WI BIO - Dane Co - WOOTTON, Robert
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 414-415

Robert WOOTTON, Secretary of the Masonic Benefit Association, and agent of 
the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, was born in 
Cambridge, England, in 1832, son of William and Hannah (HARVEY) WOOTTON. The 
father [William WOOTTON] died in 1834, and his wife [Hannah (HARVEY) WOOTTON] 
was married a second time, to Robert FITKIN, and in 1836 or 1837 came to 
America and settled in Brooklyn, New York, resided there until 1862, and then 
removed to Black Hawk County, Iowa, where Mr. FITKIN bought a farm and where 
he and his wife spent their last years, the former [Robert FITKIN] dying at 
the age of ninety-two, and the latter [Hannah FITKIN, nee HARVEY] at the age 
of eighty-two.

Our subject [Robert WOOTTON] was about four years old when he came to 
America, so he remembers but little of his native home. He attended the 
Brooklyn schools until thirteen years of age, and then entered the printing 
office of Harper Brothers to learn the art preservative. From the printing 
room he went to the press room and remained, except two years, until 1856. 
Close confinement in the office began to tell upon his health, and in 1856 he 
[Robert WOOTTON] resigned his position, and accompanied by his wife and 
infant child, he emigrated to Iowa. They journeyed by cars to Dunleith [Jo 
Daviess County], Illinois, which was then the western terminus of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, and from there journeyed with a team to Howard 
County, Iowa. At that time only a part of the county had been surveyed and 
the settlements were few and far between. He selected a tract of Government 
land, erected a log cabin and at once commenced to improve the land. There 
was no railroad nearer than 100 miles (Dubuque [Dubuque County], Iowa) and no 
convenient market, consequently the family lived off the products of their 
lands and wild game, which was abundant. Burnt [p 415] corn was used in 
place of coffee. He [Robert WOOTTON] resided there until 1861, but in 
January 1861 he left his family in the log cabin and came to Madison [Dane 
County, Wisconsin], where he arrived nearly out of funds. He at once found 
employment in the press room of the State Journal ["Wisconsin State 
Journal"], where he remained one year. He [Robert WOOTTON] then entered the 
business department of the office and continued there until 1869, when he 
resigned to engage in the grocery business with Mr. G. W. HUNTLEY, in which 
he continued seven and a half years. He then resumed his connection with the 
Journal and remained until 1880, when the Madison Plow Company was formed and 
he [Robert WOOTTON] was elected president of it. He remained with that 
company two years, and then engaged in the insurance and real estate 
business, in which he has continued until the present time.

In 1854 he [Robert WOOTTON] married Elizabeth Denton MORGAN, who was born in 
New York City in September 1833, and was a daughter of John and Caroline 
MORGAN. Two of their five children are now living, (1) Frank M., a graduate 
of the law department of the [Wisconsin] State University in the class of 
1890, now practicing in this city [Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin]; and (2) 
Addie May.

Our subject [Robert WOOTTON] was made a Mason in 1854, at which time he 
joined Corner Stone Lodge of Brooklyn. At the present time he is a member of 
Madison Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons; Madison Chapter, No. 4, 
Royal Arch Masons; Madison Council, No. 3, Royal & Select Masons; Robert 
McCoy Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar; Hope Lodge, No. 17, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows; and Madison Encampment, No. 8, I. O. O. F. He has been 
a Republican since 1861, has served one year as Chairman of the County 
Central Committee, one term as a member of the County Board of Supervisors, 
six years as a member of the City Council from the Second Ward, and for 
several years as a member of the School Board.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly