website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Alanson
Boomer,
L E
Boomer
and
Boomer’s
Dam
Alanson Boomer
Alanson Boomer, farmer, Secs.
9 and 8; P.O. Watertown; born
L E Boomer
At the Government sale the land was bought in
his brother’s L. E. Boomer’s name.
Mr. Wood
The land was all wild, but Mr. Wood, who had
squatted on one of the sections and whom they bought out, had built one of the
earliest log houses erected in the township, in which Mr. Boomer lived till
1841, when he went back to New York; from that time till 1845, it was in the
hands of a tenant; then Mr. L. E. Boomer came West and took possession.
Indians used frequently to come to trade, but
they had no trouble with them, never even had anything stolen, which Mr. Boomer
attributes to keeping whiskey away from them and treating them as honorably as
he would white men. At one time his
brother anticipated trouble and wrote to the Governor, who sent arms to the
settlers, but fortunately it proved a false alarm.
Boomer Dam
In 1849, Mr. L. E. Boomer built a dam and
saw-mill, and made bricks as well as farming.
Alanson Boomer
In January, 1858, Mr. Alanson Boomer bought
his brother out after being East sixteen years. He built himself the handsomest farmhouse in
the county, in 1861, and also erected all the barns and outbuildings; he now
owns 350 acres of land, and raises principally wheat, oats, barley and corn,
and makes a specialty of fattening stock, keeping about forty head constantly
ready for the market. Married Miss Lydia
Van Wormer, of Watertown Township, January 12, 1862; they had one little boy
who died when 1 month old; he has since adopted two children, the first a boy
[editor’s note: Mason], who was drowned
when about 8 years old, and then a little girl named Alice, now living. He was Ward Supervisor two years.
Derived from: The History of
Jefferson County, Wisconsin by C.
W. Butterfield, 1879
1847
06 30 Specimen of brick from the first
kiln burnt at the new yard of L. E. Boomer, one mile below the village, on
the east side of the river. Watertown Chronicle
1850
Democratic State Register, 04 09 1850
We took occasion, a day or two since, to visit the saw mill of our
fellow citizen, L. A. Boomer, Esq, a couple of miles
below the village. Mr. B, has one of the finest powers on the river, so far as our
observation extends. He has erected
during the past winter a large double saw mill, which commenced sawing the past
week—-and from the work performed while we were there, we are satisfied that
there is no better establishment of its kind, in this part of the country. It is furnished with the latest improvements,
and the lumber turned out is of superior quality. We think the location of the mill to be one
which will be; a great convenience to the people of Watertown, and a source of
profit to its enterprising proprietor.
We wish him the success to which his energy and perseverance justly
entitles him.
1859
06 30 Drowned. A man
named Patrick Cullen, who has been working on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in
this city, was drowned last evening about 8 o’clock attempting to cross the
river at Boomer’s dam. WD
1861
08 01 BUILDING.
In various parts of our city new dwellings may be seen erected this
summer. In the suburbs we notice that
Mr. A. [Alanson] Boomer is building another of those fine and large brick
residences which attract so much of the attention of visitors and strangers who
get a passing glimpse of them. [Boomer
built himself the handsomest farmhouse in the county, in 1861, and also erected
all the barns and outbuildings; he now owns 350 acres of land, and raises
principally wheat, oats, barley and corn, and makes a specialty of fattening
stock. -The History of
Jefferson County, Wisconsin by C. W. Butterfield, 1879.] WD
1897
Jefferson County Union, 07 02 1897
Another old and well known resident, of
Watertown, Alanson Boomer, has been called to his final abode. He died Friday morning at 4 o’clock. Mr. Boomer was 82 years of age and had been a
resident of Wisconsin for sixty-one years.
He had been ill since Thursday.
He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Chas. A. Vanghan,
of this place, and Mrs. M. Douglass, of Waterloo. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at two
o’clock. Services were conducted at the
house by Rev. G. C. Weisa. Alanson Boomer, wife Lydia and son Mason are buried in Oak
Hill Cemetery
Cross-References:
Boomer Street named in honor of the Boomer clan
