Washington County Biographies



Part of the Wisconsin Biographies Project



John H. Nanscawen

John H. Nanscawen, Hartford, son of Caleb and Grace (Hawkins) Nanscawen; was born in the city of Plymouth, Devonshire, Eng., April 17, 1812; came to America with his parents in 1819, landing at Newport, R. I., July 4; remained in that city only a few weeks, then went to the town of Killingly, Windham Co., Conn. Mr. N. remained with his parents till 1838, when he went to Providence and engaged as merchant's clerk; was married in that city, Dec. 24, 1838, to Miss Lydia Carpenter, daughter of John R. Carpenter. In the fall of 1841, Mr. Nanscawen and family came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in the town of Pewaukee, Waukesha Co., where they continued to reside till 1846, when they moved to the town of Hartford, Washington Co.; here Mr. N. was engaged in farming three years; he then moved to the village and entered the service of Wheelock, Kneeland & Co., merchants, as clerk, in which capacity he acted for eight consecutive years. He, then, in company with a Mr. Truax, engaged in the meat business; continued this business two years, and then (1859) opened a drug store, which he continued till the close of the war, when he sold out to his eldest son, Lloyd. Mr. and Mrs. Nanscawen had four children; the eldest Lloyd V., was born in Pewaukee May 27, 1843; he enlisted Sept. 27, 1862, in Company I, 29th W. V. I.; was promoted to a Second Lieutenancy of Company B, 43d W. V. I., Aug. 10, 1864, and to a First Lieutenancy same company and regiment; was with his company and regiment in all engagements participated in by them till the close of the war. He was Postmaster of Hartford from 1865 to 1868. Was married to Miss Belle Van Loan at Hartford, and went to California about 1877, where he is engaged in the drug business at Visalia, Tulare Co. The second son, William, was married to Miss Belle McIntosh, and is station agent at Waseca, Minn. The daughter, Adelia, is now Mrs. Frank Ricker, of Milwaukee. The youngest son, Reginald, married Miss Myrtie Le Count, Sept. 17, 1878, daughter of Mr. Caleb Le Count. Mr. R. Nanscawen is a member of the drug firm of Nanscawen Brothers, Hartford, which business he entered in 1877. Mr. John H. Nanscawen has held the office of town Clerk of Hartford several terms. He has been a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, and in politics is an earnest Republican.

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