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 8
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ently a hopeless case, and the discouraged committee passed out of the office door to the street. As they stood there a little uncertain as to where they should go next Mr. Simonson exeused himself for a moment and went back into the office. In three minutes he came to the door and called the other two in to shake hands with the man who had refused them-to shake hands with him because he had just put his name down for a subscription of five hundred dollars. The members of the committee afterwards asked Mr. Simonson how 'he got it. He told them what he said. But the words were of little moment. Today the other members of the committee cannot even remember them. They can realize now that words had very little to do with it. He might almost have used any words with the same result. He obtained the subscription because of himself, because of his personality, because he was a man's man. Best of all, too, he was really grateful. Many a man would be tempted to exploit his own achievement under such circumstances, but he was simply grateful. His gratitude was shown in the glow of his face and in the few quiet words spoken afterwards. It was as if someone had given him a gift for himself. and as if the gift had touched him deeply. Onee, when a citizen had made an unusually small subseription and the committee had left him with merely a courteous expression of thanks, Mr. Simonson afterwards spoke of the gift with as strong words of gratitude as he did of even the largest contributions.
"One who had seen him only in his moments of quiet dignity would never suspeet his keen sense of humor. No one could see the point of a joke more quickly than he. No one could take in more speedily the possibilities of humor in a situation. No one enjoyed the outcome more heartily. He laughed all over, and when he laughed everybody wanted to laugh with him. Long before a good story eame to its climax he would anticipate the outcome, and the an- ticipation could be seen in his eyes as they lighted up and wrinkled at the cor- ners. Some men enjoy humor, but Andrew Simonson relished it. Those who knew him and loved him enjoyed his laugh more than the wit that inspired it.
"He was a man quick also to see worthy efforts in others. His praise was gentle, but it was always ready and sincere. His commendations could not be forgotten. Compliments are winged things and frail. But whether by reason of the personality of his warm sympathy or his good fellowship, Andrew Simonson's appreciation had a distinctive flavor. One might almost say they were dynamie. They were an incentive to greater effort. None knew this or felt it more strongly than his fellow members on the publie park commission. Quiet power lay beneath his every effort. Without seeming to lead he was always leading, or perhaps one might better say directing. When one was moving in the right direction, as he saw it, he commended; if in another direc- tion he suggested. Commendation and suggestion were the two levers which his hands never left. It took time to discover his method, but when once dis- covered it was a constant joy to note how skillfully he applied it.
"Andrew Simonson is no longer with us. It seems incredible that we shall not see again the familiar form on the street. To many of us the loss will be great, though our own lives shall be the richer in memory of the man. It is a trite thing to say that a man will be a loss to the community. It is said too often and of too many. We shall not say it of Andrew Simonson, because we would not decorate his memory with the commonplace. . Let us say, rather, 'He
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was a great citizen.' Such a citizen as he was is not to be measured by the work that he did, but rather by the intellectual forces, by the civic ideals he set in operation. It is not for what he did that we shall revere his memory though he did mueh-but rather for what he thought and made others think. It is not too much to say that men loved him, and that men who never wept for man before will shed a quiet tear for him today.
"Good-bye, old friend. We shall not see you for a while. The elasp of your hand is still warm in ours. Your smile has left its sweetness with us. If the day ever comes when the city you loved is beautiful as you would have it, in its most beautiful spot there should be a memorial to you. It will need no glowing epitaph. Just this will be enough-Andrew Simonson, he was a man's man."
ARTHUR WILLIAM SIMONSON.
Arthur William Simonson, president of The Wisconsin Agriculturist, pub- lished at Racine, succeeds to a business already established and one in which he has the inspirational example of a distinguished and honored father. His train- ing was received under his father's direction and the course which he is pur- suing fully sustains the reputation which has long been associated with the family name in journalistic cireles of the state. He was born in Racine, August 15, 1887, his parents being Andrew and Annie (Porter) Simonson, of whom men- tion is made elsewhere in this volume. The Simonsons have been residents of Raeine since 1869, when the paternal grandparents arrived with their family.
In the public schools Arthur W. Simonson began his education, which was continued through successive grades until he became a student in Racine Col- lege, afterward spending two years in the University of Wisconsin. He was carly trained in the field of journalism and upon the death of his father be- came manager of The Wisconsin Agriculturist, a paper the value of which has been demonstrated in its increased patronage. As manager he has adopted the most modern ideas of newspaper publication in relation to the interests of the farming class. In February, 1914, he was elected president of the company and now largely controls the destinies of the paper, which is proving a vital force in putting before the farming community facts and theories of eduea- tional value in relation to their work.
On the 26th of January, 1910, Mr. Simonson was married to Miss Mary Edna Hare, of Racine, a daughter of Will C. and Ollie B. Hare, of Salem, Ohio, who removed to Raeine in 1906. The children of this marriage are Andrew William and Mary Edna.
On political questions Mr. Simonson maintains an independent attitude save where the issue is one of state or national importance. At local elections, where the only matter for consideration is the capability of a candidate for the duties of the office which he seeks, he votes independently. He was made the democratic nominee for the office of alderman in the second ward and such was his popularity with his fellow citizens that he was elected and served for two years. He is a trustee of Racine College. He co-operates in all the well
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devised plans and measures of the Commercial Club for Racine's benefit and upbuilding and his fraternal spirit finds expression in his membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Episcopal church. In every relation his influence is on the side of progress and advancement and his policy is always to advocate constructive and not destructive measures.
THE WISCONSIN AGRICULTURIST.
This paper was first issued at Racine, Wisconsin, January 1, 1877, under the name of The Racine Agriculturalist. An introductory on the first page. signed by A. F. Sweetser, states that it is the object of the "proprietor" to benefit the farmers of the country "as much as possible in inserting in its col- umns such articles as will be of special interest to them in their business and by offering such suggestions as may lighten the labor of the farm." It is frankly stated that the columns of the paper will be largely devoted to adver- tising, but only such articles would be presented as are known and proved to be first class. The proprietor says that as he believes "that all work and no play is not conducive to the healthy increase of the mental capacity of poor Jacob, such selections will at times be introduced as will provoke the good humor of all." Much of the advertising was that of Fish Brothers & Com- pany, and that the paper was really owned by this firm is shown in the second issue, in which the heading contains a portrait of A. C. Fish and the name is changed to The Racine Agriculturist. The original subscription price was fifty cents a year and the paper was issued monthly. The first number contained eight pages of nine by fourteen inches of type matter each. It had articles on fresh American beef in Europe, on the profitableness of farming, a story and some humorous matter, but not much of real agricultural value. The second issue, however, showed considerable improvement and contained an interest- ing communication from Professor C. D. Granger of the Wisconsin State Uni- versity, besides some ereditable agricultural and live stock matter. In the issue of September, 1878, the name of George S. Bliss appears as publisher and that of A. C. Fish as editor. Considerable improvement has been shown by this time. The leading article tells of numerous emphatic signs that farming in this country, especially in the great west, is taking a new departure. In the future grain is to be grown, even by the average farmer, more with a view to raising stoek and the produce of stock. The farm. it is stated, will be made the feeding ground of beef and mutton. The editor says: "We are conjuring no illusion; we are stating the undeniable fact." This issue shows that the paper now contained twice as many pages as the first issue, each issue having sixteen instead of eight. as formerly.
In July, 1883, the Agriculturist was purchased by the publishers of The Racine Manufacturer, a monthly which had been established in January of that year. The two papers were therefore issued as one publication under the name of The Raeine Manufacturer and Agriculturist by the Manufacturers Publishing Company. Andrew Simonson was the editor. In 1885 the name
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"Manufacturer" was dropped and the paper became the Racine Agriculturist, only to be changed again in May, 1886, to The Racine Wisconsin Agricultur- ist.
In January, 1890, the publication was changed from monthly to a semi- monthly, the subscription price remaining the same-fifty cents a year. It was now published by the Wisconsin Agriculturist Publishing Company, a corpora- tion organized for the purpose of increasing the scope and usefulness of the paper, which had by this time become considerable. On February 1. 1892, it assumed its present name, "The Wisconsin Agriculturist," by dropping the word "Racine" from the heading.
On January 1, 1897, The Wisconsin Agriculturist became a weekly and the next year the subscription price was increased to sixty cents a year. On Jan- uary 1, 1907. it was advanced to seventy-five cents a year. In 1902 The Wis- consin Agriculturist absorbed the Farm, Field and Stockman of Winona, Min- nesota, and in 1906 it took over the Farmers' Sentinel, and in 1914 it absorbed The Lake Superior Farmer, which made it the only English general farm paper printed in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Agriculturist is now, as it has been for many years. owned by the Wisconsin Agriculturist Publishing Company. Andrew Simonson, who had been connected with the publication in various capacities since 1883. was the publisher until his death, June 6, 1907, when his son, Arthur W. Simon- son, took charge, and Charles H. Everett has been the editor-in-chief for the last fifteen years. The paper's weekly circulation of sixty-five thousand eopies is practically all in the state of Wisconsin.
FRED REICHERT.
Fred Reichert, a well known contractor of Raeine, was born November 6, 1886, in this city. his parents being Nichola F. and Catherine (Becker) Reichert, who were also natives of this city. The paternal grandfather. Fred- erick Reichert, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and in early man- hood came to the new world, here following the occupation of farming. He cast in his lot with the early settlers of Racine county and his son, Nichola F., was born and reared on the old homestead farm and became a contractor and builder. He was thus identified with building operations in this county for thirty-five years, continuing active along that line until his death, which oc- curred about three years ago. His wife had died some years before. her death ocurring fifteen years ago.
Fred Reichert was educated in the schools of Racine and became a pro- fessional polo player, devoting ten years to that sport. He was also manager of the Lakeside Auditorium and still continues in that position, his father having at one time been owner of the Auditorium. He has likewise engaged in general teaming contracting and he also conducts the North Side Beach for dancing and other amusements. His interests are varied and his activity has brought him success. He closely studies public wishes and has thus been able to cater to public taste in the line of attractive amusements.
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Mr. Reichert is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks, while his political allegiance is given to the dem- ocratic party. He represents one of the old and well known families of the county which for three generations has been here represented.
MORTIMER EUGENE WALKER.
Mortimer Eugene Walker, whose prominence in the profession of law entitles him to more than passing notice as a representative of the Racine bar, is today well known as a member of the firm of Simmons & Walker. Endowed by nature with keen intellectual force, he has so directed his energies and developed his talents that he is found adequate to the solution of most intricate legal problems.
Racine county numbers him among her native sons. He was born in the town of Mount Pleasant, June 25, 1872, and represents an old New England family. His paternal grandfather, Nelson A. Walker, was a native of Vermont and on foot made the long journey across the country from the Green Mountain state to Wisconsin, where at one time he owned a farm on the present site of Racine, which was then known as Sagetown. For a number of years he occupied that place but two or three years prior to his death removed to Chicago, where he passed away at an advanced age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucinda Taggart, died at the age of sixty-five years, leaving four children.
