Biographical Sketch of

Perry Niskern

Transcribed by Susan Folk 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 388 - 389

Perry Niskern, junior member of the law firm of Waring & Niskern, was born in Darien, Walworth County, Wis., on the 
14th of May, 1854, and is a son of John and Eliza Jane (Wilsey) Niskern. His father was born in Schoharie County, 
N. Y., and is descended from original Knickerbocker Holland ancestors. The family was founded in America by two 
brothers, Peter and John, who emigrated from Holland to America in 1680, and settled in the Mohawk Valley. They 
spelled the name Kniskern, but by the later generations it has been changed to the present mode of spelling. The 
mother of our subject was also born in Schoharie County, of Holland parentage, and the name of her family was 
originally Wiltse.

In 1846, John Niskern, accompanied by his family, emigrated from New York to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in 
the town of Darien, Walworth County, where he and his wife still reside. He is one of the prominent farmers of that 
region, and is numbered among the best citizens. There were three children in the family, all sons. Charles married 
Adeline Westinghouse, and is a farmer of Story County, Iowa; Frank married Jennie Stewart and operates the old home 
farm.

Perry, the second, is the subject of this sketch. He was reared to manhood upon his father's farm, and received 
liberal educational advantages, completing his literary studies in Ripon College, from which he was graduated in 
the class of 1877. He pursued the study of law in the office of Cassoday & Carpenter, of Janesville, for one year, 
and then took a two years' course in the Columbia Law School, but completed the studies assigned for two years 
within one year. He then returned to Janesville to his old preceptors and there continued his studies until 
February, 1880, when he was admitted to the bar both in the circuit and supreme courts. Mr. Niskern then visited 
Kansas and Minnesota with the intention of selecting a location but did not find a suitable one in either State, 
so in November, 1881, he returned to Wisconsin and opened an office in Princeton, Green Lake County, where he 
pursued the practice of his profession until 1885, when he came to Berlin, and the following year became a member 
of the law firm of Waring, Eichstadt & Niskern. In February 1889, after the death of Mr. Eichstadt, the firm 
became Waring & Niskern and has so remained to the present writing, December, 1889.

In 1881, Mr. Niskern chose for himself a companion, and on the 24th of August of the year, in Ripon, was united in 
marriage with Miss Jennie M. Atwood. She is a member of the Congregational Church, and a most estimable lady. Mr. 
Niskern is a Democrat in political sentiment, and notwithstanding the large Republican majority of Green Lake 
County, had twice been elected to the office of district attorney. The firm of Waring & Niskern is one of the 
leading law firms in Green Lake County and enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice. The senior partner is the 
pioneer lawyer of the county, and enjoys the distinction of being a leader of the bar. The junior, while comparatively 
a young man, is fast "earning his spurs" in the camp of the legal fraternity.






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