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William
F. Voss
1847 -
1921
Long
Prominent in the Public Life of Watertown
Held
Many Offices at Time of Death – The Whole Community Mourns
Watertown Daily Times, 11 02 1921
[portrait]
William
F. Voss, died suddenly this morning at
Those
close to Mr. Voss were aware that his heart was not physically good, but little
did they imagine any near eventuality such as that of this morning.
Only
yesterday afternoon he was at the Wisconsin
National Bank of which he was president, in a meeting with the examining
committee which was holding a regular session, and was in consultation with the
bank force considering important matters.
He displayed that grasp of affairs and enthusiasm for which he was noted
everywhere.
The
ex-senator passed away very peacefully.
He came home from the bank shortly before the super hour and spent the
evening with his family and exhibited the usual happy spirit of the
fireside. He retired at the usual hour
and evidently went to sleep without any thought of the near approach of the
Angel of Death with the final summons. At
about
A Model and Eventful Life
Senator
Voss was almost a continual resident of Watertown since he was a child of five
years, and during that time the highest honors and greatest responsibilities of
the community were conferred upon him.
No public servant ever entered upon a trust with loftier aims and
discharged the duties with greater ability.
The
deceased was born near Berlin, Germany,
After
the death of his first wife, Frederick Voss married again and by his second
wife became the father of one child, Minnie.
Thus,
through the death of his parents, Mr. Voss was thrown upon his own resources at
an early age. His youth was characterized
by that ambition, industry and perseverance which made him so successful in
life. He craved for knowledge and was a
student until the hour of his death.
Although the oldest of the children, and accepted responsibility as
their guide and protector, he did not neglect the educational advantages of
this city. He entered the public schools
and went through the grades, and had the distinction of graduating from the
high school at the age of fifteen years.
The
day after he graduated he set out to secure employment and walked to Columbus,
in the vicinity of which place he secured employment in the harvest field; and
afterward began clerking in a dry goods and grocery store for William Volkmann
& Co., of this city with whom he remained for three years. The boy then went to Cincinnati, Ohio and for
two years thereafter was in the employ of John Schillito
& Company.
He
then resolved to return to Watertown and start upon a business career in his
home town. He accepted a clerkship in
the store of J. T. Moak
and when the latter received the appointment of postmaster
of Watertown, Mr. Voss became his deputy, thus obtaining the first glimpse
of public life in which he afterward became so distinguished.
About
six years later he decided to go west and engage in gold mining and started for
the Sweetwater mines but upon reaching the North Platte River, the serious
Indian troubles prevented him from carrying out his determination. He then purchased a team and made his way to
Denver, where he worked on a farm for about two years, then returned to his old
home in Wisconsin.
Becomes a Banker
After
filling the position of deputy postmaster here for some time, he became teller of
the Wisconsin National Bank of this city, in the spring of 1873, which place he
held for a number of years, until he became the president of the institution. He was one of the organizers of the Philip H.
Heinrich Company planning mill, the Watertown
Grocery Company of which he served as director, and in many other
enterprises which he assisted in establishing.
Notable Political Career
Four Term Mayor
Mr.
Voss was widely known and distinguished, but in recounting that long and varied
career, we are led to the belief that his greatest prominence was as a public
man during the constructive period of his city and state, when true
statesmanship counted on behalf of the public.
As a
young man he was elected alderman of the Sixth ward for five terms, and then
retired from the council to become city treasurer. He then became mayor and was elected to the
office four times, at different periods, a record that is unique in the annals
of any municipality. He was elected at a
time when public improvements such as waterworks and sewers were becoming a
necessity and he entered upon a leadership in this new age with energy and
vision that brought unsurpassable success.
During his administrations as mayor very many of the splendid
improvements which do honor to the city were either originated or completed and
will stand as an everlasting monument to his devotion to the best interests of
this community.
A Stout Friend of Education
If
there is one public concern in which Senator Voss took more interest than
another it was the cause of popular education.
He saw in our public school system the grandest triumph of a democratic
form of government and was always a vigilant and active supporter of all
matters pertaining to our schools. He
was elected to the school board over thirty
years ago, resigning each time that he had been elected mayor,
and being reelected by his constituents as soon as he became legally eligible
by relinquishment of the mayoralty.
He
served a number of terms embracing two long periods as president of that body,
and was in that position at the time of his death. His interest in the working of the schools
was so intense that he was intimately versed in all of the work of the schools
and was in close touch with all of the plans necessary to be made. His interest in the school board was almost
passion and his leadership was an inspiration to fellow members of the board,
teachers and all in any way connected with the work.
President of Library Board
He was
also president of the library board and never missed
a meeting of that body. The most
thorough attention was given by him to this important public function. He was one of the original supporters of the
free library and took keen satisfaction in its success.
Secretary of Waterworks Board
Mr.
Voss was an authority on all matters pertaining to the waterworks system of
this city. As mayor and alderman he
advocated the establishment of a waterworks board and his interest was so outstanding
that he was prevailed upon to accept the secretaryship. He held that position continuously since
1896.
The
deceased was also one of the directors of the Oak Hill cemetery association.
Prominent in State Affairs
Senator
Voss was for many years one of the leaders of the Democratic Party in this
state and in 1890 was elected to the Wisconsin state senate. While in that body he was chairman of the
committee on banking and currency, and also a member of another important
committee, that of railroads.
Almost
from the beginning he took front rank among the leaders of the senate. He possessed a strong, well trained mind and
always had the courage to assert his convictions. The late justice of the Supreme Court, Robert
M. Bashford, served in the senate with him and was
rightfully regarded as the ablest lawyer in either branch of the state
legislature. In speaking of Senator Voss
and his great activities as chairman of the banking committee, Judge Bashford some years later said, “Voss of Dodge County
possessed the greatest executive ability of any man in the state senate during
my time, and he was always prepared for any task before him”.
His
nature was such that he naturally gave precedence to things political or public
in their nature, but after his service in the senate he decided to apply
himself to business and public activities of a purely local nature.
He was
often urged as a candidate for congress and for governor, but having decided
upon his course, declined to consider these honors. He was naturally a leader of people, and the
high honors and responsibility that came to him – hardly ever paralleled in the
history of any city – were justly bestowed and not selfishly sought, because he
was preeminently a man capable of great things and was therefore turned to by
his fellow citizens when public movements were ripe.
He
considered it a laudable ambition to seek political preferment, but he was in
no sense what might be termed an office seeker.
The two qualities necessary in a successful political general were
strongly developed in the deceased. He
loved his city, his state, his country and the people. He had faith in the people and an unselfish
willingness to serve and above all a clear mind and a stout heart, ready to
meet and conquer any difficulty. It is
easy to replace a mere public servant; it is a matter of real difficulty to
replace a man like William F. Voss. The
business men of this city, those engaged in public matters and in social
enterprise, will long miss the impetus which he daily gave them.
No
person ever had a higher conception of friendship. That it was man’s duty to be obliging and
helpful to his neighbors, and sacredly true to friendships. That was his simple rule of life and governed
his conduct toward his fellowmen. Mr.
Voss was one of the most devoted of husbands and fathers, and found his
greatest rest and comfort in the bosom of his family.
A
Christian man he always asked God to guide his feet along the paths of greatest
usefulness. The benefits which his activities
bestowed upon this community are inestimable but fully appreciated by fellow
citizens.
Married in 1878
Mr.
Voss and Miss Mary Schempf, daughter of George L. Schempf, a pioneer merchant, were married in this city
Mr.
Voss was a member of Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. and A. M., Watertown Chapter
No. 11, R. A. M. and Olivet Commandery No. 18, K.
