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 inFollowing Records
Merton, Wis., May 3, 1915. Freeman readers, and especially those who haveresided in Waukesha County, will find of interest the following details ofpioneer experiences recorded recently by one of the earliest and most honoredsettlers of the county, William Mayhew, of Merton. He writes, that, having beenrequested to give for the benefit of the younger generations, and as a means of preservingmemories of pioneer days in Waukesha County, he submits the following:
“I was born at Edgertown, Mass., on July 13, 1831. My father with hisfamily consisting of a wife and nine children, took a sail vessel from Edgertownto Albany. From there we traveled to Buffalo by way of the Erie Canal; fromBuffalo 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, atthat time called Warren.
My father bought a farm one half mile from the village ofMerton from Squire S. Case.
In 1852 my brother , Thomas, and myself went into themercantile business. We also ran the post office. We continued in this businessfor two years, when we sold out to Edward Cole. In 1854 I was married to RumahaJ. 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 toMerton.
Border Ruffian Sword
I have in my possession a sword picked up by this sameWallace Mead when the “border ruffians” were endeavoring to makeKansas a slave state.
In 1860 I bought out A. S. Peck, in the harness business, in which I continueduntil 1893, a period of 33 years. In 1893 I discontinued business and have sincekept a grocery store. During this period I was postmaster four years. Previousto this I was deputy postmaster for eight years. Of my father’s family there arenow 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. PhoebeFisher of Libertyville, Ill,
Always Temperate
I have been a temperance man all my life never having usedliquor or tobacco in any form which I believe accounts for my having lived tosee the village grow from three houses to its present size. Among the settlershere when we came the following are fresh in my memory: John C. Molster, GeorgeRingrose, Isaac Bull, Jeremiah Moon (Noon), John M. Hall, Jesse Newell, HiramWarren, 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 listnow 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 bythe writer’s family from Mr. Cadby he states that when he came to Merton therewas only one house in the village; it was situated on the hill, and now the homeof William Odell and family. Mr. Cadby was 96 years of age last December. Hewrite a good firm hand and has a most remarkable memory. I have been a residentof Merton 70 years and have lived in my present home 55 years. I am the oldestresident, so far as I know, now living in Merton. I always voted the Republicanticket.
What Old, Old Records Tell
I take the following notes from my family tree: In the year1642, twenty-two years after the Mayflower had dropped anchor and folded hersails in Plymouth harbor, Thomas Mayhew, governor and patentee of Martha’sVineyard, Nantucket and Elizabeth Isles, being familiar with the Indian languagebegan preaching the Gospel to the natives at the age of seventy years andcontinued 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, thesacerdotal order continues for a period of upward of 160 years.
Family history is fast crowding into reminiscences so I willstop 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 articleand we trust that he will see fit at another time to add there to.). Source: Waukesha Freeman, Thursday, May 6, 1915, page 6.