The Junction Hardware Company is one of the well established and successful 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 O. 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 Maxted, was born in Racine, September 13, 1884, and obtained a public school education, later becoming connected with his father in business, the association being thus maintained until he and his brother took over the business, which they now manage and conduct. He married Mabel Catherine Meyers, of Racine, on the 5th of September, 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 conduct of the business which they now carry on. The firm is a member of the Retail Merchants’ Association and also of the Junction Business Men’s Association, of which William G. Maxted is the vice president. He is also identified with the Woodmen of the World, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Musicians’ Union. He possesses much native musical 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 polities 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 bail’ 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 business men and their success is well merited.
Source: Stone, Fanny S. Racine, Belle City of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement; Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1916.