Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page
931-932

JOHN VERSEN, deceased, as born in Paderborn, Province
of Westphalia, Prussia, Nov. 8, 1814; came to America
and landed at New Orleans, December 1847; remained
there about one year; removed to St. Louis, and worked
at carriage trimming; was in Galena, Ill., for some
time where he made the acquaintance of U. S. Grant;
afterward a resident of Madison; came to Portage Feb.
1, 1851, engaged with his partner in harness-making
with credit sufficient to obtain material for a single
harness, having landed at Portage with only five
cents; at the time of his death, May 24, 1872, he
carried on the largest harness manufactory in Central
Wisconsin, doing business where Purdy's drug store is
now located; leaving a large estate at his death.

Page 932

JOSEPH A. VERSEN, son of John VERSEN, was born in
Portage June 9, 1857; educated at the High School;
served an apprenticeship of three years in the harness
and saddlery business; has been engaged in mercantile
business for some time, being now in the employ of D.
FISCHBECK & Son, of Milwaukee, wholesale dealers in
saddlery hardware and leather.  The Portage Register
of Oct. 3, 1874, contained the following complimentary
notice of young VERSEN: "Joseph VERSEN, of this city,
a boy of 17, entitled himself to the 'reward of
merit," if not to the 'first premium,' by the
manufacture of a set of single harness which he had on
exhibition at the county fair.  Though he is but a
yearling in the business, his work would do no
discredit to a much more experienced workman.  He
will, no doubt, make his mark in his particular line
of business, if in no other direction.  We take
pleasure in saying a word of encouragement to him, as
we do to all boys who pursue the right course."

SAM WAH & BROTHER, laundrymen; Sam was born in China
in 1863, and Charley was born in 1856; Charley came to
San Francisco in 1870, and Sam in 1878; both have
lived in Red Wing, Minn.; they came to Portage nearly
a year ago, and are doing a good business on Conant
street; are law-abiding, prosperous Chinamen.

MRS. ELECTA WARD, widow of Orlando WARD, who was one
of the earliest merchants in Portage; she was born
Dec 17, 1812, in Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass.  Mr. WARD
was born Jan. 22, 1812, in Vermont; they were married
in Carlton, Orleans Co., N.Y., on the 23d of June
1836; came West in 1849, remained two years in
Milwaukee, and then settled in the house where Mrs.
WARD now lives in Portage; he died in October 1871,
leaving one child, Helen - now Mrs. WINNE - living in
Iowa; Mr. WARD was a member of the Masonic Order, and
of the Odd Fellows; she is a member of the First
Presbyterian Church; is still an active worker.

MARVIN WATERHOUSE, M.D. (deceased), was born in Alden,
Erie Co., N.Y., on the 19th of September 1827; when at
the age of 14, he was bereft of father, and, soon
afterward, he and his widowed mother removed to
Darien, Walworth Co., Wis.; in 1850, he moved to
Packwaukee, Wis.; his early life was passed amid the
scenes and duties incident to farming.  On the 1st of
January 1852, he was married to Miss Maria A. OLDER,
who survives him; they had no children.  A broken leg,
in October 1853, caused him to study medicine, and he
graduated from Rush Medical College, in Chicago, in
1860; he had practiced medicine, in response to local
calls, since 1855; in August 1864, he was commissioned
Assistant Surgeon of the 1st Regiment Wis. Heavy
Artillery; was in the army one year; located in
Portage in September 1865, and practiced his
profession in the city and surrounding country until
prevented by his last illness; in July 1867, he became
a member of the Wisconsin Medical Society, was elected
Vice President in 1871, and President in 1873, was
delegate four years to the American Medical Society,
and contributed several valuable papers to the
society; he as a successful physician, and had a
lucrative practice; his broken limb never fully
recorded, and finally amputation was necessary; this
was done Jan. 10, 1878, and the wounded limb rapidly
healed; but in the summer it broke out with ulcers,
and an abscess formed, caused by taking cold; he
endured the intense pain with remarkable fortitude,
until his iron constitution yielded, and he died on
the 19th of October, 1878; he had been an active
member of the I.O.O.F., and was one of the original
Patriarchs of Excelsior Encampment at Portage; the
brotherhood conducted his obsequies, according to
their impressive ceremonies.  He was a public-spirited
citizen; at the time of his death, he was a member of
the Board of Education,, also Examining Surgeon for
Pensions; he was financially comfortable; he was
naturally cheerful, but firm and tenacious; all
declare him to have been an honorable, high-minded
gentleman, and one who acted well his part in all the
varied relations of husband, citizen and healer of the
afflicted.

Submitted by Carol