Biographical Sketch of

Henry Dantz

Transcribed by Barbara Voss for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 508 - 509


Henry Dantz, of Princeton, Green Lake County, has been a resident of Wisconsin since the territorial days, 
having settled in Columbia County in 1844. He is a native of the Empire State and a son of John and Fannie 
(Hubbard) Dantz, the former a native of Germany and the latter born of English parentage. John Dantz was a 
Hessian Soldier, and during the Revolutionary War was brought to America to aid the English in their attempt 
to subjugate the Colonies. When the struggle was over he determined to make his home in this country and for 
many years engaged in milling, which trade he learned in his native land. He also followed farming for a part 
of the time. At the time of his death, which occurred in the spring of 1836, he was a resident of Ontario 
County, N.Y., and his remains were interred in the cemetery at West Richmond. After the death of her husband 
Mrs. Dantz went to Rochester, where she made her home with her daughter until she too passed away. Both were 
highly respected citizens and there reared their family of seven children, all of whom grew to manhood and 
womanhood, trained to habits of industry and morality.

Henry Dantz is now in the eighty sixth year of his age. He was born on the 8th of September 1804, in Essex 
County, N. Y., and in the common schools of the neighborhood acquired his education, though his advantages 
were quite limited. At the early age if seven years he began life for himself, acting as chore boy for a man 
in whose employ he remained for two years. When nine years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of cloth-making 
in the town of Poultney, VT where he remained for twelve years. He thoroughly mastered toe trade of cloth 
manufacturing, becoming familiar with its every detail and was an efficient workman. After leaving Poultney 
he traveled as a journeyman for three or four years, after which he went to New York, continuing in the same 
line of business as an employ for the two succeeding years. He then determined that his labors should be for 
himself and not in the interest of others, so he opened an establishment for the manufacture of cloth in New 
York, where for eight years he did a lucrative business. Attracted by the brilliant prospects of the West, he 
then disposed of his interests in the Empire State and emigrated to Wisconsin. That was in the year 1844. On 
the 20th of January previous, he was united in marriage with Miss Mahala Farrington and accompanied by his 
young bride, started for the far country, as it was then considered. Railroads had not yet spanned the continent 
and as days and often weeks, were required in making the trip the distance seemed very great.

The young couple settled in Columbia County, where Mr. Dantz pre-empted 160 acres of wild land. He was the first 
settler in the town of Randolph. He built a little log cabin, which is yet standing as a memento of pioneer days 
and then began the development of a farm. The task was an arduous one, but for six years he engaged in the 
cultivation of the land which he secured on his arrival. At the end of that time he came to Green Lake County, 
settling in Dayton Township now the Town of Green Lake. He there purchased eighty acres of land, upon which the 
work of cultivation and improvement had been hardly begun, and together with his efforts toward its development 
had charge of a tavern. His home being situated at the �four corners� and on the main traveled road north to 
Milwaukee, he entertained all visitors from Ripon, Markesan, Princeton and Kingston. The Dantz Tavern gained a 
wide reputation and there for twenty years our subject extended his hospitality to the wayfarer. His farming 
interests also prospered and to his original purchase he added twenty-two acres, all of which he placed under a 
high state of cultivation. Finding his task too arduous for one of his age and having acquired sufficient means 
to enable him to lay aside all care, In 1870 Mr. Dantz removed to Princeton. The habit of industry was so in 
wrought into his nature, however that he could not at once lay aside all business, and for a year he engaged in 
the grocery trade, but since that time he has lived in the enjoyment of the fruits of former years.

In 1880 Mr. Dantz was called upon to mourn the loss of his loved wife, who died on the 13th of July. She was a 
most estimable lady, loved and revered by all and the sympathy of the entire community was extended to the 
bereaved family. Three children have blessed the union. But the two eldest, William Wallace and Henry M., are 
now deceased. Ione, the daughter, is now the wife of Charles Bentley, who resides in Kansas City, Mo. 

During almost his entire residence in Green Lake County, Mr. Dantz has served as a public officer. While living 
in Green Lake Township, he served as Justice of the Peace for fifteen years, for the same length of time was 
Path master and for one year was Supervisor, and since his removal to Princeton has been Justice of the Peace 
for six years. He manifests a deep interest in political affairs and is a faithful adherent of the Democratic 
Party. He was Postmaster eight years previous to Lincoln�s administration.

 





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