Biographical Sketch of

Ruel Hotchkiss

Transcribed by Robert Schieber

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 576 - 577
 

Ruel Hotchkiss, deceased, was one of the active, prominent and enterprising citizens of Richfield township, 
Adams county, Wisconsin.  He formerly was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 3, where 
he owned a well-improved farm.  He was born in Hampton, Washington county, New York, July 10, 1831, a son of 
Chester and Betsy (Gillett) Hotchkiss, who spent their entire lives as farming people in that town.  His 
paternal grandfather, Rufus Hotchkiss, was a native of Connecticut and an early settler of Hampton, New York, 
where he located soon after the Revolutionary war, and where he continued to make his home throughout the 
remainder of his life.  By occupation he, too, was a farmer.

In his native state Ruel Hotchkiss grew to manhood, and before coming west he was married, in Wells, Vermont, 
January 6, 1861, to Miss Lunie A. Searles, a daughter of Alonzo and Elizabeth (Van Bogart) Searles, natives of 
White Hall and Granville, New York, respectively.  Her father, who was a farmer, enlisted at Granville, in 
September, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, and died of pneumonia 
at the hospital in Wilminton, North Carolina, May 10, 1865.  His parents were William and Polly (Billings) 
Searles, farming people of White Hall, New York.  His mother was a native of Connecticut.  To our subject and 
his with were born two sons:  (I) Ernest A., living upon the home farm, was married, September 3, 1899, to 
Lena Mahlke, a daughter of Rofer and Tilda (Bredchkey) Mahlke, natives of Germany, who came to the United States 
in 1869 and settled in Portage, Wisconsin.  There were also farming people.  (2) Mortimer married May Martin and 
is living in Leola, Adams county, Wisconsin.  Mrs. Hotchkiss has four grandchildren.

On coming to Wisconsin, in 1865, Mr. Hotchkiss located in Sharon, Walworth county, and after spending a short 
time there he moved to Richford, Waushara county.  It was in 1869 that he came to Adams county and purchased 
eighty acres of land, for which he paid two hundred dollars.  Thirty acres had previously been broken and a 
log house and stable constituted the only improvements upon the place, but it is now one of the most desirable 
farms of its size in the locality.  During the Civil war Mr. Hotchkiss laid aside all personal interests to enter 
the service of his country, enlisting at Canton, New York, December 21, 1853, as a private in Company L, Seventh 
New York Heavy Artillery.  He was discharged for disability at Fort Reno, near Washington, D. C., March 5, 1864.  
He was a Democrat in politics and served as treasurer of his school district for several years.  Mr. Hotchkiss 
died October 5, 1880, and his wife makes her home on the homestead with her son, Ernest A.


Transcribed by Robert Schieber






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