Biographical Sketch of

Adam Prutsman

Transcribed by Joan Benner 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 766 - 767 


Adam Prutsman, one of the early settlers of Waushara County, who is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising 
on section 11 in the town of Plainfield, was born in Tompkins County, New York, Sept. 16, 1825. His parents, David 
and Mary (Fish) Prutsman, were both natives of Pennsylvania, but the husband was of German descent. He was a farmer 
by occupation, which business he followed in the East until 1855, when he emigrated to Waushara County, Wis., purchasing 
200 acres of land in the town of Plainfield. Wholly unimproved, it was no easy task to place it under cultivation, but 
with characteristic energy he began the work and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1868, had a fine farm. His 
wife died about six weeks previous to the death of her husband and they were laid side by side in Plainfield Cemetery. 
Their family numbered ten children, six of whom are now living: Jefferson, a farmer of Tioga County, Pa.; Adam, of this 
sketch; Betsy, wife of Albert Feringer, a farmer of Bradford County, Pa.; Emily, wife of Caleb Greenfield, of Holt 
County, Neb.; Charlotte, wife of Aaron Drake, a farmer of the town of Plainfield; Maria, wife of Samuel Bentley, a 
lumberman of Portage County. Those deceased are John, William, Laura, and David, who was killed in the army. 

Adams Prutsman spent his boyhood days in the Keystone State and acquired his education in the common schools. Remaining 
under the parental roof until attaining his majority, he then started out in life for himself, entering upon his business 
career as an employee in a sawmill, where he worked for three summers. He came to the West in 1853 for the purpose of 
seeking a location, and determined to make his future home in Waushara County, so returning for his family, he came with 
them in the spring of 1854 and took up his residence in the town of Plainfield, where he entered about 440 acres of land. 
After building a good house and barn, he hired a man to improve his land while he acted as pilot on the Wisconsin River 
during the summer months and spent the winter in a lumber camp. After thirteen years' residence upon his farm he sold 
out and moved to Tusten, in Bloomfield Township, where he erected a sawmill, operating the same for ten years. His business 
having so largely increased in the meantime, he was forced to enlarge his facilities and building a more capacious mill 
continued in that line three years. Selling out at the expiration of that time, he purchased a farm on section 4 in the 
town of Plainfield, which he made his home two and a half years, when he sold and purchased 274 acres in Portage County, 
his residence there covering a period of five years. He then traded a part of that land for his present farm.

On the 10th of September, 1850, Adam Prutsman wedded Miss Charlotte L. Brown, who was born Dec. 13, 1829, and is a 
daughter of Garrett and Ruth M. (Thorpe) Brown, both of whom were natives of New York. By trade her father was a tanner 
and currier, and in the Empire State followed that occupation until his death, which occurred in 1845. His wife survived 
him ten years, dying in 1855. They were the parents of seven children: Catherine E., deceased; Mary, wife of L.O. Beach, 
of Tioga County, Pa.; Franklin, of Elmira, New York; William J., Charles and Henry, deceased; and Charlotte, wife of our 
subject.

To Mr. and Mrs. Prutsman have been born three children: Ida A., wife of A. J. Steele, a dealer of agricultural implements 
in Plainfield; Cora M., wife of Harley A. Wilson, a carriage manufacturer of Oshkosh, by whom she has two children, Nina 
M. and Paul A.; and Frank, who died in infancy.

Mr. Prutsman started life a poor boy but he possessed industrious habits and unfailing energy and gradually worked his 
way upward until he now owns one of the best farms in the county, and is numbered among its substantial and prosperous 
citizens. His home farm comprises eighty acres of land under a high state of cultivation and highly improved, in connection 
with which he owns 264 acres of arable land in Portage County. He raises an excellent grade of stock and has all the 
necessary improvements. He has been identified with the county's history for the long period of thirty-six years, has 
seen the wild lands transformed into fertile farms and comfortable homes, and witnessed the introduction of railroads 
and the establishment of industries. He has also borne an important part in the upbuilding of town and county and is 
the founder of the village of Tusten. He served as Under-Sheriff of the county and has held the office of Justice of 
the Peace for a considerable time and is the present incumbent; he is also Treasurer and Assessor. In political sentiment 
he is a supporter of the Democratic party, and socially is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Plainfield. Himself and family 
are well known throughout the county and are held in the highest esteem by all.

 




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