Biographical Sketch of

Henry Baxter

Transcribed by Char Eckman



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 615 - 616 


Henry D. Baxter has been a resident of Waushara County since 1854, and is now living a retired life in the 
village of Wautoma, enjoying a well earned rest after years of toil in which he accumulated the competency 
that now enables him to lay aside all business duties.  He was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1843, 
and is a son of G. W. and Betsy E. (Horn) Baxter, both of whom were natives of the same State.  Their family 
consisted of our subject, the eldest; James A., who is living in Waupaca, Wis., and was a soldier of the late 
war in the 30th Wisconsin Infantry; George F. is a merchant of Saxeville, Waushara County; Effie is the wife 
of Henry Sattler, a resident farmer of Fond du Lac County; Peter makes his home in Saxeville; Elizabeth is 
living with her father, and the other members of the family are now deceased.  Mr. Baxter, Sr., is yet living 
and makes his home in Saxeville, where he has resided for many years.  Though of a rather quiet and reserved 
disposition, he is a man of strong conviction and is numbered among the prominent citizens of the community 
in which he resides.  He cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840, and in 1888, 
voted for the grandson of the Tippecanoe hero, who is our present executive.  His wife was called to her 
final rest in August, 1888, dying in the faith of the Methodist Church of which she was long a consistent 
member.

Our subject was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, and since that time he has 
been a resident of Waushara County.  His early life was based in much the usual manner of farmer lads, assisting 
his father in the cultivation of land during the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the 
common schools.  At the age of seventeen years he was apprenticed to a shoe maker with whom he was to learn 
the trade, remaining in his employ for three years, during which time he was to receive his board and clothes 
while $50 was to be paid his father for his time.  Before his term had expired circumstances so shaped themselves 
that he felt he could no longer work, for the Civil War broke out and seeing the country's great peril he determined 
that his services should be given in defense of the Union cause.  His employer was loath to release him, but after 
Mr. Baxter had given his note for $100 he was permitted to leave, and on the 5th of October, 1863, became a member 
of Company H, of the 30th Wisconsin Infantry, to serve until the close of the war.  He was mustered into the United 
States service at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, and with his command was at once ordered to St. Louis, whence the troops 
were sent by water to Ft. Rice, Dak.  That fort had been built to protect navigation and to check the ravages of 
the Indians.  The following October, the regiment was sent to Louisville, Ky., where it was engaged in several 
skirmishes and did provost duty until the close of the war, when it was mustered out in October, 1865, after which 
our subject returned to Poysippi, Waushara County, and resumed the shoemaker's trade.

While there residing on Christmas Day, of 1866, Mr. Baxter was united in marriage with Ellen Colt, who was born in 
Oakland, Jefferson Co., Wis., May 10, 1848, and is a daughter of R. P. and Emily (Boughton) Colt, who were natives 
of the Empire State, but who are now residents of Poysippi.  Mr. Baxter remained in that village engaged at his 
trade of shoemaking until 1875, when he removed to Berlin, Green Lake County, where he was engaged in bidding in 
mail routes and staging.  His first contract was in 1872, the route being between Berlin and Waupaca.  He carried 
five different mails for about ten years, making Berlin his home until 1882, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres 
adjoining the village of Wautoma.  He is still engaged is staging, having the contracts from Wautoma to Berlin, 
east, and Plainfield, west.

Mr. and Mrs. Baxter are parents of four children - Arthur A., born October 5, 1867, married Anstice Jones, and is 
now living in Wautoma; Della L., born June 13, 1871, is now attending school at Janesville; Daisy B., born April 21, 
1873; and Fred H., born Nov. 5, 1876, are sill at home.  The children have all received good educational advantages 
and are, therefore, prepared to become useful citizens in any community where their lots may be cast.

Mr. Baxter and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are faithful laborers in the Master's 
vineyard.  They give liberally to the support of the cause of Christ and do all in their power to aid in the 
upbuilding of his cause.  Socially our subject is a member of Ed. Saxe Post, No. 135, G. A. R., of Wautoma, and 
his wife belongs to the W. R. C., an auxiliary of that organization and also holds membership in the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union.  Charitable and benevolent, they are ever ready to extend a helping hand to the poor 
and needy, and their lives of usefulness, of honesty and uprightness, are well worthy of emulation.






Back to the Marquette Pages Menu