Bio: Bostwick, Arthur Satterlee (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bostwick, Hathaway, Clark, Shadrah, Smith, Nichols, Satterlee, Walker, Gunn, Stephens, Hanson

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 654-656

Arthur Satterlee Bostwick, one of the very early settlers of this part of Wisconsin and closely identified with the primitive struggles of the city and county of Eau Claire, was born December 5, 1825, in Jericho county, Vermont, son of Martin C. and Lucy (Hathaway) Bostwick. The records of this family say that three brothers who were born in the North of Ireland, came to America and settled on and named Bostwick Bay, Connecticut, and have many descendants in America. Captain Arthur Bostwick, paternal grandfather of Arthur S., was born at Manchester, Vermont, attained to a place of prominence in his section and served as a member of Congress from his district. He followed the occupation of merchant in early life and served as Quarter Master in the war of 1812 in which he was wounded. For fifty years he ran a hotel at Jericho, Vermont, where he died at the age of 90 years. He married Sally Clark, daughter of Colonel Clark of Revolutionary fame. She died and left three children, viz.: Martin Chittenden; Julius Hoyt and Isaac Clark. Captain Bostwick married for his second wife Polly, daughter of Captain Shadrah, and Gail (Smith) Hathaway, the latter being a daughter of Governor Israel Smith of Vermont. To this union three children were born, Samuel B., a clergyman in the Episcopal church; Sarah C. and Israel S.

In 1844 Martin C. Bostwick came to Wisconsin and settled at Marshall, Dane county. At one time he located in La Crosse county and was the first white person to settle in Bostwick valley. He subsequently returned to Dane county where he died in 1866. He married Lucy Hathaway, who died in 1846 leaving four children: Arthur S., the subject of this sketch, Romeo, who was a soldier in the Civil War, died in front of Vicksburg; Anna E., who later became Mrs. Nichols and John Y.

In the Fall of 1843, Arthur S. came to Illinois and engaged in blacksmithing. He came to Wisconsin and Eau Claire November 19, 1856, and soon thereafter was appointed under-sheriff, and as such took a prominent part in the organization of Eau Claire county. He summoned the first jury and held the first term of Circuit court in the county. He was the second sheriff of the county, having been elected in 1858 and served two years, following which he served two years more as under-sheriff.

During the civil war, he was commissioned as recruiting officer with the rank of lieutenant, a position he filled with honor. In 1847 previous to coming to Eau Claire, he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war under the assumed name of A. Satterlee, so that his father would know nothing of it. At the National bridge, near the battle ground of Cerro Gordo, he received a wound which necessitated his being sent home. After his recovery, he followed the blacksmith trade; at various places, among them Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin. He started overland for California in 1849, stopping at Salt Lake City, where he helped forge the hammer for the Mormon mint. This being done, he resumed his journey to the coast and engaged for a time in the mining of gold. He then traveled North and South, visited the Sandwich Islands, returning home the following year via Panama. In 1851 he crossed the plains again, returning this time via Nicaragua, and while in Virgin Bay, witnessed the fight of William Walker, the filibuster and his taking the Fort at that place. Upon his return to Eau Claire, he was employed by the Eau Claire Lumber Company as superintendent of the blacksmith and manufacturing department, a position he held for twenty-two years. He served as commissioner of the poor from April, 1888, to April, 1891. He was elected register of deeds for Eau Claire county in the Fall of 1890, an office lie filled to the satisfaction of his constituents.

From April 1880 to 1882, he represented the 8th Ward in the city council; he was president of the Eau Claire county Soldiers' Relief Commission, and Senior Warden of Christ Episcopal church. In polities he was a Democrat, having joined their ranks in 1855 in opposition to "Know-nothingism,” while all his ancestors were Whigs.

On May 8, 1858, Mr. Bostwick married Bridget Gunn, and they had a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom are residents of this county, and one daughter who resides in California. Mrs. Bostwick died December 14, 1898, and after a long, useful and busy life, Mr. Bostwiek died November 21, 1907.

Arthur J. Bostwick, son of Arthur Satterlee and Bridget (Gunn) Bostwick, was born at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, February 9, 1859. He received his education in the common and high schools of this city and at the age of sixteen, was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade under instruction of his father in the shops of the Eau Claire Lumber Company. Here he remained until he reached the age of twenty-four, when he formed a partnership with Ole Hanson. He sold his interest to his partner one year later, and returned to the Eau Claire Lumber Company, remaining in their employ for two years. At the end of this time, he re-purchased a half interest in the business with his former partner, and for two years the business was conducted under the firm name of Hanson and Bostwick. Mr. Bostwick then purchased his partner's interest and continued to operate alone until 1893, when he sold out and joined the Eau Claire Mill Supply Company, as superintendent of its logging tool factory, and is now a director and superintendent of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company.

He was married to Miss Mary Stephens, October 4, 1885, who was born July 15, 1866, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Stephens, both natives of Ireland where they were married and soon thereafter came to the United States and to Wisconsin, locating in St. Croix county, where they followed farming for a number of years, then engaged in the grocery business at New Richmond. Disposing of the grocery store, they moved to Eau Claire where they established their residence. To Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick have been born four children, viz.: Mildred A., born September 22, 1886; Richard Satterlee, born July 22, 1888; Mary Cicily, born December 26, 1892, and Arthur Stephens, born April 21, 1902. From 1877 to 1883 Mr. Bostwicek was a member of the Wisconsin National Guards. He is now a member of St. Patrick's church, Eau Claire, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, while politically he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party.