William Frisbie Watrous

William Frisbie Watrous (August 10, 1825 – July 18, 1910) was an American fruit farmer and pioneer of Wisconsin and Colorado. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Calumet County during the 1862 session. He later served fourteen years on the Colorado Board of Agriculture and was instrumental in funding construction of Colorado Agricultural College.

Biography William F. Watrous was born on August 10, 1825, in Bridgewater Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. At age 6, he moved with his parents to Broome County, New York, where he was raised and educated.

In 1849, he moved west with his wife and infant daughter and settled in the heavily forested Calumet County, Wisconsin, following after his older brother Orrin J. Watrous. There, he constructed a cabin on his land and worked for years to clear trees to make space for a productive farm, where he took particular interest in growing fruit in the northern climate.

In 1864, he sold his land in Calumet County and moved to the town of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he expanded his fruit growing plans.

The Watrous family were descendants of Jacob Waterhouse, who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony sometime before 1637.

William Watrous married Jane Bevier Carrier on November 4, 1847. They had at least four children together, who survived him.