Wisconsin Genealogy

The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company was established under its present form in 1903 by W. T. Lewis and W. M. Lewis, who began the manufacture of automobiles using the motor invented by John W. Bate. Long prior to this the name of Lewis had figured in connection with manufacturing interests in Racine. In 1834 Henry Mitchell, a pioneer wagon manufacturer, had established business here and later was joined in a partnership by his son-in-law, W. T. Lewis, who purchased an interest in the business in 1864. They were manufacturers of farm wagons and after the partnership had been in existence for … Read more

The Lavine Gear Company, which was organized in Detroit, removed its headquarters from that city to Wisconsin in March, 1912. Its plant was at first located at Corliss, Wisconsin, for eight months and at the end of that time a removal was made to Racine. The plant is located in the Satterly building and the company is engaged in the manufacture of auto steering gears for trucks and pleasure cars, these being built after their own design. They also manufacture a special steering gear for customers. Today the plant employs one hundred men who are skilled mechanics and its capacity … Read more

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 … Read more

If there were no other business enterprise, cultural force, educational institution or civic project to have made the name of Racine famous, the mammoth manufacturing concern operated as the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company would alone have accomplished this for today wherever grain is grown throughout the civilized world the products o f this great factory have found their way. The history of this business is in large measure the history of Racine’s industrial, commercial and financial development. It was one of the pioneer industries and remains today its foremost productive concern. Century after century had passed and yet … Read more

The story of the growth of the J. I. Case Plow Works from a small, obscure blacksmith shop in the rear of a fanning mill factory to the present large concern occupying over twenty acres of space, is a story of constant progress based upon quality and service. From the beginning the policy of the company has been to make every tool that bore its trademark a little better than any other similar tool and to co-operate to the fullest extent with the dealer handling its products. The business was organized in 1876 by J. I. Case under the name … Read more

The History of Racine County, Wisconsin Businesses   American Mangle & Roller Company  American Seating Company  American Skein & Foundry Company  Arnold Electric Company  Bank Of Burlington  Beffel Furniture & Undertaking Company  Brehm Brothers Company  Carroll Coal Company  Chicago Rubber Clothing Company  Commercial Press Company  E. C. Tecktonius Manufacturing Company  Elite Laundry  F. J. Greene Engineering Works  Gold Medal Camp Furniture Manufacturing Company  Hartmann Trunk Company  Henricksen & Jacobson  Higgins Spring & Axle Company  Horlick Malted Milk Company  J. I. Case Plow Works  J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company  Junction Hardware Company  Lavine Gear Company  Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company  Mohr-Jones Hardware Company … Read more

The name of no productive industry of the United States is perhaps more widely known than that of the Horlick Malted Milk Company, the business of which has developed until it reaches into all parts of the civilized world. The company was organized in 1875 and was incorporated in 1878 as the Horlick Food Company by William Horlick and James Horlick, brothers, who established their plant in the outskirts of Racine, in Mount Pleasant Township. They began to manufacture a product known as Horlick’s Food, which was a prepared food for infants, invalids and the aged, to be added to … Read more

The Higgins Spring & Axle Company is successor to the Ansted & Higgins Spring Company, which was established in 1884 by Michael Higgins and E. W. Ansted. Their plant was located at Racine Junction and there they began the manufacture of springs, putting upon the market a product which found immediate favor, as indicated by the continued growth of their business. This led to the establishment of a branch plant at Connersville, Indiana, which was afterward taken over by Mr. Ansted, and the partnership was then dissolved, Mr. Higgins remaining in charge of the Racine establishment. The company was incorporated … Read more

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 columns 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 advertising, but only such articles … Read more

One of the foremost business enterprises of Racine was organized in 1908 and succeeded to the business of John Geller, who had conducted his interests under the name of the Westside Printing Company. He had established the business about 1906, and it was conducted under the original name until 1910, when it was incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin as the Western Printing & Lithographing Company. In 1908 Edward H. Wadewitz had bought out the Westside Printing Company and admitted William Bell to a partnership, while six months later Roy A. Spencer became a member of the firm and afterward … Read more