- J. BENJAMIN MINOR, dealer in boots and shoes, at No. 15,
west Milwaukee street, Janesville,
- was born in Monroe County, N.Y., Sept. 20, 1844 and is the
son of Theron and Elizabeth (RICHMOND) MINOR. In 1852 he came
with his parents to Wisconsin, and the family settled in Watertown,
Jefferson County. Mr. MINOR's father was born in Lenox, Mass.,
in 1812; was a physician by profession, and also carried on a
drug store. On moving to Watertown he engaged in the newspaper
business as editor of the Watertown Chronicle, the first Republican
paper ever published in Jefferson County. His death occurred
on the 1st day of November, 1859, and was caused by a railroad
accident which happened at Johnson's Creek, in Jefferson county,
to the excursion train which was run in honor of the completion
of the road to Oshkosh, by which a large number of people lost
their lives or were seriously injured.
- The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools,
and at Milton College, Rock County.
- In 1863 he went to Nevada and located in Virginia City, where
he spent two years in the mines, and returned to Wisconsin in
1865. He came direct to Janesville, where he had made his home
at intervals from 1860 to 1862. On his return from the mountains
he engaged in farming in Rock Township, but in 1872 he removed
to Beloit Township, where he continued to till the soil until
1876, when he sold out and removed to Janesville. During the
succeeding two years he was not engaged in any steady business,
but in 1878 he embarked in the grocery trade, which he carried
on until 1885, while also doing a commission business. On the
25th day of December, 1887, he engaged in his present line.
- Mr. MINOR was married in June, 1880, to Mrs. Emogene WILLIAMS,
daughter of German H.
- DAVIS, an early settler of Rock County, of whom see sketch.
Mr. and Mrs. MINOR have one child, a son, J. Benjamin, Jr. Mr.
MINOR has two children born of his former marriage - Leon R.
and Luella. Mr. MINOR is a Republican in politics, and while
a resident of the town of Beloit was Supervisor for two years
and Justice of the Peace for the same length of time. He is a
member of the Masonic Order, belonging to Western Star Lodge,
No. 14, of Janesville, and is one of the active business men,
and secures a fair share of the trade in his line. Mrs. MINOR
is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, in which she was confirmed
when a girl.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 868.
- Courtesy of Carol
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