PADDOCK, Benjamin Greene
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 474-475

Benjamin Green PADDOCK, deceased, who had long been a resident of Lavalle, 
Sauk County, WI, was born in Vienna, Oneida County, NY, 10 Nov 1827, and was 
a son of Daniel and Louise (EGGLESTON) PADDOCK, who spent their entire lives 
there, the father being engaged in business as a carpenter and joiner and 
also manufacturing wagons to some extent. He was quite a successful and 
prominent business man and served as justice of the peace at Vienna for many 
years. The PADDOCK family is of English origin and was founded in this 
country about 1630 by three brothers, one of whom settled in New England, the 
second in the middle states, and the third in the south. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject was a soldier of the Revolutionary [p 475] war and 
lost a leg in the service. Both grandfather John D. PADDOCK and grandfather 
EGGLESTON were farmers of Oneida County, NY.

Our subject completed his education by two or three years' attendance at the 
Whitesboro Seminary, and began his business career as a clerk in a store 
first at McConnellsville and later at Vienna and Clinton, NY. Coming to Sauk 
County, WI, in 1858, he embarked in mercantile business on his own account at 
Ironton, as a member of the firm of KEITH & PADDOCK. They purchased a store 
which had been established there three years before, and for several years 
conducted the only store at that place, remaining in business there for 18 
years and hauling all their goods by wagon from Kilbourn [Columbia County, 
WI], a distance of 18 miles. In 1873, when the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad was built through the county, they opened another store at Lavalle 
[Sauk County, WI], and for some time conducted both. The firm dissolved 
partnership in 1876 and divided their property, which, besides their stores 
included several farms. For some years they had operated stave mills at 
Reedsburg and Lavalle [both in Sauk County, WI], and since 1872 Mr. PADDOCK 
had purchased railroad ties for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company 
at Lavalle, handling many thousands annually. His son, H. E. PADDOCK, now 
conducts the store at that place and enjoys a liberal patronage.

On 10 Jan 1859 Mr. PADDOCK married Miss Harriet IVES, a daughter of Silas T. 
and Selinda (BEACH) IVES, of Clinton [Oneida County], NY, where the father 
conducted a meat market for many years. The mother was a native of CT. Our 
subject and his wife had three children: (1) Cora Luella, wife of Richard 
TENNANT, Jr., of Woodland Township, Sauk County [WI]; (2) Herbert Eugene, 
who is now conducting the store at Lavalle [Sauk County, WI]; and (3) Carrie 
Marie. The children have all been provided with excellent school privileges, 
and the daughter is an artist of considerable talent, especially as an 
amateur photographer.

Mr. PADDOCK was a member of Reedsburg Lodge, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons; 
Reedsburg Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar, 
and Wisconsin Consistory, Valley of Milwaukee, and has filled all the chairs 
in the blue lodge. Since supporting John C. Fremont for the presidency in 
1856, he was ever a stawart Republican, but formerly was a "Silas Wright 
Democrat" while in NY. For a number of years he served as postmaster at 
Ironton, and later filled the same office at Lavalle [both in Sauk County, 
WI]. He was sheriff of Sauk County for two years from Jan 1871; and in 1889 
ably represented his district in the state legislature. He proved a most 
efficient and popular official, who discharged his various duties with a 
promptness and fidelity worthy of all commendation. His career had ever been 
such as to warrant the trust and confidence of his fellow citizens, and he 
stood deservedly high in business, political and social affairs. He died 02 
Mar 1900, at his home in Lavalle [Sauk County, WI].

Contributed by Cathy Kubly