WI BIO - Dane Co - DANIELLS, William Willard 
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol , pp 542-543

William Willard DANIELLS, professor of chemistry at the University of WI, was 
born at West Bloomfield, Oakland County, MI, 10 Mar 1840. The DANIELLS 
family originated in Scotland, the name formerly being McDANIELLS. Great 
grandfather DANIELLS, a resident of western MA, lived to a ripe old age, and 
the family have been noted for longevity. The subject's father, Nathaniel I. 
DANIELLS, was born in MA, and the subject's mother, nee Lucinda REED, was 
born in CT. They went to MI about 1833 and located in Oakland County, 
subsequently moving to Detroit [Wayne County], MI, and two years later to 
Clinton County, MI. Their family was composed of seven children, William 
Willard being the 4th born.

Nathaniel I. DANIELLS was a farmer, thus William Willard DANIELLS spent his 
early life on a farm, and attended the public schools until he was 18, and 
from that time until he was 20 was a student in the Lansing Academy. He then 
entered the MI Agricultural College near Lansing, where he graduated in 1864 
with the degree of B. S. In the meantime he had taught in the common 
schools. From 1866 until 1868 he took a special course in chemistry at 
Harvard University, his instructor being Dr. Wolcott GIBBS. In 1868 William 
Willard DANIELLS left the University to accept the chair of Agriculture in 
the University of WI; from 1870 to 1874 was professor of Agriculture and 
Analytical chemistry; 1874 to 1879, professor of Agriculture and Chemistry; 
and since 1879 has been Professor of Chemistry. He did the first laboratory 
work in the University, the laboratory then being in the basement of the main 
building.

In 1873 William Willard DANIELLS received the appointment of chemist to the 
State Geological Survey, and in 1880 received from Governor SMITH the 
appointment of State Analyst. While professor of Agriculture he wrote the 
following papers: "The Chemistry of Breadmaking," "Some of the Relations of 
Science with Agriculture," "Laws of Heredity Applied to the Improvement of 
Dairy Cows," "Some of the Wants of American Farmers," "The Conservation of 
Force Applied to the Feeding, Watering and Sheltering Farm Stock," "Hard 
Times: The Cause and Remedy," "Objects and Methods of Social Cultivation," 
"Chemical Principles of Stock Feeding," and "Health in Farmers' Homes." "A 
Description of the WI Tornado of May 23, 1878" was written after a careful 
study of the phenomena of the storm as indicated by its track of destruction 
across the State. Before the Madison Literary Club he has read papers on 
"The Duties of Education to the State" and upon "Foods and Air."

During his long and faithful connection with the university he ahs been a 
prominent factor in advancing its best interests. His most important work 
has been in the building up the department of chemistry to its present state 
of high efficiency.

For nine years Professor DANIELLS was a member of the State Board of Health 
of WI. He is now a member of the American Public Health Association, of the 
WI Academy of Science, Art and Letters, and of the Advisory Council of 
World's Sanitary Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition. In 
1871 he made a visit to Europe, being absent seven months, studying during 
that time at Halle and Berlin.

William Willard DANIELLS was married in 1871 at Faribault [Rice County], MN, 
to Hontas A. PEABODY, [p 543] a graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary, MA. She 
was born in GA and was reared by a widowed mother. William Willard and 
Hontas A. (PEABODY) DANIELLS have had five children, three of whom are 
living: Ralph Peabody, John A., and William Nathaniel.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly