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 7
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Lucius S. Blake, who was the third in a family of ten children, was reared upon the frontier in Pennsylvania and in Wisconsin, so that his educational opportunities were limited, but in the school of experience he learned many valuable life lessons and he received practical training in his father's shop and on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he left home and after working for a short time in Kenosha came to Racine in 1839, establishing a small car- penter shop on the river bank. Fanning mills were then in much demand and farmers came to him for such, so that he became the first fanning mill manu- facturer of Racine. Originally the work was done by hand but this proved too slow and machinery and horse power were therefore introduced, the latter afterward being substituted by steam power. At times the output was three thousand mills annually and employment was given to many workmen. He was one of the first who were prominent in promoting the industrial develop- ment of Racine, for not only did he engage in the manufacture of fanning mills but he also became one of the organizers and the president of the Racine Woolen Mills, devoted to the manufacture of shawls which were said to be among the finest in the world. He was also one of the incorporators and the president of the Chicago Rubber Clothing Company of Racine, an incorporator and director of the Huffman-Puffer Trunk Manufacturing Company of Racine, an incorporator and director of the E. H. Pease Manufacturing Company, engaged in making farm implements, president of the Turner Stove Manu- facturing Company, an incorporator and director of the Racine Steam Knit- ting Company, a director in the Nail and Tack Manufacturing Company and a director in the Manufacturers' National Bank.
Lucius S. Blake was married at Racine, December 26, 1843, to Caroline, daughter of William and Sarah (Ireland) Elliot. She was born in Essex county, England, March 24, 1823, and in 1840 came to the United States with her parents, who settled in Raymond township, this county. Mr. Blake was a democrat in politics and cast his first presidential vote for General Jackson but afterward became an advocate of free soil principles and eventually a republican. During the war he was a provost marshal at Camp Utley and made the first draft in the state. For eight years he was alderman of Racine for the Second ward, in 1871 represented his county in the state legislature, was a delegate to the republican national convention which nominated Gen- eral Grant in 1872, and was made a presidential elector in 1881. He and his
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wife were long active workers in the Baptist church and the name of Lucius S. Blake is inseparably connected with the material, political and religious development of Racine.
LUCIUS S. HART.
Lucius S. Hart, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Sands M. Hart, was born in Racine, December 11, 1879. He pursued his education in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and his early business training was received in the woolen mill owned and operated by the family. In 1900, with his younger brother, Harold H. Hart, he made a bicycle tour through Europe, visiting many points of modern and historie interest and touring the country in a most thorough manner. Soon after his return from Europe he went to California for the benefit of his health and while out hunting was accidentally shot on the 18th of February, 1902, his death resulting imme- diately. His remains were brought back to Racine and were interred in the Mound cemetery. His death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he was a young man of exemplary qualities and sterling worth. In the work of the Baptist church he was very active and was numbered among its most loyal members. He conducted a Baptist mission in Racine. His life was exemplification of high and honorable principles and his memory, en- shrined in the hearts of all, remains as a blessed benediction to those who knew him.
HAROLD H. HART.
Thorough technical, and scientific training as well as broad practical experience well qualified Harold H. Hart for the conduct of the important and extensive business which he is conducting as president of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company, whose output of Indian blankets makes theirs the foremost establishment of this kind in the country. Mr. Hart is a native of Racine, born July 3, 1882, and is a son of Sands M. and Stella M. (Blake) Hart. A history of his parents and of both his paternal and maternal grand- parents is given in this volume, showing him to be descended from two of the oldest and most prominent families of the county. At the usual age he became a public school pupil and after leaving the high school he attended Racine College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1902. His business career pointing toward woolen manufacturing interests, his educa- tion was further directed toward preparation for that line and he entered the Philadelphia Textile College, from which he was graduated in 1905. He afterward served as superintendent of three different mills in the east, the largest being that of the Cocheco Woolen Manufacturing Company of Roch- ester, New Hampshire, where he remained until 1909, when he returned to Racine and has since been connected with the Raeine Woolen Manufacturing
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Company. His previous scientific and technical training and broad, practical experience well qualified him for the direction and conduct of an important industry with which the name of Hart has been associated in an official ca- pacity from the beginning. With the reorganization of the business in 1912 he became treasurer of the company and succeeded his father in the presi- dency in December, 1915, all of the stock of the company being now owned by the Hart family.