That number included Robert M. Walker, who was born in Vermont but was yet a young lad when his parents came to Wisconsin, so that he was reared in Racine county-then the western frontier. The occupation with which he became familiar during his youth he made his life work and became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of very rich, productive and valuable land pleasantly and conveniently situated about three-quarters of a mile west of the corporation limits. He always followed farming save for the period of the Civil war, when he offered his services to the government and went to the front with the boys in blue of Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, the regiment which carried with it throughout the war the famous eagle known as Old Abe. With the close of hostilities he resumed agricultural pursuits and from time to time his fellow townsmen called him to public office, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Minerva Secor, a daughter of Gurdon Secor. a native of New York, whose mother was of Holland-Dutch, while his father was of French lineage. While in the east M. Secor followed merchandising ; upon his arrival in Racine county he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and secured a tract of land in Mount Pleasant township which he developed and improved, making it the family home while he was rearing his eight children. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Stuart and both lived to a ripe old age.
Mortimer E. Walker was the second in order of birth in a family of three children, his elder brother being Nelson A., of Mount Pleasant township,
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while his sister is Mabel E. Walker. His youthful experiences were those of the farm-bred boy. He worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn and he enjoyed such educational opportunities as were accorded in the district schools, in private schools and in Racine College. In the meantime he determined to make the practice of law his life work and with that end in view entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and completed his course by graduation with the class of 1895.
The same year Mr. Walker was admitted to practice in the courts of the state and upon his return to Racine sought actual experience by entering the offices of Cooper & Nelson. The firm later admitted him to a partnership and in the intervening period he has won a place among the able and repre- sentative lawyers of the Racine county bar. He prepares his cases with thoroughness and the zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients, together with an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct.
On the 24th of July, 1900, Mr. Walker was joined in wedlock to Miss Florence Bull, a daughter of Wakely T. and Caroline (Curtis) Bull. They have become parents of two daughters, Jane Stuart and Florence Bull, who are with their parents in the family home at No. 1228 Main street. Mr. Walker is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Racine Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M .; Racine Commandery, No. 7, K. T .; Wisconsin Consistory, Scottish Rite; and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Elks lodge of Racine and his wife is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Walker gives his political indorsement to the republican party and from 1902 until 1906 filled the office of city attorney, making an excellent record in that position. He is well known in the county where his entire life has been passed and he occupies an enviable position socially as well as professionally.
MICHAEL N. FREEMAN.
No history of the industrial development of Racine would be complete were there failure to make reference to Michael N. Freeman and his asso- ciates, whose important and extensive interests are conducted under the name of the S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company. With this business Michael N. Freeman, who is now the vice president of the company. has been continuously connected since reaching the age of thirteen years and there is no phase of the undertaking with which he is not familiar. He was born in Centralia, Illinois, January 14, 1860, and is a son of S. Freeman, the founder of the business, and a brother of Charles Freeman, who is president of the company and who is mentioned at length on another page of this work. When a youth of seven years Michael N. Freeman was brought by his parents to Racine, where the father soon afterward established a boiler and machine shop which was the nucleus of the present great enterprise. The son was put
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in school and pursued a public school course until he reached the age of thirteen, when, desirous of becoming a factor in business circles, he was set to work by his father and acquainted himself with the trade. He gradually worked his way upward, not only becoming familiar with the practical processes of the business but also with the management and control of a con- stantly and rapidly growing enterprise. He was admitted to a partnership and following the death of his father, in 1889, was elected vice president of the company after having previously served as treasurer during the inter- vening period which covered the time between the incorporation of the busi- ness and his father's death. This undertaking is now one of the foremost concerns that has brought to Racine its well established reputation as a great manufacturing center. Their output includes boilers and many kinds of farm machinery and their trade not only covers America, for their output is also sent to many other sections of the world.
In 1881 Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Miss Lillian C. Porter, a daughter of L. C. Porter, of Racine, and they have become parents of three children : Bessie, now the wife of Percy Borman, a resident of Racine; Frank, who is associated with the S. Freeman & Sons Manufacturing Company and married Carolin Blake, of Racine, and Roy, who married Ethel Meinland, of this city, and is engaged in farming in Racine county.
The parents adhere to the faith of the Congregational church and Mr. Freeman gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is neglect- ful of no duty of citizenship, but has never sought office, preferring to con- centrate his energies upon his business affairs, and the thoroughness with which he mastered the trade and acquainted himself with every feature of the business has been one of the strong elements of the growing success of this undertaking.
HON. C. H. EVERETT.
In the language of the people, Charles H. Everett is a thinker and a worker, and these qualities have made him a leader. Perhaps no man in Wisconsin has exerted a more widely felt and beneficial influence on the agricultural de- velopment of the state. He was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, March 22. 1855, a son of Milton Josiah and Mary E. (Ross) Everett, both of whom were natives of New York and have now passed away. They became residents of Wisconsin in 1840 and here the father followed the occupation of farming.
C. H. Everett acquired a public school education, attending the high school, and throughout his entire life has been a student, especially of everything connected with agriculture, yet by no means has his reading been confined to that line, for he is well versed on the vital and significant problems of the age as affecting the sociological, economie and political conditions of the coun- try. He remained upon the farm until 1895 and success attended his efforts. for he studied thoroughly every phase of farm life, the conditions of the soil, the uses of fertilizers, the rotation of crops, the needs of each cereal and the value of each piece of improved machinery that was put upon the market.
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HON. C. H. EVERETT
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Naturally he became a leader and he was called upon to lecture in many farmers' institutes. Ile was also called upon to serve as secretary of the state board of agriculture and in 1901 he became editor of The Wisconsin Agri- culturist at Racine and since that time has devoted his attention largely to the dissemination of news and knowledge of value to the farmer.
In November, 1878, Mr. Everett was married to Miss Angerona E. Barning- ham of Winnebago county, Illinois, who died in January, 1902. On the 8th of May, 1909, he wedded Grace E. Lang, a daughter of Robert Lang, of Racine. By the first marriage he had a son, Milton W., now general sales manager of the Racine Gas Light & Coke Company. Fraternally Mr. Everett is connected with the Masonic lodge at Beloit, with the Elks and with the Woodmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and again in that connec- tion he has attained to leadership. Ile was elected to the state assembly in 1912 and to the state senate in 1914, receiving six thousand and twenty-seven votes as against four thousand six hundred and seventy-seven cast for his nearest competitor, the democratic candidate. He was instrumental in secur- ing the passage of several bills which are of great benefit to the state and he did much in shaping wise legislation at that period. It does not argue that because he is so deeply interested in agriculture and everything that relates to the welfare of the farmer that he is not actively interested in other matters, for he gives the most careful consideration to all questions which come up for settlement and his influence can always be counted upon on the side of progress and improvement. He is perhaps the best known representative of agricultural interests in Wisconsin today and no better indication of the char- acter of the man, his nature, his purpose and his ideals can be given than by quoting an article which was published in the present year, as follows :
"It was a cool June day, back in 1910, when we stood on the top of the Singer building in New York, Mr. Everett and I, looking out over that great network of streets which makes up New York city, and then off in the other direction, across the river and narrows out into the broad Atlantic. I, the easterner, was taking a product of Wisconsin around my 'farm,' and he, men- tally, instead of measuring buildings in height or area, saw evidently only just so much possibility for prosperous agriculture, were it land : and just so many head of dairy cows were those little dots walking on the street below. We stood for a long while just drinking in the weird scene, wondering as one does when he sees New York from such a height, just why people will live that way and how they can exist without the green of a hill or two to relieve the gray of high stone buildings. Then .(. II.' broke the silence by a characteristic. yet to me, strange remark. 'With all your millions,' he said, 'with all this great evidence of amassed power and wealth, without wishing to reflect even upon the attractiveness of your surroundings for you-Me for Wisconsin.' And so it went, everything from Harlem to the Battery he reveled in as to its satisfying immediate pleasure and wonderment. But when it was all over and he stood on the platform of the train, headed west. only then did I observe true contentment and relief from the tired strain. He was on his way back to his 'beloved' Wisconsin.
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