Bio: Prescott, George W. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Prescott, Burditt, Graham, Clark, Morrison, Taylor, Small

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) page 829

George W. Prescott, one of the pioneer lumbermen of Eau Claire county, was born in Balknap county, New Hampshire, September 14, 1837, and came west to Wisconsin with his parents and settled in Columbia county in 1855. One year later, in 1856, Mr. Prescott came to Eau Claire and worked for a time on the river, and then at carpentering for one year. After that he spent some two years as engineer on a river steamer, after which he engaged in the lumber business in its various branches. In 1868, Mr. Prescott, associated with Mr. A. Burditt, started a small rotary saw mill on an island above the Dells, with a daily capacity of nearly 40,000 feet of lumber. In 1873 and 1874 this mill was torn down and replaced with a gang and rotary mill having a daily capacity of 100,000 feet. The business was organized as a corporation in 1879, under the name of the Dells Lumber Company, with a capital of $100,000, and the following gentlemen as officers: H. P. Graham, president; George W. Prescott, vice-president, and A. Burditt, secretary. Thus for 46 years Mr. Prescott has been engaged in lumbering, and for 34 years of that time has been associated with the Dells Lumber Company, in which he is still active, and the prominence which be has attained as a successful business man and worthy citizen of one of the chief cities of the state has come to him as the legitimate reward of a well directed effort, sterling integrity and sagacious enterprise.

On December 3, 1863, Mr. Prescott was married at Fond du Lac, Wis., to Miss Clara Clark. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Prescott: Addie L., died in infancy; Mattie A., died September 10, 1899, and Clara Ida, who lives at home and keeps house for her father. Mrs. Prescott, a woman of rare domestic virtues and motherly love, died March 18, 1913. Mr. Prescott is a member of the Masonic lodge and one of Eau Claire's substantial business men. His father, George W. Prescott, was married three times, first to Comfort Morrison, by whom there was no issue; his second wife was Peggy Taylor, and to this union three children were born: Joseph, Theophlus and Comfort. He married for his third wife Abigal Small and three children were born: George W., the subject of this sketch; Moses W., and Judith M. Mr. Prescott, Sr., died in Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 1884, and his wife, mother of our subject, passed away in 1880, honored and respected by all who knew her.