Biographical Sketch of

Samuel Radway

Transcribed by Barbara Voss 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 659 - 660


Samuel H. Radway, who is practically living a retired life in Berlin, was formerly one of the lending 
mechanics of that city. He was born in Cortland County, N.Y., December 15, 1815, and is a son of Wilmouth 
Radway, a Vermont farmer, who served in the war of 1812, and for a few years prior to his death, drew a 
pension in recognition of his services. He died in 1884 at the advanced age of ninety four years. He 
married Lydia Hovey, also a native of the Green Mountain State and unto them were born six children, 
Orrin, Sophronia, Samuel H., Matursin, Wilmouth and Jesse.

Our subject is entirely a self made man. He received no special advantages in his youth and the only 
opportunity he received for securing and education was afforded by the district schools, which he 
attended until the age of twelve years. He has made his own way in the world since a lad of fourteen 
years at which time he left home to learn the business of carding and cloth manufacturing, but not 
finding that employment congenial he abandoned it at the end of the three years’ apprenticeship. 
During that time his wages were but $3 a month. Possessing mechanical genius of a high order, he 
now embarked upon a business peculiarly adapted to him and met with excellent success. He was 
engaged in the construction of wooden water wheels in New York until 1846, when believing that 
he might better his condition in the West he emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin, settling 
in Dartford, Green Lake County, where he followed his trade of a millwright for Dart & Sherwood 
for three years. In 1849 he went to St. Marie, where he was engaged in cabinet work and milling 
for ten years, during which time he built a mill at Markesan, one at Sun Prairie and a third at 
Princeton. The year 1859 witnessed his arrival in Berlin where he resumed business as a millwright. 
He built the mill of Carbart & Wright in Eureka, Winnebago County, another at Tema and erected 
four others in Waupaca County. Many years were spent in that line of business when he began making 
patterns of milling sandpaper machines for Perry & Matthews, with whom he remained for three years. 
Since that time he has devoted some attention to that business but is practically living a retired 
life. He received no instruction of any importance concerning the work which he has made his life 
occupation. He possesses much genius and an observing eye and has been remarkably successful in 
the prosecution of that occupation. He had the misfortune to lose a limb by amputation in 1856 as 
a result of a fever sore which began to develop when he was five years of age. He used crutches 
for about a year but during that time conceived the idea of making a wooden limb. After experimenting 
for a short time he succeeded , and in 1857 constructed a wooden limb for his own use since which 
time he has made as many as a dozen for other parties.

On the 10th of November 1835, Mr. Radway led to the marriage alter Miss Elmira Pierce, of Vermont and 
their union has been blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Francelia, who became 
the wife of Lew Stone, an engineer in a brass foundry of Milwaukee; Frankford, who married Maggie Condell 
and is engaged in farming in Dakota; and Marscious, a carpenter and architect of Ripon, who wedded Sarah 
Atwell. Mr. Radway is a Republican in politics and has held the office of Treasurer of St. Marie and for 
two years was its Assessor. He is a Trustee of Baptist Church, of which he and his wife have long been 
members and is an honored pioneer of the county. His residence covers a greater period that almost any 
other of its citizens and few men have done more for its advancement and upbuilding. He is widely and 
favorably known throughout the community and it is with pleasure that we record his sketch.


Transcribed by Barbara Voss for the Marquette Co WI Pages






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