WI BIO - Dane Co - ANGELL [ANGEL], William Harrison
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol I, pp 168-169

Colonel William Harrison ANGELL, a popular lumber dealer, is a resident of 
Sun Prairie, Dane County, WI. His great grandfather, Henry ANGELL, was one 
of three brothers who emigrated from Germany, and became one of the early 
settlers of MA, where his son, the grandfather of our subject, Augustus 
ANGELL, was born, 14 Oct 1757. He served through the Revolutionary War, and 
then settled in Washington County, NY, where he married a daughter of Colonel 
Asa MARTIN, and afterward removed to Rutland County, VT. The father of our 
subject, Captain Newel ANGELL, was born in Washington County, NY, 20 Dec 
1789, and served through the War of 1812, with his father, grandfather of our 
subject, and subsequently removed to the eastern part of NY. Augustus ANGELL 
afterward removed to Ticonderoga County, NY, where he died at the age of 96 
years. His son, father of our subject, [Newell ANGELL] died in WI, 09 Mar 
1863, aged 73 years. The father of our subject [Newell ANGELL] was married 
twice, the first time to Charity BLACKMAN, 10 Mar 1810, and the mother died 
23 Jun 1822. By this marriage Captain Newel ANGELL had six children. On 04 
Apr 1823, Captain Newel ANGELL married Mary Hollis RANSOM, who died 05 Nov 
1872. By this marriage there were nine children.

William Harrison ANGELL, the subject of this sketch, was the second child of 
the first marriage, and was born 20 Jun 1813, in Rutland County, VT. His 
youth was spent in VT, where he attended the common schools of VT in the 
winter months, and in the summer worked on his grandfather's farm. He 
resided with the latter from his ninth year, when the death of his mother 
occurred, until he was 18 years of age, when he returned to VT and worked on 
a farm. Subsequently he learned the carpenter trade and followed it about 30 
years. In 1842 he came to the territory comprising the State of WI [not a 
state until 1848], and settled in Walworth County, but only remained there 
two years, when he removed to Dane County in 1844, and has since made it his 
home. At that time Dane County,WI, was sparsely settled, there not being 
more than 500 people in the entire city of Madison. His work here was on the 
Territorial capitol house.

As soon as Mr. ANGELL had accumulated sufficient money he bought 80 acres of 
land from the Government, now located within the village of Sun Prairie, Dane 
County, WI, paying 10 shillings per acre for it. About two years later he 
bought 40 acres from the Government, which is also within the limits of Sun 
Prairie, and upon a portion of it the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot is 
now located. He subsequently sold the 80 acres and a portion of the 40, and 
at the present time is the owner of 160 acres in the vicinity.

Mr. ANGELL has served in several capacities since coming to WI, among which 
were a term of six years of service as Deputy Sheriff, first president of the 
Village Board of Sun Prairie, which position he filled acceptably as long as 
the people could induce him to do so, and twice Chairman of the County Board 
of Supervisors. He has always been prominent in all political enterprises 
and those tending to benefit the general good, and although 80 years of age 
still retains his interest in political matters to a wonderful degree, and 
now is and always has been a stanch Democrat. He is very active for his age, 
and carries on his business with the aid of his oldest son. He and his wife 
are the oldest settlers of Sun Prairie, and both enjoy the well-earned 
respect and esteem of the entire community. They have been married 53 years.

Colonel William Harrison ANGELL was married 16 Jan 1840 to Eleca L. 
ABERNATHY, at New Haven [Addison County], VT, and they had six children, of 
whom two are still living: William E. and Darwin C. Born in VT, William E. 
ANGELL has always been as he is now, engaged in business with his father, 
excepting the interval of army service, which extended from the beginning 
until near the close. He enlisted in the 20th WI Volunteer Infantry and 
served about three years, participating in various battles, commencing with 
Prairie Grove. He was honorably discharged on account of broken health and 
returned home, where he has since remained. William E. ANGELL married Maria 
AYRES, and eight children have been born to them, six of whom are still 
living.

Darwin C. ANGELL, the younger son, left home at the age of 22 and went to 
what is now SD, remaining two years, when he went to Leavenworth [Leavenworth 
County], KS, where he is now engaged in business for the Leavenworth Coal 
Company. Darwin C. ANGELL married Ruth MOAK, and two children, both living, 
have been added to the family.

At some remote date in the history, the family changed the spelling of their 
surname from "ENGEL" to that of "ANGEL." When our subject, William Harrison 
ANGEL, was 15 years of age, he chanced to write his name "ANGELL," and liking 
the appearance of it, has spelled it "ANGELL" ever since.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly