HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



tions are with the Elks and Eagles and fraternal insurance orders, in all
of which
he takes part as an active member. Of the members of his parents' family,
he
has a brother and sister living, namely, Robert, who resides in Milwaukee,
and
Effa, who is a trained nurse living in Chicago. Another brother, Albert J.,
died
at the age of 29 years. Dr. Milbee began domestic life April 10, 1901, when
he
was united in marriage with Cornelia Bowron, who was born at Burkhardt, St.
Croix County, Wis., June 18, 1876, her parents being of English antecedents.
The father, born near Montreal, Canada, Nov. 10, 1831, died at Roberts, St.
Croix County, Wis., Oct. 7, 1907. The mother, born near Montreal, June 6,
1834,
died at Marshfield, Wood County, Dec. 15, 1910. They were married at Hudson,
Wis., Feb. 24, 1857, and the children born to them, in addition to Cornelia
who
was the youngest, were: Martha H., born Dec. 18, 1857, now Mrs. Stanley Rupert
of Vancouver, Wash.; Stanley B., born April 28, 1859, who is a resident of
Mar-
quette, Mich.; Stephen W., born July 5, 1861, now deseased; Clara A., born
Aug.
9, 1866, now residing in Hudson, Wis.; Mary R., born March 5, 1869, who is
the
widow of Frank Lewis and resides at Roberts, Wis., and Benjamin S., born
July
26, 1872, who lives in St. Louis, Mo. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Milbee
are:-
Ruth, born May 11, 1906, now a pupil in the Marshfield High School, and Neil
Hansford, born March 10, 1909. Dr. Milbee was reared in the faith of the
Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Milbee in that of the Episcopal Church. They
own and occupy a comfortable residence at 302 South Maple Street. During
the
participation of the United States in the World War, Mrs. Milbee was a member
of
the home Council of Defense and she is prominent in the women's club life
of the
city.
   William H. Kamps, who has been secretary and treasurer of the Tiffault-Kamps
Mercantile Co., of Marshfield since its incorporation, and who is a man alive
to
all the best interests of the community in which he lives, was born in Chilton,
Calumet County, Wis., July 21, 1866, son of Charles and Mary (Wagner) Kamps.
The parents were natives of Germany. Charles Kamps came to the United States
as an orphan 12 years old and grew to manhood in Holstein, Calumet County,
Wis., where he learned the trade of wagon maker, as an apprentice receiving
little
more than his board and lodging. He subsequently worked as a journeyman for
William Nelson, of Chilton, and finally established himself in business there
as a
wagon maker, and also as a dealer in agricultural implements. As his business
expanded he hired more help, and, giving up manual work, devoted himself
to its
management. After a long and successful career he died in Chilton July 5,
1900.
His wife, who was born about 1837, came to Calumet County, Wisconsin, with
her parents at an early date, when all supplies had to be carried on the
back over
Indian trails from Sheboygan, 20 miles away. When she married Mr. Kamps she
was a widow, having been first married to John Luhn, by whom she had two
daughters: Ana, now Mrs. H. D. Denninger of Weyauwego, Wis., and Louise,
who is the widow of Henry Schabach of Thiensville, Ozaukee County, Wis. Her
children by Charles Kamps were: William H., subject of this sketch; Henry
J., of
Marshfield; Minnie, unmarried and living at Chilton; Fred K., of Marshfield;
and
Helen, now Mrs. J. Huntz of Chilton. Mrs. Mary Kamps, now nearly 87 years
old, is living at Chilton, Wis., and with her reside her daughter and son-in-law,
Mr. and Mrs. John Huntz. William H. Kamps at the age of 18 years entered
a
printing office to learn the trade, but followed it but a short time, instead
taking a
position as clerk with William Paulson, a general merchant at Chilton, who
soon
gave him the full management of the store. He remained with Mr. Paulson four
years and then, in November, 1888, came to Marshfield, Wood County, and en-
tered the employ of Volmer & Kraus, general merchants, for whom he worked
three
years as clerk. In 1891 he bought the interest of P. J. Kraus in the firm
of Tiffault
& Kraus, which then continued as Tiffault & Kamps until 1897, when
it was in-
corporated under the name of Tiffault-Kamps Mercantile Company, with Mr.
Tiffault as president and Mr. Kamps as secretary and treasurer. The company's
store, a thoroughly up to date establishment which is.described in these
pages,
is located at 211-213 South Central Avenue. Mr. Kamps has long been recognized



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