BIOGRAPHIES:  De Witt POST, Barron, Barron County, WI

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Transcribed by Peg Lamkin <brinwood@chibardun.net> Edited and submitted
by Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  5 March 2002	
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De Witt Post, president of the Barron Telephone Co., was born in Luzerne
county, Pa., Jan. 19, 1851, son of James and Axa (Hurlehy) Post. He was
brought to Iowa county, Wis., by his parents when he was three years of
age. He was there reared, and on account of the necessity for hard work on
the farm, received but little schooling, though he has supplemented this by
much reading and wide experience. For a time he worked with his father in
the milling business near Lima, Indiana. In 1872 he formed a partnership
with I.O. Ingraham, in the drug and grocery business at Avoca, in his
native county, under the firm name of Ingraham & Post. About two years
later he bought out Mr. Ingraham and became sole proprietor of the drug
business, Mr. Ingraham taking the grocery line. Two years later Mr. Post
took Josiah Ward, grain dealer and stock dealer as a partner. But the
venture did not prove so successful as had been anticipated and so Mr. Post
sold out and started life anew. In 1882 he went to the Fort Belknap Agency,
in Montana, as instructor of agriculture to the Indians. After three years
he again returned to Wisconsin, and with his brother John engaged in the
hardware business at the corner of LaSalle and Second Street, Barron City,
this county. Afterward the store was moved to a new building which the
brothers erected at the corner of LaSalle and Fifth streets. The
partnership was dissolved and DeWitt Post continued the business alone
until 1905. He now devotes his time to looking after his various interests.
He was one of the founders of the Barron Telephone Co. of which he is the
president; he is a stockholder in the Bank of Barron, as well as a
director, and he is also connected with various other leading enterprises.
He has a good residence in Barron City and a pleasant summer home on Cedar
Lake, in this state. For one term he served as alderman of the city. His
fraternal relations are with Barron Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F, and he has
passed through its chairs. He is a useful citizen in every respect, one of
the truly important men of the city, and he is held in high esteem for his
sterling worth as well as for what he has accomplished for the county. Mr.
Post was married in 1872 to Helen Kinzie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Kinzie, of Avoca, Wis. This union has been blessed with two children, both
of whom are married to leading physicians and surgeons: Bessie P., the wife
of Dr. H. M. Coleman; and Jessie, the wife of Dr. C. C. Post, both of
Barron City.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp. 81-82.