Hilker, Adolph W.

Other Events:

• Other Info or Events: 25 Dec 1867; parents names unknown but their marriage was 12/7/1866 in Evangelisch, Heepen, Westfalen, Preussen, Germany
• 1880 Census: 1880
• Occupation: 1893; Hilker Bros. Brick Mfg. Co. incorporated
• 1900 Census: 1900
• Occupation: 1900; Took over brick business
• Residence: 1905
• 1910 Census: 1910
• 1910 Census: 1910
• Occupation: 1914; Curtailed brick production but cont'd sale of brick
• 1920 Census: 1920, Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, USA
• Occupation: Abt 1927; Managed Hilker Coal & Coke Co.
• Occupation: Bef 23 Sep 1944; Founder & Pres. Lincoln Bldg. & Loan
• Occupation: Bef 23 Sep 1944; Owned Brick Yard
• Occupation: Bef 23 Sep 1944; Started work w/ father & uncle in brick bus.

Notes:

Biography:
Adolph W. Hilker is a partner in the firm of Hilker Brothers, of Racine. The name has long been synonymous with business enterprise in this city and the record of A. W. Hilker fully sustains the enviable reputation which has ever been associated with the commercial and industrial enterprises conducted by the Hilker family. He was born in Racine, December 25, 1867 , and is a son Adolph and Caroline (Broeker) Hilker, who are mentioned at length on another p age of this work in connection with the sketch of his brother, H. A. Hilker. After attending the public schools A. W. Hilker continued his education in the Marsh Business College and w hen his textbooks were put aside he became associated with his father in the brick manufacturing business with which he became thoroughly familiar in both principle and detail. After the death of his father he was associated with his brother in organizing the firm of Hilker Bro thers Brick Manufacturing Company, of which he became secretary and treasurer, with Henry August Hilker as vice president and William Hilker, Sr., president. They employed about seventy -five men and their annual output exceeded six million bricks, including cream colored presse d and common brick. That Adolph W. Hilker ranked high in the regard of others in the same line of business is indicated in the fact that he was for two years honored with the presidency of the Brick Manufacturers' Association of Wisconsin. In 1914 the company discontinued the manufacture of brick but still engaged in its sale, handling a fine Chicago product. In 1915 they accepted the agency of the Red Seal Oil Company, Adolph W. Hilker remaining active in the management of the brick business, while his brother, Henry A. Hilker, has the management of the oil trade. The former is also connected with the Fox-Hilker Shoe Company, manufactu res of men's fine shoes, and is now chairman of the board of directors. For five years he ha s been president of the Wisconsin Clay Workers' Association. At the present time they are developing a summer resort along the lake having eighty acres with a frontage of half a mile on the beach.
On the 7th of November, 1895, Mr. Hilker was married to Miss Amelia Buscher, who was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and they now have a daughter, Luella Dorothy. The parents are members of the First Evangelical church, in which Mr. Hilker is serving as a trustee . In politics he is an earnest republican and for a year filled the office of supervisor. He has taken an active interest in both political and church affairs and has been a co-operant factor in many well defined plans and measures for the public good. His life work has bee n fruitful of substantial results and he has added new laurels to the fair name of Hilker in Racine County.

1880 Census:
Working in brickyard at 13

Occupation:
Hilker Bros. Brick Mfg. Co. incorporated

1900 Census:
August Buscher brother-in-law lives with them

Occupation:
Took over brick business

Residence:
1914 N. Main, Racine, Wisconsin

1910 Census:
Bertha Buscher sister-in-law lives with them

1910 Census:
Nephew Alvin Schreiber lives w/ them

Occupation:
Curtailed brick production but cont'd sale of brick

Occupation:
Managed Hilker Coal & Coke Co.

Occupation:
Founder & Pres. Lincoln Bldg. & Loan

Occupation:
Owned Brick Yard

Occupation:
Started work w/ father & uncle in brick bus.

Adolph married Buscher, Emilie 7 Nov 1895, Herman, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA. Emilie (daughter of Buscher, Carl and Wickesberg, Bertha) was born 14 May 1873, Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA; died 14 Aug 1965, Prairie Du Sac, Sauk, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Religion: Aft 30 Jan 1901
• 1910 Census: 1910
• Education - Other: 1922
• Occupation: Bef 25 May 1978; Home Maker
• Family History Researcher: Aft 25 May 1978

Notes:

Residence:
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Residence:
Lived w/ Pat & Jim at end of life

Religion:
E.U.B., Methodist

1910 Census:
Listed at 4 years old

Education - Other:
B.A. North Central College

Occupation:
Home Maker

Family History Researcher:
Grandma Simonsen was round and cheery. She never angered, but sometimes became "cross" if one was inappropriate in their behavior. During the summer stays at her house sugar cookies were consumed in infinite amounts. And, while her mother, great grandma Hilker was still alive, we made homemade applesauce. It was grandma Simonsen who taught me to use needle and thread. And it was she who tirelessly read to me when I did not feel well.

Most Thanksgiving dinners were spent at her home, and what a cook she was. Grandpa always said the blessing and it must have worked because the food was wonderfully delicious.

She never became "excited" in the conventional sense. For example, in the summer of 1964 I was spending my week at grandma's house. Grandpa pulled in to the driveway, not in the old bland white Pontiac, but in a "fire engine red" Dodge with a white stripe down the side. It had white interior and "push button drive." Grandpa was as excited as a kid with a new toy. Grandma stood in the door and all she could say was "Oh Melv. Oh Melv, I don't know." She was afraid of what the parishioners would say. Although it did not daunt her husband who convinced the small town church to put a pool table in its basement to keep kids off the street.

As she aged, her hearing was compromised. After we all became tired of shouting, my mother finally convinced her to get hearing aids. She purchased the kind that fit into her glasses. And we laughed good naturedly when grandma would say, "Just a minute I can't hear you, I have to put on my glasses."
She, along with my other three grandparents, loved me without limitation, but never failed to support my parents in setting guidelines and expectations.

Luella married Simonsen, Reverend Melvin Andrew James 11 Sep 1924, Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Melvin was born 19 May 1900, Beaver Dam, Dodge, Wisconsin, USA; died 11 Apr 1975, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Greenfield, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
• Religion: Aft 20 Jul 1926
• Occupation: Aft 20 Jul 1926; Home Maker
• Education - Other: 1948

Notes:

She is best described by grandpa's phrase for her: "a slam dunker." Tireless and moving in only one gear, high speed, she constantly challeneged her children to exhort themselves and use all the talents God gave to them. Most often with praise, sometimes with shame, she moved them to find the best in themselves and perform to the optimum. From the standpoint of a child, one might best describe her as a coach: pushing, pulling, cheering, lauding, castigating, doing everything she could to mold them into productive givers to society. She was vocal, where her husband was silent, she was affirmative where he was reserved. There were times when the "Danish" was most apparent in her. It was, in short, a marriage of complimentary personalities. And it can be said that they truly were partners.

Religion:
Methodist, former E.U.B.

Occupation:
Home Maker

Education - Other:
B.A. North Central College

Carol married Blink, Robert Orville 11 Sep 1948, Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, USA. Robert was born 25 May 1921, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; died 8 Nov 1989, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Melvin married Finn, Patricia [Group Sheet]

Living — Edmunds, Living. [Group Sheet]

Living — Patrick, Living. [Group Sheet]

Living — Weston, Living. [Group Sheet]

Living — Crawford, Living. [Group Sheet]

Living — Oswood, Living. [Group Sheet]

Living — Dennart, Living. [Group Sheet]

Living — Augsburger, Living. [Group Sheet]