USA > Wisconsin > Marathon County > History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens > Part 55
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He was a fine penman and the minutes of the proceedings of the board kept by him are a model of accuracy and penmanship. When the town treasurer in 1851 had absconded with all the money collected by him for taxes (it was not much in those days, several hundred dollars) he was chosen town treasurer, and when later John R. Welsh was elected county treasurer and failed to qualify or resigned, the county board elected him county treasurer at a special meeting on January 3. 1852. He was again elected member of the assembly in 1854, the year the Republican party was first organized in this state. There was a United States senator to be elected, and after a long struggle in caucus, Charles Durkee received the nomination as the candidate of the Republican party. Walter D. McIndoe had made his canvass as a Whig as in the former contest, with which party he had asso- ciated since attaining his majority. and this choice was decidedly distasteful to him as well as to other members of the same party, because the election of Charles Durkee meant the extinction of the Whig party in the state of Wis- consin. After several days of worry and indecision between his own predi- lection and what seemed to be a duty to the state. Walter D. McIndoe finally yielded, and with his friends cast his vote for Charles Durkee, securing his election. From that time on he identified himself firmly with the Republican party, and until his death was an active, influential and consistent member of that party. In 1857 he was a candidate for the nomination for governor,
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but the contest between him and the Hon. E. D. Holton ended after a pro- tracted struggle in the nomination of a new man, Hon. A. W. Randall.
On the death of Hon. Luther Hanchett, member of Congress, he was elected on the 30th day of December, 1862, to fill the unexpired term, and re-elected again twice, serving two and one-half terms in the House of Rep- resentatives at Washington. During his term he was chairman of the Com- mittee on Revolutionary Pensions, and a member on the Committee on In- dian Affairs. In 1856 he was chosen as an elector for his congressional dis- trict, and in 1860 he was an elector at large for the state of Wisconsin, which gave its electoral vote to Abraham Lincoln,
While in Congress, great grants of land were given away to contem- plated railroads to open up the most western and northern parts of the United States, and Walter D. McIndoe secured a grant of land for a railroad from Doty's Island, Fond du Lac, and Portage City to Ashland. He did not selfishly mention Wausau as a point to be touched on, for it was apparent to him as to every one else, that Wausau, being nearly on an air line between the starting and the culmination point, could not be missed, to say nothing of Wausau being the most central and one of the largest business places in the Wisconsin valley. This grant lay dormant for some years, during which time the population of Wausau and Marathon county and the business had grown immensely. When the railroad was being built, the Wisconsin Cen- tral, with an unbelievable blindness to its own interest, built the road west from Stevens Point in a wholly unsettled and wild country, leaving Wausau forty miles east of the road, instead of coming directly to Wausau. If the Central railroad had come to Wausau in 1872 as its own interest demanded, it would have secured the immense lumber freight which afterwards came to the Wisconsin Valley Railroad. In running the railroad west from Stevens Point, instead of following the valley of the river, it runs on the high ridge dividing the waters of the Wisconsin and Chippewa and Black rivers. Walter D. McIndoe also secured a grant of land to Marathon county to build and open a wagon road from Wausau to Lake View Desert on the state boundary line. The grant of land was for each alternate section on each side of the road, which would have given the county about 200 sections of the best pine lands in the world. Furthermore at his urgency, the state donated some $1,500 to survey and locate the road. The county supervisors frittered away the money in survey and locations, and this magnificent grant was lost to the county through the inability of the county board or rather incapability to make proper use of their powers to get the money for open-
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ing the road, and because of the still existing distrust in the permanency and great future of this country.
Walter D. McIndoe was a noble, large-hearted inan; he loved his adopted country and devoted his best endeavors to its service. It was his greatest pride to cast his electoral vote for Abraham Lincoln, and to have supported his administration during the trying time of the Civil war to the best of his ability. After his return from Congress, he served as provost-marshal until the close of the war, an embarrassing office, often demanding energetic action under perplexing difficulties. During his long absence from home, giving his time to national affairs, his business missed his guiding hand, and on his return his own affairs had become deranged. Uncomplainingly and manfully he set to work to recoup his losses, but the times were not yet propitious and the seed so generously sown by him had not yet time to bear the golden fruit, and he was called away from his field of labor before the harvest was ripe. At his death he left his widow no more than a fairly moderate competency, but the memory of his kind and patriotic acts still lives in the heart of all his contemporaries. He was a patriotic union man proving it not only by words, but acts. He had lost his right hand at the hand edger in the mill which incapacitated him for field service, but he rendered the government other efficient service.
When Leander Swope with Prest. Lord came down from Pine river to enlist and were joined at Wausau by John Cooper, Charles Tracey, Alfonse Poor, and Burton Millard, all ready to enlist, he furnished all of them the means of transportation to Berlin by stage, were they enlisted in May, 1861, the first men to leave the pinery for southern battle fields.
His esteemed widow, a daughter of fair Virginia, was among the first white women that came to Wausau, a fine type of true, noble, dignified American womanhood : she shared the hardships of her husband and gloried in his successes. Time dealt gently with her, and she died on the 12th day of March, 1901, universally beloved and respected. A nephew, Hon. Walter Alexander, after the death of the widow purchased the homestead from the heirs and legatees, donating it to the city of Wausau, as "McIndoe Park." It is located in the very center of the city, and gives a fine setting to the public library, which stands thereon.
HON. ALEXANDER STEWART.
Hon. Alexander Stewart was one of the pioneers who made history in the Wisconsin valley. He began his life like all others, ax in hand, and finally worked his way into the halls of Congress at Washington, being
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the only citizen of Marathon county except W. D. Mclndoe to reach that distinction. Alexander Stewart saw central and northern Wisconsin in its infancy; he labored for its growth; he grew with it, physically, mentally, and after many years of hard work, shared in the prosperity of the country. His life furnishes a shining example of the possibilities which a new country offers to the thrifty, intelligent, and persevering young man of good health and character. What Wausau and the whole valley was when he arrived here with his brother John in 1849 has been told in previous chapters; also how he went to work for Feehely, Fleming and Green in the saw mill which had its water power from a conductor from the mill pond of Clarke and Plumer, the mill standing a little south of and between the Clarke and Plu- mer mill. Like all men working at that time in the pinery, the two brothers Stewart took their wages in lumber, run it to market, and returning, worked under the same conditions, and with their savings bought more lumber from men who were willing to sell, not having enough of their own to make up a raft, and with a few rafts went down again to the market. After several ventures of that kind they had means enough to commence logging on their own account, continuing every year on a little larger scale and with a little more experience, until in the course of years they had built up quite a lum- ber trade. The fact that they came from New Brunswick and were familiar with logging and driving of logs, was undoubtedly a strong factor in their favor. It took, however, many years of hard, intelligent and well consid- ered labor coupled with a life of economy, self-denial of rest and comfort. to make that success in life which came to them in the prime of manhood as the reward of their grit and perseverance, and steadfast adherence to their rule of faithfully redeeming every business promise or obligation made. After fortune began to smile upon the brothers, Alexander Stewart stayed at Wausau, and his brother John took to farming in Illinois on a large scale. Alexander Stewart remained in business at Wausau until the end of his life, through all the changes and vicissitudes which business had to con- tend with in earlier days: but with his inborn shrewd Scotch business sense. hard times never struck him unprepared. He was frugal and economic in his habits, never branched out beyond his means, never unduly stretched his credit. From personal experience he was familiar with every branch of the lumber industry from estimating the number of feet which would be gotten out of a tree, to the logging, driving, sawing the logs and marketing the lumber. The business was carried on by him and his brother in partnership. even after his brother had made his home on the Illinois farm, but Alex- ander Stewart conducted it personally and managed it, until it had grown
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to such dimensions as to demand the supervision and management by others in the many branches which had grown out of the original enterprise.
In the flush times after the war, the brothers John and Alexander Stew- art laid the foundation for the wealth which became theirs in after years. They had formed a friendship with W. D. McIndoe and had their logs sawed at his mill for years, and after his death in 1872 they acquired the mill property by purchase and later formed the A. Stewart Lumber Com- pany, with Alexander Stewart as president. For over thirty years this con- cern was the largest industrial concern in the whole Wisconsin valley, but the business was not confined to that territory alone. It conducted mills in other states, notably Michigan, Arkansas, and California, and had more than thirty lumber yards in the western states. Much of the boasted busi- ness enterprise of Wausau is due to the aid directly or indirectly given by Alexander Stewart, some of which would not exist but for his fostering care in times of need. In the last thirty years of his life he was practically con- nected with every important enterprise in central and northern Wisconsin; he had had many special partners in various trades and business transac- tions, and his connection with each and all of them was clean and honor- able. He was the largest labor employer in this territory and always fair and just to his employes; even in the days when working men found it hard · to get their earnings and had often to resort to the courts because of the scarcity of money, and law suits for wages were common, it was the com- mon talk among laboring men that A. & J. Stewart, or the Stewart Lumber Company were always prompt in their pay. Alexander Stewart interested himself in everything which was for the interest of his home city. He was essentially a man of affairs; enterprising, calculating, taking a broad view of business life. He was quick to grasp opportunities which others would let pass without taking advantage of, and his business sagacity caused much of the growth and the upbuilding of the city of Wausau.
Alex. Stewart was a man of charming personality; he was a good con- versationalist, spoke entertainingly on the topics of the day, and a thor- oughly well informed man. He loved to meet his friends and acquaintances in a social way and talk interestingly on the subject which engrossed public attention as well as of the important events of the past; he had a fund of pleasing recollections of early times, of the struggles of the pioneer days and its amusing incidents. When called upon to help in a worthy cause, which was frequently the case, he was never known to refuse assistance. As might be inferred from what has been said, he was a man of strict integrity and honor.
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He had always taken an interest in the political affairs in his congressional district, and although not crowding himself forward, he was nevertheless a powerful political factor. After his business had been fully organized and in the hands of thoroughly competent persons, mainly Mr. Walter Alex- ander, secretary and treasurer of the Alexander Stewart Lumber Company, he felt that he could give some of his years to the service of the people, and he became a candidate for political honors which were freely accorded to him by party friends. In 1894 he was nominated for member of Congress by the Republican party and elected by a big majority over his opponent, the sitting member, and twice re-elected, each time with an increased majority, and declined a nomination for the fourth term.
As a member of Congress he was given a place on the important com- mittee in Indian Affairs, and on manufactures. Prompt in his attendance in the sessions of Congress, he was attentive to the business of his constit- uents, especially in matters of pensions and better postal facilities. It is not generally known but a fact nevertheless, that much of the credit of obtaining a public federal building in Wausau is due to him. He had secured the insertion of an appropriation for the building in the public building bill of 1900, which was ready to be passed and become a law, when the adminis- tration was desirous of making a show of economy, and the bill was not passed on that ground. But the chairman of that committee, Mr. Mercer of Omaha, was sure of re-election, and he gave his word to Mr. Stewart that the appropriation would be inserted in the next bill, whether Mr. Stew- art would be a member or not.
Mr. Brown of Rhinelander, the new member, introduced a new bill which was of course referred to the same committee, of which Mr. Mercer was chairman, again inserted in the general building appropriation bill and passed, including the appropriation for the Wausau building. It is true that Mr. Webster Brown secured the same, but the way for a smooth passage was already paved by Mr. Stewart. While A. Stewart served his second and third terms, he was accompanied to Washington by his family, where he had built a fine mansion for their reception. He spent the last years of his life with his family at the capital city during the winter months and the sessions of Congress, returning with them to Wausau with the milder climate.
About two years before his death he had the misfortune to fall while . paying a visit to the Rothschild Paper Mill, in which he was largely interested financially and broke an arm. The injury was not serious and the break was healed in a comparatively short time, but for a person of his age, he being then eighty years of age, it did sap his vitality. He was not the same
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strong man after the accident as before and a decline became visible. Expecting to gain new strength from the mild climate of California, he went there to recuperate, spending the winters of 1909 and 1910 in that state, returning sicker, however, than when he went. Shortly after Christ- mas of 1911, feeling somewhat improved, he went with his family to Wash- ington, but his span of life was measured, and he died there on the 24th day of May, 1912. His body was taken to Wausau and was buried in the Wau- sau cemetery on the 27th day of May following.
His body rests in the family mausoleum which was not wholly com- pleted until after his death. He was born September 12, 1829, at New Brunswick of good old Scotch ancestry; married to Miss Margaret Gray. a native of York, New Brunswick, at Chicago, and their union was blessed with three children: Margarete J. married Lindley, Mary E. and Helen G. who survive him, and who have taken up their residence at Washington, D. C. Mr. Stewart's family life was an exceedingly happy one.
He was one of the few still living pioneers of the Wisconsin Valley, particularly of Marathon county, but their numbers can now be counted on the fingers of one hand. They were a good strong race, Alexander Stewart one of the strongest among them. He will be long and kindly remembered for his many sterling good qualities.
JOSEPH DESSERT.
Among the men who opened up Marathon county, reduced the wilder- ness and brought it to its high state of industry, and one who led in the cul- tivation of the soil, proving its excellent agricultural character years before it was settled upon by farmers, one who succeeded by sheer force of charac- ter, integrity, industry, and perseverance in spite of the drawbacks which discouraged so many others was Joseph Dessert, whose name has been frequently mentioned in connection with the early history of the county.
He was born at St. Joseph, Maskenonge township near Quebec, Canada, on January 8. 1819, and traces his genealogy back to Antoine Deserre, who was married in Quebec in 1674. His father was Pierre Dessert, who was the fifth of that name to reside on the farm where Joseph Dessert was born. His mother was Josephte Beaulieu Dessert. His father died in 1830, and by his last will divided his farm among the two oldest sons with the obliga- tion upon them to pay the expenses for an education of their younger brother Joseph. The other children were otherwise provided for. Joseph continued
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to attend the Catholic parish school, and later to learn English, he was sent to a school in New Brandon, sixty miles distant from his home, which he attended until the fall of 1838.
Having completed his education, he went to work for his brother, who was engaged in getting out ship timber for the English market. That timber was run down in rafts into the St. Lawrence and delivered at Quebec. On his return from his rafting trip he became a clerk in a store in Maskenonge until the spring of 1840. His steady habits attracted the attention of the American Fur Company, and relying on his sobriety and honesty, that com- pany sent him as their agent to the Lake Superior region in 1840 to carry on the trade with the Indians. When the Chippewa tribe made their treaty with the government in 1843 and the whole tribe was assembled at La Point, he had learned sufficiently of that idiom to be able to act as interpreter between the Indians and the government to their mutual satisfaction. While in the employ of the company he had to visit their several posts on the upper Mis- sissippi besides the Lake Superior posts.
In the spring of 1844 he was informed that one of his aunts was very ill and desired to see him, in consequence of which he returned to Canada to visit her, arriving at her home on July 4th and remaining with her until September. Intending to return to work for the company he went to De- troit expecting to catch the last boat for Lake Superior, but the boat had gone when he arrived there. He then concluded to reach Chequamagon by the Indian trail up the Wisconsin river.
He took a boat to Milwaukee, went from there to Portage, where he met Daniel Whitney, who took him to his mill at Whitney Rapids, and from there he started up north, knowing that there was an Indian trader by the name of Dupre,* located somewhere near where Little Bull was. No doubt he had heard of this route from Indians while he was north, or possibly also from one of his uncles, one of which was stationed at one time at Green Bay and another at the mouth of the Eau Pleine river.
Having heard of a place called "Little Bull," no doubt from Whitney, he started for that place, and struck first the Indian trader who was about ten miles below. He stayed with him for two weeks, probably waiting for his trunk which he had left at Whitney's, then started for Little Bull, arriv- ing there on the 20th day of October. 1844. and then went to work for John L ... Moore, who had built his mill two years before. That was his beginning as a lumber man in Marathon county. His trunk was left at Fort Winne-
* This name in all probability should be "Dubay," the John Du Bay mentioned before
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bago; he had it brought up to Grand Rapids in the fall and to Mosinee after snowfall on a sled with a provision team.
It has been stated how he worked as a jobber logging, and after five years of hard work associated himself with William Pentecost, James Etheridge and Henry Cate, and they rented the mill from John L. Moore and commenced to make lumber on their own account. They operated the little mill together until 1852, then bought it and ran it until 1854. At the time Etheridge sold out to his partners and the business was carried on by Dessert and Cate until 1859 when Dessert became sole owner, he, Dessert, agreeing to pay all the debts of the firm, and Cate for his share taking out a team of horses, with which he carried on a stage line from Stevens Point .*
The next five years were years of anxiety and incessant labor for Joseph Dessert; it required all his business acumen, thrift and economy to conduct the business over the shoals of adversity and depression of that time. The lumber business was carried on under the disadvantages of early times which had driven many of the pioneer lumbermen out of business, which is evidenced by the frequent changes in the ownership of the mills in the period from 1849 to 1870.
From the time that Joseph Dessert rented the mill in 1849 until it shut down for good in 1903. he retained the controlling interest therein, and under his management it became one of the largest, if not the largest, saw mill on the Wisconsin river and remained uninterrupted in operation for over half a century, which fact speaks volumes for the business energy, economy, integrity, and enterprise with which he conducted his ever growing business. Dessert was essentially a man of affairs; economic in his private expenditures, he was generous with his employes, sympathetic and warmn hearted : his word was at all times as good as his bond, his hand always extended to honest newcomers. "Little Bull Falls" became the thriving little village of Mosinee, and the farming lands west were largely taken up by men who had earned the means to purchase them in his mill, and many after starting their farms returned to work there to earn the ready money with which to carry on their improvements, which farms are today among the finest in Marathon county.
Indeed there are but few of the early settlers in the present towns of Mosinee, Cassel, Marathon, and Wien who did not at one time or another work in Dessert's mill or camps, and there earned the means for laying the foundation for their competency; by investing in farm lands. With his employes he was deservedly popular; he was just and generous to them,
* This agreement is fully referred to in Chapter 10 of this book.
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extending a helping hand when help was needed and beneficial. Until his business had grown too large to be supervised by him alone, he was his own boss; he knew every man by his first name. One of the pioneers himself, knowing his own worth and having a just pride in his own personality, he respected the honest toilers and dealt with them on a footing of equality rather than with the insulting condescension of the parvenu, and they looked upon him as their best friend.
Joseph Dessert was one of the first to see the productiveness of the lands in Marathon county and engaged in farming at an early date. When the first settlers came to Marathon City, they found there his farm, cleared over thirty acres and in good cultivation. This farm became one of the largest in the county, having 150 acres cleared and in the best state of cultivation when he sold it for $12,000 about fourteen years ago, and today it would easily bring $25,000.
When farming was sufficiently advanced to warrant the venture, he built a grist mill in Mosinee, which was swept away by the flood in 1881 and was not rebuilt. He also owned a tannery which was ruined by the same flood. His work in the county board has been referred to in these pages, which was always for the good.
In 1880 he took his nephew, Louis Dessert, in partnership and later with Henry M. Thompson, his son-in-law, organized the Joseph Dessert Lumber Company, which operated until 1903, when the timber owned by the company was all manufactured, and age and other circumstances made retirement from business congenial. Joseph Dessert married Miss Mary E. Sanford at Waukesha in 1862. Two children were born of that marriage, one dying in infancy, and the other. Stella, became the wife of Henry M. Thompson of Milwaukee. The greatest sorrow came to him when his wife died at Mosinee on the first day of July, 1881. and her loss was greatly mourned by the people of Mosinee, with whom she lived, like her husband, as the best of neighbor and friend, always helpful.
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