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From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 575-576
SAMPSON H. CALLAWAY, a leading dairy farmer and prominent citizen of the town of Platteville, Grant county, is now in the prime of life, and commands the respect of the general public, both for his conspicuous business ability and for his manly and attractive personal qualities.
Mr. CALLAWAY was born in the town of Platteville March 7, 1852, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (BUTSON) CALLAWAY, who were both born in Cornwall, England, the former on Aug. 3, 1807, and the latter on June 23, 1811. They were married in England in 1834, and some six years later came to Wisconsin, and settled two and one-half miles north of Platteville. He mined in the winter and farmed in the summer. In 1850 he purchased one hundred acres of timber land two and one-half miles west of Platteville, from Major ROUNTREE. Here he built a log house and barn, later a frame house, and made it his home for the remainder of his life. Later he purchased eighty acres of J. AULTLAND, in Lima township. He came to this country a poor man, and by constant and unflagging industry and careful management became fairly prosperous. He died June 26, 1878, and his widow Nov. 29, 1884. They were members of the Methodist Church, and were numbered among the Christian people of the town. He was a Republican, and his sons without exception follow in his steps in this respect. Joseph, their eldest son, was born in England, and died unmarried; he had a district-school education, and when a young man of twenty-one crossed the Plains for California, and was a gold miner some seventeen years, being fairly successful; in 1872 he received injuries from a runaway, which proved fatal. Elizabeth, born in England, is now the widow of Francis WOODRUFF, of the town of Lima, and has two children, - A.J. and Elsie May (who is the wife of George Maiben); all this family reside in and near Lancaster. Thomas, born in England, married Miss Sarah HALE, and now resides in Jewell county, Kansas, where he is a farmer; they have the following children: John, Charley, Lester, Belle, Maria, Tom, Archie and Jennie. John married Lizzie HALE, and lives on the farm purchased by his father; they have had seven children, Leora (deceased), Sampson H., Minnie, Nellie, Ruby, Nettie, and Frank. Martha J. is the wife of I. N. CLIFTON, and lives in Platteville; she has two children, Welsey and Libbie RICKARD, by her first husband, Daniel RICKARD. Sampson H. is the subject of this article. George A. lives in the town of Harrison, and is the subject of a biographical article appearing elsewhere in this volume. Jesse, when a young man, went with Sampson H. to California, and drifted to Arizona, where he became a railroad engineer; he was stricken with paralysis, and brought home, dying in May, 1892. William, born at the old home near Platteville, died March 28, 1866, aged eighteen years and twelve days.
Sampson H. CALLAWAY was educated in the schools of Platteville. In the spring of 1873 he went to California, and spent nine years in that State, engaged in various labors. In 1880 he came back to Platteville, and married Miss Emma C. WEITTENHILLER, a lady of that city. She was born in 1858, a daughter of Sebastian and Annice WEITTENHILLER, old and respected residents of Grant county, and was educated in the Platteville schools. After his marriage Mr. CALLAWAY purchased a farm in Jewell county, Kansas, where they resided two years. Kansas did not please him for a permanent residence, and he sold out, came back to Wisconsin, and purchased his father's old homestead. He built two new barns, thoroughly remodeled the house, and now owns one of the choicest farms of the county. He owns 160 acres in his home farm, and 240 acres in Lima township. Seven children have brightened his home: Arthur L was born in Jewell county, Kansas. Ethel G. was born in Grant county, as were Myrtie M., Jessie H., Adelbert S., Clara E., and Hazel E. The younger children are earnest and bright students of the Platteville schools. The family attends the Congregational Church. Mr. CALLAWAY belongs to the Masonic order, and holds his membership in Melody Lodge, No. 2
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck