Biographical Sketch of

Matthew Spain

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou 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 789 - 790 


Matthew Spain, who follows general farming on section 2, in the town of Packwaukee, Marquette County is a native 
of Ireland, and a son of Abraham and Eliza (Henshaw) Spain.  His father was a native of Ireland, born in 1777, 
but his people were of French descent.  His parents both perished during the religious wars on the Emerald Isle 
in 1798, thus leaving him an orphan at the age of eleven years, from which time he was forced to make his own 
way in the world.  In 1822 he married Miss Henshaw, who was also born in Ireland but was of English and Scotch 
descent.  In 1841 we find Mr. Spain and his family enroute for America.  For nine years they resided in Canada, 
and in 1850 located just north of Fort Winnebago in Columbia County, Wis., where the death of Mr. Spain, the 
father of our subject, occurred the following year.  His wife survived him many years, dying at the very remarkable 
age of one hundred and five years. She retained both her mental and physical faculties to a wonderful degree 
and when ninety-five years of age walked nine miles.  She died in Dakota, at the home of her youngest son, but 
her remains were brought back to Wisconsin for burial.  Eight children, five sons and three daughters, were born 
of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Spain and all grew to manhood and womanhood with the exception of Eliza, who died 
at the age of four years while the family was still living in Ireland.  At this writing there are five yet living:  
Mary, widow of James McCleary, of London, a Scotchman by birth and a civil engineer by profession; Jane, widow of 
Henry S. Smith, of the town of Packwaukee; Matthew, of this sketch; Richard, who resides in Kentucky; and Abraham, 
who is living in Hand County, S. D.  Those deceased are Joseph, who was for many years one of the prominent citizens 
of Marquette County and held all the important offices wit hin the gift of the people of the county.  At one time 
he was the receiver of public moneys in the United States Land Office at Stevens Point, Wis.  His remains lie interred 
in the cemetery near Portage City.  William, who served his country as Captain of Company D, 19th Wisconsin Infantry, 
for three years, was a civil engineer and prominent attorney-at-law and leading citizen of Portage City, Wis.  It so 
happened that he had incurred the enmity of a number of citizens of his town by defending one Wildrick, a hard character, 
who had been arrested on suspicion for the murder of a Mr. Gates.  The supposed murderer was hung by mob violence in 
the jail yard.  The excitement at the time was very great and feeling ran high.  Many persons greatly condemned Mr. 
Spain for his defense of the prisoner.  About the same time he himself was dragged through the streets of the city 
with a rope around his neck by a mob and brutally murdered by the instigation of one Brit, whom Mr. Spain had shot 
in self-defense when assaulted by that man on the street on account of an old grudge which he had against Mr. Spain, 
growing out of some mutual army experience.  Working upon the feelings of those who had opposed the defense of Wilbrick 
by Mr. Spain, Brit led them to commit the terrible act of violence which resulted in the death of the brother of our 
subject.  Many of the citizens of twenty years ago will remember the episode and the intense excitement which it caused 
at the time.

Matthew Spain, the subject of this biography, was reared to farm life and remained under the parental roof until twenty-five 
years of age, when he began life for himself on the farm which is still his home.  The following year he was united in the 
holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary A. Stanton, a native of England, and a daughter of H. C. and Rhoda (Wilkes) Stanton, 
who were also natives of the same country and accompanied by their family emigrated to America in 1849, settling in the 
town of Moundville, Marquette County.  Both parents were born in 1814, and are now residing in Columbia County, at the 
age of seventy-five years.

The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Spain was completed by the birth of eleven children, all of whom are living with the 
exception of Mary A., who died of consumption at the age of three years and two months.  Eliza R., the eldest of the 
family, who engaged in teaching for some time, went to Hand County, S. D., in 1883, and taking a claim of 160 acres, 
met all requirements and has now secured a deed to that land is accounted one of the most successful farmers of the 
community; Joseph H., Abraham J., and William M. are all married and reside in Hand County, S. D.  Harry C., single, 
is living in the same State; Lucy J., Katie R. E., Richard T., David Stanton and Louisa E. are still at home with their 
parents.

In political sentiment, Mr. Spain is a stalwart Republican and has been honored with several local offices of trust.  
He and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church and are earnest workers in the Master's vineyard.  We have 
thus given a brief sketch of one of Marquette County's early settlers and a representative of one of its respected families. 






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