much native musical
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talent, which he has cultivated, and he is now a member of the Eagles' band and orchestra. The members of the family are connected with the Episcopal church and in politics William G. Maxted maintains an independent course. His brother Frederick is a member of the Elks lodge. He enlisted in Battery C, Wisconsin Battalion, Wisconsin National Guard, as a private and he is also active in athletic circles, having been a member of the football and basket ball teams for the past ten years. It was the Maxted brothers who organized the last city football team and Frederick has been captain of this team for the past four years, during which time it has held the state championship, while William G. is manager of the team. This is a non-professional team, financed by its own members. The basket ball team is the Horlick-Racine basket ball team. The two brothers are very prominent figures in athletic circles and they have done much to further clean sport and raise the public standard in this connection. At the same time they are enterprising and progressive busi- ness men and their success is well merited. -
THE HARTMANN TRUNK COMPANY.
Joseph S. Hartmann, president of the Hartmann Trunk Company, of Racine, was born in Germany, in 1846, and was a youth of sixteen years when he made the long voyage across the briny deep to the United States in 1862. He first settled in New York but afterward made his way westward to Wiscon- sin, establishing his home in Milwaukee. A few years later he embarked in the trunk business there under the name of Carpeles-Hartmann & Company, and later removed to Chicago although he established his business in Racine.
The Hartmann Trunk Company was organized in November, 1889, and the plant opened at Hamilton and Railway avennes. The promoter of the busi- ness was Joseph S. Hartmann, of Chicago. and his son Henry S. became his partner and has since resided in Racine. The present officers are Joseph S. Hartmann, president; Henry S. Hartmann, vice president ; Samuel J. Hart- mann, treasurer; Hugo Hartmann, secretary; and George H. Wheary, factory manager. The business was established on a small scale but today the buildings constituting the plant cover three acres and they are three stories in height with basement and all of mill construction. The plant is supplied with sprink- ler system throughout and employment is given to three hundred people, most of whom are skilled in their line. The general sales offices of the company are in Chicago and New York, the wholesale branch in Chicago being maintained at No. 207 W. Jackson boulevard, and the retail stores at No. 626 South Michi- gan avenne, and No. 119 North Wabash avenue. The wholesale salesrooms in New York are situated in the New Waldorf building at 16 West Thirty- third street and the company has agencies in all parts of the world. They manufacture the Hartmann wardrobe trunk and the company has over one hundred patents issued and others pending. This trunk received the grand prize at the California exposition. The company sells direct to all dealers and is represented upon the road by twelve traveling salesmen. They also manufacture a line of traveling luggage. Their wardrobe trunks bear the
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trade-mark names of Rite-Hite and Berth-High. The Rite-Hite is the stand- ard upright trunk, the Berth-High is a steamer wardrobe trunk. In their employ are a number of men who have been with them for twenty-five years or more, which speaks volumes in behalf of the relation of employer and employe. They have always paid good wages to their workmen, who recognize the fact that faithful service ou their part means promotion and advancement.
Joseph S. Hartmann was united in marriage to Miss Laura Heller, of New York, and they have five children: Sam J., a resident of Chicago: Henry S .. who was born in New York and is now residing in Racine: Ilugo, who is liv- ing in Chicago; Mrs. A. W. Bensinger, also of Chicago: and Mrs. A. M. Wolf- son, of New York. The son Henry is a member of the Elks lodge and is also a chapter Mason.
In his political views Henry S. Hartmann is a republican and his social nature finds expression in his membership in the Racine Country Club, the Ravislow Country Club, of Chicago, and the Standard Club. of Chicago. He is likewise a director of the Racine public library, of the Central Association and of the Cleveland Orphan Asylum, of Cleveland, Ohio. He is interested in local progress and co-operates in many plans and measures which have to do with the substantial upbuilding and development of this city. At the same time the major part of his attention has been given to his business affairs. He was trained to the work of the establishment under the direction of his father and mastering every branch of the trade has become vice president of the company and his father's able assistant in the conduct and management of the business, largely relieving him of cares and responsibilities in con- nection therewith. The labors of the son efficiently supplement and round out the experiences of the father and both are regarded as progressive and representative business men of Racine.
Geo. H. Wheary, who is factory manager and a director of the company. was born in Petersburg, Virginia, June 21, 1875. He came to Racine in 1902 and became associated with the Hartmann Trunk Company as designer. He was the patentee of the Hartmann wardrobe trunks and later became superin- tendent and is now factory manager. He married Mamie Gebb, of Racine, and they have three children, George, Eugene and Virginia. He is a member of the Elks, the Moose, the Eagles, the Racine Commercial Club and the Racine Coun- try Ćlub.
PETER CHRISTIANSEN.
Peter Christiansen, a member of the Junction Furniture Company, owes his success to the fact that he has always been a willing worker, not afraid of that laborious attention to business which is the basis of all honorable sue- ces. He was born in Denmark, May 10, 1869, and is a son of II. P. and Anna Marie (Stage) Christiansen, both of whom spent their entire lives in Den- mark.
It was in the fall of 1889, when a young man of twenty years, that Peter Christiansen came to the United States. He sailed for eight months on the
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Atlantic as a seaman and then became connected with the Fall River line, plying between New York and Boston. He had previously been a sailor and fisherman in Denmark and in 1891 he returned to his native country but after remaining there for a short time he once more came to the new world and arrived in Racine in 1892. Hle afterward made a few trips on the Great Lakes and for six months he was connected with the Racine life saving station. He started in the furniture business in Racine in 1893 but in 1896 went to Tacoma, Washington, although he returned in the same year. He was afterward with the Raeine Boat Company until 1901, when he established a furniture store at No. 1326 Washington avenue. Here he was afterward joined by K. F. Jacobson, who a year later sold to Lund Hensen. After three years William Lemke also bought an interest in the business. The two latter sold to Martin Larsen. The business was organized and incorporated in 1902 under the name of the Junction Furniture Company. There has been no change in the part- nership since Mr. Larsen became his associate and under their direction the trade has constantly grown. The business was started on a very small scale, Mr. Christiansen having at the time a capital of but seven hundred and fifty dollars. In 1908 he rebuilt his plant, which he converted from a frame to a brick building, and the business is now well housed, while the line of goods carried is extensive and attractive.
On the 18th of September, 1895, Mr. Christiansen was united in marriage to Miss Anna J. Hansen, who was born in Denmark and in early womanhood came to Wisconsin. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children, Anna. Laura and Peter.
Mr. Christiansen is not allied with any political party but he belongs to the Danish Brotherhood, the Danish Society and the Danish Lutheran church and he stands for those things which are most worth while and of greatest value to the community. The spirit of progress which prompted him to seek a home in the new world in his early manhood has characterized his entire life. He has gained a wide acquaintance in Racine and those who know him enter- tain for him high regard, recognizing that his salient characteristics are sterling.
R. M. WALKER.
R. M. Walker resides upon a farm on section 19, Mount Pleasant town- ship, where he has made his home continually since 1878. All the buildings have been erected by him. all the trees planted by him and the work of im- provement has been carried steadily forward, indieative of his progressive spirit. He is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family that has been identified with the growth of Raeine county for eighty-one years. Mr. Walker was born in Byron, New York, June 7, 1836, a son of Nelson A. and Lueinda Walker, the former removing to the west in 1835, while the latter arrived in 1836. Making his way to Wisconsin. Nelson A. Walker secured a claim at Ives Grove, where he lived for a year. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Mount Pleasant township and occupied that farm
R. M. WALKER
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altogether for about forty years, transforming it into a rich and productive tract. He also bought forty acres more and at one time he was the owner of two hundred aeres now situated in the very center of Racine, but after a time he disposed of that property, which today would make any man very wealthy if it were in his possession. The death of Nelson A. Walker occurred in Chicago, November 11, 1886, and his remains were brought baek for interment in Mound cemetery. He had for a decade survived his wife, who died on the 14th of October, 1876. They were both consistent members of the Baptist church at Mygatts Corners and Mr. Walker gave his political allegiance to the republican party.
