- BOSTWICK, Joseph Morton, for many years one of the leading
and most successful merchants
- of Janesville, has a genius for business. In all the years
that he has been in trade he has not had a failure, but his business
has steadily grown until it is now one of the largest in the
interior of the state. This phenomenally successful man is the
son of Joseph BOSTWICK, who was a farmer and drover in comfortable
circumstances a part of the time, J. M. BOSTWICK's mother, whose
maiden name was Fannie MATTISON, was a native of Vermont. Her
father and three or four brothers fourth in the battle of Bennington,
their farm being near the battlefield.
- J. M. BOSTWICK was born in Genesee country, New York, February
3rd, 1834. He had slight
- educational advantages in the common district school near
his home, and this advantages, such as they were, he surrendered
at the early age of fourteen years, and never afterward resumed
them. But the boy had what has stood him in good stead - he had
courage, industry and tenacity of purpose. He came to Janesville
in the fall of 1847, and that has been his home since that time.
The next fall he went to work for BAILEY & DIMOCK, merchants,
and has been selling dry goods ever since. After he had worked
for them about two years, they sold out to H. O. CLARK &Co.,
and that firm, after continuing the business some four years,
failed. Young BOSTWICK then went to work for A. W. WHEELOCK;
and after two years, he also failed Mr. BOSTWICK, in company
with Wm. KNOWLES, bought the stock of goods, and closed it out.
Then, in company with O. K. BENNETT, he purchased new goods and
the balance of the H. O. CLARK stock, and began the mercantile
career which has proved so successful. The partnership lasted
four years and a half, and was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr.
BOSTWICK then formed a partnership with M. C. SMITH, which continued
twenty-one years and was then dissolved. Mr. BOSTWICK, desiring
to establish his sons in business, took them into partnership
with him, under the firm name of J. M. BOSTWICK & Sons, and
so the business is now conducted in a most extensive and successful
manner.
- During the war, Mr. BOSTWICK says, he belonged to the income
guard, whose duty it was to
- keep the city quota of soldiers full, look after soldiers'
families and furnish the means for such demands. He gave fifty
dollars for these purposes every time he was called upon, which
was quite often.
- Mr. BOSTWICK has always been a Republican, and was once elected
to the board of aldermen.
- Becoming a candidate for re-election, he was defeated, and
that quenched all his political aspirations.
- He is a Knight of Pythias. He says that his religion is universal
- that he treats all churches alike -
- pays something to all of them.
- Mr. BOSTWICK has been twice married, the first time to Harriet
ALLEN, and the second time
- to Emma G. CORYELL. The first wife had nine children - six
sons and three daughters; the second has had three - two daughters
and one son. The oldest son graduated from the naval academy
at Annapolis, has been in the navy for twenty-four years, and
is now a lieutenant, stationed at Vallejo, California. He has
an excellent record in the service.
-
- [Taken from "Men of Progress: Wisconsin" (c)1897
The Evening Wisconsin Company, Milwaulee, pp. 283-284]
Courtesy of Lori
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