Washington County Biographies



Part of the Wisconsin Biographies Project



Hiram H. Wheelock

Hiram H. Wheelock, of the firm of J. O. Kendall & Co., millers, Hartford, is a native of the State of New York; the son of Haskell and Lydia (Dunham) Wheelock, and was born at Sackett's Harbor Dec. 16, 1817. When he was about a year old, his parents moved to Royalton, Vt., and shortly afterward to Newburg; in 1840, when 23 years of age, he came to Milwaukee, and the following year went to the town of Pewaukee, Waukesha Co., where he established a factory for the manufacture of hay rakes and all sorts of wooden handles. He was married at this place, Feb. 21, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Denny, daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Henshaw) Denny; Mrs. Wheelock was a native of Massachusetts; her people were descended from the original Puritans, and had been prominently identified with the history of the old Bay State. Mr. Wheelock continued the manufacturing business three years; this was the first known factory of the kind in the territory. On the expiration of the three years, he moved to Oconomowoc, where he was interested in milling and the manufacture of furniture; spent three years in this place; then, closing up his business, he moved to Washington Co. April, 1846, and located at what is now the village of Hartford, then a little hamlet consisting of three log-houses and a saw-mill; here he built a little store of siding, size 12x18, and opened a supply store, dealing in flour, pork and general supplies; April 27, 1847, he formed a partnership with Mr. R. S. Kneeland, in the general merchandise business, under the firm name of Wheelock & Kneeland; they soon built a more commodious building on the site of the old store, which was moved off; the new building was 20x40 feet, and two stories high.

Shortly after, Mr. Ira H. Wheelock and Mr. Nathan Parker bought an interest in the business, and the firm name was changed to Wheelock, Kneeland & Co. On the clearing-up of the new timbered country, the article of ashes was found to be of considerable importance, the settlers making what was known as black salts, by boiling the lye down in large kettles. The firm of Wheelock, Kneeland & Co., in order to develop this interest, built an ashery; about 1850, they perfected their arrangements for the manufacture of "pearl-ash," and organized the business under the firm name of N. Parker & Co.; they continued the manufacture of pearl-ash till 1855, making and exporting to Boston at the rate of 170 tons a year. The development of this business created a market for an otherwise worthless article, and made it possible for the settlers (many of whom were in needy circumstances), to clear up their lands, and make the sale of the ashes help to support their families; on the completion of the railroad to Hartford, a market was opened for the timber, and the pearl-ash business was suspended. In 1854, the firm of Wheelock, Kneeland & Co. purchased an interest in the Hartford water-power, including the saw-mill and grist-mill. In 1856, Mr. Kneeland withdrew from the firm, and the business was conducted under the name of H. H. & I. H. Wheelock till 1847, when Mr. John C. Denison was admitted, and the name changed to Wheelock, Denison & Co.; about 1850, Mr. H. H. Wheelock & Bros. had established a branch store at Mayville, Dodge Co., under the name of Wheelock Bros., and under the management of J. D. Wheelock, which business was continued till 1858; in March, 1863, Mr. Dwight Jackson was admitted a member of the firm; in the fall of 1860, Mr. J. O. Kendall bought an interest in the mill property, and a separate firm organized under the name of J. O. Kendall & Co. At this writing, the firm consists of J. O. Kendall and H. H. Wheelock, who have a fine brick flouring-mill of six runs of stone, which was erected in 1863. About 1869, a trade with Lake Superior was established in the line of stock, meats, provisions and supplies, and gradually developed till the annual freights in this business alone amounted to $20,000. Mr. Joseph Winter was interested in this enterprise, which was separate from the store, and was carried on under the name of Wheelock & Winter; this business was continued till 1879. Wheelock, Denison & Co., in addition to their other business, were also extensive dealers in grain of all kinds; at the store the business had increased to a yearly sale of $70,000; in 1878, Mr. H. H. Wheelock withdrew from the firm of Wheelock, Denison & Co., and has since devoted his attention to his milling interests. Mr. Wheelock has lived to see the little hamlet of three or four log houses that he found in April, 1846, grow to a flourishing village of 1,700 people, and the surrounding country, which was an unbroken wilderness of timber, develop into a land of rich farms unsurpassed in the State. A man of rare business ability, with energy and courage to execute his plans, he has been a powerful factor in the growth and development of Hartford and adjacent towns.

Sources: