Genealogy: Family Histories
Mayhew Family
Transcribed and edited by Michael R. Reilly
Last Revised 12/01/2005
Memories of an Octogenarian
Tells of Early Day Experiences in Coming to New West
From Old Bay State in 1844
Present Day Readers Will Find Much to Interest Them in
Following Records
Merton, Wis., May 3, 1915. Freeman readers, and especially those who have
resided in Waukesha County, will find of interest the following details of
pioneer experiences recorded recently by one of the earliest and most honored
settlers of the county, William Mayhew, of Merton. He writes, that, having been
requested to give for the benefit of the younger generations, and as a means of preserving
memories of pioneer days in Waukesha County, he submits the following:
"I was born at Edgertown, Mass., on July 13, 1831. My father with his
family consisting of a wife and nine children, took a sail vessel from Edgertown
to Albany. From there we traveled to Buffalo by way of the Erie Canal; from
Buffalo we took a steamer to Milwaukee, arriving there on my birthday, July 13,
71 years ago next July. Father hired a team and driver to take us to Merton, at
that time called Warren.
My father bought a farm one half mile from the village of
Merton from Squire S. Case.
In 1852 my brother , Thomas, and myself went into the
mercantile business. We also ran the post office. We continued in this business
for two years, when we sold out to Edward Cole. In 1854 I was married to Rumaha
J. Mead, who died seven years ago. The same fall I joined my brother-in-law,
Wallace Mead, in Kansas where I remained five months and then returned to
Merton.
Border Ruffian Sword
I have in my possession a sword picked up by this same
Wallace Mead when the "border ruffians" were endeavoring to make
Kansas a slave state.
In 1860 I bought out A. S. Peck, in the harness business, in which I continued
until 1893, a period of 33 years. In 1893 I discontinued business and have since
kept a grocery store. During this period I was postmaster four years. Previous
to this I was deputy postmaster for eight years. Of my father's family there are
now living besides myself, one brother, John Mayhew of Conway Springs, Kansas,
and two sisters, Mrs. E. St. Julian Cox of St. Paul, Minn., and Mrs. Phoebe
Fisher of Libertyville, Ill,
Always Temperate
I have been a temperance man all my life never having used
liquor or tobacco in any form which I believe accounts for my having lived to
see the village grow from three houses to its present size. Among the settlers
here when we came the following are fresh in my memory: John C. Molster, George
Ringrose, Isaac Bull, Jeremiah Moon (Noon), John M. Hall, Jesse Newell, Hiram
Warren, Jeremiah Poler, Henry Pillips (Phillips?), William Weeks, Elisha Pearl,
Thomas Richmond, S. B. Mills, Silas Ainsworth, Charles Williams, George H.
Smith, Homer E. Fenn, John N. Cadby.
A Nonagenarian
The last named is the only living one of this honored list
now living.
Seven years ago, after the death of his wife, he went to Clifton springs, N. Y.,
to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Alvin Dewey. In a letter recently received by
the writer's family from Mr. Cadby he states that when he came to Merton there
was only one house in the village; it was situated on the hill, and now the home
of William Odell and family. Mr. Cadby was 96 years of age last December. He
write a good firm hand and has a most remarkable memory. I have been a resident
of Merton 70 years and have lived in my present home 55 years. I am the oldest
resident, so far as I know, now living in Merton. I always voted the Republican
ticket.
What Old, Old Records Tell
I take the following notes from my family tree: In the year
1642, twenty-two years after the Mayflower had dropped anchor and folded her
sails in Plymouth harbor, Thomas Mayhew, governor and patentee of Martha's
Vineyard, Nantucket and Elizabeth Isles, being familiar with the Indian language
began preaching the Gospel to the natives at the age of seventy years and
continued for 23 years, dying at the advanced age of 93 years. His brother,
Zachariah Mayhew, then took up the work in 1767, continuing it until 1806, the
sacerdotal order continues for a period of upward of 160 years.
Family history is fast crowding into reminiscences so I will
stop lest I weary my readers..
William W. Mayhew
(The Freeman is strongly of the opinion that
its readers would not tire of the memories of Mr. Mayhew, had he seen fit to
extend them far beyond the limit he has placed upon them in the above article
and we trust that he will see fit at another time to add thereto.). Source:
Waukesha Freeman, Thursday, May 6, 1915, page 6.