Biographical Sketch of

Hon. John A. Henry

Transcribed by Joan Benner

Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia, 
Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 345 - 346


Hon. John A. Henry, one of the leading businessmen of Easton, Adams County, and the present representaive from the district in the general assembly of the state, has been a resident of that region many years, and is well known as a gentleman whose business qualifications and integrity entitle him to prominence in the commercial world. He is proprietor of a general merchandise store in that town, and has been identified with her business interests for the past twenty years, and is also possessor of large landed interests in Adams county.

Mr. Henry was born in Oswego county, New York, October 14, 1845, and was the son of Andrew and Ann (Wickware) Henry. The Wickware family were early settlers of Oswego county, and well known in that vicinity. The father of our subject was left motherless at the age of six years. He was a cooper by trade, and moved his family from Oswego county to Racine county, Wisconsin, in 1850, where he stayed about one year, and then moved to Waterford, and worked at his trade for a few years. He went to California overland, with his twelve-year-old son, Antle, about 1854, and engaged in mining with fair success and remained about four years, returning to Waterford in 1858. He moved to Easton, Adams county, in 1863 where he purchased land and resided until his death, February 10, 1874, aged fifty-five years. The mother died May 24, 1894, aged seventy-four years, and both parents were laid to rest at White Creek. Of their five children our subject was the second in order of birth. 

John Henry was given a good education, attending school until his sixteenth year, when he enlisted for his country's cause, but was rejected on account of his parents not giving consent. He afterward enlisted in the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Madison, in June, 1865. His regiment had the honor of being the longest in service of any volunteer regiment. He was engaged in hard work, chasing bushwhackers, and was disabled at Pascagoula Bay, Mississippi, by a broken leg caused by a horse kicking him. He was confined to the hospital at New Orleans, and was afterward removed to New York, and thence to Madison, Wisconsin. He has in his possession a number of interesting relics of those troublous times, among them a wooden sword, which was presented to him as captain of the Waterford Home Guards, a company formed for the purpose of drill work. He has two sabres, which at one time belonged to the Confederate army, and are marked C.S.A.  In assisting to organize Company C, First Wisconsin Infantry, under Captain Hill, our subject was drummer, and in possession of a pair of remarkably fine drum sticks, which were used at that time. His stock of general merchandise at Easton is complete in every particular, and he enjoys a liberal patronage. He owns the old homestead on sections 30 and 31, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and also eighty acres of land on section 4, in Springville township.

Mr. Henry was married December 6, 1868, to Alice Augusta Stowell, daughter of Butler and Polly (Spoor) Stowell, of Springville, Adams county. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry, as follows: Edith, born July 26, 1869, now Mrs. F. Jones, of North Freedom, Sauk county; Etta, born December 18, 1871, now Mrs. R. Walton, of Easton; Alice, born May 25, 1877, now Mrs. A. Austin, of Jackson; Belle, born September 1, 1882, residing at home; Ruth, born March 9, 1884; and Vera, born October 24, 1887. The three last named reside at home, with their parents. Mr. Henry is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Kilbourn, and the Ennis Reed Post, No. 159, G.A.R., of White Creek. In the latter he has served as first and second commander, and is at present officer of the day. He has been postmaster of Easton for the past twenty years, and is justice of the peace. He has served as supervisor in White Creek township, but has not aspired to county offices. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his community, and stands firmly for right and equity. In political faith he is a Republican, and was nominated by his party for the assembly in 1900, and elected.

Transcribed by Joan Benner






This site is maintained by Joan and was last updated May 2005

Click here to send Joan an e-mail


Back to the Adams homepage