History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Wilcox, William F. formerly a lumberman, but who for 13 years has been operating a good modern farm on the outskirts of the city of Rhinelander, Oneida County, was born in Ohio, Dec. 9, 1862, son of Thomas K. and Jane (FOWLER) WILCOX. The parents were born in New York State, settling in Ohio later in life, the father being engaged in logging and farming. In 1862 he came to Wisconsin, seeking to found a new home, and located at Stevens Point, where he was joined by his family six months later. His former logging experience proved useful to him and he not only engaged in that industry but was also a river pilot and farmer. After some time he moved with his family from Stevens Point to Eau Pleine and six years later to Knowlton, in Marathon County. On his last trip down the river to St. Louis, which he made in 1877, he was accompanied by his two sons, then boys, to whome it proved a great event every to be remembered. He died in 1908 and his wife Jane in 1919. William F. WILCOX was educated in the public schools of Knowlton and grew to manhood on his father's farm, helping to clear and develop the land. He later bought a farm adjoining his father's in Marathon County, and in addition to operating it followed the logging industry on both the Big and Little Eau Pleine Rivers. In 1898 he came to Rhinelander and rented a house at 1219 Minola Street, which four years later he purchased. During his first summer in Rhinelander he worked in Clayton's mill. He then went into the wood department of the concern to learn that part of the business, sawing the wood into the standards lengths for which there was a commercial demand and also selling and delivering for three years. He then spent two winters in logging and after that was woods boss for Cutright & Russell one year. His next employment was in operating a lumber camp, after which he worked three years for the Robbins Lumber Co., as cruiser, scaler and buyer. During the next two years he got out pulp wood-one year for Sam TUTTLE and the other year for D. CALDWELL. In 1910 Mr. WILCOX bought a farm of 51 acres just outside the city limits of Rhinelander, the area of which he has since increased to 70 acres by an additional purhcase, and since 1916 he has given his entire attention to farming. He has five high grade Guernsey cows and his milk is sold at the door to customers calling for it. His buildings are lighted with electricity, and his barn, which was erected in 1913, is a model building of its kind, being very warm and dry and exceptionally well ventilated, with running water in each manger for the stock. He has some good horses and his palce is well equpped in all particulars. On Nov. 9, 1884, Mr. WILCOX was united in marriage at Stevens Point with Tena MASE, and he and his wife are the parents of three children: William J., bookkeeper for the Brown Bros. Lumber Co., who married Grace BURBIE and has one child, Dorothy; Arthur Chester, of Green Bay, who is in the lumber business, and who married Eleanore LE MAY and has one child, Thomas; and Clytus H., of Pontiac, Mich., foreman for the electric light and gas company, who married Margaret DUFFY of Rhinelander. The WILCOX family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. WILCOX, fraternal society membership is in the Modern Woodmen of America.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 360-361; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; H.C. Cooper Jr. & Co, 1924

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