Obit: Mead, William Harrison "Harry" (1883-1911)

Contact: Ann Stevens

Email:  sdann88@yahoo.com 
 

Surnames: Mead, Smith, Bishop, Andrews, Carlton, Bright, Bowen, Nichols, Schofield, Cook 
 

----Source:  Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.)  03/23/1911 
 

Mead, William Harrison (Nov 19, 1883-March ?, 1911) 
 

W. Harrison Mead, familiarly known as "Harry" was born in Duchess County, N.Y., Nov. 19^th, 1883, being the eldest in a family of ten children.  When twelve years of age he with his parents emigrated to Jefferson Co., Wis., and settled near Watertown where he attended school a short time in winter and worked on the farm in summer.  During the last year of the Civil War he was in the employ of the Federal government, engaged in putting up telegraph lines in Western Virginia. 
 

Mr. Mead was married July 4^th, 1861, to Miss Julia A. Smith.  To this union seven children were born: Frank A., Clara, Helen, Harry, Angus, Philo and Hugh, who died in infancy.  Helen, Mrs. Ed Bishop, is also dead.  In 1865 Mr. Mead came to Clark County and settled in the town of Warner.  At that time there was not a turnpike in Clark County and only three farms opened between his place and Neillsville.  There was no settlement at Greenwood, and Neillsville only had two hundred inhabitants.  The writer has often heard him tell of his walking to Neillsville and carrying salt pork and other provisions on his back. 
 

Mr. Mead at one time owned nearly 2000 acres of land in Clark County and logged extensively on Black and Chippewa Rivers.  He was chairman of the town of Warner for many years and for several years chairman of the County Board, he was generous to a fault, never refusing succor to those in need, and did much for the development of Northern Clark County.  Many testimonies of his kindness and generosity are told by the early settlers to whom he extended a helping hand. 
 

Mr. Mead was buried under the auspices of the Masons of which lodge he has been a member for many years.  The pall bearers were G.B. Andrews of Longwood, Chas. Carlton of Tioga, H.A. Bright of Bright, E. Bowen, John Nichols and Robt. Schofield of Greenwood.  The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Cook of Owen, Wis., to a concourse of friends who had gathered to pay their last tribute of respect.  The remains were laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery. - Greenwood Gleaner