Bio: Burnett, Samuel D. (1876 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Burnett, Richardson, Stahl, Dale

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Burnett, Samuel D. (22 September 1876 – 1 9??)

SAMUEL D. BURNETT, who is one of the engineers on the Wisconsin State Highway Commission board and is one of Marathon County's leading engineers, since 1912 has been in partnership with Walter E. Richardson and they are proprietors of the Wausau Engineering Company at Wausau; prior to the organization of this company "Sir Richardson had not been a resident of Wausau, but Mr. Burnett has lived here for thirty-two years. It is strange how different talents develop, for Mr. Burnett came of farming people and was born on a farm near Madison, Wis., September 22, 1876, and is a son of David Chandler and Louisa (Stahl) Burnett, these being pioneer names in Wisconsin.  

Samuel D. Burnett was four years old when his parents moved to Wausau, where his father served as chief of the police force for six years and one term as under sheriff and then retired to his fine farm in the town of Kronenwetter where he still lives. Samuel D. remained at home and attended school until he was fourteen years of age and then began an independent life, going to work in the pine woods and continuing until he was nineteen years of age, when he turned his attention to school teaching and during the six consecutive terms that he taught, three in Marathon county and three in South Dakota, he applied himself both to architectural studies and to those pertaining to engineering, for which he had taste and talent. It was while he lived in South Dakota that the Spanish-American War broke out and in 1898 he enlisted as a private in the 3rd U. S. Vol. Cav., was in camp at Chickamauga and was mustered out in October of the same year. He returned then to Wausau, his home ever since although his business has called him many times into other sections for a more or less protracted period. After returning from military service he put in two seasons on location and construction work for the Chicago and St. Paul Railroad, and then went south with the Missouri Pacific, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad system in the maintenance of way department, being away from Wausau for nearly three years. His studies and experience soon brought him to a high degree of proficiency in his profession. He served as assistant engineer of construction on the Paper Mills at Mosinee and the four dams across the Wisconsin River at that place, this large contract being completed in February, 1912. In the following month Mr. Burnett embarked in his present business enterprise.  

Mr. Burnett married Miss Barbara Marguerite Dale, of Stevens Point, and they have had two children: Claire Louise and Lucile Dale, the latter dying when aged one year and seventeen days. Mr. Burnett served two terms as deputy county surveyor. He is identified fraternally with the Modern Woodmen and is an official of the local camp.