Washburn County WIGenWeb Project

People Histories

Joseph Taylor Hazard
(01 Jan 1879 - ?¹)

-As transcribed from the "COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE UPPER LAKES REGION"

by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1905

pages 409 - 410

Joseph Taylor Hazard, principal of public schools in Spooner, Washburn county, comes of a family of scholars, whose members for generations have distinguished themselves in educational work. He was born in Tyrrell, Texas, Jan. 1, 1879, son of Edgar and Martha (Taylor) Hazard, both natives of Lagrange, Walworth Co., Wis., where their parents were among the prominent pioneers.

Hon. Enos J. Hazard, the grandfather, was the first representative sent by the town of Lagrange to the State Assembly. He was a successful farmer, and his many excellent qualities of mind and heart brought him a wide popularity. His prospects for a brilliant and distinguished career were cut short by his premature death in middle life. He was a collateral descendant of Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, whose mother was a member of this family. Many members of the Hazard family were prominent in New England affairs, some of them distinguishing themselves in the Revolution and in the war of 1812. Joseph Taylor, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Yorkshire, England, who in early life settled in New York State. There he was a near neighbor of Asa Gray, the famous botanist, by whom he was inspired with such a passion for the study of plants, that he also became an expert botanist. Later he settled in LaGrange, Wis., where he was a successful farmer and a recognized authority in horticulture. His early educational opportunities had been limited, but he more than made up for his lack by his long study of the best literature on current and technical topics. Of his family of sons and daughters, educated mainly in the State Normal School at Whitewater, many were successful teachers. The eldest son, Capt. William R. Taylor, who won his title in the Civil war, combined the occupations of teaching and farming for many years. He subsequently became superintendent of schools in Walworth county, a position held later by his son, Ray W. Members of the family in England had also been prominent as teachers, the honorable calling seeming to be an hereditary possession. Mr. Hazard's maternal grandmother was descended from the Knights, a family long prominent in the political and social life of Ireland. Her American ancestor found refuge in this country on being forced to leave Ireland because of his connection with a political uprising against the government.

Mrs. Martha (Taylor) Hazard was educated in Milton College, and was for many years a popular and successful teacher in the public schools. her daughter, Marion, only sister of Joseph Taylor Hazard, is a graduate of the State Normal School at Whitewater. She taught at New Richmond in 1896, at Fox Lake in 1898 and 1899, was first assistant in the Hayward schools in 1900, and is at present assistant principal of the Ward school in Everett, Washington.

Joseph Taylor Hazard's early education was obtained in the public schools of Whitewater, Wis., where he prepared for the State Normal, from which he graduated in 1898. The following winter he taught a country school near Oakland, in the summer traveling for the Werner School Book Company, of Chicago. The next year he was chosen third assistant and teacher of science in the Spring Green high school, performing his duties so acceptably as to be promoted to the place of first assistant, teaching German and the sciences. He attended the summer school at the State University at Madison in 1901 and spent the summer of 1902 traveling for the Globe School Book Company, of New York, retaining his position in the Spring Green school until the autumn of 1902, when he accepted the principalship of the Spooner schools, which he holds at present. He is a member of F. & A. M. Lodge No. 212, Spring Green, and has attained to the master's degree.

On Aug. 22, 1900, Mr. Hazard married Grace M. Porter, an accomplished young lady of Lake Mills, Wis. Mrs. Hazard was educated in the Minneapolis public schools, and in the State University of Minnesota. She is an expert china painter, an occupation in which she has interested herself from girlhood. Her parents are A. H. Porter, western manager of the Globe School Book Company, and Jennie Keyes, whose paternal grandfather was the pioneer settler of Lake Mills, Wis. Mrs. Porter is a niece of Judge E. W. Keyes, the present postmaster of Madison, and one of the prominent Republicans of Wisconsin. The Keyes family are related to the Lord Youngley family and are among the heirs to the famous Youngley estate in England. Mrs. Porter is also a niece of Damon Fisher, one of Wisconsin's wealthy iron kings, who had a prominent part in developing the immense iron deposits of the great Wisconsin range.

1 - Editorial Note - There is no record within Washburn Co.of when or where Joseph Hazard died, nor of his wife, Grace (Porter) Hazard.