WI BIO - Dane Co - RASDALL, William M.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 488-489

William M. RASDALL, one of the old and well-known business man of Madison 
[Dane County, WI], for the past five years retired from active business 
cares, came to this city in the spring of 1842 [then in the Territory of 
Wisconsin; became a state on 29 May 1848], soon after entering into the 
livery and teaming business in partnership with his brother, Abel RASDALL, 
one of the earliest pioneers of Wisconsin. The latter was an Indian trader 
and frontiersman, [p 489] and passed through many exciting and dangerous 
adventures. He started the first milling business in the State, located on 
Token Creek, ten miles from Madison, in Dane County. While thus engaged in 
1855, he was accidentally caught in the gearing of his mill and instantly 
killed. He was then in the prime of life, and his loss was mourned by all 
who knew him. He had served under ex-Governor DODGE through the Black Hawk 
war, and during that time learned the language of the tribes. This he found 
to be of incalculable value to him during his life of hunting and trapping. 
For some years he was engaged in trading furs with the Winnebago Indians, 
being the first fur trader on the four lakes [the "Four Lakes" region in Dane 
County, WI, the lakes being Kegonsa, Mendota, Monona, and Waubesa], and 
became in time one of the largest and most extensive in the State. From the 
time of his location in Wisconsin, in 1830 [which from 1818-1836 was known as 
the Territory of Michigan, and from 1836-1848 as the Territory of Wisconsin], 
until his death he was a very prominent and influential man.

After continuing in business with his brother for a few years, our subject 
bought him out, in 1843, and ran the overland transfer, during which time he 
served as Under Sheriff of Dane County two terms. In 1849 he went with a 
company of twelve wagons to California, and after a long and tedious journey 
of seven months and then days, reached Hangtown. After about seven years of 
placer mining* with considerable success, during with time he made a trip to 
Australia, where he was denied the privilege of mining unless he paid 
four-fifths of all he took out to the English treasurer. In 1856 he returned 
home from California, via the Isthmus of Panama and New York City, thence to 
Madison [Dane County, WI], and resumed his ordinary occupations. Soon after 
his return he built the well-known Capitol House [hotel] which he afterward 
sold. In addition to his other valuable property in Madison, he owns a fine 
piece of real estate that has been used as an hotel for a number of years. 
[* Placer mining is believed to have gotten its name from the Spanish "place 
de oro" or "place of gold." Miners washed sand and gravel deposits 
containing gold, most simply by panning, to separate the heavier gold. Gold 
was also separated using mercury, and this process resulted in lead poisoning 
in some miners and mercury contamination of water.]

Our subject was born eight miles from Mammoth Cave [first visited by tourists 
around 1810] in Warren County, Kentucky, 01 April 1819. He was reared to 
manhood in his native county, and was yet a young man when he came to Madison 
in 1842. After arrival in this city he [William M. RASDALL], was married to 
Miss Anna E. MEYERS, born in Virginia, but reared to womanhood in Indiana, 
from the time she was seven. When a young woman she came to Madison [Dane 
County], Wisconsin, where she met and married Mr. RASDALL. During the long 
period of their married life she has proved herself a good, true helpmate for 
a kind husband. For the past few years she has suffered from the loss of 
eyesight. She has been the mother of three children, namely: (1) Nellie, 
wife of Frank FOSTER, a merchant of Sioux City [Woodbury County], Iowa; (2) 
Minnie, wife of Richard HUDD, a collector and attorney of Chicago [Cook 
County], Illinois; and (3) Annette S., single and at home. The latter is a 
very capable young woman, who has enjoyed excellent educational advantages. 
Mr. and Mrs. RASDALL are members of the Congregational Church, as are their 
three daughters. Mr. RASDALL is a Democrat in politics, and has represented 
his ward in the City Council.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly