WI BIO - Dane Co - SEAMONSON, William
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 239-240

William SEAMONSON, a successful farmer of Dane County, Wisconsin, was born 
near Skien [fylke], Norway, 09 February 1840, a son of Seamon A. and Gunild 
SEAMONSON. The father, a farmer by occupation, came to America in 1842, and 
was followed by his wife and children the next year. They first settled in 
Muskego, Waukesha County [1846 Waukesha County created from part of Milwaukee 
County], [Territory of] Wisconsin, in the same year [1842] located near 
Beloit, Rock County [Wisconsin Territory], and in August 1844 came to section 
9, Pleasant Springs Township, Dane County [Territory of Wisconsin]. The 
father [Seamon A. SEAMONSON] died here [Dane County, Wisconsin Territory] 20 
March 1847, and the mother [Gunild] 02 December 1869. [WI became a state 29 
May 1848.] They were the parents of five children, three sons and two 
daughters; our subject was the youngest child. The father had been wed 
previous to this union, and they also had five children. The maternal 
grandfather of our subject was a professor in the parish schools, a Deacon in 
the church, and soldier in the war against Denmark in 1812.

William SEAMONSON, the subject of this sketch, was obliged in early life to 
assist his mother to maintain the family, as his elder brother was a cripple. 
He was given a district school education, and when yet a boy he drove an ox 
team for plowing, receiving five cents per day. On 11 August 1862 he 
enlisted in Company D, 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, served in the Army 
of the Tennessee, the Gulf and Mississippi, was appointed Corporal, and in 
April 1863 rose to the rank of Sergeant. Mr. SEAMONSON took part in the 
battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Greenville, Mississippi, Cyrpess 
Bend, Arkansas, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill, assault on and siege at Vicksburg, 
siege of Jackson, Mississippi, Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana, Spanish Fort, 
Fort Blakely, and Mobile, Alabama. He was slightly wounded at Sabine Cross 
Roads, and had many narrow escapes from death and capture. William SEAMONSON 
was mustered out of service on 04 July 1865, at Mobile [Mobile County], 
Alabama, and immediately returned to Wisconsin.

Mr. [William] SEAMONSON subsequently bought 100 acres of land on sections 16 
and 17, Pleasant Springs [Dane County, WI], which he sold in 1889, and then 
bought his present farm of ninety acres, on section 15. He is engaged 
principally in the raising of tobacco and livestock. Politically he 
affiliates with the Republican party, was first Supervisor of Pleasant 
Springs Township, also Treasurer; served as Chairman of the [p 240] town 
Board of Supervisors, and member of County Board, three terms as Assessor, 
represented his district in the Centennial Legislature in 1876; was Assistant 
Sergeant-at-Arms in 1878, a member of the State Convention eight different 
times, and attended the last one at Milwaukee, which nominated John C. 
SPOONER as Governor of Wisconsin. He is now serving his seventh term as 
Justice of the Peace, and is also Chairman of the Township and County Board.

Mr. [William] SEAMONSON was married 01 November 1865 to Randy CHRISTOPHER, 
who was born in Norway, 04 December 1839. She came to America in 1850, 
locating on section 16, this [Pleasant Springs] township. They have one 
child living, Charles S., assisting his father on the farm. They lost two 
children by death, Cornelia Christine, deceased in 1874, at the age of eight 
years; and one who died in infancy. The mother [Randy (CHRISTOPHER) 
SEAMONSON] departed this life in December 1873.

On 22 October 1876, Mr. [William] SEAMONSON married Isabelle T. GULLIKSON, of 
Pleasant Springs Township, and a daughter of Toston GULLIKSON, born 28 April 
1854. To his union has been born six [seven] children, namely: (1) Randy 
C., born 17 January 1878; (2) Thomas A., 01 August 1879; (3) William A., 
06 September 1881; (4) Matilda G., 22 August 1883; (5) Simon O., born 22 
December 1885, died the following day; (6) Belle Ida, born 30 September 
1887; and (7) Nellie J., 14 August 1890. Socially, William SEAMONSON is a 
member of the G. A. R. Stoughton [Dane County, WI] Post, and religiously, he 
affiliates with the Lutheran Church.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly