Racine County, Wisconsin Biographies

Racine County, Wisconsin
Biographies

W. B. Burton
"A History of Adair County Missouri" by E.M. Violette (1911) submitted by Desiree Rodcay

W.B. BURTON, a native of Burlington, Wisconsin, was born June 04, 1866, being a son of Henry J and Elicta A Burton. He was married February 22, 1888, to Anna Davison, daughter of John and Jennie Davison. They have two children: H. Byron, born December 28, 1888; Edna Verna, March 18, 1897. Mr. Burton came to Adair County with his parents in 1871, and has since lived and farmed in this county. He now owns 320 acres of land near Millard. He is a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian church.

Henry Nathaniel CARY, journalist; born in Racine, Wis., Feb. 11, 1858; son of Lucius C. and Emile (Kenea) Cary; public school education, La Cygne, Kan.; married at Kenosha, Wis., Sept. 9, 1885, Susie L. Wustenfeldt. Learned printer's trade on La Cygne Journal, 1872-76; removed to Milwaukee, Wis., 1876; reporter, 1880-82; managing editor, 1882-83, Milwaukee Sentinel; managing editor Chicago Times, 1889-92; general western manager, New York Associated Press, 1892; managing editor new York Times, 1893-96; managing editor St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1897; in Cuba in charge of field staff New York World, Spanish American War, 1898; publisher The Verdict, New York, 1899-1900; managing editor New York Morning Telegraph, 1903, later publisher same; general manager Detroit Free Press, Jan. 1, 1907, to Feb. 22, 1908; since Jan. 1, 1908, general manager St. Louis Republic. Democrat. Clubs: Detroit, Lotos, Pen (New York), Athletic Association (Chicago). Address: St. Louis Republic, St. Louis, Mo. [Source: "The Book of Detroiters". Edited by Albert Nelson Marquis, 1908 - Submitted by Christine Walters]

Gerald Francis Perry Gorbet
Racine Journal-Times (Thursday, 28 May 1959) page 13; submitted by Diana Heser Morse

St. Sebastian's Church was the setting for the baptism of Gerald Francis Perry Gorbet, the son born to Mr. and Mrs. George L. Gorbet of Sturtevant on March 24. Gerald has one brother, George Ray Anthony, 3. The former Mary Capaul is their mother and their grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Gorbet and Mr. and Mrs. Anton Capaul.

BERNT M. JOHNSON, saloon; born in 1848, in Norway; came to Wisconsin in 1870, locating at Racine, where he followed the shoemaking business till the fall of 1875, when he opened a saloon on Main street. In the year 1873, he married Miss Caroline Gulick, a native of Dover, Wis. They have had three children - two sons and one daughter.

HYLAND RAYMOND
The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties Wisconsin (1879) page 609; submitted by Diana Heser Morse

HYLAND RAYMOND, hardware merchant, 137 Main street; was born in Racine Co. in 1839; married Emily M. Foster, daughter of J. W. Foster; they have had five children—Hattie M., born Sept. 21, 1866; died Dec. 19, 1870; Ella F., born Feb. 14, 1868; William H., Dec. 19, 1870; died Dec. 19, 1878; Edward, born Sept. 14, 1873; fifth child was born March 1, 1879; not named. Mr. Raymond was elected Alderman from the First Ward in 1862; also elected as Supervisor from the Second Ward in 1862. His father is one of the oldest settlers in the county, and up to this date is enjoying comparatively good health.

SENECA RAYMOND
The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties Wisconsin (1879) page 609; submitted by Diana Heser Morse

SENECA RAYMOND, proprietor of Congress Hall; came to Racine June 20, 1836; born in Madison Co., N. Y.; was some time in the lumber business; went on a farm of 640 acres, in the town of Raymond, named after his father, Elisha Raymond; was in the commission business, as the firm of Dutton & Raymond, for twelve years; owned and kept, from 1842 to 1857, the Exchange Hotel, afterward burned. Mr. S. Raymond married Miss Susan Beatty, of Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y.; they had four children—Elizabeth, born Aug., 1836; Eliza N., May 27,1838; died May 4, 1850; Frank, born May 18, 1848; Mattie, Aug. 31, 1851; Mrs. Susan Raymond died Sept. 11, 1875. Mr. Raymond was elected Treasurer of the county while Kenosha was yet a part of it, and held that office four years; elected Alderman several terms, also School Commissioner. The family attend the Baptist Church; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

HANS T. SOLBERG
Master of the schooner "Belle" came to Racine April 1, 1866; bought a fifth of the schooner "Belle," and was made Master of her; he was born in Norway, Dec. 10, 1823; the son of Tollif and Anna Solberg; left Norway for Rotterdam, Holland, thence to America, Aug. 1, 1844; landed in Philadelphia, Penn., Oct. 1. Married, Oct. 31, 1859, Anna Johnson, of Norway; they have had five children - Thomas L., born in Texas, Dec., 11, 1860; Peter, in Texas, Feb. 11, 1862; Caroline M., at Racine, Sept. 22, 1866; Harry A., Sept. 11, 1868; Lizzie, March 15, 1872. Member of the Methodist Church.
[Unknown Source, Submitted by Stine Kvistad]

Peter D. Thomas
Civil War Veteran

H. V. VAN PELT
Source: Utah since Statehood: Historical and Biographical Volume 2; By Noble Warrum; Publ. 1919; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.

H. V. Van Pelt, a well known Salt Lake City attorney and United States commissioner, was born in Racine, Wisconsin, January 25, 1854, a son of William Todd and Margaret (Beekman) Van Pelt. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Gerardus Beekman, who came to America in 1650 and was one of the founders of the Dutch colony that settled near New York City. He was prominent in that locality in the early period of colonization in the Empire state and Beekman street of New - York city was named in his honor. The Van Pelt family also comes from Holland ancestry and both the father and mother of H. V. Van Pelt were born in Griggstown, New Jersey. In the early '40s they removed westward to Racine, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in the grain business, buying wheat from the farmers throughout the territory from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi. He operated large elevators at various points, where he stored his grain until it could be moved to the mills, and he developed a business of extensive proportions, constituting a source of growth and progress also in the communities in which he operated. He died in Racine in 1890 at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, while his wife survived him for a long period and died in 1912 at the age of eighty-seven years. In their family were five sons and a daughter: Garrett B., residing in Boston, Massachusetts; James, living in Fargo, North Dakota; William Todd, who makes his home in Frazee, Minnesota; Charles, located at Minneapolis, Minnesota; H. V., of this review; and a daughter who has passed away.
H. V. Van Pelt was the youngest in the family. At the usual age he entered the public schools of Racine, passing through consecutive grades to the high school and eventually becoming a student in Beloit College at Beloit, Wisconsin, from which he was graduated in 1875 with the A. B. degree. He was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1876 and began practice at Racine, where he continued in the profession until 1883. He then removed to North Dakota, where he again conducted a law practice until 1893 and became assistant attorney general of the state but thinking to find still better opportunities farther west, he removed to Salt Lake in 1894 and continued his partnership with Judge Goodwin, the association between them being maintained from 1885 until Judge Goodwin was elected to the district bench in 1915, since which time Mr. Van Pelt has practiced alone. He has attained high professional rank by reason of thorough ability in the preparation and presentation of his cases and his wisdom as a counselor.
On the 7th of June, 1888, Mr. Van Pelt was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Ryan, of East Orange, New Jersey, a daughter of Philip H. Ryan of that place. They have become parents of four children, but one has passed away. Marion, who was born in Lisbon, North Dakota, in 1890, was graduated from the high school at Salt Lake, from Westminster College, from the University of Utah and continued her studies at the University of California. Mrs. Helen Nyman was born in Lisbon, North Dakota, in 1892, was graduated from the Salt Lake high school and from the University of Utah and now resides at Myton, this state. They have one child, Van Nyman. Roger Beekman Van Pelt, born in Salt Lake in 1894, is a graduate of the University of Utah and is now in France, where he has been attending the officers training camp for cavalry service at Saumur, France. The son who passed away was Charles Van Pelt, who died in November, 1917. He was a graduate of the University of Utah and a boy of exceptional ability. At the outbreak of the great European war he entered the office of the chief signal officer.
In the affairs of Salt Lake City Mr. Van Pelt has taken a deep and helpful interest. He was vice president of the Board of Education and since 1916 has been United States commissioner for the district of Utah. He is a trustee and treasurer of Westminster College, having thus served since 1901, and lie is a member of the Utah and the American Bar Associations, and of Phi Beta Kappa. In these connections are shown the breadth of his interests and the value of his public service. He cooperates heartily in all well devised plans and measures for the general good, holding to high ideals of citizenship as well as adhering to the advanced ethical standards of his profession.

Marshall Bailey Webber
Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. Published by The Minneapolis Journal (1897) submitted by Diana Heser Morse

Mr. Webber is senior partner of the law firm of Webber & Lees, at Winona, Minnesota. He was born in Raymond, Racine County, Wisconsin, August, 2, 1850. Samuel Webber, the father of the subject of this sketch, is a farmer. The farm on which he resides is about ten miles from the city of Milwaukee, in Racine County. It was patented by the government to his father in 1837, but since that date no conveyance of the land has ever been made, and it is at present a most valuable piece of property. Samuel Webber came from Massachusetts, and is of Puritan stock. His wife's maiden name was Sabra A. Bailey, who was born in New Hampshire. Both are still living. Marshall's early education was received in the district school. Subsequently he attended the high school at Racine, Wisconsin, and the Rochester Academy in Racine County, where he fitted himself for college. Young Webber, however, was compelled to earn the funds that would enable him to enter college. He was ambitious and plucky, and, confident of his ability to earn enough money to support him he entered Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Michigan. During the winter months he taught school, keeping up with the studies of his class in the meantime. During his vacations in the summer he worked on the farm and at railroading, in this way getting together enough money to carry him through college the next year. He graduated from Hillsdale in the class of 1875. In his junior year he carried away the Melendy prize for oratory, and while at college was a member of the Alpha Kappa Phi Society. In September, 1875, he came to Minnesota and located at Winona. He had decided to make the profession of law his vocation in life, and took up his law studies in the office of Hon. W. H. Yale. Two years later he was admitted to the bar and was taken into partnership by Governor Yale, under the firm name of Yale & Webber. This partnership continued with mutual profit for two years, when it was dissolved and Mr. Webber continued his practice alone. In September, 1895, his increasing business necessitating a partner, he associated with him Edward Lees. This firm is known as Webber & Lees. In his practice Mr. Webber has been very successful, and has succeeded in building up an extensive and lucrative practice. He represents the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago, Burlington & Northern railroads at Winona as their attorney. In politics he is Republican. Though he has been an active member of his party, he has never sought office, the only office he has ever held being that of prosecuting attorney for two years. At present he is a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and takes a prominent part in the councils of his party. He is a knight of Pythias and is a member of a number of social clubs. On January 2, 1879, he was married to Agnes M. Robertson, of Hillsdale, Michigan. Mrs. Webber is a lady of refinement and vice president of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs.