Among the growing and important business enterprises which have converted Washington Avenue into a busy mart of trade is the dry goods establishment owned and conducted by Carl D. Skow, one of the enterprising citizens that Denmark has furnished to Racine. He was born in that country February 5, 1863, his parents being T. N. and Ursula Skow, who spent their entire lives in Denmark. The son came to the United States in May, 1882, when a young man of nineteen years, and settled first at Racine, Wisconsin, where he became a clerk in the dry goods house of J. C. Hansen, who was his brother-in-law and was one of the highly esteemed merchants of the place. Five years later Mr. Skow returned to Denmark, where he visited for a month, renewing the friendships of his earlier years, and then returned to Racine. He is a printer by trade and for eight months he followed that business in Minneapolis, but in the spring of 1889 returned to Racine and here embarked in the dry goods business, opening a store at No. 1314 Washington Avenue. This is thirty by ninety feet, four stories in the rear and one story in front.
In addition to carefully and successfully managing the dry goods business Mr. Skow has extended his efforts along other lines. In connection with three others he formed the Danish-American Lutheran College Investment Association, which was incorporated in 1897 by Mr. Show, J. C. and M. C. Hansen and Lars Morgensen. They purchased the property now called Kinzie Park, containing about thirty-five acres, platted and sold the lots, the proceeds of which were used to found and build Luther College, of which Mr. Show has continuously been one of the directors and which he has been very active in developing and upbuilding. The land was taken over in 1902 by the Luther High School & College Association.
It was in 1890 that Mr. Skow was united in. marriage to Miss Marie Anna Nielsen, a native of Denmark, who in 1889 came to Racine with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Show are the parents of nine children: Anna, the wife of George J. Due, a resident of-Racine: Esther, at home: Aage V., who is an artist and is now studying at the Art Institute in Chicago: Charles T., an electrician living in Racine; Ruth, who is .a graduate of the Racine high school: Harold, attending high school; and George, Helen and Paul, who are also under the parental roof.
Mr. Skow maintains an independent political course, never allowing, himself to support any political party_ He and his family are members of the Danish Lutheran church, in the work of which he is very active, doing everything in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His life is at all times guided by high and honorable principles, making him a man whom to know is to honor and esteem.
