Biographical Sketch of

Charles L. Kendall

Transcribed by Barbara Voss



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Page 445 - 446

Charles L. Kendall, a hardware merchant and harness dealer of Packwaukee, has been a resident of Marquette County for 
many years, and is a member of one of its old and distinguished families. His father, Charles Lewis Kendall, was one 
of the early settlers of Montello. He was born in Massachusetts in 1829, and on attaining his majority there married 
Ann Carter. The year 1851 witnessed his emigration to Wisconsin in company with his wife and two children, Emma and 
our subject. The former died on the 30th of October 1886, leaving one daughter, Lulu Chapel. She was three times 
married, her first husband having been Frank Stimpson, her second, E. A. Chapel, while her third union was with James 
Waterman. Mr. Kendall, Sr., married for his second wife Mary Jane Hyde, the wedding taking place in September 1857. He 
was one of the well known citizens of Montello, and for a number of years engaged in the hardware business in that 
village. He died in Montello, May 24, 1869 leaving two children by his second wife; Neenah, who died at the age of 
thirteen years, and Frederick Grant, who survived his sister only four weeks, dying at the age of nine years. From an 
obituary notice published of Mr. Kendall at the time of his death, we take the following;

�He was one of the most industrious men of the town, a good calculator in business and of a generous nature. No man 
has done more in proportion to his ability to build up and improve the village than he. Mr. Kendall was scrupulously 
honest in all his relations in life. Strict integrity marked his intercourse with his fellow men, securing for him 
the confidence of the community, In trade and business he was a model man; he was prominent in the support of those 
enterprises that tend to the best interests of the community where he lived, and his death was sincerely mourned by 
all. He was a prominent member of the Masonic Lodge, the principles of which were his guide through life.�

Charles L. Kendall Jr., whose name heads this sketch, was born in the old Buckeye State, on the 17th of September 1853, 
during a temporary sojourn of the family there. He was reared to manhood in Montello and in his youth engaged with trade 
of a tinner. He conducted the business several years after his father�s death, and afterward learned the trade of 
harness making with his brother-in-law in Plainfield. When he had thoroughly mastered the business he returned to 
Montello and bought out the store formerly owned by his father, where he carried on operations for several years.

On the 17th of July 1875, Mr. Kendall was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Wessing, the ceremony being performed by 
the Rev. J. T. Martell. The lady was a daughter of Edward Wessing, one of the early settlers of Packwaukee, where she 
was born February 2, 1856. They have three children, one son and two daughters � Lewis E., Maude E. and Frank W.

Disposing of his business interests in Montello, Mr. Kendall removed to Packwaukee on the 11th of November 1877, and 
has been engaged in business there continuously since, carrying a full line of hardware, together with harness and 
saddlery supplies. His success is due to his enterprising and progressive spirit, which characterizes all his 
undertakings whether for the advancement of his own interests or the up building of the community. He has filled 
various official positions of honor and trust, was Postmaster of the village several years, and for four successive 
terms has been Chairman of the Town Board. He supports the Republican Party and is an intelligent citizen.






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