WI BIO - Kenosha Co - RHENSTROM, Anthony

History of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Chicago: Clarke 
Publishing, 1916, vol II, pp 422-423

Anthony RHENSTROM, city of Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, is a partner 
in the firm of Lippert & Rhenstrom, engaged in the manufacture of spring bed 
machinery and wire forming machines in Kenosha, in which connection, since 
1911, they have built up a very substantial business. Anthony RHENSTROM was 
born 07 November 1866 in Sweden, a son of Sven and Charlotte JOHNSON. He was 
reared and educated in his native land, where he remained until twenty-three 
years of age. He was ambitious, and feeling that broader opportunities could 
be secured on this side of the Atlantic, made arrangements to come to the 
United States, landing on American shores 25 March 1890. For a year and a 
half he remained in New York City, and then removed to Fulton [Oswego 
County], New York, where he continued for nine months.

In 1892 Mr. [Anthony] RHENSTROM made his way to Chicago [Cook County, 
Illinois] but almost immediately afterward removed to Kenosha [Kenosha 
County, Wisconsin] and secured employment in the Whittaker machine shop. 
[See also the Kenosha County, Wisconsin, biography of the Whittaker Machine & 
Skein Company.] He had early learned the machinist's trade, with which he 
has always been connected. He began his training in that field in Sweden on 
21 February 1883, and for a third of a century he has been associated with 
business of that character. After remaining in the Whittaker machine shop 
for a time he secured employment in the Lippert foundry, and later was in the 
machine shop of the Frank Wells Company until 1910.

In 1910 Anthony RHENSTROM returned to Sweden, where he remained until 1911. 
He then once more came to the United States, and soon afterward embarked in 
business as a partner of Mr. LIPPERT under the firm style of Lippert & 
Rhenstrom. They manufacture spring bed machinery and wire forming machines, 
many of which are made after their own designs. They put upon the market 
machines which are of great value in that kind of work, and they employ 
twelve skilled workmen. Their business has grown rapidly and has now reached 
very gratifying proportions.

On 31 December 1894 Mr. [Anthony] RHENSTROM married [p 423] Miss Emma STAHL, 
a native of Sweden and a daughter of Gustave STAHL. Their acquaintance had 
begun in Stockholm. Anthony and Emma (STAHL) RHENSTROM have two sons, Elmer 
and Vernon, both high school students. Elmer RHENSTROM has also for two 
years attended Wayland Academy [founded in 1855 in Beaver Dam, Dodge County, 
Wisconsin].

Anthony RHENSTROM was one of the first members of the Svea Society of 
Kenosha, with which he is still identified. He has never regretted his 
determination to come to the New World, for here he has found the 
opportunities which he sought. He did not cross the Atlantic with any idea 
that wealth was to be obtained for the asking, but he felt that industry was 
less hampered in this country, and was willing to work hard for his success. 
Each day found him busily employed in the line of his trade and, gradually 
advancing, he has won prosperity through earnest, persistent effort 
intelligently directed.
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WI BIO - Whittaker Engine & Skein Company

History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western 
Historical, 1879, pp 550-553

The Whittaker Engine & Skein Company was organized in 1875, and duly 
incorporated 30 August 1876, with a capital stock of $40,000, and possession 
taken of an old gravel foundry on the northeast corner of Exchange Street 
[now Fifth Avenue; streets renamed about 1926], built by Forward & Shuard, 
which was removed and an enlarged brick foundry erected in its place. The 
foundry property was purchased by R. B. Whittaker & Company in 1865 and 
thoroughly repaired. Since that date the manufacture of thimble skeins and 
engines and boilers has been the main business of the company, but the usual 
business of a machine shop has also been carried on. During this period a [p 
553] large number of engines and boilers have been manufactured under the 
superintendence of R. B. WHITTAKER, which have carried and held a good 
reputation as working machines. In 1868 a fifteen horsepower engine and 
boiler was made for Edward BAIN, but in the course of two years, was found to 
be too small for his rapidly expanding business. In 1870 it was replaced by 
a fifty horsepower engine. This has done excellent service for over eight 
years, and has done probably as much work as any of its capacity in the 
State. It will, however, soon be replaced by an engine and boiler of 125 
horsepower, which is now being made by the company. Between thirty and forty 
men are employed, the number varying according to demand the of the times. 
About 900 tons of iron ore are used per annum, daily heats being over three 
tons.

The main branches of the company's business are the manufacture of skeins, of 
which they make twenty-four sizes, engines and boilers, fanning mill irons, 
tire benders, tire drills, shaper machines, seeder castings, reach and 
bolster plates, and cauldron kettles. Annual sales range from $45,000 to 
$55,000. The company are now making furnaces and a large trip hammer for the 
purpose of manufacturing wagon skeins out of steel plates, to be used on 
wagons made for the rough, rocky roads of the mountainous areas of Utah, 
Colorado, and other parts of the Far West.

The figures in regard to the small work are about as follows: 50 sets, four 
per set, of skeins and nuts daily, which are first cast, then tumbled or 
rattled, centered, turned for the nuts, screws cut, nuts and boxes put on and 
faced. The skeins are then ready for shipping. The nuts are drilled and 
tapped. About 2,000 sets are made for fanning mills a year. They have in 
working order ten lathes, two planers, six drills, and a large milling 
machine. The large lathe used for turning wheels and other heavy work is one 
of the largest in the State, having a six feet eight inch swing. Then there 
are two No. 6 Sturtevant blowers. They have the most beautiful engine in the 
city in their engine room, of forty horsepower.

The present officers of the Whittaker Engine & Skein Company are: F. 
ROBINSON, President; George YULE, Vice President; John NICOLL, Secretary and 
Treasurer; R. B. WHITTAKER, Superintendent; F. ROBNINSON, John NICOLL, R. B. 
WHITTAKER, Edward BAIN, Z. G. SIMMONS, and George YULE, directors.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly