Chippewa County Wisconsin Biographies

Samson John

John Samson,of Samson &Kennedy,millers,Chippewa Falls.Came to Wisconsin in 1875;located at Eau Claire and was engaged in running the D.S.C. mills for three years.Came to Chippewa Falls in 1878,and commenced milling business at La Fayette,in company with Robert Kennedy,and still continues that business;opened Star mills in July,1881,born in Canada,(London) Spring of 1848;came to the United States with his parents when quite young,and resided in Minnesota,and was employed in mills at Minneapolis five years;married in Clinton Falls,February 7,1872,to Mary Banetten,born in New York State.they have one child four years old,Irwin D.

    Sellers James W.

James W. Sellers,Chippewa Falls,came directly to this place from Nova Scotia,where he was born November 13,1843.Was married August 29,1875 to Miss Diantha Estelle Neal,of Neillsville,Clark County. He has been engaged in lumbering during most of the time since coming to the State and engaged in the mercantile business at St James,Minn. He also farms extensively on the Yellow River near the pinery,where he operates a large force of men and teams each Winter.He is of Scotch descent.They have one child Merton Dale ,born in Chippewa Falls,July 11,1881.

   Serley Syvert

Syvert Serley,proprietor Garfield House,Chippewa Falls,came to Wisconsin in 1870;located at this place and was employed as cook in logging camps for ten years.He has been a proprietor of present hotel for a year;is now opening the Murray house at Big Bend, in partnership with John Yellerberg.This hotel will accommodate seventy-five persons.He was born in Norway,October 25,1853;came to America in 1870.

        Seydel James A.

James A. Seydel,cashier of the Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company, was born in Kane County,Illinois,April 6,1851.In 1853 ,his parents removed with their family to Pennsylvania,remaining there eighteen months;then went to Virginia,where they lived seven years,and from 1861 to 1866,resided in Washington D.C.;afterwards in Dauphin,Pennsylvania for one year, in Williamsport,Pennsylvania,seven years;from there he came to Chippewa Falls.He was married here November 5,1877,to Ida E. Blaisdell,a native of Maine.They have one child James Herbert,born in August,1878.

         Seymour D.E.

D.E. Seymour,banker,Chippewa Falls;came here in 1861. He was with Pound and Halbert,and afterwards with Pound Halbert and Company, and then with the Union Lumber Company;engaged in banking eleven years ago,a;so dealing in pine lands and farming to some extent.He was born in the town of Butternuts,Otsego County,New York,and went to New Orleans when twenty one years old.He returned to New York State and was married and again went to New Orleans.He was there and in Mississippi for a year or two,then New York again. From there he went to Illinois,then Minnesota,and from the latter states came to Chippewa Falls.He married Elizabeth Halbert,a native of Buttersnut,Otsego County,New York.They have five children living--Leila,William L.,Jennie,Edwin J, and Robert M.They lost one daughter,Mary (Mrs. Flint),who died in Chippewa Falls.

        Seymour William L.

William L. Seymour,son of D.E.Seymour,book-keeper in his fathers bank,Chippewa Falls,was born in Butternuts,Otsego County,New York,April 6,1853;lived there until 1855,then his parents removed with their family to Minnesota;lived there seven years,them\n came to Wisconsin.William L. was engaged in the manufacture of trunks here for two years; was one year in law office,and has been in the bank one year.He was married in Chippewa Falls,December 15,1874,to Emma L. Thompson.She was born Oconomowoc,Wisconsin.They have children Ida Madel and Lina Gertrude.

        Smith Horace L.

Horace L. Smith,time-keeper for the Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company,was born in the town of Triangle, Broome County,NewYork,April 7,1838;lived there until September 24,1862,when he enlisted in Co.E. 137th N.Y.V.I.;served until May,1865.He was in all engagements of his regiment until he was wounded at the battle of Lookout Mountain,afterwards did hospital duty,clerked etc.When he left the army he returned to Broome County and remained there eighteen months;then went to Clearfield,Pa.,where he was employed for five years with the firm of William Mengie & Company,lumberman.March 28,1871,he came to Chippewa Falls,and has n\been connected with the lumber interest ever since.He now has Charge of hiring,paying,and keeping the time of the lumber in their yards at this point.He was married in New York State in April,1876.to Emma Merrjck;she is a native of Pennsylvania.They have one child Edna.Mr.S. is a member of the A.F.&A.M. he has been interested in a stave factory at Cadott,but has disposed of that interest.

         Smith Christopher F.

Christopher F. Smith,grocer,Chippewa Falls was born in Wurtemberg,Germany,December 26,1842.Came to Tioga,Tioga County,PA in August,1854;lived there about nine years,then resided for seven years at Williamsport,in the same state;from there he came to Chippewa Falls in April,1870.He was for two years employed as sawyer in the Lumber Company's mill,then was assistant foreman of their yard for two years,and was manager of the yards two years;then engaged in grocery business for himself.He has been an Alderman of First Ward.
Mr.Smith is one of the directors of the First National Bank. He was married at Lock Haven,Pa.,July 4,1866 to Mary A Schaffer,a native of Pennsylvania.They have four children--Edward R.,Carrie L.,Annie and Pearl M.

    Southmayd Byron

Byron Southmayd,filer,Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company,Chippewa Falls,came to Wisconsin 1866.Located with parents at Eau Claire;lived on a farm for some years.In 1872 run a lath mill for a year and then a shingle mill for three years.In 1876 ran a Shingle mill at La Fayette,then for two years at Cedar Falls. Afterwards came to Chippewa Falls,and has been employed in present capacity during the Summer and log-scaling in woods during the Winter.Was born in Alleghany County,New York;married at Eau Claire,July 5,1879,to Mary Ackerman,born in Allegany County,New York.They had one child,deceased.

Squires, John W.

John W. Squires, proprietor of meat market, Chippewa Falls, was born in Liverpool, England, March 23, 1844. Came to America in the Spring of 1864; located in Lake County Illinois, where he remained until he came to Chippewa Falls in November, 1866. After coming here, he was engaged in logging and lumbering for about two years. From 1868 to 1872, he conducted the butchering business of Pound, Halbert & Company; since then he has carried on business for himself. He is also engaged in farming in the town of Eagle Point. He has held the office of Alderman four years, and has been connected with the fire department ever since its organization; now Assistant-Chief of that department. He is a member of A.F.&A.M. and of K. of P. Mr. Squires was married in Chippewa Falls in October, 1869, to Leila, daughter of D.E. Seymour, of this city. She was born in Butternuts, New York. They have one son, James Frederick.

Stafford, Hon. William H.

Hon. William H. Stafford, Chippewa Falls, came to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, in 1872, attending school there for about a year, then came to Chippewa Falls, and taught school one year after coming here. He read law with Hon. J.M. Bingham and was admitted to the Bar in January, 1879. He was Town Clerk of Lafayette for three years. April 5, 1881, he was elected County Judge, and will begin the duties of that office January 1, 1882. He was born in the town of Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, March 19, 1855. He was the son of Richard T. and Margaret (Field) Stafford, who now resides in the town of Lafayette, Chippewa County.

Stanley, Emory D.

Emory D. Stanley, Chippewa Falls, was born in Canaandaigua, Ontario County, New York, May 5, 1836, and lived there until his parents, Whiting D. and Maria Stanley, came ( with their family) to Wisconsin in 1847, settling in Vienna, Dane County, where they afterwards died. Mr. Stanley came from Vienna to Chippewa Falls, in 1871 and engaged in mercantile business. He was married in Vienna, in February, 1862, to Isabelle Jaques, who died in 1864, leaving one son, Lemuel W. Mr. Stanley was again married in Vienna, June 5, 1871, to his present wife, Elizabeth Howie, a native of Scotland. They have four children; Roland O., John H., Mary R., and Harlow E. Mr. Stanley is a member of the A.F.&A.M., of the Temple of Honor, and president of the County Agriculture Society.

Stewart, Alexander

Alexander Stewart, scaler for Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company, was born in the Highlands of Scotland, March 24, 1853. He came to America with his parents when he was an infant, lived in the town of Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York, until 1871, then went to Brockwayville, Pennsylvania, where he remained until he came to Eau Claire in 1874. In 1875, he came to Chippewa Falls. He was married in this place, October 9, 1880, to Carrie M. Kibbee, a native of Michigan. They have one child, Edith Myrtle. Mr. Stewart is a member of the I.O.O.F. and Temple of Honor.

Stiles, Amos S.

Amos S. Stiles, of the firm Stiles & Lego, proprietors of livery stables and stage lines, Chippewa Falls, was born in Calais, Maine, April 3, 1824; went to California in 1849; remained there until 1851, when he located in Minnesota at the point where the city of Minneapolis now stands, resided there twelve years, then came to Chippewa Falls. He was engaged in lumbering while in Minnesota, and has been in livery business, running stage routes and lumbering since he came here. He was City Treasurer one term, and now serving second term as Alderman of the Second Ward. He is a member of I.O.O.F., K. of P., and A.F. & A.M., Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. Mr. Stiles was married in Machias, Maine, in June, 1847, to Susan Palmer, a native of that place. They have two children; Frank M. and Nettie H.

Stitt, Robert M.

