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 6
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On the 28th of November, 1900, Mr. Gorton was united in marriage to Miss Sophy Thorstenson. a daughter of Ole Thorstenson and Anne Gregerson, both of whom were born in Arendal, Norway. They emigrated to the United States in 1871 and soon afterward took up their abode in Racine. To Mr. and Mrs. Gorton have been born four children: George. fourteen years of age; Elizabeth Fry, eleven years of age, and James and Charles, twins, seven years of age. The parents are members of the First Baptist church, in the work of which they are very active. Mr. Gorton has ever been a most generous con- tributor to the church and his recent gift of fifty thousand dollars will make possible the erection of a large and spacious Sunday school building for the First Baptist church. He purchased a lot eighty by one hundred feet and it is planned to ereet a building thereon sixty by ninety feet, leaving ten feet between it and the church proper, with space for a drive on the south. By the vote of the members of the church it will be known as Gorton Hall and will be used not only for Sunday school but also for missionary meetings and for the social activities of the church. Dark vitrified briek will be the building ma- terial and large windows are to be a feature of the edifice. In the basement there will be a space suitable for a gymnasium and the ceiling will be eighteen feet high, thus allowing ample room for basketball and other athletie games. Two full length bowling alleys will be installed, around which there will be space for spectators. There will be lockers and shower baths for both men and women and on the balcony will be writing, reading and game tables. The main floor will be used for the Sunday school department. ladies' parlors and a large assembly hall. The balcony on three sides of the main hall will be conveniently divided into small and separate Sunday school classrooms. This gift of Mr. Gorton's is but one indication of his deep interest in the work, espe-
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cially in the training of the young people along the lines of physical, intel- lectual and moral development.
In politics Mr. Gorton is a republican. He has served as a member of the school board and is an important factor in many of the forces which work for the improvement of the community. He stands for progress and improvement and for the high moral elements which promote the uplift of the individual as well as of the district, and at the same time he is a practical and progressive business man and along legitimate lines of trade has built up a business of gratifying proportions, the expert character of the work winning for the com- pany a wide and well deserved reputation.
P. H. ADLAND.
An excellent farm property of one hundred and eighty-five acres, splen- didly improved, pays tribute to P. H. Adland, who is the owner thereof. For many years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits but is now largely living retired, receiving an excellent income from his holdings. His parents were Thomas and Julia (Nelson) Adland, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was born near Bergen, August 12, 1831, a son of Mons K. and Ellen (Thompson) Adland. Mons K. Adland was born and reared in Bergen, where he obtained a public school education, and although he became familiar with agricultural pursuits in early manhood, he afterward turned his attention to the fishing industry as owner of a fishing vessel. In 1837 he brought his family to the United States and from New York traveled by way of the Lakes to Chicago and later joined a colony in Iroquois county. Illinois. The family suffered from fever and ague during their two years' residence there and Mr. Adland then removed by team to Racine county, Wisconsin, settling on a farm on section 30, Raymond township. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land and at once began its cultivation, the family living in a log cabin for several years. He prospered as time passed on and, adding to his holdings, became the owner of between five and six hundred acres which he divided among his children about ten years prior to his demise. He and his wife held membership in the Lutheran church and he gave his early political allegiance to the democratic party but on the organi- zation of the republican party joined its ranks. He passed away in 1869, at the age of seventy-six years, having for two years survived his wife.
Thomas Adland was a lad of six summers when brought by his parents to the new world and was reared upon the home farms in Illinois and Wis- consin, where he attended the district schools. When a youth of sixteen he began operating a threshing machine, which business he followed for a number of years, and in 1859 he assumed the management of the home farm, becoming owner ultimately of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land. His success was due to untiring industry, capable management, sound business judgment and honorable methods. He was actuated in all that he did by the spirit of enterprise and progress and his farm became a visible expression of modern ideas of agriculture.
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It was on the 19th of May, 1859, that Thomas Adland was united in mar- riage to Miss Julia Nelson, who was of Norwegian birth but became a resident of Racine county when but two years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Adland were born nine children: Carrie, who is engaged in the millinery business in Mil- waukee; Ellen, who is at home with her mother; Peter H., of this review; Martha, the widow of A. L. Huus and a resident of Forest City, Iowa; Edwin. Bertha and Lavina, all deceased; Thomas, who is conducting a restaurant at Riverside, Iowa; and Jessie, the wife of F. R. MeQuillis, who is engaged in the insurance business in Milwaukee. In his religious faith Thomas Adland was an earnest Lutheran. In politics he became a republican but later joined the ranks of the democracy. He ever kept well informed, reading widely and thinking deeply, and was in elose touch with the vital questions and issues of the day. While never ambitious to hold office, he served as chairman of the board of supervisors for a number of terms and ever made an excellent record when called upon for public service.
Reared under the parental roof, Peter H. Adland attended the district schools in his early boyhood and afterward became a student in a business college at Milwaukee. He began business life upon the home farm and has had no occasion to change his occupation, for he has found the work of the fields a profitable source of income. He is today the owner of one hundred and eighty-five aeres, constituting a valuable farm property equipped in the most modern and progressive manner. For a considerable period he engaged in the work of the fields but at the present time he has rented his land and now takes life easy, deriving from his property a very gratifying annual ineome.
In October, 1907, Mr. Adland was married to Miss Minnie Olsen, who was born in Norway township, Raeine county, a daughter of Nels Olsen, who came to this county about 1864 and is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Adland. The latter is a member of the Baptist church, while Mr. Adland is identified with the Lutheran church. His political indorsement is given to the democratic party but he is without ambition or desire for office, yet he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and indorses all plans and projects for the general good. He is a worthy representative of an old and honored pioneer family well known in Raeine county through three generations. The work instituted by his grandfather and carried on by his father has been continued by him and he stands today a high type of the modern agriculturist whose work is carried on along seientifie lines, attended by splendid results.
GEORGE B. WILSON.
George B. Wilson. who has been actively associated with important busi- ness interests of Racine, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1871, and. spending the first twenty-five years of his life in his native city, was accorded liberal educational privileges. He prepared for college at the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635, the oldest public school in America, and received the degree A. B. cum laude from Harvard University with the class of 1894.
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He then spent some time in the Harvard Graduate School in preparation for the profession of mining engineer and was afterward for many years actively engaged in the west and in Mexico in mine examination work and as manager of several important gold and copper properties owned by Boston mining interests. In 1910 he came to Racine and entered into active connection with the Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company as a director and vice president and later was president and general manager of the Racine Rubber Company.
In 1908 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Helen Turnor Lewis, a daughter of William Turnor Lewis, deceased, who was one of Racine's distinguished citizens and is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
In his political views Mr. Wilson is a republican. He is a Mason, a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Harvard Club of Boston, and various other societies, while his religious faith is evidenced by his mem- bership in the Congregational church.
CHRISTOPHER C. GITTINGS.
Christopher C. Gittings, who since 1889 has been an active member of the Racine bar, and is now senior partner in the firm of Gittings & Janechy, was born in Racine county, October 29, 1862, a son of William and Elizabeth Gittings. The ancestry is traced back to Wales, although the family is of English origin. The father was born in Wales, and in 1850 visited Wisconsin. being so pleased with the state and its future prospects that he returned in 1855 to Racine county and purchased land in Caledonia township, soon after which he was joined by his father, William Gittings, and the other members of the family. After coming to Wisconsin William Gittings, Jr., took up the occupation of farming which he continuously followed until he retired from active business life and removed to Racine. He died in Wales while on a visit to that country in August, 1911, at the very venerable age of eighty-nine years, and his wife has also passed away. They were the parents of seven children : Katharine, the wife of Captain John Pugh of Racine; William G., who is manager of the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company of Racine; Mellie, who became the wife of Charles E. Kittinger and died in South Dakota in 1886; Christopher C .; Elizabeth, living in Racine; John, an attorney of Union Grove, Wisconsin ; and Ward, who is treasurer of the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company.
After acquiring a public school education in his native town. Christopher C. Gittings attended the McMynn Academy at Racine and further continued his studies in Racine College. He began reading law in the office and under the direction of Henry T. Fuller of Racine and was admitted to the bar in 1889, since which time he has continuously practiced in this city. He became a partner of P. S. Fuller, with whom he was associated for a year and later was a member of the firm of Palmer & Gittings from 1891 until 1914, his associate being Walter C. Palmer. At the latter date the present firm of Gittings & Janechy was formed. He is an able lawyer, whose knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence is comprehensive and exact, while his practice is
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extensive and of an important character. His analytical mind and the readi- ness with which he grasps the points in an argument combine to make him a strong advocate, while his wide general information constitutes him a safe counselor. In adition to his law practice he has important business interests, being now president of the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company, manufac- turers of all kinds of camp furniture, which they sell throughout the world, supplying most of the cots to the United States army.
In 1901 Mr. Gittings was married to Miss Laura A. Jones of Racine, a daughter of Captain John W. Jones, who was a pioncer of this state and a well known lake captain. Mr. Gittings has long been a stalwart advocate of republican principles and for five years he served as city attorney of Racine, while for a similar period he was postmaster, holding the office during the administrations of Presidents Roosevelt and Taft. He is president of the State Young Men's Christian Association and has served on the State Board for several years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, and in the former organization has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter, commandery, and consistory. His attention, however, is chiefly concentrated upon his law practice and his earnest efforts, close appli- cation and the exercise of his native and acquired talents have won him pres- tige at the Racine bar.
STILES MOE.
Among the most highly esteemed and honored residents of Union Grove is Stiles Moe, who owns a general store and who still manages his business affairs although he has now reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. His birth occurred in Lorain county, Ohio, on the 29th of January. 1834, and he is a son of Edwin and Mchetabel (Case) Moe. The family emigrated to America from the north of France prior to the Revolutionary war, having been driven from their native land by religious persecution. Isaac Moc, the great-grandfather, who was born in Plattsburg, New York, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his son Isaac, who was born in Vermont, partici- pated in the war of 1812. Edwin Moe was born in Plattsburg, New York, in 1804, but when fourteen years of age became a resident of Lorain county, Ohio, where he farmed for years. In 1844, however, he came to Racine county, Wisconsin, by wagon and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land at five dollars per acre. Only two or three acres had been brought under cultivation and the dweling house was unfinished when the place came into his possession. This section was scarcely more than a wilderness and there was little to indicate the wonderful transformation which the next seventy years were destined to bring about. He broke his land and as the years passed brought it to a higher and higher state of development and when his death occurred in 1892 his farm was well improved and modern in its equip- ment. He was a democrat until Fremont became the first nominee of the republican party for president and from that time until his death supported the men and measures of the republican party. A man of keen intelligence
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he kept well informed on all topics of general interest. He was married in Ridgeville, Ohio, to Miss Mehetabel Case, whose birth occurred in Livingston county, Connecticut, in 1808, and who died in May, 1865, in the faith of the Congregational church. Her father, Jerome Case, was born in Connecticut but passed his last days in Lorain county, Ohio. The family traced its ancestry back to the Pilgrim Fathers. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Moe were born six children, of whom only two survive, Stiles and Orin. The latter served as a member of the Heavy Artillery during one year of the Civil war and is now living retired in Burlington, Wisconsin.
Stiles Moe was only ten years of age when he accompanied the family to Racine county, Wisconsin, and he received the greater part of his education here. His first teachers were college-bred men and he received valuable training under them although the schoolhouse was a primitive log structure. After putting aside his textbooks he farmed for a time and later learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until he was twenty-five years old. For a number of years he engaged in carpentering during the summer and devoted the winter months to attending school, thus seeuring a better educa-
tion than was usual in those pioneer days. In January, 1860, he established a general store in Union Grove and as the years passed his business kept pace in its growth with the development of the town and the surrounding country. He has always been energetie and progressive and has spared no pains to meet the needs of his customers and to make his store a factor in the general business advancement of Union Grove. He is accorded a large and representative patronage and is now a man of independent means.
Mr. Moe was married on the 19th of November, 1859, to Miss Grace Vie- toria Mather, who was born in Canada and was brought by her parents to the States when a year old. To Mr. and Mrs. Moe have been born three chil- dren. Ernest Stiles, the eldest, was graduated from the State University of Wisconsin and for a quarter of a century successfully practiced law in Milwaukee and was also for some time president of the Northwestern Col- leeting Association. He married Miss Belle Williams, a daughter of L. C. Williams, a prominent farmer of Kenosha county, and to them was born a daughter, Margaret Mather, who is now teaching in Kenosha. Ernest Stiles Moe passed away on the 29th of January, 1912. The second son, Newton Ardine, had charge of his father's store for a few years and also established a dry goods store in Sutton, Nebraska, which he managed for several years. He was prominent in church work and was the first president of the Christian Endeavor Society in Union Grove. He was married to Miss Eliza Callender, of Raeine county, and they became the parents of two children : Harold, who is employed in his grandfather's store; and Newton, Jr., who is working in a greenhouse. The death of Newton A. Moe occurred in 1893. Stella Grace was graduated from the high school in Burlington, is also a graduate in music and is now organist of the Congregational church. She is active in various phases of religious work and is the president of the Christian Endeavor at Union Grove.
Mr. Moe is a republican in polities and for twenty-one years served as a member of the board of education, during which time he was instrumental in having the school reorganized so as to give a full high school course. For
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two terms he was treasurer of the town of Union Grove and he has given a great deal of time and attention to public affairs. He has also been promi- nent in the work of the Congregational church, of which he was treasurer for a quarter of a century. He not only deserves the credit which is given to the man who by his own efforts gains financial success, but he is also entitled to the honor that is accorded those who have made their lives count for the advancement of their community.
JOHN S. HART, SR.
From an early period in the development of Racine the name of Hart has been closely connected with its history. John S. Hart was the representative of the family in the first generation living in this city. A native of Meredith, New Hampshire, he was born March 13, 1823, and upon his removal westward from New England in the early '40s he settled at Baraboo, Wisconsin. After about a decade there passed he came with his family to Racine in the early '50s and engaged in the woolen mill business as one of the founders of the enterprise of which his grandson, Harold H. Hart, is now the head. Through three successive generations the name has been closely and prominently asso- ciated with the development of the district in its manufacturing and commer- cial interests. John S. Hart was a very successful business man, watchful of all opportunities pointing to advancement, and he used his time and talents wisely and well.
It was on the 21st of May, 1851, that Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Susan Piper Hawkins, and his death occurred on the 7th of February, 1901, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years. His life work proved of value to the community in which he long resided. He was one of the principal contributors to the erection of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation building and was a most public-spirited citizen, co-operating in many plans and measures for the general good.
MR. AND MRS. SANDS M. HART.
Sands M. Hart, son of John S. Hart, mentioned above, was sixty-three years of age at the time of his demise. He was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, April 15, 1852, and was but a small boy when he came with his parents to Racine, at which time the family home was established upon a farm in the town of Mount Pleasant, on what is now known as the Rapids drive. After attending the district schools and later the public and high schools of Racine he con- tinued his education in the Hillsdale (Mich.) College, from which he was graduated with high honors. He entered business circles in connection with the enterprise of which is father had been one of the founders, going upon the road as traveling representative of the Racine Woolen Mills. He afterward engaged in the wholesale jobbing of woolen goods and when his father, John S. Hart,
JOHN S. HART, SR.
LUCIUS S. BLAKE
MRS. SANDS M. HART
SANDS M. HART
JOHN S. HART
HAROLD H. HART
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severed his connection with the Racine Woolen Mills, resigned the offices of treasurer and manager and went to California, Sands M. Hart was elected treasurer and manager of the concern and remained as such until the business was closed out. He soon afterward organized the Racine Woolen Manufactur- ing Company, manufacturers and jobbers, and was at the head of that busi- ness to the time of his death, which occurred December 23, 1915, while he was upon the train en route for New York to look after business interests in that city.
In early manhood Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Stella Blake, a daughter of the late Lucius S. and Caroline (Elliott) Blake. Mrs. Hart passed away April 11, 1915, leaving two sons, Harold H. and John S. She was a highly educated woman, having graduated from the Racine high school and having also attended Vassar College, and she possessed much literary ability. She was a contributor to several magazines and in 1900 wrote a booklet on the Passion Play at Oberammergau and she was also the author of a pleasing arti- ele on the California missions. She was deeply interested in charitable and re- ligious work and was for many years a member of the First Baptist church, taking a prominent part in its various activities. In this connection it is inter- esting to note that her marriage was the first service performed in the present church edifice. She was also a member of the Woman's Club and of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution and her influence was felt in the uplifting of the community in many ways. She was a woman of keen intelligence, of in- nate refinement, of wide knowledge and of strong character and her death was felt as an irreparable loss by her family and also by a host of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Hart was a member of the Racine Commercial Club and was one of the most active members of the First Baptist church, in the work of which he was most deeply interested, doing everything in its power to promote its growth and aid in its upbuilding. He served as one of the trustees of the church and was also at one time superintendent of the Sunday school.
LUCIUS S. BLAKE.
Upon the pioneer history of Racine is written the name of Lucius S. Blake, a name that is closely associated with its annals and one that was ever synony- mous with progress and improvement. He was descended from New England ancestry, the line being traced back through successive generations to Brad- bury Blake, a native of New Hampshire, who married Sarah Hilton and re- moved to Vermont where their son, Captain Levi Blake, was born and reared. He removed to Erie county, New York, then the far west, and in that locality wedded Mary Sanford, a native of the Empire state. At the time of the War of 1812 Captain Blake joined the army and after defending American interests in that conflict removed to Vermont but soon afterward returned to Erie county. New York. Later he resided in Pennsylvania until 1834, when with his family he started westward by wagon. A part of the family was left in Michigan, while he and his three sons, Lucius S., Charles H., and E. S., drove
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to Chicago, but, not pleased with that flat, wet country, they continued to Racine county, where they arrived February 15, 1835. They secured claims on Root river, after which Captain Blake returned to Chicago to work at his trade and in the spring the family home was there established, but subse- quently a removal was made to Racine county. By government entry the family secured over six hundred acres of land. Captain Blake became a prom- inent and influential citizen of Racine county and held the office of county treasurer. He gave his early political allegiance to the democratic party but afterward became a stalwart republican. For twenty years he remained in Racine county and later cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers at Sparta, Wis- consin, where he passed away in 1861, at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife died in 1885, at the age of eighty-nine. They were members of the Baptist church.
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