John Plankinton
c. late 19th century
Oil on canvas. Older man in a black suit.
Born in 1820 in Delaware, John Plankinton arrived in Milwaukee in 1844. He established a meat packing operation. For a time he was partners with Frederick Layton in this business and later with Patrick Cudahy. It was the Cudahy brothers that took over the packing business following John’s retirement in 1888. He was also active within the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce where he was a longtime member. The Cudahy Brothers moved their operation south and John’s son William eventually re-opened the Plankinton Packing Co. in Milwaukee following his father’s death in 1891.
