- HON. JAMES MENZIE, a prominent and well-to-do farmer, residing
on section 24, Harmony
- Township, has been a resident of Rock County since 1844,
with the exception of six and a half years. He is a native of
Scotland, having been born in Perthshire, Sept. 3, 1830, and
is a son of John and Helen (DOUGLAS) MENZIE, who were also born
in the same county. Throughout his entire life the father followed
the occupation of farming. Accompanied by his family, he emigrated
to America in 1844, locating in Rock County, Wis., where he purchased
the farm upon which our subject now resides. It consisted of
560 acres of land, which was mostly in an uncultivated condition,
but he immediately began its improvement, and soon transformed
the uncultivated prairie into a rich and fertile farming tract.
- John MENZIE was twice married, his first union being with
Helen DOUGLAS, and to them were
- born three children: James, of this sketch; Helen, wife of
William MENZIE, a resident farmer of Rock County; and Christina,
residing on a farm in this county, became the wife of Robert
BARLASS, who died in 1869. The death of the mother occurred in
1833, when twenty-eight years of age. She was a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and a lady beloved for her many excellencies
of character. After her death Mr. MENZIE was again married, and
in 1881 his second wife was also called to her final rest. He
was a man of more than ordinary ability, and possessed a fair
education for his time. He also provided good advantages for
the instruction of his children, and was a liberal contributor
to public institutions. He commanded the highest respect of all,
and by his upright and honest life won the confidence of both
his business and social friends. His religious faith was that
held by the Presbyterians, in which church he was a ruling elder
for many years. His death occurred in 1868, when seventy-six
years of age, and caused a feeling of sadness and grief throughout
the community for the loss of one who had held a prominent place
in their midst.
- The boyhood days of our subject were spent in his native
land, but when fourteen years of age he
- left his childhood home and crossing the Atlantic came with
his parents to Rock County. Remaining under the parental roof
until 1854, he was then united in marriage with Miss Susan JEHU,
who was born in Wales, and was a daughter of Hugh JEHU. Five
children grace the union of this worthy couple: Susan, wife of
Thomas JAMISON, a resident farmer of Harmony Township; John,
an attorney-at-law of Janesville; Hugh, a practicing physician
of the same city; James, who died at the early age of two and
a half years; and William Wallace, who is yet a college student.
In 1874 Mrs. MENZIE, who was a faithful member of the Presbyterian
Church, died at the age of forty-five. Mr. MENZIE again married,
in 1876, Miss Jessie CAMPBELL, a native of Dane County, Wis.,
becoming his wife. To them have been born a family of five children
- Helen Douglas, Robert Campbell, Isabella McGregor, Charles
Stewart and David A.
- Mr. MENZIE has been honored by his fellow citizens with several
positions of trust. He has
- served as a member of the Town Board, as a member of the
Board of County Supervisors for ten years, in which he acted
as chairman for two years, and in 1880 was elected by the Republican
party, of which he has always been an ardent supporter, to the
General Assembly of Wisconsin. In all his public life he has
endeavored to act for the best interests of the people and the
public welfare, and with this end in view has proved an efficient
and competent officer. He is now engaged in general farming,
and is the owner of 200 acres of highly improved land, upon which
he has erected a comfortable and commodious residence, at a cost
of $2,000. The barns and outbuildings for the care of his stock
and machinery are in keeping with his pleasant home, and the
entire surroundings denote thrift and enterprise. Public spirited,
forward in the advance of any enterprise of public benefit,and
he has won the entire confidence and respect of the people of
Rock County, and is numbered among her leading citizens.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 824-825.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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