M. M. Secor
| Martin Mathias Secor | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 4, 1841 Strakonitz, Austria (now Strakonice, Czech Republic) |
| Died | January 5, 1911 (aged 69) Racine, Wisconsin |
| Occupation | trunk maker, mayor |
| Spouse(s) | Fannie Hayek (m. 1862) |
| Parent(s) | Mathias Secor and Josephine Beider |
Martin Mathias Secor (February 4, 1841 – January 5, 1911) was the founder and proprietor of the Northwestern Trunk and Traveling Bag Manufactory and the M. M. Secor Trunk Company in Racine, Wisconsin. He was elected mayor of Racine for two terms in 1884 and 1888.
Secor was born in Strakonitz, Austria (now Strakonice, Czech Republic) to Mathias (1807–1887) and Josephine (Beider) (1813–1889) Secor. At age 10, he immigrated with his family to Racine, Wisconsin. The trans-Atlantic journey took almost seven weeks in a sailing vessel. After they reached New York Harbor, they took a train to Buffalo. From there, they traveled to Chicago, and then boarded a six-wheel steamer which took them to Racine.
Secor's father purchased a 15-acre farm near Racine, which he cleared and cultivated. Later he bought an additional 20 acres in the town of Caledonia. At age 14, after working four years on his father's farm, Secor left home to work for himself. He worked on a farm for a German family, and was given a wagon and a steer, which he lent to his father, and also earned enough money to buy his father an additional ox. After a two-year stint on the farm, Secor found work at a grocery store, earning eight dollars per month, which funded his board and washing. In 1857 he went to Darien, Wisconsin, where he learned the harnessmaker's trade. This inspired him to start a company dealing with harnesses and other commodities, such as the production of trunks.
After two years in Darien, he returned to Racine and worked as a journeyman. In late 1861, he opened a shop of his own, where he focused on making harnesses. In early 1862, he married Fannie Hayek, whose union would produce nine children. One of their daughters married F. W. Gromm, a trunk maker. Secor had success with his trunks; but since they were being made in his wife's small kitchen, dwindling space prompted him to rent out Weed's Hall, which later became City Hall. It is about this time that he dubbed the establishment: "The Northwestern Trunk and Traveling Bag Manufactory".
In 1877, after purchasing the three Durand buildings and several lots on Chatham Street, Secor associated with two brothers, Joseph and Anthony Hayek. The trio styled the firm as "Northwestern Trunk and Traveling Bag Manufactory" as before, but with clearer emphasis on M. M. Secor's role. In 1878, Secor became sole proprietor. The M. M. Secor Company produced thousands of trunks, creating distinctive trunk styles, such as the Champion Wall Trunk. Secor built a five-story brick building on Chatham street, where he manufactured approximately 100 trunks a day, and grossed $100,000 a year.
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