website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Jonas
Sleeper
1839
– 1888
Annie Sleeper (Anne, Sally Ann)
1873
08 14 Jonas Sleeper appointed Manager of
Magnetic Spring by the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, near the
Junction WD
1888
07 20 DEATH OF J. H. SLEEPER
Monday evening at 7
o’clock, July 16th, 1888, Jonas H. Sleeper died of heart, liver and kidney
troubles at his home in the 1st ward, at the age of 49 years, leaving surviving
him his wife and an adopted daughter. He
was confined to his home for about six weeks previous to his death.
Deceased was a native
of Bristol, Grafton Co., N.H., where he resided until 1857. He then located in Washington, D.C., where he
conducted a hotel for one year. He went
from there to Leavenworth, Kansas.
Remaining there a year he returned to Washington and once more engaged
in the hotel business.
1860
In 1860 he came to
Watertown and has been connected with the C. M. & St. Paul Railway ever
since. He was one of Watertown’s best
known and most enterprising citizens, being engaged in several enterprises here
aside from being agent of C.M. & St. P. R’y.
Co. For a number of years he was engaged
in the milling business here in company with Fred
Miller, and for 20 years previous to his death he dealt largely in grain
and stood in the very highest esteem with the large rural population with whom
he had dealings. He was also president
of the Watertown Gas Co., and of the Watertown
Elevator Co.
In his death Watertown
loses a citizen whose place will be hard to fill. He was possessed of a most genial disposition
and had great business facilities. All
our citizens sincerely mourn his death, and extend to his wife and child their
sincerest sympathy. Wednesday afternoon
his funeral was held under the auspices of the Masonic lodge of this city and
his remains were buried in Oak
Hill cemetery.
His aged mother and
his sister Miss Mary Sleeper of Manchester, N.H., were present at his funeral,
as well as the following parties from abroad: W. G. Collins, Supt. C. M. &
St. P. Ry., J. J . Moulding
and N. C. Daniels, Milwaukee.
The floral decorations
were very grand, among them being Gates Ajar and a very large wheel with a
broken segment. A
large number of Masons and Knight Templars were present in uniform from
this city and neighboring towns. Watertown Gazette 20 July 1888
1890
08 14 ANNE SLEEPER (SALLY
ANN), home of, 611 S. Fifth St.
One of five homes,
along with the Watertown History Center, featured in 26th annual Watertown
Holiday Parade of Homes.
In 2019, the residence
of Dan and Vicki Bartz, 611 S. Fifth St.
The Bartz’s Victorian Queen Anne Style home was built in 1890
by Sally Ann Sleeper, widow of Jonas H. Sleeper. Jonas was an agent for the C.M. & St. Paul
Railway, a well-known grain merchant, and a successful Watertown businessman. Following Jonas’s death in July 1888, Mrs.
Sleeper purchased the lot on May 2, 1889 for $900, and broke ground on her new
home in November that year.
Dan and Vicki Bartz bought the house as a duplex in August 1981, and as
their family grew, converted it back to a single family
home in 1987. Over the past three
decades, the home has been extensively remodeled, with an emphasis on retaining
its historical roots. The home features
inlaid wood flooring, leaded glass windows, and recently remodeled bathrooms
and kitchen.
1909
Provoker
of fun, First Congregational Church
Cross
References:
Sleeper, Jonas H 1887c,
Home of, 700 block Clyman, WHS_005_166
Station
Agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Paul Railroad until George Webb took over.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin