Biographical Sketch of
Miles Mix, M. D.
Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages
Surnames: Collier, Evans, Farmer, Gardner, Mix, Otterburn, Page, Radke, Ring, Risdon, Sales, Skillens, Wheeler Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 383 - 384 Miles Mix, M. D., the oldest practitioner of Berlin Township, Green Lake County, now residing in section 14, was born in Chautauqua County, New York October 17, 1819, and is one of a family of twelve children born to Stephen and Patience (Risdon) Mix. His grandfather, Joel Mix, was of German descent, and married a Mrs. Sales. He was a manufacturer of edged tools and was a most excellent workman. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Josiah Ridson, was born on Scotch parentage, and followed blacksmithing for a livelihood. He married a lady who came to this country from the North of Ireland. Both died in the Empire State. Mr. Risdon served his country in the War of 1812, and lived to the ripe old age of eighty-six years. Stephen Mix was also a native of the Empire State, and in his youth learned his father's trade, though he worked at it but a short time. After his marriage he removed to Chautauqua County, being among the early settlers of that section. During the early days of his residence in that community, he carried upon his back a sack of corn to Erie, Pa., a distance of twenty-two miles, and after it was ground, brought the meal home in the same way. He cleared and developed a farm of 120 acres in that heavily timbered country, and acquired a comfortable competence. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and were held in high regard by all who knew them. The mother died when Miles was about thirteen years old, and the father departed this life in La Porte, Ind., several years later. Of their fmaily of twelve children, ten lived to mature years, but only four yet survive. With the exception of our subject, they are residents of Minnesota. David is engaged in farming; Melissa is now Mrs. Evans; and Sarah A. is Mrs. Ring. Our subject was reared to farm life, and in the district schools acquired his primary education , which was supplemented by a perusal of certain studies in a select school after his emigration to the West. In 1836, in company with his father and other members of the family, he left home and settled in La Porte, Indiana, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed after his removal to Wisconsin in 1842, engaging in that business in Beloit and Whitewater. Subsequently he was employed in a threshing machine factory of Racine, and when the river was dredged at that place to make a harbor, he was appointed superintendent of a gang of thirty men, obtaining the position under the influence of Warren Cole. The Doctor, who was an expert with tools, during that time was frequently called upon to execute some work in drafting or constructing that the parties to whom it was entrusted could not perform. About that time, he bagan devoting his leisure hours to the reading of medical works, and in 1845, having determined to follow that profession, he entered the office of Dr. O. W. Blanchard of Racine, with whom he continued his studies for two and a half years. He assisted the Doctor in his practice during the latter part of that time, and then returned to La Porte, Indiana, where he studied with Prof. Meeker, Dean of the Indiana Medical College of La Porte, from which he was graduate din the class of 1850. In that city, on the 13th of January, 1848, Dr. Mix led to the marriage altar Miss Louisa E., daughter of Preserved and Jane (Farmer) Wheeler. She was born in Vermont, June 12, 1828, and in childhood removed with her parents to Indiana. After his graduation in 1850, the Doctor came to Green Lake County, locating in Berlin, where he was successfully engaged in practice until 1882, when he removed to his farm in section 14 in the town of Berlin. As much as possible, he has retired from active life, but many of his old patrons do not wish to employ another physician, and still solicit his services. When he entered upon his professional career, he would walk through the rain and storm to see his patients, but finally became able to purchase a horse and buggy which made his labors much lighter. Step by step he worked his way upward, until he occupied a foremost place in the ranks of his professional brethren. His financial resources also increased, and he is now the owner of a fine farm of 227 acres. He is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the county, and for two or three terms served as alderman of Berlin. He was also a member of the Board of Health and City Physician of Berlin, and for several years has been employed in the same capacity in Berlin Township. He affiliated with the Whig party until the formation of the Republican party, with which he has since cast his ballot. His first vote was for William Henry Harrison. He is now in hearty sympathy with the temperance movement and does all in his power to advance the cause. For thirty-nine years he has been a resident of this county, and is one of its most highly respected citizens. In 1877, Dr. Mix was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 4th of March. She was a member of the Baptist church, to which he also belongs. Their family numbered seven children -- Edwin S., who married Martha A. Gardner, and has four children; Jane A., wife of Almon Otterburn, by whom she has three children; Sarah J., deceased wife of Clark Page and the mother of three children; Miles T., who married Millie C. Radke; Horace P. who wedded Lena M. Collier and has one child; and Wheeler W. (A portrait of Dr. Mix is found with this biography)
Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages
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