Dr. F. W. B. Achen Biography
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
Dr. F. W. B. Achen, a native of Evanston, Illinois, was born 22 Apr 1886, and is
a son of Ben and Mary A. Achen, the former now deceased, while the latter is a
resident of Russell, Illinois. The father was born on the old homestead in
Newport Township, Lake County, Illinois, and was a son of Otto Achen, who took
up government land in the year 1837. He devoted the summer seasons to general
agricultural pursuits, and through the winter months sailed on the ocean. His
son, Ben Achen, was a farmer by occupation and was also a street car conductor,
acting as such on the first street car that made the trip from Chicago to
Evanston. He also ran the first three-wagon daily milk route in Evanston, and
became one of the best known men on the Lake Shore. In the family of Ben and
Mary A. Achen were three children, of whom the eldest, Earl, died in 1882. The
second son is Dr. Achen, and the third is Merrill J., who married Ethel Griswold
and resides on the old home place. The mother also lives there in a new home of
her own, which her sons erected for her in the year 1915.
Dr. Achen was reared in Antioch, Illinois, and in his early youth attended the
Wesley Avenue school at Evanston. He was also a student in the Newport school of
Lake County and afterward attended high school. He next attended the Chicago
Veterinary College, from which he graduated. In 1907 he came to Kenosha, WI,
where he has since remained. He enjoyed a splendid practice for eight and
one-half years and then abandoned his profession in order to engage in the
automobile business. He opened a large garage here in connection with T. S.
Scott. In fact they have the only two-story garage in the city. Their business
covers Racine, Walworth, and Kenosha Counties of Wisconsin, Lake County,
Illinois, and a part of McHenry County, Illinois, and they are represented by
well known dealers at points all over this territory. They handle both trucks
and pleasure cars, being agents for the Oakland, Marmon, Stutz, Chandler, and
National. They also handle the complete line of General Motors Trucks, and the
business has reached extensive proportions. Dr. Achen was formerly interested in
farming property close to the city limits, but has disposed of this in order to
devote his entire time to the garage and sale of cars. The contract of the firm
for 1916 calls for the purchase of one hundred and seventy four cars from
factories. They feel they will have no difficulty in disposing of these, for
their business has grown steadily since they started out, and year by year their
sale of cars has increased.
On the 27th of May, 1912, Dr. Achen was married to Miss Florence Anna Kennedy,
of Antioch, and they have one son, George Ben. While actively connected with his
profession, Dr. Achen became a member of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical
Association and the America Veterinary Medical Association. In politics he has
always been a republican, and in the fall of 1912 was elected to the office of
Sheriff of Kenosha County, which position he acceptably filled, during the
succeeding two years. Fraternally Dr. Achen is connected with the Masons, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Moose, and the Woodmen. He is also a member
of the Hamilton Club of Chicago, and has a wide acquaintance in that city.
Energy and enterprise have carried him far upon the path of success. He has
never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way, and his
business activities have ever been the expression of business rectitude as well
as progressiveness. Each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and
wider opportunities, and today he stands high in the business circles of the
city, his name being a leader in the line to which he directs his energies.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock