Biographical Sketch of

Selim S. Putnam

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 387 - 388


Selim S. Putnam, a practical and progressive farmer of the town of Warren, Waushara County, residing on section 
10, was born on the 17th of November, 1840, in Brooklyn, Lake County, Ill., and is the only child of S. S. and 
Joanna (Hamilton) Putnam. His father was born in New Hampshire, May 30, 1813, and followed farming throughout 
his entire life. His father was also a native of the Granite State and became one of the pioneer settlers of 
Lake County, Ill. He earned his livelihood by agricultural pursuits, which business he followed until his death 
in 1879. His wife, also a native of New Hampshire, is still living and resides on the old homestead in Lake County.

The father of our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, but at an early day came West and took up his 
abode in Lake County, settling on 160 acres of wild prairie land. He passed through the toils and privations of 
pioneer life, but succeeded in developing a good farm on which he made his home until his death, Dec. 7, 1841. The 
greater part of his life was spent in the service of his Master, as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
married Joanna Hamilton, a daughter of Harry and Asenath (Warren) Hamilton, of Vermont. Her father removed with his 
family to Brooklyn, Lake County, Ill., in 1839, and until about the year 1856, there engaged in farming. He then 
removed to Berlin and established himself in the mercantile business, which he followed for ten years, when he 
retired to private life. His death occurred the latter part of October, 1888, at the ripe old age of ninety-two 
years. Mrs. Putnam was born in Sheldon, Wyoming Co., N.Y., Dec. 30, 1819, and as before stated, our subject was 
the only child born of her union with Mr. Putnam. After the death of her first husband, she became the wife of 
Hanson S. Carrier on the 1st of April, 1845, and for a brief period continued to live in Brooklyn. They removed 
to Dodge County, Wis., where was born unto them, June 14, 1846, a daughter, Francelia. The mother who was a
consistent member of the Episcopal Church for many years died Nov. 1, 1875, and Mr. Carrier departed his life Dec. 
1, 1884. During the late Civil War he proved his loyalty to the Union by shouldering a musket and marching to 
the front.

At the age of four years, Selim S. Putnam came to the town of Ashippun, Dodge Co., Wis., with his step-father, 
where the only advantages he received for securing an education were such as the district schools of that day 
afforded. Devoting the most of his time to farm work he remained at home until the fall of 1861, when he enrolled, 
his name as a private of the 7th Wisconsin Light Artillery, which was formed in Milwaukee. He was assigned to the 
company commanded by Captain Griffith and was first under fire at the battle of Island No. 10, on the Mississippi 
River. His company then went up the river and proceeded by the way of the Columbus and Mobile Railroad to Humboldt, 
where they were stationed for a time, going thence to Jackson, Tenn., by way ob Trenton. In the engagement at 
Parker's Cross Roads they were repulsed by Gen. Forest with the loss of Second Lieutenant Hayes Wheelock, and 
several privates. They were then transferred to Corinth, Miss., and took part in the siege against that city. About 
thirty miles from Memphis, Tenn., they were overtaken by Gen. Forest and again repulsed, retreating back to Memphis, 
there they were placed under the command of Gen. Sturgis. At that place on a foggy Sunday morning, they were again 
attacked by Gen. Forest's troops and suffered a third defeat. Mr. Putnam's three years' term of service then expired, 
but he re-enlisted to serve until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged at Milwaukee, July 20, 
1865, having seen four years of active military service.

Returning to the North, Mr. Putnam went to Watertown, Jefferson Co., Wis., where for eighteen months he was employed 
in a saw mill, when in 1867, he came to Waushara County, and for three years was in the employ of Hamilton Bros., 
manufacturers of lumber. In 1870 he purchased eighty acres of almost unimproved land on section 10 in the town of 
Warren and in connection with his stepson, Edwin Sprague, has added eighty acres to the original purchase.

On the 21st of April, 1870, Mr. Putnam was united in marriage with Mrs. Susan (Wheeler) Sprague, a native of Erie 
County, N.Y., born June 19, 1834. Her father, Paul Wheeler, who was a native of Massachusetts of English origin, 
was born Feb. 18, 1811, and made farming his life work. He married Hannah Briggs, who was born in Rhode Island, 
Oct. 29, 1809, and when an infant was taken to Erie County, N.Y., where she lived until her marriage. She was a 
firm believer in the faith of the Society of Friends and died Sept. 5, 1866. Her grandfather Briggs, was born in 
Rhode Island and gave his life for American Independence. Mrs. Putnam was first married June 6, 1858 to Seth Sprague 
of Rhode Island, by whom she had one child, Edwin, born July 28, 1859. On the 22nd of September, 1886, he married 
Charlotte Chlough, by whom he has one child, Halsey Paul, born Feb. 2, 1887. Seth Sprague first came to Wisconsin 
in 1855, but after a short time returned to the East and married Miss Wheeler, again coming to Wisconsin in 1858, 
and for eight years lived on a farm south of Berlin, known as the Seven Day Settlement. He then removed to a farm 
on section 10 in the town of Warren, Waushara County, where hw spent the remainder of his life, passing away April 
5, 1868.

Politically, Mr. Putnam is a Republican and one of the stanchest supporters of that party and its principles; he has 
been a director in the Aurora Fire Insurance Company and is a member of Ed. Saxe Post, No. 135. G. A. R., of Wautoma, 
his wife belonging to the Woman's Relief Corps, an auxillary of the lodge.






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