Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

First Women in Milwaukee 1834-1839

The first white or Anglo-Saxon woman, to make Milwaukee her home, was Mrs. Quartus Carley, who came in May '34, with her husband, accompanied by a Miss Cleveland, from Chicago. Neither of these women, however, remained permanently, Miss Cleveland returning to Chicago, in the Fall. Mrs. Carley remained, I think, until '39, when she and her husband removed to Kenosha county. Whether they reside there now, or have passed away, I cannot tell. Such however, is their history.

At the head of the column of noble women who came to stay, the purity of whose lives and example has had so powerful an influence in softening the manners of those early times, stands Mrs. Deacon Samuel Brown, who came in '35, being the second American woman to settle in Milwaukee. This is no small honor, and right worthy is Mrs. Brown to enjoy it. Her life and example have been noble. Such a woman is a crown to her husband, and the glory of her children.

She was joined during the Summer and Fall, by (perhaps there were others whose names are now forgotten).

BALSER, Mrs. P.
BREED, Mrs. A.O.T.
BURDICK, Mrs. Paul
CHASE, Mrs. Dr. Enoch 
CHILDS, Mrs. John
DOUGLASS, Mrs. Andrew
DOUSMAN, Mrs. Geo D.
ESTES, Mrs. E.S.
FARMIN, Mrs. H.
HOLMES, Mrs. THos.
MCNEIL, Mrs. James
OGDEN, Mrs. John
ROSS, Mrs. Hiram J.
SANDERSON, Mrs. Capt. J.
SIVYER, Mrs. Wm.
SMITH, Mrs. U. B.
SWEET, Mrs. A.
WHEELOCK, Mrs. B.F.
WILCOX, Mrs. Joel
WILLIAMS, Mrs. Joseph 
 
At the head of the column for '36, stands: (perhaps others)

ALDRICH, Mrs. Owen
BARBER, Mrs. Geo.
BELANGEE, Mrs. J.G.
CARY, Mrs Joseph
CHASE, Mrs. Horace
CHURCHILL, Mrs. Luther
CORSE, Mrs. John
DEBOW, Mrs. J.
DIBBLE, Mrs Elah
DUNBAR, Mrs. S.W.
EDGERTON, Mrs. B.H.
FOWLER, Mrs. Albert
FURLONG, Mrs. John
GALE, Mrs. John
GARDNER, Mrs. Wm N.
GUILE, Mrs. Geo
HARNMEYER, Mrs. August
HARRIS, Mrs Ebenezer
HAWLEY, Mrs. Frank
HAWLEY, Mrs. Syrus
HIGGINS, Mrs. M.W.
HINMAN, Mrs. Samuel
HOLLISTER, Mrs. D.S.
HOYT, Mrs. Thomas
JAMES, Miss Betsey
JAMES, Miss Christina
JAMES, Miss Mary
KELLOGG, Mrs. L.S.
KELLOGG, Mrs. W.A.
KELTNER, Mrs. Daniel
KILBOURN, Mrs. Byron
LANE, Mrs. L.H.
LAPHAM, Mrs. I.A.
LARKIN, Mrs. C.H.
LONGSTREET, Mrs. Wm R.
LOOMIS, Mrs. Hubbell
MARTIN, Mrs Stoddard H.
MERRILL, Mrs. W.P.
MILLER, Mrs. Henry
NOYES, Mrs T.J.
PETTIBONE, Mrs. S.
PRENTISS, Mrs. Wm A.
PROUDFIT, Mrs. Wm P.
ROGERS, Mrs Jacob M.
ROGERS, Mrs. Jason H.
SABIN, Mrs. E.H.
SIBLEY, Mrs. D.D.
SIVYER, Mrs. Henry
SIVYER, Mrs. Samuel
STARR, Mrs Elisha
TIFFANY, Mrs. Geo. O.
TROWBRIDGE, Mrs. W.S.
WEEKS, Mrs. L.W.
WELLS, Mrs. Daniel Jr.
WILLIAMS, Mrs Henry
YOUNG, Mrs. Pliny
ZANDER, Mrs. J.B.

While '37, 8 and 9 brought in:

ARNOLD, Mrs. J.E.
BLEYER, Mrs. Henry
BUCK, Mrs. J.S.
BURDICK, Mrs. Morgan L.
CHENEY, Mrs Rufus
CRAMER, Mrs. E.
HACKETT, Mrs. Richard
HUSTIS, Mrs. John
LARKIN, Mrs. James
LUDINGTON, Mrs. H.
LUSCOMBE, Mrs. Samuel
LYNDE, Mrs. C. J.
MERRILL, Mrs. David
Miller, Mrs. A.G.
MITCHELL, Mrs. Alex.
MURRAY, Mrs. James
REED, Mrs. Geo.
RICE, Mrs. RAnsom
SHEPARDSON, Mrs. Clark
TWEEDY, Mrs. J.H.
UPHAM, Mrs. D.A. J. 
VLIET, Mrs Garret
WALWORTH, Mrs. Clinton
WARD, Mrs Lindney
WOLCOTT, Mrs. Doctor E.B.

And perhaps others, who have all been more or less prominent in the building up of our fair city, sharing all the priations incident to a pioneer life, with a fortitute equal to, and in many cases, superior to that exhibited the the men. Of those noe living, many are yet active, and useful; and of those who have gone to their reward, ti can be truthfully said, and for the works they have performed, furture generations shall bless their name.

To remember the names of all who came during these years, would be simply impossible; and should any pioneer woman who may read this story, find her name omitted, she will please consider the omission unintentional.