On the 18th of November, 1907, Mr. Hart was married to Miss May M. Moore, of Wilton, New Hampshire, and their children are Lucius Sands and Stella Louise. Their social position is in keeping with the prominence to which the family has attained in business circles. Like his predecessors, Mr. Hart is deeply interested in the moral progress of the community as a mem- ber of the First Baptist church. He votes with the republican party and co- operates with the well devised plans and measures of the Commercial Club for the extension of the trade interests of this city. He belongs to that younger generation of business men who have been called upon to shoulder responsibili- ties differing materially from those resting upon their predecessors. In a broader field of enterprise they find themselves obliged to deal with affairs of greater magnitude and to solve more difficult and complicated financial and economic problems. The subjective and objective forces of life are in Mr. Hart well balanced, making him cognizant of his own capabilities and powers. while at the same time he thoroughly understands his opportunities and his obligations. To make his native talents subserve the demands which condi- tions of society impose at the present time is the purpose of his life, and by reason of the mature judgment which characterizes his efforts at all times, he stands today as a splendid representative of the prominent manufacturer and capitalist to whom business is but one phase of life and does not exclude his active participation in and support of the other vital interests which go to make up human existence.
JOHN S. HART.
John S. Hart, secretary and treasurer of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company, was born January 16, 1885, and was the youngest of the three sons of Sands M. and Stella M. Hart. The eldest brother, Lucius S. Hart, mentioned elsewhere, was accidentally shot while out hunting in California. The second brother, Harold H. Hart, is the president of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company. On another page of this work is given a complete history of both the paternal and maternal ancestry.
After leaving the high school John S. Hart entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1907. He spent a year and a half in Central America and was engaged in banana cultivation in Costa Rica. Upon his re- turn to the United States he went to Minneapolis, where he became interested in the flour trade as a representative of the Washburn-Crosby Company and later he was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the H. W. Johns-Manville Com- pany, manufacturers of asbestos goods. In 1912 he returned to Racine to join
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his father and brother on the reorganization and reincorporation of the Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company, of which he became secretary, and following the death of his father in 1915, his brother, H. H. Hart, became president of the company and John S. Hart secretary and treasurer. The two brothers now concentrate their efforts upon the further development and extension of the business which already in its trade relations reaches to all parts of the country. Their specialty is the manufacture of Indian blankets and they sell to Indian traders throughout the entire United States
On the 18th of October, 1909, Mr. Hart was married at St. Paul, Minnesota, to Miss Hannah C. Hall, a daughter of Willis E. and Margaret (Blow) Hall, of Racine, and they now have two children, Willis C. and Margaret E. Mr. Hart, like the others of his family, votes with the republican party, believing firmly in the efficacy of its principles as factors in good government. He also holds to the religious faith of his ancestors, being a member of the Baptist church, and his interest in Racine's welfare is manifest in his membership in the Com- mercial Club. He is devoted to the city's upbuilding and improvement along many lines and he maintains the same high standards for which the family ยท have ever stood in public and private relations.
THE RACINE WOOLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company was organized to take over a business that was founded in 1863 by L. S. Blake and John S. Hart and was conducted under the name of Blake & Company at Bridge and Ontario streets. They started business on a small scale in a little building, but the trade steadily grew and in 1877 the business was incorporated with L. S. Blake as the presi- dent, John S. Hart as treasurer, James J. Elliott and A. W. Tillapaugh as stockholders and directors. At that time the plant was known as a two set mill, having about fifteen looms. Afterward the business was incorporated under the name of the Racine Woolen Mills, Blake & Company as proprietors. The company originally made shawls and blankets and in later years extended the scope of their output to include cloth for clothing. Their shawls were sent out under the name of the Badger State Shawls, which became famous. being recognized as a standard of manufacture for the United States, their sales extending throughout the entire country. Various changes have occurred as the business has developed, not only in the goods manufactured but also in the processes used. Today their output includes Indian shawls and blankets and they have become the largest manufacturers in this line in the country, selling to all Indian traders throughout the United States. The factory covers forty-five thousand square feet of floor space and in normal times they employ about one hundred and fifty people. They handle exclusive lines that cannot be duplicated elsewhere and their goods include a large variety of designs and patterns brought out in the most attractive colors and most durable materials.
Mr. Blake remained president of the company until his death, which oc- curred in 1894, when he was succeeded by L. J. Elliott, who continued as presi- dent until 1911. John S. Hart was treasurer until 1895, when he was suc-
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ceeded by his son, Sands M. Hart, who occupied the office until 1911. In 1912 the business was reorganized. with Sands M. Hart as president, associated with his two sons, H. H. Hart, treasurer: and John S. Hart, secretary. With the death of Sands M. Hart on the 23d of December, 1915, H. H. Hart became the president, with John S. Hart as secretary and treasurer. The Hart family have taken over all of the stock of the company and are active in the manage- ment of a business which has become one of the leading manufacturing interests of Racine.
1
CHARLES FREEMAN.
Charles Freeman is numbered among the successful business men of Racine, being active in the ownership and conduct of a mammoth manufacturing plant, his interests being conducted under the name of the S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company, of which he is the president. This has become one of the important productive industries of the city and throughout his entire business career Mr. Freeman has been associated with the undertaking, starting out in this line when a youth of fourteen. He was born in Washington county. Illinois, March 17, 1858, and is a son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Willich) Free- man, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father came to the United States in 1856 and settled at Centralia, Illinois, where he worked in the boiler shop of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, occupying the position of foreman. The following year he removed to Cairo, Illinois, and was engaged in the boiler business there with John O'Brien. With the out- break of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and in 1861 became connected with Admiral Porter's fleet, having charge of the boilers of the flect, in which capacity he served for two years. Becoming ill, he was ordered north and in the fall of 1864 made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his ability soon won for him the position of foreman of the boiler shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. Subse- quently he removed to Watertown, Wisconsin, and in the winter of 1867 came to Racine, where he established business on his own account. He had learned his trade in Laird's shipbuilding yards at Liverpool and before coming to the new world he had rendered military aid to his country by a year and a half's service in the Crimean war. With his arrival in the new world he entered upon a business career in which he made steady progress, interrupted only by his military service as a defender of the Union cause in the Civil war. He continued active in business in Racine until his death and won a prominent place in the regard of his fellow citizens, both as a business man and as a public officer. He served for two years as alderman of his city from the fifth ward and was also supervisor. His political allegiance was ever given to the democratic party, while fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Episcopal church, continuing communicants of that faith until called to their final rest, the former passing away September 10, 1889, while the latter died in 1894.
STEPHEN FREEMAN
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Charles Freeman was one of their family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and was a lad of about nine years at the time of the removal of the family to Racine, so that his education was largely acquired in the schools of this city. When fourteen years of age he entered his father's boiler shop and thoroughly mastered the business, acquainting himself with every phase of the trade in principle and detail. He also learned the business management and upon the death of his father became president of the com- pany and has since continued at the head of the enterprise, which figures as one of the foremost industrial interests of the city. A liberal patronage is accorded the company and the work done has ever been in harmony with the highest standards.
On the 30th of August, 1883, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Williams, of Racine, a daughter of Hugh O. Williams, one of the old settlers of this city. To them have been born four children : Gertrude, the wife of Myron G. Hayward, of Omaha, Nebraska; Harold C., who is superin- tendent of the boiler works; and Kathleen and Elaine, at home.
Fraternally Mr. Freeman is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all of the chairs, has attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry and is a past exalted ruler of the Elks lodge. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church, in which he was reared. In polities he has always been a democrat and was a delegate to the national convention of the party in 1904. For eighteen years he has served as school commissioner of Racine, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. For the past two years he has been alderman of the second ward, exercising his official prerog- atives in support of well defined plans and measures which are matters of civic virtue and civic pride.
S. FREEMAN & SONS MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company, one of the foremost business enterprises of Racine, was established in 1867 by S. Freeman, who in a small way began manufacturing and repairing boilers. A few months later he entered into partnership with William E. Davis and opened a little machine shop. In 1868 they admitted John R. Davies to a partnership, at which time Mr. Davies was operating a foundry in the old Star mills, located where the William Pugh coal yards are now found. At that time the firm name was Davies. Freeman & Davis. After a brief existence the new under- taking faced failure. In the fall of 1869 Mr. Freeman again established business on Bridge street, where he opened a machine shop and foundry and conducted a small boiler shop. He became engaged in the manufacture of grey iron castings in connection with his work of boiler making. In 1871 the firm of J. I. Case & Company began the manufacture of boilers and engines for threshing machines and Mr. Freeman took a contract to build the boilers. This business became a very large and profitable enterprise and he continued to manufacture boilers for the company throughout his remaining days. In 1875 he also began the manufacture of a fanning mill. patented by G. E. Clark,
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and gradually he added other implements until the output now includes a large line of farm implements and machinery. In 1886 the business was incor- porated under the name of the S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company, with S. Freeman as the president, Charles Freeman as secretary and Michael N. Freeman as treasurer. Their first factory was on Bridge steet, near the plant of the Case Company, and in 1894 they built a boiler plant at the foot of Reichert Court, facing Hamilton street on the north. In 1895 the entire plant was removed to the present location, where the company has six acres of land. The buildings cover three acres and some of the buildings are two and three stories in height and are of brick and steel construction and equip- ped throughout with a sprinkler system. The company has its own electric plant, also a hydraulic and pneumatie power system and the plant uses machinery of three hundred and fifty horse power. They employ three hundred men, mostly skilled labor, and their product is today sold all over the world. They manufacture boilers, both power and heating, of the tubular type, also boilers internally fired and of the water tube type. Their product includes all kinds of steel pipe, smokestacks, ensilage cutters and carriers. corn shellers, steel windmills and towers, fanning mills and broadcast seeders.
