lumberman, businessman, philanthropist, b. Salina, N.Y. In 1832 he accompanied various members of his family by schooner, canoe, and keelboat from N.Y. to Prairie du Chien where he was met by his father. In 1846 Tainter settled at Menomonie (Dunn County, Wisconsin) where he engaged in various lumbering operations, principally on the Red Cedar River. In 1850 he became a partner in the lumber firm of Knapp, Wilson and Co. of Menomonie, which in 1853 became Knapp, Stout and Co. when H. L. Stout (q.v.) of Dubuque, Iowa, joined the partnership. The company eventually became one of the largest lumber producers in the Mississippi Valley and for a time virtually dominated lumbering operations on the Red Cedar River and its tributaries. The firm was incorporated in 1878 as the Knapp, Stout and Co. Lumber Company, and Tainter remained active in its management until his death. He retained his residence in Menomonie, managed the company's farms and mills in the area, and for a time was in charge of rafting operations and managed the company's steamboats. Tainter became wealthy, and in his later years owned a large race track and stock farm. In 1890 lie donated to the city of Menomonie, the Mabel Tainter Memorial Building in honor of his daughter. J. G. Gregory, ed., W. Central Wis. (4 vols., Indianapolis, 1933); F. Curtiss-Wedge, et al., comps., Hist. of Dunn Co. (Minneapolis, 1925); R. F. Fries, Empire in Pine (Madison, 1951); Menomonie Dunn Co. News, Oct. 20, 1899; WPA MS.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Oaklawn Stock Farm Papers for details.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]