WIRock - Janesville Fire Department

Janesville Fire Department

Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin


Article - "Bucket brigade fought Janesville's early fires"
Article - "Horses gave way to 'steel monsters' in 1924"
Article - "Janesville's fire chiefs"
Article - "Fire police were always at the scene"
Article - "Father-son chiefs held office 32 years"
Article - "Janesville firemen had rules"
1888 photos of Engine House Nos. 1 & 2 - Picturesque Janesville

Fireman Position Years of Service Notes
ALDERICH Tillerman ? - 1924 - ? on truck when horses Dick & Charlie made their final call in July of 1924
ANDRESKI, Alex Chief 1951 - 1970 -----
BARRIAGE, Ben on-call fireman Bef. May 30, 1889 -----
driver May 30, 1889 - ? -----
BLUNK, Henry Chief 1887 - 1891 -----
BRITTON, W. B. (Col.) Chief 1861; 1873 -----
BURHANS, James W. Chief 1971 - 1972 -----
BURT, William M. Chief 1863 -----
Cap Fire Horse ? - 1901 - ? partner of Colonel
CASEY, James caretaker of horses Bef. July 1924 took care of fire dept. horses, Dick & Charlie
Charlie Fire Horse ? - July 1924 w/ partner, Dick; last of the fire horses in Janesville
CHRISTIE, Robert Chief of Bucket Brigade 1852 -----
CLARK, James Chief 1868 -----
Colonel Fire Horse ? - 1901 died Abt. Jan. 1901; partner was Cap
CROFT, Thomas T. Chief 1883 -----
CUNNINGHAM, William Chief 1879 -----
DANZ, George Chief 1973 - 1975 -----
DEWEY, H. W. Chief 1876 - 1877 -----
Dick Fire Horse ? - July 1924 w/ partner, Charlie; last of the fire horses in Janesville
DOLSON, Gilbert Chief 1855 Janesville's first Fire Chief
FINLEY, Paul Firefighter ? - 1959 - ? wounded in the Schleuter Co. fire
Deputy Chief Aft. 1959 retired prior to 1985
FINNANE, Bill Firefighter ? - 1959 died in the Schleuter Co. fire
FORD, Sylvester, Jr. Chief 1865 - 1866 -----
FOSTER, James Chief 1883 - 1884 -----
GLEIM, Peter Chief 1876 -----
HEMMING, James Chief 1861 - 1862 -----
HODSON, John R. Chief 1869 -----
HOSKINS, W. T. Marshal 1853 -----
JUSTIN, Ira, Jr. Chief 1856 - 1860 first chief after formal organization
KELLY, John Chief 1882 -----
KEMP, William Foreman 1854/55 Water Witch No. 2
KLEIN, Henry C. Chief 1902 - 1918 -----
LAWRENCE, Frank S. Foreman 1854/55 Rock River No. 1
LICHTFUS, Edward Firefighter ? - 1925 died March 2, 1925 in the line of duty
MURPHY, Cornelius J. Firefighter 1888 - April 1892

became the city's first paid fireman on Jan. 16, 1888; father of Frank MURPHY; retired in February of 1934; died in February of 1935
on-call Fireman May 1, 1893 - June 1, 1905
2nd Assistant Chief June 1, 1905 - Feb. 1, 1919
Chief Feb. 1, 1919 - 1934
MURPHY, Frank Firefighter Aug. 1919 - 1924 son of Cornelius J. MURPHY; promoted to Captain in July of 1925
Electrician 1924 - 1928
Chief 1935 - 1951
NARBY, Harry Driver ? - 1924 - ? drove horses Dick & Charlie on their final call in July of 1924
PAUL, William T. Chief 1864 -----
RICHARDS, Henry Chief 1867 -----
ROTHCHILDS, Joseph Foreman 1857 Rescue Hook & Ladder No. 1
SARNOW, Arthur Chief 1976 - 1978 -----
SHEA, John Lieutenant ? - 1959 - ? wounded in the Schlueter Co. fire
SHEARER, James Chief 1872 -----
SPENCER, John C. Chief 1885 - 1886; 1892 - 1901 -----
ST. JOHN, John W. Chief 1874 -----
STEARNS, Arthur Chief 1979 - 1985 - ? -----
WILCOX, John T. Chief 1875 -----
WILLIAMS, Randall Chief 1869 - 1870 -----
YOUNG, R. P. Chief 1871; 1878; 1880 -----

The USGenWeb Project logo is the property of The USGenWeb Project
The WIGenWeb Project logo was created by Debbie Barrett
Rock County Coordinator: Lori Niemuth
Last updated July 23, 2006
Copyright 1999-2006