RACINE BELLE CITY OF THE LAKES
AND RACINE COUNTY WISCONSIN-ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1916
WILLIAM HORLICK, SR.
William Horlick, of Racine, is numbered among the constructive business men of
the country, as he has founded and has built up the Horlick Malted Milk Company,
of which he is now treasurer. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, February
23, 1846, and is the youngest of nine children born to his parents, James and
Priscilla (Griffiths) Horlick.
The family is one of the oldest in England and the following account of its
history is taken from Burke’s Peerage: " The family name of Harlech or Horlick
is of Norman-French derivation, and the natural conclusion drawn is that the
Harlechs or Horlicks were primarily inhabitants of Normandy, and on leaving
their own country settled in the country of Merionethshire, Wales, on whose
coast the castle of Harlech now stands, partly in ruins. And in the long wars
that followed the subjugation of Wales, the Harlechs were compelled to leave and
settle in England, which they did in Gloucestershire, where members of the
Horlick family have long resided (N. 3 The Rocks Southwood), also Painswick,
three miles from the ancient city of Gloucester, which is known by the numerous
tombstones bearing the said name, Cranham, three miles from Painswick, same
county, Ruardean, etc. Harlech Castle is now (1889) inhabited by one William
Richard Ormsby Gore, who, having purchased the castle and being knighted, took
the title of Baron Harlech. The castle of Harlech was built in the reign of
Edward I, in the year A. D. 1244, and stands on the northwest coast of
Merionethshire. The lord lieutenant of County Leitrim, Connaught, Ireland, is
Lord Harlech. Harlech or Horlick (The Rocks formerly) Southwood or Southernwood,
County Gloucester, now represented by Isaac John Webb Horlick or Harlech, of the
Rocks, Esqr., a magistrate of Gloucestershire, son and heir of the late William
Webb Horlick of Ashwick House and (Rocks) by Anne, his wife, daughter and
co-heir of Thomas Smith of Mormantown, Norville county, of Leicester, Esqr., and
grandson of Isaac Webb Horlick of Ashwick House, Esqr., by Lucy Webb, his wife,
heiress of Ashwick of the family of Major-General Webb, distinguished in
Marlborough Wars."
Peter Horlick, great-grandfather of William Horlick, removed from Painswick to
Ruardean and there James Horlick, the father, was born and reared. He married
Priscilla Griffiths, also a native of Ruardean, and for many years he served as
an official of his parish and township. He was a saddler by trade and conducted
business along that line for a considerable period. Both he and his wife were
members of the Episcopal church, to the faith of which they loyally adhered
until their final rest, both passing away at Ruardean, the grandfather at the
age of seventy years and the grandmother when sixty-eight years of age. They had
a family of nine children and two of these, James and William, became the
founders and promoters of the Horlick Malted Milk Company. The former is now
managing the branch of business in England from which is supplied the trade of
Europe, Africa, Australia and India, while William Horlick remains a resident of
Racine.
William Horlick grew to manhood in his native country, but in 1869 came to the
United States with his uncle, Joseph A. Horlick. The following year he returned
to England, but in 1872 came again to America and joined his father-in-law, J.
S. Horlick, and his brother-in-law in the conduct of a lime, stucco and cement
business in the township of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, under the style of J. A.
Horlick & Sons. He afterward conducted a branch of that business in Chicago, but
in 1875 began the manufacture of a prepared food for infants, invalids and aged,
although he still at the same time retained an interest in the lime business.
The original food manufacture required to be mixed with milk. The growth of the
trade demanded enlarged quarters and William Horlick purchased ten acres of land
adjoining the city limits of Racine. A full history of the business is given on
another page of this work. It is grown in volume and importance until it stands
today as the foremost food product manufactory of this kind in the country, with
its trade extending to every part of the world. With the establishment of a
branch house in England, James Horlick returned to that country to take charge
of the business, while William Horlick has always remained in Racine and
continues as the treasurer.
William Horlick was married in Racine on the 16th of November, 1870, to Miss
Arabella Horlick, a daughter of J. A. Horlick, and on the day of their marriage
they started on a trip to England, in which country he was born. After remaining
there two years, however, they again came to the United States. They have become
the parents of four children:
Alexander James, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this work;
William Jr., who is now secretary of the Horlicks Malted
Milk Company; Emma Mable, and Alice Priscilla, who died at the age of eleven
years. Mr. Horlick is independent in politics, and has never taken an active
part in governmental affairs, as he has given his entire time and energy to the
management of his important business interests.
Contributed by Deborah Crowell
ALSO SEE:
WILLIAM HORLICK, JR. *
A. J. HORLICK *
CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM
|