Henry, William Turner
Death
1883-07-02
(aged 60 years)
Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Birth
1823-05-09
St Louis, Montana, United States
Gravestone
Location
NW.19.1
Transcription
William Turner Henry
Born May 9, 1823 Died July 2, 1883
Biography
From History of Iowa County 1881
WILLIAM T. Henry, lawyer and banker, Mineral Point; was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 9, 1823; he came to Galena, Ill., with his parents, in 1824, arriving there in May of that year; remained in Galena until the spring of 1833, when, with his parents, he took up his abode with Capt. De Seelhorst, of Elk Grove, now in La Fayette County; in October of 1833, he removed to Dodgeville, where his father engaged in merchandising and was also appointed the first Postmaster; in October, 1834, his father located in Mineral Point, where William T. has since resided, with the exception of a brief period spent in the gold mines of California. He attended the common schools of his locality until 1837 and 1838, when he went to Springfield and took a two-years course in the high school of that city; returning home in 1839, he entered the store of Curtis Beech, one of the pioneer merchants of the city, serving in the capacity of clerk; was subsequently appointed Deputy Clerk of the United States Court, and served under Dr. Edward McSherry, George W. Jones and Henry L. Dodge, and, in May, 1846, Mr. Henry was appointed by Judge Dunn Clerk of the United States Court, which office he held until Jan, 1, 1849; in the interregnum between his appointments to office, Mr. Henry was engaged in mining. He was married, Aug. 2, 1848, to Miss Nellie, daughter of Gen. William R. and Mary Smith at Mineral Point; had one child—William Francis, who died June 15,1850, aged 1 year. Oct 8,1849, Mr. Henry started for California, via Panama, and returned to Mineral Point, via Nicaragua, Oct. 12,1851; he again left for California Nov. 11, 1851, accompanied by his wife, who was then suffering with consumption. Mrs. Henry did not live to return, having died in Sacramento City Dec. 17, 1852. William T. returned to Mineral Point May 6, 1855, and was appointed Secretary of the Mineral Point Railroad Company, and continued in this capacity until the road was successfully completed to this point. While acting as Secretary of the Mineral Point Railroad Company, he commenced an abstract of the county and established his law business, and, in the fall of 1861 adding thereto the banking business, all of which he still continues; aside from this, Mr. Henry is extensively engaged in mining, and, with his partner, John J. Ross, owns perhaps the most valuable mineral range in Southwestern Wisconsin. He married Mrs. Emma Parmele, daughter of Rev. Stephen McHugh, Sept. 18,1856; she had two sons by her former marriage— Thomas and Charles Parmele. now in Mr. Henry's bank. By this union Mr. Henry had five children, all of whom are living—Nettie E., William T., Cora M., Emma N., Francis G. Emma N. is attending school at Kenosha and William T., Jr., at Racine. Mr. Henry has always been a Democrat; has been frequently elected Mayor of the city, although he is not a politician nor office-seeker, and has always possessed, in a marked degree, the confidence of the business men in the community, no matter which political party they belonged to. He is remarkably energetic and industrious, liberal and charitable, and, amidst his great and varied business cares, he has found time to become a learned and accomplished mineralogist. His cabinet of minerals is one of the largest and best selected in the United States, and no man in the State is so thoroughly acquainted with the geology of the lead region.