It was during his infancy that R. M. Walker was brought by his mother to Wisconsin to join the husband and father in the home which he had pre- pared. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and in the common schools of Mount Pleasant township he pursued his early education. He afterward went to Racine College and in due time was graduated from that institution. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, with which he remained until honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865. He then returned and resumed farming, remaining upon the old home place until 1878, when he purchased eighty acres of land from his father and upon that tract has lived continuously since. His labors have wrought a marked transformation in its appearance, for he has erected all of the build- ings there, has planted fine shade trees, has developed an excellent orchard and has a splendid grove. There are none of the accessories and equipment of a model farm that are lacking and for many years Mr. Walker was busily and actively engaged in the further development and improvement of the place.
On the 17th of December, 1866, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Minerva A. Secore, a daughter of Gordon Secore, and to them have been born three children : Nelson A., Mortimer E. and Mabel E. The daughter is the wife of Stanley Tallman and resides in Janesville, Wisconsin.
In his political views Mr. Walker is a republican and he has served as path- master, but has never been a politician in the usually accepted sense of office seeking. He has, however, been officially connected with the schools and has labored to raise the standard of public education in this district. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church.
NELSON A. WALKER.
Nelson A. Walker, the elder son of R. M. Walker, was born on the old family homestead in Mount Pleasant and attended school until fifteen or sixteen years of age. He was early trained to habits of industry in connection with the work of the farm and for twenty years he operated his father's dairy. Dur- ing the past five years his time and energies have been devoted to the further cultivation of his father's eighty-acre tract of land, which he has brought to a
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high state of development, rendering it very productive. His methods are at once practical and progressive and excellent results follow his labors.
On the 19th of August, 1914, Nelson A. Walker was married to Miss Ger- trude F. Chamberlain, a daughter of George H. and Ida L. (Draper) Chamber- lain, the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. Nelson A. Walker has followed in the footsteps of his father in various ways. Like him, he is a republican and also a member of the Freewill Baptist church. Three generations of the family have been identified with the agricultural progress of the community and with the growth and development of the county for eighty-one years.
FRANCIS W. DICKEY.
Francis W. Dickey is president of the Central Storage Company and is also prominently identified with other business interests. He was formerly secretary and treasurer of the E. P. Diekey Racine Fanning Mill Company. He was born in Racine, February 6, 1863, a son of Edwin P. and Gertrude L. (Fratt) Diekey. The former, a native of Geneseo, New York, came to Racine in the fall of 1844, joining his unele, A. P. Diekey, who had arrived in this city in 1840. For a short time he worked for his uncle and then began the manufacture of fanning mills under his own name, while later the business was reorganized under the style of the E. P. Dickey Fanning Mill Company. Before leaving the east Edwin P. Dickey had engaged in the manufacture of fanning mills in New York. In 1840 he became a resident of Marshall, Michi- gan, where he turned his attention to the manufacture of wire cloth. In 1844, as previously stated, he arrived in Racine and here he was connected with wire cloth manufacturing, principally for Case & Company, until 1850, when he resumed the fanning mill business. To him, perhaps, belongs the credit of the invention of the process of separating grain in the sieve, for Mr. Dickey invented the adjustable grader for grading and hurdle for separating oats from barley. In 1881, yielding to the necessity of more room and more extended operations, the corporation was formed with a capital of five thou- sand dollars, with E. P. Dickey as president and F. W. Dickey, secretary and treasurer. In addition to fanning mills the company took up the manufacture of the Badger State milk safe and the Improved Star feed cutters and further extended the scope of their activities by buying out the right and title to the Little Chief fanning mill, formerly the property of Daniel Bull. The capacity of the plant was twenty-two hundred machines a year and these were shipped throughout the United States and also supplied a large export trade. The proprietors gave their personal attention to each article sent out and based the growth of their business upon the substantial quality of their product. E. P. Dickey, the founder of the business, died in 1896, after which the busi- ness was carried on until 1911, when the company ceased the manufacture of fanning mills and entered the storage business.
Francis W. Diekey, who had been the active associate and became the successor of his father in the fanning mill business, obtained a public school
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