Bio: Calkins, Daniel G. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Calkins, Gaskill, Briggs, Foster, Brown, Johnson, High

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 665-666

Daniel G. Calkins, secretary of the Drummond Packing Company, of Ean Claire, was born in Owego, Tioga county, N. Y. April 22, 1865, a son of Charles B. and Sarah A. (Gaskill) Calkins and is descended from New England ancestry. His great grandfather, Richard Calkins, a native of New England, was a pioneer of Clinton county, New York, where he purchased a large tract of land, cleared and improved a homestead and there resided, engaged in general farming until his death. His family consisted of four sons, viz: Seth, Benjamin, Gilbert and Turner all of whom became prominent farmers and men of influence in Clinton county, New York. Seth Calkins, grandfather of Daniel G., married Mariba Briggs, and they were the parents of six children, as follows: Rebecca, Cornelius, Sidney, Daniel, Benjamin and Charles B. The latter, who was the father of Daniel G., was born in Peru, Clinton county, N. Y., April 13, 1829. He was reared and educated in his home county and in 1857 removed to Owego, Tioga county, where he was engaged in farming until 1873, when he came West to Wisconsin and located in what is now the city of Green Bay. He was there engaged for the next five years in the flour and feed business, following which in 1878 he removed to Fairchild, Eau Claire county, where he was engaged in butchering and the buying and selling of live stock until 1893, since which time he has been successfully engaged in general farming and dairying. He owns a fine farm of 100 acres in the village of Fairchild and Jackson county, improved with a handsome residence erected by himself where he now resides. He was married in 1862 to Sarah A. Gaskill, daughter of Daniel and Huldah (Foster) Gaskill, natives of Tioga county, New York, to whom were born three children, viz : Daniel G.; Mariba, who married Frank A. Brown and had one child. Rex C. deceased, and Charles C. a representative business man of Fairchild.

Daniel G. Calkins came to Wisconsin with his parents, who settled in Green Bay when he was eight years of age and subsequently removed with them to Fairchild in 1878. He received his education in the public schools and in 1879 began his business career as clerk for the Foster Lumber Company at Fairchild, remaining with that concern until 1885. He then came to Eau Claire and entered the employ of Drummond Brothers as bookkeeper and in 1891 became a member of the firm, and when the Packing Company was incorporated in 1893 he became secretary, a position he still retains.

Mr. Calkins was married October 10, 1888, to Lina, a daughter of William B. and Sarah (Johnson) High, of Oconto, Wis., and they have an interesting family of four children, viz: Helen, Daniel G., Jr., Paul and William B. Mr. Calkins is a popular business man, progressive and public spirited, and enjoys membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the K.O.T.M., while in politics he is independent.