T. He was also a member of the Elks.
The
funeral arrangements have not been completed and the date of the services will
be announced later. Friends are
requested to omit flowers. [Buried in Oak
Hill Cemetery]
Flags at Half Mast
Out of
respect to his memory and in public
recognition of the valuable services rendered the community during his long and
active life the flags of the city hall and Phoenix engine house will be placed
at half mast.
The whole community is in mourning over the death of this honest and
useful man.
Death Deeply Regretted
Deepest
of expressions of regret over the death of Mr. Voss were heard on all sides. He
was known to almost everyone in this section and through his kindly nature he
made friends of all.
City Attorney E. F. Wieman, in
speaking of his death said: “In the
death of Hon. Wm. F. Voss, the community has lost its strongest political,
fraternal and business influence. A
wonderful man, fair, upright, honest, a just adversary, yet with a ready,
helping hand for those who sought his assistance”.
Col. Solliday: “I became intimately associated with William
Voss in 1873 and we have been fast friends and close associates every since. We were
together engaged in the banking business and served together in the state
senate. He was one of the ablest men in
the senate and was so regarded. Not only
in his business but in his public life, he was extremely conscientious,
painstaking and very anxious to serve the best interests of those who reposed
confidence in him”.
Postmaster J. M. Moore:
“On my way to the post office early this morning a neighbor of Hon. Wm.
F. Voss hailed me and said: “Have your heard Mr. Voss is dead?” It was a terrible shock! And I halted and
stood still for a moment and replied: “Well, a good man and a good friend has
been called to his final reward. I have
known Mr. Voss intimately for over fifty years as a citizen, as a friend, in a
business way, as a politician, as a co-worker on the board of education for
over twenty years, and on the library board for eleven years, and have always
found him honorable, conscientious, capable and ever mindful of the rights of others
in all his transactions. In many ways
and at many times I have had occasion to judge him – he was fair-minded in
politics, in business and especially liberal in his civic and religious views,
striving at all times to do unto others as he would be done by. As a banker his judgment could always be
relied on, and were there more men in the banking business possessed of his
sterling honesty and conservatism, there would be fewer banks wrecked in the
country. In common with all our follow citizens, I mourn Mr. Voss as a splendid type of
citizen, and as a man whose friendship I prized very highly.”
Mayor H. Wertheimer: “Mr. Voss and I were associated together and
worked in harmony in business and matters of public concern for these many
years. He was a noble soul, genuinely
devoted to the upbuilding of Watertown and the very
best interests of our people. His nature
was so noble that it was a great pleasure to work with him. His life work brought many benefits to
Watertown.”
Stands High As a Banker
Officers
of banks in this city discussed his high standing as a banker. He was well known to the banking world and
took an influential part in shaping the policies of the state and regional
organizations. He was the dean of
Watertown bankers.
___________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Mary Voss nee Schempf
1858 - 1937
01-21-1937 WG
Death of Mrs. Mary Voss
Mrs. Mary Voss, 78,
widow of the late William F. Voss, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Josephine Shealy at Madison last Monday night. Death was due to influenza and
pneumonia. Mrs. Voss, whose home is at
906 North Fourth Street here, has been living with her daughter since last
September. She was born in Watertown on
May 24, 1858, the daughter of the late Mr. and
Mrs. George Schempf. With the exception of the few months she has
lived in Madison, she has resided in Watertown all her life.
Surviving are
two daughters, Mrs. Shealy of Madison and Mrs. Max
Bauman of Los Angeles, Cal., one son Dr. Albert Voss, of Glendale, Cal.; two
grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. H.O. Christians, Eagle Rock, Cal.,, (also of
Johnson Creek). One son Fred, passed
away in January, 1929, and one daughter, Miss Edna Voss, former principal of
the Douglas school, died on October 11, 1935.
Funeral services
will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Schmutzler
funeral home, with the Rev. O. W. Pinkney officiating. Burial
will be at Oak Hill cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home to pay their respects on Friday
afternoon and on Saturday up to the time of the funeral.
Mrs. Voss was
well known to most of the people residing in this city, and was greatly beloved
by the people here.
