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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Havens Wilber
1820 - 1891
Buried in
Oak Hill cemetery: Wilber, Havens, b. 1820, d. 1891, Sec 22.
DEATH OF HAVENS WILBER
Death has removed from among us
this week one of Watertown's best known and most estimable citizens in the
person of Havens Wilber, who departed this life at his home in the 5th ward at
4:45 o'clock on Sunday evening, December 20, 1891, surrounded by his family and
a few intimate friends.
Mr. Wilber had been ailing
scarcely a week, and his death was learned of with painful surprise by our
citizens. About a week previous to his
death he was seized with the prevailing ailment, la grippe, which terminated in
bronchial pneumonia and heart failure.
He was born at Clayton,
Jefferson county, New York, October 7, 1820, hence was in his 72d year at the
time of his demise. At that place he was
married to Miss Adeline Adsit Feb. 4, 1844, coming to
Watertown with his wife and family in 1854.
In city affairs, and in fact in
everything of a public nature, he always took a lively interest, and was
repeatedly elected to offices of trust by the people of his ward. For twelve
years he was a member of the Board of Education — from 1873 to 1881,
continuously, and from 1883 to 1887; he was a member of the Board of Street Commissioners
in 1873-4 and 5 and in 1884-5-7-8, was elected Junior alderman in 1883, and
bond commissioner in 1881, all of which positions he filled faithfully and
honestly, and in a manner that he sincerely believed was for the best interests
of his constituents and the citizens of Watertown.
He was an enthusiast on any
question he advocated, and fought for the principles he thought were right in a
frank and open manner that no one could help but admire. He was candid in all his dealings with his
fellow men, and would not intentionally wrong or hurt the feelings of
anybody. Everyone who knew him, and his
friends hereabouts are numerous, respected and honored him.
His wife, four sons, and one
daughter survive him, Charles H. being the agent of C. & N. W. Ry. Co. in
this city, Gordens J. agent of the same company at
Jefferson, Byron B. and Crawford S. of Madison, are engineers on the C. M.
& St. P. Ry., and Miss Mary E. resides at the old homestead. On Wednesday afternoon his funeral was held
from his late home, Rev. Mr. Roberson, of the M. E. Church, conducting the
services, and his remains were laid peacefully at rest in Oak Hill cemetery, a large
number of sorrowing friends accompanying them to their final resting place.
The following gentlemen acted
as pallbearers: Wm. Schulte, H.
Wertheimer, Ed. Racek, S. M. Eaton, Ed. Neumann. U. Habhegger, Marshal Kerr, and State Senator Wm. F. Voss, the
six former being the present Board of Street Commissioners, and Mr. Voss an
ex-member. Peace to his ashes.
At the meeting of the Board of
Street Commissioners on last Monday evening the following resolution was
passed:
Whereas, Death has claimed and taken
from our midst the late Hon. Havens Wilber, a most respected citizen and
veteran of many years’ public life, during the gloomy days of Watertown, be it,
therefore,
Resolved, That this Honorable
Body pass a vote of regret and deep sorrow, in recognition for valuable
services rendered to our city as alderman, as well as member of the School
Board, and be it further
Resolved, That the flag be
unfurled on the city hall at half-mast the day of funeral, to his memory, and
the Board of Street Commissioners attend same in a body, and tender to his
bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy and condolence.
While the funeral procession
was wending its way through our streets to Oak Hill cemetery, the fire bells
were tolled in memory of the good deeds of the departed, and as a token of the
esteem in which Mr. Wilber was held by the firemen of this city, he being
during his lifetime a particular friend of the members of our city fire department.
1889 Watertown City Directory
History of Watertown, Wisconsin