The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-08-22
HON. w. S. MAXWELL.
Sketch Of His Life. Public Services and
Sudden Death.
(From Mondays Daily.D

unexpected shock to this community is
to put the IaatteT very lightly. There
was not nan in all Kenosha county
who seemed to be more widely known
nor more uhl Tersally respected. There
was nothing expected in his death. He
had been here among friends only a few
short days before and was apparently
in good health and spirits. He was
quoted in this paper as being enUhusi
astic about the future of Superior where
he had a financial interest in a large
brown stone quarry. He declared that
Superior was undoubtedly the coming
city of Wisconsin and was loud in his
praise of the prospects and energy
which marked the growth and entire
get up of the city. There was not the
slightest Indication at that time that
his end was so near. In fact there was
not up to the night before he died. He
retired Friday evening in his usual
health apparently after having per-
formed his usual days work. He made
no complaints, but seemed to sleep as
usual. In the morning he was dead in
his bed. No one knows when he
breathed his last. 1t is believed he
propped silently away in his sleep of
heart troubles.
Mr.. Maxwell resided on section "a, in
Somers township. He was widely
known not only throughout Kenosha
county, but throughout the state as
we'll, his official career having brought
him in contact with many of the most
prominent men of Wisconsin. Just be-
fore his death he devoted his time and
attention to agricultural pursuits and
the operation of the stone quarry at
Superior, Wis, owned by the Arcadian
Brown Stone company, OF which he was
manager and treasurer. Mr.. Maxwell
was born in Washington county, n. Y,
/ September II, 1886. His father also
claimed that county as his birthplace.
He was born Jan. "a, 1909. In his ma
tive county he married Jane Alexan-
der, a native of Glasgow, Scotland,
who, when a maiden Of ten summers,
came to this country with her father,
Robert Alexander, who was one OF the
early settlers and substantial farmers
of Washington county, n. Y.
On the paternal side Mr.. Maxwell
was of Scotch descent. His grand
father, Walter Maxwell, was born in
Scotland and settled in Washington
county when it was almost an I'M
broken wilderness. Here his father
was born and lived until after his mar
riage, then purchasing the interest of
the other heirs, succeeded to the owner
ship of the old homestead. There
were six sons and four daughters in the
family. Walter S. was the third child.
Five Of the sons were firm republicans
and Robert A. Maxwell was the only
one in the family to become demo-
crat. He resides at Batavia, N. Y,
and is now the third assistant post
master general.
Walter S. Maxwell spent his boyhood
, and youth upon his fathers farm. He
acquired his education in the common
schools and the state normal school.
After completing the latter course he
engaged in teaching few years. He
came to Wisconsin and located in this
county in 1850. He bought half Sec
ton of prairie land. He has resided
there ever since and made one of the
most valuable farming properties of the
place to be found in this section of
country.
Mr.. Maxwell had been married three
times. His first wife was Miss Anna A.
Robinson, of Easton, n. Y. The result
of this union was one son, Elmer A.,
who now conducts the home farm. The
second wife was Miss Anna A. Green
baum, a native of Connecticut. She
lived only two years after the marriage.
The third and surviving wife was Miss
Cornelia Mclean, of Washington coun-
ty, n. Y. This last marriage was cele-
brated in 1880.
Tn 1860 Mr.. Maxwell proudly cast his
first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Ever
after that he always voted the repub-
lican ticket. He always took great in
terest in the triumph of the principles
of that party and has frequently been
honored with positions of public trust.
For ten consecutive years he served as
supervisor Of the town board, was
elected its chairman one year and one
year was chairman of the county board.
In 1877 he was elected to the state leg
islature as an assemblyman. So well
did he fill this Office that he reelected
in 1881 and again in 1883. He served
as chairman of the educational COM
mittee and upon a number of other i'm
portant committees. In 1884 he was
elected state senator and served four
years with credit to himself and his
district. His public life was always
above reproach. He proved himself to
be an honorable and trusted official.
Purchasing an interest in the Arcad-