SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Charles M. Sibley, Page 572

CHARLES M. SIBLEY, who is numbered among the native sons of Sheboygan County, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, was born July 18, 1856, in Lyndon Township, and there still makes his home.  His father, Clark L. Sibley, whose biography appears in this book, was born near Buffalo, N. Y., August 1, 1832, and is still residing in this county.  He is a carpenter and joiner by trade, and for twenty years of his life he has been a lumberman.  In 1848, when a lad of sixteen, he turned his face toward the setting sun, and journeyed westward until he reached Wisconsin, which was that year admitted to the Union.  The Indians were still numerous in the neighborhood, and their settlement was only seven miles from our subject's home.  The old Madison Indian trail passed the Sibley doorway, and the family was very well acquainted with old Chief Solomon.  The father first purchased eighty acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre, and upon this tract not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made.  Mr. Sibley built a log cabin, part of which still stands on the old homestead.  After farming for a time, he embarked in the lumber business in Waldo.  In politics, he has been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party since  casting his first Presidential vote for Gen. John C. Fremont.  He married Martha Monroe, who was born in Vermont in 1834, and is still living in Waldo.  She was educated in Sheboygan Falls, and for a number of years successfully engaged in teaching.

    The Sibley family numbered four children, of whom Charles M. is the eldest;  Mame is the wife of John Angus, who is engaged in the manufacture of cheese in Greenbush;  Grace is the wife of Albert Eckhardt, who is paying teller in the German Bank of Sheboygan;  and Frank is a young lady, now a student in the High School of Waldo.

    Mr. Sibley whose name heads this record was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, and acquired his education in the district schools of the neighborhood.  One of the first schoolhouses in which he conned his lessons is now used as a barn.  Entering upon his business career, he was long connected with the lumber interests of Waldo, but about  six years ago removed to his farm, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He now owns ninety-seven acres of valuable land, pleasantly located within six miles of Plymouth.  A part of it has been operated for thirty years, and was one of the first improved tracts in this county, but much of it has been placed under cultivation by the owner.

    On the 23d of November, 1887, Mr. Sibley wedded Meliza Shaw, who was born on what was called the "Indian Lot," in Sherman Township, February 28, 1858, and is a daughter of Albert and Olive (Colwell) Shaw.  Her parents are both now deceased.  Mrs. Sibley has been to her husband a faithful helpmate, and they are both highly respected citizens of this community.  He has affiliated with the Republican party since proudly casting his first Presidential vote for Gen. Garfield.  For one year he served as Township Treasurer, but has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking.  His life has been well and worthily spent, and his native county may well be proud of her son.