USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
He was married, January 15, 1850, to Miss Cornelia H. Mullie, who emigrated to Wisconsin from the kingdom of Holland in the year 1848. It was a very common expression of Mr. Buttles when in his teens, to say that he never would marry unless he could bestow his heart with a fine, large Dutch girl recently from the old country ; yet strange to say such was really the case, as she was a fine, hale, hearty Dutch girl, and a lady above the average weight, and " the bill was filled in all its particulars." She not speaking the English language and he could not speak her native tongue, notwithstanding the contract was made without any obstacle, and after a time resulted in the raising of a family of eleven children -four sons and seven daughters, and at the present writing all are living, their parents also, and are all without a blemish upon either their per- sons or character, the eldest being now engaged in the public schools of Wisconsin and the next eldest fitting for the dry-goods business.
Mr. Buttles' wife being the first woman who was propelled by steam on a railroad in Wisconsin, which took place on the Milwaukee and Mississippi railroad when a very short distance of the track was laid from Milwaukee west.
His religious views have never been definitely . settled, never being connected with any church, but has always when possible attended the Episcopal church, of which his parents were members.
WILLIAM E. SMITH,
MILWAUKEE.
W TILLIAM E. SMITH, of Milwaukee, mer- chant, was born in 1824, in Scotland, the son of Alexander and Sarah Smith, whose name, previous to her marriage, was Grant. His father was a man of education and culture, belonging to the middle class, and manager of a large landed estate. Mr. William E. Smith was quite young when he came to America. Lived first in New York, then in Michi- gan, and in Wisconsin in 1849; was educated in the public schools.
He was married to Miss Mary Booth, daughter of
Rev. John Booth, of Michigan. He has two sons and two daughters. His oldest son was educated at the State University ; the younger is at the academy in Milwaukee. Both daughters have received a lib- eral education.
In 1850 he was elected to the legislature from Dodge county, where he settled in 1849. He was first a whig, then a republican. The questions of the session were the abolition of capital punishment and the submission of the bank question to the peo- ple. In 1851 he was nominated for reelection, and
13
94
THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
declined. He was elected to the senate in 1857. He attended the convention at Madison in 1854, which organized the republican party, taking an active part therein. During the first session in the senate he was a member of the committee on educa- tion. In the second session, in 1858, he was chair- man of the committee on education. In 1858 he was appointed one of the regents of normal schools, there being four now in the State. He was elected to the senate in 1863, serving in 1864 and 1865 ; was mem- ber of committee on finance and on banks, and was chairman of committee on benevolent institutions. In 1865 he was elected treasurer of the State, was reëlected in 1867, and retired in January, 1870, from that office, enjoying the public confidence. He went to Europe in 1870 for observation and recrea- tion, and traveled through Great Britain and on the Continent. Returning in 1870 to his old home in Dodge county, he was reëlected to the assembly, feel- ing very grateful for this indorsement of his public services after twenty years, and also by the State in electing him speaker of the assembly.
He is a trustee of the Milwaukee Female College, and has been regent of normal schools seventeen years. He has been a trustee of the Wisconsin Female College at Fox Lake twenty years ; he is trustee of Wayland University at Beaver Dam; trustee of the University of Chicago, Illinois ; trustee and one of the executive committee of the North- western Life Insurance Company; is State prison commissioner, to which position he was appointed by Governor Taylor; he is vice-president of the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce; representative of the chamber of commerce in the National Board of Trade, and one of the vice-presidents of the National Board of Trade.
But few men in our country have ever been called upon to discharge the duties of as great a variety of offices as Mr. William E. Smith; none has dis- charged them with more ability or with greater sat- isfaction to his countrymen.
The purity of his life has disarmed envy and jeal- ousy of their malice, and the "smell of fire is not upon his garments."
HENDERSON HUNT, M.D.,
BELOIT.
T HE subject of this sketch, a native of Nichols, New York, was born on the 4th of January, 1813, of Ebenezer Hunt and Abigail nce Dod. His paternal ancestors immigrated with the Pilgrims, and his grandfather Hunt, with five brothers, served dur- ing the war of the revolution. His maternal ances- tors, also, were among the first settlers of the colonies. His mother when quite young removed with her parents from Newark, New Jersey, to Fort Wyoming, soon after it was burnt by the Indians. And from this place the family removed up the Susquehanna river in a large boat propelled by poles to where Nichols now is, in the county of Tioga, New York. Here, on the east bank of the river, the Dod family perma- nently settled in an unbroken forest inhabited only by wild beasts and Indians. At the age of fifteen his mother married Andrew White, by whom she bore three children. The last remaining member of this branch of the family was the late Judge White of Jasper, Texas. After the death of White she married Ebenezer Hunt. The fruit of this alliance was six children, three boys and three girls, Hender- son being the second.
