Bennington

BOSTWICK, Joseph & Joseph Morton

Men of progress: Wisconsin. Aikens & Proctor, eds. Milwaukee: Evening 
Wisconsin Company, 1897, pp 283-284

Joseph Morton BOSTWICK, for many years one of the leading and most successful 
merchants of Janesville [Rock County, Wisconsin], was born 03 February 1834 
in Genesee Country, New York, son of Joseph and Fannie (MATTISON) BOSTWICK, 
for former a farmer and drover, and the latter a native of Vermont, whose 
father and three or four brothers fought in the battle of Bennington, their 
farm being near the battlefield. Having a genius for business, in all the 
years that Joseph M. BOSTWICK has been in trade, he has not had a failure; 
his business has steadily grown until it is now one of the largest in the 
interior of the state.

Joseph Morton BOSTWICK was educated in the common district school near his 
home, and these 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, namely courage, industry and tenacity of 
purpose. He came to Janesville in the fall of 1847, and that has since been 
his home. 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 & Company, and after continuing the 
business some four years, that firm failed.

Young [Joseph Morton] BOSTWICK then went to work for A. W. WHEELOCK; and 
after two years he also failed. Mr. BOSTWICK, in company with William 
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. [Joseph Morton] 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; says that his religion is universal, that he treats all churches 
alike, pays something to all of them.

Mr. [Joseph Morton] BOSTWICK has been twice married, the first time to 
[Miss?] Harriet ALLEN; she had nine children, six sons and three daughters; 
he [Joseph Morton BOSTWICK] married the second time to [Miss?] Emma G. 
CORYELL; she has had three children, two daughters and one son. The oldest 
son [from the first marriage] graduated from the naval academy at Annapolis; 
has been in the navy for twenty-four years; is now a lieutenant, stationed at 
Vallejo [Solano County], California; and has an excellent service record.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly