Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-06-30
a PIONEER GONE.
A1anson Boomer Dies sSuddenIy-Sketch
of His Life


of His Life
The sudden death of AlanSOn Boomer
at 4 o'clock Friday morning last, at
his home in the Seventh ward, was "a
great surprise to the community, for
it was known to but very few that he
had been indisposed. 1t seems that
the day previous he performed a little
work in his yard, and becoming heated
caught cold, which completely prostrat-
ed him. Neuralgia of the heart set in
and he was called to the great beyond
almost without warning. Deceased
was in his SD year.
Mr.. Boomer was truly a pioneer of
this locality, coming here as early as
1887. He first saw the light of day
in Belleville, n. Y, February IA, 1919
He was reared on a farm there and
received a common school education
In the spring of 1886 he migrated
West, first settling in Milwaukee and in
December, 1887, coming to Watertown
do citizen of Watertown.
From the fact of its very early habi-
tation, the Boomer homestead, located
on the southern outskirts of the city,
is one of historic interest There
cordial hospitality has ever been dis
pensed, and both friend and stranger
! has felt the glow of the inviting fire
place and the warm heart. For Mr..
Boomer, Notwithstanding his pecun-
larry success, was not the studied seeker
after worldly gain alone; while he at
tended strictly to his business affairs,
he at the same time was philanthrO-
pist after his own way and many
| needy ones have realized the goodness
of his nature and received kindly
ministrations from him and his house
hold. He was one of the most sub
stantial and prominent citizens of
Jefferson county and man thorough
ly hOnored and esteemed.
with his brother, Lyman Z. They
took up large tract of government
land, a portion of which is now the
homestead of the deceased, and began
diligently to till the soil. The Boom
ers traded extensively with the In
dians and by fair and kind treatment
always managed to dwell peaceably
among them. In 1871 Alanson re-
| turned to New York to take charge of
one of his fathers farms, but in the
| spring of 1858 he again located in
| Watertown and purchased his brother S
! interest in the farm, which comprised
! over 500 acres. Here the deceased
| continued to reside the balance Of his
days and through the utmost perse-
verance, industry and due economy
succeeded in amassing an elegant
competency, principally from farming,
stock-raising and wise investments
In fact, Mr.. Boomer is reputed by
many to have been the most well-to-
Mr. Boomer never sought political
notoriety, and the only public office he
filed was that of supervisor. He was
interested in local manufacturing en-
terprises from time to time, having
been a large stockholder in the old
Watertown Machine company, the
Watertown Shoe company and the E.
Kunert Manufacturing company. He
also conducted a brick-yard in company
with 2. G. Quentmeyer.
In January, 1862, Mr. Boomer was
married to Mrs. Lydia Van Weimer,
since deceased. An adopted daughter,
Mrs. G. A. Vaughn, survives him.
Late years his sister, Mrs. Frances A.
Barnes, has resided with him.
The funeral was held from the home
on Sunday afternoon and was one o1
the largest ever seen here. Rev. G
G. Weiss, of the Congregations
church, officiated The remains were
laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery.