From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 62-65
 
HON. WILLIAM F. VOSS.  A sketch of the industrial and business interests of Watertown, Wis., 
that should omit some account of William Frederick VOSS would be as woefully incomplete as a 
history of Rome that should not mention Julius Caesar, or a production of Shakespeare's greatest 
play with the character of Hamlet unrepresented.  The practical value of shrewdness and 
discrimination, combined with strict probity, is exemplified in the prosperous condition of those 
who transact business on these principles, and in this connection Mr. VOSS is in every way 
worthy of being mentioned.  He was born near Berlin, Germany, December 23, 1847, a son of 
Frederick VOSS, who also first saw the light of day near that city.  The father was a mason by 
trade, and, thinking to better his financial condition, came to America in 1850, and from that time 
until 1852 resided in Milwaukee.  He then came to Watertown, and here successfully followed his 
trade until his death, in 1861, at the age of forty-three years.  He was a Protestant in religion, a 
Democrat in politics and was a law-abiding and useful citizen.  His wife, who died in 1856, 
became the mother of three children: William F., Frederick C. and Pauline.  After the death of his 
first wife Frederick VOSS married again, and by his second wife became the father of one child, 
Minnie.  In the public schools of Watertown, Wis., the subject of this sketch was initiated into the 
mysteries of the common branches of education, and in the fall of 1862 he graduated from the 
high school of that place, a well-informed youth.  His first work after finishing his education was to 
walk to Columbus, in the vicinity of which place he secured employment in the harvest field, and 
afterward began clerking in a dry goods and grocery store for William VOLCKMAN & Co., with 
whom he remained for three years.  He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and for two years thereafter 
was in the employ of John SHILLITO & Co., and after leaving the employ of this firm returned 
home and clerked for J. T. MOAK, and when the latter received the appointment of postmaster of 
Watertown, Mr. VOSS became his deputy.  About six years later he decided to go West and 
engaged in gold mining and started for the Sweetwater Mines, but upon reaching the North Platte 
river, the serious Indian troubles prevented him from carrying out his determination.  He then 
purchased a team and made his way to Denver, where he worked on a farm for about a year, 
then returned to his old home in Wisconsin.
 
After filling the position of deputy postmaster here for some time, he became teller of the 
Wisconsin National Bank, at Watertown, in the spring of 1873, which place he has since 
acceptably filled, and he is now one of the stockholders in the same.  He was one of the 
organizers of the P. H. HENRICH Company's planing mill, and in other ways has interested 
himself in many of the most important enterprises of the town.  He has been quite a prominent 
politician, served as alderman five terms, city treasurer one term, was a member of the Board of 
Education four years and has held the position of city mayor four times, resigning before his first 
two terms had expired.  In the fall of 1890 he was elected to the State Senate from the Thirteenth 
District by the Democratic party, of which he has long been a member, and while a member of 
that body he was chairman of the committee on enrolled bills and a member of the railway 
committee.  His career has been marked by steady upward tendencies, and, having an astute 
vision, clear head and good health, he began business life with energetic application and 
determined purpose.  His present honorable position has been won upon his merits, and as his 
career has been marked by deep conviction of duty, it has led him to conscientiously regard all 
trusts reposed in him and made of him a capable legislator and trustworthy official.  He was 
married to Mary, the daughter of George F. SCHEMFF, a dry goods merchant, and to their union 
four children have been given: Edna, Albert E., Jose and Alice.  Mr. VOSS is a member of 
Watertown Lodge, No. 18, of the A. F. & A.M., and in this honorable order has become a Knight 
Templar, and is one of its most influential and prominent members.
 
Submitted by Carol