Henderson's early life presented few marked char- acteristics, other than an ardent desire for knowl- edge and fondness of study. He lived with his parents, employing his time in farm work and study at home and at the district schools, and while there imbibed those habits of strict temperance and indus- try that have marked his subsequent career, having never chewed tobacco, or smoked a cigar or pipe, or drank a particle of ardent spirits as a beverage, from childhood to the present time. His retiring disposi- tion and native modesty naturally inclined him toward his books, in which he found most congenial com- pany. The sciences especially were his delight; and having acquired the mastery of surveying, he left home at the age of twenty-two and went to Michi- gan, intending there to engage in his profession. But not meeting with the success that he had an- ticipated, he soon returned to New York and began the study of medicine with Dr. Terrey of Newark. At the expiration of six months, going to Ohio, he engaged in teaching in the high school of what is now South Cleveland. Five months later he entered the medical college at Worthington, Ohio, where he
Wm. E. Smith
95
THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
matriculated for a full term of college studies, two winter and two summer courses of lectures, and graduated from the same in 1837. Returning to Cleveland he spent a short time in practice with Dr. Kellogg, and later continued his profession for three years at Chardon, Ohio. In 1841, removing to Wis- consin in his own private conveyance, he settled at Delavan, where, during a period of eight years, he conducted a large and continually growing practice. At the end of this time he matriculated as an M.D. in the University Medical College in the city of New York, where he attended a full course of lec- tures, and in the spring returned home and again took up the practice of medicine in company with Dr. J. R. Bradway, his former pupil, now of Oak- land, California.
In 1849, having purchased a large farm, he re- linquished his profession in part and turned his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. Aside from his regular business he has devoted much time to pub- lic enterprises. In 1851 he aided in organizing the Deaf and Dumb Institute, was chairman of the build- ing committee and served as president of the insti- tution during a period of seven years; and in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his city his sym- pathy and support have never been wanting.
Politically, he was in early life a democrat, but in 1856 he became identified with the republican party, and has since remained a firm supporter of its principles.
His early religious training on the part of his par- ents consisted more of Christian example enforced by positive injunction to do right regardless of con- sequences than by catechism. His parents were both sincere practical Christians, but did not belong to any denomination. Under such influences Hen- derson was left quite, free to choose and embrace that form of doctrine he might think most reasona- ble. At the age of twelve he began to learn and receive the doctrines of the New Church, and in this faith has lived and grown for over fifty years, firmly believing it to be the true doctrine of revela- tion and the only one that is capable of fully har- monizing the bible with science; and that one, too, which is filling the Christian world and the churches with a higher and purer life and light.
He was married in 1838 to Miss Loraine B. Filler, of Newburg, Ohio, who died in 1849, leaving two sons, one daughter having died in early infancy. He was married a second time in 1850 to Miss Sarah A. Barlow, of Delavan, Wisconsin, and by her has had eight sons and one daughter.
As a man, Dr. Hunt is widely known as upright and honorable in his dealing, while his social and personal qualities have secured to him a large circle of warm friends. His life has been one of varied experiences, and now, having reached the sundown side, he enjoys the satisfaction of having done what he could to aid his fellow men, and of having de- veloped in himself a true and generous manhood.
HON. PETER VICTOR DEUSTER, MILWAUKEE.
P ETER VICTOR DEUSTER, a native of Prussia, was born near Cologne in that king- dom on the 13th of February, 1831. He is the only son of Mathias and Anna C. (Koenen) Deuster.
The groundwork of the lad's education was laid at the common school, where he pursued his studies until he attained the age of thirteen. He was then removed to an academy, and continued there until his parents immigrated to America, three years later.
In the month of May, 1847, they set sail for the United States and landed in Milwaukee in July. Mathias Deuster bought a farm in Milwaukee county, and his son turned his hand to farming until winter set in, when he entered the printing office of the late Hon, Moritz Schoeffler, editor of
the " Wisconsin Banner," as an apprentice. For three years he remained in this employment, until his indenture expired. He then worked for over a year longer as Mr. Schoeffler's accountant and col- lector.
Peter V. Deuster then commenced the publi- cation of a literary weekly paper called the " Haus- freund " which he edited, printed and carried for about six months, at the end of which time he was engaged as foreman in the "See Bote" office and held that position until November, 1854. About this time he was offered the charge of a newspaper published by Judge A. Heidkamp, at Port Washing- ton, Wisconsin, and accepted the same. He entered at once upon his duties but did not confine himself
96
THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
to the task of superintending the paper. He ran the post-office, was deputy clerk of the circuit court, notary public, land agent, did banking business, and at night taught school for young men.
In 1856, after having made all arrangements for starting a paper at Green Bay, he was offered a third interest in the "See Bote," and in September of that year he returned to Milwaukee and entered into partnership with Messrs. Greulich and Rickert as publishers of the said newspaper. A year afterward he purchased Mr. Rickert's interest, and in 1860 he bought out his remaining partner, the Hon. August Greulich, and has ever since published and edited the paper alone.
Mr. Deuster was born and educated in the Roman Catholic faith, but although still an adherent to this ancient church, he is also a believer in the doctrine of Frederick the Great, " To let every man attain to salvation according to his own notion."
Ever since he has been old enough to form any opinion on political matters he has been an admirer of the Jeffersonian democracy, and still holds the fundamental principles of the same as the safest for the preservation of liberty.
In the year 1862 Mr. Deuster was chosen by the citizens of the south side of Milwaukee to represent them in the legislative assembly, and in 1869 he was
elected to the State senate from the sixth senatorial district, which was composed of part of the city of Milwaukee.
In addition to the various newspapers that we have before alluded to, we must not omit to men- tion that he was the publisher of the Chicago " Daily Union " (a democratic German paper) from 1869 to the outbreak of the great fire.
Although Mr. Deuster has led such a busy life he found time to make a trip to Europe in 1865, and visited all the principal parts of Germany. In 1874 he went to California, where he remained for about six months, with the object of seeing all the noted places of that State.
He was married, January 10, 1860, to Agathe Ger- trude, only daughter of John Stoltz, Esq., one of the earliest settlers of the city of Milwaukee.
Mr. Deuster's record is that of a man who is not satisfied unless actively engaged. His has been a career of industry, and as steady application to work is the healthiest training for every individual, so is it the best discipline of a State. The idle pass through life leaving as little trace of their existence as foam upon the water or smoke upon the air; . whereas the industrious stamp their character upon their age, and influence not only their own but all succeeding generations.
ALBERT B. GEILFUSS,
MILWAUKEE.
LBERT B. GEILFUSS is a native of Germany, and was born in Saxony, March 1, 1847, whence at the age of four years he was brought to the United States. His father, who is still living, was a school-teacher, and spared no pains in the educa- tion of his eight children. The family remained in New York until 1854, when they removed to Mil- waukee, where the subject of our notice was at once placed at school in the German and English Acad- emy, under the care of the learned and much lamented Professor Peter Engelmann. Here he was a close student, history, mathematics and the lan- guages being his favorite studies. He remained in the academy until 1861; when he graduated with the highest honors. Immediately after leaving school he was employed in the boot and shoe store of B. Stern, as clerk and assistant. Disliking the business, he soon after entered the banking house of Price,
Bros. and Co., as errand-boy, when after a short time he took charge of the books during an illness of their accountant. He rapidly acquired a knowl- edge of banking, and in 1865 was engaged as book-keeper of the Fifth Ward Bank, now South Side Savings Bank, where he also acted in the capac- ity of teller. In the fall of that year, Price, Bros. and Co. recommended him very strongly to Good- rich, Rumsey and Co., their successors in business, where he remained until March, 1867, when he was called to the Merchants' National Bank of Milwau- kee, by its president, Mr. E. H. Goodrich, as teller and general assistant. Mr. Geilfuss filled this posi- tion until 1870, when the Merchants' National Bank went into voluntary liquidation, and was succeeded by the Bank of Commerce (Edward O'Neill, presi- dent, John Black, vice-president), in the organization of which Mr. Geilfuss rendered very valuable assist-
- C
97
THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
ance. The directors of this bank comprised many of the wealthiest and most prominent merchants and capitalists of Milwaukee, and they immediately appointed Mr. Geilfuss cashier. A greater evidence of confidence in character and ability could hardly have been given to so young a man, as Mr. Geilfuss was then but twenty-three years of age - by far the youngest cashier that had ever been appointed in Milwaukee. His close attention to business, to- gether with the careful management of all matters intrusted to him, rendered him exceedingly popular with the customers of the bank, and the directors rewarded him with a reëlection every year to the position of cashier.
In politics, Mr. Geilfuss may be called independ- ent. He has generally voted the republican ticket. He, however, took an active part in the liberal movement, and in May, 1872, was elected a delegate to the Cincinnati convention, and was chosen secre- tary of the Wisconsin delegation.
His religious views are broad and liberal, his aim being "to do right." He is not only tolerant of others' views, but gives full credit to all for sincerity, when their works accord with their profession. He is of a very social disposition, and has been elected
three times to the presidency of the Germania Lit- erary Society. He has frequently been chosen to official positions in the Milwaukee Musical Society, Milwaukee Mænnerchor, and Young Men's Associ- ation, of which latter institution he has been thrice treasurer ; the last term he was elected without op- position. He has been twice elected treasurer of the Milwaukee Musical Society, and is at present one of the five trustees selected for the management of the Academy of Music.
In September, 1869, he was married to Josephine A. Bremer, eldest daughter of George Bremer, the senior partner of one of the oldest grocery houses in Milwaukee. He has three children, a boy and two girls, living. Mr. Geilfuss has attained not only a great and well deserved popularity, but has been the recipient of many positions of trust, due not alone to a marked and singular business talent, but to an unswerving integrity, and a faithful adherence to the interests of those whom he has always so truly served in the responsible offices he has filled. The fearless, honest and upright manner in which he has at all times discharged his duties has won for him a deep respect and an unlimited confidence, that cannot be but gratifying to so young a man.
WILLIAM H. RODWAY,
MILWAUKEE.
W ILLIAM H. RODWAY, a native of Wilt- shire, England, was born on the 29th of March, 1823, and is the son of Richard Rodway and Ann née Fisher. His mother was descended from a very old and respectable family, and both her father and grandfather were captains in the British navy. William had a great fondness for study and literary pursuits, and while a pupil in the common schools was noted for his power of declamation and aptness in his studies. At the age of fifteen years he left school and during the next five years served an apprenticeship in a dry-goods house, and there laid the foundation of his subsequent business career. At the close of his term of service he removed to London and there spent several years in the same business with Messrs. Stagg and Mantle, Geo. Hitch- cock and Co., and Swan and Edgar. His stay in London was especially beneficial to him in perfect- ing his knowledge of business and bringing him into more direct contact with the most prominent mer-
chants. After filling many positions of trust to the entire satisfaction of his employers, he left London and spent one year with his uncle, John Fisher, of Bristol, proprietor of a horse and carriage repository. In 1849 he immigrated to the United States, and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here for a time he was somewhat unfortunate; soon after his arrival all his clothes were stolen, and at the end of the first year he had exhausted nearly all his means. He was next engaged for a short time in painting, and soon afterward, in company with Mr. Acheson, purchased the first lithograph press ever brought to Chicago, and under the firm name of Acheson and Rodway began that business which has become so extensively known as the Chicago Lithograph Com- pany. At the same time he began dealing in real estate, and other remunerative occupations, and finally devoted his attention almost wholly to real estate operations. In 1857 he owned about twenty thousand acres of land in different parts of Wiscon-
98
THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
sin, and has continued his extensive dealings up to the present time. Besides this he has an interest of eighty thousand dollars in a sash, door and blind factory, which is conducted under the firm name of Rodway, Conway and Co., and ships largely of his goods to thirteen different States. Their facilities for carrying on their business are unsurpassed by those of any establishment in the State, and they are widely known for their sound financial standing. In his real estate dealings especially, Mr. Rodway has shown himself preëminently a business man ; and his strict honesty, undoubted integrity and keen perception have placed him among the fore- most men of his city. He has negotiated some of the largest sales ever made in his State, and was chiefly instrumental in the sale to the United States Government of the property near Milwaukee on which now stands the Soldiers' National Home.
In his political views he is a staunch republican, and has been a warm supporter of General Grant since the battle of Pittsburg Landing. His ambi- tion, however, has not been for political honors or emoluments, he finding in his regular business more
satisfactory and congenial work, and ample scope for his best talents. He has traveled extensively, and in visiting the principal cities both in this country and Europe he has gained an invaluable experience and an accurate knowledge of men and things.
His religious training was under rigid Episco- palian influences, and he is now a worthy and zealous member of that church.
Mr. Rodway has been twice married; first in 1848 to Miss Eliza Jane Fisher, who died on the 3d of January, 1864. His second marriage was on the 27th of June, 1865, to Mrs. Hannah Mary Hathaway, a native of Perth, Scotland, and daughter of Joseph and Mary Smith. Her father, a revenue officer in England, died in her majesty's service.
Mr. Rodway's taste and delicacy in all matters of literature and art, his keen wit and fine power of expression, render him a most pleasing man socially to his few near and intimate friends, and only those who have known him thus can appreciate him as the delightful companion, the generous host and friend, as well as the successful business man.
COLONEL WILLIAM L. UTLEY,
RACINE.
W ILLIAM L. UTLEY, a native of Monson, Massachusetts, was born on the toth of July, 1814. His father, a graduate of one of the best col- leges of his day, had been a successful business man, but with many others failed in the cotton man- ufacturing business, at the close of the war of 1812. Abandoning the luxuries which had surrounded him, he removed his family to the "Western Re- serve " in Ohio, then a dense wilderness, whose still- ness was broken only by the crack of the Indian's rifle or the tread of wild beasts. At this time, Wil- liam was four years old; and surrounded by such scenes of pioneer life he passed his boyhood, receiv- ing his education in a log school-house, and at the hands of his father and mother. His first ambition was to become a hunter; this, however, was suc- ceeded by a taste for music and painting, and with a view to cultivating his talents in this direction, he left his home in Ohio at the age of twenty-one, and went to New York State. Having little money he struggled hard, sometimes having plenty, and at others being reduced to penury, and thus lived a
nomadic life until August, 1844, when he found him- self in Racine, Wisconsin, a portrait painter and fiddler. Up to this time his political views had been democratic, although he had taken no active part in political matters, and could with difficulty define his opinions. His political career began in 1848, when he abandoned his former sentiments, and became identified with the free-soil or republican movement at the first meeting of that body ever held in the United States. Upon that issue he was elected the first marshal Racine ever had, and growing in zeal and political favor, he was, in 1850, elected to the legislature and reelected in 1851. In the following year he was appointed adjutant-general of the State by Governor Leonard J. Farwell, and from that time till 1860 held various positions of public trust, but was most of the time engaged in keeping public- house, in which business he was financially suc- cessful. He was elected to the State senate in 1860, and there rendered most efficient service, distin- guishing himself in opposing the demands of the South and in assisting to put the State in readiness
99
THE UNITED STATES BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
for war. At the opening of the rebellion in 1861 Governor Alexander Randall appointed him adju- tant-general of the State, and although there was hardly a soldier in the State when he entered upon his duties, within six months he placed thirty thous- and men in the field, and was highly complimented in a private letter from President Lincoln for his prompt and energetic action. Upon the accession of Governor Harvey he left the adjutant-general's office and again took his seat in the senate. Soon after his return home at the close of the session in 1862, he received a colonel's commission from Gov- ernor Solomon, with orders to raise a regiment in ten days. At the expiration of that time he reported at Madison with men enough to form two regiments, one of which, the 22d, was assigned to him; and with them, undrilled, he went to the front and as- sisted in driving Kirby Smith and General Bragg out of Kentucky, and was the first to carry the president's emancipation proclamation through that State, which he did at the point of the bayonet. Leaving Kentucky in February, 1863, he went to Tennessee, and there, at Spring Hill, his regiment, with the entire brigade of General Coburn, were taken prisoners, and confined for several months in Libby Prison. Upon being exchanged, the regi- ment was reorganized at St. Louis, Missouri, and from there went to Franklin, Tennessee. He was soon afterward placed in command of the post regi- ment at Murphysboro, where he remained till Feb- ruary, 1864. Soon after, joining General Sherman's army in the famous "march to the sea," he partici- pated in all the battles till the taking of Atlanta, and distinguished himself by his valor on all occasions. On the 5th of July, 1864, by reason of impaired
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.