Biographical Sketch of

Hiram Stedman

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 743 - 744 


Hiram Stedman, proprietor of the Berlin warehouse and wharves, and of the passenger steamer Fashion, was born in 
Cambra, N. Y., July 2, 1838, and is a son of Harvey Stedman, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.  He was 
a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, the family settling at Strong's Landing, where he 
grew to manhood, receiving his education in the village schools.  About 1855, he engaged as merchant's clerk with 
A. M. Kimball, at Pine River, in Waushara County, with whom he remained for more than three years, when in the fall 
of 1858, he went to St. Louis.  After remaining in that city awhile, he went to Memphis, and was there when the late 
War broke out.  Returning to the North, in August, 1862, he offered his services to the Government and enlisted as a 
member of Company D, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry.  In the early part of the following year he was sent on detached service 
as chief clerk for Col. Hinsdill, chief commissary for Gen. Hurlbut, and at the Colonel's solicitation, he was discharged 
from the service, so that he, the Colonel, could have the benefit of Mr. Stedman's services without fear of interruption.  
Afterward our subject was assigned to do duty at New Orleans, at Gen. Candy's headquarters, with Hinsdill, where he 
continued as chief clerk until 1865.  In the meantime, Mr. Stedman was married in New Orleans, on the 11th of December, 
1864, to Miss Adeline M. Thompson, who was born in Savannah, Ga., and is a daughter of Samuel W. and Adeline M. (Spicer) 
Thompson, natives of New York.  Seven children were born of their union, four sons and three daughters.  The two eldest, 
Chester H. and Charles D. were born in the Crescent City, and the remaining members of the family, Mary, in Lanark, 
Kittie E., Lula T., William S. and Fred T. in Berlin.
 
On his return to Berlin in 1869, Mr. Stedman began his present business and has continued it without interruption since.  
He deals in all kinds of building material, drain tile, wood, coal, plaster and stucco and is an extensive dealer in salt.  
The business was established by his father in 1850, almost forty years ago.  In 1881, Mr. Stedman built the passenger 
steamer, Fashion, for the Oshkosh and Berlin trade.  The vessel is ninety feet long and twenty feet beam, and has 
cabin accommodation for fifty passengers, while on excursions will carry as many as 300.  It makes daily trips between 
Berlin and Oshkosh, leaving the former city in the early morning and returning on the evening of the same day.  In company 
with his brother, Hollis, our subject built the steamer, City of Berlin in the spring of 1889, which is run as a freight
and passenger boat between Green Bay and Portage City.  She is 120 feet long, and twenty-six feet beam.  Both boats were 
built at Berlin and are doing a good business.  The last named is frequently used in carrying excursion parties and is 
considered very safe and reliable.  
 
Mr. Stedman is a Democrat in political sentiment, and while not desirous of public preferment, served one term as Alderman 
and one as Mayor of Berlin.  His term as Mayor included the years of 1879-80.  Socially, he is a Knight Templar Mason, a 
member of Berlin Lodge, No. 38, A. F. & A. M.; of Berlin Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M.; and of Berlin Commandery, No. 10, K. T.  
As Mr. Stedman has been known in Berlin as boy and man for forty one years, twenty of which he has spent in active business 
relations with his fellow citizens, his standing as a business man and citizen is too well known to require any comment in 
the light of the present, but for the benefit of coming generations, to whom this work will be authority as to the lives 
and character of the people who settled these counties in an early day, and who have been prominently identified with their 
varied interests, it is no more than just to state that Mr. Stedman is recognized as an enterprising, upright and honorable 
man who is actively identified with important local interests.  Liberal and public spirited he is always to be depended upon 
in all relations of life, both public and private, to do what is just and right as his father did before him.
 
 




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