The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-08-31
HON. w. 5. MAXWELL.
A Sketch OF His Life, Public Sciv-
ices and Sudden Death.

n ShClSn OF Ills Liz, iuDi1S SSIf-
ices and Sudden Death.
The Telegraph of Kenosha,
this state, of the 22d inst, publishes
the following biographical sketch of
the late Hon. W. 5. Maxwell, which
will be of interest to his many friends
in Superior:
To say that the announcement in this
paper of the sudden death of the Hon
Walter S. Maxwell was sudden and
unexpected shock to this community is
to put the matter very lightly. There
was not a man in all kenoshea county
who seemed to be more widely known
nor more universally respected. There
was nothing expected in his death. He
had been here among friends only few
short DAYS before and was apparently
in good health and spirit He was
quoted in this paper as being enthusi
astic about the city of Superior where
he had 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 day's 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
dropped silently away Ill lis sleep OF
! heart trouble
Mr.. Maxwell resided on section 81 in
Somers township. He was widely known
not only throughout Kenosha county,
! but throughout the state us Well, his
official career having brought him in
! contact with many of the most promi-
Hent men Of Wisconsin. Just before
| his death he devoted his time and at
tenton to agricultural pursuits and the
| operation Of stone quarry at Superior,
! Wis, owned by the Arcadian Brown
Stone Co, Of which he was manager
and treasurer. Mr.. Maxwell was borne
in Washington county, \. Y, Sept. u,
1888. His father also claimed that
county as his birthplace. He was born
| Jan. u, 1899. In his native county he
! married Jane Alexander, 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 sub
| stantial farmers of Washington county,
| New York
! On the paternal side Mr. Maxwell
was ofScotch descent. His grandfather
Walter Maxwell, was borne in Scotland
and settled in Washington county when
it was almost an unbroken wilderness.
| Here his father was born and lived
until after his marriage, then purchas-
| ing the interest Of the other heirs sue
ceeded to the ownership of the old
( homestead. There were six sons and
four daughters in the family. Walter
;. was the third child. Five of the sons
We're firm Republicans and Robert A.
Maxwell was the only one IN the fam
lily to become Democrat lie resides
at Batavia, \. Y, and is now third
assistant post master general.
Walter ). Maxwell spent his boyhood
and youth upon his fathers farm. He
acquired his education in the common
schools and in the state normal school,
After completing the latter course he
engaged in teaching few years. lie
came to Wisconsin and located in this
county in 1850. He bought a half see
ton of prairie land. He has resided
there ever since and made one Of the
most valuable farming properties OF the
place 10 be found in tins section of the
country.
Mr.. Maxwell has been married three
times. His first wife was Miss Anna A.
Robinson, of Easton, \. \. The resu''
of this union was one son, Elmer a
who now conducts the home farm. Inc
second wife was Miss Anna y. Green
baum, native OF Connecucut' ohe
lived ONLY two years after the marriage.
The third and surviving vile was Mss
Cornel.ia Mclean, OF Washington coHn-
~, \. \. This last marriage was ceie'
bratcd in 1850
In 1850 Mr.. Maxwell proudly cast Ii,
first vote for Abraham Lincoln. ETel
after that he always voted the hernoI