ANDREW SIMONSON.
Lowell said, "An institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man;" it must perforce partake of his character, his purpose and his principles and be- comes the expression of his effort and his ideals. It is not a matter of marvel, therefore, that The Wisconsin Agriculturist has been a most successful far- mers' journal, accomplishing farreaching results for the benefit of the agricul- tural community, for back of that paper were the ideals and determined energy of Andrew Simonson, a man whose rare virtues and lovable character endeared him to the entire circle of his acquaintance.
Andrew Simonson was a native of Porsgrund, Norway, where his birth occurred on the 9th of August, 1861. He was eight years of age when his par- ents brought their family to the new world, arriving in Racine in 1869. He here became a public school pupil but very early had to take up the task of providing for his own support and that of other members of the family, owing to the father's death. He secured a situation in a dry goods store, where his diligence and fidelity won him rapid promotion, with increased responsibili- ties but also with broadening experience and a wider outlook. After several years spent in connection with the dry goods trade he became identified with S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company and it was a step toward his later activity in the field of journalism. After three years he became connected with The Racine Manufacturer, a monthly magazine, which he soon merged with The Raeine Agriculturist under the name of The Racine Manufacturer and Agriculturist, but his interest throughout his career as editor and pub- lisher was always directed chiefly toward agriculture and it was for that rea- son that he soon succeeded in having the word "Manufacturer" dropped from the title of his publication, which thereby became The Racine Agricul-
Andru Simonson
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turist. The next change led to the adoption of the name of The Raeine Wis- consin Agriculturist, leading up to its present form of The Wisconsin Agricul- turist, under which name the publication has been continued since 1892. This paper became a power of great influence and practical benefit to the farming community of the state. In January, 1890, it was changed from a monthly to a semi-monthly and seven years later became a weekly publication. That it was growing in power and popularity is indicated in the fact that it was able in 1902 to absorb another agricultural journal, the Farm, Field and Stock- man of Winona, Minnesota, and in 1906 it took over the Farmers' Sentinel of Milwaukee. In 1914 it bought out the Lake Superior Farmer of Ashland, Wisconsin. The paper was steadily developed along the most progressive lines. taking rank with the leading agricultural journals of the country, for Mr. Simonson put forth every effort to enlarge its scope, usefulness and interest. To this end he bent his administrative direction and executive power in the control of the paper and used his broad knowledge in bringing before the public those things which would prove of vital and practical value in promot- ing the work of the fields.
Mr. Simonson was married to Miss Annie Porter, a native of Taunton, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Lemuel C. Porter, a Racine pioneer and sil- versmith who established one of the first silver plating works of this city. He afterward returned to the cast but eventually retired from active business life and now makes his home in Racine. Mr. Simonson gave his political alle- giance to the democratic party and was appointed postmaster of Racine during President Cleveland's second administration. In this connection a contem- porary writer has said: "His corps of associates, during that time in office, displayed a loyalty seldom seen in public service, and at the same time his business management introduced a system and efficiency in the office which has not been surpassed under any subsequent administration." No better illustration of the character of Mr. Simonson can be given than by quoting from H. D. Robinson, who soon after the death of Mr. Simonson wrote :
"Andrew Simonson was a man's man. When one has said this he has per- haps said all that need be said. Could one say anything more or better? He was a man's man because he commended himself to men through those traits of character that most men admire. He was courageous and gentle, aggressive and modest, successful and just. Combinations of this kind are rare, but they existed in Andrew Simonson.
"About a year ago the mayor of the city appointed him with two others to solicit subscriptions for Racine's new public park. From the beginning of that quest for the city's betterment until it ended Mr. Simonson was the leader ; but his leadership was so gentle that it was not even suspected until the result showed the impress of his personality. The money that was given for Racine's park was mostly given because Andrew Simonson asked for it. On one occasion when the members of the committee were feeling somewhat discouraged at the slender result of their work, they found themselves in the office of one of Racine's foremost citizens. They set before him the plan of the new park and the city's need of it, but he was not disposed to give. For a good half hour they pleaded with him, using every argument they could think of, and every influence they possessed, but he remained obdurate. It was appar-
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