Robert M. Stitt, log contractor, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in 1867, located at Peshtigo and was engaged in logging for others for some seven years; the went to Wolf River for one year and came to Chippewa Falls in 1875; had charge of logging camps for three years, and for the past three years has been engaged in present business; was assistant superintendent in building of Paine Creek Dam in, 1880, and has also been in the employ, for some time, of the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company, as inspector of pineries; born in Canada, January 12, 1854; came to United States in 1867; was the first successful operator in this state in what is known as "sliding logs."

Stoddard, Nathan D.

Nathan D. Stoddard, restaurant, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in 1869, and located at Eau Claire; was employed as a cook in the woods for five Winters, and in 1871, opened a restaurant and saloon which he carried on for two years. In September, 1873, opened a bakery, and continued that for two years; then was in the employ of W.C.R.R., as a cook, for one year, and in the same capacity in Minnesota and in different other places; came to Chippewa Falls in, 1880; employed by Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company, as a cook for a few months, and commenced present business in October, 1880; born in Webster, New York, October 29, 1847; married in Eau Claire, November 18, 1872, to Matilda Fick, born in Michigan. They have two children; Nathan D. and William R.

Stoddard, W.H.

W.H. Stoddard, clothing merchant, came to Chippewa Falls in April, 1879. He was born at Chenango Forks, Boone County, New York, November 17, 1855; moved to Ouriskany Falls, New York, in 1873; lived there for two years, then went to Utica, New York, where he remained until he came to Chippewa Falls. He was married in this city, January 6, 1881, to Jennie E., daughter of D.E. Seymour. Mr. Stoddard is a gentleman thoroughly posted in regard to details of the clothing business, having been engaged in its various departments for several years.

Strong, Homer C.

Homer C. Strong, wholesale dealer in wood, coal, lime, etc, Chippewa Falls, was born in Warren, Connecticut, January 30, 1849. He was engaged in railroad bridge-building, for two years, on the New York & New Haven Road. In 1872, he came to Tomah, Wisconsin, and was in the engineering department of the company, building the C.M. & O.R.R. He was then connected with the engineering department of the Wisconsin Valley road, from Tomah to Wausau. In July, 1874, he came to Chippewa Falls, and was connected with the building of the Chippewa Falls & Western Railway, from Chippewa Falls to Eau Claire. He was conductor on that road for two years, and since then has been connected with his brother, S.B. Strong, in his present business. He was married in Godfrey, Illinois, November 4, 1879, to Gussie Godfrey, who was born in Waverly, Illinois.

Strong, Seymour B.

Seymour B. Strong, wholesale dealer in coal, wood, lime, etc., Chippewa Falls, was born in Warren, Litchfield County, Connecticut, May 18, 1844; lived on a farm until he was eighteen years of age. He then entered the employ of Hartford & New Haven Railway Company; was with that company for six years, and in 1870 he came to Wisconsin; was engaged in civil engineer on the West Wisconsin & Valley Railway, until 1874, then came to Chippewa Falls, and from July, 1874 to January, 1875, he was the civil engineer of the Chippewa Falls & Western Railway. He then became manager of the road, and ran on the road as conductor until August, 1880. He had commenced dealing in coal, lime, and wood in 1877, and in 1880, he began his wholesale business. He is considerably in real estate and mining operations. October 8, 1873, he was married in the town of Orange, Juneau County, Wisconsin, to Alice C. Gardner, a native of the town of Laurens, New York. They have three children;Charles G., Charrie E. and Alice.

Swaner, George W.

George W. Swaner, filer, Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin, December 31, 1877, located at Eau Claire; employed in the saw-mill, as engineer and millwright, for two years; came to this place in the Spring of 1879; employed in present mill for a short time as millwright, and since then as filer; born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1838; went to Ohio with his parents when quite young, and was engaged in farming for some five years. In 1857, went to Cedar County, Iowa; was employed at farming, etc. In 1859, went to Kosciusko County, Indiana; employed as engineer in mills for two years, and afterwards as sawyer and filer for sixteen years. Married at Etna Green, Indiana, September 13, 1861, to Sarah J. Birt, born in Ohio. They have five children; John, Maria, Joseph E., Elizabeth, and Clara.

Swift, Nelson O.

Nelson O. Swift, superintendent, Chippewa Falls Gas Light Company, was born in South Paris,Oxford County, Maine, April 4, 1842; lived there until 1863; then came to Chicago, and has been engaged in gas business ever since, associated with his brother, A.E. Swift, in the construction of gas works in various places in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin; also engaged with him in saw-mill business in Cadott, Wisconsin. He was married in La Salle, Illinois, February 22, 1877, to Thirza D. Lindley. She was born in La Salle. They have one son; Harry Lindley, born January 21, 1881.