From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 1040-1043
 
NATHAN DWIGHT MAXON.  That the career of such a man as Nathan Dwight MAXON, 
the present efficient and popular postmaster at Walworth, besides being 
treasured in the hearts of relatives and friends, should have its public 
record also, is peculiarly proper because a knowledge of men whose substantial 
reputation rests upon their attainments and character must exert a wholesome 
influence upon the rising generation.  While transmitting to future 
generations the chronicle of such a life, it is with the hope of instilling 
into the minds of those who come after the important lesson that honor and 
station are such rewards of individual exertion.
 
Mr. MAXON was born in Walworth township, this county, May 15, 1857, and is the 
son of Henry J. and Phebe (HOWLAND) MAXON.  It is believed that the birth of 
the father occurred at Adams, Jefferson county, New York, and he was the son 
of Asa Lewis MAXON and Julia Ann (READ) MAXON, his father being of English and 
his mother of Scotch descent.  The name was originally spelled MAXSON, the 
present spelling being adopted by Asa L. MAXON.
 
Richard MAXSON, the first common ancestor of the American branch of the 
family, came from England and he was a blacksmith by trade, and he was 
employed in a shop belonging to James EVERELL.  Records show that he was a 
member of the Baptist church in 1634.  In 1639 he went to Portsmouth, Rhode 
Island, near Newport, and there shared in the distribution of lands to the 
colonists of that region, and a legend says that he was killed in an Indian 
raid about 1640.  His son, John MAXSON, was born in 1639, and he and his wife 
were buried at Westerly, Rhode Island.  Several members of the family of the 
third and fourth generations were soldiers in the Revolutionary war; Benjamin 
and Stephen of the third generation, and Col. Jesse MAXSON, son of David, was 
of the fourth generation.  He was an aid on Washington's staff, and was killed 
in the battle of Guilford Court House in 1781.  John MAXSON, son of the 
emigrant, was born in 1639, married Sarah MOSHER.  John MAXSON, born on April 
21, 1701, was a son of John and Judith (CLARK) MAXSON.  The father, born in 
1666, died in 1747, was the son of John MAXSON, who was born in 1639.  Asa 
MAXSON, great-grandfather of Henry J. MAXSON, father of the subject, was a 
pioneer settler of Jefferson county, New York, and he was a son of Asa, 
grandfather of Henry J., was a lumberman at Petersburgh, Rensselaer county, 
New York.  Asa L. MAXON, father of Henry J., was born in that county and there 
engaged in farming.  About 1853 he moved to Big Foot Prairie, Walworth county, 
Wisconsin, and settled on one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he 
improved into a good farm and he became a prominent man in that community.  
While he lived in New York he served as United States revenue collector, 
having been appointed by President Taylor.  About 1856 he came to Walworth and 
bought a farm a mile south of the village.
 
Asa L. MAXON married Julia Ann READ, July 9, 1822.  He was born May 22, 1802, 
and he was the son of Asa and Polly (LEWIS) MAXON, the father having been born 
on July 1, 1776.  Asa MAXSON was the son of Asa and Lois (STILLMAN) MAXSON, 
the former having been born on March 6, 1752, and he was the son of David and 
Abigail (GREENMAN) MAXON.  David MAXSON was the son of John and Thankful 
(RANDALL) MAXON.
 
Henry J. MAXON, father of the subject, was married to Phebe HOWLAND, who was 
born in South Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, September 17, 1836, and 
she died in Walworth, January 25, 1911.  She was descended from two prominent 
families in the early history of this country, through her father from John 
HOWLAND, the last survivor of the Pilgrim band that landed at Plymouth Rock in 
1620; and through her mother from the SHELDON family that came to America in 
1710, the members of which family were prominent during the colonial and 
Revolutionary periods.  When three years old she was left an orphan and with 
her three sisters went to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John 
SHELDON, in North Adams, Massachusetts, and in 1845 came with them to their 
new home in Wisconsin, making much of the trip on the Erie canal, the rest on 
the Great lakes to Kenosha, thence overland to Big Foot, arriving the first of 
September, 1845.  During the next ten years she lived with her aunt, Mrs. 
Asenath FISH, of Big Foot, also Mrs. Elizabeth HAYDEN, of White Oaks, 
Illinois.  She married Henry J. MAXON on June 1, 1855, and they began 
housekeeping on the Asa L. MAXON farm one mile east and one mile south of 
Walworth, where they lived until they bought their prairie farm one mile south 
of Walworth and erected buildings thereon.  In the spring of 1892 they left 
the farm and moved to the village of Walworth, where the death of Mr. MAXON 
occurred in October of that year.  These parents and their family were always 
identified with the Seventh Day Baptist church.  The mother was an earnest 
Christian, a good friend and neighbor, always ready to assist anyone in need.
 
Eight children were born to Henry J. MAXON and wife, namely: Nathan Dwight, of 
this sketch; Fred J. lives in Chicago, where he is connected with the Illinois 
Trust & Savings Company; Charles H. died in 1886, when twenty-one years old; 
Cynthia A. lives in Harvard, Illinois, with her brother, Dr. Jesse G. MAXON; 
Myrtie married Edward SHEFFER and they live in Madison, Wisconsin, where their 
children are attending college; Mabel lives in Harvard, Illinois, with her 
brother and sister; Dr. Jesse Garfield MAXON is a practicing physician at 
Harvard, Illinois; Lewis A. lives in Walworth; he is a painter, and he married 
Mary SUMNENBELL, who has born him one child.
 
Nathan D. MAXON, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew up on the home 
farm and received his education in the local schools, remaining on the 
homestead until December 1896.  He married, in January 1884, Minnie McLEAM, 
daughter of Rev. Alexander and Emily McLEAM, both natives of Nova Scotia.  She 
was born in Massachusetts.  Rev. McLEAM's work in the ministry brought him 
from his native country to Massachusetts, thence to Michigan, and later to 
Walworth county, Wisconsin.  His death occurred in 1906 at Walworth, in which 
town he was pastor of the Seventy-Day Adventist church, his wife having 
preceded him to the grave in 1886.
 
Nathan D. MAXON moved from the farm to the town of Walworth in 1896 and early 
the following year bought into a general merchandise store.  In February 1898, 
he was appointed postmaster at this place and he has held the position ever 
since to the utmost satisfaction of the people and the department.  He has 
continued the mercantile business seven or eight years successfully, and also 
handles fire insurance.  He has commissions signed both by Roosevelt and Taft, 
appointing him postmaster.
 
Eight children have been born to Nathan D. MAXON and wife, namely: Claire M., 
born January 19, 1885, is engaged in the electrical business in Walworth; 
Stella was the wife of Harold E. WALTERS and lives in Walworth, her husband 
being deceased, having died from an electric shock, September 14, 1909, a week 
after his son, Harold, was born; he also left a daughter, Eleanor; Earl D. 
MAXON is now attending Milton College; Rhue finished the high school course in 
Walworth and taught two years in that school, but she is now in California for 
the benefit of her health; Henry is in the office of the electric plant at 
Walworth, having been engaged in electrical work ever since his graduation 
from high school; Julia, Muriel and Marjorie are attending high school.
 
Mr. MAXON was for some time treasurer of the township of Walworth, shortly 
after he took up his residence here.  He belongs to the Masonic order, the 
Modern Woodmen and the Yeomen lodges, being active in fraternal circles.  He 
and his wife belong to the Seventy-Day Baptist church and are faithful in 
their support of the same.
 
Submitted by Carol