Biographical Sketch of

Hollis Steadman

Transcribed by Barbara Voss



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 438 - 439

Hollis Steadman, one of the loyal defenders of our country during the late war, is engaged in the oil and produce 
business as a partner of Robert Boyle. He is a son of Harvey and Mary L. (Warren) Steadman, and was born in Niagara 
County, N. Y., March 30, 1843. He has resided in Green Lake County since six years of age, and in the schools of 
Berlin acquired his education. He began life for himself at the age of eighteen years, and the first work which he 
did was in the harvest field, where he received $2 per day for his services. He watched with interest the progress 
of events in the South during the years preceding the war and when Lincoln issued his call for troops for three years 
he at once responded, enlisting as a member of Company I, 11th Wisconsin Infantry in October, 1861. His service called 
him to Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, and the principal battles in which he engaged were Bayou Cache, 
Ft. Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge and Vicksburg, where he was wounded, May 22, 1863, 
a ball passing through his right foot. The following year he was mustered out of the volunteer service and appointed 
Hospital Steward in the regular army, in which capacity he served fifteen months. He then received the appointment of 
Commissary of Subsistence of volunteers, discharging the duties of that position until mustered out as Brevet-Major, 
July 1, 1866. His services continued for four years and nine months, during which time he was never off duty except 
when in the hospital after being wounded. 

When mustered out, Mr. Steadman took charge of a cotton plantation near Helena, Ark., which he operated for a year.  
He then returned to the North and in Portage County, Wis., had charge of a sawmill for a year and spent the same 
length of time in operating a mill in Waupaca County. He returned to his old home in Berlin in 1869, and turned his 
attention to farming, which he carried on in connection with other interests until a few years since. From 1870 to 
1875, he sold patent rights, but in the latter year formed a partnership with Robert Boyle and engaged in the produce 
business, the partnership continuing till the present. Leaving the business to the care of his partner in 1885, he 
went upon the road as a traveling salesman for the Berlin Machine Works and the succeeding three years engaged in 
buying produce, furs and hides. In 1888, the firm of Steadman & Boyle began dealing in oils in conjunction with their 
other lines of business, and the following year, our subject and his brother, Hiram, built the steamer, �City of 
Berlin,� which is used in shipping merchandise on Fox River from Portage City to Green Bay.

The most important event in the life of Mr. Steadman occurred on the 9th of August, 1866, when he was joined in 
wedlock with Maggie A. Boyle, a native of Maine, born June 9, 1843. Her parents were Thomas and Catherine (Clark) 
Boyle. Six children grace the union of this worthy couple Horace E., S. Bert, Clara A., Maud S., Madge and Calvin.

In his social relations, Mr. Steadman is a member of the G. A. R. post of Berlin, of which he now holds the office of 
Senior vice Commander.  Politically, he is a Republican, and religiously his inclination is to the Congregational 
Church. He has met with the most splendid success in his business transactions. The firm of Steadman & Boyle is 
widely known and its reputation for fair dealing, courtesy and obligingness might well be a matter of envy.






Back to the Marquette Pages Menu