Ozaukee County Documents

This piece is taken from a notepad and the original handwriting of William Bramwell Sizer. It is a short sketch of his father's life (Julius W. Sizer). The original resides with relatives.

Julius W. Sizer

Written by Ruth Corwin Sizer, his wife

Julius Wickmire Sizer was born in the town of Middlefield Otsego Co. State of N.Y. December 25, 1823. He says, I always had a desire for a home in Heaven, and from a child I wanted to go west when I grew to manhood. Through the strivings of the spirit I was forced to promise the Lord that I would serve him. When I got settled in life. I was married in Dec. 1844 the 26th , the 25th being my own birthday and the 27th that of my wife. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Haner. She and her widowed mother both being professed Christians Now in March after, went to housekeeping and my mother-in-law said to me that I ought to read the Bible and pray in my family, which I had done. I should have been happy, but the tempter said, no one knows anything about your being a Christian and you will only make a mock of it if you do. Then I said I wouldn't do it and my feeling left me at once and I had no more concern about it till the following Oct. 1845 when my brother Oscar died. Then I began to feel the need of being ready as I did. Not know when my turn might come. Then I earnestly sought after the Lord and I attended upon all the means of grace. When I attempted to pray my feelings would rush upon me with such force, that if I prayed at all I would have to burst out crying and make what seemed to me a great noise. One Sunday night at prayer meeting in the schoolhouse I resolved that I would pray and testify and when I did my wife though I was going crazy and asked the leader to take hold of me, but his answer was that I was doing well enough to let me alone, for I was shouting at the top of my voice About this time or before; my father had been west and exchanged his property for 414 acres of land on the Milwaukee River in the town of Saukville (then known as Sackville). And as my brother Dana F. Sizer and other relatives were coming here he wanted one to come too. At first I could not consent to come but the time came after much urging that I consented to some with him. After I had made up my mind to come the Spirit said if you go west, what are you to do. You'll want meetings. Will you be a classleader? I felt that I was not capable of filling that position and I said why do you ask this of me for I don't know how to be a leader. This continued for several weeks till at last I said if there's no one any more capable than I am, I will then. It came to me that is all I want. I came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1846 and settled in the town of Saukville and at the time Washington Co. but the Co has since been divided and my home was in Ozaukee Co., the eastern part of Washington Co. After living here two years a minister came and organized a class of five, a young man and three women beside myself so I was chosen leader and continued in that capacity for several years. The class grew to be over 40 in number. At that time it was expected at every quarterly service that some one would be converted. Jesus all the day, was my joy and my song, and the angels could do nothing more, repeat, than to fall at his feet and the story and the lover of sinners adore.

In September 1849 my wife died and I lived single nearly 5 years. Then I married Ruth Ann Corwin of the town of Barton, Washington Co., Wis Sept. 14-1854 by David Lewis. We have had eleven children, four passed on in infancy. The remaining seven are doing service for the Master. The oldest Mrs. Libbie Glassburn, is now living in Hillyard, Washington. The second Bramwell Sizer lives in Milwaukee, Wi is on the police force and has been for 11 years. The third, Jason Sizer is a Methodist preacher and belongs to the North Dakota Conference, is a strong prohibitionist. The fourth is Mrs. Clara Peffer of Sherburne, Minn, her husband is a Miller. Fifth is Mrs. Lois Maechtle of Port Washington, her husband is farmer. Sixth is Mrs. Laura Large of Port Washington, her husband is a mechanic. The seventh is Alice Sizer. She still remains with us. Out home was on the farm till 1893 then we exchanged property for some in the city of Port Washington where we have resided since 1896.