Bio: Bresee, Darius (1881)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bresee, Webley

----Source: History of Northern Wisconsin (Eau Claire County, Wis.) 1881, page 316

DARIUS BRESEE, Eau Claire, was born in Berkshire, Chittenden Co., Vt., June 20, 1829. In 1834, his family removed to Sutton, Lower Canada, where, three years later, his father, John Bresee, died, and Darius returned to Vermont for one year, and then went to Canada for seven. When eighteen years of age he began learning the carpenter's trade, in Burlington, Vt., completing it when twenty-one, and working there for a year longer; was employed for a year and a half in Plattsburg, N. Y., and worked in various places in the East until he came to Sheboygan County, where he remained three years; was in Minnesota and La Crosse one year, and in January, 1855, came to Eau Claire. Remaining but a few days, he went to Chippewa Falls, but after a year and a half returned to Eau Claire, and assisted in the construction of the first steam saw-mill, for Chapman & Thorp, and in building Lockhart & Underbill's mill, at Waubeck. He returned to Chippewa Falls, and was there for a year and a half. During that time he was Town Clerk, Assessor and Deputy Town Treasurer of Eagle Point. He spent a year in the Eastern States and Virginia, and in the Summer of 1860 was employed in the railroad car shops at Fond du Lac. In the Fall of that year he entered Lawrence University, as a student, taking a three years' academic course, when he entered Garrett Biblical Institute, N. W. University, at Evanston, Ill., graduating in October, 1865. He was principal of the Eau Claire Wesleyan Seminary for one year; for two years serving as a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church; one year in Augusta and one year in Chippewa Falls. In 1868, he permanently located in Eau Claire as a real estate dealer, collector and business agent. He was married in Evanston, Oct. 12, 1865, to Jennie S. Webley, who was born in that city, and died in Eau Claire, Dec. 9, 1877, leaving one child, Oscar E., born Feb. 28, 1875. Mr. Bresee is a member of the Congregational Church and of the Temple of Honor. From 1870-75 he was Justice of the Peace. In 1874, he was appointed State Commissioner to lay out a State road from Eau Claire to Ashland. He now represents the Mutual Life Insurance, of New York, as its agent here and in this vicinity.