Bio: Rumsey, John (1881)
Contact: Janet Schwarze
Email: Posted4u@Charter.net

---Source: 1881 History of Northern Wisconsin, pg. 216-217.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN RUMSEY

JOHN RUMSEY, proprietor of Omnibus Line, Chippewa Falls, was born in Warsaw, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1828. Lived there until he was five years of age, when his parents—Calvin and Polly McWhorter Rumsey—removed with their family to Buffalo, N. Y.; there one year; then they located in Westfield, N. Y. When John was seventeen years of age he went to Buffalo again, and remained there until 1850, when he went to the Isthmus of Panama, where he remained two years; he afterwards spent two years in California. He located in Pleasant Grove, Olmsted Co., Minn., in August, 1856; remained there until he came to Ramsey's Landing, Wis. (fifteen miles below Eau Claire) in 1861. Engaged in mercantile business, steam boating and milling there. In 1874 he removed to Chippewa Falls; carried on stage and livery business until September, 1880; also engaged in lumbering here until 1879. and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber for two years at Chippewa City, prior to 1868. In September, 1880, he sold his interest in the livery and stage business to his former partners. Stiles & Lego, and purchased the omnibus, dray and express part of the business." He is also agent of the American Express Co. at this point. June 20, 1861, he was married in Pleasant Grove, Minn., to Elizabeth Barrows, who was born in Olean, N. Y., April 14, 1840. They have one daughter, Kate Lyman; she was born May 15, 1862. Mr. R.'s father, Calvin Rumsey, was born in Poultney, Vt.; mother was Mary McWhorler Rumsey, a native of Granville, N. Y. Mrs. John Rumsey's father was Samuel Burrows, who was born in Cornish, N. Y.; mother is Mary Goodspeed Barrows. She is still living, and resides with her daughter here.